A Work Weekend

Have We Ever Been Busy...

This post is late, mostly from last week, I was sure I'd already published it... So hold onto your hats folks it's a Long'in

The two cars were covered in pollen on Friday when we went to pick up Jason, he's helping us out for the weekend,  we cut up a downed Sumac tree that had fallen over, it was blocking the road to the boat, we'll try and free the boat from the collapsed carport this weekend too. We cut down several cherry trees, some Pine branches that were down, a Poplar, and several Russian Olives that have overgrown the road to the boat and trimmed the Forsythia bushes that got crushed by the last good snow we had a few weeks back.  So much tree damage here, you look into the woods and it looks like a bomb went off.

Jason and I managed to get two pines cut down in the vine encrusted mess along the road, we got a chain around them and pulled them out using the Tucson hitch. We dragged them out behind the burn pile, on the way back I decided to use the chain and the Tucson to pull the carport back up, so far so good, it righted without any real issue.  Then we pulled the boat trailer out, still good, I pulled the trailer and boat around the corner over a hummock, and "oh, no" car got stuck in the wet ground, the boat cover had 200+ gallons of water in it, I hooked up the bilge pump and pumped the water out, 30 minutes later we disconnected the trailer and got the RAV4, I connected the chain to the RAV4 frame and was able to free the Tucson, ugh, what a pain... The boat is still in the field for the time being until things dry out some more. 

Rose raked up 5 or 6 piles of branches over at the pines, we picked them up using the tractor trailer.

Fishing season is coming soon,  New Hampshire’s managed trout ponds starting on the fourth Saturday in April, and this year’s opening day is April 22.  Freshwater Fishing licenses are up to $45.00 this year, you need to be 68 to get the cheaper $7.00 license. We go to French Pond in Henniker, and Mount William Pond in Weare for trout. We need to go up to Concord to straighten out the boat registration, it lists a much larger gas motor, all we use is an electric trolling motor on the ponds around here...

The damned ticks are back on Friday, Jason, Rose and I each found a tick on us. It's spring so tick checks are mandatory. With all the Deer, squirrels, mice, chippy, woodchucks, and fox we're bound to see a few. It's looking like we may need to put bug stuff down more than once this year. We generally see a few in the spring, and after putting bug stuff down they're rare for the remainder of the season, time, and weather will tell I suppose. So the Bug B Gone we use to control them will go down maybe Sunday, Saturday we were beat... It's supposed to rain early Sunday morning that's helpful as it gets the bug stuff down into the soil. 

We did our taxes, we only owed $370 this year, yay! 

MickeyD's Big Mac combo meal is now selling for $16.89 in Connecticut.  I was telling Jason you could get a hamburger, small fries and a coke for $.99 back in the day, LOL  gettin' old...

We can guess your education level quiz...

Rose let the dogs out on Saturday morning early, out they went then she smelled Skunk, oh, crap! Out she went with a flashlight calling the dogs back into the house, no one got sprayed tonight!

Bear cub meets fawn 

Sunday Jason and I went down to get grain, hit the bank, and got Rose's car washed, Jason and I put air in both tractor trailers, both had low pressure, one had already rolled off the rim so a ratchet strap was used to get it back on the rim and pumped up. Jason put down the Tick stuff on the lawn where the Dog's can't get to it. 

Later Sunday evening Rose, Jason and I stopped over to Mom & Dad's house for Mom's B'day, they didn't want to go out to dinner, so Dad made his Shrimp, Orzo, and Tomato dish with Carrots and Spinach, it was very good! Who knew Dad could cook?  I set up Voicemail on Dad's cell phone.

Lisa, I picked up the soil test kit you dropped off at Dad's, Thank You!

We're back to see the Vet for more tests with Hannah, on Monday. Her numbers were much better with the meds, she's eating, playing and drinking better too.  We'll keep her on the meds another week and then cut the dosage in half to see where her numbers go.

Rose saw the Barn Swallow last week, he was fighting over a birdhouse with the Tree Swallow.

The grass in the field is growing like crazy now with the rains on Sunday and Monday.

Our Daff's and Hyacinths are blooming too!

We had 10 Deer come in the other night, there were four big does last night before dark

Saturday 4/22

• Rose and I cut 6-8 dead Elms, a couple guys from up the street stopped their truck and asked if they could help push the big 8-10" trees down so they fell on my property and not into the road, they pushed while I cut.  Amazing to have great neighbors, never met them before, just a neighborly thing!
• Two big trailer loads later we were done. Mostly...  The road in the field is still mushy, but we made it through without incident.
  
• Wild roses, pucker-brush, and grape vines made the endeavor treacherous at best.
  
