our oxygen level was probably reduced by 10%

our oxygen level was probably reduced by 10%

I understand that controlling vegetation along county roads is important for safety, but I think in Jackson County, Indiana, they go overboard in a big way.

How much wood chomping is too much?

The tree line on the barndo property sets back a decent distance from the road. But the property across from here had (as in BEFORE the county took action) honeysuckle vines and what you’d expect to see growing in rural Indiana alongside any county road. Last week, it was early morning when I heard what sounded like a woodchipper.

It actually WAS a woodchipper and it went down this DEAD END ROAD leaving a whole bunch of unnecessary ugly in its wake. I don’t see why it was necessary to chomp so far back… especially since there’s no outlet — it dead-ends at I65. So much plant absorbing CO2 was destroyed, our O2 level was likely decreased. ๐Ÿ˜‰

county road crew's aggressive cut-back of vegetation

Jackson County, Indiana, is in need of an employee restructure.

It seems to me that county employees in Jackson County, Indiana, need a restructure — priorities are skewed in my opinion.

  • Such a big deal was made over a new driveway at the barndo. Remember that? (If you don’t, here’s the link.) I had no choice when they dug a ditch to avert water that wasn’t an issue for the existing driveway 6 foot west of the new one. Now I have a ditch to maintain. What a waste of taxpayer money for an unnecessary action.
  • Yet there’s NOTHING done about another property on this road whose sewer is absent a finger system. Walking by the ditch there in the summer it smells like straight-up shit. Maybe some of the county road workers should be allocated to the county’s health department instead?
  • Next, you have junk trailers moved in that connect to electricity by a cord so people can actually live in them. Old and decrepit “office-type” trailers and even travel trailers that can serve as family dwellings? Not allowed by county ordinances but not enforced — let’s move some of the overzealous road crew workers to the planning and zoning department.
    • Here’s hoping the newly reassigned health department employees recognize that the inadequate sewer is also being used by those living in the trailers.

I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here.

It’s said you should accept the things you can’t change, and it’s for sure I can’t reassign county employees. So I’ll just be grateful for the views I have that aren’t made ugly by my county — and that don’t stink because of their inadequacies.

beautiful horizon in rural Jackson County, Indiana

Now you know: Joro spiders, extremely large orb weavers native to Japan but introduced to America, are eating invasive crop-destroying pests such as stink bugs instead of being invasive themselves. (Wondering how I can get me some! Even spiders are better than stink bugs.)


well played sellers of the barndo… well played

well played sellers of the barndo… well played

Such a shit show over a tiny triangle of ground to buy this place. I’ve mentioned before that a new driveway had to be put in because of the property line dispute between a father and daughter. I’m pretty sure there is a conspiracy to make me hate it here — but it’s not going to work!

Creating a ditch I will have to maintain. Yippee!

Jackson County Road crew

Upon speaking to the county crew’s boss, he said he made the sellers aware that putting in the new driveway would require a ditch be dug in front of the house. Of course, the sellers didn’t tell us that. Dude said that little drain pipe would cause the entire road to flood when it rains. Whatever asshole. ๐Ÿ˜ 

Water runs downhill.

The new drive isn’t located on the little knoll like the old one, so it is what it is. The Barndo Triangle claims another victory.

TIL (Today I Learned): Persian King Xerxes was so enraged after a storm destroyed his bridges that he ordered the sea be given 300 whiplashes and branded it with red-hot irons as soldiers shouted at the water. (Wonder what his reaction would’ve been over a new ditch.)

And finally… sure hope my favorite brother has a fabulous birthday. He is really old… like a half decade older than me — his baby sister. ๐Ÿ˜‰


turning into my nanny

turning into my nanny

I woke up this morning around 4:30 AM and I didn’t get to sleep until after midnight. It reminds me of my Nanny’s sleeping habits — you could find her sitting at the kitchen table staring out the window most hours of the day/night. So here I am… a little after 7:00 AM… I’ve already showered, trolled Facebook, checked email and organized my upcoming work day. If I had a table at my kitchen window, I’d probably be staring out of it. Instead, I’m here and am just about to share a photo of my granddaughter and her cousin about to hit the Jackson County Fair. (I’m sharing a before photo because it was so HOT, Colette told Ari that her hair looked “creepy” by the time we were ready to leave.)

non-creepy hair