Walkin' The Wabash ~

After a somewhat stormy Sat., Sunday dawned a ten!  With so many gray days last week, we both wanted to get out somewhere & enjoy the spring weather.  With the parks closed, the Wabash beckoned.   We thought about getting the bikes out, but with the recent rain, figured it would be too wet.

Leaving Silver City~

Nika was none too enthusiastic...  Butch put the pinch collar on her & she knows that Dad doesn't allow any pulling!   Her expression tickled me.  Something like;  "If they would just walk faster..."

It's a tough time of year for me - still...  I can't help but think of all the rides Farah & I enjoyed when the weather was this perfect.

Of course Not...

But - no - we never did ride this portion.  The last time Butch & I rode our bikes, it was from Mineola to Silver City.  Today - we wanted to see what was beyond Silver City.

Smaller little creek~

There were very few bike riders out.  One group of four or five were at the pavilion in town, definitely not practicing social distancing.   From the trash along the trail, it seems they're also not interested in picking up after themselves...

Of course - bikes don't damage the surface...  Old dried ruts from a wetter day.

We just moved off to the side as they went by.  Several riders did acknowledge us, most didn't  & only one guy thanked us.  (We were wrong about the trail being wet.  It was bone dry!)

Silver Creek~

We could tell the trail was getting close to water.  The birds seem to be more active near the creeks & no wonder.  It was such a pretty area, perfect for a picnic table.

Beaver dam~

We were both surprised to see the Beaver dam!  It looked like they've been busy, just upstream from the bridge we were on.  Again, I was so surprised at the number of bridges!  We didn't count them, but I think we crossed at least seven or eight.

Who could this be?

The wind was blowing, but not bad.  I'd started out with a jacket, but it was soon tied to my waist.  I'd also forgotten my Garmin.  Boy Scout Troop 513 had added new mileage signs from milepost 14 to 15, showing each 1/4 mile.

New signage!

We turned around at four-miles out. It had been a long while since I'd just walked much distance. My legs could feel the difference from just the elliptical! Unable to go to the Y - I'm back to using my stationary bike. 30-min. on it at level 4-5, gets me 8 miles.

Where we turned back~

Nika's attitude brightened as we turned back :-)  She reminded me of a barn sour horse!  She was ready to return to the truck!  After all, it was past her dinner time!

Back in town~

Town was totally deserted.  We still plan on going to The Hood, when the restaurants & bars open again.  We've heard they have a mean burger!

Butch's new project :-)

Butch turned toward Malvern to show me his latest project!  He'd made a comment at work regarding the Fast Stop in town?  Wrong question to ask!  With the help of a couple of the men - guess who did an amazing job of cleaning it all up last Fri.?  He still has more to do, but the change was impressive!

I'd planned on going over for lunch one of these nice days.  After walking the trail, I think I'm going to get my bike out & ride from either Mineola or Silver City to Malvern.  The trail goes right next to Fast Stop & only a block from Agriland & the city park.  If I'm too tried for the or out-of-shape for the ride back - I know who to ask for a lift!

Planting & Planting & Planting!

Most every day this week has been gray.  Cloudy & gray & cool.  I've been working in the timber.  Raking the ground clutter, broken glass pieces & picking up wind blown pieces of brittle plastic from a neighbor's green house.  My goal, was to get all this done before things started growing.  Tuesday, I received a text from my friend & neighbor Clara, asking if I'd like to help dig up plant starts?

My starts!

 I wasn't quite ready, but I couldn't turn down such a super offer!  Clara had already been doing a lot of digging, I helped with the bigger root balls.  I brought home two wheel barrows full of plants!  I started planting Tue., then spent the day Wed. planting the rest & watering them in.  Thursday, Clara called again & I brought home another full barrow!  Several varieties of hosta's, sedums, bleeding hearts, other various flowers & a few bulbs too.  My saw-zaw is an excellent tool for cutting through those root balls like butter!  Much easier than the butcher knife!

SW toward the creek~

By late in the day Thursday, the sun appeared.  It was sudden!  From slate gray & heavy clouds, to sunshine & blue skies within minutes!

