Spring Ends~

In a rush!  We went from what I thought was a wonderful spring, to heat on June first!  Once it arrived, it stayed.  Since, we've just had a day or two here & there where the temperatures were moderate.  Very little rain to date, we're four inches below normal.

6-16-20 SW Corner~

Our view has changed pretty dramatically.  The Walnuts have taken over!  It seems like they've doubled in size with the honeysuckle gone.  The edible Elderberry, (blooming far left) are now huge!  Much nicer than nasty Autumn Olive.

5-23-20 Bleeding Heart~

 Very thankful for all my friends, (especially Clara) who've donated plants to my Timber project!  I want to re-do the page, for a better timeline, of my work to rehab to this area.

6-4-20 Wild Iris~

 The Wild Iris, from Jean, have doubled in size since last season.  They are thriving at the east end of the marsh.  I hope they continue to spread!

6-4-20 NW from the Swing~

 I've been spending hours & hours working on both the Marsh & Timber.  It's about keeping the weeds down & spot spraying.  I was still planting too, right to the end of June.  Butch put hoses all the way down the hill - so I can keep the newly introduced plants alive.

6-4-20 Tinkle Branch Trail~

 Weeds will be an ongoing issue, since the area is surrounded by them.  I keep a strip between our lots & the neighbors mowed down, which I hope will help.  My plan is to prevent the ones I can, from going to seed.

6-9-20 East - The Marsh~

 I thought the Marsh was no longer a Marsh, until we finally received a couple good rains!  The water appeared & it was so wet I couldn't get the mower through at all for a while.

Part-time resident Snapping Turtle~

Mr. Snapping Turtle returned too!  He made a huge hole in the mud & held his ground as I weed-whacked past him.

6-9-20 From the Marsh, West~

 It's so pretty down here now...  We put grass seed in all the areas left bare after removing the Autumn Olive & Bush Honeysuckle.  I'm keeping it mowed & hope eventually more natives will return.

6-13-20 New Signpost~

 My other project was the trail sign posts.  Butch cut the cedar & I did the lettering & painting.  This time, I found colored glass post caps.  They sparkle when the sun strikes them.

6-13-20 Timber Trail~

This is the trail that starts behind the Cabin & goes around the bottom of the hillside, before connecting with Tinkle Branch Trail.   Butch ordered 3-yards of mulch delivered.  I spend two-weeks getting it moved to the places I needed it.  It was more dust & pieces of plastic than mulch, but it covered the ground in my new flower beds.  After a heavy layer of preen, it should help with weed control.

The lightening bugs returned in June & fly through the woods in the evenings!  It's so much fun to stand at the top of the hill & watch them zipping between the trees. 

Winter in April!

Wednesday, when I was out riding Speedy, I honestly did not believe the weather report!  Snow?!  Inches of Snow?!  With the sun in my face & birds singing, I couldn't imagine white stuff on the way!

By yesterday morning though - it was obvious a big change was in the wind!  It was cold!  We'd been cold, but this was pretty brutal after all our warm summer like days!

Late afternoon - it hit.  This is the video I posted to Facebook~

I think it was prettier in still shots~

Bird feeder under snow~

I did get the bird feeder filled before the snow hit, but my fingers were frozen!  I didn't want our cardinals to go hungry!

The Cabin~

 It was absolutely stunningly beautiful!  Only our second real storm of winter!  But, yes, the calendar does say it's spring!  The flakes were huge, swirling through the air & landing soft as cotton.

Backyard~

The wheelbarrow was still sitting behind the swing, where I'd left it.  My daffodils were buried in the snow.  After night time lows in the mid-20's most of last week - the damage has been done.  The poor hosta's that had opened leaves, are now wilted.  The bleeding hearts are burned & have fallen over...  Buds on some of the flowering bushes were burned too...  It will be interesting to see how the plants recover from this.

This morning though - it was - if possible even more stunning!  The sunshine blazing on all the white snow & temperatures moving right up from the mid-30's.  Before leaving for bible study, I put on my boots & decided to take a short walk in the timber.

A blogger friend has done a few video's of her new lot acquisition, so I thought I'd do a winter video of ours!  We really didn't have this much snow all winter & I'm not complaining.

I have been wanting moisture though - to settle all the seeds I planted last weekend.  This snow should do the trick!  Soon, maybe...  I'll be able to do a spring video for real!  :-)

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!

& 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!

Why I Love Iowa~

We woke this morning to a wonderland of white!  It is just a tiny bit cold though - at a whopping eight degrees, now warming to 15!  It was warm enough, with the south sun hitting the back deck full force, we sat out.  A hot latte helped keep us warm~

Prism~

Yesterday's blow~

Only maybe 3" of the white stuff, with the wind turning the surface into a light frozen crust.  The weatherman says we'll be turning cold.  More snow is on the way next week & much lower temperatures than those we've been enjoying up to now.

Nika - Buhund Heaven :-)

Nika absolutely loves the snow! She made her daily run at the mailman as fast as she could go, intentionally flinging snow into the air with her hind paws :-) No problems with cold! Little did we know - when deciding on this breed - what a wise choice it would turn out to be.

The Timber~

With the honeysuckle cut, I love the wide-open look of the timber. It'll be fun to see what the spring season brings, now I can see the entire area. Still, there's plenty of work to keep me busy, especially when things start growing again.

Another resident~

The above dragonfly, was made by a teenager in Greenfield. Very inventive - to use a railroad spike for the body - the wings are beautifully cut.

An old friend~

This one, flew all the way from WA - where he'd spent years in the woods.

Up by the Cabin~

By the time I was done with my walk, my hands were frozen.  A good weekend for inside projects!

2019 - In Review~

The end of another year!  Our third - in Iowa!  More changes made, many of my ever lengthening list of to-do's completed!  I made three trips to Washington - the first in January & again in February, to support our Grandson Mason & the Peters family.  The third, late in September, to move Farah.

1-24-19 Insulation~

Butch worked on the insulation in the cabin while I was in WA.  By the end of February, the paneling was going up & inside window trim done.  People stopped by, when they saw us out, to ask about what they thought was a Tiny House!

2-19-19 Mason Beats Cancer!

Grandson Mason is our Super Hero!  Mason exhibited such strength, resolve & determination!  With the support of his family, friends, school & community, he persevered!  His Doctors & the nursing staff were so impressed with his bravery & get-it-done positive attitude!

3-13-19 Tinkle Branch Creek 

The terrible Missouri River Valley flooding started in March.  Tinkle Branch was running bank to bank & kept right on flowing to Keg Creek!  Other homeowners weren't so lucky.

4-10-19 Marking the corners of the two lots~

My priority, was to continue clearing the timbered lots & marsh.  (With Farah in WA) I needed something to keep me busy.  May, Butch bought me a reciprocating saw, making the job both faster & easier!

5-6-19 The Marsh~

It was an incredibly wet, lush, green spring.  The marsh was full of water & I met my first big snapping turtle!

7-7-19 The Explorer & the Bronco

After twenty-years of driving a Bronco, I caved & came home with a Ford Explorer!  So easy to drive, smooth & comfortable.  The Bronco will stay - it will be a classic in 2020!

8-30-19  The Camper Leaves~

Slightly sad & bittersweet, we sold our Arctic Fox.  It had served us well.  Camping with our kids & going to endurance rides.  Finally, our home-on-the-road when we made our move to IA.  We ended up staying in the camper while we remodeled the house.

9-5-19 Cabin 

September, the cabin had a gravel walkway & light post.  April - Butch built a split rail fence along the north property line.

9-10-19 Marsh clearing~

Clearing in the marsh, was well underway.  The piles of  Autumn Olives were stacking up.  Just the worst bush imaginable - with stickers!  I was covered with war wounds!

9-24-19 The Webster's~

Friends from WA drove out, for a visit that was too short!  Lynn & I had ridden many miles together over several years.  Jack had made it possible for us to ride point-to-point long distance rides.  He would drive the truck & trailer, drop us off at one end of our proposed route, then be there to pick us & the horses up at the other end!  We've missed them!

9-28-19 Connie & Farah~

The last of September, I was again in WA.  This time to move Farah from where she'd been down south, to an acquaintance's farm, north.  She's close enough to our daughter's now, I'll be able to visit & ride her when I'm in the state!

10-3-19 The F-350, totaled~

While I was still in WA, Butch's truck was totaled, where it was parked in front of the cabin.  A drunk driver living just up our street, missed the corner & went airborne...   He wasn't seriously injured.  It was a sad end - to a truck we'd enjoyed so much.  The truck pulled the horse trailer with Farah, out from WA & taken us on many adventures.

11-8-19 Butch's new Truck~

Insurance covered a rental truck, until Butch found new wheels.  Another Ford of course!

11-20-19 Agriland

November, Butch started work at Agriland in Malvern.  He kept his morning school bus route!

11-18-19 Clear Views!

As weather cooperated well into fall, I had all the Honeysuckle cut & stacked in the timber.  The Autumn Olive & remaining Honeysuckle in the marsh were down & stacked too!

Christmas morning~

December really impressed us with some spectacular days!  Christmas felt more like an early spring day - rather than early winter.

The end of our third-year & on to the fourth. The Home Place has taken shape.

Past year - 2018~