The Calm Before the Sludge

The burn ban prevents me from getting rid of the modest piles of brush already cut, and I don't want to cut more and have loads and loads of dead trees. So, this weekend I gathered all the already cut stuff into a new burn site to the south of the old one, along the ridge line. It felt odd pulling the rocks away from the edges of the fire ring. I made that burn pit well over a year ago, in the middle of thick brush and trees, womdering how I would ever get the area cleared. Now it is completely cleared and ready to be excavated for the foundation.

Note to self: No more cutting until I get rid of what I have (right). I did get up under Grandfather Grove, the biggest of the oak groves, as well as the smaller one next to it with my brush cutter. I didn't quite finish. I ran out of gas and out of energy before all the undergrowth was cleared. Most of it seemed to be thorny vines, which wear me out faster than anything.

I saw a road runner this weekend. Ironically, it was walking. Later I saw a fox running across the road. I also saw two "V" formations of ducks, frantically flying into the southern sky. They always look like they are in such a hurry. I heard the loud screeching animal in the valley again this weekend. Not sure what it is, but it sounds very cat like. I am guessing it is a bobcat, but wonder why it would sound so distressed.

Great Aunt Quincy died this morning, a week from her 96th birthday. I will be heading to Louisiana on Saturday for her wake. An era for our family has come to an end. Now, I suppose the unofficial title of maternal matriarch passes to my mom. I hope she has it for a very long time.

Ready, Set.....Wait

First Financial said, "Yes!"

Now I wait 2-4 weeks to sign papers and then can finally break ground. That will be a peach champagne day for certain. Many thanks to West for going to bat for me. You are officially in the Big Hill village.

In less positive news, Somervell County is enacting a 90-day burn ban due to dry, windy conditions and lots and lots of dead grasses and brush. We had one of the wettest years on record in 2007, and field grasses grew taller than I have seen here so far. Now it hasn't rained enough to spit at in a month, so things are ripe for brush fires. Oh, this fire theme makes me nervous.

In even worse news, my mom's family is overflowing with illness. Aunt Quincy, our matriarch at 95 years old- and 80 pounds dripping wet- is seriously ill, as is my mom's brother Lloyd. And, mom's sister, Jackie is recovering from injuries after a fall. Mom is going from place to place doing sick visits. I am so thankful for the health of my parents.

I stopped by Big Hill Sunday and saw that the electric poles have all been erected. Now just need to have the trench dug and then I will have electricity. Digging the trench will be no small feat, with 100s of feet to dig, sometimes through rock.

A mixed week. At its end, I am slightly anxious and a bit in awe that this is finally happening. I pray for perspective and wisdom as the project moves forward.

Stop. Breathe. Relax.

Yesterday I went out to Big Hill to burn the growing piles of cut brush and trees. I was getting a bit nervous about having so much left to burn, with the possibility of breaking ground right around the corner.

I started a small fire, and about 5 minutes later the wind picked up. About ten minutes later it really picked up. With a growing sense of panic I carefully pulled everything that wasn't already burning away from the fire and then threw dirt over whatever still had flames.

Disgusted, I said to heck with it, grabbed a tote sack and went down the hill for a walk. I started walking and thinking about how long I have been planning and hoping for this. And then I just started looking for fossils. And found one. And then another. And another.

Four hours later I emerged onto CR 2012 where the creeks cross over, heavily laden with oodles of very cool fossils and driftwood and smiling like a little kid.

It is good to be reminded why I like this place so much. Sometimes I get so task and goal oriented that I forget. I went back today, the winds had died down. I burned everything that was ready and then cut some more trees and brush for next time.

The sunset was beautiful. Pinks and purples and reds. Tempus Fugit!

Note to self. Stop. Breathe. Relax.

Lots of Baby Steps Add Up

I would almost call this last week productive. Last Friday I still hadn't received the electricity line invoice so called the main office and they faxed it to the Glen Rose office. I was in Dallas so couldn't do anything about it but went yesterday and paid the fee, signed an easement waiver, and left feeling like I finally did something.

Sunday I worked on the driveway, pulling endless thorny vines from the oak trees and cutting every small juniper in sight. Then I took a walk down the hill and found loads of cool driftwood and some small fossils. Still looking for that elusive dinosaur print- or at least a petrified tree! Went home bruised and scratched and happy.

The revised appraisal came through with mixed results. The land appraised out as I had hoped, but the house is still less than estimated building costs. Mike revised his building estimate, shaving off a bit here and there. Still out of whack, but it will have to do for now.

Yesterday I met with the Bank #2, First Financial. West, the young loan officer/VP, seemed positive. He will crunch numbers and meet with the lending board early next week to get final approval. He says he will give it his best sales pitch- and that based on everything he has read in my request there should be no problem. I will refrain from any celebratory action until I hearit's a done deal.

It has been soooo windy! No fires on Big Hill, no sirree.

Today I was assigned my 911 address (one call too late..he he). It is 1670 County Road 2012, Somervell County. If I want to receive regular mail out there I would have to get a Walnut Springs address. But, I couldn't possibly! It just wouldn't seem right.