Imagine

Imagine the possibilities, even with the diverse weather we have been having, 

 from ' sailor's delight ' sunsets,

to cold, low-lying cloud cover overhead,  what will be next?

 We are thrilled to see the brilliance of the Ruby Throated Humming Bird perched above his feeder,

 as the Allium burst wide open.

 Varied moths and butterflies have returned, 

showing off their new silks.

 Raindrops dangle from each plant as they soak up what they can in the chilly air of the day, 

 while Mr. Robin takes shelter from the cold droplets still falling.

 There is more spring work to complete, like fixing roof edging...

 and ' spoils ' of the north.  Part of the roof is still in dire need of replacing, being far beyond just ' repair.'

 Plenty of orders still need to be filled, one at a time.

 But for now, I will watch Mama doe as she feed her babe of the woods~~~

 She trusts enough to show her off-spring to me before she beds him down for the morning.

 Mid-week, there was a graduation to attend of the 

Class of 2025.

 Congratulations, dear GrandLove Ben!

Class of 2025, that would make me.....oh, Dear, oh dear, that will just make me....Older but wiser!

 There is always time to go to the farm to visit Mom.

I do love the farm, even tho it is only home to chickens and wildlife  these days.  Of course, that includes Mom.  She is one of the ' wild life.'  She will never age beyond ' graceful.'

 While there, taking time to smell the roses, and the zillion buds about to pop, is a must.  She sure loves her wild roses.

 And, at the moment, her paper poppies are so beautiful and transparent in their orange array under the apple tree.

 All the fussing with spring duties and lists a mile long, 

there is always time to just ' lay around ' and

enjoy the day, rain or shine.

Have a restful weeks end and

BlessYourHeart

All 4 Gardens In

Why, yes, we Have been busy.  For those of you who have followed for awhile, you know that a seed company from across the country stopped here in the early spring to see if we would be interested in them using our field for a ' test field ' for growing potatoes acclimated to our climate.  Of course it got our curiosity up, and besides, we love the most healthy potato...you know that vegetable.

You would not believe the number of pieces of equipment they unloaded out of the white truck and off the bed of the yellow truck on the flatbed.  There was a disc, a rake, plow, a row maker, a potato picker, a sprayer, a fertilizer, a drag, a brush hog and two tractors.  Then they went out and bought a brand-spankin' new John Deere tractor with forks and a bucket plus a new disc.  Personally, I fell in love with The Old Timer, and I'm not talking about a man, either.  

Here's a peek.  Click on any photo to enlarge.

 There are 4 varieties of potatoes.  The Red Northlands and the Viking Purple, (come on guys, this is Packer Country), are early crops.  The two mid-season potatoes are all yellow varieties of German Butterball and Yukon Jems.  I cannot wait to try them all.   All of them are claimed to do well in our northern climes.  I have no doubt.

 Here's a hint of the old equipment that arrived, each with a job to do.

 There's my Old Timer,....hello Honey.  I just love, Love, LOVE this tractor.  It's older than I am, by the look of him.  Just check out those cool tires in the next photo.

 He proudly sits in the row of his co-workers., waiting their turn at the wheel.
Apparently this little guy is just the right size to straddle the rows while cultivating.

 His big brother gets to do the spraying when and if the potato bugs become aggressive.  That's inevitable, as soon as the blossoms arrive, so will the orange black speckled leaf eaters arrive, laying their orange eggs beneath as many leaves as possible before they are spotted....and destroyed, ahaaaa!

 The New tractor was busy right away, fertilizing with chicken manure pellets which were then disced into the soil to feed the spuds with their super powers.   All organic in this plot.  They say it takes 4-5 years to prepare the soil for certification.  I am so excited about this entire operation.

 The yellow Ford that carried so many pieces of equipment on it's flatbed, was like a guard dog nearby.  This ol boy will be hauling potatoes in the fall, but for now, he waits.

