Don't Wanna Hear From The Natives
Another pleasant May day arrived, but unfortunately the wind out of the east was blowing hard enough to create a chill. I actually had to wear a jacket while outdoors this morning until it finally started warming up this afternoon.
Once I had all my office duties attended to, I proceed with camera in hand, and walked out the front of my office and started taking some additional photos of the Kirk Apartment building, just so all of you would see what remained before the demolition crew started tearing into it, and once I'd returned from my morning away from office, I went back out and took some additional ones which will show you how much that demo crew got accomplished today, so if you click on the main photo, you'll create a slideshow for yourselves. By the end of the day, nearly the entire north wall of that building was down. I know they mentioned something last week about it being completely demolished this week, but if they're doing one wall a day, it'll certainly be carried over into next week.
I did notice they'd spread sand all around the perimeter of the building, and while that big front-hoe was pulling those wall sections down, they were spraying it with water, which they were likely doing to keep the powdered asbestos from becoming airborne. For whatever reason, every time I see that building in its current state, I'm reminded of those old WWII photos of burned-out buildings in European cities. After seeing that pile of stone and brick rubble this afternoon, I was reminded all the more.
Knowing there was going to be a great deal of noise and commotion out at the front of my office, I decided to play hooky and get some much-needed mowing done, along with a great deal of weeding. I was definitely glad to have worn warmer clothes because that east wind was actually making my nose run. I also had time to get the green area at the back of my office mowed, which was beginning to look pretty shaggy.
Once I got cleaned up and changed back into my street clothes, I had enough time to get those afternoon photo shots of the Kirk Apartments before I had to head out to my mid-afternoon showing. While out, I noticed there wasn't that strong odor of burn-out, so perhaps once all those walls are down, we won't be smelling it any longer. One of the passers-by said something about wishing she had a camera like mine, just so she could take good photos. I smiled and said, "I keep telling everyone it's my camera, and not me that's taking the good shots."
I purposely arrived early at my showing, just so I'd have time to give it a good looking over, and the moment I walked in, I was hit in the face with the smell of old cigarette smoke which appeared as though whomever lived there, was a chain smoker, and likely never washed walls, cleaned carpets, woodwork and windows. I also noticed whomever lived there, liked to punch holes in various sections of drywall. There's no question that little house had been ridden very hard over the years.
The mechanicals appeared to have been recently updated, including the wiring and furnace. The windows had been switched out to thermals which was a plus, as well as the permanent siding, but after my buyers got a really good look at it, they had to pass because they didn't have the time and money to make all those necessary improvements, just to get it livable.
The absolute highlight of my day, was seeing a very well kept chicken coop in the neighbor's yard, and wouldn't you know, there were about eight full-grown Rhode Island Reds which are by far, the best chickens to have, because they're not as disease prone, more people friendly, good egg layers, and winter-hardy. They're the George Foreman of chickens where you set them up, and they'll take care of themselves.
Just as I was approaching their fenced-in area, they came running towards me, and likely thinking I had something good to eat. I took three photos which I'll share with you tomorrow. Whomever the owner of that small flock is, needs to be given a gold star for how well those chickens are being taken care of. I can only imagine how many eggs the owner's getting out of them each day. Seeing them, has resurrected my desire to have a flock of my own, and what's the funniest about it all, not long ago I was visiting with someone about chicken breeds, and I distinctly remember telling the guy that if he wants an all-around good flock of hens, I'd hands-down go for the Rhode Island Reds.
While reading the news this morning, I came upon an article about the looming crisis our planet is facing in the near future, and that's when our average temps reach a certain level, and when it does, there'll be no going back. I'll have to find that article again, because I swear they were saying that if there aren't drastic changes made to slow it down, it'll hit us in the year 2027. I'm still thinking I read it wrong because that's only four years from now. Yes, we've all been hearing about the recent record breaking temps around the world, but to think we'll be in a downward spiral in four years, is now sending chills down my spine.
One thing I encountered today while mowing, was a fast-growing patch of Virginia Creeper which is another one of my despised species. I swear you almost have to get each and every root-end dug out, because if you don't, it's right back at it again. Unfortunately I see it growing all over our city, and especially in those areas in and around the many creeks we have flowing thru this town. Every time I see all those trash trees growing along our creeks, I keep wanting to ask, "Why are you allowing them to grow?", but of course the powers-that-be, don't wanna hear from the natives.
Tonight's One-liner is: Sins, like chickens, come home to roost.