...know how to make old cowboys forget to watch their language sometimes. First off, the thing won't start. Second off, we attempted to start it after pouring gas in the carburetor (I did that--sloppily). Third, we start the take down--that took a while to get started because the correct sized wrench was eluding us. I finally found it and took the 6-8 screws out of the cover. Next we took the grate off the...well, I don't know what it is, but it's the thing that spins around (flywheel, maybe?) We were attempting to get the above mentioned circular object off and well, we couldn't. After pouring some oil over the bolt, we let it set. I think we'll return to it later (or someone will--I think I'll return to soda apple distruction this afternoon if the clear skys hold...I took the day off yesterday since it was rainy and cloudy all day).

Anyway...all that to say that today was one of those days when I had a brief wish that I was the Fourth...'cause then I'd be a boy and I'd probably know this stuff WAY better than I do and plus I'd more than likely be stronger than I am...and also Granddaddy might feel more inclined to let me take work out of his hands. He has this problem watching other people work, and I think it's worse with girls. Some of that left over Southern male chiveralry, perhaps?? (Or perhaps not...)

Anyhow, I got both hands happily filthy and was glad I had changed into my pants before I headed to the barn...I probably would have gotten my skirt nice and dirty.  I'll let you in on the mower outcome...eventually :)

Later: The mower is sitting in the back of the pick-up...as soon as I finish my coffee, Granddaddy and I are going to take it to town.

Mm-hmm.

Well, I went to the feed stores this morning. (Yes, you read that right--feed stores.) There are two in this town. I like the one for horse food better, but the other has better cow feed :) I went for horse food (sweet feed and hay) and mineral for the cows. I headed for Bryan's first (the horse place), because of the location. As I turned off the main road, I heard this scraping noise. Looking in my side mirror I saw the nippers go flying off the roof of the cab! (I had NO IDEA they were up there!! I'm suprised they stayed on that long, becuase I'd been around a bit at speeds up to 60 mph.) Anyway, I pulled over and managed to rescue them from the road. There was a lady sitting there waiting to turn and we kind of grinned at each other. That was embarresment #1. 

I walked into Bryan's and trying to act like I do this all the time, asked for 2 bag of Stock and Stable 12 and 2 bales of horse hay. Wouldn't you know it, they were out of both! So I grinned my way out of there...I am not used to this yet. Anyway, I think I've learned that if I want to get my horse feed to go Tuesday or Wednesday. (They get their shipment in on Tuesday.) Mom and I went there on a Friday or Saturday and they were out...Then I slipped over to Smith's.

At Smith's I walked in with a wad of keys in my hand. (I had a few more than normal--having the keys for our place since I was going over there.) I gave my order to the young guy who works in there (I believe he's the owner's son). He was nice about my blundering newbie ways. I ordered 5 bags of mineral and a bag of horse feed (it's not as good quality as the other, that's why I only got one) and a bale of hay (same deal here). I told him to put in on Granddaddy's account (that's how Daddy told me to do it.) Then I strolled out and drove around to the back where my purchase was loaded. The man loading asked me how Granddaddy was doing (I still don't know how he knew...but anyway, he made the connection somehow and then asked me, 'Is that your dad that comes?' Of course :) Anyway, he was nice too.)

Then I took off for our place. Once there I made the horrid discovery that I had forgotten to release the parking/emergency brake!! I was like "Oh, no! Daddy's going to kill me!) I thought about not telling, but when he called me later I just went ahead and spilled the beans (see, I can't keep a secret!) I'm glad he didn't get irritated at me. I felt bad enough about it as it was. Anyway, I did get informed a little better on what drum brakes do. Embarresment #3.

What happened to Embarresment #2? Oh...that. You may laugh, honestly...I was going to get gas. So, I went to the gas station, turned the engine off, and went to take the gas cap off. Hmm, it has a key in it. Let's see--read the directions, attempt to follow them--Nihil. Phooey. Try again. Still nothing. I must have spend 10-15 minutes trying to get that stinky gas cap off. Anyway, I ended up not getting gas. I left. Embarresment #2. (While on the phone with Daddy, he gave me a few pointers and I got that cap off!)

