It's been a while since posting here, not much to write about gardening this time of year, but I think I'll try to ramble from time to time throughout the winter months. I often have a hard time to get started writing, but then once I get going it kinda flows along. Kinda write quickly as the thoughts come, then proofread and make sure my thoughts were in some kind of order before publishing. :)
The garden aspect is mostly over for this season, with below zero temps the last two nights, and a beautiful blanket of white on the ground. It's actually quite cozy, especially looking from inside the house by the cozy wood stove.
Back in October, we went on a boy's camping trip to the Sturgeon River Falls, with a couple of my younger brothers, four of my sons, and four nephews. My younger brother Levi wanted to take the nephews camping, and said I could come along as well. Not one to pass up a good time, I went. :) It was a hoot and a half, except sleeping on the hard ground. It kinda makes one feel the years. Next time, I'm gonna be a wimp and bring along my roll-up camping air pad. It's the type that you open the valve and it inflates itself. Don't know why I didn't bring it- probably a combination of being rushed, feebleness of mind, and forgetfulness. :)
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| "Home" on the evening of October 15th. |
Actually, not quite accurate, I guess. They say home is where your heart is, and my heart was divided between camping with the boys and being back home with the love of my life, Janice. But Dad's gotta do things that develop boyness in the boys, so we had a blast wilderness camping and fireside cooking.
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| How eggs are cooked when Mama's not around. |
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| The water wouldn't sit still long enough to not be blurred. :) |
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| Shot from on the rock above the falls. |
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| From high atop the cliff downriver. |
If you've never been to Sturgeon River Falls, it's a nice place to go. Nice to camp at, too, unless you need a power hookup and restrooms with showers. Then it's not your cup-o-tea, as they say. It's beautiful because of, not in spite of, it's wildness and remoteness. It
is advisable to keep a close grip on youngsters (and reckless oldsters, too), due to the many possibilities of getting hurt bad or killed there. Wilderness places are beautiful, but need to be respected.
The cold came early this year. Here's a picture of kale plants frozen solid. Remarkably, those same kale plants were harvestable when they thawed out. I love plants that are easy. :)
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| Blue curled kale |
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| Red Ursa Kale | |
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We had a bit of a scrap getting the firewood out of the woods this year. A memorable time, for sure. We'd been cutting it and stacking it in the woods, planning to bring it up to the woodshed maybe in late November or December. Most years it's possible to get into the woods quite late with the wood hauler pickup. Seeing how the big early storm was shaping up, however, I thought it's now or never. So we started hauling on the 10th, after killing and skinning the two hogs we were raising for meat. Went ok the first day, the second day was a kerfuffle. One of the days I told my son who was driving, when you drive through the muddy place in the back, go for broke. If wood falls off, don't stop. It would be rotten to get buried in the mud or high centered with a full load of wood on. I was following on foot, came around the corner, and by cracky if the tailgate wasn't lying in the middle of the trail, with wood spilled along as he went! He later said he didn't even know he'd lost the tailgate until he got home. (No, Mrs. R.D., my favorite cousin-in-law, you aren't the only one who's done that. :) )
On the second day, we got stuck two or three times, and on (what turned out to be) the last load for the day, my son was going through the (newly but very aptly named) Mud Flats, and must have hit a rut pretty good, he blew the bag on the front passenger side. Obviously you lose purchase when that happens, so we hooked up a tow strap and come-along, dragged the beast onto a flatter area, and proceeded to change the tire. Then one of the little boys says, the back one's going flat too. 'Twas a bit of a pain, but we got them both changed and hauled for home. I guess that'll teach me to wait until the last minute to bring the wood to the woodshed. :)
Now for Thanksgiving- we had a blast yesterday at Dad and Mom's house. Between D and M, all 38 grandchildren (and not counting the tiny ones on the way:)), my siblings and their spouses, and 3 visitors, there were 59 people present, until my auntie and some of the cousins came later on, then we had 65 people there. 'Twas a big time, we ate and visited, nothing like being with family. Friends and family are really the best earthly possessions, if you can call them that. All the things in the world are boring, if one has to enjoy them alone. That's my thought on the matter, anyhow.
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| Turkey candle holder my son made, keeping watch over things. |
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| Mama's plaque on the dessert table. |
In closing here's a cute picture of Baby Anthony, getting an early start into the wonderful world of books, with his faithful friend Bear. :)
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| Baby Anthony Azariah Jefferson with Bear. :) |
