One of those days…

Momma told me there’d be days like this…

I took a forced break from storm damage cleanup due to circumstances: the goats have started getting out, among other things. The solar fence charger was no longer charging. So I weed whipped the fence perimeter this morning to make sure that weeds weren’t shorting out the wires. A few hours later the boys were out again. So I spent my Monday time with Owen (Natural Lands Trust graciously lets me flex my time for a few hours on Mondays while my wife Denise works) replacing the solar charger with one that seems to work. Time will tell, and all the neighbors have been alerted to keep an eye out for Seamus and Duffy.

Then I had a few extra minutes and I thought I’d mow a trail that had been neglected due to the extensive rains earlier this fall. It is likely as dry now as anytime between now and next June, or so I thought. I did finish the area I had in mind, but decided to do just a bit more. Too much more. For the first time ever I got stuck in our 6-wheel drive mower, sunk beyond belief (I’ve come close before, but never beyond getting myself out). When you work alone, this is cause for some consternation, if not despair. Luckily farmer Frank Hartung was willing and available in the afternoon to pull me out.

That’s not including the splinter I put all the way through my thumb, just opening the gate to the goat pasture. Just another day at the office.

The forecast of rain has also cast a shadow on my project priorities. Instead of dealing with some dumping we’re experiencing in the woods along Northside Road and continuing storm damage cleanup, it was suddenly pressing to do that mowing now, as well as buy more straw for goat and cattle bedding, and while I was out, lay in a supply of calcium chloride for clearing sidewalks and driveways this winter. The other stuff can still be done in the rain…