Old Hat

 SUCCESSOR  NAMED

    Won't be riding into town white hatted much longer.  Venerable old west Resistol "Self Conforming" hat years service true mettle revealed.

Replacement Goodwill recruited - Indiana Jones style canvas fedora - patient 'til 'Tex' has 'nuff.  Era passes.

     Decide rain won't make stump pieces pile

appreciably easier to dice up: saw/axe firewood size, throw on porch:

saw dust where once swayed mighty limb.

Stump root dealt with spend two days grubbing backyard dandy roots to near extinction.  Typically like this, better yet entwined with many friends.

Over street clothes polar fleece vest - OR climate constant companion, pull on knee high rubber boots paired with water resistant nylon over pants, cinch drawstring, raincoat, hat, work gloves: root rippin' ready.  Extract - muscle wonder bar into clay mud below plant, push/pry upward 'til: pop/root breaks, pull by leaves - with luck!, wheelbarrow toss; incinerate - add wood to stove, load couple newspaper sheets dandy full back steps, bundle wet muddy mess, avoid spillage carry gingerly, stove stuff, repeat - three wheel barrow loads. 

Unglamorous dirty work leaves grass expansion room aplenty.  Back porch freshly mown backyard view, limed garden lower left, truck upper right.

Set mower to cut short hopefully encourage grass root spread, lime - Schwinn handlebars/basket haul 35 lb bag home - soon to plant garden.  Note blue curtains front bedroom (right).

Aside from dandy roots, plastic bagged dead dog unearth variety round yard: few short chains, spark plugs, brake line, hangers, tire iron, small motor parts, pieces old cement drain pipe, soup bones, bolts, pens, plastic toy pieces, sprinkler system, half dozen large pavers - trove!

     Gentleman stops one day seeing garden preparation, converse.  Semiprofessionally gardening he's kind enough to bring red Russian kale seed by couple days later.  Saturday morning wake to his knock/invite to nearby apostolic church men's breakfast.  Attend, meet local color: one pastor did ten San Quentin years.  Like kale many garden seeds: tiny.  Don't want to take time to start sets inside, waste fine seed handling in mud/rain, will try DIY (do it yourself) seed tape.  Roll toilet paper out, cut in half (save few cents? - may not repeat), dip toothpick in Elmer's glue - just a little!, pick up few seeds TP apply appropriate spacing, repeat.  Radishes first (left); long row Russian kale; TP full width glue endive, lettuce, mustard salad seeds.  Shift TP occasionally - no stick.

Dry, gently roll up, bag: roll out on prepared soil ready, cover with dirt, grow!  Save enough seed ($) for second maybe third planting - will seed tape all small seeds.  Garlic cloves ready too. 

Find good - air pressure test hose at store (stop one end, blow: leak or no?) - St. Vinnie's hand held shower, install, complete bath's cold water setup.

Come across major lumber - 4 2x12 10' to 16' banded together, 2x10 17' - at St. V's for minor price (<$20!), pick up it home, 'lumberyard' stash.  4x10 house length beam lumber might be handy.

     Dandelion grubbing's muddy, thankless, ugly work.  Ten hours + - week's major push - at it little to show here.  Weeks may be like this.  Ironically neighbors may appreciate this work more than any other to date/to come.  Pleases me dandy's under my thumb.  Except for garden little stands in the way of beginning house work.  Want to experience front porch without ceiling/gable end siding so expect to begin work removing front porch ceiling.  Look for it here.  Peace.