Monday, May 06, 2013

Mother Nature meltdown...

So, I was just mentioning that we weren't having frost in the mornings anymore.  Well, no, no frost WHAT SO EVER.  Today it was just shy of 80 degrees.  It has ranged from high 70's to almost 90 one day!

Husband decided that we needed to get our Water Buffalo ready.

To explain:

We live in a rural area, and while we aren't really far from the fire department, we figure that any thing we can do to help put out stuff while waiting is a good thing.  So we have said buffalo, which is a water tank (I think Husband said 1000 gallons), with a pump and some hundred feet of fire hose.  So, when some dingus decides to pitch a burning cigarette butt out the window, we have something to flush the resultant fire with.  Thankfully, it's not happened at our house, but it has happened nearby more than once.

I am also reading up on a booklet I received from the Forest Service on fire resistant plants.  They have them marked as to sun needs, whether they attract bees/birds... And if they are deer resistant.

I like deer resistant!

We have been thinking seriously of planting along the front and keeping it well watered, as well as cleaning out the ditch between the road and our house, (which will have to wait, Husband has a backhoe, but one of the hoses broke.  I realize I am anthropomorphizing, but Husband tied the one ped to the scoop, it looks like a big wounded dinosaur!), so that if someone should start a fire, it won't spread quickly...  And it looks like a long fire season, if the dirt drying out is any indication.

In other news, I will soon have Husband's Dad and Step-Mom here, they were in Eastern Oregon, but due to medical issues, couldn't stay there.  I am not sure how this might go in the future, but Husband is happy his dad will be close by.  I am not happy, or unhappy.  I guess I am just waiting to see what happens.  I like my in-laws, but they have very, VERY different ideas about things than I do.  So.  We go from there.

(I have a standing joke that if all else fails, I can do a LOT more volunteer work!)

 

6 comments:

stephen Hayes said...

My mother moved nearby us after my dad passed and she's driving my wife insane. I hope having relatives nearby works out better for you.

Amanda - The Southern UnBelle said...

Every time I think that living in a rural area with lots of land and seclusion sounds magnificent, I read something that brings me back to reality. I'm far to lazy to do all of that work. I'm sure it's worth it though.
Good luck with having family closer. I know there are always lots of pros and cons in such situation and I hope that the pros outweight the cons for you!

messymimi said...

Don't you hate when people are careless with cigarettes? Ugh.

Now for a piece of advice you didn't ask for, and are free to ignore. Please, before the in-laws come, sit with your DH and define the boundaries so they don't end up taking over your lives. Then he, alone so they don't blame you as the evil daughter-in-law, needs to sit with them and tell them these boundaries as if you had nothing to do with it.

If you cannot get that done, please be careful, these things so often end with one party or another feeling hurt when boundaries are crossed and expectations aren't spelled out.

Cat said...

I am sorry she's having trouble. I have had them live on the property with us, and in the house with us one time, so I can say I am somewhat prepared.

I think.

Cat

Cat said...

I guess it's a matter of perspective. I hear about the trials and tribulations of living in a large metro area, and it gives me pause to think of it as an exotic change when I am older... And yes, I hope it is much more sugar than lemons!

Cat

Cat said...

We have had some of this before, so I think the biggest thing, which will indeed be mostly Husband's sit and talk, is that they are retired. He is not. So he won't always be able to drop all and talk, or go somewhere. That, I suppose, is one of my concerns. Husband doesn't want to offend his dad, but a paycheck is always a good thing, too!

But if all else fails, I can get a mouth guard so I don't grind my teeth TOO much. (JK)

Cat