One
minute it’s chilly, the next quite seasonably warm. Anytime the sun shines, it
warms our world, but we’re never quite free of the rain -- Or our sweatshirts. It’s
become a problem for me since my sweatshirts are seasonal. The autumn and
Christmas themes that I manage to wear through March now look totally
ridiculous.
We
had planned to return to the farm last Friday but stayed in town due to chilly
temps. Our arrival there Saturday morning was followed closely by that of
Neighbor Pete, who wanted to talk about that ferocious hail storm we experienced
last Tuesday evening (April 24). He showed us the damage to the hood of his
2001 Dodge Ram – small indentations – with damage estimated at $5,000.
Insurance will cover it.
When
that storm hit the farm with great clattering on our metal roof, Mike
immediately thought of protecting our Dakota. Hail pelting him, he sprinted out
to the pick-up and drove it up under the pines in the grove. Apparently it was
a good idea, though Pete pointed out a small dent or two on our hood as well.
(Really – you have to look for them.)
A
place on the lane is sloughing. Pete helped us with it last year, and he and
Mike discussed methods of continuing the stabilization effort. It’s always
something.
No
thrilling mouse stories this trip, but when Nellie stepped into the kitchen Monday
morning she immediately advised Mike of the presence of a mouse which was
subsequently found in the live trap. I also removed from the trash can the doll
bedding I had tossed. “I remember this stuff,” said Nellie, demanding to
examine it again. I washed it and hung it out to dry. No sense to be
reactionary on account of the mice.
Sunday
was a lovely spring day, warm and dry enough so that we were able to prepare and
plant the raised bed garden with peas and spinach. In Ina’s day – even in my
dad's time – planting was delayed until the first of June, but we decided
to give it a try. What are we out if it fails? -- just some seed and effort. If
it doesn’t freeze but continues cool and rainy, these cool-weather garden crops may prosper. (When my back was turned -- before I started planting, thank goodness -- Nellie buried her bone in the nice soft dirt.) 
Saturday
Mike finished his first mowing of the season. He had just gotten cleaned up and
ready for bed when a neighbor dropped by. We love to see people but Mike wears
odd combinations of bed clothes. It doesn’t really matter – except when someone
comes. The neighbor’s German shorthair, apparently afraid of water, laid aside his fear in order to retrieve one of Mike’s duck decoys from the pond. The decoy serves as a
float to mark the aeration hose from the windmill. Oh well -- we have others in storage.
Rain
commenced again in the wee hours of Monday (April 30), so we packed up and
returned to town. KW
6 comments:
I see Nellie peeking into the photo where you are working on the vegetable garden.
Doesn't Jo Ann's have plain sweatshirts for sale for decorating. Or maybe craft stores like Michaels would sell "blank" sweatshirts. I understand the decorated sweatshirt thing. Almost every one I have is for some holiday or a "souvenir" of some place.
Love the pictures; such a beautiful place you've been blessed with!
The "road sign" is too cute.
Ah, spring planting--always fraught with peril. You've got the right idea; if it grows, you're ahead of the game.
I'm not overly fond of sweatshirts as they are constructed. I usually cut off the bottom ribbing and just hem them. Ditto the sleeves, and then I roll them up if it warm up.
This blog makes me so happy. I didn't see Nellie until Leah pointed her out--made me laugh. It's always a game of Where's Waldo. You say she jumped up into the plant bed to bury her bone? I think she was making a joke.
Where did you come up with the sign? That made me laugh, too!
I was amused that Leah beat Hallie to the "Where's Nellie" game. Too bad we can't see more of her. I'm sure the photographer wasn't thinking about her at all.
Nellie does love a good joke when she's feeling playful. Of course, that instinct thing kicks in, too -- the smell of freshly turned dirt, you know.
The road sign was Ken's birthday gift to Mike.
I love the warmth of a sweatshirt and sometimes I even wear a long-sleeved t-shirt underneath. But what a great idea, Chris, to cut off the ribbing! That way it doesn't accentuate the negative.
It is a little difficult to find "blanks" appropriate for embellishment. The other thing I've considered: Do I really want to embellish my chest?
Ah gardening on the Palouse. I am more worried about my fruit trees getting pollinated than the veggies right now. Veggies I can manage, but if it's not warm enough for bees - no fruit. ACK!!and when it is actually not freezing while they are blooming too - I thought I had a chance.
Kathy: Turn your creative spirit off for a minute. I meant a blank sweatshirt to stay blank...no embellishment.
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