Farm Journal - 2025

[sKePTiKal]

Yup. We have sinus cavities just below, above, and behind the eyes. When I get congested it adds pressure to the eye; optic nerve. So with the surgery being recent - it's changed the shape of my eye. The inflammation is going down and I am retraining my vision out to distance again. And part of that is retraining my brain to focus better.

Just a hiccup.

[sKePTiKal]

Hello winter my old friend... s'posed to get some snow (no one is committing to how much) tonight & tomorrow. I have another eye checkup Tues. B is still here; but leaving "imminent" - he just can't say when specifically. Hol is tired of being yelled at by C; I don't know if they're talking about it yet... Even after 10 days away from each other. She's fine with it too. Still letting her nervous system settle back down.

Progress is starting on the mudroom - nothing drastic; paint shelves cushioned bench... and I still haven't commited to garden plans yet. Don't think I'm going to pressure myself in that realm this year, either. The sewing projects have been on hold until I think my eyes are good enough to handle the hours of details.

So, same old same old... and pretty pleasant all except the crap I have to print, scan & upload for taxes. Blech.

[lighter]

And..... except for C yelling at Hol, and Hol having that aimed at her Nervous System.

A loud laugh upsets our Nervous Systems, sometimes, in the house.
  A 😱 screaming man might be all hands on deck.....maybe. 

That's one relief in having a big, tall guy in the house. Most men (who get loud at women) act calmer around other men, IME.

Stay warm.....garden plans will come when they come
  I wish I could see pics of your projects.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

SOMEWHERE I wrote down my log in, for whatever photo platform I was using... whatever it was called.

But, this week, I have my end of the tax prep to finish up, the mudroom painting & trim, and the eye checkup. Some things I need to follow up on.

There's a micro-layer of superfine snow on everything except the roads here and mega wind. I'm missing the tease of the 60 degree warmup days.

[Hopalong]

Light and health to all as we stumble gratefully
toward spring....you can sense it! Smell it in olfactory motes in the air,
hear it in notes of hope in voices....see it in surprising small brown
birds hopping over muddy grass.

I just don't know how they made it but am so glad they have. Us too!

I'm focusing a little and getting help for the home de'clustering'. Mind's all over the place and back interferes, but I have a good place to start.

hugs
Hops

[Meh]

There was a snow flurry a few days ago here but also some variety of the plum or cherry trees are getting their little flowers already and the crocus and daffodils are up here so yes spring is on the horizon.

[sKePTiKal]

We're socked in with insulating fog this morning. It's warming up! It's wet! The daffs are starting to pop up.

We had a smattering of snow & ice Monday; not enough to stop us piddling at the projects going on. I still haven't made time for studio sewing yet. Slowly but surely working on the "mudroom" downstairs. B has finished work on Helga - for now. He's moved on to splitting wood to fill up the racks again for next winter or chilly spring nights.

He's still here. LOL. He wants to be here. We're all cozy, having some silly fun, and just enjoying each other. He is definitely feeling better and is more mobile since the woodsplitter incident that stopped the muscle spasms, for the most part. Looking at replacing his pain pump since the manufacturer is out of business and there is no support; that process is started and we're waiting to hear on gov insurance approval before surgery is scheduled.

Kitties are spending more time outside; Lucy caught her first mouse and someone dissected & ate a bird on the porch this morning. No evidence left except feather on the front door mat.

Not really fussed about what's going on outside of this place. But I am hoping very much, that Iranian women claim freedom from oppression for themselves, with both hands. The regime was almost as bad as the Taliban, where women are concerned.

We're about due for another Mom-Hol confab... but she has a busy day today (relatively speaking; she's been cocooned with C this week so far; successfully.)

That's all the news that is news from here. Hopefully, this will post this time.

[lighter]

Hops, I can't wait to hear about decluttering journey.  Typically, for me, help equals getting lots done, quickly, with much relief and gratitude.

It's been warm here.....cool mornings, but sunny glorious bug free days, working in the yard some. Nice to see the buds and early blooms, Meh.  I appreciate them too.

Amber... what's your favorite things about the mud room?  How much left the do? My dad always planned mudrooms with utility sink, toilet and laundry.  The lake house laundry/garage entrance/mudroom area is up in air, still.  Not sure what to do with it.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Mostly the color, is what's doing it for me. Since my interior walls are mostly natural wide pine boards... I painted the doors a neutral khaki; and the alcove that's beadboarded is now that color too, creating a zone. Bench and shelves will be black. Bench cushion is using repurposed curtain fabric that is yellow, white, a greenish gray and black abstract fabric. Almost looks like camo. There will be a board with hooks for hats & coats, and shoe racks. Commercial entrance mat is a deep red. It's just 5 ft or so in front of the door. It's our "back door" and gets a lot of use, so first & foremost it needs to be functional.

The laundry room & utility sink is on the same floor - which I'm using as the functional space of the house. It has my office, a full bath - and that can be used as guest room. Not that I'm putting up a lot of Hol's friends anymore. But I could. It would be easier for anyone with mobility issues - and the lift is right outside. I have a smaller woodstove in the main room so it can be cozy.

While B's gone, I'm going to do a big organization in the underhouse 2 car garage. I've mostly set up half of that as my pantry/food preservation/storage area. B travels with a load of tools so those end up where ever he can find space. The other half is full of UTV, my tools & household fix-it stuff... and some of that is in the laundry room. So there's always a "hunt" when trying to remember where things are. That's going to get resolves once and for all.

All this is left-over "list" stuff that got put on hold with building the Hol Hut, studio remodel, B bringing loads of his stuff ... that I've wanted to do. Because I have large west facing windows, that main room is also my winter plant protection and auxilliary seed startiing area. The downstairs is mostly pass-through and work space; storage... but it doesn't need to be ugly, is my thinking. Functional.

The main floor is next one up and it's tiny house sized - but perfect for two of us. Open kitchen, dining area, living room & master suite. Two bedrooms on 3rd floor are designated guest rooms - but B has commandeered one for his stuff till we get the studio garage (very big space) set up. When he gets here next time we'll start tackling that and the shop space.