Time flies when you're having fun....

Another week has passed us by.  Although the weather was warmer the past 3 days, last weekend and the early part of this week (2/14 - 2/18) were cold.  Cricket and I did get to take some longer walks in the woods, which she really likes.

Our little water pools are coming along slowly.  The pools on the east side of the property (I need to come up with a "name" for this area), are looking very good.  All the pools were holding water.  It's interesting to see how the water seeps out of the ground in various places.  It's not really a "spring"... because the water seeps out in about 4 different elevations on the side of the hill.  But the water does all flow down hill following the same path... So I guess it is a spring.  A very small one.  But, small is better than none.

The springs on the north end of the property have a few natural pools, and I haven't started working on that area.  This is the area with 4 different "springs" that come together to form a seasonal stream.  The stream had water in it the other day when we were down there.  Once I'm sure the pools on the east side of the property are holding water successfully, I'll focus my effort down here.  We've just been calling this section "the hollow"... Not very imaginative, but accurate.  First, I need to impede the flow of the stream to start a pond... then I need to define the pond and get water accumulating.  I'd really LIKE to have a pond down there.  It would be great!  This property really needs a pond.  We'd have more wildlife around if we had a pond.  Blocking that seasonal stream is going to be hard work without any machinery.  But, if a beaver can do it, I can!

I find my energy level is pretty low.  I can walk down to this area, work about an hour and then walk back.  If I try to work any longer, I can barely make the walk back.  This damn Parkinson's really does hamper me!  I hate that!  I'm not old (I'll be 55 in March).  But I have the energy level of a much older person.  I get so tired I fall asleep just sitting in my chair.  Or riding in the car.  When it's close to time for my next dose of Sinemet CR, I'm very shaky and my voice is weak.  My balance is crappy too.  Most people call this their "off" period.  Off because the medications has no effect in relieving the symptoms.  After I take my pills, I'm "off" for about an hour.  My day consists of taking my meds to manage my off times, so I can accomplish something useful while I'm "on".

I take Sinemet CR every 6 hours, at 4 AM, 10AM, 4PM and 9 PM.  I go to  bed after my evening dose, and usually fall asleep by the time it takes effect.  And I wake up with my legs kicking at 4AM.    I get up and make myself some coffee.  Read my emails and look at Facebook, maybe listen to Coast to Coast.  Or watch Youtube videos.  John and Josh are still asleep at this time of morning, so I try to be quiet.  The cat and dogs get their breakfast at this time also. 

John usually gets up around 8.  After we eat and I finish my indoor tasks, I go outside and feed the birds.  For some reason, going out to feed the chickens is VERY exciting to the dogs.  Some times they get so excited, they almost knock me over to get out the door!

I take my 2nd dose at 10AM.  Once my pills have kicked in and John's have too, we're ready to start our daily activities.  John runs out of energy before I do.  That makes sense, as he's 9 years older than me and his Parkinson's is more advanced than mine.  By about 1 PM, we're both ready for a break.  I cook our main meal of the day and we eat as a family.  After we've eaten and I've done the dishes, I find most days that I still have a little energy left.  I usually spend the afternoon watching TV with John while I work on one of my knitting, crochet or other handiwork type projects.  Sometimes John naps, sometimes I do.

We don't go out at night.  John and I can't see well to drive in the dark.  And I get so shaky by 8PM or so, that I really don't accomplish much.

I'm supposed to help with the Hardy Homesteader's Quilt again this year.  The ladies get together on Monday nights from 6 - 9 PM.  I missed last week.  I never know how my day is going to go, so I can only tentatively commit to activities like this.  I wish I could just say "sure, I'll be there".  But I can't.  If I don't have the energy to sew, I don't go.  It's that simple.

We're finally able to go outside!!!

It's been bitterly cold here in NE Arkansas.  Ice and snow on the ground, driveway frozen over... and overnight temperatures in the mid-teens!  Dang, this is the SOUTH!

We finally had a chance to get out onto the highway last Sunday for the first time in 10 days.  It's not that we NEEDED to go to the grocery store... but you have to replace what you consumed at some point.  So, when it got up to 30 degrees and the sun was shining we decided to make a trip to the grocery store (14 miles round trip).

