Neighbor’s Barn Cat
This month the RV is waiting patiently for our next outing. It’s scheduled for maintenance in a couple of weeks – annual oil change, fix the leveling jacks which are continually out of whack, and replace the big mud flap that got yanked off when the rear tire blew out in Wheeling, WV. And of course the yearly wash & wax. It’s a bit expensive to have such a large vehicle professionally waxed, but we like to protect the fancy paint job and besides I’m not especially keen to hand-rub a whole motorhome.
Meanwhile there’s a list of varied and novel tasks to be performed around the farm. Last week, during an uncommonly temperate day, we cleaned up the immediate yard surrounding the house.
There’s an ancient apple tree in the back, gnarled and tangled like an old ball of yarn, and its location coincides with the new orchard we’ll be planting in the Spring. So I read up on pruning techniques and attempted a rescue on the old gal. We’ll find out later this summer if my efforts bear fruit!
A rusty wheelbarrow atop a prominent stump will be a showy spot for flowers. All I need to do is place a bag of potting soil inside and cut a few slits in the top. Insert plants and voila – instant flower bed! 
Came across a swell flagpole stored in the garage. And found a bag of stunt-kite tails in a steamer trunk. Put the two together and we’ve got a kind of maypole. Or, as I like to think of it, a Study in Self-Tying Knots. Adds a festive touch to the front of the house, don’t ya think!
Local business is keeping us close to home – we’re waiting to close the sale on our city home to be exact. Otherwise I’d be happily on my way to Florida in the motorhome this week. So in the interim we’re enjoying Farm Life, snug in the new house with chill winter winds howling outside.