We are so proud of him! He’s always been into service, both in church and home. As a senior in high school, he plans on becoming a helicopter pilot, hopefully with LifeFlight. As a member of the Guard, he will be eligible for help with the cost of his flight hours, which are quite expensive. David had the same plans, but we couldn’t afford the flight hours even though the VA would pay for his college. On Sunday, we went to Duluth to the airbase of the 148th Fighter Wing to see Mason sworn in. Wow!
Meanwhile, back home, Will has been busy, hauling in those 16-foot pine logs he and friend, Matt, bought together. Our half made two trailer loads on the big equipment trailer. As our driveway is in breakup mode, muddy with some ice, I wondered how that would go. But it was all uneventful and they are now across from the sawmill, right in the yard. Will and Drew got the sawmill running and sawed a few boards, just to make sure everything was okay before getting into those big logs. There’ll be a lot of very nice lumber there!
I got all the peppers transplanted and moved out into the greenhouse to grow on. Next is the tomatoes, followed by the pansies and petunias, which look great. It won’t be long before it’s time to plant squash, melons, pumpkins, and cukes inside. This year, I’m starting them in the greenhouse to eliminate all the running out to the back deck and in again, should the weather threaten to freeze like it did last year. That will be a big labor saver, for sure. Will heard a Red-winged Blackbird today. Yep, spring is definitely coming soon! — Jackie
We were on the edge of the nasty storms that hit our part of the Midwest. Looking like another inch of rain from this storm, another inch with tomorrow’s storm.
I wish I’d had time to hit a few spots in the strawberry patch – dandelions and one is absolutely huge. Rain here thru Saturday – thankfully not coming via hard down pours however some flood watches tonight.
Watching the morel sighting map – a report about an hour south of us. We’re getting plenty of moisture, temps have been warm (almost too warm hence tornadoes in the area). Sunshine has been spotty but I am on the watch.
Congratulations to your Grandson Mason!! That is wonderful!
We have had some breath taking storms the past 2 days. Lots and lots of rain! But its better than snow!!!
Wow, Mason is a handsome young man. A life flight pilot is a wonderful career to pursue.
Congratulations to Mason! What a special young man and I wish him all the best in his career choice. We are very warm here, 86 today and we have been getting rain along. Its the first spring we have got rains in several years. My brother in law always says we are only 2 days away from a flood and 2 weeks away from a drought at any time. I guess in some ways that is right, but its a depressing thought, lol. The red winged blackbirds are all back and of course the robins and buzzards. I have not seen hummingbirds yet, but I suspect they will be here shortly. I planted potatoes in containers today and put some onion sets in containers where I have lettuce, spinach and radishes growing. Those logs Will got are a great score! Sending prayers for a blessed week for you all.
+Gorgeous, warm weather this week–it’s so tempting to plant early but, like your good advice from your years of experience, we have learned that the plants don’t like cold soil, and even tho’ our first ‘frost free day’ here is May 15th, we’ve had frost many times a day or two later. Hey, everybody, listen to Jackie and Will. : )
A side note to save others from a mistake that we made three or four years ago:
We wanted to enlarge our garden space, and had read that laying flattened cardboard down, and covering it with dirt would prevent weeds and ‘claim’ the space for gardening. Great!
We laid flattened cardboard boxes, and covered them with dirt; it worked great…until the next year, when we realized what we had done. We hadn’t removed the tape first.
Tape is made from plastic. It breaks down as it weathers BUT that just makes smaller and smaller pieces that do NOT compose. And when the garden is rototilled in those areas, the pieces of tape grow smaller, and spread throughout the garden. Who knows how many nanoparticles of plastic find their way into the otherwise fresh, wholesome vegetables we grow. Yikes!!! When I realized what we had done, I pulled up every piece of tape I could find, but much of it was buried under several inches of dirt. Our freezes and thaws bring some of it to the surface, but every year I find pieces here and there. I don’t know how many years it will be before we have it all…but the answer is probably ‘never’–because the pieces grow smaller each year.
So, if you want to use cardboard as the base of a new garden, go for it! BUT FIRST, remove every scrap of tape, including labels.
And thanks, a million times over, for all the wisdom you have shared with us, Jackie and Will.
Mason sounds like a wonderful young man, you have every reason to be proud of him! To be a lifeflight pilot is a wonderful ambition. Prayers for him and all those who serve!
Got our first red-winged blackbird today. With the drought many are taking a chance planting early but there is a killing frost called for on Friday and most likely even more after that. What few plants that are out there early are flying off the dealers shelfs. Our cherry bushes are just going into blossom but are small enough we can cover them with tarps. Looks like it’s going to be a rough year.
Oh boy, I was hoping for a year better than last. Will heard a Red-winged Blackbird but I still haven’t heard or seen one yet.
I try to hold off planting early as I’ve always found I had trouble doing so from cold soil or severe frosts.
How wonderful!! I know you and Will are so very proud!!
Yes, we are. Will is a Vietnam era Marine Corps veteran so going into the service is special to him.
Jackie,
Do the juncos spend spring and summer at your place? I sure do miss them. They left here last week–central MO.
They’re here in the spring and early summer but usually move on north later in the summer.
Then I guess you have them again as they work their way south. They are here from late October until early to mid April. I love them..slate-colored bodies, white bellies and little pink/yellow beaks.