I'm A Sappy Kinda Girl

Today was a good day, all tolled.

Tom came out and did quite a bit of automotive work:  switched out the winter Blizzaks on the Yaris for the summer tires, changed tires on a vehicle that's leaving Swamp River Ridge on Monday (along with his old '78 Chevy Man Truck which served us WELL for the $800 we bought it for more than a few years ago), and together we got the Subaru Forester out from where it was parked in the 'back 40' since we stopped driving it last year.  It's now sitting in front of the garage, but it still needs a little more work before Tom can take it and leave me the Yaris.  But, it's all progress, and we're moving in the right direction!  

After that, we got a good bit of sorting done here in the house, and I think we're both happy with the division of things.  So far, so good!

It was a cool, wet day, though.  After raiding my dad's stash of rebar last night and grabbing their "portable" fire pit on my way home from work, I was ready to build the grate I needed in order to begin boiling down the very first (in the world, I think it'd be safe to say!) batch of Swamp River Ridge maple syrup! 

I laid the re-bar out in the grid pattern I wanted.  Then, I used heavy wire to fasten each point at which the re-bar intersected.  Maisy didn't understand why I was doing anything more than throwing rocks for her.

Then, I got my fire goin' and put the pots on.  Maisy continued to look sad & dejected, pathetic & wet.

Since it's still so damp tonight and there's no wind, I have no qualms about letting the fire burn as long as it will . . . while I go to sleep.  And tomorrow will be another day of reducing the sap towards syrup!

Lastly . . . remember how I talked about those freaky, "ill winds" in my last post?  Well, I still haven't found a name for them; at least, not one that strikes a chord in my memory.  BUT, I have read some pret-ty interesting info about 'em!  (And "the reason is the positive ions produced by these winds.  In the case of these winds and ions, positive is not a good thing!")  Check this out:

" . . . these ill winds cause physical problems such as headaches, dizziness, eye twitching, nausea, fatigue, saline disorders, water retention, respiratory problems, asthma, slower reaction time and host of other even more serious problems. Mental disorders caused by the increase in positive ions are nervousness, emotional unbalance, easily irritated, apathy, listlessness, insecurity, anxious and depression."  When these "kinds of winds begin to blow throughout the world, hospital admissions, suicides, and crime rates skyrocket".  And, as Claire eluded to in the comments section of my previous post, some countries even accept "the blowing of the 'Foehn' during the commission of a crime as mitigating evidence in court"!

"According to the experts, positive ions rob us of our good senses and dispositions, while their counterpart, negative ions, enhance them, stimulating everything from plant growth to the human sex drive.  Whatever their name, throughout the world, [these winds] are known to blow no good."

So, what do we do to counteract the positive ions that screw us up?  We take a shower.  We listen to water.  We install a fountain.  And why?  Because "falling water creates thousands of negative ions" (which are GOOD!).  Matter of fact, "Feng Shui, literally translated, means 'Wind and Water'”!  "Negative ions reduce neurosis and anxiety, heighten appetite and thirst and stimulate sexual behavior."  They also "promote alpha brain waves and increase brain wave amplitude, which translates to a higher awareness level."

In short, get thee to some moving water.

And, with that, science class is over for the day.