Yes, Yes I Did.

I tilled a 2000 square foot garden.  With a Mantis.



You know the Mantis, right??  That little tiny, rototiller?  The one with the 12" swath?

From Mantis' site

Yeah, that one.  So small you can't really see it in the garden.  Wait, let me help you out.

Yeah, I'm crazy.  Check number 22 off the list.

Man, I'm tired.

Getting Things Done

It was a slow start, because I felt pretty overwhelmed by the list of things to do, but now I've got a little momentum, and I'm working down the list.  To date I've finished:

 

1.   line waterfowl path with item 4
2.   trim path with stones
14. Plant grass and clover (you can't see it yet--use your imagination)

6.  Roof shingle goose roost

7.  Fix goose roost shutters



9.  Plant raised beds for geese

I put in the only thing they won't eat--junipers



17.  Build raised beds for chickens--yeay for that playset we took apart.  So much good wood!

32. Build bee hive  ( I also painted it, but I didn't take a picture.  A beehive's a beehive)

12.  Replace door on duck house

I also did part of #10 here--I puttied, but did not sand yet.

In the spirit of things I have done part of, I have torn up part of the grass in the front garden, #33.  It's going to take a while.

Ok, so let's tally up.  Out of the 41 things on the list, I've done.....

16. 

Really?  That's it?  Seemed like more to me.

I guess I've got a bit of a way to go.



More Things Off the List

Despite running around trying to heal ducks (more on that in another post), I have been able to do my daily chores, and I managed to cross two items off my list yesterday.  Kiss numbers 25 and 26 goodbye.  Thankfully, the rain held off until I was done, and I got to plant with the "assistance" of my little goose friends. 

It felt good planting in the ground again, after not doing so for so long.  I had forgotten how completely relaxing it is to put something in the ground and know that it's there for good.  The little Bayberry sticks I planted yesterday don't look like much of anything now, but they soon will, and they will grow and the little curved line of sticks will turn into a curved line of bushes.  They will fill out and be beautiful and useful.  The candles we make with the wax will smell wonderful in the house.  And that little spruce tree will grow bigger and bigger and maybe one day we can light it like a Christmas tree.  So much to look forward to from just an hour of my time.  I truly can't wait to get out there again.

Got Some Things Done

True to my word, I cleaned the bathrooms yesterday.  I will spare you from the pictures.  I also made granola bars.

before baking

I used the recipe from here, and it was a huge hit.  See?

I felt better about feeding my kids (and husband, who ate 3 yesterday) these granola bars, instead of the supermarket ones.  They do not take long to make--in fact, they were ridiculously quick, and I was surprised.  I don't think they are cheaper than the store brand, though.  I looked at her cost analysis at the end of the recipe, and I disagree.  Butter is now $3.00 a pound here, so using half cost $1.50 already.  Plus the honey, which is not cheap, and the other ingredients would definitely make these more than $2.00 a batch.  BUT, they are homemade, and I know what's in them, so I feel better about them.  So I think that's reason enough.  

The sun did come out yesterday, so I did get something done.  Say hello to list item #8--raised beds for the geese. 

Not particularly exciting, I know, but when are raised beds ever exciting?  They're done, and I'm happy. I am still using the leftover lumber from this, so that's why the wood is old.  It's cedar, though, so it'll last, and hey, it was free!

Also did try to get some sewing done.  I was going to make this:

Because I have an apron fetish and it's got cute lines and a kicky flair, but the directions suck, and the yardages are all wrong.  Does that drive anyone else crazy???  Today I think I'll go into town to see if I can find some fabric to use to make it. It's raining cats and dogs, and I can't do anything else anyway (except vaccuum--yes, I remember).  I wound up ironing fabric and aprons yesterday instead of sewing.  It was a bummer.   
Ok, onward and upward.  If it stops raining, I will try to get another list item done.  If not, I will actually sew.  Wouldn't that be something new?

I'll keep you posted! 

The List

Ok friends, as promised, this is the list of things I need to accomplish this month and next month.  To be fair, I put a line through the things I finished yesterday.  Some things are quick, and some are not, but it's a long list, so get ready.

1. line waterfowl path with item 4
2. trim path with stones
3. hang chairs
4. barn star
5. trim goose roost door
6. roof shingle goose roost
7. fix goose roost shutters
8. build raised beds for geese
9. plant raised beds for geese
10. putty and sand duck house
11. add window to duck house
12. replace door on duck house
13. add trim to duck house
14. plant grass and clover
15. string chicken lines
16. tarp chicken run
17. build raised beds for the chickens
18. plant raised beds for the chickens
19. attach rabbit gate
20. finish rabbit hiding places
21. get Robert A. neutered!!
22. rototill garden
23. fence garden
24. plant garden
25. plant bayberries
26. plant White Spruce
27. plant bulbs in garage
28. plant bulbs in the house
29. transplant seedlings
30. move seedlings to cold frame
31. plant Pieris
32. build bee hive
33. tear up grass in front garden
34. mulch front garden
35. plant lilacs, pines, nannyberries, butterfly bushes
36. plant fruit trees
37. plant berry bushes
38. design and cut out mailbox
39. paint mailbox
40. design and cut out sign for house
41. put up sign for house

Anyone else have a list?  Wanna join in and get it done?  Join the Busy as a Bee Challenge!  Grab a button, post your list, and let's get going!