“God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done.” ~ Anonymous

I’m not so sure about that as it seems as though every time it rains or there is a bit of wind, another section of my privacy fence falls over. I finally purchased the hex nut bit I needed for my impact driver to remove the screws holding the boards together. This week I managed to tear one 8-ft section apart and set it out for the trash. The section that had blown into the neighbors yard was pushed over into mine which I appreciated since it was too heavy for me to lift and move. Tonight, I noted a third section had fallen, but I was too tired to walk out in the yard to see which way it landed. I’ll find out tomorrow.

Below is a photo of a privacy fence idea that I found on Pinterest and saved. I like this but to add a bit of eccentricity to it, the wood panels would be 4-feet as well as each corrugated metal panel. Those would be joined together to form an 8-foot section. I’m pondering using old hinges to join the sections together with a piece of rebar running through the hinges, and then a 4″ post between each 8-foot section. I don’t know. I’m still playing with the idea.

Between training, the heat and humidity and doing things like tearing the fence apart, I am beat most evenings when I fall into bed. Some days the rain helps keep me inside to do the things, but then there are days when I feel like taking a few hours to catch up on my reading. I just have to remind myself that I work hard and it’s okay to relax for an hour or two doing something just for fun.

Earlier, as I was doing laundry, I was thinking of some of the books I’ve read that have largely influenced my life. The first book that came to mind (besides my Bible) is Joshua by Joseph Girzone. Based on the life of Jesus, this is a story set in modern times. This led me to consider a conversation I had the other night. The other party had concerns – quite valid concerns – about spending time together as friends and the ideas that others might have based on their likely erroneous perceptions.

Unfortunately, we live in a day and age where people no longer choose to see the good in just about anything and everything. Even the most innocent friendships are judged to be inappropriate or scandalous or worse. Which reminded me of the story line in Joshua. A single man, who lived simply and only did good for others was found by members of the community to be suspicious because he had no ulterior motives. Why does society have such difficulty accepting things at face value? Is it a testament to our decline as a civilization that truth is no longer spoken?

Much like my fence has deteriorated and decayed over the past 10 years the house was vacant (and probably a bit before then even), the world is not what it was 10 years ago and that makes my heart hurt.