From our place I went to where my horse is kept to unload the hay and feed. My first attempt to pitch the hay over the fence was unsuccessful. It fell down between the truck and the fence. (Embarresment #5--nobody saw that though. *grin*) So I pulled it out stradling the gap--one foot on the fence (made out of stock wire) and one foot in the bed of the truck. That hurt some (the rib, you know). Once I got it up I rolled it over the fence, then I climbed over the top and arranaged it where I wanted, climbed back over the fence and dumped the feed off at the shed. I was grateful that the cows decided not to bother me.

Then I came back here and put the remaining four bags of mineral out. The cows have been alternately munching on it since. After I ate (lunch, not mineral) and had coffee, I went out to dig more thistles and soda apples. I didn't get a whole lot more done...I worked for about an hour and the thunder clouds started talking. So far the rumbling has been no more than that. But, you know, they say if you can hear it, the lightening can strike you. I wouldn't be good for much work at all if I got hit by lightening!

I think I need a snack now...soup and salad for lunch 4+ hours ago is lacking in holding power...

I completed four After Effects compositions this afternoon! Or mostly anyway. I have one or two I didn't scroll; simply because I'm not sure I want them too. I'll decide that later on. These are my V/O (voice over) compositions with on-screen text. No, I don't have any V/O's yet (I hope to be able to utilize some of the gentlemen off CF.org for this aspect--it would be a unpaid job, unfortunately), just the text and background. I also have a couple other V/O's that I want to put over something else besides floating brow/tan mist over a black background...those I need b-roll for. For the b-roll I need to tramp down to the creek (keeping an eye out for snakes, gators, etc.--probably ought to take the .22 with me), get my horse over here (to do that I need to fence in the horse lot--a stall would also be nice; but there are two trees, so maybe that can wait), meander and think and shoot.

On a side note that isn't really totally unrelated...it is MUCH easier to concentrate when Granddaddy is watching cooking shows than when he's watching cartoons. Cartoons are SO loud and that one is completely obnoxious (feministic too). I even had the glass doors shut today and my headphones on (classical guitar in my ears *wink*) and I could STILL hear it and it was driving me NUTS! I was glad when he changed channels...the chef with the French accent is definitely more peaceful than "Word Girl" (Blah.)

How was your day? I have to run off and feed Snip... (One of these days, ol' boy, we'll start riding again...)

That's my state of mind at present...

It all started the other day when I used a bucket to scramble on Snip and bothered my rib. Since then I've been using a shovel. I think that exacerbated things. Anyway, at lunch I needed to blow my nose and since I was in a hurry (I'll explain that in a minute) I twisted around so I wasn't facing the table. (I really was taught not to blow my nose at the table!) Anyway, that made me hurt.

Minutes later, Savannah and I were in the car trying to make it to the local Historical Society meeting. The GPS battery was low (and I think that's why the satellite wasn't coming in) so it didn't work right and so we winged it. (Bev and Aunt C. stopped by about 10:30 and Bev told us to take Orange to Whidden street...) By the time we got to the building we were 15 minutes late so we didn't go in...that's a bit too late for newbies to be arriving--so maybe next month...

Then we popped over to the new Habitat for Humanity and by that time I was having trouble breathing deep without wincing. From there we went to Wal-Mart for another thumb drive.  Savannah had to saunter so I could keep up...I'm moving VERY slow.

We got home and were going to start trimming the oaks--Savannah trimming and me driving. Well, we got started and didn't get very far. A branch fell on Savannah and gave her a goose-egg and an almost inch long cut on her forehead! She's sitting in the Florida room talking to Granddaddy right now with ice on her head.

Anyway...I'm not feeling very good and it won't suprise me if Savannah gets a headache.  

Cheers!

I dug the above mentioned yesterday. I think I actually dug/pulled more thistles than I did soda apples yesterday.

