Milk, milk, milk

Song of the day: “Haven’t met you yet,” by Michael Bublé. Thankfully the classics gave me a rest today. Yesterday, however, Doris Day’s “perhaps perhaps perhaps” was still there. Hah.

So I’m a tad tired, which is weird, since I slept more than enough hours last night. Ah well, I’ll just have another early night today.

Did a workout yesterday morning, naturally, but today I totally didn’t feel like it, so instead I opted to run up our incline a couple of times, which really makes for a fantastic substitute. It’s a 45 to 55 degree angle, and works better than a Stairmaster. By the time I reached the top of the drive sweep, I almost passed out. Hah.

But anyway, yesterday’s workout was business as usual, followed by a laundry session and then getting ready to go to Marbella. Yep, time to face the masses in search of glass fiber putty. We need to make repairs on the old camper (springing leakage all over the place) and in town they no longer have the tube of hardener. In fact they haven’t had it in more than three months, which makes this trip kinda vital.

Did a few groceries, visited a friend at the same time. Turns out he had 140 liters of milk that had expired the day before. He wanted to get rid of it, so we offered to take it of his hands. Which brings us to the majority of the activities since then. Processing 140 liters into a cheese-like substance is not easy, I assure you, and apparently 140 liters is more than approximately 70 dogs can devour. Hah. The whey is incredibly good for them, but since the stuff won’t hold they’ll have to go through it fast. And boy have they been trying.

Seriously, there is fortitude necessary to make your way through a child’s bathtub in search of the bottom, but Chaos, Tadaika, Labhana, Bambi and Indigo made an effort. They round as barrels at the moment. Knight II, on the other hand, who could easily eat up to twenty pounds according to the program on animal planet, barely managed to liters. He’s such a whiner when it comes to food. I swear, if I didn’t put it in front of him, he wouldn’t bother.

But anyway, made some serious fresh cheese last night, this morning and right now. I’ve got nine 2 liter bottles to go and then the lot is processed. Have I ever said that processing food is exhausting? It is…but also worth it. Yay! I love nice gifts like that.
Added to the pleasure was old bread for the dogs, which they positively love. Seriously, there are times I think that our dogs enjoy bread and raw veggies more than meat.

Also went out to get sand last night, which allowed for a short walk with Knight II. He was of course his whiny self (seriously, for such a majestic creature he’s incredibly whiny about some things) and rushed back to the car vying for his favorite spot.

Yesterday’s edit went rather badly. It didn’t help that I really wanted to go to bed, but still, another three pages got done. Just hope that today will allow for that at least too.

Which brings us to today, eh?
So there was the run, I mentioned, and my doubting for a minute or two…or twenty to go back to bed.

A busy day, all in all. I started it off with…well, the L word, and then started on breakfast of stirred eggs and veggies. That done, along with a quick chat with tenant whom I set up to paint her cabinet doors on her own, I unloaded the car of sand, and cleaned the lot out so the sibs could load up later for the market.

Next I went down into the yard. Big brother was digging out the batches of potatoes that didn’t survive the rain, and ended up with two crates of potatoes for his efforts. I decided to hunt pumpkins. Found five of ‘m hiding in the vines and bushes. Also gathered some tomatoes, herbs for cream cheese later on, and a few peppers.

Only found a few bugs during the whole episode, which is good, and the first broccolis are forming at last. After that rather calming session in the yard, we went up and decided to change the schedule a little and managed to (after preparing dog food with the many, many liters of whey) get in two hours of editing before we resumed work by starting on a frame and door for the storage of fuel and oil changes and such.

Dinner was next, and since tenant had already cut all the veggies for me, it was easy as pie to prepare. Hah.

Which brings us to now, five hours later and 30 liters more of whey that has been separated from the future cheese. Am going to freeze most of it, mind you. Can hardly expect us to eat that much of the stuff. There’s like endless pounds of it.

Well, I’m going to enjoy my tea now, put my foot up, because it is burning somewhat fierce, and try to get some edits done. Gotta go.

Little things

Song of the day: “Perhaps perhaps perhaps” by Doris Day, again. Luckily it’s a nice song so I didn’t mind.

It’s been two days of doing this and that, not necessarily bad, just that it comes across as very little, despite it needing to be done.

Had a full workout yesterday morning, it was still a little nippy, but all in all it didn’t go bad at all. Did need a friggin’ hot shower afterward, but that is hardly a bad thing, is it? But anyway, afterwards I tackled the laundry and then headed up to tenant’s place after opening the greenhouse and seedbed.

