tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67057780648501484312024-03-17T23:04:05.751-04:00Too Many Tomatoes My diary of gardening in Western New YorkSmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.comBlogger776125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-85405966832877300262024-03-15T08:08:00.001-04:002024-03-15T08:08:13.019-04:00Finish Work<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday I did the finer cleanup work around the West Side wilderness area. I raked all of the twiglettes out of the gravel drive and the mown grass area.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQiPz4EFdlI3F0UOFyTzpvEIVzkxNBnywTI7FIp3k0VekFv7sB2VgvUWSYU-Ekc1RQRWS6aFVgWqOhOIa7D46D0QP5dosAXsC0VvlaWSq2wb2BO2evaY6rhDQtN9scH1KVhaq52xbJWq6sU4nd-Gfj_K9KFp2ZzQ58wSM8uZvKKet9O9HfynfGT-dt6rR/s1474/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="1474" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQiPz4EFdlI3F0UOFyTzpvEIVzkxNBnywTI7FIp3k0VekFv7sB2VgvUWSYU-Ekc1RQRWS6aFVgWqOhOIa7D46D0QP5dosAXsC0VvlaWSq2wb2BO2evaY6rhDQtN9scH1KVhaq52xbJWq6sU4nd-Gfj_K9KFp2ZzQ58wSM8uZvKKet9O9HfynfGT-dt6rR/w472-h355/1.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I went in with a hand pruner and trimmed more broken and unwanted shrubs. There were still Ash limbs tangled in there. I used a leaf blower to clear the sawdust out of the rocks and generally tidied up our work area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwbl_QtdP6p071ABhvBq-zkpd7a9tLT1xIZMID6fBw2hSoJhtg7hxJMJ0TYU8a3C86Cq5UOI_bkFwniQzH2qzBKHUhzWcEXREEUE0DQqJaAGHwvQSwDo3DLMsagVRwpg5B5VQx6QQ4JxdfnDc9oewtaz0i6aHse3hL-8zIocW1huo6D-iwdVvAOlZ2KyB/s1408/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1408" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwbl_QtdP6p071ABhvBq-zkpd7a9tLT1xIZMID6fBw2hSoJhtg7hxJMJ0TYU8a3C86Cq5UOI_bkFwniQzH2qzBKHUhzWcEXREEUE0DQqJaAGHwvQSwDo3DLMsagVRwpg5B5VQx6QQ4JxdfnDc9oewtaz0i6aHse3hL-8zIocW1huo6D-iwdVvAOlZ2KyB/w478-h359/2.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found still more rose bushes but those I will tackle when we clean up after the tree crew removes the trees on the far side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmC3aPuH_bK0KLekEfmOs33x-eOmdO2Hc-mtzNwbXGfGuTXyUigjkS5xUL_cOyv7t5Dxt0eyhTFt_DvJPxKJ7IIm6aaSLzEb5K8ClfXnrYxs-2cLK1COmNCLLSm8ZBwaFmaIYAQZTbwzzfcAl35Q6Wfhc9ybuv6Zeq01cuvTTgCwRmXNFuIn1HeeFFaJB/s1366/Burn%20Pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1366" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmC3aPuH_bK0KLekEfmOs33x-eOmdO2Hc-mtzNwbXGfGuTXyUigjkS5xUL_cOyv7t5Dxt0eyhTFt_DvJPxKJ7IIm6aaSLzEb5K8ClfXnrYxs-2cLK1COmNCLLSm8ZBwaFmaIYAQZTbwzzfcAl35Q6Wfhc9ybuv6Zeq01cuvTTgCwRmXNFuIn1HeeFFaJB/w479-h356/Burn%20Pile.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have a pile started in the edge of the woods for the next burn. We will relocate it with the tractor when the ground firms up. No burning now until May 15th. Above is what remains of our last brush pile. The coals continued to burn down until it is almost completely flat. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTNjwXNXvEqmyeDy1D8JQYq4YvKruoUGmefjmbtkwvbJ6ILyJAWyn5dbekS4_JBBGID-FZhtmwu9TPkG36AHJaVrlyzcZVNpXhE-MFPrVXYunZVzJNDPS4_sIjokwpcjM6ZrxTiMtY4yEjNkrO9vWLyfhG8ZIkF_OETtCRx_KRru3912RcnX8or0wa_CQ/s1346/Alliums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1346" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTNjwXNXvEqmyeDy1D8JQYq4YvKruoUGmefjmbtkwvbJ6ILyJAWyn5dbekS4_JBBGID-FZhtmwu9TPkG36AHJaVrlyzcZVNpXhE-MFPrVXYunZVzJNDPS4_sIjokwpcjM6ZrxTiMtY4yEjNkrO9vWLyfhG8ZIkF_OETtCRx_KRru3912RcnX8or0wa_CQ/w477-h353/Alliums.jpg" width="477" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Allium bulbs I planted last fall have come up nicely. I'm excited to see those flowers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZGK9Axfxg-nc5v5oOmP0d9JQ07ajeDc4waNQA2I0L9zvKOmpwZUhWf53W5VfxB8VPbJcds0CIfwR3yvEjmfOYGH5thJL1AgEk7acdYa2OykS0bPHj7PtzAO2Pv2aiGSTrZiavwS2DBHolMf_LVvQlUNONi6iCqKlT80XxOvopyydV5D3yThDsKyyBKtq/s804/Peony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="676" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZGK9Axfxg-nc5v5oOmP0d9JQ07ajeDc4waNQA2I0L9zvKOmpwZUhWf53W5VfxB8VPbJcds0CIfwR3yvEjmfOYGH5thJL1AgEk7acdYa2OykS0bPHj7PtzAO2Pv2aiGSTrZiavwS2DBHolMf_LVvQlUNONi6iCqKlT80XxOvopyydV5D3yThDsKyyBKtq/w409-h486/Peony.jpg" width="409" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The large Peony that I <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2023/08/moving-things.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">transplanted last summer</a> has survived and is putting out some little red buds. I was a little concerned about it but it seems to be fine. Now I feel comfortable buying a support for it. I wasn't going to bother if it didn't survive the move. I don't expect it to be as large as usual but it shouldn't take long to settle in.</div><br /><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-58772701876324091042024-03-14T08:58:00.001-04:002024-03-14T08:58:07.073-04:00The Next Step - Border Trees<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next step in our tree journey is the property line trees. These are all very one sided and misshapen. There are a few dead Ash, a one sided Red Oak, one Hemlock and a handful of aging Maples. The first two are well on our side of the line, but there are four large and dangerous Maple trees that are either on or beyond the property line. The neighbors agree that they need to come out so we can continue revamping this area.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzWv2jSQXEFKI1kD7C7ry8mwTetT6QJLiJQueDwCmBiqKB_gLKL5dtbtk2VFzuBkj1OhxK64K-JsovN-Cx5BJQcSl9ggQJ1rCiZA9vEao4Ff0ooOVtxjXp8ahlaZ5F1g9DYOXBqUZkv0r51qxBMcH6myoxzyDebMWoIEhNwV2SxPZKRRl4I6_d6JQUC43/s1471/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1471" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzWv2jSQXEFKI1kD7C7ry8mwTetT6QJLiJQueDwCmBiqKB_gLKL5dtbtk2VFzuBkj1OhxK64K-JsovN-Cx5BJQcSl9ggQJ1rCiZA9vEao4Ff0ooOVtxjXp8ahlaZ5F1g9DYOXBqUZkv0r51qxBMcH6myoxzyDebMWoIEhNwV2SxPZKRRl4I6_d6JQUC43/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Property Line in Red</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While the trunks do provide some visual screening, when you look at them you realize that they need to come out. With the Maple tops dying and getting so punky, they are more dangerous than we want to deal with. Also, when you fell them into the lawn they explode into a million pieces and the tops have to be burned. We have called <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2020/03/meanwhile-at-our-house-yard-work.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our usual</a> crane equipped tree cutters and they will be cutting them within a few weeks. They will chip the tops and leave the firewood. What would be three or four days work for us turns into half a day for them. Well worth the money.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDb15whQIlAJ7ZdME-q6gWQKWEidTsCwT9-sRGEvandq-XdglToEXk9KMMtBpa40OREGnODLPjZPKFqR8mzWtoIFkppw3J-_-Yu3c9UbAcS9VYSliK1W-gUdBohdKJnDdD_-HzrTWBhTv7jqwyLHU31sEHCCJA8wGsvZWwT0HJ6H1je2RVTalhR-gUMo6/s1354/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1354" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDb15whQIlAJ7ZdME-q6gWQKWEidTsCwT9-sRGEvandq-XdglToEXk9KMMtBpa40OREGnODLPjZPKFqR8mzWtoIFkppw3J-_-Yu3c9UbAcS9VYSliK1W-gUdBohdKJnDdD_-HzrTWBhTv7jqwyLHU31sEHCCJA8wGsvZWwT0HJ6H1je2RVTalhR-gUMo6/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While we are preserving the undergrowth, this will change the amount of light that gets in there quite a bit. Conventional wisdom would have us digging stumps, clearing the area with a bulldozer, bringing in fill dirt, and spending thousands of dollars on sizeable shrubs. Or, we could just put in a privacy fence. Both of those options would cost a lot of money. The replanting of shrubs would take a considerable amount of time for them to reach mature height and provide a screen. And the fence would be...well, a vinyl wall. I'd rather utilize the mature growth that is already there and have a natural habitat for the birds and butterflies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6xDSulsI8kMn_cPjF7tyNd5s8m8FqaUuqvaNJpl_oBt3teWNRszoZ6VrGwV6v02sXryyFZeEJkhDDuP3I2OS-pK2RC0rXErwGOTVtGLA52Cd5lDDu92vchfNVDE3rhD0AQr8LRiPJ_vry2sPnDUCma_kxZjdlwg7eUDs6mHgOsUXibYR2ewWdVrzrO44/s768/Spice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6xDSulsI8kMn_cPjF7tyNd5s8m8FqaUuqvaNJpl_oBt3teWNRszoZ6VrGwV6v02sXryyFZeEJkhDDuP3I2OS-pK2RC0rXErwGOTVtGLA52Cd5lDDu92vchfNVDE3rhD0AQr8LRiPJ_vry2sPnDUCma_kxZjdlwg7eUDs6mHgOsUXibYR2ewWdVrzrO44/s320/Spice.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.gurneys.com/product/spicebush" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Northern Spicebush</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have ordered a few bareroot shrubs to start with taking advantage of spring sales and coupons. Bareroot is the most cost effective but they will have to be potted up for awhile until the carnage is complete and they can be safely placed in their permanent homes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZv1Re1YqD8oqQ44Y7fz283YKDuGe5J6bVCj-XCLxngRqDzfdLxbPj3XMY98Df2kLgUGFXoQtiL2j6z63MMOJiQtTjUKZI_AasV30PS5c06WF7gHDVTgfyR2BtSpHSm-vrqpc4r9zhSeqVVaIiECh1_qGm4LShcjz1wcxj3h7zoaluQMHX9F3xwL2nVXB/s720/Aronia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZv1Re1YqD8oqQ44Y7fz283YKDuGe5J6bVCj-XCLxngRqDzfdLxbPj3XMY98Df2kLgUGFXoQtiL2j6z63MMOJiQtTjUKZI_AasV30PS5c06WF7gHDVTgfyR2BtSpHSm-vrqpc4r9zhSeqVVaIiECh1_qGm4LShcjz1wcxj3h7zoaluQMHX9F3xwL2nVXB/s320/Aronia.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.gurneys.com/product/aronia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aronia Berry</a> or Chokeberry<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">My priority has been native shrubs with berries for the birds, but the neighbor liked the sound of some Lilacs. Stark Brothers has a good deal on lilac whips. That will also ease my conscience about <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2023/07/out-with-old.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">taking out the hundred year old Lilac</a> bush.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmKPyKqZk0iH10oTFuw1DGkiyB9howqTqewy6Vnvi01zJsvHkBljVcqscOl1_YwueUySxalk-eZCdYHrp9ks-IYGXPQ49pAHW4HYl4i0gIcpe-lgvaPjEuqB00lm7-VTNctHBm7_IV3V1cE73UQS2CVtDckMM76Jab021Cmc3e8hbZa_b31xyycEW_gww/s800/1974-960x960.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmKPyKqZk0iH10oTFuw1DGkiyB9howqTqewy6Vnvi01zJsvHkBljVcqscOl1_YwueUySxalk-eZCdYHrp9ks-IYGXPQ49pAHW4HYl4i0gIcpe-lgvaPjEuqB00lm7-VTNctHBm7_IV3V1cE73UQS2CVtDckMM76Jab021Cmc3e8hbZa_b31xyycEW_gww/s320/1974-960x960.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.starkbros.com/products/garden-plants/lilacs/fragrant-purple-lilac" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilac</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will continue to keep my eyes open on good deals for similar shrubs. There will be some fairly wide open spaces in there which will be perfect for establishing new shrubs.</div><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-42587967812616613592024-03-13T17:05:00.000-04:002024-03-13T17:05:01.449-04:00I Hate Rose Bushes<p> Today we spent a few hours grubbing multiflora rose bushes out with a mattock. It was too wet to get the tractor in there. Some of them were up in the trees thirty or more feet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGsDSAe-2wlZLJZl-CcvhkSaU_sWkxeCK3UlCw4dQiHHvAwMPnAP6fPcbqqal4K7ELKzOsh6UnGuN-dYxPB2EcVA_D_2Sh0hI8nfLW33ka1QPUe3sQ8EkWjdCXn8etPXBqZiGBMawDFxEkJrAzHt6YSN_Ia9QvW53YzzjYltPppczMgdrlART-0Xr-uS5/s1294/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1294" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGsDSAe-2wlZLJZl-CcvhkSaU_sWkxeCK3UlCw4dQiHHvAwMPnAP6fPcbqqal4K7ELKzOsh6UnGuN-dYxPB2EcVA_D_2Sh0hI8nfLW33ka1QPUe3sQ8EkWjdCXn8etPXBqZiGBMawDFxEkJrAzHt6YSN_Ia9QvW53YzzjYltPppczMgdrlART-0Xr-uS5/w515-h336/1.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That ^ is about half of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9t5mxFobZbcf7D_NIuqzVtk49O4Z6hBWgzPqObPNh1OsbP60G-0S9k9ayZfu02jCJ_WakGTd64XGGL1OexRrw6vxTlv-a-pBEDBoD3NxcEB7ML0tZcNuFULOtISlSt-gcorsmTC_nw1g5pujv08z8yoLg7zJgQ6kx40sFcrgXMPILRUy-uCZDqZnrEDA/s578/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="578" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9t5mxFobZbcf7D_NIuqzVtk49O4Z6hBWgzPqObPNh1OsbP60G-0S9k9ayZfu02jCJ_WakGTd64XGGL1OexRrw6vxTlv-a-pBEDBoD3NxcEB7ML0tZcNuFULOtISlSt-gcorsmTC_nw1g5pujv08z8yoLg7zJgQ6kx40sFcrgXMPILRUy-uCZDqZnrEDA/w521-h337/4.jpg" width="521" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That^ is the other half</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYSyJEvuy-nt_euRFinNXd4idnylrPZovg50Gdb2tKgQRHQORgBIqVt-Ip0r5FE4jwZ6e8S16-xJj151sYtUfcXTJ_JJTpQty5mgijJLCtcLX02bGTo_9edZ0P2Nj_Fg2jz6vH5uGeEviyWE8OHBHseJXQ4Z27a4stZI2p0yBzEEgxqNTe4rMxN7FzR60/s909/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="909" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYSyJEvuy-nt_euRFinNXd4idnylrPZovg50Gdb2tKgQRHQORgBIqVt-Ip0r5FE4jwZ6e8S16-xJj151sYtUfcXTJ_JJTpQty5mgijJLCtcLX02bGTo_9edZ0P2Nj_Fg2jz6vH5uGeEviyWE8OHBHseJXQ4Z27a4stZI2p0yBzEEgxqNTe4rMxN7FzR60/w518-h368/2.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We crunched them up with the tractor and stuck them away for later disposal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3BsW36choVcKpI2tt41jrN0T9XotcQt54KD_9bii853hq-xdnzE6Qh7MVIQfBh87ITmGPVwYCEtRch30ndpCnW0P8yc1wr8dYe0XnEgcjYhf4j7pC6L7d-WTUFkZgL-3pVJCfnM_9THGmEtxPpjpLPyl1ACvKUmWPoq8zwe2pqjLBR-zhKVH1aW_Mne1/s1452/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1452" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3BsW36choVcKpI2tt41jrN0T9XotcQt54KD_9bii853hq-xdnzE6Qh7MVIQfBh87ITmGPVwYCEtRch30ndpCnW0P8yc1wr8dYe0XnEgcjYhf4j7pC6L7d-WTUFkZgL-3pVJCfnM_9THGmEtxPpjpLPyl1ACvKUmWPoq8zwe2pqjLBR-zhKVH1aW_Mne1/w518-h387/3.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It looks much better. I plan to plant some native shrubs like chokeberry and spicebush in here when we get everything squared away.</div><br /><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-75710867744615489492024-03-11T08:44:00.001-04:002024-03-11T08:44:39.303-04:00Spring Weather<p style="text-align: center;"> It is supposed to be 60 degrees again tomorrow. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAWaJ3RFVXqANtqkqoa7_NC5ofItrswZlzCj-9dZhpnXESakEHqJFz_WYWrwxOimQN5MGtjot6HejqtGmVd-4-FGfdBPoBEwOHiMqdkS96JpvlDQ0n6bbjOjSYUdjbMrO5sEIhMgDO-bMV5t0D8-LtFI_mq2QgCjYNZMARhyphenhypheneeX0OB4usM618es62AmzN/s2229/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="2229" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAWaJ3RFVXqANtqkqoa7_NC5ofItrswZlzCj-9dZhpnXESakEHqJFz_WYWrwxOimQN5MGtjot6HejqtGmVd-4-FGfdBPoBEwOHiMqdkS96JpvlDQ0n6bbjOjSYUdjbMrO5sEIhMgDO-bMV5t0D8-LtFI_mq2QgCjYNZMARhyphenhypheneeX0OB4usM618es62AmzN/w477-h351/1.jpg" width="477" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">And then we can go back to sitting outside.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehVERSb7W819JdyEC3UcCVaizQVp-nkuSmnyvWwqZ5vYgzvAlpSscncbziQLTkGPbp3CMu0FOv3iV2RHwHCs6ukTudMaQDEyVXS_6UinTIQrOag0CLbaz4kZL-FMI3A4dhonoOto-vl9tntjC_FPAkBk_ztPry3V6Dst9AdXJwiCxeZOOKhUQmQCitg06/s2373/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="2373" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehVERSb7W819JdyEC3UcCVaizQVp-nkuSmnyvWwqZ5vYgzvAlpSscncbziQLTkGPbp3CMu0FOv3iV2RHwHCs6ukTudMaQDEyVXS_6UinTIQrOag0CLbaz4kZL-FMI3A4dhonoOto-vl9tntjC_FPAkBk_ztPry3V6Dst9AdXJwiCxeZOOKhUQmQCitg06/w471-h353/2.jpg" width="471" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Typically, this time of morning, I would be out on my walk. I even bundled up and was on the way out the door when my husband, who starts before me, came hurrying back saying "don't even try it". The roads are a sheet of ice. The sun is breaking through and maybe I'll go out later when the melt begins. But for now, its back indoors for awhile. Typical spring weather. As long as it doesn't do this in May I'm fine with it. We need the moisture.</div><br /><p><br /></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-90424399967042314282024-03-09T07:46:00.002-05:002024-03-09T07:46:34.580-05:00Divide and Conquer<p> A wet and soggy spring is the perfect time to divide or relocate perennials. The ground is soft and they can wake up in their new spots and start growing without being set back by a move.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYGlmkMNz-wMAphAywAG9-Nhtv58k9a-6B6PF7CMwmkv7HJwtVeQ0ZDGvMszKJyXGorri2QGHgT6vlvkA2bW7tRXzj97iPYSlEPjrVnn30Xy1qfCdbLcl0WTd454rHTCnx4CaRzYpQMtVuc6AIqCHswiH7nHfweLOTGAWQjnyM7KQXFdWzY3r9O7vkevc/s1215/BES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1215" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYGlmkMNz-wMAphAywAG9-Nhtv58k9a-6B6PF7CMwmkv7HJwtVeQ0ZDGvMszKJyXGorri2QGHgT6vlvkA2bW7tRXzj97iPYSlEPjrVnn30Xy1qfCdbLcl0WTd454rHTCnx4CaRzYpQMtVuc6AIqCHswiH7nHfweLOTGAWQjnyM7KQXFdWzY3r9O7vkevc/w483-h356/BES.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last fall when we cut back the foliage I attempted to divide this huge Black Eyed Susan. It just wasn't going to happen. The hard root ball simply deflected my transplant spade. I decided to wait until spring hoping that saturated soil and dormant roots would be a little easier to deal with. And I carried a large butcher knife with me just in case. I figured if all else failed I could stab it down the middle to make way for my spade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMbq6FONw_QCA_ZH5DllSY8NlCd4HvSw7VkVpfoK0DxvuiMjU0_KpY1F3sUZg7GsnQav99GcyALxBUGrXtt2VkGC_zB8HTpstXh9P0TxT0yhP4hVmqWnycNL6LsBXDfRogV7_8402ZWI2Eyv2G173g8pxwSNUSzgLX4AOLfMQ9OzQOlg8ViCqYVftSIGf/s1563/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="1175" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMbq6FONw_QCA_ZH5DllSY8NlCd4HvSw7VkVpfoK0DxvuiMjU0_KpY1F3sUZg7GsnQav99GcyALxBUGrXtt2VkGC_zB8HTpstXh9P0TxT0yhP4hVmqWnycNL6LsBXDfRogV7_8402ZWI2Eyv2G173g8pxwSNUSzgLX4AOLfMQ9OzQOlg8ViCqYVftSIGf/w482-h640/1.