Jason closes his journal... Thanks!! I love you!!

[modern_pioneer]

The worlds first funky bean tree in the making.


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TADA!!!!

Now the top.....

Its going to be a pain to tie some 100 pieces of string.

Using up space while adding a double take for rubber neckers. LOL...

 

[modern_pioneer]

 

[modern_pioneer]

We often give and take from Mother Earth, today is her day for all of us to give back to her in return for all the things she gives to us.

I am thankful to Mother Earth;


When sunshine hits me in the face after winter. When the sunshine warms my face, and I see the blue sky, it warms my soul.

When the rain stops and the sun says hello, and the rays of the sun heat the ground.

When childern play after the winter and forget as soon as the sun goes down, how cold they will get.

When I labor hard, working her soil to grow food for my family. As my children grow I know the food they eat is healthy.

When I go trout fishing and don't catch anything, but watch the blue herring in the shallows catching minnows.

When my belly is full because my hunt was good.

When the gentle rain falls as I drift off to sleep.

When I see a hawk fly high in the sky, showing its freedom.

When a breeze flows and cools my body.

When I watch lighting light up the sky, and the thunder booms right overhead.

When I see animals living near me because I have left their home untouched.

When I whitness the most destructive creature on earth, humans, correcting their carbon impact.

When I help some one knowing what I am doing is good to the earth and helping a friend.

When are you thankful?

 

[modern_pioneer]

Yesterday I took a stroll around looking at all the new plants/trees I put in over the weekend.

With the recent rain, and some sun, the plants/trees are looking happy. I am suprised to see the hybrid populars doing so well so quick. I was concerned because when they arrived, the roots were all dried out.

Steve stopped in and mentioned that the drain was clogged again this year, he mentioned he wanted to clean it out in exchange for using my log splitter for the day. This summer I really need to lay some cement and build a proper drain unit so that it doesn't get so messy each spring.

The pool company came out and replaced the pool liner for free. Of course their first thing was to say a animal had gotten in there and tore the liner up. Having my lawyers card on me (pre-planned) I handed him the card and told him franky, " if your not going to replace the liner that is split right there at the seam, than we will work it out in court " his eyes got big and he said " no, no, this liner is only 10 months old, I can see the split at the seam "

I paid up front for the pool last year, and I wasn't going to allow them to wiggle their wayout of a faulty product. It would have cost me almost 2k to have a new liner put in. I did have to pay for the water to be trucked in, I thought they should have to pay for that as well, but its in the fine print that was pointed out to me.

Out on the main road, at the bottom of the mountain, its 3 miles from a Mcdonalds fast food store. It seems to be the point where everyone gets finished with their meal or part of it, and tosses their trash out the window. So yesterday evening me and the clan put on our orange vest, drove the truck down to the bottom and started trash pick up. For safety I always have DW drive the truck behind us with the four ways on.

At the top of the hill is dead mans curve, this one spot has killed dozens of people over the years. The curve isn't bad, its the speed at which people are driving. Last year three people were killed there, one woman and her son, and a cable guy. The woman is thought to have been doing 60mph and lost control after hitting an ice patch. The cable guy was doing over 80mph and fell asleep at the wheel.

I am looking forward to the weekend as its going to be in the high 70s I hope the garden will dry up between now and sat. so I can finely get my peas in the ground. I finished my pea trellis Tuesday afternoon, I used plastic netting last year that ended up killing some birds. So I built two big A frames and added some new netting that has 5 inch squares. I plan to finish my bean tree this weekend, that with my new trellis should add some character to my garden.

 

[TTs Chicks]

Wow Peddler I love reading about all your projects - be sure to take pics of that bean tree when it's up and growing.

I think every town has at least one dead mans curve and everybody knows where it is, but still they don't slow down

 

[modern_pioneer]

With spring here, some warm weather, there has been tons of work to do. I have also taken on more work to help Paul Sr. and his wife Reenie.

Paul Sr. had a stroke last April, at 74 y/o he has been working at a local store to have income from his farming days. I am not sure if he ever planned his way in life, but he is not only a hard worker, but also a data hub. Since his stroke, he has been a hard fighter. He doesn't have much use of his left hand anymore and hobbles around dragging his left leg. But I pay no notice, and visit with him looking to help him anyway that doesn't seem like a favor.

I know now, as I listened to him before his stroke, he is a hard worker not willing to quit. Sometimes, you gotta read into folks to what they are telling you, and give them the space they need to live their comfort zone. I speak of old folks now, and some will say I am a kid. That's okay by me, what I am saying is not all old folks want to be pampered.

