Cool and humid. Warming later, but not getting as hot as last week. I think Fall has finally started and the trend in temperature will be down overall. A couple of years ago I needed the Mr Heater while handing out Halloween candy. Last year it was warm. This year should be cool if the trend continues.
So I didn’t go to the BOL. I slept late, and my whole body core was stiff and sore, so I decided to stay and do stuff here. Mainly that meant working in the yard. Since it was just sitting there, mocking me, I took down the kids’ play structure. It was a big and expensive cedar thing, with swings, a small climbing wall, a second level, and originally a spiral slide, although that was removed a couple of years ago.
I’d painted it and replaced worn and rotted wood a few years back, but it was in poor condition. The thinner boards used for the roof and side walls were the worst, but anything that touched the ground was also damaged. Honestly it was no longer safe to use, although I had a heavy bag hanging where one of the swings used to be, and that was kinda useful. I’ll have to figure something out for the bag in the future.
Anyway, I cut and broke it apart, stacked the pieces for heavy trash pickup, and cleaned up most of the area. That led to trimming the trees along the back fence to keep them away from the utility lines. Which in turn meant another big pile for heavy trash. With better access to the fence, I decided it was time to install the anti-bird spikes. I’d purchased them some time ago and forgotten them, but I saw the box when I was moving stuff on the patio. I don’t care about the birds, everyone knows birds aren’t real, but I’m hoping to disrupt the wildlife that uses the top of the fence as a nighttime highway.
The possums in particular drive my dog NUTS when he catches them on the fence. Since they freeze when confronted, he’ll bark his half chihuahua head off and jump at them forever. NOT what I want at 3am. If they just kept moving, they’d be out of sight in minutes and away from the threat, but they aren’t smart. They freeze and he has a target for his outrage until someone comes with a stick and moves the possum along – forcefully. We’ll see if the pokey metal wire spikes deter the stinky beasts or not.
Today I have a couple of pickups to do. Small things, but some for the house and some for the BOL. I should be able to loop several pickups into one trip. Then I will continue making progress on stuff around the house. I’m not selling anywhere near what I need to, but I’m the little pebble that hopefully starts an avalanche. The mental logjam is still there, but it’s starting to break up.
If I can start getting rid of stuff, and get some money coming in, then I can do some of the prepping stuff I have been putting off, like the solar project. I can also do some of the many maintenance and remodeling things on the list. It’s a big list. But the journey of miles starts with a single step. Whether that’s picking up a few extra cans of food to start an emergency pantry, or buying night vision scopes for your zombie rifle, STARTING the journey is critical.
Start. Stack. Survive. Thrive.
nick