What kind of things did we need?  Milk, half & half, dog and cat food, frozen burritos, potatoes, a beef roast, coke (for my hubby...), flour, juice, ice cream.  What we call "consumables".  Could we have gone another week without going to the store?  Sure.  Do I like putting canned milk in my coffee?  Not really.  I could.  But I'd rather have half & half.  Sure, I'm spoiled.  I admit it.

We're in the process of forming a Co-op group, to place an order for dried fruits, grains and such from Country Life Natural Foods.  Country Life Natural Foods  If you're reading this and live in our local area, let me know if you want to be involved.

I finally got a chance to take Cricket for a walk yesterday.  We walked down to the bottom of the hollow, on the north end of the property.  She really loves her long walks.

It was exactly 40F when we left the house at 4:15 PM.  We made it to the stream and back before sunset.  By the time we got back to the house, it was 35F.  The low last night was 34, the first night above freezing since 1/31.  That is really odd for Arkansas.  And now, it's supposed to warm up to 60 by Monday.  Very odd!

This morning, it's 36F and we're having drizzle.  I won't be going outside to play in the woods this morning!

I've been crocheting an afghan for my stepdaughter's partner.  It's going well.  I've got 3 more blocks to crochet.  Then I get to sew all the pieces together.  Fun!  I've been posting my progress on Ravelry, if you're interested... Circle Dance afghan crochet-along

Property boundaries and more winter weather.

The weather on Saturday, February 1st, was very nice.  Cricket and I went for 2 long walks.  Our first walk took us to the eastern property edge where we've been working on our little spring.

I worked on the last 2 pools for about 2 hours.  I won't know until it rains/thaws if the all the pools are holding water.  But, I've got the little dams all built and have the clay over them.  Now I'll just have to wait and see what's happening with them.

Here's what they're looking like.

Cricket the rock loving dog! 

Some water is holding... now to see how the whole complex holds up.

On our second walk, later in the day, we ventured down into the hollow on the north end of the property.  This area has 4 little springs that turn into one seasonal stream.  It has some really nice features!

Still loving rocks!

The western most spring in the hollow.

Looking down hill.  Not a good place to trip.

Interesting rocks by the 2nd spring in the northern hollow.

The "main" spring, source of the seasonal stream.

When I say, down in the "holler"; I do mean DOWN!  Our house is on the south end of the property, the hollow on the north.  The difference is about 400 feet.  The house is one the highest point on Walker Ridge, every other direction is down.

Sawmill hollow is down hill off the south-eastern boundary of the property (it's owned by River View Farms our hunt club friends), south of us is our friend Jennifer's hunting cabin and her 2 acres (and more River View Farms property), our west boundary is with Mr. Hunter George. Our northern property belongs to Mr. Bill Vance.  The E & L Cypress clock shop is to the east (Cochrane property).  Here's an interesting map I found posted on the wall in the grocery store, next to the freezer section!  Interesting place to find a property map.

Sorry for the poor image quality.

The red line on this map is US 62/63/412. Here's an interactive topographical map of the same area.  Walker Ridge, AR

Our house is located at the small dot near the I in "Ridge".

Our property on Google maps

The 5th spring is on the south side of the property, not far from Jennifer's cabin.  I'm not sure I want to try and enhance this spring much (or at all).  It's down hill from our well and I don't want to effect our water quality.  Our well is over 400 feet deep.  And this little spring and it's associated run off area aren't any where near that level.  So I could probably try to make a few small pools there.  We'll just see how much time and energy I have....

The last spring is on the west side of the property, near some cool large rocks.  There's a deep bowl there already.  I could probably dam it up a bit and have a pool there without any problem.  Some idiot left at 20 gallon propane tank lying right there that I've got to deal with.... Stupid people!

So, after spending so much time out side on Saturday the weather took a turn yesterday.  It was 33F when I got up and it was 24 when I went to bed at 9:30.  We had 5 inches of snow on the ground.  And icecicles on the eves.

Outside the south door.

I see we also had an orb visiting while I was photographing.

The south walkway.