It's a word that has come up quite a bit lately.
First, it was used multiple times while doing exactly that with a little more than acres of electric fence tape. Five individual strands were wound together, criss-crossing around a long pressure treated post to make it easier to store and transport. No one thought about the unwind.
Then it was an emotional meltdown last Sunday. I'm not sure I used the word unravel, but it sure was a great description of my state of mind.
Yesterday, it came up again. This time, it was attempting to start a new roll of toilet tissue. There were pieces flying all over the place, big, little, long strips, tiny specs, and I was digging down two layers before I could get that bugger started.
So, what is it about that word? Is it my life unraveling before my eyes? Is it unraveling the binds of the past few years, strung so tightly while desperately holding us all together, waiting for our own space to appear? Is there a mystery somewhere deep down inside that with some crafty soul unraveling, I'll become much wiser?
Or is it as my friend, Mark, said to me while I was grunting and snorting and rejecting any pause in progress of unraveling that danged electric tape: "With a little bit of patience, we can get this done."
Well, such a simple statement for such a huge undertaking. But what about that? What about recognizing that as this new chapter page turns, awaiting the words to be written, patience will lay it out nicely, line by line, at the pace of a relaxed Sunday reader. It's my story. I'm the author. With what word will I choose to begin?
We got that post unraveled. And now with that tape I am creating a new space for my family.
Patience. Who knew!
Showing posts with label electric. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electric. Show all posts
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Unraveling
It's a word that has come up quite a bit lately.
First, it was used multiple times while doing exactly that with a little more than acres of electric fence tape. Five individual strands were wound together, criss-crossing around a long pressure treated post to make it easier to store and transport. No one thought about the unwind.
Then it was an emotional meltdown last Sunday. I'm not sure I used the word unravel, but it sure was a great description of my state of mind.
Yesterday, it came up again. This time, it was attempting to start a new roll of toilet tissue. There were pieces flying all over the place, big, little, long strips, tiny specs, and I was digging down two layers before I could get that bugger started.
So, what is it about that word? Is it my life unraveling before my eyes? Is it unraveling the binds of the past few years, strung so tightly while desperately holding us all together, waiting for our own space to appear? Is there a mystery somewhere deep down inside that with some crafty soul unraveling, I'll become much wiser?
Or is it as my friend, Mark, said to me while I was grunting and snorting and rejecting any pause in progress of unraveling that danged electric tape: "With a little bit of patience, we can get this done."
Well, such a simple statement for such a huge undertaking. But what about that? What about recognizing that as this new chapter page turns, awaiting the words to be written, patience will lay it out nicely, line by line, at the pace of a relaxed Sunday reader. It's my story. I'm the author. How will I choose to start this?
We got that post unraveled. And now with that tape I am creating a new space for my family.
Patience. Who knew!
First, it was used multiple times while doing exactly that with a little more than acres of electric fence tape. Five individual strands were wound together, criss-crossing around a long pressure treated post to make it easier to store and transport. No one thought about the unwind.
Then it was an emotional meltdown last Sunday. I'm not sure I used the word unravel, but it sure was a great description of my state of mind.
Yesterday, it came up again. This time, it was attempting to start a new roll of toilet tissue. There were pieces flying all over the place, big, little, long strips, tiny specs, and I was digging down two layers before I could get that bugger started.
So, what is it about that word? Is it my life unraveling before my eyes? Is it unraveling the binds of the past few years, strung so tightly while desperately holding us all together, waiting for our own space to appear? Is there a mystery somewhere deep down inside that with some crafty soul unraveling, I'll become much wiser?
Or is it as my friend, Mark, said to me while I was grunting and snorting and rejecting any pause in progress of unraveling that danged electric tape: "With a little bit of patience, we can get this done."
Well, such a simple statement for such a huge undertaking. But what about that? What about recognizing that as this new chapter page turns, awaiting the words to be written, patience will lay it out nicely, line by line, at the pace of a relaxed Sunday reader. It's my story. I'm the author. How will I choose to start this?
We got that post unraveled. And now with that tape I am creating a new space for my family.
Patience. Who knew!
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Sunday Accomplishments
While repairing the perimeter fencing was high on the priority list, I'm not sure it was on my list for this day. Like most days around the ranch, what is on the list of things to do often gets replaced by what the ranch decides needs to be done.
That very generous snow storm we had a couple of weeks ago really did me in. Not only did I have to turn off my perimeter electric fence as the "hot" lines were buried in snow, I couldn't do anything about poop scooping with that much snow. Once the snow melted off, the rains came and the dry lot was a mud bog so scooping any poop was impossible because it would be more like scooping mud and besides, I couldn't pull the cart through the boot sucking quicksand!
