May 16-17, 2014

It was a cloudy and cool two days, with highs only reaching the low 60s. Fortunately we had received a nice rain mid week. The rain gauge had 1.75", and we received another quarter inch over night. The rain sure helped green everything up.

Showing

We had three prospective contacts mid week. One I sent my FAQ, and then we never heard back from them. Another couple was in Harrison, up from Texas, had been looking at property in the area, and was ready to head back Thursday but had seen our ad. I sent them directions and they were to look on their own Thursday, and would stay over until Friday if they liked it. I guess they didn't, because we never heard back from them.

The third was an extended family (brother and sister) who already owned property just up the hill from us where they were planning to build (two homes I believe). They decided to check out our place because it already had a house. We showed them around most everything. They liked the property and the idea of building one home up on top of the hill. However, financing may be a sticking point for them, as with many others, since banks do not seem to be willing to lend money for the land. We just have to wait and see what works out.

Fallen Giant

On the way in, Sally and I noticed this huge tree down on the opposite side of the ravine from the road. I was anxious to hike up and check it out, which I wasn't able to do until Saturday. It had obviously been dead for awhile (notice the broken off roots), and I was surprised I had not noticed it was dead given its size. I always hate to see these big old trees die, but that is nature. From the lower bark I couldn't tell what it was, but once I saw the shiny silvery bark on the upper limbs it convinced me it was a red oak. I'd love to cut it up since it would make some fine fire wood. It would easily role to the bottom of the ravine, but getting it back up to the road would be a chore. Perhaps a job for the next owner.

Other Dead Trees

There were two dead pines standing in the woods to the left as you drive down the road. They had gotten to be an eye sore for me, especially since one was beginning to lose its bark. I cut them down.

There are about three mimosa trees along the drive in on the upper portion of the road. They are not dead, but are being very slow to leaf out. I actually would not mind if they died, but Sally likes them when they bloom. I will be curious to see what they do.

Wild Turkey

When walking up to check out the fallen giant, I flushed a large wild turkey from a nest she had just below that tree and just above the bottom of the ravine. Thirteen eggs, just like the nest I found down in the pasture a few years back. I wonder if that number is the norm. I think she must have kicked the two off to the side when I startled her. She certainly startled me. When driving out, I looked back down from the road. She was not on the nest but I could make out a few eggs. I'll be keeping an eye on her nest since it is so easy to do from the road.

Garden

Still not much action going on, though the green beans were sprouting. Sally planted some marigolds and I did some weeding. It was nice not having to water.

Mow

I did everything on the benches, but skipped the road/pond since I had done them the weekend before. That and little weed eating around the house was it for lawn work.

Bird Nests

Unfortunately, something had gotten the baby blue birds/eggs in the house out back. All I found was a tiny tiny deceased baby. I cleaned it out, and maybe they will give it another try. Survival in the wild is tough.

Walnuts

I did another cracking of black walnuts, which leaves just one more and I will have last season's all cracked. I'm not sure how many bags I have picked, but I gave two to my folks, have two in the freezer at the farm, and two at the house. Maybe I'll send some to Amanda and John.

May 9-10, 2014

Sally had an afternoon appointment for Tender at the vet, so they staid back. It was a rather warm weekend for May with temperatures in the mid 80s both days. It was also very humid, partly due to the .6" of rain we received Thursday. The rain was nice, but inadequate for this dry spring we are having. There was also an extremely heavy dew Saturday morning.

Showing

I thought I had renewed our Craig's List ad back in April, but when I went to check it early in the week it was not out there. I re-did it Wednesday night and we got an email inquiry Thursday. I talked to him that evening, and he came over from Tulsa Friday afternoon. I spent three hours showing him around: the bluff out back, the visible property lines, the house, the barn, the spring, the pond, walked back of the pond, hiked up to the cave, went on up to the SE corner, drove back to Plume Creek and hiked up the creek, went up into the back pasture, and back to the truck on the road. I really enjoyed visiting with hime and he certainly seems interested. Hopefully we will see him back with his wife.

Flowers

There were lots of flowers blooming. We had Iris by the cattle guard, by the deck out front, and the pretty yellow ones in the garden and by the drive out back. The peonies were also blooming, and the daisies were beginning to open up. I try and mow around the daisies until they stop blooming – bu that can be difficult since they seem to come up almost everywhere.

Spray Pond

I have yet to eradicate the grass in the pond, but I have knocked it back quite a bit. It is probably better to get it slowly anyway since a massive decay can deplete the oxygen and endanger the fish. (I did see some large bass swimming around.) So, I sprayed again. Will check back next week.

