Mist-i-fying Mowing

I was trying to get our yard mowed before rain started falling again.  I have gotten the front yard completely done, and most of the back now.

As I was trying to keep mowing even when there were some drops falling I noticed a mist flying from the discharge of the mower.  I thought now that is mistifying [not supposed to be mystifying]. The spelling corrector tried to change my mistifying to mystifying.

At any rate, I did not get to complete the yard; but was mystified by the mistifying.  Maybe I should spell it like I did in the title “Mist-I-fying”.

from the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim

Forever Thankful

I realize that it has been some time since I had a personal post here on Flat Creek Rolling.  There have been some events to take place in the life of my wife and I that could have been very horrific were it not for first of all our Lord GOD and Savior Jesus Christ; secondly family – all our kids, their spouses which we really view as our kids too; our grand kids, other family, and a wonderful hosts of friends.

This past Friday November 1 I was weedeating around the fence of our yard.  It had not been cleaned out since about June; so it really looked rough and needing it bad.  I was feeling pretty good, full of energy; so I grabbed the weedeater, filled it with gas, filled the head with cutting cord, and started to do just a bit of it.  Well, when I got that bit finished, I still felt pretty good, so I proceeded to work the bigger part.

I went all the way down to the creek, then started back up the hill toward the road.  About three fourths of the way up I started experiencing chest pains, but tried not to pay attention to it thinking it was a heart burn at first.  Since I was so close to finish I kept working.  Running out of gas in the machine I walked down the hill where I had left the fuel container, picked it up, took it back to the weedeater, filled it, then proceeded to the end of the fence at the road.  I finished.  Went and put the machine away, then fed the dogs, and went in the house.

After stopping the work the pain increased greatly, and spread to my arms and once in awhile to my upper back.

After all of this I ended up in the Emergency Room in Mercy Hospital in Springfield.  When we arrived there the nurses, doctors, and others proceeded caring for me, asking questions; and when I was questioned by a doctor on the floor; suddenly our youngest daughter cried out, “Mom, What’s wrong?”  I turned to see my wife passed out, then a nurse ran over, he could feel no pulse, rolled her in the floor, did some chest compressions, and after two or three of those my wife (I was told) knocked his hand away.  By this time they had rolled me into the hallway to care for my wife (Madge).

I was blessed when a nurse who had earlier entered my room mistakenly, came to my bed, in the hallway, and asked if she could pray with me, speaking comforting and encouraging words.  Now my wife was admitted to the hospital, and they are caring for her, trying to find what had caused this collapse.  This was all Friday night.

On Saturday morning they took me to the Cath Lab, and did an angiogram on me finding a stent I had done in April of 2011 with 100 percent blockage.  The doctor repaired that one, and found some more clogged arteries.  For those I am scheduled for more work on Monday.

I was released from ICU on Sunday morning.  Then went directly to Madge’s room and spent the rest of the day with her and the kids.  It was pretty much determined that her collapse was due to her allergies, asthma, and other oxygen issues.  Madge did not get released until Tuesday afternoon.  We are now home FOREVER THANKFUL for God’s wonderful presence, power and glory through all of this.  He is our Healer, Sustainer, Friend and Savior.

Thank GOD for the doctors, nurses, aids, housekeeping, and all who were there in our time of need.  May God richly bless you all.

-tim

I can see Green…

It has been some time since I looked out across the yard and saw green in it with the exception of the new trees growing.  The grass is brown.

Last night we were blessed to receive about one half inch of rain.  As I was walking around the yard this morning I could not help but notice green sprigs of grass coming up.  I had not even seen that in the previous one half inch rain we received a couple of weeks ago.  Today green sprigs of grass are shooting up all over the yard.

We still need more rain, but I am so thankful for the rain we received.  Thank YOU Lord Jesus.

-tim

What the Dogs Drag In…

On May 22, 2010 a tornado destroyed a large part of Joplin, Missouri.  There were many people who were killed, and many more who were left without homes, but thanks to the Good Lord, and many good hearted people things are looking better.  There were also many pets left homeless.

I have written of Archer previously, and our other dog which adopted us by swimming out of the Creek, onto the bank, and then following us home.  Archer came from Joplin, after the tornado.  We were dogless, until then.  Our son James and his wife Amber lost their home in that tornado, and they had just taken Archer into their home, off the streets of Joplin; and along with their two dogs Pillar and Skillet survived the storm.  They came and lived with us until they found another home.  We took Archer as ours, and he has been here ever since that time.

