In which the fence still isn't quite done yet, and I drive the blue tractor

TOMORROW is the day to bring the horses home.

That's why *I* nearly cried when Jim called me on my cell phone this morning while I was at the old barn doing chores.

"I hurt my back again," he said. "It really hurts a lot. I can barely move...."

Poor guy!

We were planning to spend the afternoon stringing the remaining wire, and assembling the panels around the sacrifice area. With Jim only able to offer helpful advice, instead of his usual strong arms, Willy and I were daunted. How on earth could we get it done?

The answer will not surprise anybody who knows me well at all: we decided that we WILL get it done, but we just may have to re-engineer some stuff so that smaller and less hefty persons can do it.

First on the agenda: Learn to drive the tractor.

Prior to today, I'd scooted around the pasture a couple of times, and lifted and dropped the bucket a couple of times. Today I learned to start, engage, drive, reverse, lift and drag and place and push.

With Jim's very careful tutoring along the way, I did it all: removed a railroad tie from a hole and placed a new post in a different hole, knocked a post out of the ground (on purpose!) and dragged stuff all over the place.

Since we couldn't hear each other talk over the tractor engine, Willy and I communicated almost entirely in sign language to move the posts. He's really quite good at giving directions to a total beginner like me.

Jim couldn't lift or drag building materials, so he carried the camera and took a bunch of pictures.

Willy drilled holes for the mounting hardware, while I strung fences.

When it was time to hang the panels, we had to lift together. They aren't so heavy, but they're very awkward.

We got almost all the panels in place today.

Tomorrow we'll finish the last few panels and string a few more wires and plug in the fence charger to make it all HOT.

Then: go get the mares and bring them home home home home home home home.

I'm a little bit excited.