Does this count as progress?

Now that all the routine mowing is finished and Whistlestop is looking very shipshape I have time for some other projects.  I don't actually have a list of projects, although I am definitely a 'list' person, as any list would be very long and therefore somewhat daunting and demoralising.  Anyway, the project chosen for the remainder of the month is to repaint the partly completed 'garden railway' picket fence.  I built this small section of fence about 20 years ago and it hasn't been painted since construction, so it is therefore looking very shabby.  I definitely don't want it to deteriorate to the point of needing repairs, so repainting is required.  I actually enjoy painting, but like many others, I'm sure, I hate the preparation.  The fence was mainly built at that time to define the area there, which it does well.  Having it repainted will definitely spur me on to continuing it along our main track, as planned, though perhaps not 'finished' as such.

Because it had deteriorated so much I have elected to scrape all the loose paint off, wash it with sugar soap then prime it, which is the white paint in the photo.  After that I'll apply two topcoats.  It's probably overkill to prime it, but, well, that's me!  The topcoat is allegedly self-priming, but when I continue the fence I'll prime the bare timber first anyway.  The idea then is that the fence'll get a good clean and one topcoat every four or five years, which will be relatively easy, so I never have to do all this nasty preparation again!  The plan back then was to build a rock garden with a G scale railway in it behind this fence, but while this may still happen it is well down 'the list'!  The completed fence will contribute very much to the neatness of the whole front area, leading the way, as it does, to both the Miniature Railway station and the Trainbarn.  The weather has been fantastic and I've thoroughly enjoyed sitting there painting and dreaming and planning.  I really like this whole area!

An item that I found very unexpectedly in an Antique Shop is this Fowler (Leeds) radiator header tank.

As the area where I bought it had been a sugar-cane growing area I suspect this item is off a Fowler cane locomotive, but it could also be off a tractor.  Either way it is a very interesting item and a great 'find'.

All in all I'm feeling very happy and positive about the progress of Whistlestop in general.  Slower than hoped for, but progress none-the-less.

Anything is possible

Today was one of those magnificent Granite Belt Autumn days- cool and clear skies, sunny and light breeze- where you wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world!  Also, The Mowing is nearly finished, which will be quite an achievement, and Whistlestop is looking really good.  It is really dry at the moment, as it has been for months, although we did get a light shower at the beginning of the month.  So I've elected to use the push-mower instead of the ride-on for a few areas because the ride-on kicks up enormous amounts of dust when it's dry like this, and I hate doing that.  So the mowing has taken more time and effort than normal, but as I said, it looks great!

As I mow I'm aware of the additional jobs required in each area- a bit of clearing here, a lot of clearing there, some long grass removed, some painting done, fences built etc., etc..  In other words there is still an immense amount of work to do here on the basic infrastructure, without even thinking about any of the projects such as the miniature railway.  There are certainly times when I wonder to myself if I've taken on something that is just too big, which is a rather depressing thought.  But this evening, just as the sun was going down casting long shadows, I took the time just to wander around the front 'train' area.  Yes, there is still a great deal to do, but with it looking so good now I realised that we have already come a very long way, when I think back to how it all was when we started developing the place.  It is happening, certainly slower than expected, but we're getting there.  Time, or rather the lack of it, is the main factor, with money coming a close second!  But there are so many jobs which simply require time spent doing them.  Probably the important thing for me is that I enjoy each moment, each day here, no matter how slow the progress.  I am definitely impatient to be there, but I need to relax and enjoy the journey too.

On beautiful evenings like this one today, it is definitely a pleasure to be on this journey!