These Natives are Getting Restless

It's that time of year when we all start pulling out, going our separate ways, to our next place for the summer.

We will spend our summer in North Dakota at Sully's Hill National Game Preserve and Devil's Lake Wetland Management District.

As usual, I have mixed feelings...looking forward to new surroundings...hoping it will be a good experience.  We will be the only resident volunteers there (one pad), which is fine by us. Colleen has kept in touch with us, even sent a picture of what the pad looks like (it is nice).  She has given us a listing of things we will be doing while there...all of which sound good to us, including driving around to all the wetland sites...a big area in the Northeast part of the state.

We will leave here right after the Booming and Blooming Festival, April 11th and 12th.

We have never been to North Dakota...don't know what to expect. We just hope the temperature is compatible...I don't do good in heat.

Safe travels to all.

Until next time...

Raising the Roof

There is this old well house that has a rotten roof.

Today, we worked on removing it.  This was our big project for the week.

It was not our regular working day...but Wallace was eager to help.
Ferris Calderon is on the scaffolding...they were attaching the chains, prepping it for Darrell who was on his way with the excavator.

This is Darrell...he can do anything!!!  I told him, he is our favorite supervisor, and we have had many.  He makes our work FUN. We laugh alot!!!  He is pretty amazing and we are learning a lot from him.

Darrell is loading the roof onto the dump truck to be carried off.

Here is the well house with the roof raised.

Here inside are the new pressure tanks.  A few of the blocks came off with the roof.  We mixed up some concrete, mortared those in place, then added concrete in the blocks to set the anchors to hold the new metal roof in place.

The yellow base was painted after the purlings were welded together, then Darrell placed it while the guys maneuvered it in place...it fit like a glove!!!

Darrell keeps us ladies busy too.  Here I am securing the conduit to the walls.  Jenny and I would take turns...we later found out why it was taking so long to drill the hole in the block...the bits were worn out!!!  We learned a lesson that day...look for the little flairs on the tip.  We got a good laugh out of that.

I enjoy being Darrell's helper.

The way the top looks.

All we need to do now is insulate it...plugging all the little holes to keep all the little varmints out.

Until next time...

Crotchity While Crocheting

While it has been raining so much, I had time for some crocheting.

This turned into this.

Now, only six more to go, but first I have to finish it off.

All six are now finished (with a lot of crotchitiness).  I griped...alot.
Now I need to buy a Shaker box and ribbons to make the container for the six coasters to be stored in...one gets glued to the top of the box...7 in all!!!  Did I say it has been raining A LOT?

One more to show you that I finished yesterday.

This one is called the fanciful fans...dang, what a challenge!!!  I taught myself how to crochet...I have ripped out soooo many times.

I opened my Bible to Psalms, and this was where it opened to. The message once again touched my heart.  Thought it only fitting to use as the background.

This is our front yard here at the refuge...a BIG front yard.  I just got it mowed...the wildflowers at starting to come up.  You can see the threatening skies.

The last two days have been rain free.  I have put away the needle and thread...it is time to get out and about.

Will close with last nights sunset...finally a sunset!!!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

We have certainly had our fair share of rain this season...much like it was here last year.  We have not been able to get out in the field much...same as last year!!!

This is one of the roads on the refuge called the low water crossing. It  crosses over Coushatta Creek.  It is hard to see, but there is a concrete bridge over the creek.

We can't pass over the bridge now!!!  It has receded about 5 feet at the time of this picture.  We got about 6 inches of rain over the week end...mostly on Saturday evening.

Tuesday, we loaded up in the Ranger and headed out to check on a few things.  Here is a culvert that was plugged causing water to pool on the road.  Darrell found the culvert (or should I say culprit) and suddenly had it opened up.

Just another day on the prairie.

Until next time...