April 26-27, 2013

We received a heavy rain early Friday morning, and it was cool (Fayetteville had a late freeze Thursday night) and drizzly when I arrived. The rain gauge showed 1". Then overnight it sounded like it was pouring. Since I haven't tested the sump pump in the well house recently, I got up and threw the braker to the well pump. As it turned out, we only got another 1.5" and the well house was dry. But man, the creeks were roaring Saturday.

Walnuts

After getting the bird feeders filled, and it not raining at the moment, I decided to crack some walnuts. I filled a large bowl and then transferred them to a bag to carry back home for picking.

Split Logs

Being too wet to do much else, I decided to go ahead and split the rest of the logs I had stored in the back of the barn. I got them all but one short piece of red oak I am saving for Amanda (should split real nice), and the three hollow logs I had moved up by the side of the barn to keep Jeff's cows from going behind the barn.

Haul Rocks/Burn

Saturday morning was very wet with some trailing light rain. I decided I would burn more cedar limbs from the trees toppled by the tornado. I took the 4 buckets of rocks I had collected the weekend before, my loppers, a lighter, and some newspaper and drove to the bottom of the hill where I got the picture above. Knowing it was to wet and soft to drive any further, I parked and carried the four buckets of rocks to where the biggest ruts were and dumped them in. I could use 4 times that many.

I then headed over behind the pond to continue burning cedars. I was at it for four hours -- dragging, lopping, and piling them on -- and whopped by the end. I did get all the limbs back in this particular area. That leaves another big cedar that laid down right up a draw and the limbs from the cedar downed over the creek just before it enters the pond.

Baby Blue Birds

While at the pond I checked the blue bird house there. The eggs had hatched and the little babies were being guarded by their mother. They were cute.

Mow/Weedeat

I got the mower out and filled it with fresh gas, aired up the front tire that has a slow leak, and cranked it up. It smoked a lot, but it did run. (I expect it to die on many at any time.) It was really too wet to mow, but I tried since I wanted to run it for a little while. Right off the bat it threw the belt and I had to figure out how to snake it back around all the pulleys. I got it working and cut a little in the back and in the front of the house.

Then I got the John Deer our and fired it up, doing some weedeating around the house.

Pixie Delight

This little apple seems to be doing well, even having its first bloom this year.