Some Days Are for Slowing Down

The last few days have been pretty exhausting.

Between the long drive back from Florida, getting camp set back up, and tackling project after project, I think it finally caught up with me.

This morning I woke up around 8:30.

Compared to the 5:30 mornings I've been having lately, it almost felt like sleeping in.

As usual, I opened the shade before even getting out of bed.

Almost immediately I spotted two hummingbirds at the feeders.

I didn't manage to grab any pictures, but it was enough to make me smile.

They've definitely figured out where we are.

I laid there for a little while just watching them fly back and forth before finally getting up to start the day.

Honestly...

I wasn't feeling very ambitious.

Originally I had planned to spend the day starting the demolition in the bunkhouse.

The plan was to begin removing cabinets, vanities, toilets, fixtures, and everything else that needs to come out before we can start rebuilding.

It actually would have been the perfect day for it.

The weather was overcast.

Cool.

Occasionally damp with a few passing showers.

Perfect demolition weather.

But for whatever reason...

I just didn't have it in me today.

And that's okay.

Sometimes your body tells you it's time to slow down for a day instead of pushing through just because the project is waiting.

Instead, I decided to make a trip into town.

Or at least I tried to.

About thirty minutes later, after driving all the way into town, I reached for my wallet...

...and realized it was still sitting back at Memory Lane.

There was no getting around it.

I turned the truck around and started the thirty five minute drive back to the farm.

As frustrating as it was, the drive back ended up having a silver lining.

A thick fog had rolled into the valley and was slowly weaving its way through the trees and across the fields.

It was one of those mornings where everything looked peaceful and almost mysterious.

I couldn't resist stopping to take a couple of pictures.

Sometimes the best views are the ones you weren't planning to see.

Once I got back to Memory Lane, I grabbed my wallet, climbed back into the truck, and headed to town all over again.

So before the day was even really underway, I'd already added another hour to my schedule.

Yesterday's mower belt had other plans for my schedule, so replacing it became today's mission.

While I was there, I picked up a few other things for around the property.

I'm still keeping some of those purchases under wraps for now.

Let's just say they're all part of another project you'll see soon enough.

Since I was already in town, I grabbed a few groceries as well.

Nothing major.

I always try to make the most of a trip when I'm already there.

While I was out shopping, I struck up a conversation with two different guys who happened to be talking about hummingbirds.

One gentleman told me he normally has around twenty four hummingbirds visiting his feeders throughout the season.

Interestingly, he said they had almost completely disappeared for a couple of weeks before recently starting to come back.

That made me feel a little better because I had noticed fewer birds around our feeders recently too.

The other gentleman said he usually has four or five regular visitors.

That seems to be about where we are as well.

Depending on the day, we usually see somewhere between three and five hummingbirds around camp.

One of the men also shared a tip he'd been given years ago.

He said he doesn't buy premixed nectar from the store.

Instead, he mixes his own using a four to one ratio of water to sugar.

He also mentioned adding about a tablespoon of brown sugar because, in his experience, the hummingbirds seem to love it. UPDATE: ACCORDING TO GOOGLE THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR HUMMINGBIRDS

I don't know whether that actually helps or not, and before I try anything different I'll do a little research to make sure it's safe for the birds.

One thing I did take away from the conversation was how often he cleans his feeders.

He told me he washes them every three to five days and refills them with fresh nectar each time.

That's probably something I should be doing more often, especially during the warmer weather.

I always enjoy conversations like that.

Sometimes the best information comes from complete strangers who are just as passionate about something as you are.

By lunchtime I realized I was hungry and decided to stop at the local pizza shop.

A couple slices sounded about right.

While I was eating, a friend unexpectedly walked in.

He's in the same business I am, so we ended up sitting together, catching up, and talking shop for a while.

Completely unplanned.

Sometimes those are the best conversations.

By the time I finished lunch, shopping, and the drive back to Memory Lane, it was already after 1:00.

Half the day had disappeared.

When I got back, I told myself maybe today would just be a slower day.

I started breaking apart some of the old furniture that was sitting in the burn pile along with the remaining cardboard.

Unfortunately, after last night's rain, everything was soaked.

Even the cardboard didn't want to burn.

I tried.

I poked at it.

Added more kindling.

Tried again.

Nothing.

Eventually I accepted defeat.

Some days the weather wins.

So I moved on to Plan B.

Around 3:00 I took the mower over to the workshop and lifted it with the mower jack.

The plan was simple.

Replace the belt that shredded yesterday.

The reality...

Not so simple.

I've only removed the mower deck once before, and that was by accident.

For some reason, today the retaining pin fought me every step of the way.

Eventually I managed to drive the pin out, lower the deck, and finally inspect the damaged belt.

That's when I realized something.

I had bought the wrong belt.

The one that shredded wasn't the one I thought it was.

So there I was...

The mower apart.

The wrong replacement belt sitting on the workbench.

And another trip to town ahead of me.

By then it was around 4:00 or maybe even 4:30.

There wasn't much point putting it off.

So I climbed back into the truck and made yet another trip into town.

Thankfully Agway had the correct belt, and exchanging it was easy.

By the time I got back to Memory Lane, I'd made the thirty five minute drive each way three separate times.

Six one way trips.

About three and a half hours of driving in a single day.

Not exactly what I had in mind when I decided it was going to be an "easy day."

The drive back gave me plenty of time to think.

Should I go straight back to the workshop and finish the repair?

Or should I call it a day?

When I pulled into camp, the decision was practically made for me.

I made a simple dinner.

A chicken sandwich and a bowl of macaroni and cheese.

Just as I was finishing up, an email reminded me that I'd forgotten to take care of something for work a couple of days earlier.

The Fourth of July had completely thrown off my schedule.

Thankfully, one of the things I picked up while I was in town was a new printer.

It wasn't exactly an exciting purchase, but it's something I've been needing to have here for a while.

It paid for itself on the very first day.

I was able to print the documents, sign them, scan them back, and get everything sent without having to leave the farm again.

By the time I finished, there wasn't much question about what came next.

The mower belt could wait until tomorrow.

Sometimes the smartest decision is knowing when to stop.

Since the burn pile never really got going, there wasn't much reason to sit outside.

Instead, I settled in for the evening beside the indoor fireplace.

It was quiet.

Peaceful.

And honestly...

Exactly what I needed.

One thing I've learned over the last few months is that not every day has to be a marathon.

Some days are for pushing hard.

Some days are for recharging.

The work will still be there tomorrow.

And so will I.

~ Making Memories