 Another kind of plow-boy was busy working a much smaller plot for his pumpkins~~~pumpkins for his GrandPunkin's!  What a good Grandpa G.
We planted all three gardens while the potato test field was going in.  What a busy time for us.  

 While My Main Man tilled, I finished filling a couple planters for the deck....Going Green, this year, and just a bit of white and pink.

 Just as the hoes, rakes, tillers, seed packs, etc, were put away, it warned of rain., four days of it.  So far, this is all we got.  We will be needing much more, so never complaining about the wet stuff.

 The fields and gardens are in, so............

 In My Man's anticipation of a good season, he was out walking the edge of the field just to double check and see if his calculations added up.......to the acreage he thinks we have to offer for another spud season.....always thinking ahead.

 Unless you have great sight, you will have to click on this field picture to see him, but there he is walking his counter....just on the left curve about half way out.
Oh, wait til you see what he saw on his journey around the field.  He reached down to pick up a rag, and 

 This lil guy or gal, is who he saw....hiding smack-dab in the middle of the 4-wheel trail...He said he sure was glad he did not have the 4-wheeler or he would have hit him.   He doesn't have too good sight with that one eye anymore...
Yuppers, spring is here...and there lays the proof.  Perfectly, beautiful proof.

It sure has been a busy time.  The weekend was filled with good times, graduations, two cookouts, a picnic, a few garage sales in the rain, a little work along with the play, time with family and friends.  Most of all, the weekend included teaching more GrandLoves the true meaning of Memorial Day.  The little ones are first learning of how many men and women, in our family, who have served our country through the armed forces.  We are honored and proud.  God Bless America, always.

Have a safe Memorial Day, each of you.  God keep us safe.

BlessYourHearts

The Rabbit Hole

Yes, sometimes I even feel like I've fallen down the rabbit hole.

 Spring has just begun , and already I have fog in my brain.  There is so much to do, especially now that I have daily help at my request.  But,

 But, what to do next, in between his projects and mine, we are doing our best to share the work and the time.  We at least, have plenty of that, for now.  I need to get the cobwebs out of my head.  I'm already exhausted.

 My feet need to ' want to ' climb the next rung.  Get me out of this hole, is how I feel.  Let's see, there's the top, I can do this.  Just one more step and we are on to the next job.

 Today we traveled to the cabin, down the road, through the woods, to cut, split and pile one more cord of firewood.  One cord at a time.  It was only 75 degrees with a nice breeze, so it was actually enjoyable.  Then the unused muscles started twitching...hmm.  I can do this.

As we travel past the swampy trail to get to the gravel pit to load and haul another trailer load of gravel for yet, another growing project of his, I wonder, " What is he up to now?"   While he played with his tractor dumping loads of gravel in the trailer one scoop at a time, I rode the trail a bit further to see where our son put his ice shack/ hunting blind.  Very nice, I thought, as I walked a few of the deer trails in search of sheds and pretty rocks for the succulent garden.  He's high on top of a hogs back, over-viewing the clover food plot with several well trod runways visibly clear.  It looks promising for a fall hunt.  Venison on the grill, I can taste the wealth of the woods smothered in mushrooms and onions.

 Back home, I continue to wonder which way to turn first with so much to still do.  After steamed green beans and sugar peas with hot green mint tea for me and coffee and a fish sandwich for him, we decided to put the net fencing up around the garden.  It's not too early to put in the peas, lettuce, radishes, beets, and the rest of the onion sets.  ' Wattle ' we do first, is always the question.  There are lists everywhere to check off.

 Already the lawn needs mowing again.  The dandelions are taking over.

But not this way for my aching back.  I will leave this push mower for him.  I will take the rider and it will still take me over 3 hours to complete the job.  Maybe tomorrow I can check that job off the list for this week.  But wait, then the cabin yard needs mowing too.  Check!

