Sunday, 5 Feb. 2006

Good evening, everyone ~

Can't believe we are in February already!

DH and I drove into Reno yesterday and the bovine ladies were all out for a walk. We have "free range" here in NV, so I guess technically, they hadn't "escaped" from anywhere - only they usually are not walking along side the highway. I worry about them as the speed limit is 70 MPH on the highway, and people regularly do 80+. This is the same route I use to commute to work, and it is so nice to see cattle again. I missed watching the baby white-faced-black-cows grow up when I commuted to the San Francisco Bay Area when we lived in California. These ladies are all solid black, and by the looks of their bellys, more than a few look to be very preggers. I was telling them "shooo, shooo, go back over to the field - there's no grass here by the highway" while DH slowed down so we could pass them safely. I know DH thinks I'm crazy, but I told him that even if they couldn't hear me or understand me, maybe they would get my "mental telepathy." He said that I'm mental, alright, but I don't think it was meant in a positive way, LOL!

Last of the tractor-auger fence posts dug for the "back yard" fence today. The rest come close to electric/septic/water lines (depending on what side of the house), so they will get hand dug. I actually wanted to help, but DH and DS said that I was too slow and incompetent. Gee, darn, I don't get to shovel sand for hours... I really WAS trying, though, really! Wjat I'm really excited about, though, is this means that soon the fence posts for the Veggie Garden and Chicken Coops will be being dug.

Got a lot of stuff done outside while the boys were playing with the fences. Watered our trees - looks like they are all still alive :-) Watered where I hope the daffodils will soon be poking heads up. (My Mom still lives in California, and she has some in bloom already. Makes me miss zone 9, but I know I could never live in the suburbs again, after having moved out to our little oasis of sand (sand, sand and more sand :-) Also, saw 5 blue birds today, sitting on the chainlink fence along the back of the property - so I strung up a suet & seed cage for them. Hope the neighbors don't think I'm spying on them with the binoculars - I'm really only interested in the birds!

My tomato seedlings are looking totally leggy and sad. I know it's because I just can't wait until the right time. I started them before I had a grow light, it's too cold for them in the house at night, even with a heating mat, and even though I've been giving them sun treatments and supplemental lighting now, it may be too late to save them. A few are trying to grow true leaves, so maybe I will pot those on and see if I get lucky.

Weather's been unseasonally warm. Still in the high 20s at night, but warming up to 60 something during the days. Even saw some moths by the porch light the other night. Hope the cold nights are keeping the trees from breaking dormancy. February is supposed to be the cold, snowy month here... last frost in April - will I survive! Trying hard not to start seeds because the zone 9 timeclock in me keeps saying, "now, now!"

Well, going to sit on my front porch and watch the sun set and do absolutely nothing for a few moments. You all take care. Counting my blessings and sending good wishes out to you.

Karla