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But it wasn't necessary. My spade easily cut the soggy roots and dead stems right down the middle. I wanted to reduce the clump by half but not unnecessarily disturb what I was leaving behind. To remove the clump you need a garden fork and some leverage.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT93pFSLxOofqFurT28OHnq6Bna4BgMELtZhM9c5uVjX8RU-588r_80CszAmDAG-uDReiCxvzQFbx8IUElF1j9GUMvJVAtDe0vq9pDXyOziJ1ilup3NEsDzW2OC8jFY6LQ5E3BxRchFqC6xSo0ODWPUcJsSGFoe0matKLi8nZi5lt0tXdGypG4jyyQ5fE8/s1137/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="785" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT93pFSLxOofqFurT28OHnq6Bna4BgMELtZhM9c5uVjX8RU-588r_80CszAmDAG-uDReiCxvzQFbx8IUElF1j9GUMvJVAtDe0vq9pDXyOziJ1ilup3NEsDzW2OC8jFY6LQ5E3BxRchFqC6xSo0ODWPUcJsSGFoe0matKLi8nZi5lt0tXdGypG4jyyQ5fE8/w442-h640/2.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took the right half out but some growth hung on around the edge effectively removing the center. I'm not real thrilled about having the center wide open so when this begins to grow I will probably pull some of the stragglers out and reposition them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRTik65p5Un1crWM_EOzbx5hlwynVy3jyQLnX_XGBm9UJdssHPnBPtYXwLiem1w_yYyGzGVxO_0esMFFEd8N2kyhiEjPDWktXJnH2lvoW_mFYOqQekaJB4STxjj7Mr6rzmlcKrPCTe3cUBfbbMsEvxwyKFzFoCpixnrTurTHC-aTj8OISgoguPsXwBBNb/s1198/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="905" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRTik65p5Un1crWM_EOzbx5hlwynVy3jyQLnX_XGBm9UJdssHPnBPtYXwLiem1w_yYyGzGVxO_0esMFFEd8N2kyhiEjPDWktXJnH2lvoW_mFYOqQekaJB4STxjj7Mr6rzmlcKrPCTe3cUBfbbMsEvxwyKFzFoCpixnrTurTHC-aTj8OISgoguPsXwBBNb/w449-h594/3.jpg" width="449" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had a nice big clump to plant in an empty spot I prepared last fall. There were a few single little plants that broke away during the move. I potted them up and stuck them over by the compost pile to fend for themselves. I am not sure which strain of Rudbeckia this is (there are four and I've planted a couple over the years) but it sure is a nice plant and I wouldn't mind having some more of it.</div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-27152477069234059072024-03-08T07:36:00.001-05:002024-03-08T07:36:05.795-05:00On Top of Old Smokey<p> <span style="text-align: center;">We ended up getting more than half an inch of rain. A good soaking rain. New York State imposes a burn ban every spring between March 15th and May 15th, so if we wanted this pile gone we had to get busy. A pile of well soaked, greenish wood with a lot of wet Ash bark on top can be a bit of a challenge to light. With about a dozen newspapers, a few gallons of diesel and a leaf blower, we managed to make fire. A really dark, smokey fire.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mX8gw-8JghDXV3KRMT8gTfv5FKqVVF03o18scB40fY-BNs9IMy4VNt-8qtYlvHswmqDzH8NximNb4ON-FEH9MQjZoM0AkgSbiqxVR-Uwz1goyRflql_ULP55qk7GC8CvQQDlj0bzMG5kEtCivCE9lWNbgDBvjX0YkvKGZxNPJ1UlOHd0CrHNjbCTTLZT/s1358/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1018" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mX8gw-8JghDXV3KRMT8gTfv5FKqVVF03o18scB40fY-BNs9IMy4VNt-8qtYlvHswmqDzH8NximNb4ON-FEH9MQjZoM0AkgSbiqxVR-Uwz1goyRflql_ULP55qk7GC8CvQQDlj0bzMG5kEtCivCE9lWNbgDBvjX0YkvKGZxNPJ1UlOHd0CrHNjbCTTLZT/w480-h640/1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once it gets going it takes about an hour to burn down to something more manageable. We still had a smaller pile to the side that had to be added by hand because the main pile was too tall for the loader to dump the branches on top in any sort of organized fashion. And the neater and more compressed your pile, the quicker it will be gone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxxn0UG333R0vSQkKe6_tUrTiD9mxjRtegGz8-BfGRYt8qLq5ndADuxD1BX1UbsiATX71XQHHXNGB3pnLhyP1Ev2YMHwkI7p3IAbwtaRAwLEohoV3wv0ptFH2dlZ2LVa9pnbkr9DN6jieOyh4Pn9Jf7taV5RTz6QSfx7VaDVBpDMcRNEWSDamNOZ0m_89/s1164/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1164" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxxn0UG333R0vSQkKe6_tUrTiD9mxjRtegGz8-BfGRYt8qLq5ndADuxD1BX1UbsiATX71XQHHXNGB3pnLhyP1Ev2YMHwkI7p3IAbwtaRAwLEohoV3wv0ptFH2dlZ2LVa9pnbkr9DN6jieOyh4Pn9Jf7taV5RTz6QSfx7VaDVBpDMcRNEWSDamNOZ0m_89/w489-h328/5.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At this point it is time to "police up" the edges and get the small twigs into the pile and rake any debris away so the fire does not spread.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9M5y64YlSzfX-fJyk6_c24ktd9Jz7tr_8HlgHbilu7a8xoIW193ckOYWFbezqvka_31tStxRLh0rGvEvEKaCFq5U4bXJ15cn2K_ErJMS-lI6xcYdueu_IZIXO-9_zJikxSV2dPybElqEd29veoV-EqvEM1uXbGI1vL7eB_G-mEgt6Pe8mYOj-FhZTf7G/s1986/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1986" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9M5y64YlSzfX-fJyk6_c24ktd9Jz7tr_8HlgHbilu7a8xoIW193ckOYWFbezqvka_31tStxRLh0rGvEvEKaCFq5U4bXJ15cn2K_ErJMS-lI6xcYdueu_IZIXO-9_zJikxSV2dPybElqEd29veoV-EqvEM1uXbGI1vL7eB_G-mEgt6Pe8mYOj-FhZTf7G/w479-h358/2.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once the flames die down enough that you can get close to it for a moment, you have to push the unburnt ends into the center. We wear heavy leather gloves and safety glasses. My forehead is always covered with a bandana, and a flame resistant hoodie helps too. Even so, you end up feeling a bit singed by the time its over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHM0hd47as_DeXCXFai2XExgQO8L7QKdXY11KmFGO3FsS2U58PWv4flikftxUYwitPDUoXs2AuEZSLeRyy0l9d7BmV5hHw3sFwZ0oV6xKstCVZ_lKQ1p21yH8kNWsaOwqDAeL2KhZEBqR8gq_XayibCNxMpRO1jB0HI8O6GGT4W4U7vf3jvy4M1UUe6EWQ/s974/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="723" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHM0hd47as_DeXCXFai2XExgQO8L7QKdXY11KmFGO3FsS2U58PWv4flikftxUYwitPDUoXs2AuEZSLeRyy0l9d7BmV5hHw3sFwZ0oV6xKstCVZ_lKQ1p21yH8kNWsaOwqDAeL2KhZEBqR8gq_XayibCNxMpRO1jB0HI8O6GGT4W4U7vf3jvy4M1UUe6EWQ/w476-h640/3.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When it gets down to smoldering coals it can be left unattended. We check it periodically throughout the day, poking the coals and stirring them up so the heavier pieces that are not getting enough oxygen will continue to burn. By the next morning it will be a small pile of warm ash.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DIqhmNjrF0rJ-a9TdNtQpJYkCkhuW4vwGX97m4NnNdqa0yg0TsgjPl_AYxaRZ8NRJuAzW_pdbiYvSfpM3n91smBoucARL_k8Q1T5VbSMPoaDWpsBf4Wvqjle2KK-SxTDcqIMXg8VnlzwDGyG6RW5keupun0DWvRUZImeFGeUG6Y2yMDYjTJW_YqqHtOx/s1105/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1105" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DIqhmNjrF0rJ-a9TdNtQpJYkCkhuW4vwGX97m4NnNdqa0yg0TsgjPl_AYxaRZ8NRJuAzW_pdbiYvSfpM3n91smBoucARL_k8Q1T5VbSMPoaDWpsBf4Wvqjle2KK-SxTDcqIMXg8VnlzwDGyG6RW5keupun0DWvRUZImeFGeUG6Y2yMDYjTJW_YqqHtOx/w474-h330/4.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So that was four straight days of spring clearing. We got the most pressing trees out of the way but there will always be more cleanup. That's what you get when you are surrounded by woods and try to maintain some natural areas up close to your lawns and gardens. That is not the end of the dead Ash trees, but those are the ones that were affecting us the most and now we have a year's worth of campfire wood ready to split. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even though the trees took up many hours each day, I also managed to get some smaller spring chores checked off my list. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><ul><li style="text-align: left;">I sprayed my apple trees with dormant oil and copper fungicide. </li><li style="text-align: left;">Spread deer repellent around my crocuses.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Removed the hardware cloth from my alliums.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Replace the hardware cloth over the hyacinths with cloches.</li></ul></div><br /><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-69264118332165027562024-03-05T18:22:00.001-05:002024-03-05T18:22:33.146-05:00Waiting for Something to Happen<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For a year now we have been waiting for something to happen. Last spring half of the top of this big Ash tree fell and hung up. The right side of the top was still up there. Every morning when we looked out the window, the first thing we would see was this big widow maker. We had looked it over several times and even used the tractor to lift it a bit and it was clear that any amount of pulling would bring down the other side right on top of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G37d9RonYQd8Q5vGEuxFJ-z0PTJXN05s26Lisg6S3OktOih7sseydjmY7xJpztcOsuPeCa12LyELEVyYd4uX7g3y32uus3ORk6aBqcTDrAqm-OwpxeVkVdhBrz-y0UjTbaovpwWX1crKt8O2zTJnJc7YU93RECRI-kCXOam_1lwnhm_ROv9qhLD666Bm/s693/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="568" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G37d9RonYQd8Q5vGEuxFJ-z0PTJXN05s26Lisg6S3OktOih7sseydjmY7xJpztcOsuPeCa12LyELEVyYd4uX7g3y32uus3ORk6aBqcTDrAqm-OwpxeVkVdhBrz-y0UjTbaovpwWX1crKt8O2zTJnJc7YU93RECRI-kCXOam_1lwnhm_ROv9qhLD666Bm/w524-h640/1.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week the other side finally came down on its own. Hooray! Just the distance that it traveled as it fell makes me a little queasy. That was one dangerous tree and that spot is exactly where the tractor would have been if we had tried to pull it out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_t1HbcZ05DXqN8keu9fl2vWMkhBZhGhnyX_i_DKKbgNvZTFXZhTRugkmSOoLEW0G-DFTD4qs8IJ3bnoshiSfJIBn8euRKgU7zMMp0rCZkGOZ58tg5qsTC21ozh-wFcJc9TeOjjr7NipzMx8D4sBKXyqlw58ihKVquMAcdK9m3Zo4VOFBhbs_IHBMW3xy/s1311/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1311" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_t1HbcZ05DXqN8keu9fl2vWMkhBZhGhnyX_i_DKKbgNvZTFXZhTRugkmSOoLEW0G-DFTD4qs8IJ3bnoshiSfJIBn8euRKgU7zMMp0rCZkGOZ58tg5qsTC21ozh-wFcJc9TeOjjr7NipzMx8D4sBKXyqlw58ihKVquMAcdK9m3Zo4VOFBhbs_IHBMW3xy/w534-h410/2.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today we took it down the rest of the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRh7J6vtx7XJtBJAZMnWGksu4qbcezP_wbcEJBba_FcgW3-sRpQ-elAHH7NlAGhT4AQ2O3dV4hoGDwWptMJVXXJ1ctV196tAilvsm1Y23JfqsMt00NB0zrEV2ThDxKqufi3rkl1pjglxIdFo7CDjdwxjRTaPDp23MtzyeWoY_V4jCldSj-kMBfO1ZXCxwX/s1405/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1405" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRh7J6vtx7XJtBJAZMnWGksu4qbcezP_wbcEJBba_FcgW3-sRpQ-elAHH7NlAGhT4AQ2O3dV4hoGDwWptMJVXXJ1ctV196tAilvsm1Y23JfqsMt00NB0zrEV2ThDxKqufi3rkl1pjglxIdFo7CDjdwxjRTaPDp23MtzyeWoY_V4jCldSj-kMBfO1ZXCxwX/w541-h403/3.jpg" width="541" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The end that was speared in the ground was cut shorter and shorter until it finally toppled out of there.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3Aqed2hq7BJ1tHWOxUZ5DN00EnkGwCC7yUW4DgrLttNyQkcWXQLODTADvuEgWiC3TTAMht5DfINP4AS8kKOZ74jM0FKQvwJMPit5XAkI5gVMc8kHCm-73Mw5TbiL3qnj8HzWoaGQDTmEil7BnQrXB1nE6FjtrQtNc7m5PKzMS8O7TeYdrO6ln9CDgj7Y/s1323/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1323" data-original-width="1007" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3Aqed2hq7BJ1tHWOxUZ5DN00EnkGwCC7yUW4DgrLttNyQkcWXQLODTADvuEgWiC3TTAMht5DfINP4AS8kKOZ74jM0FKQvwJMPit5XAkI5gVMc8kHCm-73Mw5TbiL3qnj8HzWoaGQDTmEil7BnQrXB1nE6FjtrQtNc7m5PKzMS8O7TeYdrO6ln9CDgj7Y/w488-h640/7.jpg" width="488" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice there is still another big dangerous tree just to the left</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unfortunately, it is too mucky to get the tractor back there today without creating huge ruts. So everything was carted out with a wheelbarrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmPN8Mzp3l2fVR2JWwM7FWBsV6EQyAUmifpqCYQpBN0asT5v7yR2uVCsJjeVvpruZFwJsarbhGXAHN84d4BrondjDuZqR8LjeVc8fpdEdUmTjOpppjyV5cv6EgynUASoRWBO70RaxAsAnbdQ8dCn8_ze8Dban8bXS8_CbkoWz42RzPVeot2GgulHxzZ-N/s1344/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1001" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmPN8Mzp3l2fVR2JWwM7FWBsV6EQyAUmifpqCYQpBN0asT5v7yR2uVCsJjeVvpruZFwJsarbhGXAHN84d4BrondjDuZqR8LjeVc8fpdEdUmTjOpppjyV5cv6EgynUASoRWBO70RaxAsAnbdQ8dCn8_ze8Dban8bXS8_CbkoWz42RzPVeot2GgulHxzZ-N/w476-h640/4.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not exaggerating the mucky. We made a big enough mess getting the brush pile built. It is raining again now and is supposed to rain quite a bit tomorrow. Thursday we will burn this pile before the spring burn ban goes into affect.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZt_JRaYTFGYfx2DOo_8lvztB95xRECRWPCY6PGx7jGk9FxZbC8P8PJHKQE5rReASLdFzWceN3PSd2XOhs_eSuqv7qks-uIdH8Ur_YQEhn5a0WpcT7x-rg_pShR0qJLqQQlyrM1c2ju3IJokVKtlf7pQhbud0XgE0rSnIYJPGoBfYq9Gpxim2XGJX1StN/s1330/5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1330" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZt_JRaYTFGYfx2DOo_8lvztB95xRECRWPCY6PGx7jGk9FxZbC8P8PJHKQE5rReASLdFzWceN3PSd2XOhs_eSuqv7qks-uIdH8Ur_YQEhn5a0WpcT7x-rg_pShR0qJLqQQlyrM1c2ju3IJokVKtlf7pQhbud0XgE0rSnIYJPGoBfYq9Gpxim2XGJX1StN/w475-h352/5.jpg" width="475" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ruts were smoothed out with the tractor loader</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oNCDThJdLAAP57yBwtliS5OkpmxtPgbxCGXr29-EINI-P_qUahk_qYj43rV0q1rVslannz5Exhg38elKY6SY9Ye3ZTz50-_mFkaePjP2fjEHmG6IjhmZj2unJ0194a4ptu4a0LYLDVumNG2Zb6jIc_4a25OF1NvQ2I2x6_PBr6haNn5OYONEztzyG5yI/s1347/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1347" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oNCDThJdLAAP57yBwtliS5OkpmxtPgbxCGXr29-EINI-P_qUahk_qYj43rV0q1rVslannz5Exhg38elKY6SY9Ye3ZTz50-_mFkaePjP2fjEHmG6IjhmZj2unJ0194a4ptu4a0LYLDVumNG2Zb6jIc_4a25OF1NvQ2I2x6_PBr6haNn5OYONEztzyG5yI/w478-h364/6.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now we have a big pile of fire wood to split.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7RBMPtuVfIDZsy0DQm4di-NUmaeOYE8vdTUxcftkOuBkbe1XTOhQiIWmbxoNF51N4rdoIS3Tt368LXZpdid1ntqdXHAXLoL5dV8LRuUIX_FKx6xhtiXLEbLK7bz9gwbwa1EFDp11qVCPocfqVtyeylnVJS5zvKBpuyY-8L_RPBLqFwvuSyRqEhjHuOEJ/s1239/7%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1239" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7RBMPtuVfIDZsy0DQm4di-NUmaeOYE8vdTUxcftkOuBkbe1XTOhQiIWmbxoNF51N4rdoIS3Tt368LXZpdid1ntqdXHAXLoL5dV8LRuUIX_FKx6xhtiXLEbLK7bz9gwbwa1EFDp11qVCPocfqVtyeylnVJS5zvKBpuyY-8L_RPBLqFwvuSyRqEhjHuOEJ/w478-h359/7%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent some time cleaning up yesterday's project. We lowered stumps, picked up more sticks and trimmed out any broken Viburnum bushes. At one point I was so tangled in rose bushes that I was ready to bulldoze the whole thing and make a lawn. Then I got tangled up in a big poison ivy vine and had to go in and change clothes and scrub up.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAmFYLo3XCteX30CE93o7xj0pOW_VD800NEOqzuSLj6PBAcJsamW0Stdj4mLXXDU2QelSP3Ji3r-0_uzyQAF2zlgukR14bO1CYE4SZQYw8BRwi_jnrEKcgrYiUhUN3zBaaXClQhhf9afqEFNgWewlzLEc7oX8Bow7ZPqh11iaewW2wBaKnyhSW4neAdkp/s1382/8%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1382" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAmFYLo3XCteX30CE93o7xj0pOW_VD800NEOqzuSLj6PBAcJsamW0Stdj4mLXXDU2QelSP3Ji3r-0_uzyQAF2zlgukR14bO1CYE4SZQYw8BRwi_jnrEKcgrYiUhUN3zBaaXClQhhf9afqEFNgWewlzLEc7oX8Bow7ZPqh11iaewW2wBaKnyhSW4neAdkp/w487-h368/8%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="487" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It doesn't look too bad now. It isn't one of those projects where you can stand back and say "well that looks a whole lot better!" The best we can say is "well that's finally over."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For now.</div><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-21253436590041228912024-03-05T06:15:00.003-05:002024-03-05T18:25:19.604-05:00Spring Training<p> We've been sitting around for three or four months now but all of our spring yard work is ahead of us. It's time to ease into our outdoor fitness program and get these ole bones moving. To do that we decided to start out with two days of tree cutting. So far so good. No aches or pains. But today we will be back out there for day three. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7w_pZB5xJP-pVyWksGhoJ5o4fTQ0_YxTAEL88LaiZMA7wJFzr6H2WqbQPZgl7JKiQWf62X99EJUKruHe_FNe6Ih7faI0XcykGyhgHf0rAUYc_b-qYiv9J7CxvBGbaVONedz9Pqq8v1fVECzEo3gzcG-nyBWPtThC6eptKTUzR9HKIKz86P2fkSmr8uBm/s1201/Trees%200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1201" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7w_pZB5xJP-pVyWksGhoJ5o4fTQ0_YxTAEL88LaiZMA7wJFzr6H2WqbQPZgl7JKiQWf62X99EJUKruHe_FNe6Ih7faI0XcykGyhgHf0rAUYc_b-qYiv9J7CxvBGbaVONedz9Pqq8v1fVECzEo3gzcG-nyBWPtThC6eptKTUzR9HKIKz86P2fkSmr8uBm/w473-h307/Trees%200.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The target was the wild strip between us and the neighbors to our west. There were a lot of White Ash in there and of course all of our White Ash are dead thanks to the Emerald Ash Borer. We took out five of the largest trees in June of 2020. <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2024/01/out-looking-for-trouble.