New Carport

Here are two pictures reflecting on my new addition to our carport.  Our spring planting info is on our web page.  Be sure to visit there.

Spring Planting

Hi, check our web page for the latest pictures and info on our spring plantings.

Good Friday

Spring is in full swing around here.  Here it is Good Friday and we have a beautiful day.  I think spring has come early for us this year.  We have had over 4 inches of rain for the month so far and our lake is over full pool so we have a lot of water going out the drain pipe at the dam.  I have fished most everyday and caught over 11 bass in an hour about a week ago and a few days ago I caught 5 in 20 minutes.  The osprey have arrived from the south and Anne and I have enjoyed watching them come in once a day and get a fish or two.  They are such beautiful birds.  They are almost the size of a bald eagle.  After the last two inch rain my lake had a visitor from upstream on another persons property.  It is a large beaver.  I spotted him swimming around 10 or so the other night.  My buddy, Ralph, came over to help me spotlight him, but he went back upstream by the time we got started(within 10 minutes).  I need to take him out if he comes back because he will make a mess of my woods by downing trees.  Gary and I rode the gator upstream last Sunday and found his pond that he is building.  It is on a neighbor's acreage but real close to mine.  I am watching for his return and am at the ready with 00 buckshot in my 12 gauge.  I have no choice in the matter.  Beavers are a nuisance to farmers out here and all look to get rid of them when they come on their property.  The Game Warden concurs with our findings and encourages us to shoot them or trap them.  A four to five foot water moccasin made its way from one of my branches to the road where he was run over last week.  A critter got him over night for dinner.  Critters come through every night.  With Prissy being inside with us now, we never know what is on the property.  The deer and turkey are moving.  We lock the gate to the farm every night to keep people critters out.

Eddie (neighbor) and I finished my boat.  I also purchased an outboard motor from him.  Anne and I are ready for fishing Lake Russell now with plans to go next week and crappie fish in Coldwater Creek area of the lake.  The ramp is about a mile from the farm.

It is almost time to disk the garden.  The ground is still cold (had a frost last night.  It is still too early to plant because of the frost threat, but by the first part of April we will be ready.

Anne is just about well from her month old bronchitis.  She will finish her last pills tomorrow.  We are both glad for her to get over this mess.

Anne and I hope spring has arrived for you all and each is well.

Spring in the Air

Just the first part of March and the weather brings temps in the low 70's.  Jamie is coming over this weekend to help get things ready for spring before the snakes come out.  We have a lot of trees and branches to get up throughout the woods and trails along with the point on the lake. Gary, my forest ranger friend says to let trees lay as they fall, but I feel compelled to get them out of the paths of the trails I have cut in the woods over the property.  It makes better riding with the gator.  The trees are beginning to bud and the wildlife is roaming.  I saw two hen turkeys yesterday and two dear crossing the road in front of me.  Prissy is in tuned and alerts me as we make our paths through the woods and trails.  Tonight she found a deer in our woods and I spotted it with my light because I could not get the gator in position.  We made our way throughout the property and the deer made haste in front of us until out of sight and light.  A possum followed us on the road the other day and it was all I could do to keep Prissy in check.  Fed Harvey the duck today along with the fish from our Gazebo over the lake.  Time is close for major action on the lake.  I went over to Ralph and Blanche's today and gathered pecans that have fallen.  I picked about 10 pounds in just a few minutes using a slinky on a wheel with long handle.  That was as much fun as it was amazing.  I sat out on the covered porch and cracked as much as I could before other duties called.  The sky tonight was crystal clear and the stars were magnificent in brightness and clarity.  Living in desolation has its rewards.  If I were to die tonight I would have had my reward from a life in the city.  For those that have not experienced years of life in a very rural setting, you know not what you have missed.  I am completely satisfied.  God is great!

Birthday

Another year has passed.  There sure were some good and bad with the year.  Getting cards and phone calls on my birthday get better each year.  I hope that now that March has begun that Anne and I will finally get over the crud.  No sooner did we get over the Christmas sickness that lasted into Feb did we get it back a week or so ago.  This time mine was not as bad as Anne's.  She has had it now over a week and can't seem to quit the coughing.  We are scheduled for our quarterly well check-up next Tuesday.  It was great hearing from my brother in Canada.  He is back getting around after his prostate surgery.

Our friends here have really been great to us.  We decided to go back to Coldwater from Rock Branch Baptist for one reason which is that our Coldwater friends would just not give up on us. If you recall we left last fall.  We decided it would be best for us not to give up on them either, so at least I will attend this Sunday.

Stay in touch.

We experienced death again this past month in family and friend.  A friend from Coldwater called me early morning on my birthday to wish me happy birthday.  After talking for awhile he said that his Mom had just passed away two hours ago.  I was shocked because his Dad had just passed on Valentines Day.  This special friend never forgets my birthday.  Now it has a new meaning for him.  Life is strange.  It never ceases to amaze me.

The Beginning of March

We are glad to see Feb. gone.  It was a very busy time for us with company here and work to do.  The fish have come up although it is still pre-spawn.  The little males are up and about, but the mothers are still down deep.  With the lake being full pool, it is fun to fish everyday.  Of course I return all that I catch.  I wonder how many 11.5 pound bass I will catch out of the lake this year?  I caught two last year.  The bass grow about a pound a year.  Prissy is enjoying her roam of the house and looks forward to her twice a day runs.  Anne has had a brutal cold for about 4 days now, but is showing signs of improvement.  I have had one as well, but mine has not been bad so far.  Prissy loves to chase squirrels.  Since I keep her on the leash, it limits her hunting activities.  She has nearly caught several on our runs up the road.  She was surprised to see them run across in front of her.  I have held her back from grabbing them.  I got my first birthday card today.  It was from Norm and Barb.  I enjoyed their card.  I hope Anne and I can go out Monday on my birthday.  It will all depend on if we are well.  We do plan on taking Pam and Richard to celebrate Pam's birthday and mine later in the month to the Catechee Club.  That will be fun.