That’s right…today is the annual Airing of the Grievances, made popular by the popular Seinfeld episode where George’s dad talks about a heretofore unknown holiday known as “Festivus”. There is plenty to speak up about, so get it off your chests and have a Happy Festivus everyone!

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We really have some spectacular weather happening – it will be into the 70s later this week, with several days of 60s. I will be able to get some more outside things done around here so I am going to take advantage of this welcomed warm-up. As I type this, it is a very nice 68° F!

Yesterday it was 59° F and I ended up in short sleeves. It was very nice out so I did something I really do not like to do…

Yardwork.

Yep…I am that bored. But, it was something that really needed done.

I did some trimming along the fence with a string trimmer. I need to get more air moving through the yard so it dries out faster and for longer and, honestly, lets the leaves pass freely. It looks better now because I “raked” the yard with the leaf blower after I “mowed” it in spots around the house with the trimmer. That moved a lot of leaves in a short time. Plus, I got some sunshine and some exercise and that felt good.

With all of the trees sometimes the front yard doesn’t dry out fast enough and tends to stay a bit swampy in spots. A few years back I got ambitious and cut out a bunch of shrubs that had gone wild and it really increased the airflow across the driveway and through the front yard. I also trimmed up and removed some trees and that helped quite a lot as well plus I improved the drainage. I figure what I have been doing is helping with the basement so more will maybe finish the job.

I cut a couple of large branches off of a dead tree today and turned it into a decent-sized pile of firewood. It is still pretty stable but the two low branches were easy to take care of so off they came. I will keep working on more dead trees to burn for now and work on a few of the necessary trimmings that will need to season. I took off a few large live branches, but one was so big and the way it grew it was really another split trunk. The one left may spring back skyward with that extra weight gone.

I’m out of saw fuel now so I will need to go get some tomorrow. It is good to have a little extra gas in the can in case of emergency. I still have a generator in case I need it.

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It is time for some changes. I have been sitting way too much lately and I really need to get off my ass; my body needs to move more. Trimming the fence line yesterday did not do much for real exercise but at least I was outside and busy walking along the fenceline. It really felt good to be out doing something.

With this stretch of nice weather I will be getting out for some hikes, but it is just getting started. I really gotta get back after it with my walking. There are a few parks with some trails not far from my house so I will be making a point to get out to those more after I get a few things done around here. I may or may not take the dogs; they will go since they love to hike, but it won’t be every trip for now. I do like to take them though.

Hiking, being near saltwater, nice climate, being near mountains, even just being able to SEE saltwater and mountains, and the quality of life…it really doesn’t get much better.

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I noticed a few days ago that the stabilizer jacks on the trailer are looking pretty rough. The salt & sand has really done a number on the cheaply painted jacks, but also the fact they are behind the tires and those kick up everything off the road at the jacks. I did get the spray paint to primer and paint them but it showed up right after I stepped on the glass and had the kidney stone so I could not crawl around on the ground under the trailer to work on those.

I DID, however, spray the bolts with penetrating oil so hopefully those will come right off and I can get them looking good and protected from rust. I may try first to do it without removing them but I don’t know if I can get it sealed up to keep overspray off my white trailer. I also don’t want to seal it up with paper & tape and then get in there to paint. That is gonna kill a few too many brain cells for my liking.

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I ran into town for a minute first thing, and just as I was leaving the propane truck showed up. I was not really ready for the bill but I do not have to worry about running out now. I just got 200 gallons so I did save money by not filling which woud have been 400 gallons. It is negotiable in the house price when I sell.

So that is today’s post. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Until next time…

Shawn