There was the usual breakfast, followed by a short session by the storage looking for wood to make a box for firewood. I finished up with the paws and big brother would finish the rest while I headed back up to tenant’s. She and caregiver joined me outside, and for the remainder of the afternoon we worked on cleaning tenant’s favorite cupboard.

She helped cleaning, sanding and then painting, and didn’t do bad at all. In fact, I think she did it markedly better than the last time she tried helping out, besides, it is good for her to be involved in the beautification of her apartment. She used to be an avid DIYer after all, no reason she can’t learn again. Heck, grandpa’s niece lost an arm in the war, and the nuns even managed to teach her how to tie her own laces again. I guess there’s a reason why the saying goes that you can have the patience of a nun. If I’m to believe grandpa’s stories, they taught her everything she needed to know to be self-sufficient in six months.

But anyway, it went pretty well, all things considered, and by the time it got to nippy for her to be outside, we were ready to start on supper, with which she helped again. Personally my stomach didn’t much appreciate the fare we prepared, but all in all it wasn’t bad at all.

Next I unloaded a small cupboard inside tenant’s apartment, brought the repaired and repainted one back inside and cleared up the mess we’d made during the course of the day before I went to fetch a batch of wood for the night.

There was of course the edit. We did the usual amount of pages, partly because I was rested due to an hour long nap. Hadn’t planned on it either, seeing as I’d only lied down to relieve some of the tension on my back (it was nagging somewhat fierce). Had planned to lie there for about fifteen minutes and then I woke up a solid hour later. Ah well. Got the edit done, and didn’t even fall asleep on our charity run later that night.

Today. Got to bed late, so we didn’t do a workout this morning, which was a good thing because we had some serious activities later on. First off, there was of course the laundry. Hah. But next it was up to work on the doors of tenant’s cupboard for which I didn’t have time yesterday. They’re in now, but I’m not happy with the results. Will have to think of something better for that. Those antique doors are way too torqued.

That done we worked behind my cabin for a bit. We still have to dig out a tone or two of rock there, and we really shouldn’t take ages for it, but there you have it. We took down about six wheelbarrows and then changed occupations by tackling the mimosa tree down the mountain.

Lots of its branches have died (I think it’s that disease again) and there were these really big branches that were steadily starting to hang on top of the bus. So for a couple of hours we worked with chainsaw and axes (making me feel very pioneer-ish, hah) taking down enough wood to see us through at least a week of firewood next year.

Chaos loved this part, he kept going through the fallen branches, petting himself. The other dogs, in particular the labs thought it a good idea to be there where the big pieces of wood were going to land. And Fortuyn, well, he went bonkers because he first got to chase every single shovel of dirt, and THEN also falling branches. Seriously, he was in doggie heaven!

The wind was blowing like mad, clouds hung low all around, and I was happier than ever with my favorite body warmer. Jeez, the moment I stopped moving, the chill would get me. Other than that it was nice work. I like wielding an ax despite that I’ll undoubtedly end up with achy muscles tomorrow (already have it) because my muscles are not used to that particular motion.

Next there was supper to make (tenant prepared the veggies prior to my arrival) a veggie mix plus nopales (cacti) and potatoes. It was actually kind of yummy, but again my stomach did not agree with it.

By now it’s time for me to get ready to work on the edit again, though I wouldn’t have minded another nappy right about now. Hah.

A short announcement

Song of the day: …well, there were several going through my head today. Some Patsy Cline, some Doris Day, and The Beautiful South. Strangely enough, my head insisted on a song without actually settling on one.

Right. I have a bit of news. An author I met some years ago (online, mind you) has bagged herself a contract with a publisher, and I was asked to do another review of her book, along with an interview. I said yes, of course. It was a good book, and it will be interesting to see what changes have been made. Also, I put together a nice bunch of questions that you should find interesting and hopefully a little funny at least. We’ll see how it goes, and I’ll keep you informed, naturally. Hah.

So let’s get to yesterday first…wait a minute, I gotta change my position. I’m freezing so I’ll…yep, sitting with my back towards the stove now, less than a couple of feet away, thank you very much. I think my back is warm for the first time today. Yay. We’re having some seriously nippy weather. Low forties at most.

But where was I. Right, yesterday. Around eight it was just too cold and windy to do a proper workout so I called big brother and suggest we get an extra hour of sleep instead. Since he wholly agreed, we actually got close to seven hours of sleep yesterday, which was, like, AWESOME.

The day started a little late for that reason, but since we had to go to town anyway (some DIY supplies and groceries) I didn’t mind all that much. Luckily we were back in less than three hours, giving us a bit of time yet to do stuff.