It is amazing what dogs can drag into the yard.  We have had bones large, medium, and small bones.  I am constantly throwing them out of the yard – they work havoc on a lawn mower; at least make a lot of noise.  They have dragged in an ‘Possum, a baby armadillo, not too long ago, a large mouse (and I do not mean a rat) that was almost as large as a rat, and the last thing they dragged in was a mystery at first, because it was headless with its entrails hanging out when they dragged it in, and left it in between our two cars; I finally figured out it was a young ground hog.

I do not know what will be next.  I told my wife the other day;  “I think our dogs are trying to show us that they are keeping themselves busy.”

We also have a pup.  She is the offspring of the little Corgi mix mother which crawled up out of the Creek last July.  She had seven pups.  Five pups died, one by being run over while chasing a pickup driving by; the rest just mysteriously found dead.  The other one we named Rascal, a male, and we gave him to our daughter and her family for Christmas.   We call the mother “Little Girl” or Molly; we call her pup Little Bit, because she was the runt of the litter.  Little Bit likes to stay in the yard most of the time and not wander off, like the other two do; and she is so timid.

If anyone would like to have a young dog, part Corgi, we would let you have the mother and the pup.

Life as it is along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

edit – the date of the Joplin tornado was May 22, 2011.

Eagle Call

I was out this morning watering my new trees, and shrubs.  As I was pulling the hose around the house I heard and eagle call just over my head.  It was probably just about one hundred feet above.

I saw one last Saturday as I was mowing the yard.  The reason I mention it is that this time of year with this kind of weather they have usually moved on, and they are not often seen around here.

I know that it is probably not likely, but this eagle seemed as though he called out to me, “I am here.  Watch me soar above” and I did for a moment until I could see him no more.  There are some things about the eagle that reminds me of the Creator.  He needs to constantly remind me, “I Am here.  Watch Me soar over your fears, heartaches and problems; and rest in the shelter of My wings”.   Thank YOU Lord.

-Tim

In the Ground and Growing

At least I pray they are growing.  I am speaking of trees and shrubs I have planted on our near vacant acreage.  It has been pasture land for many years; until we moved our home onto it a year and one half ago.  We just got around to getting some trees planted.

Some of them look as though they will be fine, and take off in a growth spurt.  The trees are called “hybrid poplars” and are expected to grow speedily, and do not have a very long life span either.  But I wanted something that would provide shade in a few years for a few years.  I planted eleven of them, three Colorado Blue Spruce trees and a dozen Rose of Sharon shrubs.

I completed mowing the yard again today.  It had not been mowed in a couple of weeks, and you could really tell it.  It looks wonderful now.

I thought they were gone for the season, but while I was mowing the backyard a Bald eagle flew near the tree tops over Flat Creek.

-Tim

 

Up and Hot

With the help of our eldest son we got the electric fence up and our son Timothy says that it is hot.  He tested it by touching it after I plugged it in, since we do not have a meter to read the wire with.

I have not seen any cattle around since putting it up, but I am sure it will turn them, and we will not need to fret about what they are going to do to our house or yard while we are away.  The meter on the charger is reading 13.5 to 13.6 most of the time.  On the charger is written that 4.0 and above is a good charge for turning large, longhaired animals…  With a 13 it ought to turn an elephant.

When I got home last evening from driving the bus I went down and fixed the downed fence by the Creek.  It had been leveled by the last big rising of the Creek which was back in April.  It is up now too.

The fence is up and one is hot.

-Tim

Electric Fence

I am in the process of putting an electric fence around our yard.  For some time now we have had problems with my brother’s cattle coming in our yard; afterall it has not been that long and our yard was their pasture; so they need a little education.

It rained all day yesterday, and yesterday morning with the help and aid of a friend we went to the local MFA, and I purchased the fence charger, some insulator clips, ground rods, one half mile of wire, clamps for holding the ground wire effectively to the ground rods.  I already had a few steel t-posts and a designed fence most of the way around the yard so I am using that is the place for the insulators.

Just for information.  This electric fencing is not designed to injure, maim or kill; only to turn them away.  It will only deliver an electric shock.

Looking forward to watching it at work.

-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

I am Blown Away

I looked at the temp this morning and had 51 degrees on it.  WOW!  That is a change compared to three day ago.

A man from our church is coming today with a skid steer to work on moving our dirt mound on the East side of our house; and placing it big holes in the yard and around the house.  It has been there since it was dug out for the placement of our home.

The cooler weather will make it nice for laboring on this Labor Day.

