Mending fences- A Metaphor for life or just another down-home duty?

When I think of mending a fence, the first thing that comes to mind is making peace with someone. And yes, we ALL have to do that in life at one point or another because well, we all have our own way that doesn't necessarily gallop in sync with another's way. I can recall a bushel of times that I needed to or was urged to mend a fence with someone. It wasn't easy, but the funny part is that it was easier than I imagined up front, every time.

But today the western winds of Texas brought another kind of fence mending my way. You see, I haven't given up the ghost in the department of doing my own yard work and keeping it as neat as I can, without hiring someone. I just can't bring myself to drop 1,000 for someone to trim up my tree or shrubs when I can wield a hedge trimmer or a pole saw as good as the next man. No, it is not about comparing strengths or skills with a man, it's about my wallet!

Just something about doing it myself, taking care of our "land" has Texan ring to it. It also gives me a great sense of ownership. My Granny Beverly (my Mom's Mom) did her yard work and gardened until she had to move to assisted care.

She got out there in the heat and took care of those plants and trees, and so often gave us transplants from her garden, some that still bloom in pots or in the ground at her kid's homes!

As I mentioned I come from STRONG stock and that resides in me today even when my body tries to tell me sometimes that I should just hang up my hat on it.

So today my awesome neighbor let me know about our shared fence and that there was a gaping hole big enough for Norma to get through. That always takes my breath away because I LOVE my dog. I have loved all of my pets and probably why they all lived past their expectation. Anyhow, I had to do something about those three branches that were shoving our fence in the direction of her yard leaving that big opening and find a way to MEND it.

Luckily my Dad,

who is my hero

always has just the right tools I need to accomplish a job big or small.

He is the kind of Dad that wants to show you how to do it the right way the first time! He raised me to be confident and stubborn when needed. I reckon it's probably why I want to do all my yard work myself! I don't own a saw yet or even a pole saw but he does!

Dad showing me how but letting me do it.

Dad helped me make a Bunsen burner!

He lugged his pole saw over and reminded me how to use it. So fast forward to TODAY.... I know there are other opera singers who do their own work without a doubt! But this blog is about ME!

Here are some short clips of the job, the action and the result. The result is TEMPORARY. I was out of nails, so I used some existing ones that had fallen as the fence separated. hahahahaha! Shhhhhh, don't tell my dad I was out of nails. I had to improvise. I might have nailed it as securely as I could and had nothing else but some industrial plastic wrap which I fashioned into "rope" and wrapped it around a few times. Fence is solid now albeit temporary repair. I had to get that gap closed so Norma would not hightail it out of the yard like a calf in a roping ring. Something about clearing out branches and brush that makes me feel so invincible, and HOT- no, not sexy- hot flash HOT. But then again, maybe a little sexy!!!!

Yes, I had electrolytes before going out in the heat. Yes, I had a neck fan Mom! Yes, I wore my cooling sun hat for a bit. But folks it was still hotter than a honeymoon hotel out there!!

Enjoy a minute of some of the situations of today.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/188b8b_697d7d2530294e8997a251bf0919b1a5/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Yall it ain't pretty, but it got DID!

Well, next time you can drop by and sit in a lawn chair and drink sweet tea under an umbrella with a box fan while I work! It's funny, this is harder than singing an Opera to me. But that does make sense, doesn't it? We ALL have our gifts, skills and joys. My thinking is that you should use and indulge in each one of those. Don't get labeled by your profession or trade. DO life as it comes at you be willing to kick up some dust and toss a few cow chips along the way! (Yes, I did toss cow chips when I was a kid)

Until next time and keep an eye to the western sky for some storms payin a visit!

Your Friendly Down Home Diva