Musings

Dad aka The Botanist had transplanted five rhubarb crowns up here, the deep red specimens he loved, commenting every time he picked them, “See how dark the stalks are!”

By last summer, however, the plants were looking peaked. Consultations with several people reached the same conclusion: they needed more light, fewer weeds to compete with, and a shot of nutrition.

Last fall, The Guru and I attacked all these problems. We cut down overhanging branches—more light. We removed the surrounding sod and covered the raw soil with newspapers*, weighted with rocks so they wouldn’t blow away—competition reduced (at least temporarily). And, courtesy of our friends at Spinner’s End Farm, added small shovelfuls of llama/sheep poo, designed by nature to take some years to break down—nutrition added!

So far, it looks like we’re on track for a full recovery of the rhubarb plants!

* A long-time practice of The Botanist.

Posted at 10:22 PM | 3 Comments »

Growth spurt time. These were about one-third this tall when we arrived. Fog this morning gave way to gorgeous sunshine for most of the afternoon and into the evening. Still sunny!

Posted at 8:16 PM | Comments Off on Green fiddlers

Kinda feeling daffy….

Long story short: these shots both are from before today (when the sky turned grey). The cold storage (?) unit is from the library-town…, not from our place.

The solo daffy is from directly in front of the cottage. I’m not sure of its history but the story I’m going with is that Mom planted them, probably before I was born. (Ti-dee I-dee.)

Had the lovely neighbors over; they’re the ones who keep an eye on our place through all the times (especially the winter) when we’re gone. We are perpetually indebted to them. Such fine people. Actually, fine is not inclusive enough.

I ramble.

Posted at 10:01 PM | 1 Comment »

I call this the Tree Monster in my head. It was a trunk-split (not really a branch) from high up in the double-pine next to the front porch. Our fine next-door neighbor helped us brush it out last fall, but we didn’t get the whole thing broken down. Yes, it’s on the chore list….

Today the Tree Monster and I witnessed a quick visit by a pair of Sandhills, touring about in their courtship. We had heard Sandhills, maybe this pair; great to see them!

Posted at 3:04 PM | Comments Off on Fine weather for…chores

Another spring ephemeral: the trout lily.

Beautiful day and the solar gain brought the front porch to a hair over 70°F. Thank ye, oh wondrous sun.

Side benefit: I don’t have to build a fire in the wood stove tonight!

Posted at 6:12 PM | Comments Off on Sun love

I think the bloodroot decided it was too cold to open its blooms today (around freezing overnight). These are among the spring ephemerals we observed in our wander around the property. That’s a new phrase for me; I’m loving it….

Posted at 6:26 PM | Comments Off on Spring ephemerals

Our woods—few of those are white birches, despite the light color of the trunks.

Crossed the 45th parallel today, and a few miles later saw some a few bits of Mother Nature’s confetti. !!!! Spotted a few rotten drifts surviving in super-shady spots (e.g., north side of ditches, sand dunes).

Glorious sunshine now (even this late!), loving the solar gain. That pine that came down doesn’t kick out much heat, but it’s burning!

Posted at 7:50 PM | 2 Comments »

Now there’re some chrome wheel hub cover thingies!

The biggest one (depending on your point of view): we exited Ohio. Joking.

The best one (no argument here): we socialized with KW & the GG, lasagne, kitchen dancing (™; haha), the whole package.

The lunchiest: Sidetrack Bar & Grill, in Ypsi. And check out the lunch-group’s website (your clicks matter!)….

Glad to be alive folks; true every day, yet more than most right at the moment. Special thanks to KW & GG for…well, you know.

Posted at 10:53 PM | Comments Off on Day of transitions

“Tire alligators,” the driver commented, noting the curled tread strips littering the highway.

Posted at 11:41 PM | 2 Comments »

Caladium leaf among the colorful plantings in front of the center….

We early-voted today, over at a senior citizens center. The four ladies operating the voting room (about ten booths) were close to being senior citizens, or are already, depending on your definition. We found them charming, and very careful to tell us they were passing our IDs to the next lady, if it was okay with us.

Posted at 8:16 PM | Comments Off on Early voting protocol