Hops

Today's photograph of the day is an annual spring tradition. The measuring of the hops. I placed a strip of masking tape on the deck post and marked it to see how much the hops grows in one day. It is a remarkable number. I think I've measured close to six inches in the past.

We'll find out tomorrow.

Obligationless Saturday

Susan ran five miles this morning in preparation for Bloomsday, which is next Sunday. I did not!

I broke out the leaf blower and cleaned off the deck and the front porch. 

Prior to that I unloaded a bunch of fire wood. A guy at worked asked if I wanted some free fire wood from a crab apple tree his dad cut down.

The result of my affirming response was this pile of wood. I have some splitting to do, which may start today. (It will not be completed today.)

The rest of the day is ours. We can do whatever we want. We haven't had this luxury in quite some time. It seems all our weekend days are packed with other obligations.

We plan to stop by the Hub for the second annual .6 mile fun run, from The Hub Tavern to the Mosey Inn Tavern and back. I did it last year but missed the signing deadline this year.

While messing around in the yard, I noticed something.

This is as good as this strip of grass will look for the rest of the year.

Actually today may be the day where the house looks its best.

Don't look too close.

It's a nice day out but a touch on the windy side. I'm heading out now to kill some dandelions and clean up after a pigeon.

That's the pigeon I had to clean up after. To be fair, I had to clean up the pigeon from something else that went after it. And the amazing thing is that I am part of the story.

I was leaving the house Thursday evening to go to dinner with some friends. As I walked out the back door, this large bird, perhaps with a 15 foot wingspan, flew right past my head and hit the dining room window at the back door.

I whipped around, and there on the window sill sat this stunned pigeon. It had nowhere near a 15 foot wingspan.

It  sat there for quite some time. Then I moved slowly towards it and it took off towards the park.

As I watched fly away, another larger bird (maybe a crow) took off after it. I presume the pigeon was trying to escape the other bird when it flew at my head. 

My scaring it away ultimately led to its demise. 

I have pigeon blood on my hands.

Second Mow

It was a very nice Spring evening and I decided it was time for another fling around the yard with Mr. Mower. It sure looks more hospitable than it did just a month and a half ago.

All went well and I had a hearty harvest. You can see from the picture that I got artsy out there and cut the lawn diagonally. It's a subtle sign of pure class.

I think I am still mowing more dirt than lawn. It makes mowing a dirty job.

Furthermore, it's a dirty job that requires a beer when you're finished.

Paster

I don't have anything worthwhile to post today. I just wanted to continue the theme of PrEster, Easter, and Paster.

Now I've done it and it's really quite hilarious.

Easter

We made it to the kitchen last evening and for two hours we peeled potatoes and cut ham. A small amount of peoples did a large amount of workings.

After church, we returned to the kitchen to get our route. We had se7en deliveries heading up Crestline, north of Francis. The route spread from there.

Some people who make use of Meals on Wheels really know how to smoke.

After the deliveries, we raced home to grab the necessities for Easter dinner at Mom's. Susan did a great job of feeding eight of us. 

And we have ham left over.

PrEaster

We slept in until 6:45. We had to get up early today to help out with Meals on Wheels. We signed up to help out with food prep at 8AM. Except, we were wrong. We actually signed up to help out with food prep at 6PM. We will be delivering meals tomorrow after church. It's our contribution to humanity. No need to thank us, we already know we are awesome.

So we'll attend to M.O.W. later. 

I'm doing some stuff out in the Carriage House and coming to realize that it is time for another gut and organize of that space. Followed by some purging. 

Look at all this crap. 

It occurred to me today, that I have a bit under three years before I retire. I would love to pull the trigger on now but I think it's better to hold out. I am still able to work and I have to qualify for Medicare to help pay for all my drugs. 

So one of the things I want to do, that I can do NOW, is organize the Carriage House and rename it the Art Studio. (Studio for short)

I'm going to plan a day. However, we still have to finish the TV room.

The initial mudding is done. Now we need to do the initial sanding. Followed by more mudding and sanding and touch up mudding and sanding and AHHHHHHHH!

Here is some proof that spring is here. The hoses piled around and the last falls leaf bags are a nice touch too.

Mow Season 2019

I officially opened Mowing Season today and actually got a nice sizable harvest. I checked on line to find out what early spring cut grass is worth on the open market and it appears that it's not worth anything. In fact, I would most likely have to pay to have it removed. 

It's been a long time since last Mowing Season but I remember it as a money making proposition. I guess that is the sitch when I mow someone else's yard.

At least I'm on the board for 2019. I have not kept track of my early mows in past years so I have no idea if this is early, late or about right.