The floors need to be vacuumed.  Both bathrooms need to be cleaned.  Dishwasher is waiting to be emptied.  It's raining again and I can't go outside and play in the dirt.  Temperature is a comfortable 76.  So this is a good way to avoid unpleasant tasks.  

Last week I used the pry bar to remove the rotted step board, pulled the crooked nails out of the porch wood, and bought a new 6' treated step board at Wilson's Supply.  They made a 6' cut from a warped 10' board that would sell and only charged me a couple of dollars.  I stained it and allowed it to dry for a few days before screwing it into its new home.  

 

That step will darken as time goes by and it gets restained.  Eighteen years ago the whole house used to be that color.  I wasn't going to try and match it for one step.  I had another porch board replaced two years ago and it's darkened and beginning to blend in.  

Last week when I was in the garden pulling weeds and looking at my flowers, I came across this. 

 

 At first I thought that was the largest disgusting caterpillar ever until I got close enough to see it was a cucumber that had adapted to the small growing space it had.  The image in my mind didn't allow me to slice and eat so I threw into the woods for animals.

So many deer this year.............

I have to watch where I'm stepping now so I don't step on a sleeping fawn or wake up a doe in the back yard.  Most days mamma and her twins are grazing down by the large garden.  Yesterday a fawn was in the back yard curled up where the doe left her while she grazed.  Driving out of here is slow.  You never know when a family will cross in front of you.  

I have two female hummingbirds and one male fighting over the four feeders.  Many of the garden plants are getting tired and looking sad.  Slowly I pull up a few at a time and tossed them deep into the woods.  Greek and other basil still looking good.  Lots of different mints for my mint teas are in hanging baskets.  Deer aren't crazy over them.  No more planting seeds.  Time to take a break from gardening.  

I had more ups and downs this week.  Don't know why so I just force myself to get out of the house on those days.  At the gym today I got into a conversation with two young ladies trying to figure out how to use one of the "booty" machines that I use.  I showed them how I did it and talked them through the steps.  We ended up laughing and talking which cheered me up.  

 Tonight is dinner and wine at Enrico's Italian Restaurant.  Janice's turn to drive.  So that's life on the peaceful mountain.......................