There was the wheelbarrow-ing of rocks down to the house, so we could start storing them on the edge of the terrace. If we want to start building on the wall again one of these days, we’re going to have to make the effort of getting rocks down there so we have something to work with.

Didn’t get a lot done, five to six wheelbarrows at most, since by then it was time to start on supper, which would consist out of soy beans and fresh veggies. Though very different from the ones I usually make, the recipe was definitely a successful one. I am playing with the idea of putting the patties in my cookbook as well.

Tenant for one really enjoyed the endeavor. She helped cut the veggies, and then we chatted while making the burgers themselves. I’ve found that she really gets a kick out of such things. I noticed the same while we were canning. I think it reminds her of when she was a little girl, and she would sit at her grandmother’s kitchen table watching her make meals.

While tenant and I were working on supper, big brother and grandpa worked on the roof that had to be altered so the rain wouldn’t wreck it again. They brought the front down two inches to get a better angle, and prepared for the next step (for today) before stopping for the day.

Together with caregiver I got two wheelbarrows and one big basket of wood from storage, and then went down to the house to help big brother install the last thing of the woodstove for the house. Fit like a glove, and we both stood in front of the thing staring at the glass front to see smoke gather inside, and then the first licking flames burst forth as we started it’s virgin fire. Not bad, and apparently really warm. In fact the sibs are already complaining that it is getting to hot on the second floor, hah.

Chaos ate too much, and so did Tadaika, we had a little treat for them during their dinner, and yikes, they were animals digging in. Chaos has been digesting most of today, and could barely get up the stairs. Seriously, I’m going to have him skip a couple of meals before I let him in with the pack again. Jeez.

Only managed a short edit, seeing as I did spend some time putting together those questions for the interview and send them out. Sure, I could wait, read them over twenty more times, but I really don’t like dallying over such things. The way I figure, I and the author have better stuff to do then mulls such things over too much. It’s supposed to be a bit of fun after all. In the end it is the book that matters most.

So there was a short edit, and then it was off to bed, slightly earlier than the day before that, but still too late for me to get more than six hours of sleep. No matter though. Started with a solid workout this morning despite the cold and wind that made me feel frozen through and through. Did do the workout, and that’s what matters in the end, doesn’t it.

There was laundry of course, a solid batch too, since most of the full lines were dry after all that wind.
That done, it was up to grandpa’s kitchen where I made a batch of fresh cream cheese, and pancakes for breakfast because grandpa forgot to take a bread from the freezer for us. That dealt, it was down to rearrange some of the storage spaces, and then the greenhouse to check for bugs.

Big brother replaced broken glass in there while I headed out into the yard to check the rest of the plants, and then helped big brother rearranging the sagging rubber strips holding the glass in place. By then the sun was wonderfully warm, in particular because there was no wind there. Since we were busy anyway, we planted some tomatoes in the lean-to. The peppers aren’t doing all that well. I think they don’t like the short days.

Next, while grandpa and Dani worked on a set of drawers on the terrace (keeping tenant company to boot) big brother and I worked on grandpa’s roof again. We put in two new supports to prevent bending, and prepared crossbeams to add tomorrow.

Knight II, Sitabah, and Dax were cold most of today. I resorted to locking them up in my cabin just to have them warm up a little. Seriously, you’d think they’d be smart and head on inside, but no, they have to be where I am. Hah.

Then there was supper again, thin schnitzel kind of patties, with mac&cheese, which went down well, despite that I didn’t eat enough because big brother ate most of it while I was out to bring Sally to work. Apparently the idiot thought I’d already eaten, darn it. I’m starving!
Luckily big brother is frying stuff. Yay.

That done, I headed out into the chilly afternoon wind to get a batch of wood for the stove and then was more than happy to call it a day and settle behind my computer. Boy, was I ready. Now, only an edit to go and then another day bites the dust.

That’s it. I’m outta here.

Rainy weekends...slow!

Song of the day: “If I were a boy” by Reba McIntire. Wonderful cover of this song, and though Beyonce doesn’t do it bad, I think I like Reba’s version best.

This is going to be a boring blog, seeing as it has been raining rather badly, off and on for about two whole days and there really isn’t all that much to tell…except maybe during the biggest downpour yesterday afternoon where it came clear that we hadn’t finished grandpa’s little roof in time. There was so much of it that it filled up the roof and came pouring down on all sides. This meant that big brother had to pretend being support beam while I ran back and forth through the rain getting supports and slats to keep the lot up. The water came up to my ankles, thank you very much.

