CLINT WAS HERE . . .

Clinton stopped by today. He's in town to see Elisha and attend a friend's birthday party. He helped Mike with the old Mercury outboard he is restoring. He went with us to walk Nellie and then went on his way. He left bottle caps . . .

TICKER CHECK

We’re home from Spokane where Mike saw a cardiologist at Deaconess. After reviewing the EKG and the reports from his bunion surgery, the physician told him that no further testing was indicated. He said that Mike has a slow heartbeat and that under anesthesia it will slow even more. He believes it is possible this slowing is all that happened during the surgery rather than the suspected “third-degree heart block.” Anyway, the appointment was all over in about 45 minutes. We made a few stops in Spokane. Mike bought a rifle rest at the outdoor store. We had our customary Subway lunch, then headed for home, finding a few geocaches along the way. Here are some photos of the Lewis-Clark Valley taken from the top of the hill – for your viewing pleasure or possibly to make you homesick, depending on who you are. As you can see, the weather today was unsettled with intermittent showers.

Happy birthday to Billie. I’ve been thinking about you all week but still didn’t get your card mailed. I hope I do it tomorrow. So – you still have that to look forward to!

Gnome Spotted in Idaho

I spy with my little eye...

PLANTING BUSHES

The homestead provides lots of space for planting trees, bushes, gardens, flowers, etc. It always seems like there's space everywhere and none of it to use. No, not there -- it will block the view. No, not there -- too close to established plantings. No, not there -- too hot, or too close to a field, or too difficult to mow around. Discussion ensues -- sometimes heated debate. Planting the rhubard and the gooseberry and currant bushes were no exception. In the end we put them on the bank behind the house (west side). This is a picture of me planting the gooseberry bush.

Here are a few "leftover" photos from last weekend. This one (right) is a progress report on the old daffodil bed in the grove. The one on the left is of daffodils Hallie helped me plant down by the pond. It was such hard work! But I delight to see them each spring. And this very last photo shows deer damage to one of the poplars Mike planted years ago. We took the cage off, thinking the tree was mature enough to withstand their nibbling. I guess they found another use for it. (Frankly, I think it was retribution for Mike's having killed one of their number.)

Bottle cap update: one found on Monday; one found today. Total: 4

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

An injury incident on Thursday exacerbated Mike’s shoulder pain. After checking with a doctor Friday morning, we went ahead with our plan to plant trees on the farm. So, we picked up the trees in Moscow and spent the afternoon planting them – 60 Ponderosas on the northwestern boundary of the property [see photo] and 20 fir on the northern edge of the “flat.” (At least I think that description is accurate.) We felt pressed to complete the work since cold weather was predicted over the weekend. It cost Mike something in terms of pain to complete the work, but he did his part (the actual planting) faster than I did mine (fitting ground cloth around the trees, mulching, and working the tubing over the treelet). I couldn't help but wonder what Uncle Dan, our friendly forest pathologist, would think of our operation. This I know: we're pretty slow so no professional tree planter would hire us. But we take a lot of pride in our reforestation efforts -- improving our place and improving our world.

On Saturday all that remained of the tree project was my part with the 20 fir trees. Mike helped me. Here's a picture of Nellie looking at something while we worked.

This is a photo of a tree we planted last year. Mike thinks 45-50 of the 60 we planted in 2007 survived. KW

SNOW IN APRIL

We awakened at 6:00 a.m. to snow on the homestead. Yes, snow on April 21. It was enough snow to put some of our Christmases to shame. We left the farm at 7:20 a.m. when the temperature was 27.5. The Gilbert Grade was snow floor and the branches of the evergreens were dressed in white. Orofino also had snow; the park was white. Naturally, as we drove toward Lewiston, the snow gradually receded from the river and the temperature warmed to about 45 in north Lewiston. Still, when the average high for the date is 63, it’s pretty cool. These homestead photos were taken about 6:30 a.m.

This eastern view [left] shows the sun breaking through over some dark clouds while to the south we can see the breaks of Little Canyon covered in white.

Photos below show my three Crown Imperial Frittalaria at the point of blooming amongst the daffodils on the south side of the front porch [taken Sunday, April 20]. This morning the blooms bow their heads under the weight of the cold snow.

In a phone conversation last Thursday evening (4-17), brother Chuck said he was anticipating high temps at about 90 at his home in Ivins, Utah. Here in town we are currently experiencing a sleet storm.

SPRING AWAKENINGS

I have a few minutes to myself this morning and decided to share a few more pictures taken last weekend. According to my research, this little wildflower is "spring beauty." I found it everywhere we went on the homestead.



These little blooms I couldn't find in the wildflower book. The stems resemble crocus, which was a tip-off that it might be a bulb. They were in an area that Hallie and I planted (not too successfully) some years back. Sure enough -- I found it in my bulb catalog. "Early Snow Glories" are described as "no maintenance wonders" that increase every year. Cute!

Prior to working on the house, we had never gone to the farm in the early spring. Imagine my surprise to find a border of daffodils in the grove! I suspect they were originally planted -- maybe by an aunt or uncle in the 1960s. This photo shows just one section. They bloom successively according to sunlight. Some are shaded because of the pine trees.

This week we will see and record more springtime awakenings. Have a good weekend!