Cow

On the way to the pond to spray, lots of the Clark's cattle were gathered in the corner of their property where the creek exits our place and enters theirs. But one young heifer was on our side of the fence! The top three strands of the fence there have been down or damaged since the ice storm 5 years ago when the huge hickory lost lots of limbs. Its hard to believe she would have jumped the remaining three strands, but that was my only conclusion. Later when I was done mowing, all the cows were gone including the one our side. Just using my hands and scraps of wire I found, I tied up one of the three strands not broken. Hopefully that will keep them out until I can do more. But without a wire stretcher my ability to fix the problem is limited.

Weed Eat/Mow

I couldn't use my brush whacker the weekend before because over the winter the pack rats had chewed both of my slings into little pieces and stored them under the deck of the mower. (Its just too heavy and bulky to hold by hand.) I had stopped by The Hardware Store Friday and picked up a new strap with a nice wide belt. It worked good. I used it everywhere (including the road and cattle guard) except for the hill below the house. There is no guard on it, and since I broke a window last summer, I am extremely careful now anywhere close to the house. I also mowed to the pond and back, and left everything else since the grass was really not that high.

Garden

The garden is still pitiful. There were signs of what I think are green beans beginning to show, but I suspect it has just been to dry. The garlic is doing best. The basil Sally planted the weekend before survived and most of the onions are hanging on. Only three spinach plants remain and they are small, although the summer spinach is beginning to grow although it is thin. I planted more kale seeds, weeded, and watered really good (emptied both rain barrels).

Birds

The baby blue birds at the pond had left the house, so I cleaned it out. There were still blue bird eggs in the house out back. Sally was right about the babies in the house out front, they are not blue birds (the ones shown here). I did not check the house on the hill.

Firewood

When hiking to the SE corner, I noticed the firewood I had cut and split but not yet picked up. I went back for it and finished splitting the 7 or so logs I had at the barn, and then brought it all back to the house.

May 2-3, 2014

It was a beautiful spring weekend with the dogwoods blooming and leaves coming out on the trees. Temperatures were great: 72, 52, and 82. Though the rain barrels were full, it was obvious we had had no rain in a while. With freezing temperatures behind us I put the rain gauge back out.

Hot Water Heater

Not having been out in a month, the first order of business was draining the hot water tank to get rid of the iron bacteria smell. It was done by the time I had the bird feeders filled and the front yard mowed.

Wildlife

This bunny was hunkered down right by the back gate. We hauled stuff in the house and even Tender walked right by him. After getting this picture I encouraged him to take better cover (he ran into the garage).

I later saw a ground hog behind the barn. He/she was carrying something furry in his/her mouth. I don't think they are carnivores, so maybe it was a baby ground hog.

Birds

These babies were in the bird house out front. I think they are blue birds, but Sally didn't think the nest looked neat enough for blue birds. There were baby blue birds in the house at the pond, I know because I had seen the eggs 4 weeks back. We also had blue bird eggs in the bird house in the back. The house on the hill had been robbed, but since one egg was left I could tell it was not a blue bird nest. (I cleaned it out.) The nest built under the propane tank lid also had baby birds of some unknown variety. And speaking of birds, there was an indigo bunting frequenting the feeder.

Mower/Mowing

The mower problem turned out to be a corroded ignition switch. I wish I would have thought to check that, it would have been much easier than hauling it to Bill the Lawnmower Man, back to the house, and then back to the farm. It ran and cut good except for leaving a faint gash due to a bent blade or bent shaft -- something I am sure I did last year.

Blooms

This wild flower was blooming right next to the driveway. It has many arms that spread out. We have seen it for years, but have never been able to identify it. A few daisies were beginning to bloom, and there will be tons more. My baby transplanted buck eye and snow ball bush were also blooming, as well as the huge snow ball out front. Buds were also on the peonies. Spring is a beautiful season.

Garden

It was so dry the soil was like powder. The garlic was the only thing really growing. There were a few small spinach plants, but nothing to speak of. None of the kale Sally planted came up, but one plant, a variety she planted last year, has come back but is still small. About half the onions have died, and the others are just hanging on. Sally did think she saw a few green bean sprouts. I weeded some, she planted more, and she watered. Hopefully things will perk up with a little more attention (and water).

Pond

The grass in the pond was better, but it was still a problem. I sprayed Cutrine Plus along the dam and the south shore. The shallow end will need it next week.

Ivy

For some reason, the ivy growing up the lattice attached to the side of the garage all died. I have no idea why, but cut it all out. There are some patches growing at ground level, so I guess we will start over. The honeysuckle is coming back strong.