Lifestyle Blogs (2,464)

Life on a farm can be a pain. In the case of storms and hornets, literally. So where to start? Wisconsin is getting in on the bad storms. Tornadoes, floods, hail..the only thing we haven't had much issue with is fire.
My farm is in a very unique situation. Next to a river, across from the granite bluffs. Just a bit below is the Narrows. A cut through that channels storms below me. The storms come from the west, hit the bluffs, rise up and over and land a few miles past. One scary tornado did come upriver a quarter mile. It was born out of the black peat fields and went backwards.
Yesterday was heavy rain and some wind. I went to lock up the barn before it hit. Of course, chickens are la di da. COOP! Herding chickens can equal cats! Head to the barn, teens, off windmill and barn. COOP! Finally got them in the barn and coop inside except one rooster. You know..I dont care. Go drown.
Do a count. A rooster and few black hens short. So start to call and hunt. There they are across the drive. BARN IDIOTS! No, we want to go down into the woods. COOP! Finally have them by barnyard fence. Guess what..it starts to rain. OH! Now they have the idea. The phalanx V's at a dead run for the barn door, me behind. Would have been a funny video. Black hens and golden rooster running as fast as two legs can go. Got them in the coop and said now you know why I say coop when I do!
Now it is raining pretty hard. Do chores. Mule and sheep were in stalls ready to eat. Gee this is fun...stand at barn door and watch rain fall. Ha! Get out a plastic feed sack. Take knife and slit. Put over head. Shut of lights, doors and make a run for it. Why is it any rain gear always drips onto your legs? So back to house and clothes go over tub.
The hornets now....Went to shed, hornets nesting on tractor bucket arm. Sprayed and killed. Then 2 days ago, go out on loggia to feed cats. Turn to go onto deck and OW! WT? Hornet stung me at base of neck, top of spine. Look around. There are more. They have built a nest in a dried plant arrangement on cabinet. Got spray. Out. Go to shed and get other can. Spray fog. Cats get away! Next day walk out..OW. Hairline on left. YOU miserable %^*&*%^U#^& Spray again.
Next morning...eye is swelled, lid and bag under. Just what my old skin needs..stretching. I hit sting with apple cider vinegar. Baking soda. Ice.
Now I open door, peek out. See a couple hornets each day and fog in front. Farms..chiggers, ticks, skeeters, horse flies, stinging plants..why does everything view me as lunch!
And the topper. Tenant called me around 5. That maple that broke off half finished the job. But, best way..missed old house trailer and wires. Took out the old wolf pen and big gate. So boarder and I went down, tenant got his chainsaw and we cut through enough to clear gate and stand bent gate back up to keep animals in. Now I have to figure out how to straighten angle iron and save the gate. More firewood and work.
Today storms went north and did a tornado. Hopefully I am in the clear for rest of day and night.
Can I just crawl under the basement stairs and hide til next month?...nah..some bug would find me and bite.

Today is going to be a fantastic day for me.
Sun is just up.
I can feel it

Life as a modern-day Viking .... wait ...they don't allow the coastal amphibious raids and ravishing of maidens any more. We can only shoot the enemy, and any ravishing requires that you meet the maidens in a bar and buy them a drink first.

So, while the Dragon ships have changed and the rules of engagement have changed, the warrior spirit remains, and, of course, nobody gets out of here alive. So you might as well have a stylish send-off.




But, live by the Battle Axe and Mjolnir, da Hamma, die by the Battle Axe and da Hamma. It just comes with the territory.

What better send-off than a burning Viking Dragon Ship?


We all know how it works: the warrior’s body floats out into the sunset on a carved longboat, adorned with jewels, mementos, and possibly a sword or two. Attendees stand in reverent silence as a skilled archer sends a flaming arrow to magically set the whole thing alight.

Well, that's how I want it. Burning Dragon ship, my weapons by my side, the ship set sail out to the deepest part of the fjord. Along the clifftops. Topless Valkerie and Shield Maidens (carefully selected DD's or more gifted) sing my entrance to Valhalla. (in the case of warriors, weapons were included among grave goods)


In the military, at least some had the fatalistic attitude about life, and embraced it. Others less so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=HCCyvAwbbso

Damn right. Ever-body gotta die sometime.
YES: Immigrant Song: Valhalla, I am coming.






No Viking Funeral would be complete without the Valkerie Maidens, to carry you off the battlefield to the Mead Hall at Valhalla.
as in, Ride Of the...

(some do it better than others...)


(Others? Not so much)


Sometimes, it's better to ask forgiveness (and just do the freakin thing), than to ask permission.

Legalities of a Viking Funeral


Ya might have to settle for a basic Viking Pyre

…might turn out to be something else, than you hoped they’d be during the acquisition.

For me it’s an alpaca poncho in winter – soft, light, very warm and comforting – rather expensive…

…and a fly swatter during the summer: serves faithfully and fearlessly, cost pittance.


Those, claiming that you can’t buy happiness for money, are just misinformed :)

My Blogger family All Live Happy & Safe.

I want to know about what attracts Man & Woman.

Is that Beauty Money Status Character

Mannerism Kindness Generosity

Physic Tolerance Colour Race
.................. OR ..............
Blood Counts ......... ....

...... ......

Tag.} a n g e r. // AR ] Eng....et Cetera.

