Archive for October, 2006
October 31, 2006 – Halloween
Happy Halloween, I guess. It’s a late at work night for me, so I missed the festivities. Martin was excited to be a fireman, complete with blue rain boots. Emma was her favorite witch, and Claire, too old to T & T was, if I recall, a “fairy queen, lumberjack” I fear she’s been watching ...Read more.
October 30 , 2006 – Getting Soil Ready for Hoophouse
We have a small plot where we’d like to experiment with a small hoop house. The one we are looking at is 20×36 and 12 feet tall in the center. This fall, we ran the chickens on the plot to do their thing killing some grass and leaving some deposits behind. The ground where this ...Read more.
October 29, 2006 – A Light in the Darkness2
Today finally warmed up over 60 so I was able to complete the last coat of finish on the current trim boards sitting on the hay rack in the shed. Now, they can be moved into the house and wait for their time to go up in the attic.
We also went to see candidate for ...Read more.
October 28, 2006 – Planting Garlic
Today was supposed to be warm, but that never happened! It was the first time to get the middlebuster, or potato fork on the three-point of the tractor. I needed to do some monkeying around to get it mounted.
The biggest lesson was learning that the drawbar needs to be removed; otherwise, when you lift up ...Read more.
October 27, 2006 – Digging Gladiolas
We’re digging out the last of the gladiolas. It’s amazing how much size the bulbs gain in one year.
In fact, they not only get bigger, but create another bulb! So that is good for the bottom line to get twice as many bulbs for free for next summer. They’ll go in a cool dark place ...Read more.
October 26, 2006 – Thingamajig Thursday #46
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 what happened to the bolts holding the middlebuster shovel in place when it rammed against the drawbar! See October 28 for full story.
one year ago…
October 25, 2006 – Seven Big Ideas by 2011
This morning we heard of two approaches similar towns have taken towards improving their communities. One was Austin MN, which had 5 million dropped in its lap for projects. Successful initiatives were 24×7 day care for all shift workers, a welcome center for new residents to point them towards community resources schools, utilities, driver’s license, ...Read more.
October 24, 2006 – Community Seminar
I’ve rearranged my week to be able to attend a seminar on sustainable community development sponsored by a local group tonight and all day tomorrow. The speaker tonight was from the Rocky Mountain Institute (environmental/business think tank published “Natural Capitalism” and “Winning the Oil Endgame” among others).
Micheal Kinsley from RMI led the discussion that basically ...Read more.
October 23, 2006 – Guard Geese
These ladies are our chicken protectors! At one time we were losing a chicken about every other night – it would be partially eaten in the coop overnight. Nothing too big could get in the building, so we are guessing unless some animal learned to unlatch the door, it was most likely a mink or ...Read more.
October 22, 2006 – Girls Lend a Hand
I finally put the girls to work in attic. They were gently introduced to the power mitre saw and measurement. They cut and installed the tongue and grooved cedar boards in the closet.
I figured if Martin could read, they could handle some power tools!
one year ago…
October 21, 2006 – Cracking the Code!
Today was the seasonal clean out the closet and drawers day to replace summer with winter clothes. Martin and Linda found a “Dick and Jane” book in Martin’s room and all of his letter sounding at school finally clicked as he began reading today! Some people vividly remember the day they first cracked the code.
October 20, 2006 – 2nd Stage Garden Cleanup
Today was the 2nd stage garden cleanup – mowing to shreds all the remaining plants and weeds to help them break down over winter. I did find one total surprise – some of the radicchio and chinese cabbage plants have regrown. They are early spring crops and just kind of hibernated through summer and now ...Read more.
October 19, 2006 – Thingamajig Thursday #45
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 piece of aluminum soffit (the part of a house underneath the eaves).
one year ago…
October 18, 2006 – Attic Update
It’s been mainly drizzly/rainy and cold the last few days, so working hours have been spent up in the attic – more insulating. Finally, all the storage area ceilings are finished and 75% of the wiring. So today it is time for a quick visual tour.
View to the south out the new dormer.
View to the ...Read more.
