Checking Things Off the List

 Lists. Throughout our working and personal lives, we have relied on lists to keep us on track. With our failing memories, they are more important now than ever. You may recall me writing about Barb and I driving across Canada making a list of things we wanted to get done when we finally got home. Well, we hit the ground running and have crossed several things off already!

First up was cleaning the truck. Holy bug carcasses! 8,500 miles of bugs, butterflies and a couple of birds were caked and baked on the front of the truck and camper. 

Next up was mowing the front "yard". I use that word very loosely as it is not a yard at all, just 3-4 acres in front of the house that we like to keep low so we can at least see the girls and any potential snakes that might be lurking around out there. It was over knee high, now it is ankle high. 

Next up was the hot tub. A couple times a year I will drain and clean the hot tub filling it with fresh water. I loaded up water tank and headed to town for water. Our water tank holds 450 gallons. Custer charges $0.02/gallon so for $9 I had enough to fill the hot tub and a little left over to fill the pool for the girls!

With the temps well into the 90's they really appreciated it. We don't have air conditioning, in the main part of the house so things get a little toasty in the house during the day. The inside of the house gets into the 80's. We do have a portable unit in the bedroom, so in the afternoons we will often be in there taking a quick cool off break, watching TV or just reading. It is not supposed to get this hot here! Looks like it will be gone next week so life should be bearable again. 

Since I already had the tank in the truck, I headed to Pringle to get some water for the deer and other critters. Since I was out there, I put up my trail cameras as well. 

Not on our list, but definitely an accomplishment was the day and a half we spent over at Kevin's helping them get the Bunkhouse in order for his mom's visit. At 84 years old, she is driving up from Arizona for a few days. The Bunkhouse is still a work in progress but is definitely getting there! 

Here are a few before and after pictures. 

There is nothing like the satisfaction of making a list and crossing said items off one at a time. In fact, sometimes we will add things to the list that we already accomplished just so we can cross it off! 

Barb has been doing her part to cross things off her list. 

Like, "Buy Breville" and "Buy Smoker"

Okay, maybe she did one or two other things as well. Like vacuum and dust, clean the inside of the camper/truck, restock the fridge....

Then it was my turn. Taking all the smoker components out of the box, I laid them on the top of the hot tub. So many parts wrapped like little presents. It was like Christmas! Although it is July and 95 degrees. But that was not the biggest difference between now and Christmas. Christmas is fun. This was the opposite of fun. 2 1/2 hours later, voila, it is done!

Of course we got together with our friends as well. Wednesday night, it was Dan and Bonnie for burgers at The Hitchrail. Thursday was Neighbor Jim (aka Prairie Dog Commander) and his lovely wife Carmen in the gazebo over at our place. Did I think to take any pictures? Of course not!

Later in the week, it was time to check the trail cameras. No big bucks, but some pretty fun pictures! It took me a minute to figure out what this first picture was. The feathers were obvious, then I saw the feet and the bill. This bird looks like it was getting ready to land right on the camera!

Then there was this little red squirrel who was happy that I filled the big water tank. I put a board in each of the tanks for birds and squirrels to climb up on should they accidently fall into the water. 

The only buck I got on camera was this little mule deer buck as he approached the water tank.

My favorite pictures were those of the does and fawns. This momma is alert to something in the background, while her baby seems oblivious. 

This momma had twins and was getting kisses from one of her babies.

Momma never gets a break nursing two little ones. 

What's the best thing about being home? So many things..... the hot tub, the gazebo, our bed, the couch, a TV...wait! It's the breakfasts. Yes, definitely the breakfasts. In the camper there just is not room or time to cook a good breakfast. Mmmm crepes!

Let's see, what is next on our list.... Oh yeah, we have an appointment with a therapist for what has been diagnosed as Obsessive-Compulsive List Disorder, can't wait to cross that appointment off our list!