Archive for April, 2006

April 30, 2006 – Relentless

The low-pressure system has been relentless the past few days. Wind. Rain. Repeat. Not heavy rain, but we’ve got about 2 inches over the last 3 days. A good soaker. About one more day left.

Here’s the view outside the window near the computer. Despite the rain, life went on – finished with ...Read more.

April 29, 2006 – Spawning

We started the mushroom “planting” today. The dowels innoculated with shitaake mushroom spawn arrived and the logs were previously cut and ends waxed and ready to go.

Martin is holding the bag of spawn.

First holes are drilled in the log to one inch with a drill and collar. They are spaced about 6 inches apart ...Read more.

April 28, 2006 – Looking for Morels

Although the weather’s been a bit variable (a touch of snow on Tuesday) it’s about time to look for morel mushrooms. Here’s a happy picture of Martin on the woodland trail. I like to see the little kid out in the big world, happy, singing, and safe, even at a distance from his parents.

It wasn’t ...Read more.

April 28, 2006 – Photo Friday “Famous”

This week’s Photo Friday Challenge is “Famous.”  Here are three of us on the Olympic medal podiums at Park City, Utah, part of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics. We’re not really famous outside of our own minds!

April 27, 2006 – Thingamajig Thursday #21

Here’s this week’s “Thingamajig Thursday” entry. Also check out last week’s answer.

As always, put your guess in a comment below.
Answer…
This is a mole trap. I’m able to tolerate a few, but the yard has become a hazard between the bumps and all the holes the dogs dig trying to get the things out (unsuccessfully).

April 26, 2006 – Glorious Spring

Spring is in full bloom. The plums are finishing up, the lilacs are on the cusp and many others are in their full spring regalia. If you ask me now, Spring is my favorite time of year. Hope is in the air and the bugs are not!

Cherry Blossoms

Nectarine Blossoms

Apple Blossoms Poised to Open

Apple ...Read more.

April 25, 2006 – Got Milk?

Here’s the output from Blaze and Paullina (still with three kids nursing between them). We’re just milking once a day now. It’s time to put milk away for soap and making yogurt!

April 24, 2006 – Boys and Their Toys!

Today was a day long in coming – the arrival of a scoop tractor to high hopes! Isn’t it a beauty? It’s a 1967 John Deere 2510 with a nearly new Westendorf loader, a category 2 three point hitch, and wide front end. I’d been looking at tractors for a while and ...Read more.

April 23, 2006 – American Gothic – High Hopes Style

Emma and Martin pose their version of American Gothic. The load of straw they are standing in was thrown from the 2nd story of the barn into the truck by just Martin and Emma. We found out after the fact that Emma invited Martin to jump from the 2nd story door into the ...Read more.

April 22, 2006 – Mystery

Today we had some friends over and one the games this group of kids play is “mystery.” They dress up and we have to guess who is who. Quite frankly, Martin is usually fairly easy to guess. Here he is in one of the get-ups today.
There was a wonderful moment when Linda ...Read more.

April 21, 2006 – Planting Raspberries

Today, among other things was raspberry planting. I ordered about 75 feet of fall berries, golden and red, along with 75 feet of blackberries. We hope these spread our berry season out a little more and offer a little more variety.

Here I am using the wheel hoe to make a shallow trench to ...Read more.

April 21, 2006 – Photo Friday “Golden”

This week’s Photo Friday contest theme is golden. This is a shot of the Zen Temple known as Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto, Japan. It dates to 1397 and now holds sacred relics of the Buddha and is covered in gold leaf. I was able to visit here on a trade mission to Japan, opening ...Read more.

April 20, 2006 – Thingamajig Thursday #20

Here’s this week’s “Thingamajig Thursday” entry. Also check out last week’s answer.

As always, put your guess in a comment below.
Answer…
It’s a syringe to administer shots. We use it for tetanus for the goats.

April 19, 2006 – Lawn Work

Here are the tulips up against the compost pile.
Today was a day of some “lawn work” is what people in town may call it. I don’t have a lot of time for the lawn, although I have a lot of it! Today was the first lawn mowing of the season – a day ...Read more.