Chris, Tino and Rebecca after Tino ate the drain cleaner.
Joyce ordered three new trees from her favorite tree people, two plums and an apple. They arrived Thursday, I think, and we planted them Saturday morning. Joyce orders what she wants and it’s up to my to find a place to plant them. I had several red maples Arbor Day sent free with some other trees I’d ordered and I had been toying with the idea of planting them northwest of 2005 but just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I don’t know much about red maples but I’m skeptical of any tree they give away. So instead we planted the apple west of 2005, sort of between the golden raintree and the big pine. It should offer a nice display out Kari’s back porch window when it blooms in the spring eight or 10 years from now. Continue reading “The triumph of hope over experience”→
The blizzard was rough on some of feathered friends
Chris and I were both out of town this week when the blizzard hit. Our women folk were left to face the elements alone. As it was, they were able to hunker down until Wednesday but then they had to get the Abster and Little R to school. Joyce shoveled our driveway in case Kari couldn’t get out but Kari was able to navigate the drifts. Continue reading “No man when you need one”→
We awoke to snow twice this week. The first time was just a ground covering and the second was barely that, but moisture is moisture. There are tiny remnants of last week’s snow while the two this week are gone. I put some pine needles I’d raked down in front of the chicken yard gate and used some bricks to make a path to it so Joyce wouldn’t slip and break her neck. We’re not used to mud. It has been wintery all week so not much got done outside. I assembled the bed frames for the second garden row. Working inside the shop out of the wind, the temperature is about right. I’m looking forward to next week in balmy Connecticut. Continue reading “Mo’ sno’”→
Snow was the big story of the week here on SA. It started snowing in the wee hours Tuesday and kept it up until about mid-afternoon. Never heavy but unrelenting, we probably got five to six inches. I’m guessing it was the equivalent of half an inch of rain, at least. That’s not a lot but a half inch can be a good amount for this part of the country if it isn’t too long before the next half inch comes along and it isn’t hot and windy. Anyway, it was a pretty snow and we certainly need the moisture so we’ll take it. In fact, we’d take another one just like in a couple of weeks.
Joyce has worms. In fact, she has a whole plastic tote of red worms she plans to raise and feed her chickens. She says they eat junk mail and table scraps and are particularly fond of coffee grounds. Their casings sell for $44 a pound. I suggested we convert the cave to casing production if we can get that.
Its reported that we’ll be acquiring a dog Tuesday. His name is Valentino, Tino for short, and he’s a boxer. He wandered onto the place this past week, maybe Thursday (get it? Valentines Day, Valentino) and Chris corralled him and turned him over to the pound but couldn’t bear the thought of him being destroyed so they’ll collect him Tuesday if the owner doesn’t show up by then. In the mean time he’s scheduled to be castrated, tagged and inoculated. Lucky Tino. Guess it beats what usually befalls strays at the pound. I knew Chris and Abigail, with Joyce’s support, would eventually get a dog. They had to win Kari over and I think they did with Tino. Maybe it wasn’t that hard. No doubt he’ll fit in with the rest of us eunuchs here on SA. John Henry is only one getting any action.
Thursday evening Chris, Abigail and Rebecca came bearing chocolate covered strawberries to wish us Happy Valentine Day. It was a chilly evening and we appreciated their going to the trouble. We also appreciated the strawberries.
Nice day Saturday. It started out chilly but the afternoon warmed up nicely. I trimmed trees and sprayed weeds. Yes, I know you wonder how I can stand the excitement but I manage.
Chris was up at 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning, sources say, to slaughter and dress his guineas. His friend Adam helped him, though I don’t know if Adam was on hand at 3. When I strolled down to check on them, Adam was handling the grisly task of extinguishing each guinea. Continue reading “Carnage on SA”→
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