August 21-22 '09

Garden
I had left the gate unlatched two weeks before, but luckily it had swung in and jammed -- so the critters had not decimated the garden as I had feared. We had 2.1" in the rain gauge, I believe all of it received the day before. We harvested tons of black eyed peas (some dried on the vine), jalapenos, a few tomatoes, lots of cherry tomatoes (volunteers), and a few large green beans. The butterfly garden was too much and Sally pulled about half of it out plus many zenias and beans (didn't see many blooms).

Pond
The culverts were dammed up 4 or 5 inches and water was running through the south one, so I called a truce with the beaver and just left it. The water was clear but dark, with only a few clumps of algae floating in the center.

Yard Hydrant
I bought a new one, deciding not to use the repaired one of Ben's since the two stand pipes I had both have the center scored (intentionally?) which would prevent you pulling up the plunger if ever needed for repair. I bought a 4' and wondered why the box was so big. It turns out it is 4' bury -- so is 6' long/tall. I'll now have to exchange it for what I should have asked for a -- a 2' bury (which is really 4').

I tested the other two hydrants down by the barn and neither one of them is draining the standpipe when shut off (put a full glass over the spigot and it should siphon it out). I then tried to blow out the drain by connecting a hose that is capped off, letting the pressure build up, and then shutting the water off. It didn't clear either one of them. I dread having to dig both of those up.

Work
Mowed all but the spring and swing and did some weed eating. Took the chainsaw up into the back pasture and began cutting and piling up downed limbs from the ice storm. What a mess. There were some big limbs from the large trees just below the bluffs: mostly walnut but also some red and white oak. I leave the walnut but take the oak that is large enough to burn in the stove. I didn't get 20% of it cleared. I want the brush hog to be able and get through. I also sprayed more sumac in the upper pasture and hope most of it will have been hit with more application.

August 7-9 '09

Lou
Lou came over for her birthday. She and Sally did Eureka, dinner, and then came to the farm. Lou helped harvest the garden, which really produced this week in spite of receiving no rain. I feel awful because I was the last one to leave and forgot to lock up the garden. I dread seeing what it will be like when we return in two weeks (after a Chicago trip).

Pond
The culverts were dammed again but not that much water was backed up. I broke them free but the beaver had it redone by Saturday morning. There was lots of algae floating around the edges, so I sprayed it with copper sulfate Saturday.

Volunteer Walnuts
There are lots of these all through the pastures, but I've decided to save the ones along the road to the pond. So I cleared the high grass around many of them using the mower and a weed eater. I hope I can keep them from being brush hogged. It will sure beat buying bare root seedlings and planting them.

Weeds
Now that I know what knapweed is it makes me sick to see all of it we have. I guess that will be the priority after the sumac, which I think I am getting close to controlling -- next year!


Coon Baffle
I rebuilt Papa's feeder and reversed the baffles on our wooden feeder. Will have to wait until the next trip out to see if it keeps those critters out of our bird seed.

July 31 - Aug 1 '09

Weather
We had 1.8" in the rain gage and got another .3" on Saturday morning. Its nice not having to water. It had been 3 weeks since mowing around the barn though, and I could barely get through it with the mower on the highest setting.

Beaver
They did their thing again, and I did mine. But Saturday morning they had the culverts dammed up again. That dynamite their den option is sounding better and better. Sally wants to try an essential oil to keep them away from the culverts. I just laughed. I did propose using a ditch witch to do the digging for the Clemeson pond leveler, but she didn't go for that either. She made the comment that she "doesn't think she would ever want a pond again".

Raccoons
The water jug seemed to work good on the green feeder. Next week I'll try flipping the baffles on the wooden feeder to see if I can win that battle.


Ice Storm Cleanup
I finished cutting up the split walnut above the pond, the red oak up above that, and most of the down cedars in the area to the east. Several of them were still growing but at a 45 degree angle. I've now got three huge piles of limbs and I got 7 posts -- two from some of the same trunks. The largest ones I barely managed to drag to the truck, lay the butt on the tailgate, and lift and slide them in. And then I had to unload them in the barn. I was wiped out. There are still a half dozen standing cedars in that area that ought to come down because they have no top. And then there is all the other acreage with downed limbs and trees. The picture is mostly fire wood salvaged from the ice storm.

First
Saw the first giant thistle of the year. One wasn't in bloom yet so I just pulled it up. The other I will go back for with a shovel and feed bag.