Okay, so we all know what thistles are...they come in various shades of green, different lengths and sharpness of spikes (these here are MEAN), and leaf shapes. But who knows what a
soda apple is? Nope. It ain't an apple you drink soda (or pop, depending where your from *grin*) out of. Absolutely not. So, what is a soda apple? It's a plant that somehow got to Florida from South America (I think).  They have nasty spikes. The 'apple' looks something like a a tiny zebra striped eggplant...at this stage of the game. Later they turn yellow and bust, sending seeds all over the place.

Once the plants are dug, they have to be burned. I didn't get to the burning part yesterday because of the thunder...they say if you can hear it, the lightening can hit you...not exactly my cup of tea. I also did not get done. I think I may do some more today...if it doesn't rain some more.

It rained so lovely yesterday evening!! I got sprinkled on and I looked up and exclaimed,
"Amen! Thank-you Lord for the rain!" (I tend to talk like that more when no one's around...) Now the grass will green up some.

YES! I finally got what I need to assemble my lighting kit! Two chinamen's hats (ya know, those metal globes that go around heat lamps), a stinger (a.k.a. extention cord), and some daylight bulbs. Not suprisingly the man at the hardware store thought I was raising chickens :) Which I still want to do...but I have to build a coop or something first...if I can even get chicks in the summertime?

Snip got his hooves trimmed today. We got to watch while Barney did his feet and I hope to be able to copy some of that in the future. After that I got on him (out of the back of the pick-up) and now have a great deep bruise appearing on the inside of my left calf. Anyhow, I rode Snippy bareback out to the pens. He behaved alright and was super glad to get his food.  

I had fun a couple of times today :)

I wanted to share with you all a small piece of A.W. Pink's book The Sovereignty of God.

"Each of the three Persons in the blessed Trinity is concerned with our salvation: with the Father is predestination; with the Son propitiation; with the Spirit regeneration. The Father chose us; the Son died for us; the Spirit quickens us....

The new birth is solely the work of God the Spirit and man has no part or lot in causing it. This from the very nature of the case. Birth altogether excludes the idea of any effort or work on the part of the one who is born. Personally we have no more to do with our spiritual birth than we do with our natural birth."

If that isn't humbling, I don't know what it. We have nothing to do with our salvation--yes believe, but that faith is itself a gift from Glori

What do all the above have in common? Well, they all have to do with today.

First--Westerns. That's right, and I don't mean I spent the whole day watching Westerns either (I did see a few pieces of Bonanza, The Big Valley, and most of the Rifleman--during dinner and washing dishes). What I mean is I'm writing a Western. A screenplay, that is. I got the idea for it from an old rusty revolver we found in the garage the other day. I asked Granddaddy about it and he said, "Oh it was [Uncle] Pat's. He got it off an old [black man]." That's all he knew and obviously there has to be more to the story. It gave me the idea...here's the brief run down of the plot (not 100% figured it all out yet.)

It's 1942 and Jerry is avoiding joining. His Granddad dies and they clean out his stuff. Jerry finds an old rusty, useless revolver (see, there's the gun!) and gets this strange, obsessive drive to discover it's story. He uncovers his Granddad's diary from when he was about 27 and there he finds the story of the weapon--and his courage to face the war. That's it without all the details. The "Western" part is the Granddad's tale. I just keep writing on it because it's there (in my brain I mean). Once it's written I can go back and tweak it at will.

Second--Bathrooms. Savannah and I cleaned Granddaddy's bathroom today. I scrubbed the shower while Savannah did everything else. I spent almost the entire time in the shower cleaning the mold out of the grout with baking soda and vinegar. That vegetable scrubber I found under the kitchen sink was perfect for the job...

Third--Pastures. I went out to see if there was an old gate in one of scrap piles (NOT). I ended up pulling some wicked thistles. Some of those thistles are taller than me and the bases are one, one and a half, to two and a two and a half inches thick! From there I wandered down to the creek.