Opening portion of the L A S T ing formula..
....lmtd. attn. span theater....
..it is written, the dee jay of x mas future.) .
..must have range..& in the fashion of the daze..
If the bump R music is to become kinetic..
.7 7 1 3.. r a n g e.} ..syn.) scope.
.....3072..Yah is our right.
4 6 4 1.. } work of yah..} srn.) Strong radio net.
....20. math.) The set of all values of a given function
..thru-out its domain.- Webster's
....m....m....m.21...chain of Mtns.....} ....
27..draw up or arrange in rows or lines or position...
....viz..} ...z...once upon a time in the west./ wht. buffalo
..y.... positive Friction./ Donna the buffalo.
....x. thats just the way it is / Hornsby & the range.
.....( .sum things will never change.)....
St.] rangers in the night./ $ inatra...
...sea cruise.) Fred Ford.
1,000 miles away./ the heartbeats.
..A R ] everybody knows its a long way there../ LRB.

Standby..).

So I'm noticing the older I get, the stronger my connection to my Native ancestry on my father's side which is having an impact on not only my behavior but also my taste when it comes to specific qualities in a partner.

The hilarious thing is, anytime I ever post something with regard to what I call "Native drives/desires", it never fails, someone with European ancestry that doesn't comprehend Native ways calls me "crazy"

Just 2 days ago some dude on here read the part of what I'm looking for in a partner, and he called me "crazy" for it; saying I need therapy and meds, simply because I don't want to hear about sex. I mean, when you're in a relationship that part is obvious. It's not needed for discussion, in the moments you're together you go with the flow. However, that subject is so over discussed, and I'm burned out on men that don't have the capacity to spend a substantial amount of time discussing something more deep and meaningful, instead of trying to get off on our chat/conversation. I'm not into that. Either do it, or don't; but discussing it like there's nothing else to talk about is pathetic and boring. I'm sapio, and talking about that really doesn't take much brain power (especially from what I've heard from men in the past or even those that wanna flash unsolicited c*ck pics ). My kink is being taught some ultra nerdy ish, or super spiritual higher dimensional techniques. If the subject doesn't benefit the growth of my intellect or consciousness - it's gonna bore the sh*t out of me.

So, I'm wonderin if this is some sort of rite of passage or something. It cracks me up. I mean, back when the colonials landed here, they were calling my Mayan and Dakota people crazy back then too. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, is all I gotta say. I am of my people. Grant it, I am mixed blood however, their influence is very much prevalent with me much more so than the African and Irish.

I was recently asked what dreams I had for the future. I answered dutefully something.
Then I started thinking about it and started to realise that I have no dreams, I only have projects!
I will list my projects below.
If I was 30-40 maybe it would be a relevant question but at 57 and with only around 15 more years to live, not so.
I have done what I wanted to do and the results are now only a burden. All day long I work with a job I don't really like any more, but I can't resign since it's my own company. The company is difficult to sell even though it has value it requires a lot of work to take over for someone else.

My projects:
1 Sell my properties and move out of the country and buy a house with some land in mild climate.
The land I only want because I don't want any close neighbours. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life pulling weeds, watering flowers and cut grass to impress neighbours.
2 Buy an old American car and drive around in it.
3 Watch the sea and mountains on my porch and finnish writing my book at the same time.
4 Find someone who will bring me a glass of cold lemonade once in a while and join me looking at the view.
5 Write an testament before it's to late
6 Not fight to much when they carry me out in the coffin!

Weekends and YouTube were made for each other watching videos of famous (usually wealthy) people who have collections of classic or hard to find 'things' as rarely someone with money only has 1 or 2 of something.

Eric Clapton had a few dozen guitars, mostly of sentimental value, but some were really classic. Many were sold at auction to raise money for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. I recall the 1956 sunburst Fender Stratocaster used on the recording "Layla" fetched a half-million to an anonymous bidder.

David Gilmore (Pink Floyd) has an awesome guitar collection.
Joe Bonamassa cornered the market on vintage tweed guitar amplifiers.
Keanu Reeves has a warehouse where he stores his prized motorcycles
Drummer Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) filled a warehouse with drums of all years and flavors.
Brian May (Queen) is obsessed with VOX model AC30 guitar amplifiers, all in perfect condition. His stage setup is at least 6 amps that get checked often and there is always a few backup amps that go on tour in the event of failure.

My instrument collection at it's peak was only 5 guitars and bass guitars. 4 sets of Uilleann pipes. The pipes are gone and 6 guitars/basses are scattered around my condo.
I'm left-handed and salivate when I see a left-handed instrument come up for sale.
One internet based store sells good quality imports usually from South Korea. Before COVID, they had lots of stylish models for under $400. Inventory dropped off and now the new stock instruments are nearly double in price!

Focus (read: obsession) for me now is model helicopters and I've lost count to the number I own. I have 3 of a favorite model as they often sell out and it's months before new inventory and parts are in stock. They are (by some standards) cheap to be in the under $400 range.
Referenced by the blade length 330mm is a comfortable size for me.
I recently bought one that has 550mm blades. Extreme performance, hefty price tag.
They say "Bigger is Better" and I say "I won't be retiring this year"

(Photo: U.S. Marine pilot and war hero, Joe Foss.)

Earlier, I invited military veterans to share with the Readership short anecdotes of their life in the military, excluding the traumatic and particularly ones involving graphic death. Those deserve their own fora, and places of honor. This is not about me, but I will contribute from time to time.

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