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Back in January</a> we started to lose more tops, and last week it continued. Might as well cut them down and get it over with.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BOn-tHl9DjiaVi5QiUgE3DTDQiCEzsECvaYo6ZC-MzsFehHJV9Qje5ir5HO6qAOkmUGckGMEWHrA2vzDrPMRGXGVi_qkoyweKIJHHE8BBUHMIQuFJX-diKInV4743DDxEv21CxRUGG6AJ0W_JOk5zzzfvYSxvyITxNm4NKpHDJPXhzd-EWIDjkdCOWVO/s1557/Trees%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1557" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BOn-tHl9DjiaVi5QiUgE3DTDQiCEzsECvaYo6ZC-MzsFehHJV9Qje5ir5HO6qAOkmUGckGMEWHrA2vzDrPMRGXGVi_qkoyweKIJHHE8BBUHMIQuFJX-diKInV4743DDxEv21CxRUGG6AJ0W_JOk5zzzfvYSxvyITxNm4NKpHDJPXhzd-EWIDjkdCOWVO/w471-h349/Trees%201.jpg" width="471" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They look like little spindly trees until you stand next to them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P01kNJ0rsUR2sFVG3HAHqyJIoajtrw2IXHdSuQBd42azdVlBjuc6-nFL_A7RK4C3zBNiWIWV6Pb0fY3MjH5OsEybWqJQiU-roD_BqonbDq0h1ycpD6rumwlnEbd6knZ_oN-JK8kdhor28Wo84U9xtM3hawVRXK4g-auag-V__jrhQEM5AVxNGV9RkNSM/s1470/Tree%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="1086" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P01kNJ0rsUR2sFVG3HAHqyJIoajtrw2IXHdSuQBd42azdVlBjuc6-nFL_A7RK4C3zBNiWIWV6Pb0fY3MjH5OsEybWqJQiU-roD_BqonbDq0h1ycpD6rumwlnEbd6knZ_oN-JK8kdhor28Wo84U9xtM3hawVRXK4g-auag-V__jrhQEM5AVxNGV9RkNSM/w472-h640/Tree%203.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These need to be roped and guided where we want them to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuNIOj95w0q1_qtxKEB3f7_DgqOAfPKXEQWl0DDePQFuArR0h-uGuHa1MQ0N8z-OtQGVOR_Ocfv0zn0Rrlrfo-3ioFt9F8v-VZFGWwTASxemctr08k1l0VVWXCKmvOEMGiD2X1mhPz3E9cT9AtVt0_khw8dY_Trrywzho45z89r0TiBETOOl3_B8dMFHl/s1553/Tree%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="1154" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuNIOj95w0q1_qtxKEB3f7_DgqOAfPKXEQWl0DDePQFuArR0h-uGuHa1MQ0N8z-OtQGVOR_Ocfv0zn0Rrlrfo-3ioFt9F8v-VZFGWwTASxemctr08k1l0VVWXCKmvOEMGiD2X1mhPz3E9cT9AtVt0_khw8dY_Trrywzho45z89r0TiBETOOl3_B8dMFHl/w476-h640/Tree%202.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here comes the first one.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouLO9-i6zM7fqaRQCvW4f7WJCjlqohGowayAoxFLmEDvdk7KNGGzMbHb3qdJKj7ZFibePE2TzOPP3scVL2tHWLKSBWOXVfN99I2OYjcukLmIz2NW0T_prcvoRbuBdVmtVo2BBM9MDxIeKRa_7CPpg_1lvTzpRxZ4Rqz9q8AhB2G38S5yRhQOelGYqqsLz/s1500/Tree%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1500" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouLO9-i6zM7fqaRQCvW4f7WJCjlqohGowayAoxFLmEDvdk7KNGGzMbHb3qdJKj7ZFibePE2TzOPP3scVL2tHWLKSBWOXVfN99I2OYjcukLmIz2NW0T_prcvoRbuBdVmtVo2BBM9MDxIeKRa_7CPpg_1lvTzpRxZ4Rqz9q8AhB2G38S5yRhQOelGYqqsLz/w475-h355/Tree%204.jpg" width="475" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yep, that's where we thought it would go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnFyEDMnyAekJP4oBKCaX-WNW2sJdN9vjx6VcSMr27igpsR8KOOcz79QveUeXdTOvHQY18sQXvGKLw1iDexwR2ReiScGDTwshL4iUNqGwc6f-YOmJgA9-8JDPfc68Qh0hRS_p1zqBPUoFosGnvVcfsBCSihZEo5Vgy07a87qJoQ2E1pj2UndRc9JEji0S/s1054/Tree%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1054" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnFyEDMnyAekJP4oBKCaX-WNW2sJdN9vjx6VcSMr27igpsR8KOOcz79QveUeXdTOvHQY18sQXvGKLw1iDexwR2ReiScGDTwshL4iUNqGwc6f-YOmJgA9-8JDPfc68Qh0hRS_p1zqBPUoFosGnvVcfsBCSihZEo5Vgy07a87qJoQ2E1pj2UndRc9JEji0S/w476-h351/Tree%206.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Day 1 we cut four dead ash. Day 2 was half a dozen top heavy Poplars. They are dirty trees with the catkins and fluff. They are also fast growing, soft, and prone to toppling over. Below is the tangle of leaning trees. In the middle of all that was a young Hawthorne. I will miss its <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2021/09/sometimes-gardening-is-hard-work.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cheery red berries</a> in the fall but there was no way to sort it out of there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxsvyu50zVaSKbpYIpPZXxAK3Z3IIEPoyKvfjaE39Ssc01TlahRw_7FbRe3w_iUb9kjVwf9upmlEdfLWfZ0RN9Kkf-9XuBiqcFn8RPHQn1cEOKhCiTsW-9UgfUZcPmelKXRk9AT2Dd2Lq79_hOmTDdbXph_giFbcin0ZdqrYnVrI3z6BG09k5tmgWD6E2/s1369/Tree%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1369" data-original-width="1023" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxsvyu50zVaSKbpYIpPZXxAK3Z3IIEPoyKvfjaE39Ssc01TlahRw_7FbRe3w_iUb9kjVwf9upmlEdfLWfZ0RN9Kkf-9XuBiqcFn8RPHQn1cEOKhCiTsW-9UgfUZcPmelKXRk9AT2Dd2Lq79_hOmTDdbXph_giFbcin0ZdqrYnVrI3z6BG09k5tmgWD6E2/w478-h640/Tree%207.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last but not least, a good sized Red Oak. Not a bad looking tree, but top heavy and crooked. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GfQPVFLOjuFi9ImEMcS-iEDF_2pvFoUDc2sU9yv-aFJ3Emb3zCtHoUc5XcKI3mma0PK3t-IGWYQ6OB_h4btwB_Hw3ZWwfYdtF5tcP2ECgytGfTkmIw4S9axSAZRY5E8seVHhNFi48_JM9-OaaiFjxICVc0vvgJ4shyFJ3QBS4HRSir1A5jmB41mrfa5o/s1667/Tree%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="1241" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GfQPVFLOjuFi9ImEMcS-iEDF_2pvFoUDc2sU9yv-aFJ3Emb3zCtHoUc5XcKI3mma0PK3t-IGWYQ6OB_h4btwB_Hw3ZWwfYdtF5tcP2ECgytGfTkmIw4S9axSAZRY5E8seVHhNFi48_JM9-OaaiFjxICVc0vvgJ4shyFJ3QBS4HRSir1A5jmB41mrfa5o/w476-h640/Tree%208.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The more angles you look at it from, the more crooked it gets.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhserJ-Ub3d3kWbQIPAySOMNqZe4CxR5C4W860LBUsJ3K9jDPZ9ud18HASYG08MVgy8i6En3rShI74LiKkyt69JsQR91s_gV9IfZcha6Zl4gPOFAM0mJ3EzFJtp-7j89Y67iK-4AdTMDjVywk1BXqcVWnZnAu4oHIAo1M1spVhh8laKzcXCR4cPxhT534Bn/s1529/Tree%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="1147" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhserJ-Ub3d3kWbQIPAySOMNqZe4CxR5C4W860LBUsJ3K9jDPZ9ud18HASYG08MVgy8i6En3rShI74LiKkyt69JsQR91s_gV9IfZcha6Zl4gPOFAM0mJ3EzFJtp-7j89Y67iK-4AdTMDjVywk1BXqcVWnZnAu4oHIAo1M1spVhh8laKzcXCR4cPxhT534Bn/w480-h640/Tree%2010.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That has to come down too. We will now have half a million fewer oak leaves in the garden and hopefully the Chipmunks won't be attracted to this area to harvest acorns anymore.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1dwoXzlfl4UrQxsZNmm6arIQwW64utax_MXDeDY29a9mCs6gKfLCuRpMmSWPza3ouqiC83ACDXDUUmRXGiiIIqx8F7962P8bV0n_KkAqE-zcq48NpJwIFBT9aETnf-3z2byr7IeaAmHjNWI3eTVnT8p3OUTw0r6lXaGBBA_UeeL36Wz4CY5OCSedLw_0/s1480/Tree%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="1480" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1dwoXzlfl4UrQxsZNmm6arIQwW64utax_MXDeDY29a9mCs6gKfLCuRpMmSWPza3ouqiC83ACDXDUUmRXGiiIIqx8F7962P8bV0n_KkAqE-zcq48NpJwIFBT9aETnf-3z2byr7IeaAmHjNWI3eTVnT8p3OUTw0r6lXaGBBA_UeeL36Wz4CY5OCSedLw_0/w478-h359/Tree%2011.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This leaves us with a whole bunch more scraggly misshapen trees. That's the problem with old fence line trees. They are very one-sided. But they are all headed for the neighbor's lawn, so that will be for drier weather and will require some additional consultation with the neighbors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7hzZBnYeA12XBdWMST6COB8sCZHgh6-CaG1qeSERenEPlwASnWtXaBDz-S2BlghAW52rC7DUiF0_aG1ZSdHgGRpzkZRpvhZjKK0aTT2tAvO9ea36ct_H53ZSVqgmV4U3nfwUwnwmehcACVWGxxGJW_5SKIpI6CQW7JD-iRa3evGYYUz8VQ-PSTx-TLSp/s1436/Tree%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1077" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7hzZBnYeA12XBdWMST6COB8sCZHgh6-CaG1qeSERenEPlwASnWtXaBDz-S2BlghAW52rC7DUiF0_aG1ZSdHgGRpzkZRpvhZjKK0aTT2tAvO9ea36ct_H53ZSVqgmV4U3nfwUwnwmehcACVWGxxGJW_5SKIpI6CQW7JD-iRa3evGYYUz8VQ-PSTx-TLSp/w480-h640/Tree%209.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We now have a huge burn pile out back, and two stacks of wood. The Ash to the right, along with a large pile of Oak, has already been moved back to where we can split it and stack it for campfire wood. The big pile of Poplar to the left, while pretty, is not good firewood. As soon as it is done curing it begins to rot. It burns fast and not very hot. We're not sure what to do with that junk. If we threw this on a burn pile now the green wood would take forever to burn. It may end up stacked back in the woods to rot back there and in the meantime provide a home for all sorts of critters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKT4EHADfrLEtgFKvagctGCZu3QlKIbl_iDdlXdfOi9IRRmwb3Aju6odnz_-5pxPL-c40bVzYFox1LYBQOStzl20WX82wDqmvxgf5Csl6k_UX72tFQwXpdIH6bVRpt6GcB25LxJVEkph5m7u0VVEpSC4ASEqQj6zG5ZaHs4YJpZtmyX9fOGg7QlqKmsE9/s1288/Wood%20pile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1288" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKT4EHADfrLEtgFKvagctGCZu3QlKIbl_iDdlXdfOi9IRRmwb3Aju6odnz_-5pxPL-c40bVzYFox1LYBQOStzl20WX82wDqmvxgf5Csl6k_UX72tFQwXpdIH6bVRpt6GcB25LxJVEkph5m7u0VVEpSC4ASEqQj6zG5ZaHs4YJpZtmyX9fOGg7QlqKmsE9/w479-h347/Wood%20pile.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The underbrush is a tangled mess. There is a lot of Sheepberry Viburnum which we want to keep but it has taken a beating. There is lot that was already leaning over towards the drive and I will cut that out to allow the younger growth to come in straighter. I've already cut most of the Multiflora rose and there is some wild Blackberry that will come up fast too. But that is for another day. I am thinking of buying a batch of bare root Lilacs from Stark Brothers to supplement the undergrowth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuWja9meV73LRKWzr-3AAanDIkp4sXJT3_rFIEiKB4bkp-ZhuEgUT9ujZEI1fPMAt568Le4c5pBep05CTlYNkHnCCzz_ddlQVNrH2ZfOvcBh29k7m3jWsDVxDM_HjQ-sDP2ahsYp7avFuJcPTzI9Lw7Wz-Ys-2r5MFfmX-q5A7NWaFQ5h1t6ZuCE54ZEL/s1741/Crocus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1741" data-original-width="1327" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuWja9meV73LRKWzr-3AAanDIkp4sXJT3_rFIEiKB4bkp-ZhuEgUT9ujZEI1fPMAt568Le4c5pBep05CTlYNkHnCCzz_ddlQVNrH2ZfOvcBh29k7m3jWsDVxDM_HjQ-sDP2ahsYp7avFuJcPTzI9Lw7Wz-Ys-2r5MFfmX-q5A7NWaFQ5h1t6ZuCE54ZEL/w488-h640/Crocus.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-42353358217586662582024-02-19T11:55:00.001-05:002024-02-19T11:55:52.761-05:00Good for Another Hundred Years<p> I have finished caning the dining room chairs. I ended up doing six total. There was the first <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2023/03/one-ugly-chair.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ugly Chair</a> that we had at the table. Then I repaired the ruined one that had sat up in the attic. We picked up <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2023/04/a-tale-of-four-chairs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a few extras</a> to round out our set of eight and ended up with nine matching chairs. All but three of them had some degree of damage to the seats.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PShrZBfMmSDvTAC0olusNYze-MakHwnec5g9w7-8CtfukG2pQqhOZLSHwVuyz4r4M89Itg9v7FioFep1TfFd2YbKKc2DOMu-JzeqxpTtXVyj9YfAB29omTdlVkbeupHsml_BB2dNdiMPfoTnl_iFZ2BXXJU2Y7M3wRJEd1mSt1AwEapN9hBrmsYq0ArH/s1292/Chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1137" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PShrZBfMmSDvTAC0olusNYze-MakHwnec5g9w7-8CtfukG2pQqhOZLSHwVuyz4r4M89Itg9v7FioFep1TfFd2YbKKc2DOMu-JzeqxpTtXVyj9YfAB29omTdlVkbeupHsml_BB2dNdiMPfoTnl_iFZ2BXXJU2Y7M3wRJEd1mSt1AwEapN9hBrmsYq0ArH/w564-h640/Chairs.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I enjoyed spending an afternoon in the woodshop. I would put an audio book on my can speaker and arrange my tools and spend a couple of hours pulling cane.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAb1c33pMCHWX4_EglJ9L5sATYbkKC0lz9EgZpzRzBK5J_K62gPNoBQtKp2LbOe1SCFQZtMFMHrrOqxeevFRwE2nI83_DIVIy6olB53HG9IFdqosRYcyUuG1IAxIPwVEklhaTe3uyrMMkwkezHUBkaIz85G-GPfHWG19cSqiiOy5XQ4Fl4Z2WRI9qFp79/s1670/Shop%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1670" data-original-width="1239" height="766" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAb1c33pMCHWX4_EglJ9L5sATYbkKC0lz9EgZpzRzBK5J_K62gPNoBQtKp2LbOe1SCFQZtMFMHrrOqxeevFRwE2nI83_DIVIy6olB53HG9IFdqosRYcyUuG1IAxIPwVEklhaTe3uyrMMkwkezHUBkaIz85G-GPfHWG19cSqiiOy5XQ4Fl4Z2WRI9qFp79/w566-h766/Shop%202.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did three last spring and three this winter. There is only room for six around the table, so now we have three extra chairs tucked here and there around the house.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2QBneFP43ZGl1lFCYVKfr8MfBGwKgts3HQPDQjcOasu68zwg45MzA00GpuIPIgsg4t-uT23Gq1UEarAyK-LND7flHw5YJGp0QEoaFqwFII0t-Ndc8YPc2ZNT0Ss40H6QQsWC-UlLbUalQwpAOGj98samKaQbWuwriiTRK5l37BqrWfNxj785fqJNj8uG/s1600/Chairs%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1364" height="657" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2QBneFP43ZGl1lFCYVKfr8MfBGwKgts3HQPDQjcOasu68zwg45MzA00GpuIPIgsg4t-uT23Gq1UEarAyK-LND7flHw5YJGp0QEoaFqwFII0t-Ndc8YPc2ZNT0Ss40H6QQsWC-UlLbUalQwpAOGj98samKaQbWuwriiTRK5l37BqrWfNxj785fqJNj8uG/w563-h657/Chairs%203.jpg" width="563" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sixth chair is the one that I am most proud of. I finally got neat little Xs around all four sides. There may be a wayward strand here or there, but for the most part this is an example of a competent caning job.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzREpCgq4Wka1iQeAKsqvH5JKAEoVHojtD2NEmdwrkjP9e3fpSa5EbkZ39IdxJmTKiEBa3OAXb31bSW32V_3Wfw5L-IWYj6uMhirWmQzVa4IOB6T6l7bwu2z4Fh3aGaSaevrQHKKvNOXYvhYjLnsW2C9V4VL9qE82tpSZM-zlziQqF-FymUKuBYO7S6Ou/s1707/Chair%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1686" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzREpCgq4Wka1iQeAKsqvH5JKAEoVHojtD2NEmdwrkjP9e3fpSa5EbkZ39IdxJmTKiEBa3OAXb31bSW32V_3Wfw5L-IWYj6uMhirWmQzVa4IOB6T6l7bwu2z4Fh3aGaSaevrQHKKvNOXYvhYjLnsW2C9V4VL9qE82tpSZM-zlziQqF-FymUKuBYO7S6Ou/w562-h568/Chair%206.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I still have this oddball round, red chair to do for fun. Since I have been putting photos up on Facebook, I have had a few local friends mention that they have chairs that need to be repaired. It might be fun to do one now and then.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lW-EaDdwPAnb5eauHHOoe_su15Huqagd2kkZWTUFRsDVZI9TszOy00MhIKPAcAXuJCjh-TazglCs4SV8uCgHAF8VkZeE16hJ85gjkTY09LnigTURQ_6tjkJAbbXTVr7aH_YlsR53rPWPrysyDAp805n9EdaGmwy7U68jow7StzK6Tca9jxOW4j-rlHHM/s790/Four%20Chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="442" height="967" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lW-EaDdwPAnb5eauHHOoe_su15Huqagd2kkZWTUFRsDVZI9TszOy00MhIKPAcAXuJCjh-TazglCs4SV8uCgHAF8VkZeE16hJ85gjkTY09LnigTURQ_6tjkJAbbXTVr7aH_YlsR53rPWPrysyDAp805n9EdaGmwy7U68jow7StzK6Tca9jxOW4j-rlHHM/w542-h967/Four%20Chairs.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-64102867657030252042024-02-10T15:56:00.004-05:002024-02-10T15:56:44.836-05:00More Outside Puttering<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8GChKHMpWXVZlp6ymBT_432k77zX0htM6mmTqJOXOFeWznkc_BZLT9kTXJmoFSt9aA5F02oPs5zDdAofuOiOuXJkagr_ngN5qhdIW-nXaHV2XuWVeNqHbDvaZnpYqUvToATU-A4xf6Vyqht_za46wKbUkXFaTHuzGAeT8FSCF3_YYRG2r94HO8I3iq2-/s1549/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1549" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8GChKHMpWXVZlp6ymBT_432k77zX0htM6mmTqJOXOFeWznkc_BZLT9kTXJmoFSt9aA5F02oPs5zDdAofuOiOuXJkagr_ngN5qhdIW-nXaHV2XuWVeNqHbDvaZnpYqUvToATU-A4xf6Vyqht_za46wKbUkXFaTHuzGAeT8FSCF3_YYRG2r94HO8I3iq2-/w491-h367/1.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This morning was mild and pleasant. The kind of day when you feel you should be outside doing something. And we have wintery weather forecast to return next week, so if we wanted to play outside, this was the day to do it.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Vpm8Kgl6eQBIobWpgtKx5KFZEKOEgJOjUgOR-mPNSznTVO9Rr8UmwuwlN2Mev0S5wgPeMhdHUOswpvAUyUH8oUnc95MAr3Ur16wu1B_lZAZfNptRlZYfn4cxITP4lzGUNtMVjh_dgz8d43rk00JevF4WuMo4ZEWH8kL8GHNIvNdpQULaIsBN7lXN3zQ/s1532/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1532" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Vpm8Kgl6eQBIobWpgtKx5KFZEKOEgJOjUgOR-mPNSznTVO9Rr8UmwuwlN2Mev0S5wgPeMhdHUOswpvAUyUH8oUnc95MAr3Ur16wu1B_lZAZfNptRlZYfn4cxITP4lzGUNtMVjh_dgz8d43rk00JevF4WuMo4ZEWH8kL8GHNIvNdpQULaIsBN7lXN3zQ/w482-h362/2.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Besides raking up some sticks, the driveway was rolled to firm it up. This changed the fresh gravel from feeling as if you were walking on sifting sands to rock hard pavement.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvOgdpK_JKHa5ZGD3VbgkaEyCL4QpElruDAvro1pim9JdvLrxo6jOctHSOQyIhe3NuNeNx42_KN3FwSC-etoxuRmjqZ8KBXTNJkqUUBXlhheEtlH5zPrgwZTyTqFnQLuypes_Y6Ga_wvQMg4egWI1NoqccmMECnS3eKX-UdwKlt7oU4yAyKkJnr3JV9_l/s1391/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1391" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvOgdpK_JKHa5ZGD3VbgkaEyCL4QpElruDAvro1pim9JdvLrxo6jOctHSOQyIhe3NuNeNx42_KN3FwSC-etoxuRmjqZ8KBXTNJkqUUBXlhheEtlH5zPrgwZTyTqFnQLuypes_Y6Ga_wvQMg4egWI1NoqccmMECnS3eKX-UdwKlt7oU4yAyKkJnr3JV9_l/w482-h355/3.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I noticed that some of the <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2023/10/bulb-planting.