One level spot

Somewhere in this cabin yard, there must be one level spot. There must be a spot where I can plant some vegetables. Where I can put in a bush cucumber and a cherry tomato that will volunteer year after year so that when we come for the weekend, I won't have to transport the veggies! They'll be growing outside my door!

\

Hey, you all!  Is there a level spot here?  oops.  no.  sorry.

Jack, please don't set your hair on fire. 

Gabby!  is there a level spot here?  where cukes and onions and tomatoes will grow?

No?  Just shade and no sun.  That won't work.

 Where then?

Can't see even half a level spot from this angle.

Nor from this angle! 

There must be a flat spot somewhere,

 with some good black dirt

 just waiting for me to plant it to garden.

Oh wait. I think I see it now!

Look!  It is level!

There is real dirt in there!

Himself did it! 

Himself made us a level spot!

We will have veggies after all!

Weather permitting . . . and the creek don't rise.

Borrowed from Illinois

When I first visited Urbana and Champaign, Illinois I fell in love with the Katsura tree. 

In fall, the leaves are a lovely apricot to orange color and they shimmer in the breeze like Aspen or Cottonwood leaves.  I searched the internet and finally found what I thought would grow up to be the 15 or 20 foot Katsura tree that I first met and loved in Illinois.  This is this tree's 3rd spring in Missouri.  It has grown hardly at all but it looks healthy and the leaves are the shape I remember.  Instead of one trunk, this tree came with a half of dozen.  I'm okay with that.  I can live with that.  But I want this tree to start growing taller!  It is supposed to grow taller and block our yard from the neighbor's back deck -- and I want to admire the beautiful apricot leaves in the fall.  I think this is the growing year for my Katsura tree! 

What the heck is that?

Craig: I've never seen anything like this!

Tony: oh wait! My cousin owned one of these once!

Craig: Let's get an M40.

Tony: Wait, I think this is a paint by number!

Goat Rodeo

I used to work with a woman that when the going got rough or the going got wild and out of control, she described it as a goat rodeo.  I believe she raised goats . . . so she would know!  Well, I think now I know why she would describe such a time as a Goat Rodeo . . .

and I was so excited and the gravel road was so full of pot holes,

that 2 out of 3 photos are out of focus -- and you know what, it was a real goat rodeo!

Northern Mo and Southern Iowa

These are more common place, each year.

Himself is very careful, respectful

when he comes up behind a buggy.

We always smile and wave as we go 'round.

Deere

Himself ordered and mounted a rear bumper to his mower. 

I asked what is the advantage to that?

In case someone backs into a tree or something, he said. 

This protects the engine.

"Pfffft", I said, under my breath. 

Himself isn't going to back into a tree . . . he just doesn't do things like that 

(oh well, except for that one time he mangled the license plate

 -- but hey!  that was once in 40 years!) 

And I can't do things like that (backing into trees) if I don't ride this mower.  \

Therefore, this bumper is safe!  The bumper is for looks! 

Looks alone! 

Sharp!

Garage Sale

I am houseware heavy.  After closing III, we carted home all our housekeeping equipment that I had accumulated at III.  You notice, I said, "I accumulated".  Himself, left to his own devices would have had 1 knife, 1 pancake turner, 1 skillet and a coffee pot.  Oh, yes.  And paper plates and towels and matches.  Matches so that he could burn the paper plates and towels.  That's it! 

Worst part of all that is he probably would have been just fine and would have created gourmet meals and entertained royalty and won awards.  Whereas I dragged home 3,000 pieces to III -- utensils, silverware, glasses, china plates, mixing bowls, 6 sizes of pans, 3 cast iron skillets, a can opener, potato peeler, melon baller, 7 cereal bowls, measuring cups and spoons, steak knives, butter knives, table knives and butcher knives!  Dipper, strainer, dish pan, coffee measure, pint jars, quart jars, 1/2 gallon and gallon jars! 

And would have cooked pork n beans, boiled eggs, oatmeal, tomato soup, hominy and beef brains.

Okay.  Just kidding about the brains.  But you get the idea. 

So now what?  Now there is a "family first" garage sale.  If any of you need silverware, cooking utensils, glasses, pot, pans or dishes for camping, speak now -- or forever hold your peace! 

If you believe you can use any of these, some of these or even ONE of these, let me know. 

I'll hold it for you.  Otherwise, I am prepared . . . I am preparing . . . I plan (I really do)

on donating all this to the Twin Lake Garage Sale. 

Seven nice (brown, okay) cereal bowls. 

and this.  Can you guess what this is, above?

This is a contest.  If you know what that wooden thing does,  is, represents --  tell me and you win the prize!

Look at this beauty.  I'm not sure I can give this baby up. 

This is a vintage aluminum bread box. 

It will hold two loaves of sandwich bread

 or maybe you can store several pairs of shoes in here . . .

or the family volkswagon!  lol 

This thing is big and precious.