Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Spring, Flowers and trees

Sorry that it took so long to get back with this post! I have a new Internet provider and they do not seem to be able to get it right

But it looks like Spring has! Flowers and Trees are in bloom and and planting of the same is a work in progress!

This is a River Burch. I planted two of them near the ditch in the front yard. I choose this type of tree because they grow in groups from the same root ball and I like that the bark peels back from the trunk.


And we planted 4 flowering Pear trees along the ditch in Terri's yard. We still have two Dogwoods to plant in the back of her house. I learned a good bit of information about planting trees..."Plant them high and they won't die, Plant them low and they won't grow"! The roots need to breath, so plant the root ball a little higher then the surrounding ground!

"Daffodils are in bloom and the Deer do not like them!

Can't say the same for the "Tulips! This is a double "Peach" one they missed!


This pot of Tulips was a lot closer to the house and they left them a lone.

"Daffodil's" and "Pansies" near the house.




The new parking area and paved walkway at Terri's. We have been working on this project for weeks now! It seems to rain every few days and that puts a stop to the work until it dries out again!

The Chickens are still living in the Projects. But the inside work in the new Hen House is done and as you can see the Door and ramp for them is in. All I have to do now is find the time to get the temp fence up.

And now it's time for you to meet ISSY!


 She is a 1 1/2 year old "Pit Bull" mix and had a litter of 5 puppy's that were 6 - 7 weeks old and had been separated from her at the shelter. All of the pups looked just like the DAD, A Beagle !
Isn't she something? I was impressed that she hadn't messed in her kennel and waited till the Lady at the shelter let her out into the exercise area to do her thing! She will not mess where she lives. But she did get after the Chickens the first morning home and killed one of the RI R's!

She did not know that they were not food and she had been on her own for some time eating what ever she could find. She is a sweet hart! Just look at the strips! You can not see it in any of the pictures, But she has a double "Halo" on top of her head!

And not to leave the GIRLS out! The 11 are doing well and looking forward to the "BIG MOVE"! Egg total as of today.....875! That's in 3 1/2 months!
 Well that's some of the things that have gone on around here the past few months. I am so glad that winter is over and the days are warming up. I can now start working outside and I even got the tractor running, so cutting grass is in my near future.

So I will close for now. Happy Spring Everyone!!
Tom
















Monday, April 8, 2013

Is Spring Really here?

Hello Everyone,
The road to recovery is long and full of ruts and pot holes. But it looks like Spring has finally arrived here in the Coastal Region of N.C. and I have gotten back to some of the projects that were put on hold for the past few months.

I will spend the day getting a tire for the tractor repaired and try to get some grass cut. And help Mark continue on a project that we started a few weeks ago. A paved walkway and parking area at his house. I will be back tonight with pictures of that and the trees that have been planted.

Also I will have pictures of the newest member of the family, A Pit Bull mix named Issy (the people at the SPA were calling her ZIG-ZAG, But that did not fit, so I changed it to Issy!) She is a sweet hart and gets a long well with Daisy and the other dogs at Terri's.

So I will be back tonight with another post and pictures.
See you then.
Tom

Monday, April 1, 2013

No Fooling

Yep, It's April fool's day......
But this is not an April fools joke, I'm really still here!

I know it's been a long time sense my last post (TO DAM LONG!) And I'm sorry about that and I hope that all of you have not given up on me! The recovery from my stay in the hospital has been slow in coming and the Med's the DR. has me on has one side effect where I tired a lot easier and It takes much longer for me to get back to want to try to get something done. So all the projects that I have been working on have been put on the back burner!

I did get a few things accomplished.
With Terri's help we got 4 Flowering Pear trees planted in her front yard and 2 River Birch trees planted in my yard near the ditch.
We have also been working on a new path way and parking area at her house. But we can only work on it when the weather allows us to. And all of the work has to be done with hand tools! The whole area has to be dug down 8" and back filled with gravel and sand before we can even think about laying the brick paver's. But we are making progress. The other day I spent2 hours removing all the rain water from the site using a "Shop Vac" and that really kicked my Butt!

I also have a new Family member to tell you about! Her name is "Zig-Zag" (Ziggy for short). Daisy needed a new friend and I have wanted another Dog for a long time. She is a Catahula - Pit bull mix and is about 1 1/2 years old. I got her at the SPCA and she had a litter of 5 puppy's that were old enough to be no their own. I borough her home and I learned that she can not be allowed out side on her own! The second morning home she got out the door before I could get the leash on her and she headed right for the Chickens! She got one of the RIR's and killed her before I could get to Ziggy! So that leaves 11 birds in the flock!

The Chickens seem to be the only thing that have not slowed down at all! They are still producing 8 - 10 Eggs a day and the total for this year is up to 736! The H.H. is one of the  projects I was talking about putting on hold. I have gotten a little more done on it, But I still need to get the fencing up before I can make the big move.

Anyway, Like I said. This is not an Aprils Fool's joke! I really am still here! The next post I will try to get pictures taken of Ziggy and let you see what she looks like!
Until then, Remember, It really is Spring!
Tom