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hyacinth bulbs</a> I planted are coming up. It is exciting to think that the days of colorful flowers will come again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCxN4s7NmenBNteht8frNAq9GL2ruIKjj_s0w6EKUxrYr9ckjVE3Ysdv-yao6VaKOQtXjkzp6zWxF1JO6yYr0fNr1cmUbtaGE5whtmhyphenhyphenES5C0euJYVOsGizSe-BWoxj7av95waCNlaQ8sadMDopExQmwcW06N8d2jy5oJixJmX6Af-MG4nqLs2DSbEhzf/s1476/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1095" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCxN4s7NmenBNteht8frNAq9GL2ruIKjj_s0w6EKUxrYr9ckjVE3Ysdv-yao6VaKOQtXjkzp6zWxF1JO6yYr0fNr1cmUbtaGE5whtmhyphenhyphenES5C0euJYVOsGizSe-BWoxj7av95waCNlaQ8sadMDopExQmwcW06N8d2jy5oJixJmX6Af-MG4nqLs2DSbEhzf/w474-h640/4.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My pile of chopped leaves was thawed out enough to dress up the tulip bed.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0Q1YJuhbM5yh4BHt_gso83LF9DbgB5aI2KzMw5aJ_UNEqEwcSBRZFpoXTHBiWIRQeSYPOUmniXnfNyyw4rKO0tt3vcjE02hXJsG1PHxllcc5gZSC2nJkqU3G_WtuT5pK8lLTZ-Tqz5AJzMiRxEdTy0oDG7v0GXjiwappOkjbloTG4PzQjZ0G98f2qZXb/s1422/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0Q1YJuhbM5yh4BHt_gso83LF9DbgB5aI2KzMw5aJ_UNEqEwcSBRZFpoXTHBiWIRQeSYPOUmniXnfNyyw4rKO0tt3vcjE02hXJsG1PHxllcc5gZSC2nJkqU3G_WtuT5pK8lLTZ-Tqz5AJzMiRxEdTy0oDG7v0GXjiwappOkjbloTG4PzQjZ0G98f2qZXb/w480-h640/5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is no point putting leaves on anything in the fall because the winds will scatter them everywhere. Hopefully the upcoming snow will flatten them. I threw some compost on top to hold them down. This will help insulate the soil from the upcoming freeze and thaw cycles. It is good to get outside and do just a little something.</div><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-51892912319526382742024-02-07T16:07:00.002-05:002024-02-07T16:07:51.324-05:00Dressing up the Driveway<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4fcp3EpjDfcBGOJ7AJQdMJl3Tm0AZlfc0kV7pL7MiByIxeAa8LEy60yqXucPJDs3V-8CuS30zM65e0r1t6SViArq2pM0Zvw5snXZhUjZW6_5G0hPuuhaNXgUEcOPMsKhens-Yozt1sQ4KJz58U2pYguMohX_MY2N7uH9NlmU-dfD8JjWlCWQxKTmzdXl/s430/20220306_093539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="430" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4fcp3EpjDfcBGOJ7AJQdMJl3Tm0AZlfc0kV7pL7MiByIxeAa8LEy60yqXucPJDs3V-8CuS30zM65e0r1t6SViArq2pM0Zvw5snXZhUjZW6_5G0hPuuhaNXgUEcOPMsKhens-Yozt1sQ4KJz58U2pYguMohX_MY2N7uH9NlmU-dfD8JjWlCWQxKTmzdXl/w466-h350/20220306_093539.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is an old photo from a previous post, but its that time of year again. The driveways need a little attention to replace gravel that has drifted away or sunk into the mud. We just sprinkle a little on top and smooth it out with a rake. It keeps the garage floor clean and prevents pot holes from forming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also watered my transplanted apple tree. The down side to beautiful weather is that you don't get the usual amount of moisture and transplanted or container plants can get too dry. I should probably also water the perennials in the whiskey barrels. That will be a little chore for tomorrow.</div><br /><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-59913623298705441592024-02-05T14:04:00.000-05:002024-02-05T14:04:10.357-05:00Winter Weeding<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYp1NhOM-c-fGYvV5Emom4tm2ACbEhmU6GEXjleofHBh_r_K1QLfryEZJFhhC9FuzVg_SkM06T7JgvqfKZwafzHaO72lE5qP5_-q8wfH11B8lQEKlYzjFCTSLAYGG5ZHmoMKQ_cmivRHA5Mc0cwovBustxT8TaKNiACW3vIHn6OGw3uHVXspptOPuCyh5/s1546/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1546" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYp1NhOM-c-fGYvV5Emom4tm2ACbEhmU6GEXjleofHBh_r_K1QLfryEZJFhhC9FuzVg_SkM06T7JgvqfKZwafzHaO72lE5qP5_-q8wfH11B8lQEKlYzjFCTSLAYGG5ZHmoMKQ_cmivRHA5Mc0cwovBustxT8TaKNiACW3vIHn6OGw3uHVXspptOPuCyh5/w524-h393/1.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every winter we get a few breaks when you can go out and spend some time in the garden. Yesterday was absolutely perfect for picking up sticks and leaves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rEjQCAn_fmv3uigRUr9QkqJLArj3zg7AKRpmQQVT4OsC9xCFotjNVaYNiGKyiR-gEB0YAZif7cNLWJIblcK1IiP6awbhYClgT_Xitk6xUuLyg5gpZjLSGdm9entxQSzdVwaDIlPR6Y4yZjiVA6UrydyPqw6FgLyTTX7S9AWMhTHwubOBZqqR6iljkuiz/s1301/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1301" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rEjQCAn_fmv3uigRUr9QkqJLArj3zg7AKRpmQQVT4OsC9xCFotjNVaYNiGKyiR-gEB0YAZif7cNLWJIblcK1IiP6awbhYClgT_Xitk6xUuLyg5gpZjLSGdm9entxQSzdVwaDIlPR6Y4yZjiVA6UrydyPqw6FgLyTTX7S9AWMhTHwubOBZqqR6iljkuiz/w522-h320/6.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It got up to 49F.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0iYKJco5jhTrGQyDmiWKrkRXQZWi1a7xhQcEwEKegXIOjf35Jve3fyZHYeC3HIFpp49dUhlsX0kE-1KWvXeiMUi8Cn_s2fY8zaL99PacB2G1-m7a_KhCUeUdObyDrvI5SaRmDGXhfUUdC6ZBf6jZteSvo1FTalm3sBlGz_9UkpQRB9-YOUkrzgkvAd7m/s1633/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1633" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0iYKJco5jhTrGQyDmiWKrkRXQZWi1a7xhQcEwEKegXIOjf35Jve3fyZHYeC3HIFpp49dUhlsX0kE-1KWvXeiMUi8Cn_s2fY8zaL99PacB2G1-m7a_KhCUeUdObyDrvI5SaRmDGXhfUUdC6ZBf6jZteSvo1FTalm3sBlGz_9UkpQRB9-YOUkrzgkvAd7m/w514-h386/2.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are a few spots where the weeds were flourishing. Even flowering.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYoUZYxqLyWeTKLjAsnh5vncTqWQK-0qm2ISePYPYE1zYqn1-3etaSVxVkQfhE82g9dC2UTEMlsKMxL-ykdjzlFdMUqTayZl0sp3PCS2zG1quOMwie-dZDRDHTYFBcgSvKh0Ng-bvWSNx6pv7_tyANwGKrGNzRBwmA98PMpMZtjE8uBspfR52DKKfP5_n/s1402/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1402" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYoUZYxqLyWeTKLjAsnh5vncTqWQK-0qm2ISePYPYE1zYqn1-3etaSVxVkQfhE82g9dC2UTEMlsKMxL-ykdjzlFdMUqTayZl0sp3PCS2zG1quOMwie-dZDRDHTYFBcgSvKh0Ng-bvWSNx6pv7_tyANwGKrGNzRBwmA98PMpMZtjE8uBspfR52DKKfP5_n/w516-h376/3.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are few weeds in the raised beds but the ones that are there were getting pretty big. I pulled them all.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuqXo59vnau6GpJqlT26W3mHUSr72VUxwvz5BUxEySTKZcwrNWw8FCkJxGy8oljBfVoxZx8VALKiR4bQNCr7Pis4NhTmkhldu41UJWGlnYYJFmcOYZYGMWyL2eYU4D1BECljacR2gC1mPazo0MeSJl70STdzvTaB-kkCCh44KxYfKAO1UADSJNcH5hnue/s1160/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="909" height="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuqXo59vnau6GpJqlT26W3mHUSr72VUxwvz5BUxEySTKZcwrNWw8FCkJxGy8oljBfVoxZx8VALKiR4bQNCr7Pis4NhTmkhldu41UJWGlnYYJFmcOYZYGMWyL2eYU4D1BECljacR2gC1mPazo0MeSJl70STdzvTaB-kkCCh44KxYfKAO1UADSJNcH5hnue/w520-h665/4.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last of the lettuce was down for the count.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhygWcx4CXUbB2A15Xo4CXdPWiQ7FFq75pdKlpok3Se8MDn2apjMmjS5v79YCpVOGor3K1s4V-Qg8lQSGdrWFDB3iK_aHHL5nk9KKVk5tpLAa8LZVppCYHyuszWbPw-5tDIG3UnTzUj39cB1t5_ImGkWMr8XTryFTzZYbfo3hD3v7HviL_M6hRnCCiQD18/s1370/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1370" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhygWcx4CXUbB2A15Xo4CXdPWiQ7FFq75pdKlpok3Se8MDn2apjMmjS5v79YCpVOGor3K1s4V-Qg8lQSGdrWFDB3iK_aHHL5nk9KKVk5tpLAa8LZVppCYHyuszWbPw-5tDIG3UnTzUj39cB1t5_ImGkWMr8XTryFTzZYbfo3hD3v7HviL_M6hRnCCiQD18/w524-h346/5.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tulips are eager to get going.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzm2WcFV4FS7u5A1GUp4_f3eI5xqR79b9ToY0pHZl3nZ0a-XvWDaw7ALO0i8qCy5C5TkPFX7cUa-yrsM-I8ILOIKK_9GppC5_wYZC5WmMltyCYQnH_UDQi4_0-9uESckYanGpfP9lB7j1ymRbRX_XVprVD-NHqbC90Q5-_LwCgJtSe_7r28KFgrTMkOAAj/s913/Morning%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzm2WcFV4FS7u5A1GUp4_f3eI5xqR79b9ToY0pHZl3nZ0a-XvWDaw7ALO0i8qCy5C5TkPFX7cUa-yrsM-I8ILOIKK_9GppC5_wYZC5WmMltyCYQnH_UDQi4_0-9uESckYanGpfP9lB7j1ymRbRX_XVprVD-NHqbC90Q5-_LwCgJtSe_7r28KFgrTMkOAAj/w516-h640/Morning%205.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This morning was very cold and clear with freezing fog and hoar frost.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The silly blue birds were in the middle of their mating ritual and checking out the bird house. I've even seen a few robins. They'll have to face reality though. The ground hogs are predicting an early spring but I think we have at least a month to go. </div><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-1942674456471878222024-01-25T13:15:00.008-05:002024-01-25T13:47:50.596-05:00Out Looking For Trouble<p> And hopefully not finding it. After several weeks of wind and snow and single digit temperatures, we are experiencing a warmup. Its a good time to go outside, get some fresh air and check on things to make sure there is no damage that needs to be taken care of and no reinforcements that need to be made. Because now would be the time to do that too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCObSHOp5BMlg0F3fTCd1GrPKclOkC5iNrTvfXajWLdRril3tprn7cC1D4SfpM70J7KM5BXBRRMAChsZCN_YOpCulnJGCdq128ManUznz77yLai81ubFd2sqrOc6_Gd95qNTyjHiQG-EKNL1baZ4qi1z8iCUB-mcqh30kcf0f2E4CC8UeFBzj8tJQkHw3Y/s4000/IMG_7453.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCObSHOp5BMlg0F3fTCd1GrPKclOkC5iNrTvfXajWLdRril3tprn7cC1D4SfpM70J7KM5BXBRRMAChsZCN_YOpCulnJGCdq128ManUznz77yLai81ubFd2sqrOc6_Gd95qNTyjHiQG-EKNL1baZ4qi1z8iCUB-mcqh30kcf0f2E4CC8UeFBzj8tJQkHw3Y/w483-h363/IMG_7453.JPG" width="483" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is a vole or field mouse that has been tunneling under the snow. Thankfully the wire cloches turned him and he did not feast on fresh Primrose.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTmuTkAbB0C_3Alqb42ECblMfT1UKi7MATPXoxe4IakI3irwQeDZT_menwe9Z_u5uq9WJ-avPrwq50mEzW-Nb4VNHcXjl7Ze9mDfxjx7b8iOiaCuHCcs3-ZdGJ2lfRFVisNcC-SQgTd6i1rLf6kr5CJv4MngmwP_g7688yDQLauj6xkzYy1yDmVC_qoYe/s2241/IMG_7466.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="2241" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTmuTkAbB0C_3Alqb42ECblMfT1UKi7MATPXoxe4IakI3irwQeDZT_menwe9Z_u5uq9WJ-avPrwq50mEzW-Nb4VNHcXjl7Ze9mDfxjx7b8iOiaCuHCcs3-ZdGJ2lfRFVisNcC-SQgTd6i1rLf6kr5CJv4MngmwP_g7688yDQLauj6xkzYy1yDmVC_qoYe/w486-h340/IMG_7466.JPG" width="486" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The wire pinned over my newly planted bulbs is popping up. I stomped them all down tight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv4S2RqFCcxpUWdZzxYHyevbVwcJbI1VyPrdFtjoXiYWy0NqLJqGXMYbTUoD2JXgI2NFMqfJ9tffllk6XDnYuND9Vmg0TP5W_XkzY0Q53wzfZN20JkR7flG8bPOf42xturrmqcuHjsRmBft7nFCAACSYTWQRnul3omlEEI7mM-yDUoN6zN5PvWbJAQmQ2/s4000/IMG_7463.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv4S2RqFCcxpUWdZzxYHyevbVwcJbI1VyPrdFtjoXiYWy0NqLJqGXMYbTUoD2JXgI2NFMqfJ9tffllk6XDnYuND9Vmg0TP5W_XkzY0Q53wzfZN20JkR7flG8bPOf42xturrmqcuHjsRmBft7nFCAACSYTWQRnul3omlEEI7mM-yDUoN6zN5PvWbJAQmQ2/w482-h361/IMG_7463.JPG" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I checked on the Heuchera.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMJML17JvU8mSj-JuK-v2O6R6mjtcOD1PQnIm7CG1UJMhN2aWXayZWc5V-nrshqDyWzz_Om-jFtF0c0uIhVdG-nBTI42qZp9FHbWbRH57Z3ETG_CRFu6Rr_8_CfKu2nWJWvncqXmyCN_6jnlGEM3O4SBFhMbgoe_GhrhDphJbr1JvGGzrpp26d4htLPtH/s4000/IMG_7462.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMJML17JvU8mSj-JuK-v2O6R6mjtcOD1PQnIm7CG1UJMhN2aWXayZWc5V-nrshqDyWzz_Om-jFtF0c0uIhVdG-nBTI42qZp9FHbWbRH57Z3ETG_CRFu6Rr_8_CfKu2nWJWvncqXmyCN_6jnlGEM3O4SBFhMbgoe_GhrhDphJbr1JvGGzrpp26d4htLPtH/w480-h360/IMG_7462.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The landscape pins are not the only thing heaving in the freeze and thaw, but these will eventually level out. There are usually a few pavers that need to be releveled come spring. In the meantime it can be a little hazardous to walk on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10GxfT0MkYLaZhpOdZ4FQb_tYfxylFFjngu2chb0D-jluRPVeRL40AA1Kjb3ye3KWmhMK8y4VrjSNwVuTK2QFJTUF8mwh0pwkdO2CkoHe2mYcUvzWn6A9aXeWuFXgDv_PJoazo5AtDMjs7SQzo7XVPaU_0HVlUCZo54t2QPBnSvBWyOBCp7ztHHoyeNMU/s1764/IMG_7464.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1323" data-original-width="1764" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10GxfT0MkYLaZhpOdZ4FQb_tYfxylFFjngu2chb0D-jluRPVeRL40AA1Kjb3ye3KWmhMK8y4VrjSNwVuTK2QFJTUF8mwh0pwkdO2CkoHe2mYcUvzWn6A9aXeWuFXgDv_PJoazo5AtDMjs7SQzo7XVPaU_0HVlUCZo54t2QPBnSvBWyOBCp7ztHHoyeNMU/w482-h362/IMG_7464.JPG" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We still have a few White Ash trees along our west edge. They are dead and shedding branches all over this one area. I remember years when we would spend hours each spring raking the lawn. This looks like a mess but won't be much work to clean up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ1dCslF2DkLW8d5_Nq-LjwUi5RQQm9SBlwmVRwiBD9PqhfpAZXc1cmOkWDh25jXYKk1W7MxZhlv3UzK6lLuawHuEoNBI6pspYVnE0_9OkV5PHO9GquOcnGqm75TI6faepAWzKc7NYmemT7a7v0MXOAlXFFB8KwVFHzUzMfOAvfmGUMkvKG_iHBdKrUji/s1521/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1521" data-original-width="1141" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ1dCslF2DkLW8d5_Nq-LjwUi5RQQm9SBlwmVRwiBD9PqhfpAZXc1cmOkWDh25jXYKk1W7MxZhlv3UzK6lLuawHuEoNBI6pspYVnE0_9OkV5PHO9GquOcnGqm75TI6faepAWzKc7NYmemT7a7v0MXOAlXFFB8KwVFHzUzMfOAvfmGUMkvKG_iHBdKrUji/w480-h640/3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one lost its top during the several days when we had high winds. I took a photo when there was snow on it so you an see that sizeable top lying diagonally in there, Some people in our area were without power for two days. This doesn't look like a very big tree in the photo, but it is big enough to be a serious job and capable of doing quite a bit of damage. I am happy that its top is down and I am also happy that it fell in the wooded area where we can clean it up at our leisure and not on the neighbor's driveway where we would have had to clean it up during that foul weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So fortunately no serious issues to report or remedy. It is nearly 50F today and still but foggy. We would like to see some sun but that isn't likely for awhile. Tomorrow is supposed to be quite pleasant and brighter and I'll go out and play pick up sticks.</div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-62380334527640111082024-01-17T08:02:00.001-05:002024-01-17T08:02:56.057-05:00Keeping an Eye on Things<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-yfFvKgI_D1AbB3KwgkeQ_QFta2VL5fg2UYWo4_OAcbnkfK-dFaZSbKUfk1fYzSBMrk750YNzNk6JIyCbEDXD05XkVLM4QoHljQ8pW_OjHAY2QTHkDNCKTyB5Fj8uYvY43QQxWUOLEsKJ1pQzwJqNSHyFIV436FIDAIuKTHe-Xs2HtZ0FXsmOZ0UUrAC/s2303/TEmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2303" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-yfFvKgI_D1AbB3KwgkeQ_QFta2VL5fg2UYWo4_OAcbnkfK-dFaZSbKUfk1fYzSBMrk750YNzNk6JIyCbEDXD05XkVLM4QoHljQ8pW_OjHAY2QTHkDNCKTyB5Fj8uYvY43QQxWUOLEsKJ1pQzwJqNSHyFIV436FIDAIuKTHe-Xs2HtZ0FXsmOZ0UUrAC/w472-h314/TEmp.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our night time temperatures have been dipping into the single digits. When they start to get into the teens I keep a close eye on my dahlia tubers that I have <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2023/10/digging-and-storing-dahlias.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">stored in the basement bulkhead</a>. When the outside temps are in the teens the dahlia tub will start to dip below 40F. I do not want them to be below 35F as the optimum storage temperature is 35-50F and freezing will turn them to mush. So, we moved them from the basement to the woodshop in the two car garage lean to. We keep that heated to 50F.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083PZKCWQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">remote sensor</a> nestled into the top of the tub. It is the number above which is circled in red. The other temperatures are our house (68), the outside temp on the front porch (11) and the basement freezer in which we store all of our meat (0). This lets me keep a close watch on all of the important temperatures. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The humidity in the dahlia tub is a little misleading. It says 99% and the optimum would be between 75% and 85% but the vermiculite passes the touch test and there is no condensation inside the lid. As long as there is no mold showing anywhere, I would rather err on the side of too much humidity so they do not shrivel up. Around the first of each month I open up the tub, dig around, and give some of the tubers a pinch to test their condition. So far, so good.</div><br /> <p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-1329074407337607382024-01-13T09:59:00.010-05:002024-01-25T13:51:49.417-05:00Mary Ann Pans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This post could alternately be called "Fun with baking and meat jelly".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Besides gardening, one of my interests is collecting vintage kitchen items. I like old tins and boxes, various useful items, cookware etc. I love lithographed, illustrated, advertising and recipe booklets. I like things that modern trends have left behind. I like tinware. I like things from the 1920s. Sometimes I run into an item that checks a lot of boxes. And they're usually pretty cheap too. A few years ago, while searching Etsy for tin pans I came across this little box of Mary Ann Shell Pans. I loved it for the colorful box and for its completeness so I snapped it up for a few dollars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAvYkrRLH6k08fk38JeluUD2CyPEK04e_sO9yMB8Ge0t1Qw3FKs9M0b6hf6dkBdVxiG2J0QxTpLOITV6_RWiUKBP8KIN0zpvVtpxAAJzjJFJ3-0UaiLoK1ZVyiOnH_zTis31uJEKu5DJ9q6h0_mZusGuVOgvCQ1kFa1c2JoL7PTU33pTHToRgvI_boWWC/s1746/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1746" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAvYkrRLH6k08fk38JeluUD2CyPEK04e_sO9yMB8Ge0t1Qw3FKs9M0b6hf6dkBdVxiG2J0QxTpLOITV6_RWiUKBP8KIN0zpvVtpxAAJzjJFJ3-0UaiLoK1ZVyiOnH_zTis31uJEKu5DJ9q6h0_mZusGuVOgvCQ1kFa1c2JoL7PTU33pTHToRgvI_boWWC/w544-h427/1.