We Got Rain

On Friday the 16th I bought some grass seed to sow on my dirt I had moved and filled holes around the yard and fixed in front of the house where water would be more likely to roll around the house rather than under it.  When I got home from driving the bus that morning I sowed the seed, just broadcasting it onto the soil.   Then, it started to rain.  And it rained, and rained and it kept on raining with short periods of no rain, but cloudy skies, and cooler air.

In all we had over 5 inches at our house by the time the rain had stopped.  Some people were giving reports of 6 inches and more, even 8 or more inches.  Looking at Flat Creek you would not know it had rained that much.  It just soaked into the ground, and I thought would have done my grass seed really good; but I was wrong about that.

I have found some of the seeds washed together, and bunched up in low spots.  So much for that.  I pray some of it will take at least.

At least now when the grass does start growing in these bare places it will look nicer and have something to mow, and care for.  Holes are still filled in, and that by itself looks pretty good.

Thank YOU Lord Jesus, Creator of all things, for caring for us and providing the rain.

-Tim

What a Difference

It must be that we live in a low valley, and next to the Creek.  It must be what makes the temp here cooler than say, like in Cassville.  According to AccuWeather the temp in Cassville was 51 when I got online this morning; our thermometer right now at 4:47 a.m. reads 38 degrees.  BRRRRRRRR.

My that is going to feel brisk and cool this morning after just a few days go temps at 100 and above.  It will be nice for a change.  We do, however, still need some rain.  Especially since we moved our dirt mound yesterday.  As the wind was blowing we could see little dirt devils taking the dirt away.

We filled holes and low spots in the yard; what used to be a pasture, now our yard is beginning to look like a yard, but now has dirt spots which need some seed and grass growing.  It will not grow, though without water.

I thank my friend Dennis for bringing his skid steer and taking all his Labor Day to labor in moving all that dirt.

I thank GOD my Lord and Master for every good and righteous and perfect gift.

Cool on the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Moving Dirt

Last October (2010) when the movers were preparing for the set up of our new manufactured home they poured concrete footings.  All around what would be the outer edge of the house and about four rows of cement footing for blocks and shims to sit on underneath to level the house, and set on.  When the concrete dried they moved a large amount of dirt off to the side; and a large part of that mountain of dirt is still there.

There are several low spots, dips and holes I need to fill so I have occasionally taken a couple of five gallon buckets filled them with dirt and moved some of it myself.  This week I have done it practically every morning before the sun gets too high and becomes hot.  I am waiting for the day when Dennis in our church comes and uses his skid steer to move it for us.

I told him a week ago to wait until it cools off a bit.  Most of it is probably going to be moved over where the septic lateral lines run, to level out the ground and get them covered a bit better.  I have used some of the dirt that I have moved around the front of the block skirting to slope the water from the roof away (that’s right we have no guttering, yet), and that is needed any way.

Back in the Spring I planted some wild maples to give us trees in the yard, but I am not sure they are going to survive the Summer.  I water them practically everyday, but now the grasshoppers have eaten the leaves off of them.

Anyway this is supposed to be about moving dirt; so back to it.  I have got a lot of dirt to move; and a lot of other work to do to get this place shaped up and looking really good.  It looks good, but it can look better.

It won’t be too long and we will be able to see Flat creek as it rolls on by.

-Tim

Maybe It was Mowing the Dirt

I wrote a post the other day that I title “After Mowing”.  I spoke of mowing dirt and the heat.  It has been hot; there is certainly no denying that, but I choose to be thankful for it, rather than complain about it.  I mean think of the alternative – it could be below zero, and without the heat of the sun to warm us there would be no life at all.

The other night while I was sleeping I had a dream of snow and slick roads.  I guess that was a way of reminding me of last February.  I must admit I don’t do much outdoor work when it is hot like this.  It probably wouldn’t be too wise for someone who has had stents placed in their heart to do so; at least too aggressively.

I did go out yesterday afternoon to move a mound of dirt which was out in the yard from the septic lateral, which I had to mow around.  It was just a small mound.  I took my pick and shovel to it and had it moved in short order, but in that 100 degree sun it made short work of me too.  I thank God for those guy and gals who are out in it doing road work, building houses, farm work, and all other legitimate work.  No matter what your age may be; working out in that sun’s heat will zap your body of needed nutrients and strength.  Take care of yourselves.  Drink lots of water; no caffeine or alcohol; these will harm you rather than help you.

Maybe it was mowing that dirt that caused me to dream of cool weather and snow.  I know it is a coming.

Watching the sunrise along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim