It can't rain forever, can it? 2022 style

I'm hoping that we don't get a repeat from a spring a few years ago but just when we get a day away from being able to get into the fields for some serious work, the sky opens up again. Although we could use the much needed rain to replenish the groundwater, the topsoil is saturated and flash flooding is a risk for the next day or two.

I've only been able to plant a very small test plot but my regular planting looks to be delayed for another week.

The big yellow splotch on the radar is headed our way.

Do daffodils bring sunshine?

Or does sunshine bring daffodils?

Cold has settled in for this mid-April day. It's too cold and too wet to turn the earth for planting but at least these daffodils brighten things up a bit.

An abundance of blooms next to the house.

Looking for a new home

We try to cooperate with nature as much as we can, so long as they don't invade the shed where equipment is stored as nature tolerates my tilling of the ground and other invasive activities.

We put up several bluebird boxes years ago with varying degrees of success. We enjoy the bluebirds as neighbors each year and they do help with the insect population but they are late this year as many other migratory birds to the area.

Yes, this birdhouse has seen better days but it has sheltered many a brood while stationed near a growing chestnut tree. I cleaned it out in February to await a new pair this year.

Sometimes nature fights against us:

Some wood devouring creature saw fit to expand the hole and then didn't bother to move in. 

With wood prices 4-5 times what it cost us to build the original birdhouse, I'll have to relook at our budget to see what we can do. 

It's a shame but nature does what it wants sometimes and we'll have to deal with it.

Tuesday Triumph - February visit in the snow

 She comes around when she feels like it. Triumph's first sighting of 2022:

Deer Run

Something surprised these deer as they ran through the bare walnut trees

Color for Winter Blues

Maximilian Sunflower

New England Aster

 

Fall flowers growing at the farm

Happy Christmas to 2021

 

Our little Black Hills Spruce all dressed up with nowhere to go.

We here at the Stranded Tree Farm, hope all of our visitors, friends, and neighbors have a Happy Christmas with Ho, Ho, Ho and mistletoe for all.

Friday is buck day: Stare down

I like how these two bucks are competing against each other for the does' attention. Staring at one another and sizing the opponent up. 

It's an hour before dawn on that day as the bucks make their stand: 

Out of Character

(Know your audience. Make it interesting and fun. – Advice from people who give speeches.)

What if your audience is pre-K to 7-year-olds along with mothers holding toddlers in their arms?

Our local library has story-time each week for a group of kids and their parents. The regulars are home-schooling families and I was asked to give a talk about things I grow on the farm, mainly popcorn.

“I’m a little out of character with kids.” I admitted to the mothers. A rule in giving speeches is to show confidence but I was going to set that expectation bar low.

Kids filed into the room dressed in Halloween costumes of yellow and green monsters, a purple dragon, a Pikachu, and the little 3-year-old girl as a bumble bee. Bumble Bee looked to me offering a big innocent grin that would melt a hardened steel heart.

“Who likes popcorn?” – Cheers!

“A kernel is planted into the ground, grows into a stalk, then produces ears of corn like these.” I showed several ears of Ladyfinger popcorn.

Pikachu pointed out the difference compared to field corn.

“This was going to be a tough crowd,” I’m thinking in Rodney Dangerfield voice.

To make this educational, I brought another variety of popcorn and remarked how corn was different just like how kids have different hair, eyes, etc.

“Sometimes nature produces something unexpected like this…” I showed an ear that split into two. – Laughter! It has legs!

I handed out popcorn ears so they could try shelling it from the cob. This delighted the boys as kernels shot across the room. – Chaos!

“I’m losing my audience?” --- “Not yet!”

Pikachu explained that water inside of the kernel expands and that’s how it pops.

“Hey, this is my show, kid!” I thought in Bob Hope’s voice.

I popped some corn which was devoured by the group, especially Purple Dragon and Bumble Bee.

Questions from mothers and kids were answered and I gave out bags of popcorn to enjoy at home.

One mother asked if I wanted something for payment.

“Smiles from little bumble bees was enough,” I heard my voice say.

“I actually said that?”

“Yep. A little out of character, indeed...”

 

 Linked to Poets and Storytellers United: Friday Writings #1: I Write with My Food

Tuesday Triumph - October, 2021

 She finally decided to stop by for a visit with her young one.

A little grainy pic in the twilight at evening time but that's her.

We're glad she's doing well since her first visit two and a half years ago.