PROCRASTINATION OR LAZINESS OR TAKING A BREAK?

I have been feeling incredibly lazy lately; i don't feel like working, doing anything or going anywhere.  And no i am not depressed.  I stare at the things that have to be done outside, inside and everywhere in between and i turn away and go, "Blah!"  Then i find something else to do, like blog.  So I will blame the relentless,  never ending heat wave that was here this week that put a damper on my fun, fast-paced lifestyle just so no one else can be blamed for such non-sense, as blaming someone for your own laziness makes about as much sense as blaming the weather man for the steaming heat index of 115 degrees. Which i will anyway, cuz it makes me feel better.

So due to the lack of air quality, the steaming windows, and my measuring the heat index as "minutes before dripping sweat, "  i totally avoided the garden because i had no choice:  the Heat index the past three days was "8 minutes before dripping sweat" and it takes longer than that just to seek out a zucchini.  And speaking of zucchini, did i not say that i would be finding some out there the size of a Volkswagen by the time i could return to the garden?  Well it was true!  After the heat wave broke last night, I awoke to a very nice 75 degrees and cool breeze this morning, so i ventured out to the garden.  Seeking out the ever elusive jumbo sized zucch!  Well I found it!  It was not quite the size of a Volkswagen but it was bigger then Edy's head.

HELLLLLP MMMMEEEEEEE! IIIIII'MMMMM MELLLLLLLTINNNNNGGG!

look at this!  LOOK AT THIS!  Even the horses are melting in this heat standing still!  Another day of "RealFeel" = 114 degrees!  What have we done to our world to screw up the weather so badly?

MADDIE'S LATEST RANT!

Here ya go - just what you've been waiting for!

Read the whole thing here: Maddie's Rant July

THE TRIALS OF COMMERCIAL WORK

I learn something new every day, and when it comes to long exposure times (which i don't work with very often)  i found out some new things: always use your remote, and when you don't get it right the first time- try, try again!

It took me three evenings and three days to get all these images done, but i am very happy with the results and so is Sontes (a local restaurant).

ROCHESTER WOMEN MAGAZINE: A COVER STORY!

Yes, the latest issue of our local Rochester Women Magazine  allowed me the pleasure of shooting their cover story and a two page spread for their July/August issue!  Yay!  It was fun, challenging and i sure did learn some new stuff about photography.  Like posing 30 plus people in one image is quite the task!  or that when one has to be out in a cow pasture taking pictures: always, i mean always look down before you kneel!

No that stain never did come out!

BOB GETS A HAIRCUT (FINALLY)

It's a Monday morning and Bob puts in an emergency phone call to our hair dresser Brett, " Wanna make some money?  I know it's your day off but i need you now!"
After seeing himself on TV from the KSMQ show they did on Barn Bar, Bob realised that his hair needed to be cut - desperately!  Of course i have been hinting about this for about a year now, but what do i know.

Bob before:

Bob in the process:

Bob after:

IT'S LIKE CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP OUT THERE!

Yes, it's 88 degrees and the "RealFeel" is 104 degrees.  They are calling for a "RealFeel' tomorrow of 117 degrees!  Yes, that's not only cream of Broccoli soup but soup so thick the spoon gets stuck.  And since it is impossible to work in this weather, i might get some photo editing done, which is what i need to do anyway, thank you mother nature! yeah, right....

But chores still need to be done and since the external meltdown of my body begins at approximately 10 minutes after exposing myself to such extreme weather conditions, i set myself up on a course of accomplishment to do the chores in this manner:

• grabbing the milking bucket, i stand by the front door, just about to open it, taking one last, deep breath of cool air
• i quickly open the door, being blasted by a cloud of steaming, hot air in the face, i hold my breath
• i walk at a brisk pace, but not too fast as any extra exertion creates a shorter meltdown time
• entering the barn, i put on my light, long sleeve jacket ( I am extremely allergic to hay - any touch on my arms creates welts)
• I set the hay out, give the two horses their grain
• milk more quickly then a jackrabbit being pursued by a coyote
• return grain fed horses to the outdoors.
• at this point it has been approximately 8 minutes - meltdown is about to begin.  I can feel the sweat beading up on my forehead, i try desperately to remain calm.  Thinking too much can result into a full blown asthma attack)
• take milking bucket and return to house.
• when the front door is opened, milking bucket sat on the counter, i fall to the floor, setting my head upon the air conditioning vent and slowly breathe in the cool air. I do not attempt to move until breathing has become normal and all sweating has come to a halt.

I wait a half an hour and start again - i have to go collect the eggs now.

By the time i make it out to the garden again, there will be zucchini up to my elbows!  Don't come to my house and leave your car unlocked, - you may find zucchini when you get home. I'm just sayin' ...


 Now


ClearTemperature

88.5 °F

Feels Like 104 °F

Wind(mph)

1.0 

IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT AND EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT!

Yes, after the torential downpour that day, we headed on out to the Rochester Civic Theatre Patio for their Friday Night Bistro; our first outside gig of the summer.  But of course it downpoured, so that meant - our first outdoor had to be turned into an indoor gig.  Darn!  But we had a great time anyway, everyone enjoyed themselves and we made a few bucks.  Here's to Blue Monk on a Friday!

HERE COMES THE RAIN!

Yes, we've had another bout of strange weather. For what seemed like two weeks it was hot and dry, then a cool off with lots of rain.  So much rain that on Friday we had flash flooding around the tri-county area.  Although a cooler set out on the front porch may not be a good indicator of the actual amount of rain we received, this is what the water amount measured inside:

Yes, that is nearly 6 inches!

Then all that day i was preparing for market.  Since it was cool it was a good day to bake.  But at chore time I went out in that rain only to find MANY things waaaay under water:

Like my arena, and the horses dry lot:

But the ducks were happy campers.  The rain provided them with their very own lake in the chicken run!  And with the rain coming down like a cool shower in the hot sun, they preened and cleaned themselves in the refreshing shower!

Several of the horses were freezing from being the rain too long, because there are a few selfish ones that won't let the others under the awning out of the rain, so we brought them in the stables for the night.

Next morning I found the other three that were left outdoors roaming around the outside of the barn.  They had (once again) knocked down a rail and were upset because they were separated from their friends.  Someday- someday we will have fencing that will contain them, i can just feel it!

KSMQ's "OFF 90" FEATURING THE BARN BAR - SEE IT NOW!

Yes, it's been on the air and no - we haven't gotten any more "likes" on our Facebook page. ; )

THERE'S A PREDATOR ON THE LOOSE!

And much to my dismay - it has taken 5 ducks and a chicken or two.  We've never had issues with any predators before but i think this may be a small fox or something.  there is a small area of the fence around the coup that has been pulled apart, about 6" in diameter and underneath it is a myriad of feathers.  Guilty!  The strange part is that he took 5 ducks in one night.  They have been sleeping outside the coop on these warmer nights and i think they were stalked and killed in their sleep.  Doesn't a duck have someone stand look out?  Horses do - that's why you never see a herd of horses all laying down at the same time. One will remain standing to be able to warn the others of danger.  Well, sad but true, i am now down to the original 4 i had before i got the 4 new ones - the runners and the one Uno hatched.  It's a sad day cuz now Uno's the only female in the small flock.  She will be raped repeatedly now by the others.  Ducks are evil molesters. Maybe i will grab a duck egg or two and set them under one of those broody hens i got out there. Increase my flock, save her fromt he torures of male-dom.

Uno & Barry