I took Friday off, so that I could get the mowing and edging done. I had a whole list of things to do. I started mowing first. Little did I know what the day would have in store for me.
I took a break on the porch, sitting in the rocker. It was hot. WAY hot.
I started rocking to try for some sort of breeze.
Little did I know...
...there was a wasp nest behind me. I got stung on the back of the neck. It was a quick sting, I think I got hit at an angle, perhaps a glancing blow.
I got back on the mower.
Had to stop every 10 minutes or so, get off and clean off the mower deck.
As I was mowing, I decided to take down some bushes around a tree...
After that, while driving around I thought, what is that white line I was creating? Were we putting in grid lines for football? No...
...I struck a paint can that I couldn't see in the bushes. It was a glancing blow but ripped it open, spilling paint onto the rear wheel which I then proceeded to carry around the yard. Lovely.
On one of the next stops, I got off to clean the mower deck again but decided to drive to the shade. I got back on...
click...click...click...
Dead battery!
And of course, it was in the middle of the property, sun and heat beating down. I walked 2 acres back to the barn to get the tools to take the battery out. Got that done loaded in the car and headed out...
...to Tractor Supply. Great store and great deal on batteries for all sorts of farm and garden devices and tools. I drove back to the farm and put the battery back in. Nothing like an extra hour and half of doing nothing productive in the heat and humidity...
So I got back on and kept mowing, going around the yard by the house. Now there were new lines! This time wet lines. Strange because it had been a week of hot, 90+ degree weather with no rain. Plus it was dry when I parked the car earlier in the morning...
I traced the wet back to the house and then I heard a noise.
Leaning down to look underneath I found this...
...water gushing like a geyser from a broken pipe!
Quick (long) run up the driveway to the pumphouse so I could turn off the main water to the house and the water stopped. I called "R" (from 2nd Family), who was a plumber earlier in his life and he said he would come check it out Saturday. I finished for the day because, really, after wasps, heat, dead batteries and floods, what was the point?
I went back Saturday and it was better, once I got there, though I was still feeing a bit overwhelmed with it all.
"R" got the water pipe fixed. Apparently a hairline crack, possibly from an old freeze, just finally gave out and split. Thankfully, it happened while I was there to see it and stop it. No water damage inside the house so that's good.
Oh and I killed the wasps...
I got the yard mowed...
...and most everything edged...
...and I came home to a steak and potatoes dinner (and a glass or two of wine).
Sunday was the Father's Day party we went to for 2nd Man's brother and family and as luck would have it, a freak thunderstorm popped up out of nowhere and according to 2nd Family, dumped almost 2 inches of rain on the farm. I say "luck" because that's good for watering since, believe it or not, things were getting a bit dry out there.
Garden update tomorrow!
Hope your weekend went better!
wow...your yin was out of yang! what a day! i am SO allergic to wasps. that would have been an ER trip for me.
ReplyDeleteWell now that's a great way to put it! Wow, that's scary about stings. You be careful!!!
Delete1st Man,
ReplyDeleteYou've done a beautiful job on your property with the weed whacking (edging) and grass cutting. Pssst.....I need my grass cut again, want to come up?
I'm happy to hear you have a plumber in the family who help you with the cracked pipe under your home.
Thank you. Man I barely have it in me to do ours, ha. But I'd give it a shot if I lived closer. :-)
DeleteYep, "R" is great, he used to be a plumbing inspector for the city so he knows what's right and not right, ha.
What an adventure. Watch that wasp sting. The first time I was stung I got an infection at the site. The second time I was stung my hand swelled up. I'm now considered allergic. I hope there's never a third time because I'm to use an Epi pen and call an ambulance.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, that's scary!! I didn't know about infections. I will always remember that now thank you. And you stay safe and careful outside too!!!
DeleteNot a good day for you all the way around except coming home to that great looking meal that 2nd man had prepared. Also nice to have a great friend who is a plumber to have handy and lives close by
ReplyDeleteDon't you wish at times you should had just stayed in bed knowing your day would turn out so badly.
By the way, your property sure does look nice after the great mowing job you do. Looks like one nice big park area.
Yes, we are SO blessed to have 2nd Family right there to help us be 'long distance' owners, ha. If I had known that would be the day, I would have LOVED to have slept in, ha. Thanks for the kind words!
DeleteOuch - that was a big nest of yellow jackets - glad you didn’t get more than the one sting! You might want to walk around the property to check for more - this is the season for them.
ReplyDeleteIt was sooo fortunate that you were there when the water leak started - that could have been a huge mess. And even more fortunate to have a plumber in the extended Family!
The yard looks great again. And another delicious supper awaiting after a job well done!
I did walk all around the house and found several more nests. But you're right, I need to look up in trees and stuff. Don't need those things hanging around. And yes, if I hadn't gone out on Friday, it might have run all day/night. Thanks!!
DeleteMake a poultice from meat tenderizer and a drop or 2 of water. It really works on all kinds of bites and stings..
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea, thank you for that!!!
Deletegood heavens what a time you had...but it sure looks good!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! It was work but very rewarding in the end.
DeletePhew!!!! Ok, now only good things can happen. My goodness!!!
ReplyDeleteYour farm looks great and glad you were there to address the water leak. Hope the sting is better too, Janie
Thank you, and yes the sting is much better (those buggers hurt!)
DeleteYep. Having "One of those days" puts things into perspective. We've all had them & hate them. Hey, it's can only get better from there right?
ReplyDeleteAmen, it's all uphill from here. Or is that downhill? I never know what is better, ha.
DeleteYou poor thing! I hate days like that but at least it was all sorted relatively painlessly.
ReplyDelete"relatively" yes, ha. Actually, I think the sting didn't make me as sore as the work, ha
Deleteoy vey! hope things are better now at the farm.
ReplyDeletemy spouse's john deere died last week too; so $1700 later, he now has a cub cadet.
OH my, sorry about your Deere. Yep, things will be better, knock on wood!
DeleteWow! You had Murphy visiting you with a vengeance! I'm glad the wasp sting didn't slow you down. Yay 'R', please say hi to 2nd family for me. I miss them. Thankfully you made it through the day. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteMurphy and his evil twin, LOL! Thanks, I will pass along the info. Hugs to you!
DeleteWhat a weekend. Glad it all came together in the end.
ReplyDeleteIt did, hard getting there, but worth it (mostly, ha) in the end.
DeleteI was wondering when it was all going to end. What a string of catastrophies you had. Now, I am afraid to go out in the yard today. That dinner looked delicious! Hopefully, you have had all the bother for a while. How does a battery die when it is working well? Did it give you no warning?
ReplyDeleteYou and me both, LOL! I noticed the mower has been slower starting, I blamed it on the heat and overheating if I rode it for too long but looking back, I think that was the battery giving out. I'll have to watch for that in the future.
DeleteHoly Moly! What.A.Day! Glad it (finally) turned out ok :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, holy something was my reaction, HA!
DeleteMan I HATE yellow jackets! My husband got multiple stings last summer replacing siding. I had to do ice and later benydryl. Your property looks gorgeous and good to get some rain :)
ReplyDeleteThey are MEAN for sure! Benadryl, that reminds me I need to get some. Thank you for the kind words.
DeleteAs you can see, all things turn out in the end. At least there wasn't a snake story. Wheeee.
ReplyDeleteAny weekend without a snake story is a good weekend. :-)
Delete