Laboring on the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

It’s Saturday

It is Saturday again.  They come around once a week; and most of us are glad they do.  They do for the living anyway.  It probably does not matter for those who have gone into eternity.

I just checked my online weather forecast for Cassville, MO. and there appears to be no rain in sight; and an expected high of 94.  Yesterday morning we had a low at our house of 51 degrees.  That felt good compared to some of the morning temps we had a few weeks ago.  As of this moment (6:23 a.m.) the low for today is 57 degrees.  Though I do like Summer and its heat I think I am enjoying the relief of approaching Fall, and its cooler mornings and days.

Without any rain today I plan on finishing mowing the yard.  I have an acre or so to mow in the back.  It is amazing how good a yard looks after it is mowed.  I have heard some make comments like.  “Why keep your yard mowed when you live back where no one can see it?”  Well!  My answer for that is, “I see it”.  I like a well trimmed yard; and my is a long way from well trimmed, but I am working toward that.

Today is also a day when I look forward to being in church and worship with the people of our local church.  My prayer is that the Lord give me the words for the sermon that will glorify Him; and work by the power of the Holy Spirit to draw every listener to Him.

As I write this morning the sun is starting to rise over the Eastern hills.  The banks of Flat Creek are still in a bit of darkness; but the light is beginning to appear.

From the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Started Mowing

Yeah!  I mowed a few rounds around the front yard yesterday afternoon.  There are some green sprigs of grass springing up and starting to make the yard look more like it needs mowing; however, I guess it doesn’t need it bad enough to make a showing.

I could tell where I had mowed if I took careful attention to watch carefully as those wheels turned.  So I decided to ride the mower up to the cemetery and mow it.  It hadn’t been mowed since June or so, and still wasn’t too high; because it has been so dry.  I could see where I had mowed though.  I didn’t do any trim work, just the mowing.

When I came back; before I put  the mower away; I had to find a couple of screws to hold the forward/reverse plate in place.  They had vibrated out I guess.  Back in good working order now.  Ready for when the grass is green and growing steadily again; at least until the season is over, and the season of Autumn tells it to stop growing.

So no I didn’t finish mowing the yard.  It will be there when the grass gets a little thicker, a little taller, and maybe a little cooler

Watching the grass grow along the banks of Flat Creek.  All things are in the hands of the LORD.

-Tim

After Mowing

I spent the day yesterday repairing my mower, and finishing up mowing my yard.  First of all when I was mowing the evening before the right front wheel fell off.  The cotter pin had broke, and thus left nothing to keep it on.  So Friday morning I drove into Cassville to get me some new bushings; which go inside the wheel slipping over the spindle/axle; also some cotter pins, and washers.  When I arrived back home I fixed the wheel, adding a lot of grease to the wheel and axle and bushings.

Even though I was using a rider the heat was putting a lot of stress on this decaying body, and I took several breaks.  If you don’t know – I have about 2.5 to 3 acres that I mow.  It was starting to look a bit scraggly, as well as brown from no rain.  It still looks brown, but looks much better with it mowed.  Anyway, I finished the mowing about 4:15 p.m., and a refreshing, breeze came up, with a little rain shower.  I just stood out in it absorbing the falling water.  It felt pretty good having the falling rain cool me off After Mowing the yard.

The rain, was what I said it was; just a little shower, because it didn’t last very long, or come down very hard.  It wet the ground; until the sun came back out,  then it was g-o-n-e.

I thank my Lord and GOD for the moisture, and refreshing that came After Mowing, along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

A Nice Little Shower

As I write this morning a little rain shower is bringing some much needed water to our soil, grass and garden.  It’s probably not a whole lot as of yet, but much appreciated.

The clouds are keeping things cool for a while longer.  The sun has risen, but is out of view behind the clouds.  Looking at the grass it almost looks greener already.  Of course, that means mowing will be coming up soon. Of course I haven’t mowed my yard in nearly a month; and it needs it.  It looks scraggly and dusty.

Yesterday afternoon our outdoor thermometer was showing 126 degrees with the sunlight hitting it; and when you were in the sun it felt every bit of it too.

I still like Summer.  Its heat can be deadly if we don’t take precautions such as drinking a lot of water, not overdoing ourselves in outdoor activities – whether it’s work or play.  What ever you do never leave your children or any disabled person in the car.  It gets hot enough inside a car to bake cookies.  I saw a news report where a man did just that in Springfield, MO. yesterday afternoon.

Thank the LORD for the rain shower we’re getting now; and for the ones to come.

We need them on the banks of Flat Creek, and every where else.

-Tim