Fourth--Creeks. I ended up location scouting down there. I hopped the creek here, there, and yonder. Looked at the fish (one of them I saw was big enough to eat!), squinted at the trees, considered this angle, and that angle...and all around got excited about my Cow Cavalry project again. I need to take my camera down there and set up shop. (Maybe I'd better remember to oil my tripod first! Speaking of which, I forgot to pick up some gun oil when we were over at our place this afternoon...)

Fifth--Horses. Well, I go down and feed Snip every afternoon. This is the way it went today: Savannah and I went to our place where I basically dropped her off...she wanted to walk while watering the citrus trees. I zipped off to go ride my horse. Snip was up the lane and I finally got his attention and he came barrelling down ready to eat! Well, I decieded to attempt to get on him bareback again. I finally got on him once I went and got a bucket to stand on (I'm kinda short you know.) Even then, I ended up laying over him squirming in an attmept to get my leg over him. I hurt that stupid rib of mine again :) I did get upright eventually. Anyway, it's rather crazy for me to even attempt to get on him bareback...after all, when I get on him with the saddle on, I have to stick my foot up about waist level to get it in the stirrup! Oh well.

I went back and picked Savannah up (along with her bike and some bones out of the freezer for broth.) We got home and I noticed that one of the neighbors calves, a little, tiny bull was on our side of the fence. I knew it was his because 1) all Granddaddy's cows where WAY at the other side of the pasture, and 2) Mama cow was right there looking at her wayward baby. So, Savannah and I jumped in the golf cart and meandered out there. Poor baby got so scared that he went through the fence and didn't stop running for over 100 yards. (Of course, that was the point of going over there.) Glad that worked out :)

I finally got around to looking at K. and M.'s wedding footage today. I have been through the ceremony footage off cameras A, B, and C and logged it. Not perfectly, I don't think, but it's good enough for now. I know for sure that I have to use the audio off Camera B for the vows because it was the only one that you can actually hear K. on. He is sooo soft spoken anyway and under normal circumstances it is hard to hear him, let alone picking up on a mic! I had thought that I forgot to switch from external to internal mic on Camera B when I took it off the tri-pod and started wandering around with it, but I guess I didn't. I'm glad because I didn't miss the audio that came with the cake, the gifts, and the 'Toast'. (Even then, you can't hear what K. said to M. during the cake episode [not that most of us could at the time anyway; I knew he was talking but I couldn't really hear him]...and I'll probably have to boost the audio on the 'Toast'...)

I also started reading Without a Prayer by John Robbins this morning. It's a critique of Ayn Rand's philosophy "Objectivism". So far what I have gathered is that to her, autonomous 'reason' is the basis of all thought. Mr. Robbins also pointed out that most humanisic philosophers base their systems on 'reason', but they have that many different views of what 'reason' is. I imagine that you'll be hearing more about this at some point as I intend to write another essay for the Trinity Foundation Essay Contest this year...

We had an interesting day yesterday (which was, after a fashion, continued today).  In the early afternoon, Granddaddy's eldest sister and her daughter and son-in-law arrived to powerwash the house. While Rex got busy with the powerwasher, Aunt C. and Bev started raking up the sticks and spanish moss that was all over the yard. Savannah and I pitched in (they didn't have to clean up our yard!) and soon that was done (we still need to clean up the piles and take them to the burn hole.) Next we moved into the garage and ended up cleaning it out to a great extent. We had a nice pile of trash that we took to the dump this morning. Bev took us to the dump and I think I could find my way back there if I had to. Like she said, it's the highest point in our town :) Anyway, both Savannah and I were really suprised that there weren't really a lot of spiders in the garage.

I'm going to blow my eardrums if I don't turn the volume down on this set of headphones... Even with the volume up, I can still here Granddaddy's TV (he's watching the Cat in the Hat--this same episode was on yesterday!) It's distracting to say the least.

I must not be feeling very loquatious today. I'll get the touch back soon--don't worry ;)