I visited with Reenie and Paul Sr. 3 weeks ago. I went to their house where Reenie welcomed me in and I took off my shoes at the door. Her grand kids don't even take off their shoes, she gets fussy with them, so I noted.

She offered me some homemade strawberry rubarb pie, which I jumped on, and she offered a cold glass of milk, which I jumped on. Paul Sr. was in the barn working on a tractor, I had asked where he was at. I thought she seemed sad, but figured she was feeling a bit down helping Paul Sr. so much.

Reenie took my plate, and walked into the kitchen. She came back in and told me she was going in to have a Knee replaced and was worried about Paul Sr. She went on and said she would be gone for more than two weeks and all their family members would take care of Paul Sr. and made sure he wasn't left alone one single night. She asked me to look after Paul Sr.s garden so he could visit with her.

Understanding what she was asking me, making it no big deal, I told her not to worry and quickly changed the subject.

So I got their garden tilled, rocks removed (small ones that come up every year), and moved his compost pile over with the tractor and tilled it in using my new tiller I bartered from Albert. Planted Peas and cabbage.

I promise to take some pics of my hedge rows/garden and new orchard asap, I also wanna share some taters pics.

I got my own peas in today and will be making the cages for my raised beds tomorrow.

There is always something to do because I fee like I am always behind.

 

[freemotion]

We will always be behind, those of us with too many ideas! What a great reason to be WAY behind, helping a neighbor in the busiest time of the year.

ETA: I think this might put you into Tallman's will.....

 

[TanksHill]

Today I did nothing in the house except feed the family and wash up after. The rest of my morning and afternoon was spent in the garden and doing outside stuff. I loved every minute of it. And yes I am now very behind on my house chores. Butt it feels great.

It gives me a good feeling to hear about you helping out your neighbor. That's what neighbors are for.

I look forward to seeing some pictures. Your garden is very inspiring. g

 

[modern_pioneer]

.... No dogs can eat my strawberries anymore, Yup, I fixed that today.

I know you want to see pics, but I have a lot to do and will take pics on a rainy day when I don't have so much work to do.

It will double as a cold frame and greenhouse, I think I am pretty clever. My cost is about 75.00, and not even a ground hog can pinch my strawberries now.

I am feeling tired and sore, and am off to bed.

 

[modern_pioneer]

I just had a bad day today.

Maybe I am just short tempered, and tired of all false promises of Steve to "get it done". Yet, nothing gets done and I keep hearing a bunch of mouth about what he is "going to do" and the reasons why he can't do it right now.

I AM UP FOR SOME ADVICE RIGHT NOW. Thanks.

Last Thursday I said

"Steve stopped in and mentioned that the drain was clogged again this year, he mentioned he wanted to clean it out in exchange for using my log splitter for the day."

I rent my splitter out, $25 a day, even to my close friends. I agreed, he got it, and saturday morning, no log splitter. So I drove over to his house, and found the splitter chained, locked to a tree. No logs in his yard had been split, that I saw.

Dale, another friend of mine split 6 cords in 7 hours, he paid me the $25 dollar fee. It's a 32 ton splitter with a four way head, craddle, vertical/horizonal adjustment. In more common terms, put a log on it, and it makes firewood.

Steve shows up Saturday evening, with a mouth full. I asked him why he needed the splitter if he wasn't going to use it? He told me " Yeah, I have used it, and sold two loads of wood for $30 bucks each" well thats okay, untill I mention he sold me a load of wood for $60 not split.

I was miffed, but not angry, and he said other than those loads he sold, he hadn't split any of his own wood. He said he would be over Sunday around 1400 hrs to return the splitter, I agreed, knowing already how I would feel if he didn't keep his word, knowing he doesn't anyway. But there is always hope.

I went over to his house yesterday, just a small pile of wood split, 1/16 of a cord at best. I asked him why he hadn't used the splitter, he said "I have used it, I have sold 14 loads of wood in the past two days"

HELLO DUMB SELF.......

Now, I was just angry.... I hate being taken advantage of, but I wear my heart on my sleeve, until I have been wronged. Now its get nasty time.

This morning, Monday, he came out all loud mouthed, shouting, telling me he was calling the police on me for trespassing, when all I was doing was getting my property back.

The police showed up, and asked me, (after gathering both sides of the story) if I wanted to press charges of Grand Larceny by Conversion. I asked what that meant, the officer told me " it is when you loan a person an item and they won't give it back when agreed to "

I didn't press charges and brought my log splitter home.

I feel like a sucker....