Did have an eye-roll moment during the entire thing. I went to the carport to get grandpa, and when I told him what was going on, he kept repeating: “I told you, told you, told you,” in that annoying tone that has absolutely no use in moments like that, and when we full well knew that, but simply didn’t have the time to finish it, prior to the rain. Hah. Ah well, we got the supports up now, so it’ll hold until the weather dries out again.

Workout yesterday morning (none today, thank you very much. Too cold and wet) was a chilly venture, where standing still wasn’t wise, since it would cool you off in five seconds flat, getting goosebumps to break out all over. Despite that, workout didn’t go bad at all.

Checking the garden was oddly reassuring, considering this kind of weather makes me want to crawl up the walls and howl at the moon, or something…or am I now just messing up my metaphors? Well, whatever. I’ve had enough water for now, thank you very much. The weather Gods can take a bloody vacation and give me back my sunshine. Grrr.

The dogs are not enjoying the wetness either. By the time the wood stove goes on, they will cluster around it (like us whiners) and literally go up to it with only an inch to spare. Seriously, you should see Sitabah. She is sitting in front of it right now, her eyes drooping and her body tight and languid at the same time while she lets the waves of heat roll over her. Same goes for the others who are lying on their blankets, fully enjoying the rolling heat.

I worked on tenant’s embroidery frame yesterday, seeing as there wasn’t much we could do outside once I got into dry clothes. Sanded the wood, made the metal clamp around it, and put an old blouse in it, with a patch to see if tenant wanted to fiddle with it. I’m not sure she’s going to try it much, but we’ll see. Gotta try it anyway. Besides, if she doesn’t like working with it, I’ll have a frame myself. Hah.

Started the edit early in the afternoon, and got into a heated argument about sentence structure again. Big brother likes to go the well-travelled road when it concerns writing, while I like to take a bit of risk every now and then, hah. It can lead to fierce conflicts…luckily I didn’t feel the need to conk him on the head this time.

Decided to finish the day with a movie. “The final cut” with Sam Elliot. Such a cute little movie, and it keeps being nice. They don’t make ‘m like that anymore, do they?
It did make me late getting to bed, so I slept little over five hours last night, darn it. Knew I needed a nap today, even as I got up to start on the day.

So what was today? Making zucchini soup over breakfast of course, which followed the usual session of laundry hanging and hot coffee. Laundry is a science in this kind of weather. What with laundry for seven people, you gotta fill every single line to full capacity to get everything hung in hopes that it will dry enough for your to rotate the new batches. Luckily I’ve had lots of practice. Hah.

That done, I did some sorting in the storage area. Would have liked to haul stuff around, but since the rain kept going, that didn’t happen. Instead I went down to the greenhouse to check the plants for bugs, and water the raised seedbed. Knight II took the opportunity to run around like a lunatic and almost bowled right over me in his enthusiasm. Seriously, you do not get in the way of a Great Dane when he’s enthusiastic. Strangely enough, it gets Dax excited as well, and he’ll get Knight II riled up even more, making being around them a tad dangerous.
Luckily Gada knows this, and stays carefully out of the way in these moments.

But anyway, the soup ready, macaroni was boiled for supper, while I chatted a little with tenant and then headed down to my cabin for some cleaning up. My bathroom needed a scrubbing, and since big brother was busy with the computers (one of the fans gave the spirit, blasted things! Can’t even handle an inch or two of dust) I put away the piles and piles of clean laundry that I’d been stacking on top of my horizontal surfaces for the past month or so. *sigh* Glad to be able to see those surfaces again, even though they are dirty, meaning that I’ll have to spend another few hours in there cleaning them in the near future. *double sigh*

That done I did some sewing. First my jeans. The dogs got their teeth in it, so I had to fix the waistband and one of the belt loops. I had also wanted to fix one of my bed sheets, but Knight II and Chaos ruined that one good by removing a square foot or so. Mom is going to see if she can put a new piece of fabric in it. She and the younger sibs came back from a successful market day, and she sat in the carport with us for a bit while the sibs put away what couldn’t stay out in the rain. Those dog baskets are going like fresh bread, really.

There was supper made by big brother, and then some more sorting in the carport followed by that much anticipated nap. Didn’t drop off well, however, seeing it was so nippy. The temperature dropped below 45 in fact, and I wasn’t appreciative of that fact. My fingers and toes felt frozen, despite my ski boots…by now I’ve warmed up a little from the stove though. Yay.

Well, this will be it for today, I guess. Sorry that I have nothing scintillating to tell, but life is just that, life. Nothing glamorous, it just IS.