My favorite thing

I like taking down trees and splitting wood with an axe. It is just one of my favorite things to do. I just can't explain it.

Being behind in putting together the wood we need for next winter, we have been taking trees down, couple a week, for a couple weeks now. Usually it is just Greg and I; recently Lori has been out there helping too. (It lets me show off for my love.) This morning I didn't hit the fall mark for the tree, but it was not a problem. 

Lori took some pictures; in the first (on the left), you can tell it is falling if you look at the notch, as the notch has closed. 

These trees are long overdue to come down as they are choking the Cedar trees which line the property. But it is convenient now as we can do our lumberjacking close to home.

I think we now have enough wood for the winter stacked up, but we not done clearing the edge of the property of unwanted trees and shrubs. I have a month left before I head back to school, so we trying to make the most of it.

We have been now getting a sort of regular rain/thunderstorms, so the garden is continuing to produce. This is probably the best crop of Roma tomatoes we have ever had. The green beans have been a disappointment, but I planted some in the best ground we have after we harvested the sweet corn out of it, so we still have a chance.

Oremus pro invicem!

Making Sense and Nonsense of the Trump assassination attempt

I have read Democrat leaning commentators try to blame Trump and followers for the attack ("They promote violence"). I have read Republican leaners blame liberals, (They have portrayed Trump as evil to be destroyed.) 

At this point I don't believe we know whether the attacker was politically motivated or mentally unbalanced (or both). I think the commentary is jumping the gun - but in any event, we do live in a violent and polarized society. I have heard Republican types refer to Biden, Pelosi, etc as evil. Are they promoting assassination attempts or is it political rhetoric?

Come on!

However, I did read one comment today I would like to address from Crisis Magazine

The attack on President Trump was an attack against those who believe in the sanctity of life, the gift of liberty, and the divinity of love. Leftwing politics and its votaries are taking up the final form of their mounting hatred: murder. And Catholics have a duty to seize this moment in solidarity against the influences and forces that would tear down—now, gun down—their political opponents.

Did I miss something? Hasn't President Trump been campaigning to make abortion legal and the law of the land for the first 16 weeks of pregnancy? Hasn't President Trump forced the marriage between one man and one woman plank out of the Republican party platform? I don't think his economic policies promote family and productivity in the home. (Biden is the same or worse on these issues.)

It seems ironic that we have to find new ways to justify supporting President Trump as he abandons conservative and Catholic values.

Oremus pro invicem!

Rain!

I looked at the forecast and the radar map and there was nothing for us. But even so, it has been raining for the last 50 minutes. Boy do we need it. 

The garden is exploding, but it needs the rain to sustain it at this pace.

I think it is too late for the corn. We have picked and put up all there is. But I will check again to make sure we didn't miss anything.

On another note, we had 2 litters this week; Little Red and Root. God is good to us.

Oremus pro invicem!

Away and Back

I went up to NH this weekend for my Godson's high school graduation. It was a long drive, but a great time. Unfortunately my Mom (almost 92) broke her hip this weekend. She is doing well, but this is particularly unfortunate for me. You see ....

A few years ago she was diagnosed with diabetes. A year later I was diagnosed with diabetes. Then she went and had a by-pass surgery. Wouldn't you know that a few years later I had Quad-4 bypass. Now she breaks her hip ... I guess I better prepare myself. This morning I fell coming out of the feed house, and while going down, I was just picturing my hip fracturing. 

It's all about me!!! Really though Mom looks like she is doing fine. I was able to visit with her in the hospital before heading back South.

And while I was gone.... 

Lori wrestled the sow!!! The sow caught its teeth in the fence being inpatient for food. The way I hear it, Mrs. Curley had to pry open its jaw to free it.

But the garden did explode in the 4 days I was gone. Cukes, squash, beans, tomatoes, peppers of various kinds, sweet corn. I think we will be picking the first okra tomorrow.

Oremus pro invicem!

A solution so far ....

These seem to be keeping the vultures (black vultures and not turkey vultures as I wrote earlier) at bay for the moment.

Oremus pro invicem!

Another rabbit or two and a philosophical question

My son Thomas, home after college graduation (Wyoming Catholic College) for a short time before heading off for a new adventure, asked the rhetorical question yesterday of me concerning my appetite of hunting rabbits who invade my garden:

"I can't figure out if you are more like Mr. MacGregor or Elmer Fudd!"

More garden

We have been picking patty pan squash for several days now. Last broccoli was picked tonight. Our first cherry tomatoes, banana pepper, and green beans were picked today. We also picked our first blueberries today. God is good!

We moved Eddie back with the sows and one unbred sow yesterday. Still a few weeks before we wean Red's pigs.

Big trouble: Turkey vultures have killed at least 3 of Red's pigs. Usually this wouldn't happen at their age. We had strung up old CD's to no avail. Today we erected a Scarecrow. We will see.

Oremus pro invicem!

Really, I am not that old ...

but, I am seeing more and more limitations. I had major surgery 18 months ago, and I have nerve damage in my left hand which will never recover. 

This limitation (besides creaking joints and lower back pain) is being made clear to me around the homestead. Gardening seems to be unaffected, but as Thomas and I and slaughtered a hog this morning, we both realized that you don't want to be around a man with a knife who can't feel half his fingers! 

A few years ago I had to kill and process a hog by myself (as opposed to with others). I know now that won't ever happen again. I will always need help now, which is how it should be anyway. Hog-killing is a community activity.

Oremus pro invicem!

More Garden

 Picking zucchini now. Been picking broccoli. Lots of tomatoes on the vine, but nothing ready yet.

Oremus pro invicem!

Garden

 Looks like the sweet corn recovered from the thunder storms. Garden is starting to look very good. Keep up the rain! We picked our first zucchini today. We finished staking the tomato plants (late) today. 

Oremus pro invicem!