Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[wyoDreamer]

We have a lawn sweeper too. I used to use it all the time. It was nice and quiet - but don't go too fast or it would toss the grass clippings over the back of it, lol. DH said I broke it when I was going into the barn a couple of years ago. There is a HUGE concrete threshold at the top of the ramp that I hate. Think speed bump for cars. It is about a 1:1 slope and the hayloft floor is a foot higher than the earth outside the barn. Every time DH gets a load of gravel, I ask him to put some up there to make less of a bump and it never happens. Maybe I will use the tractor to dump some dirt there and fix it for myself - while DH is at work, lol.

 

[jvls1942]

I have a lawn sweeper, I cannot make it work. I think it is because I cut my grass so long. maybe I will cut a small section really short and give it a try.
I scored two extra sessions for my neck therapy. today and Wednesday.
I hate to see it come to an end. I have made such good progress.
I can make it almost a whole day without any headaches. if I get one, I do some neck stretch exercises and they go away.
It is really cloudy here this morning. but radar shows no rain.
just before midnight we heard thunder, but that rain went south of us.
Lisa, you must have had some of that rain ??

 

[Callender Girl]

Congratulations on getting the extra sessions, Jim.

I have been busy trying to get things ready for my annual trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior. At the historic event at Grand Portage this year, I am sponsoring a performance by a musician/singer that Jim liked, and my sister and I will be serving appetizers and holding a brief memorial service.

I have been putting together an album with some highlights of Jim's life, and it's been both joyful and sad work. I hope this service provides closure for everybody. His son -- who is a wonderful young man -- took most of Jim's ashes back to South Carolina, where Christopher lives, and there were no formal services held here in the Midwest.

There was, however, a Native American pipe ceremony I was invited to attend, held in a place that Jim loved; some of his ashes were scattered into the group's council fire, so he will always be a part of their gatherings, and where I am always welcome. I have a small urn of ashes here, too.

Enough sad stuff! I picked my first full-sized heritage tomato yesterday -- a Cherokee purple, my absolute favorite.

Still no need to mow here. There were a few sprinkles last night, but nothing to get excited about. Guess that means I won't have to worry about getting wet when I install those cedar boards I stained to install under the deck in place of the ugly lattice.

Hope everybody has a good week and is able to beat the heat!

 

[jvls1942]

Barb, I hope your trip will be satisfying .
I have attended a few Native American funerals. They make a lot more sense than the funeral home ones. I told Annie that I want that kind of funeral. I don't know if they would do one for a paleface, though..

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Jim we got one rumble of thunder around midnight, and the ground is damp. Don't see anything in the rain gauge, might be a tad bit. I cal this rain a "spit and a dribble".

Barb that sounds nice. I too am a more of a nature/natural person as far as beliefs go. I'd enjoy seeing a native American ceremony. Sounds like you keep busy. I would be so lost. Assembling picture albums can be an emotional experience. Big hugs.

 

[jvls1942]

I had a lucky find today. the guy at O'Reilly's didn't have the part I needed. He told me to go to a place just north of town. It turned out to be a Briggs dealer,repair,parts store. just five miles from our house. I never knew it was there. the guy who waited on us said that he lives just a mile from us. small world, eh ?
I can see a lot less time looking for parts on the web from now on.
to top that off, there is a new Tractor Supply store in Merrill. they found out that so many people are unsatisfied with Fleet & Farm with the new owners. We are going to check them out soon. We also found a place where they sell bulk produce in Merrill. We are going to buy the fixings for salsa from there.

 

[Callender Girl]

Sounds like things are going really well for you, Jim. The new Tractor Supply sounds promising. Too bad about Fleet & Farm.

Lisa, thanks for the hugs!

Don't know if it's the heat, the emotional stress (finished Jim's album/finalized the menu) or all the tasks I need to do before my trip north, but my motivation level is about at zero. Since my trusted house/pet sitter has moved away, I will be hosting her replacement for a visit on Sunday to get the lay of the land.

Before then, I intend to do about a gazillion things -- including intense cleaning of the basement, where she will have to feed the cats who should eat mice, but just kill them and leave the remains for me to find. At least working in the basement should be much cooler than upstairs -- I rarely miss having A.C., but this week it might have been nice.

I spent Monday night on the sofa to keep my blind rescue dog company because of the incredibly LOUD thunder. I expected everything to be drenched when I got up Tuesday. Well, a quarter inch of rain is the most I've seen here for a bit. So, I guess things are improving.

I very slowly ate that delicious Cherokee purple tomato, and it looks like a Black Prince should be ready today.

 

[jvls1942]

well, the weather people hit this one on the head. right at midnight the thunder and lightning moved in, five minutes later the rain came. lots of rain. the whole shebang kept it up for over a half an hour. then a couple of hours later the same thing all over again, only this one lasted for only a few minutes. the wind was not too bad either time.
no hail either. we have metal roofs.
if it hails, believe me, we can hear it.
Our Frankie, the big dog in my avatar, was never afraid of thunder until she was seven years old. that's when she figured out that I would not chase her out of our bedroom when she pretended to be afraid.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Weather guy was right about our storms also. He said about 2 and at 2:12 I was woken up by thunder and managed to get the windows closed before the rain really started. Quite the storm for the next hour and a half. We had some hail about 3, but it was raining so hard at the time I could barely hear it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Don't know if it's the heat, the emotional stress (finished Jim's album/finalized the menu) or all the tasks I need to do before my trip north, but my motivation level is about at zero.

I have no motivation either. The heat plays a huge part.

We got some storms last night too. Enough to wake me up but not enough to keep me up. Wish it had cooled stuff off. Too humid out. I gotta pick green beans today.