• Cleaned up the last of the suckers under the weeping cherry.
• Maybe get the boat moved out of the field to a better location. Maybe
• Maybe pickup our fishing licenses, it's opening day today! 
  
• We won't be putting in a garden this year, we'd like to have a summer...   Well maybe I'll just put in one or two tomato plants and see what happens to them.
• Lots of maybe's...

Something got to the suet feeder, opened it and took the suet, don't think it was the bear, if it was the bear he was quite gentle about the theft... And the grain barrels are still upright, LOL

Rose moved the feed barrels out to the field by the deer yard.

One more stump Rose wants out in the front yard, it's off we go...

Spring on the farm is a never ending list of wanna-do's, and have to-do's

 

WOW was it Hot!

WOW was it Hot! It got up to 90 degrees mid April!

Saturday was spring here, we got the lawn tractor out of the barn, still cant believe it cranked right over. nice!

Rose an I moved some of the yard lights around, we pulled the Xmas lights off of the lilac out front, it got crushed by the last snow storm, I retied it up so it looks better.

Our piles of snow are shrinking fast, hopefully it'll be all gone on Friday with the predicted 85 degrees...

Saturday Rose and I finished sweeping and edging the brick walkway, a lot of the dirt and grass went to patching the ruts in the lawn a lot of work but it looks great!  

All the yard stakes are up Rose removed the Sand barrels on Monday.  The massive snow piles are receding, and the front lawn (mud-pit) is drying up.

We appreciate all the kind words and wishes for Hannah!

We need to take Hannah back for more test the end of the week.  Fingers crossed

It's supposed to be 85 degrees on Friday here, I'm taking the day off.  

Zeb is getting started on his yearly BLOW OUT, there'll be fur and dirt everywhere.  Dogs, gotta love 'em. Well maybe except for the shedding, slobbering, excess barking, table and floor sweeping... all minor stuff, really.

The eclipse on April 8, 2024, will be New Hampshire’s first total solar eclipse since 1959.

Jarrod is playing in two bands now, "The Blue Monkey Band" is a New Hampshire based Blues/Blues Rock band, we saw them at Riley's in Milford a couple weeks ago. 

The other band Jarrod plays drums in is called "Latchkey Trio" a quieter band that plays at smaller venues is playing Thursday evening 7-10pm at the City Hall Pub in Manchester! We'll stop in for a bite to eat and watch them play.  We got there before 7pm, parking was pretty good at a garage nearby.  Crystal and Jason showed up too.  Food was great, band was awesome!

The Latchkey Trio

We were talking to Jarrod Wednesday night out in the back yard, there were 14 or so Turkey Vultures flying around over head, something died for sure. Or maybe they are just arriving on their migration.

While we were sitting out last night the gnats were out and I killed two mosquitos that landed on me, jeesh... it's time to put the Mosquito dunks in the pond. It's supposed to be close to 85 degrees on Friday, here come the bugs... 

Jason is coming over this weekend to help clear up the downed trees and brush, it's great to have some good help, it'll make the job go a lot faster than just Rose and I doing it.

We need to get the Snowblower put away in the barn, but we'll need to get a couple things out before we can do that.  Our field mower is in the way and I'm sure a bunch of other junk.

We'll get the boat out from under the collapsed carport this weekend too.  Fishing season is fast approaching.

HAPPY EASTER!

April Showers

Robins are patrolling the fields now, they've been here daily, looking for worms I suppose.

The Tree Swallows have arrived, their scout at least is here...

Rose saw the Phoebe on Sunday morning

There were a bunch of Tufted Titmice rummaging around in front of the kitchen this morning

We took Zeb to the vet, last week for shots, he's 103 pounds now! A big boy! 

We're hearing the Woodcocks daily now, reeepp!

Woodcocks Grooving

Crocuses are blooming on the south side of the house, Hyacinths have broken through too.  The daffodils have leaved and close flower heads, the rest is still under snow piles around the yard.

The Earthworms are back, there are worm castings on the lawn~ I saw a few out on patrol the other night with my flashlight as they slithered back into the ground.  It's time to go fishing!

I peeked in the camper yesterday afternoon, all of the mouse traps are empty! So there's that... 

We're about to start yard cleanup, there's a lot of it, so many trees down, and broken branches that need to be removed, most of the larger stuff is dead standing stuff, hoping to get the boys for a couple days to help out, once the ground is dry enough we'll hook up the trailer and start the process.  I'll get to try out the chainsaw dad got me for Christmas finally!

Rose on Thursday was cleaning the brick walkway five big piles of dirt were piled up. we'll remove them once the tractor and trailer are out, Zebs been raiding the piles, he likes eating the grass clumps...

