So, weeding and watering the trees was alot of my today. Most of them are looking good. The sycamores (2) were hard-hit by the late frost back in early April, but they are fully recovered, new leaves to replace the ones that were lost. The apple trees (4) have been going strong since almost the beginning. The pecans (4) are still too early to tell. At least two are budding, but the other two may still have life in them, because it's my understanding they come out very late. Think good thoughts for them, please.

Hauling hose and hoing and so-on in the mid-day sun definitely left me knowing my limits. Next weekend I shall have to mow- the kudzu is making a return even where I burned, but if I start early and stay on it, I think I can keep in undercontrol and give other things a chance to emerge. I was admiring all the dandelions and dog-fennel today, and I'm inclined to let them stay. I'm also transplanting in some bamboo into a part of the field where I haven't planted any trees as yet.

I was airing out my bathroom, window open, this evening and I forgot to shut the door for about two minutes. Think my 13 year old kitties are too old to jump the eight feet and make a mad dash into the night? If so, you are wrong. Fortunately I soon noticed and managed to stop the great escape at two. And also fortunately, those two came back as soon as I got my flashlight and went out to get them. Still, that was some adrenalin for this evening. One of the reasons I dearly love rain is it means I can be completely relaxed knowing no one is going to try to get out. I do take them out on occassion, but it's an escorted trip. Too many bad things can happen to a cat outside- and then there are the birds and lizards and such to worry about as well.

I think I will be sore tomorrow. Bed is definitely looking good. There's another blog entry in me somewhere, so I should be updating sooner next time.

I could tell it got cooler overnight. I woke up to find:

-One kitty under the covers on my arm.
- One kitty under the covers against the small of my back
- One on top od my upper side
-One on top of my lower side
-and one on top of my feet.

Ow. I have definitely pulled something in my back with all the digging and lifting and weed-pulling. It's been there for about three weeks now, and it's more or less impolitely informed me that it's not going to just vanish.

The funny thing is, I actually feel much better for a couple of hours if I seriously pound my back with a baseball bat (well, a nice smooth stick about the size and weight thereof, actually)... it seems to make things unbunch. It also feels better if I lie on that stick, with it right under my shoulderblades, for about 5 minutes or so.

Really, I'm lucky it's all just stupid muscular stuff... I've known (and know) people with bone or disc or nerve problems. Anytime all I have to do to get better is just pummel myself a bit, I'll take it. I just wish the results of said pummeling would last long enough to get me all the way through the work day.

But with any luck, maybe it will be gone within another few weeks. I hope.

As much of the field as it is possible to clear without mechanical assistance has been cleared- next weekend I start in the a wonderful contrivance called a sickle-mower. For those of you who haven't seen one, it works by having two sets of blades in front that alternate back and forth in different directions. These blades are decidedly mean and vicious looking and move at rather a high rate of speed. If I wanted it to (which I do not) it could take down small trees. It is truly a most "nasty beast".

... and it may just have the faintest chance of helping me keep the kudzu manageable now that I've put a "major hurting" upon it. On the minus side- even where I burned, the kudzu was showing distinct, if merely occassional, signs of life. On the plus side, I got four apple trees, two poplars, and another two pecans planted.

And then I came in and completely conked out until just now, waking up to realize that I am rather pinker than I went out in the A.M. Fortunately, I don't think I am burnt, just slightly... ok, very... pink.

Now I am going back to sleep.

My project to turn a field full of kudzu back into semi-forest is going well. I have over 50% of the field completely cleared, and the four pecan trees are planted. The other four trees are going to be apple trees. I wanted to do pecans and sycamores, but my cousin wants apple trees, and since he's the one with the tractor... well, I'll let him have the apple trees. I'm thinking I'll try and start some bamboo on the far edge as a screen, and maybe next year, I'll try to start blackberries. That would be good for birds and such, and I might poach a few myself (berries, *not* birds!) every now and then.

But man, am I sore. Digging four-foot holes after clearing brush defintely lets one know one is not superman a few days later.

Sooner or later I'll take pictures. Right now, it's not much to look at, just a blank expanse with a few little barely budding trees sticking up. I hope they take. But, at the very least, I now have a clear path around the edge of my woods on that side, which will make it very much easier to stop the kudzu making further inroads into the woods that already are.

I also hope I've put as much of a hurting on the kudzu in this field as it looks like. This round is to me, but...

Bob's doing well. So well, in fact, that she's been rather vociferously telling me she wants out of my bedroom so she can look around. At about 3:30 AM. Which would be fine, except she's apparently forgotten my other guys and they aren't entirely sure what to make of her... which is also not something I can (or should) sleep through. So. Tired.

This weekend I will use the day Saturday to get everyone... reacquainted.

Project two is reclaiming a field from the kudzu. Burn, disc harrow, plant trees(pecans and sycamore), and then spend this spring and summer policing it like mad. That's Sunday, and much credit to my cousin for being willing to help. Let's hope the elements allow.

I've got her home, and she seems much better and much happier than she did before the surgery. Given that my biggest fear was that they were going to destroy what I recognize as her... guess this is my Christmas miracle.
I hope all of you get one when you most need it, too.

Bob made it through the surgery, so there's still hope. I will know more tomorrow...