Looking down the hill from the Cabin~

With all the honeysuckle below now gone, I can hardly wait to see what this year will bring.  I've planted hosta's around almost all of the trees.  A new variety of Rhododendron - is now planted along the creek trail.

4-15-2019 Last year - 

 I was digging in the hillside behind the cabin to make room for more sedums & hosta's.  It's on a steep little hill & I was digging deep when I saw something green.  A little Avon frog decanter from the 70's! 

My find!

 I still plan to visit the county to see what photos they might have of the two manufactured homes previously on the Cabin property.  Neighbors tell me they were in total disrepair.  Whatever contractor did the work, just bulldozed debris down the convenient hillside & semi-buried it with dirt.  I did get three big pieces of rusted metal sheeting dug out!  The ground is still so soft.

Sun to the west~

It's been 22-years, since we'd hosted our walk in the Homestead Woods.  The land there had been pristine, no trash & no one had ever lived in those woods.  Removing invasive's was the biggest task.

Butch came home & we sat out on the swing enjoying the incredibly beautiful afternoon.  Our days are lengthening!  With clear skies, sunset is after seven p.m.  I've found this timbered area more challenging, but it's also given me the opportunity to learn what it takes - here - to make a woodland garden~

Our Scottish Terriers & Corona-virus~

When I lived in Greenfield & was old enough to walk to the square by myself, I passed a house up the street where two Scottish Terriers sat on each side of the front porch steps.  They never barked at me, or left the steps as I walked by.  I loved seeing them & was always asking for one for me!

We lived in Colorado.  Our first daughter was little & wanted a puppy - it seemed fate - took us to Ft. Morgan, on a business trip.  We drove past a house with the cutest sign, advertising Scottie puppies!  We had to stop & look! 

7-1972 Courtney, Aunt Laurie & Brandy

Since the puppies were ready to find homes, we came home with Brandy - a gift for Courtney's 3rd birthday!

4-1974 Courtney & Brandy

Brandy became Courtney's inseparable buddy.  Where she went - he went!  If she did something Brandy thought was naughty - he'd bark to let me know~!

4-1980 Brandy

Those days, in Colorado, every season of the year, you'd find us either hiking, boating, or having picnic's with the Grandparents.  Courtney, being the only grandchild for so many years, made her the obvious favorite!  Brandy loved to roam, but would always stay within sight of us & come when we called.

Eventually, we moved to a new suburb south of Denver, on the edge of the plains.  From our backyard we could watch the huge herds of antelope fly across the landscape.  Jentry was born in 1977 & Brandy saw no reason on earth why we'd want one of those?  It didn't take long though, before he started sitting under her highchair, where she would drop him bites of her dinner.

Sadly, in 1980, we found Brandy dead in his kennel.  It was a horrible loss & we we heart-broken.  Scotties are the most amazing dogs, so loyal, so smart & very protective.  We looked everywhere & finally found a puppy in Utah.  We had him flown to Denver.

9-1980 Bandit~

He was the cutest, sweetest puppy ever!  He had us laughing all the time at his antics!  He was as happy to have a home, as we were to have him!

11-1980 Bandit's first camping trip~

Bandit loved the mountains & camping as much as Brandy had.  He's only been with us a couple months, when he suddenly got sick.  We rushed him to the Vet, they gave him shots & fluids, sending him back home.  Two days later, he was again so sick.  Again, we took him to the Vet, where he died of the newly diagnosed Corona Virus...  He was up to date on all his vaccinations - no vaccine was  available.

After hearing of this recent outbreak - I remembered it was the cause of Bandit's death...  Time does heal wounds, but the memories remain fresh.

I pray we all survive this latest assault on our health, liberty & pursuit of happiness~

Welcome Spring?

Our first spring morning!  21 degrees with a blowing wind & feels like of around 10!  Ice on the Explorer...  With our new virus scare, we did have bible study this morning.  Only five of us, so well under the prescribed limit.  Even here in our smaller neck of the woods, things have changed for everyone.  I miss going to the Y...   Over 14-months of working out three days a week, it's a hard habit to give up.  Now, I'm back to my stationary bike :-(  Our Matt-makers weekly group has cancelled & I cancelled our monthly garden club meeting too.  It's been very quiet at night, only a few people out for evening walks.

