Apr 9-10, '10

It was a beautiful day with the red buds and dogwoods out in glory. Since we had called off canoeing (because it was supposed to have been cold -- freezing in the morning) we decided to hike to a waterfall off the short cut we had been taking.

Teakettle Falls
I had confirmed that it was a mile or so down the creek we would drive through. No trouble initially picking up the trail, or man way down one side of the creek. But it was very rough going with all the downed trees. There were numerous places where we had to go around, over, and under the timber. Even places where I had to carry Tender over stuff. Sally wanted to go down the creek, but it was mess and I didn't have water shoes -- a big mistake. We got to a section where a couple of creeks joined the main fork and there was this small fall on one of them, but I knew we needed to go further. We lost the trail, hiked around, found a place to cross the creek, and by that time Sally (and Tender) had had enough. I ran on down, but came to a point I would have the wade the creek. Not willing to do that in my Lowa trekking shoes, I turned around also. I'll be back some day and be better prepared. One thing I was amazed at was all the buckeye trees in the valley -- I don't remember ever seeing them out in the wild like this.

Garden
Sally jumped right into the garden. She had brought some marigolds and a couple of bell peppers. Everything looked good and the viola were really popping, though it was very dry. I'm a little worried because there is no rain forecast for another week. The volunteer summer spinach, and other spinach seeds Sally had planted, are coming up strong. She picked most of the lettuce that had survived the winter and we've been eating it. Even the garlic cloves I had her stick in the ground the week before were coming up.

Mowed
I jump started the riding mower and mowed to the pond, around the spring, in front of the barn, and in front of the house. Thank goodness, no sign of beaver at the pond!

Clear Downed Trees in Creek
I took my chainsaw and loppers back down to Plume creek. I lopped, cut, drug and stacked limbs trying to clear a path up the creek. And then there were the briars. There was not near the water flow this week, and the creek was a bit mucky in places. I hope that once the path is cleared much of the small stuff will wash out. I didn't finish, but I got up to where these large cedars are across it. Later, I talked Sally into walking up the part I had cleared. But it quickly became obvious that it needs much more work before its a place to which she will want to return. I'll also need to burn all the limbs I've piled up.

Firsts
Sally and I both got our first ticks of the season. They just come with the territory, literally.