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary Ann Shells are any pans that create a cake with a sunken center for adding a topping. They came in many shapes and sizes. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuq1YxEOCfPvM8tCGFe7_aZglTqPxNmBnsngP6cPzcSQ3BZ2wv-4FOQeAWCS_R8RNfWD6wotEQafvXM1kVAkDxodO371v5wAcaQkcEnUfjCXhdrKw00xrUpMilNiCqEy0mQnDdT3h6G1e06zYfyp1qz07TVg010O-ZKEhrFLa57cv74cWEny8F_i_-SFFn/s2479/Mary%20Ann%208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="2230" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuq1YxEOCfPvM8tCGFe7_aZglTqPxNmBnsngP6cPzcSQ3BZ2wv-4FOQeAWCS_R8RNfWD6wotEQafvXM1kVAkDxodO371v5wAcaQkcEnUfjCXhdrKw00xrUpMilNiCqEy0mQnDdT3h6G1e06zYfyp1qz07TVg010O-ZKEhrFLa57cv74cWEny8F_i_-SFFn/w576-h640/Mary%20Ann%208.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the back page of the booklet that came with it.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this modern heart shaped pan. Who wouldn't want to create a dessert like this?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Creating it may even be more fun than eating it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyseoXXSeA9u5aDBv25DBOJ9mkbuE8apZihL7UuUdozVor1TyBgzlm5XAG7liFXM5xthB00nB_kg6krxS-2mILXEJ719en0JltMYgKhCKTSlP2L40aLkgUv8XtdkArEPI5SzWuuZTj0-foJkhgzY60-9y4tY5spubdZCgkXOJslHIuXwXBAm89LnkS_8yy/s564/ad3e7aa076522a1504fb937c80f1c0ee.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyseoXXSeA9u5aDBv25DBOJ9mkbuE8apZihL7UuUdozVor1TyBgzlm5XAG7liFXM5xthB00nB_kg6krxS-2mILXEJ719en0JltMYgKhCKTSlP2L40aLkgUv8XtdkArEPI5SzWuuZTj0-foJkhgzY60-9y4tY5spubdZCgkXOJslHIuXwXBAm89LnkS_8yy/w480-h480/ad3e7aa076522a1504fb937c80f1c0ee.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bought this pan on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089XXMJZV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These Mary Ann Shells with their colorful box were produced by Ekco starting in 1921</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zgnMIRIaGq3TpGaaDw27uatJUMD-S9wHgoAtMyWdkuMfRoC4AG4VZIFG8wOG5EUtJi80k5MUvnMj257U_-VHM_rTdJpocE5d2xik9PdBCKH7QQ9wu49_in_agGFPas00qoshI6fU_nhO1fRdbXxASRS3QVoeJT0_fI178zoGxIUmOq8KsNqycymJeyWd/s1854/Mary%20Ann%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1854" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zgnMIRIaGq3TpGaaDw27uatJUMD-S9wHgoAtMyWdkuMfRoC4AG4VZIFG8wOG5EUtJi80k5MUvnMj257U_-VHM_rTdJpocE5d2xik9PdBCKH7QQ9wu49_in_agGFPas00qoshI6fU_nhO1fRdbXxASRS3QVoeJT0_fI178zoGxIUmOq8KsNqycymJeyWd/w567-h448/Mary%20Ann%2011.jpg" width="567" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below are the pans which came in my box.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AfgWLZwaNCm0BJeVFSBtMxdfAcJqGvcakef-WPOQ-ne73AkCC7y9Br2Uej1fpCaV54AZ-SRpE9XIJhpfmPt02SEAXqFYKVk0DVga2dkgJ4OgLI_Bw1M6bH3C0kpHC8GRW-XlCxUDUIH5Ha8WcO9km8ADbtxxW3TZP8s_z-ZiCfAB5edytFR4eIQFRaWf/s794/Mary%20Ann%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="794" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AfgWLZwaNCm0BJeVFSBtMxdfAcJqGvcakef-WPOQ-ne73AkCC7y9Br2Uej1fpCaV54AZ-SRpE9XIJhpfmPt02SEAXqFYKVk0DVga2dkgJ4OgLI_Bw1M6bH3C0kpHC8GRW-XlCxUDUIH5Ha8WcO9km8ADbtxxW3TZP8s_z-ZiCfAB5edytFR4eIQFRaWf/w562-h518/Mary%20Ann%206.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ekco, whom many of you will be familiar with since they made metal kitchenware well into the 1980s, was originally called the E Katzinger Company.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17LbAwcSzctqjXM-6ixO7fhiifQl_9DJnmme8QyM3zOIK7e1D3Rk_-pFk8dVHapeurqsCNF_kEJaP4JQer7rerjI6Y5TeFrm2NU88tL6m7kfzcjNBC3rbZR4fbi6hjsPI10jeP1aqQX14oNYhp0ebiVYobF8HGu3rjq4syvp_dSCG0-a0QtZLNSos2Wde/s380/Mary%20Ann%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="380" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17LbAwcSzctqjXM-6ixO7fhiifQl_9DJnmme8QyM3zOIK7e1D3Rk_-pFk8dVHapeurqsCNF_kEJaP4JQer7rerjI6Y5TeFrm2NU88tL6m7kfzcjNBC3rbZR4fbi6hjsPI10jeP1aqQX14oNYhp0ebiVYobF8HGu3rjq4syvp_dSCG0-a0QtZLNSos2Wde/w559-h545/Mary%20Ann%207.jpg" width="559" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The E Katzinger Co became Ekco </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is an in depth and interesting <a href="https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/ekco-products-co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">History of the Ekco Company.</a> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqqr8GIrAfW9-8DuTD0Jgj0OQW5IVLnkx3nC9nDhvYQVq3KB2nJNMGsMP3WqAnNKZPuPf8dHRlKoCt5pXOrnkOCB6abB0JHulD7gHoIFLYW1TZkICrr2iff4g2OEPT7FvICmiR-DWBFHIjX9upgj5RCt5dQOg6Q8Qx_l0Ad3ST5XKH3DGl3uPrEK7kSVx/s2784/US1388364-drawings-page-1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="1893" height="607" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqqr8GIrAfW9-8DuTD0Jgj0OQW5IVLnkx3nC9nDhvYQVq3KB2nJNMGsMP3WqAnNKZPuPf8dHRlKoCt5pXOrnkOCB6abB0JHulD7gHoIFLYW1TZkICrr2iff4g2OEPT7FvICmiR-DWBFHIjX9upgj5RCt5dQOg6Q8Qx_l0Ad3ST5XKH3DGl3uPrEK7kSVx/w413-h607/US1388364-drawings-page-1.png" width="413" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patent 1,388,364</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">They used this patent for the Mary Ann Shells. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">**Footnote: I think I just realized where the name Mary Ann came from. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The patent was held by Mary A. Miller. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Eureka!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">My vintage pans came with a little square booklet of recipes which was wonderfully illustrated. The booklets aren't very common, no doubt due to the fact that they are perforated to let you put the recipes into your recipe box. While I think of Mary Ann Pans as being cake pans, at least half of the recipes are for molding other foods.</span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrifdvw15YS-fGInp3qrhXVb4pNDiw8ArwWu3TBX6B8yqgnsQ16KqtfTtVNe9Qe7fplRA0IRbzMYR_jyzU6vJYcMqm2bymKGxJ8TLZXMUYB0iFiQNRGaV6RQlu44HwYyPp7z5iaOWpKenOLx8pdV1bZqF8Kk7PEfvwNdR_NGGppJzUB9AKEz1RNXM5hPzX/s4428/Mary%20Ann%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="4428" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrifdvw15YS-fGInp3qrhXVb4pNDiw8ArwWu3TBX6B8yqgnsQ16KqtfTtVNe9Qe7fplRA0IRbzMYR_jyzU6vJYcMqm2bymKGxJ8TLZXMUYB0iFiQNRGaV6RQlu44HwYyPp7z5iaOWpKenOLx8pdV1bZqF8Kk7PEfvwNdR_NGGppJzUB9AKEz1RNXM5hPzX/w557-h310/Mary%20Ann%2010.jpg" width="557" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper right: Spinach with creamed mushrooms and eggs</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH0C193yEKQj8s099No0k54v0PlUZbnGElSULtr33iSqBnap1LoT8FYELa1XPh2oEaFS0kiWqmJ_BQMlGr1alcP72Br-NbbpleqlQStWa-vRmot0fofNccXlO06Ojee8OALPLe-0Ye2pFPMXDYLjp2XUJi5OWTrn8c-72rhz0t_zHOqR3PdHSqQnbYAkq/s4425/Mary%20Ann%209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2427" data-original-width="4425" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH0C193yEKQj8s099No0k54v0PlUZbnGElSULtr33iSqBnap1LoT8FYELa1XPh2oEaFS0kiWqmJ_BQMlGr1alcP72Br-NbbpleqlQStWa-vRmot0fofNccXlO06Ojee8OALPLe-0Ye2pFPMXDYLjp2XUJi5OWTrn8c-72rhz0t_zHOqR3PdHSqQnbYAkq/w554-h305/Mary%20Ann%209.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper left: Rice ring with veggies</td></tr></tbody></table>Recently, I scored another booklet on eBay which featured more recipes. It was produced in 1929 and obviously done by the same artist. So many options!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp4I6nkt5Me-GKDQ8qSq9Jrx4JSMh0meHJg8bpEMHGXUnDyaqphC6NllCi3p0UOfjwpJaBOQUIVPU50IrXyypN2lVICh4x1V-YuAbmrAjT3l0dSSsG48CMWWIcyhsRbkBYdDcnsykD84TNu37jhm-G_qm204Ushkf56_WTqr3QL1qbkoZo89wLtp3Hz7G/s6547/Mary%20Ann%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4976" data-original-width="6547" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzp4I6nkt5Me-GKDQ8qSq9Jrx4JSMh0meHJg8bpEMHGXUnDyaqphC6NllCi3p0UOfjwpJaBOQUIVPU50IrXyypN2lVICh4x1V-YuAbmrAjT3l0dSSsG48CMWWIcyhsRbkBYdDcnsykD84TNu37jhm-G_qm204Ushkf56_WTqr3QL1qbkoZo89wLtp3Hz7G/w556-h422/Mary%20Ann%201.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You could make a larger dish for your family, or break them into smaller portions to serve to the ladies when they came to play Bridge.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNjhUvHhwH67AOFqcK2ECu_BvvKuaVAvK6RJtMLv2owIXS2rP6IsyPvKJC7IQy6djhyswj6hxs2Dz9HZnNFwJLyDB70KNgDpHHD0582bRycQiOG23culMs6LGfoLAVZOf2rhYo1LpmHF3Pdu-A8DAHxIvwbapoJdgGEW_6ixoNYkRAY1X3Y4x2I1j-h92/s6572/Mary%20Ann%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4941" data-original-width="6572" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNjhUvHhwH67AOFqcK2ECu_BvvKuaVAvK6RJtMLv2owIXS2rP6IsyPvKJC7IQy6djhyswj6hxs2Dz9HZnNFwJLyDB70KNgDpHHD0582bRycQiOG23culMs6LGfoLAVZOf2rhYo1LpmHF3Pdu-A8DAHxIvwbapoJdgGEW_6ixoNYkRAY1X3Y4x2I1j-h92/w556-h419/Mary%20Ann%202.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the recipes are quite fancy like Salmon Mousse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBXbgH4Bh98YzB3XlbBxI84YfLZqbMma7qiHpknGXKcEoug0weZrfZSuBBPgtqV7VBdQLsLw3KLF0WwsEpEA17CRpkLrO8NOO87RMUC-2tqSiNsc6ps1coopaAGFjXjHvFnxO17YuGB_-kz5Odsl8P-iAUHlGuSJCvf2z93ZRvGW-D3BFOHoLle9qhkIO/s4386/Image%20(14).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3332" data-original-width="4386" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBXbgH4Bh98YzB3XlbBxI84YfLZqbMma7qiHpknGXKcEoug0weZrfZSuBBPgtqV7VBdQLsLw3KLF0WwsEpEA17CRpkLrO8NOO87RMUC-2tqSiNsc6ps1coopaAGFjXjHvFnxO17YuGB_-kz5Odsl8P-iAUHlGuSJCvf2z93ZRvGW-D3BFOHoLle9qhkIO/w560-h425/Image%20(14).jpg" width="560" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Other recipes feature foods we have left behind like Jellied Bullion (Aspic).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wouldn't want to try a meat loaf in one of these pans either. Its hard enough to get it out of a rectangular pan without making a mess. That's the thing about using these old fashioned pans. We've become accustomed to non-stick cookware or a shot of Pam Baking Spray. These pans call for greasing them well in every nook and cranny.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9anw9g6gNnAdwrdEDEn36YwtwO5raBVGBlcYdrBvsHBUf2W3kN8JzF4rhyphenhyphenYVrxc-m67GWnVIvGJXr4nJ17P4yClXXcueziR5i5oazqk_ALz-1iK5D-FmOcTwXsLWU-B5VJlMqvrcfHGr7G1-x1ET9oigrdJ6q8RIzTMVOtgCrbk0_ay-0CT6SgbubUL0G/s6578/Mary%20Ann%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4936" data-original-width="6578" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9anw9g6gNnAdwrdEDEn36YwtwO5raBVGBlcYdrBvsHBUf2W3kN8JzF4rhyphenhyphenYVrxc-m67GWnVIvGJXr4nJ17P4yClXXcueziR5i5oazqk_ALz-1iK5D-FmOcTwXsLWU-B5VJlMqvrcfHGr7G1-x1ET9oigrdJ6q8RIzTMVOtgCrbk0_ay-0CT6SgbubUL0G/w549-h411/Mary%20Ann%203.jpg" width="549" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jellied Tuna Fish or Ginger Ale Salad</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gee, no one uses Aspic any more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In fact, America has lost a lot of imagination when it comes to gelatin molds. They used to be a staple of all Holiday meals. I sort of miss them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAc5ZXsciye1vrerR8kuHaU-RnQRbde634g4Ze1Lj1I12yu6zloYbdiz-m1N5iJ_mCoX7a_HMH_UvtmozoX5M_X_JU-ib49udwm67pjkY01VNXZa6pFDmduh5vPX1XZUG5XZhxvkGrrL2mjjJJop7CX05Ba-Rxb-hHxtTUxIkv_BVdvMSOzXFUk0JVOY9/s6576/Mary%20Ann%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4964" data-original-width="6576" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAc5ZXsciye1vrerR8kuHaU-RnQRbde634g4Ze1Lj1I12yu6zloYbdiz-m1N5iJ_mCoX7a_HMH_UvtmozoX5M_X_JU-ib49udwm67pjkY01VNXZa6pFDmduh5vPX1XZUG5XZhxvkGrrL2mjjJJop7CX05Ba-Rxb-hHxtTUxIkv_BVdvMSOzXFUk0JVOY9/w550-h417/Mary%20Ann%204.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4a_rtt-M8Evos_GDv4DwU8MXZq5pEPyufXzgx5MWqPPx05gxQsxY68WgMfQHNsIo_LG0oqOp_QA0rxce0iy-emyM2hHST0cFrxFdIrCylKQGPF5ORKD1ncEXGvY6jxA59QzDKjV-k74aZ7zLKfpHpXDMusk3QKRTap7b-PrJM3hmPNdYwfKdWLVMItphN/s2078/Image%20(15).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2078" data-original-width="1911" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4a_rtt-M8Evos_GDv4DwU8MXZq5pEPyufXzgx5MWqPPx05gxQsxY68WgMfQHNsIo_LG0oqOp_QA0rxce0iy-emyM2hHST0cFrxFdIrCylKQGPF5ORKD1ncEXGvY6jxA59QzDKjV-k74aZ7zLKfpHpXDMusk3QKRTap7b-PrJM3hmPNdYwfKdWLVMItphN/w548-h598/Image%20(15).jpg" width="548" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So that is our little trip through late 1920s party preparation,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is a winter storm building up. The winds are blowing and the branches are falling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay warm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-75217228099699942372024-01-07T12:10:00.007-05:002024-01-07T12:10:38.703-05:00Snow<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was ready for some snow. It has been damp and gloomy since before Christmas. I mean, there is cloud cover and then there is <i>cloud cover</i>. Last Wednesday it was so dark, dank and dismal that the cold was seeping through my ears and chilling my brain. I was wearing a polar fleece headband around the house. I made Tollhouse cookies. That was the only way to save the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHvaYrnNqyfO5BNCW_-zUxYbVtU1EdJ4W6U55QQOWL5mT_GN9ojPf9ZuN5N6ga4z0huJ5MhyphenhyphenVreAJrSkrvnspqeVvXjQxKF8c8sfMCEwuwBVDt_TRXuNp6hQhhmP3AvnUEwFTi-1jM6KgEDQV9INIqf0pvqb21lgoCscBHVWeJSaM30PEeLyr4yCawxIY/s3384/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1636" data-original-width="3384" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHvaYrnNqyfO5BNCW_-zUxYbVtU1EdJ4W6U55QQOWL5mT_GN9ojPf9ZuN5N6ga4z0huJ5MhyphenhyphenVreAJrSkrvnspqeVvXjQxKF8c8sfMCEwuwBVDt_TRXuNp6hQhhmP3AvnUEwFTi-1jM6KgEDQV9INIqf0pvqb21lgoCscBHVWeJSaM30PEeLyr4yCawxIY/w576-h278/2.JPG" width="576" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This morning I took the above picture. Below is a photo from January 3rd, 2014. I am amazed at how many background trees we have lost to the emerald ash borer.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNH6PydcLFy0RS3Q6gY3AkB3u3kspVuWbH55uf5rOUQYrHV-6OxaEd1PHl9q9MU-LQPqvPIP0L4RO6c0IetzqRnSyQUQwqRAIQxbTmoe2A_jsQG7iSYMHRredpjM-sNmBvWDinhfq-vXT8OftUHpJcIU5Cws3JIdrFjb0aSAV_-rJPZrl_Vwtl1ATL_u1-/s1971/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1971" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNH6PydcLFy0RS3Q6gY3AkB3u3kspVuWbH55uf5rOUQYrHV-6OxaEd1PHl9q9MU-LQPqvPIP0L4RO6c0IetzqRnSyQUQwqRAIQxbTmoe2A_jsQG7iSYMHRredpjM-sNmBvWDinhfq-vXT8OftUHpJcIU5Cws3JIdrFjb0aSAV_-rJPZrl_Vwtl1ATL_u1-/w575-h278/4.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPQl4ag01RKrSl52Wpk3HlabM8NxJGl6LhP_XNeXJCN6QlJKzLmjboZtjITqjQb6Ka9gxoSOS1-k5k0UeRAkfdJdDlSyRzvv05EwLaiklnZCHf-p8ewTBTF4Me0v6w5K3hzadx4ca2Br3zQ3IkwknXViq6EWc0GhvONUSiISgkBImtz74hU-3z0gPXPaS/s1062/1.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1062" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPQl4ag01RKrSl52Wpk3HlabM8NxJGl6LhP_XNeXJCN6QlJKzLmjboZtjITqjQb6Ka9gxoSOS1-k5k0UeRAkfdJdDlSyRzvv05EwLaiklnZCHf-p8ewTBTF4Me0v6w5K3hzadx4ca2Br3zQ3IkwknXViq6EWc0GhvONUSiISgkBImtz74hU-3z0gPXPaS/w577-h278/1.5.jpg" width="577" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I zoomed in a little to see if it shows better. We have lost all of the larger trunks. In the wide shot it looks as if the woods in the back is looming over the little trees. That is not just because the trees were so small. The woods was much closer to the lawn. There is now a rough cut meadow area in the foreground.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPad2RcevKIY3WPtlKwAu2vnhQ32eCcfm9wUdBR1W1STIhn9CNpZrHHdJeL3SH7mumL8UtwQ0xbPB3iw6FhC7DuqQG0bRcwatDlcuyi4fcgvext0eIZv8ITv7SQCy9UwhlJg30Ws2ZZKUdrIsvwx6t26GsIGGHUrRv-ROhYekcFuklsxZfjnbTE4YzanN/s1367/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1367" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPad2RcevKIY3WPtlKwAu2vnhQ32eCcfm9wUdBR1W1STIhn9CNpZrHHdJeL3SH7mumL8UtwQ0xbPB3iw6FhC7DuqQG0bRcwatDlcuyi4fcgvext0eIZv8ITv7SQCy9UwhlJg30Ws2ZZKUdrIsvwx6t26GsIGGHUrRv-ROhYekcFuklsxZfjnbTE4YzanN/w578-h313/1.JPG" width="578" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The garden is sound asleep under the blanket of snow. This won't last long. The ground is wet and we have warmer temperatures on the way. I would prefer, for the sake of the soil, that the ground remained damp and snow covered, but by this time next week, it will again be bare and frozen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRP5duTsUkWSTNEC9XBw8TN0Walm6X_YlG2e42Jqy_GoMd_qiKDCOFNI_hgRg1luz9Qovj-Xvzs-xp7top7SrVelZnUGSxHW2ucb0w_qbhJUXCnKlWy7zWHeY12Pjj1y5P0Oo99bogrrUxaYjRzpDAqkm1sVr51YkWWyWPhG7sif5h19DRYlbumJGnnYh/s1324/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1324" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRP5duTsUkWSTNEC9XBw8TN0Walm6X_YlG2e42Jqy_GoMd_qiKDCOFNI_hgRg1luz9Qovj-Xvzs-xp7top7SrVelZnUGSxHW2ucb0w_qbhJUXCnKlWy7zWHeY12Pjj1y5P0Oo99bogrrUxaYjRzpDAqkm1sVr51YkWWyWPhG7sif5h19DRYlbumJGnnYh/w574-h384/5.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This week in the mail I received an order of flower seeds. I bought pansies and primrose. Both of those are cold tolerant, early plants. In a week or two I will start the seeds with the intention of freeing up my grow light by mid-March for the cole crops.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5wscbby_06krhSDR9IURlu3djHvzGuGb0UrNH0QtAgVdbpCq16E0NbnFSJztdw9NNBSZ8FcT00tbL4GLffkrS-bzUXKt6kf-ZLHqEQQfYm7ua8DIfUUD9p239wGQ_5PT8XMAMQlclDS639JEIAypimQScv4KCQmtudNp7HJOL6DuNfTlIl-lfdtO_5TL/s1576/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20120943.