Good Morning World!

Good Morning World! The crisp air at sunrise gave the perfect setting for all the birds to erupt in song. What a perfect greeting for the day to begin! Later in the day hubby took advantage of some smooth air to get off the ground for a short hop around the patch before the sunset. Clouds had moved in to set the stage for future moisture. It has been a wonderful day with forays into the timber to see what flora is erupting with the warmer temperatures. Time lapse photography would have been fun today. The Mayapples are erupting swiftly from the ground. It won't be long until they are blooming,an indicator for us to be looking for the coveted Morel Mushroom. Gooseberry,Wild Raspberry, Honeysuckle and Multi-flora rosebrush are among the plants putting on new leaves preparing for fruiting blooms. The Wild Honeybees have been awake and buzzing for almost three weeks. They would invite themselves into the house when I opened the back door during some of the cold snaps. It didn't take them long to find there wasn't anything they needed andwould head back out the other direction. It wasn't very long ago there were cooler temps. I was wondering if it would ever end. True Spring has arrived at Timber Life and the hope to see new life begins anew. Hope things are improving in your neck of the woods too! ;)

Spring's Alive!

Spring is coming alive here at Timber Life. The Weigelia shrub is in heavy bloom and becoming an attraction for the hummingbird population. Hubby got me a Gift Card to a local Garden Store eight years ago for "Mother's Day" ; this was what I chose. It comes back year after year, blooms heavily in the spring ,with a second bloom in the late summer. This one has beautiful red flowers... Yesterday, as Sadie and I were taking one of our morning walks the first fawn of the season was sighted in the middle of the pasture to the right. The doe sipping at the puddle has been hanging around the yard. I can only speculate it is the same one that was watching me mow last year when I found a young fawn - posted on June 11,2007, in "Bambi Alert!" The turkey was having a fantastic time playing in the mud. Jumping in and out like a little kid, scratching to see what it could find. Seeing and hearing at least one close by daily has been a change. The population expanding they may become more and more visible. It has been 16 years since we moved here on June 12th. With each passing year it seems as though we are be assimilated into the wilderness surroundings - the wild life coming closer, to call it their home as well...

Time to Garden

The weather had improved giving us some rain free days. Decided it was a perfect time to see about getting the Troybuilt out of the shed. Once Hubby did some spring time spiff ups I was on my way. I am the turner of the soil facilitated by the 8-HP Troybuilt Horse model. Love the way it works the soil for planting beds. The dirt between my toes. I start off with shoes and socks on, but if the day is warm I am not satisfied with walking on the tilled surface with shoes or flip-flops on. Wanted to mix up the little garden to start getting some of my plants into the ground. Planted 6 - "Burpee's Big Mama" sauce tomatoes, 2- of an antique variety called "Brandywine" that seems to be making a come back,6 -"Burpee's Big Boy", and 4- patio tomato(only they got put into the garden with the "BIG" tomatoes). Got 10 - "Burpee's Carousel Peppers" and 4 - eggplant put into the ground. They are very small so I might end up replacing them if the rain that is coming is extremely heavy. The sweet potatoes and basil will be the next to put into the ground. Not going to plant things real close this year. It hasn't been tilled or weeded for a couple of years so will need to leave room for the tiller to help out in the weeding direction. Because the garden sits on a incline I leave most of the soil unsmoothed so the water won't run it all down hill. Leaving some pockets to hold the water, at least until we get alot of rains. Then it has to be stirred up again. With prices going up in the store I needed to get my freezer stocked with tomatoes and peppers, to start with anyway. Progress reports to come. Here are some other bloggers you might like to read getting ready for the produce planting part of Spring. Jody at The Hunter's Wife has a really great little garden she is sharing with all of us. Then check out Windyridge over in New York. She has had some challenges with the weather click here and here. I am quite sure she will be ready for the weather to finally be ready for gardening. I will certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for more gardening updates from these two gals. Looks like fun in my book !!! ;) This is only a section of the 25X50 garden that has been worked first at my house.