As far as anyone knows, no one in our town is sick & all pray it remains so.  I stopped at our local grocery on the square to pick up a few things.  They were well stocked.  Thank You to ownership & steadfast employees for working above & beyond to keep our town supplied.

Ice!  Defrost ON!

Late winter - mostly Beautiful!  I've bragged about some spectacular days!  Yesterday started with overcast & light rain, but the temperature climbed to over 60 degrees!  Strange - indicative of change.  I went out during our afternoon sun break to take a few photos of my trails.

Behind the Cabin~

I removed the last two small piles of debris from this area & added several wheelbarrows of mulch at the top.

1-10-18  Just west of the same area~

To think of the hours of hauling it took just to get this one area cleared.  Whenever the sun shines, I'm still seeing the glint of broken glass & can easily pick up a bucket full.

Bucket of "trash"~

Above is a typical bucket full of the odds & ends of years, of accumulated trash.  About every item ever used by man, I've found.  Even a dash clock out of an old car!  

Looking down from the top~

The mulch really has come in so handy.  I wish now I'd had twice as much!  I  used a lot at the top & start of this trail.  For now, old logs are my edging.  I'm not sure yet what I'll use to keep the trails marked.  Maybe just mowing will work - I'll see when things start growing.  (We also recovered three of the stall mats we'd used at the farm for Farah.  They work super well at the back & side of the horse trailer - converted storage unit!  As Butch said;  as long as Farah is alive, we keep the trailer!)

Lower Trail - along the creek~

To the right of the "V" is where the trail turns to go up to the cabin.  Instead of using the mulch to complete one trail, I used it on both. Therefore ending up with not enough to finish either one.

View from the front porch~

It doesn't look like 32 degrees with a nice breeze - at least from inside a nice warm house!  But when I went out - my hands told me it was too cold to think of working!

Nika & I sat out on the deck, late yesterday afternoon.  Watching as the sun disappeared, clouds moved in & temperatures dropped!  Next, thunder & lightening along with pouring rain!  We did have a tornado watch, but the brunt of the storm went south of us.  Just incredible to see temperatures drop from the 60's to the 20's overnight!  Like everyone else, I'm looking forward to much warmer temperatures - in the hope heat - will cook the virus to death!

Awesome Possum - Hamburg, IA ~

After coming home from the Y, I worked outside in the timber/woods most of Friday afternoon.  The day went from broken clouds & sun breaks, to overcast & breezy.  It was obvious our sunshine, springlike weather was coming to a close - at least for now.

By Saturday morning we had just over an inch of very wet, heavy snow.  Unusual for us.  Virus news was circulating, but our town went about business as usual.  I attended a baby shower for a friend's latest grand-baby!  We played games, watched as the mother-to-be opened gifts & everyone had a wonderful time.

Today - it was gray.  The snow from yesterday was almost gone, but the clouds looked low & ominous.  At Matt-makers last Wednesday, a friend had mentioned a fun flea market she'd visited in Hamburg, IA.  We decided it would be a good day for a short road trip.

Awesome Possum Flea Market~

As we parked in the almost deserted town, music was playing from speakers outside.  This town was one of the hardest hit by last years floods.  The owners of these two buildings, had marked the spot on the floor upstairs, where they had slept for 208 days.  The flood waters stayed for so very long, the damage was severe & will be long lasting...

Chicken Collection!

Both buildings, now combined as one, were full from top to bottom!  It was somehow reassuring (in the face of the virus scare) to walk around amid so many items evoking memories of by-gone days.

Psychedelic horse tapestry~

This tapestry has to be the most colorful of a carousal horse I have ever seen!  No!  I did not bring it home!  We did though, find a couple small treasures.  We asked about places to eat in town, but the one restaurant still in business, was closed on Sunday.

The Keeping Room~

We decided to head over the river to Nebraska City & have a very late lunch at the Keeping Room.  We arrived 30-min. before closing.  The restaurant was empty!  This place is always buzzing with a room full of people!  Not today!  The staff said we were welcome to stay & eat.  The usual Sunday business was non-existent.  We can only hope the virus scare resolves rapidly.  Small businesses, need business to keep the doors open.

