The Weekly Belly 3/10/12

For a little while, it has seemed to me that the progress of Emma's belly has slowed down a bit.  However, this afternoon I realized that the belly is indeed still expanding at a rather alarming rate.  It just hasn't been as obvious because Emma has also had a growth spurt.  She has gained an entire inch in the last month and has made it up to 43 inches tall.  I do wonder and worry about how Emma's growth might affect the baby and vice-verse, but all I can do is keep giving her good food and lots of attention.  She seems happy and looks good so I guess we're doing OK.  I do tend to worry more then I should as you all have probably noticed by now.  Oh well, it is the nature of donkeys to have long ears and clever minds and it is my nature to worry about my donkey (and everything else in the known universe and possibly a few things outside of it as well).

Was it a week or a season?

What a difference a week can make.  Last Wednesday, driving home from work (I work nights and leave for home at 1:00am, it's an hours drive in good weather) was one of the absolute worst drives of my life.  I think that is saying something since I have been driving since I was 15 and I have always had to commute on bad roads.  I would hate to try to tally up the number of hours I have spent behind a wheel.  We had an ice storm last week and several times on the way home that night,  I had to come to a complete stop, only to have the car slide sideways off the road all by itself.  Luckily, the gravel on the edge stopped me each time, but it was a horrific ride.  It didn't start out that way of course or I would have stayed at work, but the ice came down so fast there was nothing to do but keep going.  As it was, I made it all but the last mile to my house.  I was finally confronted by a tiny incline that, even with 4 studded snow tires and extra weight, my little car just could not do.  I finally gave up and walked the last mile.

I normally leave Tanner at a friend's place while I am at work.  Dropping him off and picking him up mean driving several miles in the wrong direction each day. I have always felt the the extra miles are worth it in knowing that he is safe and happy rather than stuck and anxious at home.  Last week was the only time that I have never made it there to pick him up.  He was safer where he was and I don't think I would have made it there and back.

This Wednesday, it was nearly 60 degrees, sunny and beautiful.  With all of the crazy weather plaguing the world in the past year and the terrible storms that just ravaged the South, I know I am not the only one wondering what will come next.  When we do have these rare, perfect days, we need to make the most of them.  My riding buddy and I took full advantage and actually got out for a trail ride.  I rode one of her horses, Hawkeye, who is a challenge to ride and great fun.  I really enjoy riding him and we get along well.  He was in rare form since he has not been out all winter and he is a real power-house, but we worked through it and had a great ride.  I haven't been able to do as much riding as I would like since Tessa got hurt, it was nice to get out and have some fun on a horse.  Gabe goes to the trainer on April 1st, I'm looking forward to it.  I haven't been able to enjoy this kind of view enough lately...

A Girl's Best Friends...

of the inanimate variety at least.  And no, I am not talking about little, shiney, useless rocks dug out of a mine in Africa.  Nope, a girl's best friends are Power Tools...

There are a couple of tools that everyone should have, even if you live in an apartment.  The single most useful, versatile, handy tool I own is a cordless drill.  I have used it for everything from building my house to making soap.  Everyone needs a good cordless drill.  The second most useful tool is a circular saw.  Add in a tape measure, a square, a couple of clamps and the right fasteners and you can build just about anything.  If you want to get fancy or you feel intimidated by using a circular saw, then you should have one of these as well...

Good quality chop-saws are now so adjustable and easy to use that anyone can create fancy angles and tight joints with very little effort.  However, this type of saw will cost considerably more than a circular saw.  I bought this saw new off of eBay for a fraction of what it costs in a retail store, so look around for bargains.  In spite of the higher cost, this may be worth it if you want more precision, ease of use, safety or if you have a big job to do.  This type of saw is about as safe to use as saws ever get.  All of them can hurt you badly with a moments carelessness, so do be careful.  Practice with them unplugged so you get a feel for them before you turn them on.   

If you just want to do some things around your house or barn, then you don't really need a chop-saw.  It's nice to have, but not essential.  What is essential, is having the right fasteners.  Your building is only as good as the nails or screws that hold it together.  These serrated, narrow, sharp-tipped, star-drive screws are my favorite.  They are pricey, but so much easier to use then other choices that they are well worth it.  Especially since doing the job yourself is so much cheaper than hiring someone else that they are still a bargain.  These are also an absolute must if you are working with pressure treated lumber.  The chemicals used in treated lumber changed about 10 years ago and they will eat through ordinary metals.  The only thing that is safe to use are either stainless steel (REALLY pricey) or these ACQ compatible screws (I don't know what ACQ stands for, but if you are using treated lumber look for this on the package).   You really don't want your deck to fall out from under you because the screws all rotted away.

