More Fun

Quite a lot of time was spent here too, this weekend.

Something about a hammock . . . and Craig was reminded of the white one out to Gramps and Granny's. The one you could wrap yourself up in and spin all the way over. Kristy reminded me of that hammock last summer when she and Tony brought this colorful one to Too . . .

Another "missing" weekend

We missed III again. Himself and I have been to Missouri and back, this long Holiday weekend. However, we did not "get in" to III. We stayed at Too as the forecast was for rain, rain and maybe more rain. They had predicted 4-5 inches of rain in small, localized areas but don't think that happened. However, Trenton radio (that's Missouri) reported 4" of rain in 4 days. We had 2 inches of rain in the gauge upon arrival and then another 1/2" Saturday night with some lightening and thunder.

Our two little house guests had already gone to sleep and they didn't hear (nor worry) about the the thunderstorm. Gabby and Joey came Sunday. I met Craig in Cameron and we three made it all the way back to Bethany before Joey convinced me he was "super hungry". He had chicken nuggets and Gabby had french fries dipped in Ranch dressing. Oh, and then Joey ate his apple dippers. Guess he was super hungry! Reminds me of the time I picked the Small Frey up in Creston and by the time we got to Osceola, they had convinced me we needed a Mickey D stop!

On the way back from Cameron, I and the little Hofs pulled into III and looked down the lane. As there was water standing up top in the the ruts, we knew the shady lane would be muddy -- usually the water doesn't "stand" up at the gate so we didn't even try it!

Craig and Traci drove to Newton (or beyond) and traded two dogs for Tyler. I think Craig and Traci got the better end of the deal! But when they got back here, to Too, somehow, it all disintegrated into a water fight free for all. It was wild! It was crazy! Poor Ty took the brunt of it. But they all had a good time and I managed to mostly stay out of it. A good thing! And that's Traci, up the hill. She tried to stay out of it too but didn't always! Well, it was good, "clean" fun!

Global Warming

Due to Global Warming we have not been getting to III as much this year. The Global warming has made our weekends cooler and wetter. This Memorial Day weekend, parts of southern Iowa/northern Missouri may receive 4 or 5 inches of rain. If that happends at III . . . or even another 2 or 3 inches . . . we might not be able to get in for a visit.

Running through the timber

We knew there were Redbud trees in our timber but we had never caught them frolicking in their finery before. Finally, this visit we found them in bloom and it is evident that they are running wild through the trees.

We took Granny on a ride last evening through southern Union County and the wild plum trees were in bloom everywhere! Great, large clumps of them and the ride and evening was beautiful!

Wildflowers

This weekend, Himself and I again found several big (BIG) bunches of the wild BlueBells. We were also delighted to find that 3 of the ones we transplanted last summer on the far side of the pond have come up. In a few years, there should be a big patch of beautiful BlueBells each spring.

We also found deep purple violets, the small whimsical Dutchman's Britches, yellow violets and a little pink and white speckled flower unknown to me.

More good news is that it looks like there will be a half-way decent crop of Fairy flowers this year. Last year, with the late freeze, the poor fairy flowers failed to flourish. Unfair! It truly is magical during a good year when the fairy flowers are in bloom. Can't wait to see that again!

Historical Marker

Himself and I have been looking for the south fence. It has been there 100 years and now fallen into rack and ruin. However, we can trace the south line by looking for the biggest trees.

When it was pasture, the farmer would have mowed the ground a time or two each year to keep the trees out of it. Except in the fence line. Sometimes trees were allowed in the fence line because they eventually became the fence posts. Other times the trees were just left in the fence line as the mower couldn't get to them to take them out.

So now, when we go looking, we look for the biggest trees. And we find this. Barb wire strands swallowed right up by a growing tree.

This surviving stretch of fence is short -- just between these two trees. It is hard to see in the photo but the fence is only there because the trees have grown up and around the barb wire. So if your Mama ever told you pounding a nail into a tree would kill it, it was an old wives' tale. The wire in these trees is a quarter of the way into the tree.

Problem Solved, a Day at III

A dead tree leans. Potential for danger.

Himself hooks the "mule" to the problem and unleashes the power!

Now to work with the new Husqvarna.

A job well done!

BOI

RESERVED FOR HIMSELF'S STORY
in case anyone hasn't figured it out yet, if you "left click" on any photo in the blog, it will "blow up" several times larger. some of the things that are hard to see in the small version are much easier to see.
Pa(boi)

Uptown

oowheee! Look at that bathroom floor!

That is just pretty sweet for a little blue weekender cabin with no hot water.

I owe this to Himself as he did this floor before the cabin fever set in. By the way, his defense regarding the Japanese Beetles is "the devil made me to it!"

I do NOT like sleet!

We thought the weekend would be decent in Mo. We thought that the temps would surely be in the 50s and that would be bearable. Even high 40s and we could have worked outside. But no. Not. Wrong! A high on Saturday of 37, I think, and to add insult to injury it snowed and sleeted all day long! All the live long day!

Fortunately Himself had an indoor project lined up -- tiling the bathroom floor. I went to town and spent an entire hour crawling through the local consignment shop -- and I do mean crawling. I pick up, fold, hang up and move things off the floor just so I can get through the shop. On days like this, I have time to "pick" and it is worth my while. On a day when I have to hurry because Himself is waiting back at the ranch for parts or materials, it probably isn't worthwhile stopping -- but I usually do anyway!

After the tile was down and I was shopped out, we managed to keep busy for awhile. We managed to entertain ourselves . . . then the cabin fever set in.

Cabin Fever

Mike. Holmes on Holmes. He's a right nice guy, do you think? Do you wonder why I am taking pictures of the TV? So did I. If it hadn't been snowing and sleeting outside I could have been outside doing something constructive, you know?

so . . . is it really weird taking pictures of the TV?

Burn in Hell!

You can't really tell what he's doing but Himself's cabin fever took the form of "torching" the Japanese beetles that had the audacity to crawl out of the walls. Could he just fling them to the floor and squash them? or end their little miserable lives with the quick smack of the flyswatter? Oh, no . . . torture the dumb little creatures with the grill igniter, instead! Okay, now THAT is weird!

I like a thunderstorm . . .

Click the arrow above to hear an August thunderstorm. Click here to read about this summer storm in August 2007. Not that the storm was so exciting but I'm just practicing how to link!

Night Tour

The next time we are all down to III, we should take a night tour . . . but I'm not going by myself! Eerie . . .

Deer, 3 at least

Turkey!

I'll put some photos on here and maybe Himself will be propelled to write . . .

These birds are big! You don't realize how big, until you scare one up walking a trail. And then the "scared" one is me!

A place to investigate

It appears to me that a log lay covered by something. That log rotted out and left a void. The question becomes, what lay over that log? Could it have been a cabin roof? I need to go back and investigate!

The Cat came back

You may remember, last year I posted a photo where a big "kitty" had scratched a tree raw. Last fall we found another tree that had been scratched upon. Today, in addition to the one we found in the fall, there were two more scratched up. May have to put the game cam in this area.Speaking of the game camera, we have 270 photos on there since we last checked. So the game cam came home with us and Himself will take the memory card to work with him to see if there's actually "Game" in the pictures. We'll keep you posted!

Spring in the Timber

To see Spring this time of year in the timber, you have to get down and look close. She is small, shy and discreet, yet. In a few more weeks, she will be showy. She will flaunt her new new green finery -- but for now, Spring still is in disguise as Fall:

We rode the trails and cleared them, as needed. There was one good ice storm this winter, and maybe more. Several smaller trees had the tops broken out of them and there were plenty of limbs down, all sizes.