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="1576" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5wscbby_06krhSDR9IURlu3djHvzGuGb0UrNH0QtAgVdbpCq16E0NbnFSJztdw9NNBSZ8FcT00tbL4GLffkrS-bzUXKt6kf-ZLHqEQQfYm7ua8DIfUUD9p239wGQ_5PT8XMAMQlclDS639JEIAypimQScv4KCQmtudNp7HJOL6DuNfTlIl-lfdtO_5TL/w590-h184/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20120943.png" width="590" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How's this for a shot of spring color?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-70200882728503091692024-01-04T13:12:00.004-05:002024-01-04T13:13:27.388-05:00Thinking of Containers - and Shopping<p> One of the favorite past times of gardeners in the cold winter months is shopping. Seeds, tools, seed starting supplies... live plants to be shipped later. </p><p>One of the containers that I am looking forward to most this year is the shade container I had by our firepit last year. It was all Coleus that I started from seeds. Cheap plants! And I still have seeds, so this year they are technically "Free Plants". I love the palette of red, black and chartreuse. They got pretty big and I think adding some kind of support in there would be a good idea. That way when they get too big late in the season I can use string to hold them all together. I pinched these back many times earlier in the season. That only encouraged them. They are the <a href="https://www.harrisseeds.com/products/20268-coleus-giant-exhibition-mix?epik=dj0yJnU9ME0zbHBhRTlfNkFkSkVOdW1fYWdhdVY2eW9wQXJyejUmcD0wJm49SXVWWFhwWEJQNVM4d0Z6QUlpR1J3USZ0PUFBQUFBR1dXOFg4&variant=28919450129" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Giant Exhibition Mix"</a> from Harris Seeds.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFmkEC4LSoSJGkYUBummTjgzDpV9Q_44hkBm2yt8AklJkFhHCdH5vEUNuNtENQ1XHXdjreD_jKlyJga70OvwDA5XAT7zklKMUEzx-M98EcdFrmYtZWE4CxXQjlf03weZI_RdYQ5HCpl70sC6G05qYyPanIPWtdrKOBcMH32aZ19alIlaJ5sl65U6Igpto/s2727/2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2727" data-original-width="2398" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFmkEC4LSoSJGkYUBummTjgzDpV9Q_44hkBm2yt8AklJkFhHCdH5vEUNuNtENQ1XHXdjreD_jKlyJga70OvwDA5XAT7zklKMUEzx-M98EcdFrmYtZWE4CxXQjlf03weZI_RdYQ5HCpl70sC6G05qYyPanIPWtdrKOBcMH32aZ19alIlaJ5sl65U6Igpto/w562-h640/2.jpg" width="562" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(that is a 16" container under there)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last year this planter was in the spot indicated by the center arrow. And I want to do two more in the spots indicated by the other arrows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7hTJkRqul91tsd-DX3IxZttCNR40PO-it71ZKGCVb8zA_UrJzLuQlnZbj7IX8eeRXtOJq2CHUf5XvA4p0ogcGF_MjMHuzwqrybAVefHzu569wcRJ-Ge6tlLVJ71fvBKxK8A62UsyOSsa3cJbd__l8vlAr8iibhB-jxF0MBrldKTtYbvfneQQ1u_3FRuz/s1600/After%206%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1600" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7hTJkRqul91tsd-DX3IxZttCNR40PO-it71ZKGCVb8zA_UrJzLuQlnZbj7IX8eeRXtOJq2CHUf5XvA4p0ogcGF_MjMHuzwqrybAVefHzu569wcRJ-Ge6tlLVJ71fvBKxK8A62UsyOSsa3cJbd__l8vlAr8iibhB-jxF0MBrldKTtYbvfneQQ1u_3FRuz/w578-h255/After%206%20(2).jpg" width="578" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The containers I am using are <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Better-Homes-Gardens-Bombay-Decorative-Outdoor-Planter-Red-Sedona-16/13072117" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">16" Bombay planters</a> that Walmart used to sell. I have a pretty good selection of them and wish I had more. If I ever see them again I will buy as many as I can haul away! They have held up so well. I have them in four colors and each year I clean them well and store them away. They are just as shiny today as the day I bought them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KxAearaacKWY0761BLpDBnCgX1RmbuJjenmmkRcPxuMlbcEQRrFuF49OMElD_aS8ah4hPyWAnkaqivJkbBT8HSqhVOL-HFkeNqZNE1-eXfWiHXvmWWpaAS6thjX8OIPEflhAoVc0Dax7x6ByogE9mJ6vNERFOjaExTPVE5y5NfYmjsyFr4DwIq3Ufz0N/s727/Capture14.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="727" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KxAearaacKWY0761BLpDBnCgX1RmbuJjenmmkRcPxuMlbcEQRrFuF49OMElD_aS8ah4hPyWAnkaqivJkbBT8HSqhVOL-HFkeNqZNE1-eXfWiHXvmWWpaAS6thjX8OIPEflhAoVc0Dax7x6ByogE9mJ6vNERFOjaExTPVE5y5NfYmjsyFr4DwIq3Ufz0N/w569-h485/Capture14.JPG" width="569" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bombay containers back in 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So for the center support I have had my eye on this <a href="https://www.gardeners.com/buy/verona-garden-obelisk/8609604.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Verona Obelisk</a> from Gardener's Supply. A couple of months ago I got it half off. They are normally over priced at over $60. Yikes! I thought $30 something was a great deal. When I received it I wished I had ordered more. It is pretty well made and it even folds flat to store. Technically, it is a flimsy little thing. But it is a heavy, well made, flimsy little thing.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqB3ygGC2CjZFduFDkmrWE13Y4yjOrXJcvqnsiWRfSqm6nscxbpVEbBzBTXwS2-cNas4LmuBBEfyzPKNuJirGh0FhvNpTVfRLydPtiKxuXJGGIcUdCDiM7P62lXpCl2Sws_ZiT9Dq109dTi7NqsMzqZeVhkZCFIeU9w9tp0ssxUvZuYy2PlbotZY2e2xO/s531/Gardeners%20Verona.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqB3ygGC2CjZFduFDkmrWE13Y4yjOrXJcvqnsiWRfSqm6nscxbpVEbBzBTXwS2-cNas4LmuBBEfyzPKNuJirGh0FhvNpTVfRLydPtiKxuXJGGIcUdCDiM7P62lXpCl2Sws_ZiT9Dq109dTi7NqsMzqZeVhkZCFIeU9w9tp0ssxUvZuYy2PlbotZY2e2xO/s320/Gardeners%20Verona.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then one day, as I was shopping around, I found <a href="https://www.athome.com/black-metal-circles-folding-trellis-30.2/124368217.html?epik=dj0yJnU9MHIxVVR5VmxFaUFoOVZfWTI2cTJpcFZkQTZRZ3NCRkQmcD0wJm49cFFwMHNSRDBNdHJDVm9PakhXTHY5ZyZ0PUFBQUFBR1dXN2Q0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these at the At Home</a> website.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For $14.99!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlkx4ZKwTQ72hhNGtPvInOtON5hqHnAxMHU7yHU3rLm7RcSwnfvFJSZ4AMzTDfJKY8J2JIMobDs7ebtOjkL-2TJDlOzmFwBqWXr7_3VqTsO75taAWbygnFn8T8pFn79OsQkF4loEs7Mu_iX44VKYf54CVA68rfptfIh36ZPN1t1XWp3ZewJhVknnnebPh/s736/At%20Home.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlkx4ZKwTQ72hhNGtPvInOtON5hqHnAxMHU7yHU3rLm7RcSwnfvFJSZ4AMzTDfJKY8J2JIMobDs7ebtOjkL-2TJDlOzmFwBqWXr7_3VqTsO75taAWbygnFn8T8pFn79OsQkF4loEs7Mu_iX44VKYf54CVA68rfptfIh36ZPN1t1XWp3ZewJhVknnnebPh/s320/At%20Home.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are a similar size, but just a bit shorter. They are made the same, but the centers are actual circles instead of ovals. I bought two. Even with shipping they were an excellent value compared to the Gardener's version. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybrCZh1QyU31MFU9Olg4mMnx1u6hta0E4UPxUhYYyFUXaN6nh56lsCslGgaeIl8srZU0ESDfp52bcubHWsArldg34gSHZcyDgN83IsXdxn5-DZ7zlzXBFPfWFZn76ZYvkNvzn3SRdhPTYxXlwdryogtpAMBZtC57EOYKqqw2YcY0TStcwU6jdUA8EvESp/s736/Trellises.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybrCZh1QyU31MFU9Olg4mMnx1u6hta0E4UPxUhYYyFUXaN6nh56lsCslGgaeIl8srZU0ESDfp52bcubHWsArldg34gSHZcyDgN83IsXdxn5-DZ7zlzXBFPfWFZn76ZYvkNvzn3SRdhPTYxXlwdryogtpAMBZtC57EOYKqqw2YcY0TStcwU6jdUA8EvESp/s320/Trellises.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what they look like side by side. I will use the taller one in the center container, and the shorter ones on each side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't wait for the day when I can pot these up.</div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-18301033941212872682024-01-03T06:19:00.001-05:002024-01-03T06:19:20.852-05:00Deciding What To Grow in the Vegetable Garden 2024<p>Now that the new seed catalogs are showing up in the mail, it is time to start thinking about what to grow <strike>next</strike> this year. Again, I am using only half of the raised bed garden for veggies and leaving the other beds for pollinator friendly annuals. I am not making many changes from last year because things went pretty well. As always, I will do a few things differently. I am in the mood for some fun tomatoes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd9aYLCvy5iSjnBHD2wCtcIPjOyfCVBTYxSOzoG-IkC4XDEB5Kw6xNa71e4lSfRwQQFBU8UJLVoZTyLqlI-18h-3XFNZA40D2UAxpe5wqHrQflSQOqs_wNob27IhzMRNTk0NkJIJH6WN-yfjQI1hU19WIg46OY-rx9rBO8ndPzt09xUcjqc3KzNH53sKA/s1257/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="966" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd9aYLCvy5iSjnBHD2wCtcIPjOyfCVBTYxSOzoG-IkC4XDEB5Kw6xNa71e4lSfRwQQFBU8UJLVoZTyLqlI-18h-3XFNZA40D2UAxpe5wqHrQflSQOqs_wNob27IhzMRNTk0NkJIJH6WN-yfjQI1hU19WIg46OY-rx9rBO8ndPzt09xUcjqc3KzNH53sKA/w492-h640/6.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><p>Peas, Beans, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Lettuce, Carrots: I am doing everything exactly the same with one minor tweak. I am going to plant my row of pole beans in two stages. I will start in the center and plant half of my yellow and half of my green varieties. Two weeks later I will finish off the ends of the row. I had plenty of pole beans all year, but there was a two week lull towards the end of August, then they began blooming again. I want to see if I can stagger their recovery period by planting at different times or if it has more to do with weather. And I want to plant a little more of the green Seychelles than the yellow Monte Gusto because the Monte Gusto is just such a <b>heavy</b> producer compared to the Seychelles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqb0OAc220pTXLzWqBnpJqf7NlLYCjH0jW84eBs6n3kiPhyiH5jPL4bMddDhLX0NG9B_bYge-k4LnjgiMa2xApAwNY8ZvszO4JgRu-Uj9U0Vz8Qjzu7F2Dgdg0Mz2bLg6H5U4mER-Tke_a37o5LmbBSDPnM-FRFciPz64hqADuKx_SbAAUGGN41-27Ibc/s1600/IMG_6364.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqb0OAc220pTXLzWqBnpJqf7NlLYCjH0jW84eBs6n3kiPhyiH5jPL4bMddDhLX0NG9B_bYge-k4LnjgiMa2xApAwNY8ZvszO4JgRu-Uj9U0Vz8Qjzu7F2Dgdg0Mz2bLg6H5U4mER-Tke_a37o5LmbBSDPnM-FRFciPz64hqADuKx_SbAAUGGN41-27Ibc/w475-h356/IMG_6364.JPG" width="475" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cucumbers 2017</td></tr></tbody></table>Tomatoes: Although I have been planting my main crop in large containers, I still end up with a few plants in the ground. I am going to try some more dwarf varieties in the containers but I am planning on six indeterminate plants in a raised bed using the Florida Weave method of support. For the past couple of years I have stuck to one red variety, one yellow or bi-color, and one black or brown variety. This year I also want to have a green and a blue variety. It has been years since I had fun with colored tomatoes. I also plan on buying an Early Girl plant.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaEU96n356fJVhQ7UObfO9HOPj6qQfZ-GJh4mM1-wZXUgKMggJAAMmX9xFXgQFSVgeZbfHV4019udzubFry0kF2ZA6qsBdCd-rALclNtEE9BxHGdu_Lz34ALPoCNbcKlZYcgpiIWyaLTqre6gBmTpgBulqWr5f_4ywWyltNnQEfTpLEvX9tja4LTh3ncr/s1881/38051003_10215232677443134_1149014553246302208_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1881" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaEU96n356fJVhQ7UObfO9HOPj6qQfZ-GJh4mM1-wZXUgKMggJAAMmX9xFXgQFSVgeZbfHV4019udzubFry0kF2ZA6qsBdCd-rALclNtEE9BxHGdu_Lz34ALPoCNbcKlZYcgpiIWyaLTqre6gBmTpgBulqWr5f_4ywWyltNnQEfTpLEvX9tja4LTh3ncr/w541-h412/38051003_10215232677443134_1149014553246302208_n.jpg" width="541" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Beauty Tomatoes 2018</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Peppers: I am not changing anything about my two pots of hot peppers, but I am going to buy some bell pepper plants and plant them along the tomato plants. Peppers like some filtered sun and planting them at the feet of tomatoes works well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASQcEvtjLxw8KPOp-3TpVzDHNdHATPaN1Jj_UjIFgmj_GLA09MPZhSkTDH7ETKDPwK2KMZHXPXMDFwyyF1LgVNqv7mnj-kast9ITbi06JkG8XMC5NOPvEix4PdJbKUOKXEtPmgiTvFYu2vXOxsUm8Sk_A1xzefDDeorsO0ZeqH49tpE2uyFQUzfyPFaUo/s1600/9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASQcEvtjLxw8KPOp-3TpVzDHNdHATPaN1Jj_UjIFgmj_GLA09MPZhSkTDH7ETKDPwK2KMZHXPXMDFwyyF1LgVNqv7mnj-kast9ITbi06JkG8XMC5NOPvEix4PdJbKUOKXEtPmgiTvFYu2vXOxsUm8Sk_A1xzefDDeorsO0ZeqH49tpE2uyFQUzfyPFaUo/w480-h640/9.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell Peppers 2019<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Cole Crops: Last year I purchased all of my cole crop plants. The cabbages were fine, but I really missed having the yellow cauliflowers. So I am going to go back to starting all of my plants. This adds a month to my gardening season, but it also makes it more rewarding.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKTOCMA7DwvId5Gbj3x0ngAcdDGV81HWDqOAc5ye5Mp5H4JwYM-C_OOaXuHKoUR2yOVp61bhFbY_yp8KOVpeP8YJNHJVv59CdjIaRjwjPnMVc53xggm6FsuEDMuc0yViYjkkdfNeGDgAxTLGrZGKCl838vELxI23ZZ8hb9b2w8mRvmOpv11xKqEeitGve/s1600/IMG_4101.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKTOCMA7DwvId5Gbj3x0ngAcdDGV81HWDqOAc5ye5Mp5H4JwYM-C_OOaXuHKoUR2yOVp61bhFbY_yp8KOVpeP8YJNHJVv59CdjIaRjwjPnMVc53xggm6FsuEDMuc0yViYjkkdfNeGDgAxTLGrZGKCl838vELxI23ZZ8hb9b2w8mRvmOpv11xKqEeitGve/w538-h360/IMG_4101.jpg" width="538" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flame Star Cauliflower</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sweet Corn: As of right now, I am not in the mood for sweet corn. I am not in the mood to water it every day and turn on the electric fence to keep the coons out just to yield four dozen ears, no matter how awesome they are. I think I will take a year off and buy from the nearby farm stan. I have many months to change my mind.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JdtX6eEIQHuZF4rl7oXAGR2P9zOzVDfdwiP6_2aQISF04-YmnxhHyAQ1ahB66Qev4ttfrdGeWbIWMZxlmbT7m3WNvX5_Gj2cQDp0PbnXXNv8LDv_jmx1d-C-TB0pvWuJ719EJA2QOe7eO0qc8sB2W4hLn-eo67g8wkhlqvI4w9sGw2sTLXvfz8L1sn3_/s1152/301035985_10226206658465801_6293004323467943711_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="867" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JdtX6eEIQHuZF4rl7oXAGR2P9zOzVDfdwiP6_2aQISF04-YmnxhHyAQ1ahB66Qev4ttfrdGeWbIWMZxlmbT7m3WNvX5_Gj2cQDp0PbnXXNv8LDv_jmx1d-C-TB0pvWuJ719EJA2QOe7eO0qc8sB2W4hLn-eo67g8wkhlqvI4w9sGw2sTLXvfz8L1sn3_/w482-h640/301035985_10226206658465801_6293004323467943711_n.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><p>Cantaloupes: Again - a huge commitment for a non-guaranteed return. Last year we got most of our rain just before they ripened which watered down their taste. Weeks of excellent weather, then days of counter productive weather at just the wrong time. I am not sure I want to water them every day and cover them every night just to get a dozen ho hum melons. I still have seeds. I may plant a few, but they are not high on my list of goals this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi8yaw125sVJFWeZQpzhd-PsIr_fp3ASr30FzVd6udn-BSeGHyr5Pe1CxOq0YcqcOTS0rMALdHdiPKYs04PsMYMVYhPkglcFSj1AsP-tSZu3uq7JM4GfYhJgMUQ9XO3nhs27XQgz3UFr1h6mymrnrOCxaK8x5pk2kHUEAZmO1EyGz7x5VsOm2PK6qe9WJ/s4000/IMG_7038.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi8yaw125sVJFWeZQpzhd-PsIr_fp3ASr30FzVd6udn-BSeGHyr5Pe1CxOq0YcqcOTS0rMALdHdiPKYs04PsMYMVYhPkglcFSj1AsP-tSZu3uq7JM4GfYhJgMUQ9XO3nhs27XQgz3UFr1h6mymrnrOCxaK8x5pk2kHUEAZmO1EyGz7x5VsOm2PK6qe9WJ/w526-h395/IMG_7038.JPG" width="526" /></a></div><p>Sweet Potatoes: My variety is called Mahon Yam. It is only <a href="https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/sweet-potatoes/mahon-yam-organic-sweet-potato-slips-3200G.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sold by Johnny's Seeds</a>. For years they were getting about $24.99 for 25 slips. That was pretty pricey, but the variety grew really well for me. In 2022 they went up to $37.00 so <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2022/05/patience-and-self-control.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I learned to start my own slips</a>. I wasn't going to pay $37.00 plus tax and shipping for a small harvest of sweet potatoes! Especially since not all of the 25 bedraggled, mail order slips could be expected to take. Out of curiosity, I checked the price this year. $45.25 for 25 slips. Holy Crap! I will again start my own slips. Last year I tried seven gallon containers, which were easier to keep watered than grow bags, but they weren't really deep enough. I am going back to the 25 gallon grow bags. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSe-qv6K7r0j0hw-iWV8V7jmiWOeviijS-8J2IWt8ossOshxS-wIMpew7ULRp6vuIdjXoJ0BBgRg00l3Gejd1cCOK4g-VWIH5jf4x5QL0x3MT7vnYP3k8b9ucWy1aygshgcJV0P42W8PEY4HHnEYOYUbXf4bUTInJiCoIBtpvCVgT2FCqV8wHVhn7x1Mb/s4000/IMG_6254.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSe-qv6K7r0j0hw-iWV8V7jmiWOeviijS-8J2IWt8ossOshxS-wIMpew7ULRp6vuIdjXoJ0BBgRg00l3Gejd1cCOK4g-VWIH5jf4x5QL0x3MT7vnYP3k8b9ucWy1aygshgcJV0P42W8PEY4HHnEYOYUbXf4bUTInJiCoIBtpvCVgT2FCqV8wHVhn7x1Mb/w537-h404/IMG_6254.JPG" width="537" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Potato Slips</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Regular Potatoes: Also a no this year. Growing your own potatoes is easy and cost effective if you put them in the ground. If you put them in grow bags they are quite a bit of work (and can be expensive in terms of soil) for a marginal return. It is still the best way to get some new potatoes though.