 He and the boys are going fishing this weekend from their favorite camping spot.  Maybe then, I will find my way out of this ' whole lot of work to do ' and find some time to just~~~~~

  smell the roses,~~~ and paint.  I feel the need to paint something.  One more thing I can then, cross off the list.
Time just for me, Ya think?  Hmmm, I wonder what That's like?

Thanks for stopping and listening to me ramble while I find my way.
and
BlessYourHeart

Events of Mom's Day

As Mother's Day should be spent whenever possible, ours was spent at the farm with Mom.  She delights in her flowering shrubs and trees so much, that it is then, that she will agree to a photo and a giggle.

On a road trip during the week, we found this gorgeous basket of various colored Million Bells Petunias for her.  Against her Gingerbread Colored house, it beams, just like she does. 

 The bees were buzzing throughout the Chestnut Tree, 

 just like the hmmmm going on around the tractor, discussing the ' next ' project on the farm.  Always planning, kindling memories of years ago when we were growing up on the farm.

 The Forget-Me-Nots at the edge of the lawn remind us of other generations that have lived here as we grew up, our sister, baby brother, Grandmother, Daddy...all who have passed but are never forgotten.  How I miss them all, each have tucked such special Memories in my heart~~~~

 Just one of the sets of wagon wheels on the farm, remind us of a greater 
' circle of life.'  Round and back again.  We know we can always come home.

 The brilliant red of the Rose-Breasted Grossbeak is barely visible through the leaves of the Basswood Tree as they unfold.  Her song, however, is easily heard above the table talk going on below, over coffee and Mom's Raspberry/Blackberry Doughgen.

 I remember this Crabapple Tree being planted many moons ago when I was living at the farm with two small children, ' finding myself '....again.  Thanks to Mom, ...I recall it's scent and petals flying through the air like snowflakes through many laughs and tears.  Mom, my shoulder.

 It was not this pump, but one like it, that caused Dad to hang a latch on the screen door, high, where I could not reach it as I would walk in my sleep as a child.  Apparently, more than once, I wandered out the door with a dish cloth to wash the pump.  It was not a required chore, but I remember the latch and it's necessity.   I must have thought that pump was a terrible mess in need of cleaning...hmmm.   Isn't it something, what spurs a memory!

 All 9 of us had some pretty terrific memories of growing up on the farm...
and this weekend, we were reminded it was our turn to thank Mom, for always being there for us with her unconditional love.  Thanks Mom~

Mother's Day weekend for me was extra special another way, too.
My youngest son and two of his lil' boys took me fishing............but,
regrettably,  I FORGOT MY CAMERA!!!!....so I took a couple pictures of the GrandLoves holding the largest of their catch once we returned home. 

 Sy is holding a nice Bluegill, and he also caught the first fish!    He's showing me how ' weird ' the eye of the fish feels....What a big smile that spread across his sweet face.     Lil' brother, Ben, is proudly showing off his Pumpkinseed Sunfish...can these kids ever cast.  I was so surprised.  Ben would say, 
" Where do you want me to cast it, Dad?", and he's drop it perfect every time.
Sy said, " I'll bet I can put it in the tree, and he did.........."  Fun day with the boys.  We cannot wait to do it again, soon.

 Their Dad must have been feeling the need for some of Mom's attention.   
While working on a winch he is building, he accidentally skipped across the top of his hand with the grinder as it kicked back....It's much deeper and worse than it looks.  So far, 3 days later, he still doesn't feel much on the top of his hand...either he has will of iron or actually damaged something.  He refuses to go to the doc so I butterfly-taped it after cleaning it...I swear I could see a tendon.
Even the Big Kids keep life interesting!

We also went out to eat lunch at the Round-Up for Broasted Chicken and Ham with all the trimmings and Strawberry Shortcake.

It was another wonderful Mother's Day.  The kids called, cards and flowers were delivered and I was treated like an appreciated Mom and Grandmom.

Life is good.

I hope your weekend was as wonderful.

BlessYourHeart