process

As I am wont to do, especially when on the cusp of writing about most anything, I look up the meaning of the word(s) in question, even though I know the meaning(s). The word ‘process’ has several definitions and two of these seem to be going in the same general direction of this writing. These are: 1) a systematic series of actions directed to some end – 2) a continuous action, operation, or series of changes taking place in a definite manner.

With these two in mind, I have to describe myself as in process whereas it pertains to a list of chores that I want to have completed before Spring, with most crossed off the list before going to Texas in February. The pressure to do these is self applied but pressure nonetheless and what I seem to find necessary to get things done.

The beginning of the process was to make the to-do list – the start of planning. Then it is necessary to obtain needed material – if necessary. Two biggies on my list were to build retaining walls – one in the garden and the other in the rear of “outback” – the storage building. The necessary cement blocks were obtained – plain, ordinary 8-inch blocks for the garden and more decorative, yet smaller ones for behind “outback”.

The reason for the walls is erosion – both the garden and the rear of “outback” are situated on slopes. The wall behind “outback” was completed on Friday past – the same day a contractor installed a garage-type door to complete the building. All that remains to be done with the wall is to fill in some more dirt and a bit of gravel. The building is complete except for some caulking in several spots – and then placing my equipment therein.

All remaining to be done around the building is to make a swale to divert water flow away from the structure, level the ground in front of it and eventually pour a cement apron in front of the doorway. Then I can start on the wall in the garden – to be finished before tilling and planting in the spring. Meanwhile, much pruning is to be done – about half of the muscadines have been done and none of the hazel nuts – both need it before spring.

Also most of my blueberries need to be cleaned out and re-strawed – a slow but necessary job for good fruit production. Several other fruit producers need to be cleaned and pruned – figs, paw paws and a single pear tree. In the beginning stages of cleaning out the blueberries, I was also able to supply a young friend with some excess blueberry shoots to form a berry patch for his family.

Meanwhile, our trash compactor crashed into the past tense – must have been cheaply made – only lasted 28 years. With the aid of BIL, it was loaded on my small pick-up and hauled to the dump. Remains to be seen what we will install in the opening left in the cabinets – most of the newer compactors are smaller.

Mixed in with all the other processes were some baby sittings and other odd jobs. One of these was to install some lights and an outlet in the crawl space under YD and SSIL residence, not necessarily a hard job except for the cramped quarters involved. The recovery of the Spice is also in process – a long drawn out one. She and I are also in process – a beautiful one that has lasted more than 45 years thus far.

My personal relationship with Jesus Christ is in process and according to His Word; this will last for all eternity. ec