</p><p>Herbs for Butterflies: Last year I chose a random raised bed, one where the soil was under preforming for food crops, and planted Parsley, Dill, Basil and Dara. It is becoming a "perennial" herb bed. The Parsley will winter over and should flower this year and planting Dill in the same place each year is wise if you don't want to fight volunteers all the time. Last year wasn't good for Dill, so I will buy extra seeds. I plan to put my Rosemary and Sage in this bed this year and also try Valerian which is another pollinator friendly, perennial herb.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eWDdkUkz6K1kDrB52xyNgCz6K8JtB5iZIZs-CBiHeXG8UoGWK97qEjxzgG-PF2Xg9Am5KQZLQLmwJdu-HrWIpg0iH0P0V62CcE_hdBoS31XdaNIX-ts3AC7X7LO3T9JW4vPqRC5235nh00gfiGvHzG-ZFhcDRdnz0YAMgNySkdKlRrrsZcmIbssGI4fY/s564/c36a68339299f37d570018963590129e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eWDdkUkz6K1kDrB52xyNgCz6K8JtB5iZIZs-CBiHeXG8UoGWK97qEjxzgG-PF2Xg9Am5KQZLQLmwJdu-HrWIpg0iH0P0V62CcE_hdBoS31XdaNIX-ts3AC7X7LO3T9JW4vPqRC5235nh00gfiGvHzG-ZFhcDRdnz0YAMgNySkdKlRrrsZcmIbssGI4fY/w428-h428/c36a68339299f37d570018963590129e.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://victoryseeds.com/products/valerian" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Valerian from Victory Seeds</a></td></tr></tbody></table>So that is my gardening plan for 2024. I have most of my seeds, but I will probably be placing two small orders to fill in my cole crop seeds and to add a couple of fun tomato varieties. Cabbages and Cauliflowers will need to be seeded in mid-March. Until then, I can pour over these catalogs and dream of warm, sunny days.<div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!</div><p><br /></p></div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-27988126199554633582023-12-28T17:03:00.002-05:002023-12-28T17:03:10.796-05:00Back to the Chairs<p> I have been spending time in the workshop <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2023/03/one-ugly-chair.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recaning more chairs</a>. I've now done chairs #4 and #5. #4 is the fourth chair of our existing set of seven, and #5 is the $2 chair from the <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2023/04/a-tale-of-four-chairs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tale of Four Chairs</a>. </p><p>When I flipped #5 over to knock the old seat out of it I realized that someone had been repairing on it in the distant past. It had some big ole screws, and worse, glue in the holes.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gummzyZeclBeCj6Du0XvhwOa5pT-TUxn3J3AAIfh9VjqECryKH6eodDlUOIUo-QHvd2FqwGcCly7BQ9oypQHlOVxJ8yOG7DvvQt8JgmJwva4IguM0EvowE_1VN0eZ2KyEWCOOWx8wGdovTB4wjAV9cjQxaY-C6nwOppRIc0dcYrbtutW9s0KAO3_Jg2Z/s1136/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1136" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gummzyZeclBeCj6Du0XvhwOa5pT-TUxn3J3AAIfh9VjqECryKH6eodDlUOIUo-QHvd2FqwGcCly7BQ9oypQHlOVxJ8yOG7DvvQt8JgmJwva4IguM0EvowE_1VN0eZ2KyEWCOOWx8wGdovTB4wjAV9cjQxaY-C6nwOppRIc0dcYrbtutW9s0KAO3_Jg2Z/w469-h352/11.jpg" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh Crap!</td></tr></tbody></table>Luckily the glue drilled out without too much trouble. And in the end, it turned out to be the best caning job I've done yet. The chairs I've done so far has been functional enough, but from a skilled craftsman's point of view, they all had some errors in them. The true skill in weaving a cane seat is not in getting the basic weave right - the skill is in locking the cane into the edges in the strongest possible way. It's in the choice of holes. If you make the correct choices, you end up with neat little Xs all along the edges. If you make incorrect choices, you end up with Vs. Or even worse - Ks!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEyH3CXz_xAQ_qVqqmJ6bTNL8b_94-SHw7MZ-erewiPF3a0Iim_3QjHiE-gP-bBBNp721Jdh8tP7mRQlbgWvALLVdTGg938Au9P-phq1OM_uVj_y00BwffRXrZ47oCxmgkZIGRow-yys-5BuH83exLYiJhrAlVeuKd12ppQHOODoBK4jgMtgwxfst5-CE/s1754/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1387" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEyH3CXz_xAQ_qVqqmJ6bTNL8b_94-SHw7MZ-erewiPF3a0Iim_3QjHiE-gP-bBBNp721Jdh8tP7mRQlbgWvALLVdTGg938Au9P-phq1OM_uVj_y00BwffRXrZ47oCxmgkZIGRow-yys-5BuH83exLYiJhrAlVeuKd12ppQHOODoBK4jgMtgwxfst5-CE/w479-h606/4.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chair #4 had too many Vs along the top and bottom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And Ks along the left side.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eeeDUm9OYvBVe-J27uQToIsxRwaVRxpQMEycYa5VlAQZlFhiVQf1tAVoBZ0omwwHdyLHXh6AKjcWt28_pM_P3j381nf3ajRTy5g2EYcoEcueLuPB27M5N6cAkPUmOQ204r3QUOs9vQIgf6WLs3Ua-IcN_Bv1DXChdQQEnvZa1aB6iUTN4V2-hD8gPAr3/s2071/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2071" data-original-width="1599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eeeDUm9OYvBVe-J27uQToIsxRwaVRxpQMEycYa5VlAQZlFhiVQf1tAVoBZ0omwwHdyLHXh6AKjcWt28_pM_P3j381nf3ajRTy5g2EYcoEcueLuPB27M5N6cAkPUmOQ204r3QUOs9vQIgf6WLs3Ua-IcN_Bv1DXChdQQEnvZa1aB6iUTN4V2-hD8gPAr3/w494-h640/5.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chair 5 Not perfect, but much better</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When you are learning, telling the difference between Xs and Vs is like looking at an Escher print and figuring out if the stairs go up or down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0icYWICdJcsetOoHApQsm76dfUKu5TUNQfRzeQX5zcD7kMyyykuJgCJSFKQbO7HykGBN3iQuygu1x0l4NKkI9h7VNLjqDztaZYKBK4T3T5xG9gPlD0Pop9Nq6rDNCbD4L5aDUqrrIFKb3FIDzuYn9ijOwdcY4gC28NXnjL_mwUIuyR4NbSDZkSCF13-Ga/s564/343323840_245590734608542_5149341687451678619_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="564" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0icYWICdJcsetOoHApQsm76dfUKu5TUNQfRzeQX5zcD7kMyyykuJgCJSFKQbO7HykGBN3iQuygu1x0l4NKkI9h7VNLjqDztaZYKBK4T3T5xG9gPlD0Pop9Nq6rDNCbD4L5aDUqrrIFKb3FIDzuYn9ijOwdcY4gC28NXnjL_mwUIuyR4NbSDZkSCF13-Ga/s320/343323840_245590734608542_5149341687451678619_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Midway through chair four I was frustrated enough to set it next to me and start chair five with better choices. And it turned out right. A breakthrough! Can you see the difference?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrOh-oGEPETMpE_pNxCY1kKDa54BQAV4OAeZYU8CZs-6Ss78tEcMhYYRkwGsM4rFXeJAHZ3CgOJzKbAwyJIUrgoB7NPrAZdrMQo6x79nyynXBoE_xlLsoCXbl86XSFV3RqMmuTs_CSeB52gRRFOmfiZ0ADIWoUad8likSwHmgNO_kelffmWz226cpvFJu/s2021/4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="2021" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrOh-oGEPETMpE_pNxCY1kKDa54BQAV4OAeZYU8CZs-6Ss78tEcMhYYRkwGsM4rFXeJAHZ3CgOJzKbAwyJIUrgoB7NPrAZdrMQo6x79nyynXBoE_xlLsoCXbl86XSFV3RqMmuTs_CSeB52gRRFOmfiZ0ADIWoUad8likSwHmgNO_kelffmWz226cpvFJu/w490-h190/4a.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upside down Vs</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm7L0f_ZnDnXgOdkSeVbMfwCIywVrorQ-RgiIlE5wK3kPs_9hidbvYiO0oO3vhGKE3CuJmrCoGD845IeGVdhDhcAcMR4367e_S0hKPi1HAxQ0UmErzapmcWaJ8ZraGmYIWGYGrK91Cy0YQXN8mqcLyMzKzJuj_tIEZeYJ-LTnD41-7ARUyomDtjLAhKXi/s730/ac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="730" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgm7L0f_ZnDnXgOdkSeVbMfwCIywVrorQ-RgiIlE5wK3kPs_9hidbvYiO0oO3vhGKE3CuJmrCoGD845IeGVdhDhcAcMR4367e_S0hKPi1HAxQ0UmErzapmcWaJ8ZraGmYIWGYGrK91Cy0YQXN8mqcLyMzKzJuj_tIEZeYJ-LTnD41-7ARUyomDtjLAhKXi/w489-h225/ac.jpg" width="489" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each strand needs to go one hole over.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0_muointlEqWH7Opfk-aEVpBXPDY7Dek-eO2R3PTR1vdqI6VoegD_iWBws5zxoqtKO-NlF-6N9qwdWTy4oZdFlwQksc4XQTCuWpd_SO6ISfPCWNIR7kOjrnA3QORDLjCGrpb9C_oiweSxc7hoAlX9r5VM1QmZpPlc8bU2Lv_NQtmsT-MSLbHuGWAKG9J/s1537/5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="1537" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0_muointlEqWH7Opfk-aEVpBXPDY7Dek-eO2R3PTR1vdqI6VoegD_iWBws5zxoqtKO-NlF-6N9qwdWTy4oZdFlwQksc4XQTCuWpd_SO6ISfPCWNIR7kOjrnA3QORDLjCGrpb9C_oiweSxc7hoAlX9r5VM1QmZpPlc8bU2Lv_NQtmsT-MSLbHuGWAKG9J/w495-h150/5a.jpg" width="495" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect Xs</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH71wwj5ujRKdJXPsf_UdTR_Hy_A7YiV18Mmf1h_ihY6kCbCmZ2r4CpjAZgsHNjql22BP_bJt19gheXafXNWTArHR_hjqkR90GJ5WQi5C_cbvR2WbP934taN7hpEeV9b1zvrexkclBXEBKGjukSgOszrPyMz83fu6gIx3SLxgthw9GOUM07bAY-lHsZ0T/s1387/4b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="1387" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH71wwj5ujRKdJXPsf_UdTR_Hy_A7YiV18Mmf1h_ihY6kCbCmZ2r4CpjAZgsHNjql22BP_bJt19gheXafXNWTArHR_hjqkR90GJ5WQi5C_cbvR2WbP934taN7hpEeV9b1zvrexkclBXEBKGjukSgOszrPyMz83fu6gIx3SLxgthw9GOUM07bAY-lHsZ0T/w498-h215/4b.jpg" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again with the Vs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqrLSniHfm7bUMz3G-5k96DSfTyCm4dqP5Zkg_6MmZRlrXqgetYvTGRzjmT2CLTQtI259_TOmlk_eboaYragS68JkFNsvkjSGeCwbSjGPPG4j6VsnTcYauMSvq-v5974lSLVN1cy4mN8UtaSTVI21B1yvF0qTZCLhfUWUFmbx2JfftH_Nk6u-BSc8H-P4/s1598/5b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1598" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqrLSniHfm7bUMz3G-5k96DSfTyCm4dqP5Zkg_6MmZRlrXqgetYvTGRzjmT2CLTQtI259_TOmlk_eboaYragS68JkFNsvkjSGeCwbSjGPPG4j6VsnTcYauMSvq-v5974lSLVN1cy4mN8UtaSTVI21B1yvF0qTZCLhfUWUFmbx2JfftH_Nk6u-BSc8H-P4/w497-h188/5b.jpg" width="497" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xs!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the right side turned out well too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The left edge is still a little rough, but I'm not sure why.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzYaYKQLNp9URi5KGZxvtwJsRYqjTMys797ivenHs9eFE6jYOX-wKf9FZVcMlCk4ZZPRXJ-AVnKx61DdTF7J4zFdGC_KkHlsNFjj9DtgAfGhmga-Ilq_IDAF5wtqDp8W9Jz-qY1KLBRWiRLj0CNTyf3ugBZb816E9ccuwJ_CRwlHvAb6xGs8mUQKXl1E0/s441/5c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="304" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzYaYKQLNp9URi5KGZxvtwJsRYqjTMys797ivenHs9eFE6jYOX-wKf9FZVcMlCk4ZZPRXJ-AVnKx61DdTF7J4zFdGC_KkHlsNFjj9DtgAfGhmga-Ilq_IDAF5wtqDp8W9Jz-qY1KLBRWiRLj0CNTyf3ugBZb816E9ccuwJ_CRwlHvAb6xGs8mUQKXl1E0/w344-h498/5c.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As it turns out, there are many different shapes of chair seats from square to round and every thing in between. What I have are "harp shaped" seats and, of course, those are more challenging than others.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucky me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have one more of our original seven that is beginning to tear. I should probably go ahead and replace it now. And that leaves me with one odd chair with a round seat. I think I will try a different pattern on that. Maybe stars. Or daisies and buttons.</div><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-87137072005274852442023-12-26T06:00:00.001-05:002023-12-26T06:00:00.136-05:00The Day Shift<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwCT4dUntoPEL2sSU4WDSpQPWkhhQseJlHNEY29wVw56lGZkgWDAK6AN9mcvy7Y7OHNZj_3zZOQDSk42zMdUEe4Z3E0CROtho3Mz73gi0zmQnxFl-5nrysXOaHl17Xv0Kz8r0bSFwk9koET2x3j2tFV_fk-hI0cVHwTNxPDKkl-k0oo3apyA2-8CqlBOX/s1824/1225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwCT4dUntoPEL2sSU4WDSpQPWkhhQseJlHNEY29wVw56lGZkgWDAK6AN9mcvy7Y7OHNZj_3zZOQDSk42zMdUEe4Z3E0CROtho3Mz73gi0zmQnxFl-5nrysXOaHl17Xv0Kz8r0bSFwk9koET2x3j2tFV_fk-hI0cVHwTNxPDKkl-k0oo3apyA2-8CqlBOX/w509-h382/1225.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday was a beautiful day. The warmest Christmas Day in our area since 1982. When I went out for my morning walk it was 43 degrees. The sun was out, the squirrels were busy and there were plenty of birds including Blue Birds, Jays, Juncos and two or three kinds of Woodpeckers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My husband, always eager to see what the new day will bring, is usually up well before 6 am and out the door before the sun is up (7:43 am as of yesterday). He commented yesterday morning that it was still so dark and when would the sun start coming up earlier? I looked it up, and although we are past the winter solstice, the sun will not rise earlier until January 9th. For the next two weeks, while the sun is setting later each day (4:50 pm yesterday), it is still also rising later each day. The whole day is shifting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ahhh... science.</div><br /><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-47786708476350014122023-12-25T07:47:00.012-05:002023-12-25T07:54:32.099-05:00Merry Christmas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TfsxhHTVn7PZAjkQP25oaad-lYxFzl5mQI_HdclLhgDdL5kFZJ3oeQRyu1BOLAzn9HmVpWdFz_u6OguNwQ48WZYRX-FXQHnaL4ELBzJWRc5dJJrO0oIN9tZjThxyeAzQjSig7Hqt5Y8-LfyKcJBR5s24YluJajFKgqXmFE2LJkLObJMIguGnG8SJFgWV/s1482/15418467_10210032665366082_8648203901852809546_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1482" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TfsxhHTVn7PZAjkQP25oaad-lYxFzl5mQI_HdclLhgDdL5kFZJ3oeQRyu1BOLAzn9HmVpWdFz_u6OguNwQ48WZYRX-FXQHnaL4ELBzJWRc5dJJrO0oIN9tZjThxyeAzQjSig7Hqt5Y8-LfyKcJBR5s24YluJajFKgqXmFE2LJkLObJMIguGnG8SJFgWV/w579-h355/15418467_10210032665366082_8648203901852809546_o.jpg" width="579" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="color: red; font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas</i></div> <p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a YouTube playlist of my first and favorite Christmas record.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/X2-2ah8ZO-w?si=8EvIFMqX4j8k7ZCh">A&P Christmas vol 3 1972</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-28185243338413170172023-12-21T06:00:00.030-05:002023-12-21T06:00:00.143-05:00Solstice<p> My last office when I worked had a wall of windows that faced full south. My desk faced the windows and over the years I found that the sun dropped below the top of the window on November 12th and rose above it on January 30th. I even noted it on Facebook.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC__u4PZOwY4AYXhR-G67w8VIV-xxQckgH_eT0ZWnAcj7sV3tBMg7VZJoItjwGkJtawY0oldlEkK2pPWeqhUoCqxJFBDQ5qVyrk26-QcePA3hsvrgPL_vH7qVkblP7g0RZDL4Y9tvQU9ya_q53rzxcpUB0Fui12dqAJK_m1GetLgZOqURZ-lB2A3b7hLrv/s953/Screenshot%202023-12-16%20174109.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="953" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC__u4PZOwY4AYXhR-G67w8VIV-xxQckgH_eT0ZWnAcj7sV3tBMg7VZJoItjwGkJtawY0oldlEkK2pPWeqhUoCqxJFBDQ5qVyrk26-QcePA3hsvrgPL_vH7qVkblP7g0RZDL4Y9tvQU9ya_q53rzxcpUB0Fui12dqAJK_m1GetLgZOqURZ-lB2A3b7hLrv/w423-h184/Screenshot%202023-12-16%20174109.png" width="423" /></a></div><p>During those weeks, on a sunny day, I would sometimes have to wear sunglasses in the afternoon whenever the sun hit a gap in the blinds. Now I notice the sun's trajectory most on the mornings when I walk. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGSsbfMOeG2FD-Urg4-PXwuLPqBMcnTk2iK18WukKHz8mx4UiIv730oH3FSipR2J0qLsc5RgkuASMvk4_tLNy-7MCgKPC6j38iCj1qqYe1oT8fnVxV_iDVDdYrka3JEu6pTo4LsLbDcntf44jigiF6Z43hbLNK38pqQFXOETcFzr6g2aXPdwOk0dQQsTc/s524/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="524" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGSsbfMOeG2FD-Urg4-PXwuLPqBMcnTk2iK18WukKHz8mx4UiIv730oH3FSipR2J0qLsc5RgkuASMvk4_tLNy-7MCgKPC6j38iCj1qqYe1oT8fnVxV_iDVDdYrka3JEu6pTo4LsLbDcntf44jigiF6Z43hbLNK38pqQFXOETcFzr6g2aXPdwOk0dQQsTc/w420-h315/10.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><p>Not long ago the neighbor and I were discussing the sunrise location through the trees and the effects of the shortened winter daylight on our moods and how we looked forward to the Solstice and the lengthening days when I had an image of my ancient ancestors sitting around a fire on the wide expanse of Salisbury Plain. </p><p></p><blockquote><p> "Every winter these shortened days get me down more and more. I wish we could somehow mark the point on the horizon when the days start to get longer so we would know we are on the upswing...</p><p> ... hey, what if we got a couple really big rocks..."</p></blockquote><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimARWGOqmIQFhYc-m3Zs6hiVRa3QpV7x5go_V3_04r-4yeL-VKhKopW-kVWw0tmvVTyUy0GDD03FbYSh6-gkuVL9jyuAVloKqSAXYFBn9hx2I5V3SabeWvke-OS6SUE_-UHZ1lq6OvNBY7MFroFkbu37viiDiDT692yC8SrzKXFzpAMGx5-BBYCu2e3z-K/s3000/DP149786-e1545054395346.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="3000" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimARWGOqmIQFhYc-m3Zs6hiVRa3QpV7x5go_V3_04r-4yeL-VKhKopW-kVWw0tmvVTyUy0GDD03FbYSh6-gkuVL9jyuAVloKqSAXYFBn9hx2I5V3SabeWvke-OS6SUE_-UHZ1lq6OvNBY7MFroFkbu37viiDiDT692yC8SrzKXFzpAMGx5-BBYCu2e3z-K/w551-h326/DP149786-e1545054395346.jpg" width="551" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/winter-solstice-and-the-sun/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Photo Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Solstice!</span></div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-86915878139374041752023-12-16T15:01:00.000-05:002023-12-16T15:01:10.851-05:00Digging Horseradish<p> The thing about fresh horseradish is that it doesn't stay fresh very long. In the refrigerator, the <a href="https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2021/09/preparing-horse-radish.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">prepared radish </a>begins to lose its fire in a matter of days although I will keep it for five or six weeks. With the holidays upcoming, I want to have some really good radish on hand for making cocktail sauce or as a condiment for beef meals. Many a Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve has found me out in the snow with a pan of hot water and a fork, thawing the soil and digging in the mud. While that can be done, I have learned to plan ahead. The ungrated roots can be kept in the refrigerator for weeks without losing any quality. I have tried freezing the roots, but they lose texture and heat immediately.