Playing Catch Up

The good news is I do not feel compelled to blog just so I know I exist. I have settled into myself again. But I have found this makes a fantastic photo book and reminds me of what I have done. So hey. I'm in.

I have been mixing the usual job search, occasional work and all of the rest with being a ranch hand. My landlady, now friend and roomie, is about my age, petite, and bizarrely strong and active. Together we have accomplished a lot with this plot of land.

Today was fence building. OK, we bought a fence from Lowes and put it up. Which was a PITA. We took our new sun-work hats and got it done. Also put up a fence that is more roll out the metal practical and less artistic. Now the dogs have a safe pee area for nighttime, the chickens will stop pooping on the porch and the corn is more or less safe from rabbits.

 The fence - providing safe haven for dogs when we are gone. That dirt area is planted with grass thanks to our new rototiller and a borrowed seed spreader.

 See. Pretty.

 This surrounds the corn. We were a little short on fencing so added a gate that was around. I think it looks like the family burial plot.

The day before we went to the Garment District in LA to buy some stuff for her sewing business. I had NEVER been there before in the 40 years I have lived here and even during my 'explore LA' time. Loved it. Sort of like Revolution in TJ but better stuff and less worry about a drug shoot out in the middle of it. We spent a lot of time in the textiles area and the material, for the sewing aficionados, is much more reasonable.

I took her to the La Brea Tar Pits and Farmer's Market, two places she had never been despite living here for at least as many years as I.


The chickens continue to be a laugh riot. They run, fight, roost (have had to protect the watermelon and potatoes from their roosting), and all around act like chickens. We should have eggs by September. They have been moved to the paddock and have names: Buttercup, Cuckoo, Rocky, and The Girls (three identical something or others). So now we can't eat them.

 The new digs for the chickies. Much better protected. We can keep them confined to the paddock or let them run free in the back.

The biggest danger to them is from hawks and vultures, whom we have seen circling above the paddock but the ladies seem to know and take safety in the coop and other hidey-holes when they are around. Coyotes and bobcats are an issue, too, but would have to jump at least two fences to get to them.

Speaking of which I found a large black feather on the ground in the paddock. I think it was either a raven or a vulture. Since Dolly and I got identical hats at the garment district I decided to add it to mine for distinction purposes.

 

 Too pimpy? 

I can't figure out why men aren't flocking to 

my door with this kind of fashion sense.

The garden is coming along. Since this is a lady's ranch we are doing it our way and we want pretty as well as functional wherever we can. 

 

 The strawberry bed. Yes, I made it. I am becoming quite adept at using a saw, drill and all that stuff. It has a Charger (football) skirt to discourage birds, and is covered in a lovely yellow tulle to protect it from same. Had the Charger skirt first and decided while in GD that the tulle might be more direct.

A better view.

 

 Plain wood colored table top beds? I don't think so. Much prettier.

This is lavender - color, not crop.
I made all of the beds and have the scars to prove it. 

The chimes are there to keep birds away.

Below is a 360 (actually about 325) degree panorama of the paddock. Thanks to Danny for the link to the panorama maker and for creating the 360. And for providing the html to offer it here. Btw, those trees behind the fence are pistachio!

Click and drag to view 360