I took a day off Friday, but ended up needing an umbrella for most of the afternoon. It's been a pretty busy time, as usual, with so many outside engagements that I'm finding it difficult to get caught up on my work.

For instance, last week I was out doing something four straight nights, with only Friday night off before being tied up Saturday as well. I'm not complaining, it's just that sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed by all of the activities while my personal life is ‘on hold' for the most part.

In the bedroom I recently worked on—the walls have been finished now for a couple of weeks—still awaits a coat of primer and paint.

I also have another house that I will likely need to start working on soon, as if there wasn't enough to do. But, once again, I did manage to get a few things done on Friday morning, including cutting the grass, which was more of a butcher job than a mowing. Wet, tall grass, just doesn't cut all that cleanly and evenly.

Even so, a bad cut is better than no cut at all and this isn't the first time this year that the yard has looked a little less than perfect, that's for sure.

After that, I decided to dig some potatoes. I managed to get one full row dug, discovering that some sort of an underground insect or varmint had damaged some of my crop. I saw what appeared to be a centipede on at least one damaged potato, but this is the first time I've seen anything eat potatoes like that.

I still have about two more rows to dig out, but they'll just have to wait until I get more time. It really looks like the weather is going to get the better of me, but I'm trying hard to remember that there are usually days throughout the year where opportunities to work outside arise.

I recall a few times when it was up near 70 around Christmas, so I won't have any trouble finding a day or two to do a project.

Even so, I'm getting a little antsy about everything. When I look at the forecast as it is, I see that by the time this column makes it to the newsstands we'll have had few sunny days.

I also went to cut some firewood, but found instead a bee's nest. I had backed into a place on the side of the hill where a few trees had been felled and climbed out of the truck when I saw a large number of bees in the air. I had apparently disturbed them with the truck, which, by anyone's notion, is much preferable to disturbing them with a chainsaw.

After I saw how many unhappy bees were in the air, I promptly moved the truck and chose another pile of wood nearby from which to cut my firewood.

After getting a little over half a load cut, I had to leave to go pick up my daughter at school for an appointment. Just after leaving, the rain started falling, making me feel better about having to leave before the truck was completely full of much-needed fuel for the coming winter.

I think I've managed to cut about a load and a quarter this year, despite taking two trips into the woods. Luckily, the place I'm cutting this year is much closer to the house than the place I cut last year. In fact, I'm just a few miles from home. Last year, I cut wood in Ennice and hauled it to Sparta, meaning that I only went when I had ample time to cut a good, full load. I couldn't afford to drive from Ennice with half a load of wood.

As I entered the school, covered with woodchips and dirt, wearing a ball cap and no doubt smelling like something best left in the woods, I had to identify myself because I wasn't recognized in my ‘incognito' outfit. "You must be off work today," the secretary noted. As I walked down the hall to the classroom, I was glad my children are still too young to realize that they should be ashamed of their parents. I remember asking my parents to drop me off a few blocks away so I wouldn't have to be seen getting out of the old beat-up family Jeep. I sure would be happy to have a ride with my father in it now—too bad kids don't realize that stuff sooner.
 

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