I am not trying to sell anything here.  I am not endorsing any one brand or make.  It is just that I have had a lot of people ask me about some of the work I have done here and the tools I use.  I have learned a lot about building in the last few years and would be happy to share some of it.  I especially get a lot of comments from other women who would like to do some of these things, but feel too intimidated.  Having a few tools and knowing how tho use them can be very liberating.

My philosophy on what tool to buy, is to buy the one that fits your hand and your price.  My budget is always stretched as far as it can so I bought nearly all of my tools off of eBay.  I researched and did more research until I knew exactly what I needed and then I looked for bargains.  I found some great deals.  Buy good quality, but don't get obsessed about having the best.  Often you are paying for name recognition and fancy features that you won't ever use.  Find the tool that is easy for you to use and fits your budget. 

The most important thing, especially for women, to keep in mind about power tools, is that they are tremendous levelers.  It does not take any great strength to pull a trigger on a saw.  Anyone can use them.  Don't let yourself get sucked into the myth that you have to be a big, strapping man to do carpentry.  It isn't true.  Granted, brute strength is useful, but not necessary.  There isn't anything overly complicated about basic carpentry.  It is a matter of making sure that the materials you use will support the end result and putting the pieces together.  It isn't rocket science. 

If you are just starting out, take the time to practice, be safe.  Get a feel for how your tools work and what they do.  Get comfortable with them, then go build something.  You'll be glad you did. 

Donkey In The Woods

My dog went over to my friend's place early today so that he could deal with a pigeon infestation (you've heard of using Border Collies for goose patrol?  Well, Tanner also excels at pigeon control and it gladdens his Border Collie soul to deal with such riff-raff).  This left me without my hiking companion and since the idea of hiking in the woods without my dog left me completely adrift, I had to enlist some help.

It surprises me that more people don't recognize the pleasure of hiking with a donkey.  Those old-time prospectors knew what they were doing when they headed off into the hills with just a donkey and a few provisions.  I knew that Emma is very intelligent, but this afternoon she gave me a real demonstration.  Not only did she walk off into the woods with me with no histrionics or balking (in spite of the painted ponies using it as a good excuse to set their brains aside for a bit) she also demonstrated just how much she thinks about her surroundings.

At one point, Emma and I accidentally wound up on opposite sides of a tree and were both brought up short.  After that, every time we approached a tree, she ducked in behind me.  I know people who don't figure things out that quickly.  When the trail widened out, she moved up to my side.  When trees got thick, she followed close.

She carefully watched her footing with every step and if she didn't like what she saw, she would pause until I made a path and then very carefully follow in my footsteps.  At one point we stumbled into a patch of deep snow (which Emma hates, sensible creature that she is).  She took a couple of steps through the stuff on her own, found she didn't like it, and ever so delicately, hopped into my footprints and carefully followed them out.  That kind of thing takes reasoning and thought.   

We were out for about an hour, and Emma never showed any signs of nervousness or anxiety to return to the barn.  When confronted with potentially scary objects, she stopped, observed, assessed, processed and moved on.  I can see why donkeys would make very good riding partners, she would be much safer to ride then a horse.  I could never take an 18 month old horse hiking in the woods without spending a lot of time and energy in prior  training.  And, being out alone like this makes even older, well trained horses nervous.  If you are looking for a good companion to go on long walks with you, who will look out for herself and be good company at the same time, then what you need is a good donkey. 

Sunday Stills - Through a Frame

I don't know if this photo will show very well on the web, but if you look close, you will see a bunch of deer on the crest of the knoll.

Tanner doesn't think he has been making into enough photos lately, of course he doesn't make things easy because he hates having the camera pointed at him.  It's a Border Collie thing.

It's sap season in NY, this is at my friend's farm a few miles from here.  We spend a lot of time slogging through the woods emptying these buckets.  Last year, there were about 500 of them.

 

These were taken on a trip to Chimney Mountain in the Adirondacks a few years ago.  I included this first one just to show the "frame"...

Tanner: Quit pointing that thing at me...

 These were taken form the platform of the fire tower at the top of the mountain...

The Weekly Belly 3/2/12

Emma isn't shy about expressing her opinions, "Put that camera down and LET ME OUT! "

It is getting hard to keep Emma's blanket on, it keeps slithering off to the side and the belly is bulging out the bottom.  I've had to let the straps out about ten inches since December....

 For comparison, this was taken on 12/12/11, no belly bulging out.

Who's That Donkey?