Garden Dreams

This is the time of year gardeners are getting a need to play in the dirt...I am among them. Thus the name CDGardens... Last year,I didn't cultivate my deeply ingrained need to start plants from seed. Through the winter the seed offers me the best option of continuing to be productive. To watch life spring forth, mature, and then return to the earth. In the past I used to start seeds way back in January. My kitchen became a jungle as the plants needed to be given more potting mix to maintain its health and continue to grow.By the time spring arrived I was ready to empty out the house. As soon as I placed the plants outside,it wasn't long until they were chewed off by one animal,or another. Then of course I felt great loss,because in just a few days all my work had been reduced to wilted heaps. Eventually, I built some fences to try to keep marauders of all sizes at bay. For a brief moment it worked. That is until the rabbits decided to go over the top of the rabbit wire at the base of the fence in the big garden, and under the gate of the little garden, even with a board across the bottom. You can surely say, "Where there is a Will - There is a WAY." The wildlife aren't doing things to be mean. They are looking for an easy source of nourishment. More times than not, the rabbits would chew the plant mat-erial in two, realizing afterward they really don't find the taste all that appealing. Little critters either smelled or saw fresh greens . BLESS their Pea Pickin' hearts!!! Happens year after year...They have a lapse of memory. My gardening dreams still continue in spite of set backs, because it seems to come from deep within the heart of me - so I continue on with determination. The Farmer/Huntress syndrome?

Lovin' IT !

How do you do?!? Sure enjoying this weather we have been getting lately, at least I have. The wind is shaking things up today and sounds like maybe tomorrow as well. Let me list all the nature that has made it's appearance in the last 4 weeks. Migratory birds - Turkey Vultures, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Orioles,Wood Ducks , Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush and more. The timber has come to life again the trees are filling out with the leaf covering of the season. Last Wednesday,May 9th, I saw my first Monarch Butterfly of the year. All these things confirm Spring has sprung here. Some other events we have had are the awakening of the mosquito population, spiders, rabbits are busy chewing off my tender plants that haven't found a place in the ground yet. The plants were placed inside my fenced garden; still not a deterrent to those lithe little creatures. My 1996, Belarus model 572 tractor has been keeping busy moving some logs, dirt and rocks. So much more to do but with the price of diesel currently it might be awhile before anything else will be attempted. The DR Brushmower that has been apart of our family since the latter 1990's, almost ten years if memory serves me correctly, has been getting a workout after it's refreshing oil change. The pasture calls...actually mowing off the rosebrush before the summer baling season about the middle of June is what needs to be accomplished. Then down at my husband's grass airplane runway so we can keep it under control... Clouds are coming in from the developing severe thunderstorms due later tonight. The cold front is going to bring us some cooler temperatures for a few days; more conducive to being outside for longer intervals. Going to stop here. Wishin' you some good weather fishing , picnicing and enjoying life.

Spring is SPRINGING

Good Morning All! I am so excited about this week...bet you can guess why. Time to get some work done outside. The yard needs to be picked up after the storm damage of the last couple of weeks. The snow is melting . The migratory birds are making their way over our airspace, going north. What a sight to see! Recently, I have started receiving e-mails from a guy named P.K. Jacobsen he has an information site associated with Deer Hunting. Some of you may have heard of him; I know I have before now....Read his sales letter. Trying to get me ready for next season. His suggestions sound great. I appreciate what he is trying to do. You can read and read, which I have done, but actually putting to use what we have read enhances our experiences. As I sit here writing the deer are beginning to come home to the timber to go to eat and go to bed. This group I see were born last summer and will be parents next year. What a number I expect will be produced! Sorry, I interrupted the train of thought. Just wanted to comment on current activity. The snow covering of the last two weeks brought about a lot more extended stays in the yard around the house by both turkey and deer. Almost greater than your imagination. OK, back to business. ; ) However, there may some extenuating circumstances that directly determine success of a hunter. In my case it has come to my attention may be the type of shot I have chosen to use. Another possibility is the the gun itself. The next seasons will be better for me. My Christmas present, a Remington 870 Youth Express, will improve reliability of shot aimed in the direction of my target. This summer will be a learning time to see how well I can get to know the firearm before actually putting it to use. Spring Turkey season isn't far away here in Iowa. Just might get my landowners license and give the "new gun" a workout. Saw some rooster pheasants scampering across the fields. Hope their nesting spots will be safe from the over flow of melting snow. All of us who want a chance to bag our limit this fall wish them good conditions this spring for a good breeding season. Time to start getting activities of daily living underway here for today. Later folks ....have a super week!