Going back east on Hwy 2 

Highway 2, is still being repaired from the floods & down to only one lane across the middle of the floodplain.

Nika~

Nika came with us & is always such a good traveler!  She knows we have treats in the truck & has finally accepted Butch's new truck - as ours.

A 500 piece puzzle~

Diane had said she'd seen a puzzle of the town of Greenfield, but couldn't remember for sure if it was my hometown.  As many rooms full of things at the Awesome Possum, I was amazed we found it!  It did come home with us & now we'll have to see how rusty our puzzle skills are?

& The Rain Came~

The weather has taken a nose dive!  I'd enjoyed a stellar week, working outside every day, hauling wheelbarrows of mulch.  I even played hooky from the Y on Monday.  It was just too perfect & I was enjoying every minute of the sunshine!

By Thursday, we had wind!  Lots & lots of wind.  Friday, a reprieve, but Saturday it returned full blast & continued through Sunday.  The temperatures were amazing, we were in the lower 70's both days of the weekend.

Mulch - along the edge of the timber~

 Today - we've had a 40 degree drop in temperatures.  Late last night, the rain moved in, with just under 1/2" by morning.  The mid-30's with a breeze, feels very cold! I'd moved as much material as I could, knowing the rain would settle it.

8-12-19 Blooms!

 The Naked Ladies are even popping up!  I was totally fooled last year, when I moved bulbs from the city easement, where they were mowed over.  First, I thought they were some variety of daffodil.  Later when the leaves died off, I thought they'd died.  Finally - though - fall came & blooms appeared on long stems!

I only have a few to move this year, one's that I planted too far out from where I've now delineated between yard & Timber.  I'm hoping all the plant starts I received from friends last season will sprout this spring! 

Looking north~

The wind, blew my beautiful antique gold gazing ball off the stand & it broke... I'd used plumbers putty to attach the ball to the base, but it dried out over the winter months. Lesson learned... I've put my copper ball there for now, a new one will be stainless.

NW Corner~

It only took a few more wheelbarrows to finish my trail to the far west end. I managed to get it done this morning before the rain returned. I'm almost out of mulch now, it's very pricey stuff here. Butch used to pick up Cedar mulch - called hog fuel in Washington - by the truck load for $25. I used it to do all the trails through the Homestead Woods. The Cedar smelled wonderful! The honeysuckle has no smell at all. I have no idea how long it will last, but it works for my purpose.
Now that I've been spoiled, I'm trying to be patient while waiting for the sun to return!  Butch had to remind me - it's still winter! 

New Views~

Our second day of chipping - we were moving a bit slower!  The day was slightly overcast, but perfect for the work we were doing.  These piles, were full of dried leaves still attached to the branches & covered in dust.

Up the west edge~

Butch put the Bronco further up the hill, making the trek to the piles shorter.  It did sink in an inch or two, but the wide tires helped.  There was only one spot where the grass was torn.  Not nearly as bad as I expected.   

Many more~

Once we had the big pile at the bottom done, Butch decided he'd drive the Bronco in to the Timber & closer to the remaining piles. I just closed my eyes while he did it :-)

Chipping away~

My husband is the only person I know, who could have maneuvered the Bronco, chipper in tow, through the trees! There was only one place to get in & he just missed one of my little juniper bushes!

Clear at last!

By late afternoon, we were done! The piles of somewhat green leaves & chips are all that was left to tell the tale. I had a picture in my mind, when I'd started, of what it would look like. Now, I can't wait to see it all turn green! Wild Violets were as close to a ground cover as we had last spring. I hope they come back & multiply. With the honeysuckle gone, there will be a big increase in the amount of sunlight filtering down through the trees.

From the corner of the house~

What a change.  This change happened way faster than it would have, if Farah were still here.  Without her, clearing became my obsession.  Something to get me through the first very tough year...  It worked.

Another pair of worn out leather gloves~

I can't even count how many pair of gloves I've gone through.  We should own the company by now :-)  With several piles of chips ready to move, at least we made back some of the expense of the chipper with all the mulch.  

We went out for dinner, then took an evening drive.  A working weekend, but one of the finest of the year-to-date!