As things have been drying out, I've started to catch up on 3 weeks of neglected poop management. For the past week, I've been keeping up with the daily output and grabbing up a bit more. Having the dry lot fully cleaned out again will take some more work.
Today, Bodie went chasing something out the back of the property, which is an odd place for anyone or anything to be, except the deer. When I went back to look, I noticed entire sections of the top line of my perimeter fence were down. This immediately interrupted my attempt at cleaning the dry lot. So, I took Shadow with me, gathered up a bunch of yellow baling twine strands and out we went. Shadow browsed as I tied twines together and started replacing the fence.
The top line is what the deer take down so I have already replaced a few sections with baling twine and have discovered its benefits: 1) super cheap because I already have it on hand; 2) recycling material; and 3) for the most part, the deer don't rip it. Rather than just replace the sections that had come down, I went around and replaced it all, converting the string to twine. It was a good time to check the electric lines of the fencing, clearing away any debris.
The hot lines had a few spots that needed to be adjusted. The snow had pulled on the lines, causing a couple to cross one another or touch the ground, thus causing unsteady current around the property. I set out to adjusting the lines, turning the fence back on, and walking around testing the lines. The goat pen is now hot again, for which I am grateful, you never know with those two. I found one spot that needs a different connection but that is for another day. At least 98% of my fence is hot again.
I went back to the dry lot and got one entire section of accumulated poop cleaned out. I dragged the water trough out and scrubbed that down for a clean refill. In between projects, I was switching out laundry. In one trip to the house, I managed to clean the guest bath shower. It had been driving me nuts. The guest bathroom had become my horse blanket dripping and drying station during those wet weeks of weather. The bath itself was a muddy mess and the floor had its share. Done.
One of my neighbors rode by on her bike and we managed to squeeze in an enjoyable five minute conversation. Earlier, another neighbor texted me that she wanted my coffee order and she came and delivered me a decaf latte! And all animals have been completely kissed, loved and given fruits and vegetables in addition to their breakfast.
There is still much to be done. I have to head out soon to teach a private lesson so that will break my stride, but I am quite satisfied with today's accomplishments.
That very generous snow storm we had a couple of weeks ago really did me in. Not only did I have to turn off my perimeter electric fence as the "hot" lines were buried in snow, I couldn't do anything about poop scooping with that much snow. Once the snow melted off, the rains came and the dry lot was a mud bog so scooping any poop was impossible because it would be more like scooping mud and besides, I couldn't pull the cart through the boot sucking quicksand!
As things have been drying out, I've started to catch up on 3 weeks of neglected poop management. For the past week, I've been keeping up with the daily output and grabbing up a bit more. Having the dry lot fully cleaned out again will take some more work.
Today, Bodie went chasing something out the back of the property, which is an odd place for anyone or anything to be, except the deer. When I went back to look, I noticed entire sections of the top line of my perimeter fence were down. This immediately interrupted my attempt at cleaning the dry lot. So, I took Shadow with me, gathered up a bunch of yellow baling twine strands and out we went. Shadow browsed as I tied twines together and started replacing the fence.
The top line is what the deer take down so I have already replaced a few sections with baling twine and have discovered its benefits: 1) super cheap because I already have it on hand; 2) recycling material; and 3) for the most part, the deer don't rip it. Rather than just replace the sections that had come down, I went around and replaced it all, converting the string to twine. It was a good time to check the electric lines of the fencing, clearing away any debris.
The hot lines had a few spots that needed to be adjusted. The snow had pulled on the lines, causing a couple to cross one another or touch the ground, thus causing unsteady current around the property. I set out to adjusting the lines, turning the fence back on, and walking around testing the lines. The goat pen is now hot again, for which I am grateful, you never know with those two. I found one spot that needs a different connection but that is for another day. At least 98% of my fence is hot again.
I went back to the dry lot and got one entire section of accumulated poop cleaned out. I dragged the water trough out and scrubbed that down for a clean refill. In between projects, I was switching out laundry. In one trip to the house, I managed to clean the guest bath shower. It had been driving me nuts. The guest bathroom had become my horse blanket dripping and drying station during those wet weeks of weather. The bath itself was a muddy mess and the floor had its share. Done.
One of my neighbors rode by on her bike and we managed to squeeze in an enjoyable five minute conversation. Earlier, another neighbor texted me that she wanted my coffee order and she came and delivered me a decaf latte! And all animals have been completely kissed, loved and given fruits and vegetables in addition to their breakfast.
There is still much to be done. I have to head out soon to teach a private lesson so that will break my stride, but I am quite satisfied with today's accomplishments.
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