Some decisions this PFO makes out here at Blue Rock Horses & Farm are easier and more fun to make than others.  The cheerful sunshine, and huge cotton ball clouds suspended in the azure sky could not be refused today.  The outside office called,  there was Deere work to be done.  The rains were over and gone.

The Deere had a job to do.

Choosing to be outside on the tractor or inside cleaning bathrooms on this made-to-order day was easy!  Compost needed turning, both piles.  There are two piles out in the corner of the field.  One is ready to use, the other is still ‘cooking’.  Several wild turkeys have been seen excitedly  running over the piles gobbling up (pun intended!) chunky grubs, and wriggling earthworms. The chuckles have yet to make their way out to those compost piles.  They have enough near the barn.

The composting piles are in far corner of upper field.

The manure, straw, hay, and lime have been worked into rich, dark compost.

It has been said that dirt is what gets under the fingernails, and soil is what one plants in.  The Deere had aplenty of dirt in it’s “fingernails”, aka the tire treads, which required a cleaning.  This meant the next job was spraying off the tractor.  Taking good care of equipment is a must.  And besides that, there is no way that filthy Deere would be allowed to stand in this PFO’s barn!  Happy spring gardening!

Every woman needs one.  A tool purse that is.  What exactly is a tool purse?  It is a tool pouch that belongs exclusively to a gal, thus the word “purse” instead of  “pouch”, which, of course, indicates it belongs to a man.  Why, you are thinking, do you need your own tool purse?  At the risk of this PFO sounding slightly impudent, “Seriously?”  How long has a search been in looking for a hammer just to hang one little picture?   That could be very nearly a whole days work out here on the farm!

These wonderful little needle-nose pliers were easy to find—they were in the tool purse!

When replacing the blown nightlight in this salt crystal lamp, one could hear singing floating out the windows this morning.  Knowing where the necessary tools and equipment were makes repair work worth singing over!

Your tool purse is an important part of who you are.  Be sure to pick the one right for you!

There are basic tools that are a must for this special purse.  Here is a grand idea!  Mothers’s Day is coming up.  Ask for something fun, functional, purposeful, and the men in your life will be super happy to shop for it!  Ask for a tool purse.  Be sure to ask for: a flat screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, needle-nose pliers, measuring tape (retractable),  adjustable wrench, pliers, flashlight, wire cutters, pocket knife.  There may even be some fun, extra tool stuff they think you need to have!

Various sizes of the same tool will serve various needs.

Here is another fun idea to make your tool purse extra special.  Ask for some ‘hand-me-down’ tools from your dad, granddad, uncle, or an old friend.  One risks life and limb to dare touch the beautiful old wooden hammer in this PFO’s purse that once belonged to her dear Father-in-Law.

Grandad’s hammer is pictured here on the right.  The adjustable pliers, and wooden-handle flat head screwdriver were his as well.

Allen wrenches, tape measure, a level, and screwdrivers of all sizes are essential.

Many times small tools are given away for promotional purposes.  Keep them, they are fun, useful, and often have interesting memories to go with them.

These were promotional tools.

One thing to remember to do—HIDE YOUR TOOL PURSE!!  Once it is known where the tool stash is, it will never be the same.  When all the men in your family cannot find theirs, they will ‘borrow’ yours—for your sanity, and getting your jobs done— hide it!  🙂

A special Thank You goes out to Kay Acker.  She coined the fun name ‘Tool Purse’ from our working days at our Tag-Along Farm in Clifton Forge, Virginia.