Flower Patches

We have been making flower patches by the road for many years.  The last couple years the weeds took over and things weren't pretty.  We are doing a workover this Spring to beat the weeds back.  We've tilled our beds three times to kill the weeds that are up, and have seeded one bed to new flowers.

This patch will get another tilling when it dries up next week, and then we are going to plant squash all over it and hope that we can overwhelm the weeds.  Next spring we hope to redo it again and take it back to flowers.

Earth Day 50? Holy Cow! It's Always Earth Day For Foresters.

Never did care much for tree huggers.  I'm more of a tree planter, a tree counter, and a tree user.  I planted this one thirty years ago, and emerald ash borer doomed it.  Life's not all bad, and this will go in the barn for next winter.

                                                                     Chips. Not Dust.

Does the Earth love it as much as I do when a tree thumps down?  I never get tired of that, and the bigger the tree the bigger the thrill. Let's revisit our Earth Day Tree Murder video. We put it up on YouTube years ago and I still have no hate comments on it. 

Retirement Can Be Sweet

Sleep past Dawn with your little gray cat, warm meals, rides in the truck, nobody expects me to work, and walks whenever I ask for them.  A dog's life is pretty nice. Big Jack is 14, and loving it.

The Great Outdoors: Goose Island

                                                                 Click Photo To Enlarge
"I am not the goose you are looking for!"  Also, I saw some goslings on the pond this evening.  Soon we will be having great baby goose shows in the back yard.

Tuesday Torque: Let's Enjoy A 30-60 Oil Pull!

Sittin' Around, Not Doin' Nothin?

Nope.  Folks want to get out and go. Frey Produce of Orchardville, Illinois had a Watermelon Drive Through this weekend, and the line was running about 1/2 mile the entire time we were there.

Pop your trunk or rear hatch...

 ... and it's watermelons on the run!

There's a smile behind that mask!

People don't want to sit around.  They want to get Back To The Old Grind!

Patriots' Day Plus 245

Weekend Steam: Samson...

...at the Beamish Museum.  Almost a traction engine on rails, Samson was built from a photograph and an engraving of the original engine that was scrapped in 1904.  Thanks Merle, for spotting this one!

The Great Outdoors: Counting Tree Rings

This ash tree was in its early seventies, and if not for the emerald ash borer, it probably would have been good for a hundred.  Most of the ash trees in our timber died from ash yellow disease many years ago and I have to wonder if this one and a few other survivors had some sort of natural immunity to that disease.

Quarantine Fun!

                                                                     Click To Enlarge.

I made my best guess, and I was wrong!  Now I don't have a clue. Thank You, to Whomever left the surprise!

Still Two Burnin'!

The Great Outdoors: Doomed Ash Trees; Treat Them Pre-Emptively!

You know your ash trees are dying sooner, not later.  The emerald ash borer has been in Southern Illinois for several years now, and blonding of ash bark is common.  Wait until the trees are dead and you will have limbs raining down on you, and the trees will become brittle and dangerous to cut.  Wait a bit too long and your trees will topple.  Pick your conditions and take those trees down safely. We have a couple more to do this spring yet, and that will give us a good jump on firewood for next winter.