Diary 5/31/13

What's going on in the yard? Well, my succulent planter looks very good this year. It has finally filled in. The climbing rose, Blaze, is blooming which often means there are salmon in the river.  Well, we have taken so many pictures standing in front of the bush holding salmon that we have come to think of it as a sign! And lastly, for today, the pond lillies are blooming. They close up at night and open to three dimensional crowns sitting on the water by day.

Diary 5/30/13

The weather is straightening up. Each day is a little less showery and a little more sun.  Tomorrow will be sunnier and warmer and then over the weekend it is going back into the 80's. Next week will be in the 90's.  The garden has been stalled out during this rainy period.  We have had a chance to fertilize, so let the growing begin! Meanwhile, the saw mill is still here, and we have been gaining as far as dimensional lumber goes. Still have to send the big stuff to a bigger mill 18 miles away, but all in good time. 

first two days lumber

lots of sawdust for animals and blueberries, slash for kindling, and another trailer load of boards to offload and sticker

Diary 5/29/13

I finally started grouting over last weekend.  I enjoyed the process and I think a pretty good job for my first time.  The grout color is pulling the whole look together nicely.  I am happy! 

Yesterday was a busy day with the arrival of a saw mill and crew and also garden help.  The weather was OK with intermittent sun, but no showers.  It rained in the night and a bit just a little while ago which is going to make for a muddy situation, but the sun is out now, so hopefully it will dry out before they start working. Cutting lumber out the short logs and tops from uprights are being processed to form floor joists and wall studs.  Slowly, but surely, the lumber is piling up as is the sawdust and scrap which can be used also.

Diary 5/26/13

One doesn't really want to say, "Happy Memorial Day". It doesn't make sense. The day is set aside to remember those who made the "ultimate sacrifice" as they say, of their lives for what someone else deemed important.  I, personally, have a hard time with the concept of war as a means of gaining peace.  It is right up there with spanking a child for hitting. I hope in the midst of the weekend holiday, there were some thoughts to why we have the day off.  I hate reading the casualty lists and seeing 19 and 20 year olds who on the brink of their lives have been killed for a slightly mystic cause. In addition, there are those coming home from the war to a life without a limb, with a head injury or an empty soul to think of as well.  To them I dedicate my thoughts and prayers on this weekend as their journey through Hell continues while

they continue their lives damaged. The Wounded Warrior Foundation is doing good things and I know there are several other organizations out there addressing this same group of men and women who need so much help upon their return. Please give when you can, and think about thanking a veteran today.

Diary 5/26/13

Worked in the yard some, at the back of our small pond.  We made a new area and planted a plum tree.  I put in a  watering system and started landscaping the edge.  We are setting large upright stones making sure they cannot fall over by any means and then planting day lillies as a border in front of them . I have some small zinnias and petunias for color to put in also.  It will take a week or two before it looks like much and I will take a photo at that point.  For now, I am happy to have some progress there.  I am still trying to clean out the top greenhouse from weeds and put down landscape cloth as I am finished with tending that area for this year. The other two greenhouses are filling in nicely and I have enough food for us for sure in there! In fact, too much of several things I am having troubl

e gauging how much will be enough. I will buy some cover crop this Tuesday and get the various turned fields that we have not been farming into grassland for this summer and maybe a more interesting cover for next year., something pretty but easy to maintain like crimson clover.

Diary 5/23/13

It was a beautiful day.  Clouds came and went and so it was great for transplanting. I am trying to get the rest of the plants I have started into soil so I don't have to take care of them in planters anymore.  I also transplanted Delicata winter squash.  I put a plant and two seeds in five holes.

Trimming the tops off before transplanting makes the little onions less topsy turvy.  I saved the greens to use in the fried rice we ate for lunch.

Dill and rows of baby onions

15 Delicatas should be more than enough for over the winter. The onions were coming up in the beds where I thinned them to plant individually outside.  I have Walla Wallas, red and white sweet Spanish.  I did not attempt hard yellow onions this year as it is already too late to get them to finish up.  I still want to plant some more potatoes and I read an article about planting late potatoes last year, so I know there is still time.  I hope I still have some seed potatoes that haven't totally shriveled up, but I did look into it yet. I put a few dill plants in with the onions for pickle making eventually.

Diary 5/22/13

Though it was not entirely a a wet day, it showered on and off most of it.  More substantial moisture was falling this evening and we need every drop of it.  I am sad that weather can humble us all and remind us of its power of destruction.  The floods last week, the tornadoes this, and earthquakes elsewhere are all forces we cannot control. So sad when children are involved.