I spent most of the weekend, building, testing and installing a timer device for the horses paddock. (Last weekend was researching, planning, and ordering the parts that would be needed) The reason the timer is needed is when the horses are fed, one of them gets quite a bit more food, but since it eats rather slowly, the other horse finishes eating, and comes over and eats the other horses food. In the past we would lock the gate, and then return 20 minutes later to open it. But if we have pet sitter caring for them that would mean they'd have to hang out for 20 minutes while the horses are eating. As of 5:00 P.M. last night I installed and tested the new device, and it worked like a champ. Close the gate, and the latch is triggered automatically to lock the gate, a timer then starts and counts down for about 17 minutes, and the unlatches the gate and turns itself off.

I am doing a small father's day brunch that just got a little smaller. My FIL fell and has a compressed fracture of the spine. They think he'll be okay, but is in some discomfort and won't be released from hospital for a bit. I'm serving roasted veggie and cheese sandwiches on homemade foccacia and Ina's roasted shrimp salad (to which I plan on adding roasted corn and avocado). hhireno, I have one DD who is a vegetarian and one who was a very fussy eater (thankfully she's outgrown it). I never expect our hosts to cook special for them and always bring something instead. However, I have never been asked to bring things for them and, as a host, I wouldn't dream of asking someone to bring their own (but would accept if they offered - esp. with allergies or vegans 'cause I'm so scared I'll get it wrong).

I've been working on clearing out an island bed, enlarging it somewhat in order to change the shape (whoever cut it shaped it like a DOG BONE), and deconstructing a berm that was smack in the middle of it, covering flare of tree and generally looking stupid. Got all that done over the course of a few weeks, DH tilled the area, and I finished the shrub planting in this area. This coming weekend I'm planning on planting the perennials, most of which I took from my other house, to finish off the bed as best I can, and then moving on to getting the remainder of the potted perennials I have planted. I'm probably just going to plop them anywhere at this point and worry about artfully arranging them next season when I work on other beds; I don't want to have to store/care for them through another winter, plus I'm thinking it's going to be a harsh winter so better get them in the ground already. Have some bulbs to plant, too.

Bob, you made me laugh as my husband and son just had a similar incident with a ginormous tree which had to come down. They had it all planned out as they've been felling trees for years. I went out and said "I have a feeling it's going to fall towards the street and pull down the wires." They looked at me like I was nuts but they forget that I'm psychic. I went inside, peeked out the window, one truck with lines on it to the tree and my husband cutting. Two minutes later I hear a loud crash and the house shook. Sure enough the tree fell towards the street, wires are down and the entire neighborhood is outside. I stayed inside. Neighbors were not happy but didn't hold a grudge. They worked on the clean up till nightfall. The surreal line made me laugh too.