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUWJZg-wd3JZskDlz5ekcRHnCsCK5y7q7HeKQ-Sq0nFYq4D-tTJs0Iot488CIIxTeAULRFVxZ7jYskVSNiy-idGg8YQAt7fuVx5CfHKq5_QLDJ6gurRW6b2WljB9Yv5hWiLVwt0Lq7TWZB4ItWXHdmXU4dnsMCVqrBhuHCAXEf1YH6xOS_oeke0Kpk7Ou/s1190/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="929" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUWJZg-wd3JZskDlz5ekcRHnCsCK5y7q7HeKQ-Sq0nFYq4D-tTJs0Iot488CIIxTeAULRFVxZ7jYskVSNiy-idGg8YQAt7fuVx5CfHKq5_QLDJ6gurRW6b2WljB9Yv5hWiLVwt0Lq7TWZB4ItWXHdmXU4dnsMCVqrBhuHCAXEf1YH6xOS_oeke0Kpk7Ou/w500-h640/6.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> The weather has been mild and clear, the recent rain has drained away and the ground is not very frozen. The weather is supposed to get colder and wetter this week so I figured I had better get out there. The roots I want are an inch to two inches wide. The larger roots at the crown are very dry and coarse, and the smaller ones whittle away to nothing when you peel them. I look for a good sized crown, two or three seasons old, on the edge of the clump that is sending roots outward.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBd1uzu1KdyRH8b7TQUboayZVG3FTtUAHsDVElGFPYikBtcdq6Lt9JVdbuGicE69h-943sT4zC0vq30qWD10OvZhLu54MqCwxdzPty_QmoN3f_GlSOyDJMEOKyCUw07Cf_uTmBpkX3ZVnf_-z115QngplT02VxlrFEHXms2srd3c8HCC-p4XFTzWhG9h-/s956/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="956" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBd1uzu1KdyRH8b7TQUboayZVG3FTtUAHsDVElGFPYikBtcdq6Lt9JVdbuGicE69h-943sT4zC0vq30qWD10OvZhLu54MqCwxdzPty_QmoN3f_GlSOyDJMEOKyCUw07Cf_uTmBpkX3ZVnf_-z115QngplT02VxlrFEHXms2srd3c8HCC-p4XFTzWhG9h-/w499-h375/5.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These outward growing roots are the ones that are trying to colonize and spread your clump into areas where you don't want it. This nice root (above) is headed for the railroad tie retaining wall and will eventually send up sprouts in the walkway on the other side.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0QctFDaOXLE0WZ_q-H8FPLaFL7ILc2ZJAA_GNTYYOkUPYPkBkqc4hyphenhyphen4iQuMrKz_L8_dLpJooQsZDMXcTaBVC-GYMgmgVzA3RQJuW89D95ANvtyQYsdf21wMSsic7phoB1JAj8NmZWHq7jQsCQ4nfpydxEAk4_8fo8MbglYqYYnP5e526oAqjUYz8uajz/s898/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="898" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0QctFDaOXLE0WZ_q-H8FPLaFL7ILc2ZJAA_GNTYYOkUPYPkBkqc4hyphenhyphen4iQuMrKz_L8_dLpJooQsZDMXcTaBVC-GYMgmgVzA3RQJuW89D95ANvtyQYsdf21wMSsic7phoB1JAj8NmZWHq7jQsCQ4nfpydxEAk4_8fo8MbglYqYYnP5e526oAqjUYz8uajz/w498-h352/4.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ended up with a lot of bits and pieces that I threw in the compost, but they could all be replanted today to create a larger crop. I saved out the two roots I wanted, rinsed them at the outdoor spigot, then in the garage utility sink, and finally brought them in the house. I don't want to put any effort into scrubbing these, I just want them mostly clean to store for later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKF24wJ_mj9iKEGEhEC_xwhuah47Rtn3_217FHe9Pn-GNn3h-C9SRieTSUotxPf5NeTwM3UNxdESdPE0qvkIudHG3l-dlvaAH9AZ4Zerjl4ryr54BP1mbfZe88ojvovVDJeUhXjgg39y4xNKsdIuNfq2EvNEKUcWPIlw5apFFhRY9bGVMYB1lhALHe2nM/s2474/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="2474" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKF24wJ_mj9iKEGEhEC_xwhuah47Rtn3_217FHe9Pn-GNn3h-C9SRieTSUotxPf5NeTwM3UNxdESdPE0qvkIudHG3l-dlvaAH9AZ4Zerjl4ryr54BP1mbfZe88ojvovVDJeUhXjgg39y4xNKsdIuNfq2EvNEKUcWPIlw5apFFhRY9bGVMYB1lhALHe2nM/w499-h374/1.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cut off the crowns and cut each root in half to fit into a gallon sized freezer bag.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZnnJcfMbffzhE6ztjvbb64uHeKnT0Ze_3CVJMtYxUPvnGgjchkbJYBDhdhlKOAsY2UN2N5rtQah7Gonpq8Fv5VMmlZESokMfE4ztkAtpo5lxv4sYqqyPBr-HOSMd3slbc1jD4ML7rCEeD2lyAjCjXu3MYafCe4g6M9IZ3nvLvqd8mYHzgqrlKGhOlR-g/s1979/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1979" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZnnJcfMbffzhE6ztjvbb64uHeKnT0Ze_3CVJMtYxUPvnGgjchkbJYBDhdhlKOAsY2UN2N5rtQah7Gonpq8Fv5VMmlZESokMfE4ztkAtpo5lxv4sYqqyPBr-HOSMd3slbc1jD4ML7rCEeD2lyAjCjXu3MYafCe4g6M9IZ3nvLvqd8mYHzgqrlKGhOlR-g/w506-h283/2.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This goes in the hydrator where it can stay for a month or so. There is enough here to make about two pints prepared.</div><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-61695188605564232602023-12-10T15:03:00.004-05:002023-12-10T15:03:38.271-05:00Darn Deer<p> It would be nice to think that in the winter, when all of the flowers are gone and the shrubs are protected, that we could rest for a few months. Not so. Yesterday afternoon, as we were sitting out at the firepit enjoying the mild weather with one last fire, we noticed that two of the mature Linden trees in the backyard had buck scrapes on them. Bad ones.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpB04VYUfUXJCCexhyphenhyphenEH06V0_lyW_jJZ-B-RmXLmojDiyUqp0LwjKtUzV14zladVgK0oZ6lmh0rHk5M5WkNnf-U5uK2jmhR5facicz45z-AJb90I7aBZJe-P_LBSoyCvyFfN5SH_VAO8wccfSRnXQqiwcI0qYc9ti8wqFmsye_5EV4WDUfb5g9zKpayGH/s677/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="534" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpB04VYUfUXJCCexhyphenhyphenEH06V0_lyW_jJZ-B-RmXLmojDiyUqp0LwjKtUzV14zladVgK0oZ6lmh0rHk5M5WkNnf-U5uK2jmhR5facicz45z-AJb90I7aBZJe-P_LBSoyCvyFfN5SH_VAO8wccfSRnXQqiwcI0qYc9ti8wqFmsye_5EV4WDUfb5g9zKpayGH/w504-h640/10.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used to protect these with tree tubes, but they have outgrown the tubes I have, even if I use two per tree. Tree trunks of this size aren't normally targeted. The bucks we usually have around are more likely to work on the slender fruit trees that are narrow enough to get in between the forks of their modest racks. This is a BIG buck. Something that we haven't caught on game cams yet.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZozL_ZB7hZjNP6jF323PIdF0aPCrlqJzfc6I9ffMSdVH_pqbePakhizpD7TereCC3F0E0gCkTYJ0aGyNrgYPVRnqIp6ZdeQQgNELytFh5noSyw1sCOumyx4wAqjKZjbTuIl3c0_oQ3FKN9o4OZSDOpGD4cd6js72jrFhG-CvUgSD5hzyheHkw-9BA0uI/s997/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="747" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZozL_ZB7hZjNP6jF323PIdF0aPCrlqJzfc6I9ffMSdVH_pqbePakhizpD7TereCC3F0E0gCkTYJ0aGyNrgYPVRnqIp6ZdeQQgNELytFh5noSyw1sCOumyx4wAqjKZjbTuIl3c0_oQ3FKN9o4OZSDOpGD4cd6js72jrFhG-CvUgSD5hzyheHkw-9BA0uI/w480-h640/13.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below is a photo from last year. We usually don't see bucks this big, but now and then one comes into the area. ...and leaves his mark</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxI3CuyCHeSC3LBFI-IxyQ5KXnTJFbmPWIWCKry6leaTqksV9MMcpdJ2VImZGK_Jc010KRACFYqnjTxOyezRSv8meUxxC5d5N7Vd4Udmue3UX006iL3LwYSI7uwImCrvGZvGB50v2k8i37xO4rHPGRZ_kGD0EB1_ilXSdiasdDIrUuYT8M3VJr9nKdJlb/s391/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="391" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxI3CuyCHeSC3LBFI-IxyQ5KXnTJFbmPWIWCKry6leaTqksV9MMcpdJ2VImZGK_Jc010KRACFYqnjTxOyezRSv8meUxxC5d5N7Vd4Udmue3UX006iL3LwYSI7uwImCrvGZvGB50v2k8i37xO4rHPGRZ_kGD0EB1_ilXSdiasdDIrUuYT8M3VJr9nKdJlb/w482-h352/15.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was getting towards dusk when we noticed this. The first thing I did was protect the apple trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8KqD0wChmx1crcEJulQtTGduBpSklvafOo2o8q8tXjbD9F96PFWPwo0-mK5or99V1HnEGEGHyDgC53T5eULB9KQGlBjcnwQgJ-1agJR0Nfln978VQEKiM2LlROrnhiSmDwpa1LMzcW_yftRnjEJcQ290TtyZBCWyuzpZhLhAiVNUybFSbEyN2IPoopk9/s1387/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1035" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8KqD0wChmx1crcEJulQtTGduBpSklvafOo2o8q8tXjbD9F96PFWPwo0-mK5or99V1HnEGEGHyDgC53T5eULB9KQGlBjcnwQgJ-1agJR0Nfln978VQEKiM2LlROrnhiSmDwpa1LMzcW_yftRnjEJcQ290TtyZBCWyuzpZhLhAiVNUybFSbEyN2IPoopk9/w478-h640/10.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I already have tubes on the small Gala apple tree and the pear tree.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6tqxdogoxMAsFNIrzt5loIglMm9GnUPkf-DmpIVGpBcOVzVY8R8ziLjWtviMiC3-5T4jetBOBMEhlrcYw-VsN5yve7TWHlySNjLgPavko5ddRAZbBsqGzmH7zeyGlKoMXKLWc1G1YIHoGOjxKp1pmsVxAbwAFtOjDDYrpP5Db2TSbdgViiKA2-Kc62T_/s1671/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="1233" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6tqxdogoxMAsFNIrzt5loIglMm9GnUPkf-DmpIVGpBcOVzVY8R8ziLjWtviMiC3-5T4jetBOBMEhlrcYw-VsN5yve7TWHlySNjLgPavko5ddRAZbBsqGzmH7zeyGlKoMXKLWc1G1YIHoGOjxKp1pmsVxAbwAFtOjDDYrpP5Db2TSbdgViiKA2-Kc62T_/w472-h640/11.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even the apple trees require double tubes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDFvjt434UjdR46v9L-AifUBvH21M_OuwCbbEjv0OD6BTWMzvX_QyrpDuk2oDQ6DAyREeMw0gsRrNSUGe3vYhpJ_a4xYzGML_olFQ1zb1qrQOhwfpgffCg0Xy9Jx06vmj4PhtaZ34Jsom2qoW9bu_QzQlYJTw2BsUe4KMhqt4Affbgv422bmbTce27fXi/s1430/12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDFvjt434UjdR46v9L-AifUBvH21M_OuwCbbEjv0OD6BTWMzvX_QyrpDuk2oDQ6DAyREeMw0gsRrNSUGe3vYhpJ_a4xYzGML_olFQ1zb1qrQOhwfpgffCg0Xy9Jx06vmj4PhtaZ34Jsom2qoW9bu_QzQlYJTw2BsUe4KMhqt4Affbgv422bmbTce27fXi/w476-h640/12.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a tight fit. But I patched them together.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicy1P8FnC1AC4HXS6_WRprTyb1ZgRVRvRNfgDP6gdj-bFzhDpmmLKGOdWRMklua-jFnYIB8GVK5KZB7bUTnj-0d1_QC1GZm-Vc4SPW8NR51c6NQH1ELpL2UfX1BacbbuNlbp-KoBDLRLovi3PWdn1g6bVsR7Ovhx-JMAbXHMezFQshTGzvCe0PXeI1mUFm/s1582/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1186" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicy1P8FnC1AC4HXS6_WRprTyb1ZgRVRvRNfgDP6gdj-bFzhDpmmLKGOdWRMklua-jFnYIB8GVK5KZB7bUTnj-0d1_QC1GZm-Vc4SPW8NR51c6NQH1ELpL2UfX1BacbbuNlbp-KoBDLRLovi3PWdn1g6bVsR7Ovhx-JMAbXHMezFQshTGzvCe0PXeI1mUFm/w480-h640/13.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The third Linden is untouched. All I could think of was a pair of tomato ladders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh84uMhc7pijSf_HEqJHTiWG9orQXEeb6nouPnoTUNK4Mgtg_TaV2KXoDIpPqhRbKaEwYQS2j4ZXtUI_m0AA2uOGVfuEQSZFoEGHWrjlu_S3k1enNVGkSHhMiljgANonu4_JhkXlfBt-mj1rqhxnpnD_TeUHARf2XF4Xdmw25ZdXHwF9ir2_Bgt8AtoC6P/s1569/14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1569" data-original-width="1147" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh84uMhc7pijSf_HEqJHTiWG9orQXEeb6nouPnoTUNK4Mgtg_TaV2KXoDIpPqhRbKaEwYQS2j4ZXtUI_m0AA2uOGVfuEQSZFoEGHWrjlu_S3k1enNVGkSHhMiljgANonu4_JhkXlfBt-mj1rqhxnpnD_TeUHARf2XF4Xdmw25ZdXHwF9ir2_Bgt8AtoC6P/w468-h640/14.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I replaced the tomato ladders with some proper hardware cloth, but I prefer the tree tubes because if he gets to rubbing on the hardware cloth, he can still abrade the tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFiD_e0lvdMnskVXq_Z-KW3x2SVANj7DBMjfkLEGjqwjQ79CBUdtmVxGjuVjEKI5wAFTlCSZCSoWjumjFps9pjm_10YaQehRl1rgMSp5Nh0t45barclZTs73gbyYFhk-YPx5lhaTe-9iysaR97GT5yQDWWKlTrWDs0daroRJvn8-nPPEsaVfs8TCt-4Gj/s1456/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFiD_e0lvdMnskVXq_Z-KW3x2SVANj7DBMjfkLEGjqwjQ79CBUdtmVxGjuVjEKI5wAFTlCSZCSoWjumjFps9pjm_10YaQehRl1rgMSp5Nh0t45barclZTs73gbyYFhk-YPx5lhaTe-9iysaR97GT5yQDWWKlTrWDs0daroRJvn8-nPPEsaVfs8TCt-4Gj/w468-h640/16.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And next year we will have to protect them again. This should not kill the otherwise healthy trees. But it will scar them up pretty badly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Darn deer.</div>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6705778064850148431.post-49561437723820614982023-12-03T13:44:00.001-05:002023-12-03T13:44:12.165-05:00Wild Forage Wreath<p> Today started out beautiful. It has been gloomy and rainy and we have more rain and mixed precip on its way. But this morning was warm and sunny and we were tempted outside just to do whatever. Hose off the car, pull a few weeds. ...Sit and think. This morning as we were coming home from breakfast I noticed that many of our neighbors had put out some greens and red bows. Even the neighbors who are never home. There are not a lot of outdoor decorations or lights because we are on a dead end and there just isn't a lot of traffic to enjoy them. But I suddenly felt our home was looking kind of Scroogey. I went as far as to pull out a wreath form and a paddle of floral wire. Outside we had sat for about 5 minutes when I decided I should get going on my wreath while I could forage in nice weather and while I could keep the mess outside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhKXHJXlPPLNu1Sp_ZhAK3fugHMFbtQ2XANkVkxCZxxU47Z8I61dx8CyFb03Lw8hPf0Y_atAdeCvnRFRU9qjygfmsxm1JG8lTNyteC0EtzkZhtU7sebqg0dnxAkSwIc3BcYzHh-xE4FbyT1zbTbXrPNy02rCTS7j_p9eGSOjo9N2C-fmY3npYmexWIA1P/s1483/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1483" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhKXHJXlPPLNu1Sp_ZhAK3fugHMFbtQ2XANkVkxCZxxU47Z8I61dx8CyFb03Lw8hPf0Y_atAdeCvnRFRU9qjygfmsxm1JG8lTNyteC0EtzkZhtU7sebqg0dnxAkSwIc3BcYzHh-xE4FbyT1zbTbXrPNy02rCTS7j_p9eGSOjo9N2C-fmY3npYmexWIA1P/w560-h421/1.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've made many wreaths over the years. My mother always makes beautiful Blue Spruce wreaths for gifts and my sister brings us one of those for our front door. All I needed was a basic blob of green to go out front by the road. So I can use anything I can forage and most of what we have is Hemlock which will drop every last needle before the end. But its not going in the house and its not going on the door, so it can shed all it wants. It isn't hard to find a nice variety in your average woodland and you can just trim the low cross branches or anything that smacks you in the head when you mow the lawn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwudfvPUOaMSDxn7tbIIjAK9IbiA98iYemNd5vYC9gXOpw7RID8_HY8FYN9Abi8sFQwUyelvE8W5pemclIk_2UIN4ICXSuPXtM2VtrEoLnQygF1lXXowDo2TsetSpyUvrPO2qsLcGbjpkF2nvvw0OFGiuww9QiVfCr04mAvAhXnTfZUYthDzvbQO2aSr6f/s1947/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="1947" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwudfvPUOaMSDxn7tbIIjAK9IbiA98iYemNd5vYC9gXOpw7RID8_HY8FYN9Abi8sFQwUyelvE8W5pemclIk_2UIN4ICXSuPXtM2VtrEoLnQygF1lXXowDo2TsetSpyUvrPO2qsLcGbjpkF2nvvw0OFGiuww9QiVfCr04mAvAhXnTfZUYthDzvbQO2aSr6f/w561-h405/2.jpg" width="561" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ended up with Hemlock (from the yard), Spruce (from the dry creek bed), Pine (from the woods) and Juniper (from the front landscape). I considered adding some rose hips, but it turned out not to be necessary. When making a wreath for a door I would usually use a wire coat hanger bent into a circle. Those are the perfect size for your average door. But I needed something a little bigger scale so I used a 18" (?) wire wreath form salvaged in past years. All you do is cut up your branches to shortish tips, make a little bundle, lay it along the form and wrap the paddle wire around it. You never cut the wire you just wrap it off of the paddle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCz9Vk-PJ0qvZimgYIYb1Ezmsr4eTFwT2vLdrei2pFNcjJnqnPYBUm1qrTZPemZMQOMiN-fG89N-UBlRZi52aqvuRL-jRHOyMfFVlsZ5jnPWHU2eTekVxmvjPIVUwONgXQhSCfkEMHQkkF4wNoJAYE9_t5Km-eg6wFBPH-TaRiuHaejUJCYdQc73OM3W93/s1623/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1623" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCz9Vk-PJ0qvZimgYIYb1Ezmsr4eTFwT2vLdrei2pFNcjJnqnPYBUm1qrTZPemZMQOMiN-fG89N-UBlRZi52aqvuRL-jRHOyMfFVlsZ5jnPWHU2eTekVxmvjPIVUwONgXQhSCfkEMHQkkF4wNoJAYE9_t5Km-eg6wFBPH-TaRiuHaejUJCYdQc73OM3W93/w563-h421/3.jpg" width="563" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was immediately apparent that I had underestimated the amount of greens I would need, I wanted a big, full wreath. But I didn't want to harvest too much unnecessarily, so I made several trips around the wood edge. I added a bright red bow and wire tied it, top and bottom, to the front fence rail. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0ScAxHAI9YJtJ5OZosfqmbIhf9mbrApqSS5BPMBeppU1r7ccH4pD1Gk1SvjsLnGDA6JGbd-3GkuLUB6r89e-C4HerwZvZmMEX7LasLnZmm7gM5sAUFRESAdk8Y95JG7_vWrVvSg0TdjvIAelZ9SvhZ2ZecOxAR0IhZhfDnWuUWuKNprjtY1-LxRtygNt/s1689/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="1689" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0ScAxHAI9YJtJ5OZosfqmbIhf9mbrApqSS5BPMBeppU1r7ccH4pD1Gk1SvjsLnGDA6JGbd-3GkuLUB6r89e-C4HerwZvZmMEX7LasLnZmm7gM5sAUFRESAdk8Y95JG7_vWrVvSg0TdjvIAelZ9SvhZ2ZecOxAR0IhZhfDnWuUWuKNprjtY1-LxRtygNt/w571-h428/5.jpg" width="571" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now it at least looks like we are making an effort!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbNVQFhWTqtPzNKDWrjgHVbxd8U4Eh9XrxCC5_q58P8s7WzU-udFh923ptYbQfDmD884h3VeQ5irOzsbPmj1OMuX1c4sdTB1_dpOFmx3Qdmy8VU_K5VPoD0UPmUg9yFaDEUA0MA_o6Chk1tVl7kNQLgRHTaIXz9vKrSIhUW5IHk8honIIJHdEuhVEqluP/s1608/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1608" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbNVQFhWTqtPzNKDWrjgHVbxd8U4Eh9XrxCC5_q58P8s7WzU-udFh923ptYbQfDmD884h3VeQ5irOzsbPmj1OMuX1c4sdTB1_dpOFmx3Qdmy8VU_K5VPoD0UPmUg9yFaDEUA0MA_o6Chk1tVl7kNQLgRHTaIXz9vKrSIhUW5IHk8honIIJHdEuhVEqluP/w573-h430/6.jpg" width="573" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>SmartAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06219182373225762230noreply@blogger.com2