Yesterday, we drove down to Bill and Kelly’s for our granddaughter Ava’s fourth birthday party. We had been a little nervous as they were calling for a quarter of an inch of ice from freezing rain. Not good for a 110-mile drive! But the storm flew through faster and we didn’t get it. And Saturday the temperature was 36 degrees ABOVE zero! Sunday it got to 40. The roads were dry and we sailed down with no trouble at all.
The highlight of Ava’s party was playing a game called Pie Face where you have a spring-loaded hand filled with whipped cream, put your face into an oval, and spin a spinner to see how many times you have to turn the crank. The pie-throwing arm could go off at any time. It’s sort of like Russian Roulette, only tastier. Of course everyone had to get a turn at getting “creamed,” even Will. But darn, he escaped unscathed!
Today we’re making our final decision about what varieties of vegetables we’re going to plant in the big gardens. When you save so many seeds, it’s a bit complicated. To make things easier, Will has hauled one of the our old two-point corn planters up to the storage building. He’s going to make a three-point corn planter from a pull type so we can more easily get to the fences and turn in the gardens. This will also plant our beans so, hopefully, we won’t have to do it all by hand this spring.
Poor Hondo! He misses Buddy, who went home to his family yesterday. They wrestled and chewed on each other for the entire three weeks Buddy was here. Bill couldn’t come get him as his father-in-law, Donny, was in the hospital and he had to help out there, plus working too. Spencer isn’t so much fun as he’s older and doesn’t like to wrestle. (But he still plays with his “babies”, the box full of stuffed animals we have for the dogs.) — Jackie
Sheryl,
Yeah, I think so too. Bill built it from trees he hauled in from the woods. I’m real proud of him and his wife, Kelly!
gen,
I think Kelly got it at Wal-Mart. Not sure, tho. Sounds like you’ve got a good helper and will get lots done. I don’t know if we’ll be taking an apprentice this year or not. That’s still open to discussion.
Ah! Wind scented clothing and bedding. SO nice!
Rick,
I’m not so sure I believe a fat groundhog, either, but I know I sure am champing at the bit to get planting. Sigh. But it/s snowing……
What a beautiful home!
I am going hunting for that game, it sounds hilarious! Any idea what store might carry it? Your grandchildren have grown so much!
This year I’m having help to build three raised beds, 2 will have hinged chicken wire tops to try and keep out squirrels, feral cats, and loose running dogs; also we’re building a compost container and replacing the bridge over the ‘creek’ behind my house. The same person is going to help me replace all the screening in my old screen windows, after 40 years, mine are shot. AND, I’ll be getting new lines to hang my clothing outside this summer. I can smell those sunshine flavored sheets already. It’s the small things in life!
Thank goodness for the young man who has volunteered his services, for a bit of my home cooking, LOL.
Jackie, I haven’t seen you mention whether or not you would be taking applications for another apprentice like last year. I know, me being nosy, but I was wondering.
Miss Jackie, The pie face game would be great, especially if one had a nice pie made from Hopi pale grey squash to enjoy with the whipped cream!!!!
According to Punxutawney Phil, the most famous groundhog weather prognosticator in Pennsylvania, because he didn’t see his shadow when his handlers brought him out this morning near daybreak at Gobbler’s Knob, WE WILL HAVE AN EARLY SPRING!!!!! I am not convinced of his prescience concerning FUTURE weather patterns, so I am taking a wait and see attitude.( I am more impressed with your local beavers….)
BUT I have an inner urge to start my pepper plants a bit earlier than I usually do so that even if spring is not so early as we hope, they may be big and husky for transplant into the garden. That recent article in the Backwoods Home magazine is making me think about things I could use to make an inexpensive greenhouse when the ground gets thawed. Rick
Pie face seems to be a hit! We played that at Christmas time with Jim’s family, and low and behold, Jim got one for his 57th bday…guess you are never too old to get a pie in your face! Enjoy picking out selections for the garden, I think Spring will be coming sooner than usual this year!
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