Hannah hasn't been feeling well so she goes to the Vet last week, she's not eating which is rare for her. Rose was able to get a urine and stool sample for testing while we're there.  Unfortunately the vet we use is a clinic so that means it's on a first come first serve basis which means we can wait quite a while when they are busy.  Rose brought her into the office (they are now allowing one person to accompany an animal in) she brought Hannah out a little while later while they did the blood, and urinalysis.  Rose said the doctor said all of her lymph nodes were swollen, she sent us home with prednisone to reduce inflammation. 

The vet thinks Hannah has Lymphoma, not the outcome we were expecting at 5 years old! The Chemo treatment is expensive and would possibly give her another 3 months we're both pretty sad. 

Hannah Belle

Hannah Belle

Hannah last summer was waiting to see the bunnies. We think the bunnies were playing with her. 

We're keeping Hannah comfortable for now, feeding her what she'll eat, she's eating bread and crackers, no longer wants her regular dog food, or green beans that were a fave of hers, or plain yogurt though.  Time will tell.  We picked her up some new canned food fed her a half ration and she ate that, Rose later cooked her up some scrambled eggs and she woofed that down too!  Maybe the medication is working on the inflammation, she's been playing more too. The Vet called to check on her on Friday, she can stay on the meds if they are helping, they are she's eating better ,drinking a lot of water, and playing a lot more, after hearing how well she is responding to the medication the vet thought there is a possibility she has an auto Immune issue. Maybe... she goes back again next week for more tests.

Jarrod got his truck mired in mud last Sunday afternoon while taking the plow off of it, so they were having to fill in ruts in his yard, so I wasn't able to see the new truck on Sunday he'll stop by Monday evening.  Jarrod's new truck is huge...

Unintentionally funny product labels:

• On a fireplace log: “Caution—risk of fire.”
• On a public toilet: “Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking.”
• On a neck wrap designed to be heated in a microwave: “Do not microwave while on body.”
• On a laser printer cartridge: “Do not eat toner.”
• On a carpenter’s electric router: “This product not intended for use as a dental drill.”
• On a blanket: “Not to be used as protection from a tornado.”
• On a toilet bowl cleaning brush: “Do not use orally.”

I heard the first spring Peepers Monday night while Jarrod and I were talking down in the driveway.

Here in New Boston every snowfall is an excuse for the power the go out.  We've been lucky the last couple storms, I'm OK with that...

The economy sure doesn’t look great, does it?

Go woke, go broke.

Sully's is having their yearly truckload meat sale 6-8th I picked upa big pkg of leg quarters for ~$2 and change and a nice package of pork chops for $3.  Nice! Rose went back on Friday and picked up some more chicken and pork.

It's Saturday April 8th, it's time to get the tractor out of the barn, we'll hook up  the trailer to pickup piles of dirt and branches.  Yay the tractor started right up, gassed it up and took a victory lap around the property!

Ten deer came in Thursday evening quite the group, couple of Big does...

The local police were at it Friday night Rose and the dogs watched them pull over 3 cars in short order...

Last week of March!

 

James stopped by on Saturday afternoon after stopping at the YMCA, we had a few snacks and Pizza. 

I was looking out in the field Saturday the pussy-willows are budding out, decided to go walk about, I picked some for Rose.  Took a walk over to the big pine that came down in one of our heavy wet snowstorms, it was a triple trunked pine one of the big trunks broke off and came down, it's gonna be a lot of work to clean up.

I walked over to the boat with the collapsed carport on it, boat actually looks in good shape, we'll have to wait for the fields to dry up before I can get out there and get the carport off the boat and pull both the trailer and boat out for spring.

By Wednesday most of the snow is gone in the fields, it's still wet but not to bad.

Jarrod has a gig in Milford Friday, we'll stop over to see them play.

Spring here, animals are waking up, saw a raccoon, and a woodchuck dead on the road.

Biggest/fattest Mourning Dove I ever saw...  that's a deer block he/she's sitting on.

I was at the local gas station in town, picked up a bottled water, walked by the display of Slim Jims, 12" regular, not the fat ones, $4.55 each, WHAT???

Friday night one of the bands Jarrod plays in, The "Blue Monkey Band" Jarrod on drums, OJ on bass and vocals, Chris on keyboards, and Jaime on Lead and vocals, played at Riley's Place in downtown Milford. 

James stopped by the place too.  Cold beer, and a good band!  Even though the weather was bad, they had a pretty good turnout, It was snowing pretty good by the time we left, March didn't go out like a lamb...

Left to Right - Chris, OJ, Jarrod, and Jaime

APRIL FOOLS DAY TODAY!

Saturday We did a little food shopping, the staples 

Sunday Jarrod is coming down so we can see his new pickup truck!