Rain Rain Rain.....Rain Rain Rain.........wind, cold, and more Rain!!!!

We made plans all week for a very special greenhouse shopping weekend! We anxiously awaited the work week to end, and to finally head to the big city for our traditional special day out......and then, the rains came, and they came and they came and they stayed all frickin' weekend long! We got soaked! Did we use any common sense and maybe post-pone our adventures for another weekend??? NO! We forged ahead. I have never gotten so wet and so wind blown while grabbing for another pot of 4" perennials!! But, all in all it was fun! We tried our best to visit all known locations in the greater eastern Iowa area.
Now, here I sit on the couch, with the rain hitting against the window again, but quite snug and dry...just thinking "Where in the hell am I going to put all that stuff!!!" I think, the way I have it calculated, I have about 167 holes to dig!!!
So, I dont have much else to report.....but will keep you updated as I plant .. and plant....and plant.....and plant!!!
Until next time....MOM

I know, I know, I know...I have been a very bad Blogger....

The problem is, that when I do an update, I think I have to do pictures and stuff and it can be very time consuming..especially if the uploads take forever, so I tend to not get to it until I think I have some free time, and that is a challenge in itself.
So, all has been well. I had a wonderful weekend in Des Moines at Jessica's baby shower. We had somewhere around 26 ladies there, lots of good food and all the cute baby stuff you could stand!! Jennifer did a fabulous job on the name tags and games, and I think everyone had a really nice time! Jessica is so lucky to have so many friends and relatives interested in bringing that little baby into the world! Rob's grandma made a beautiful quilt and is in the process of hand crocheting a outfit! I'm always a bit jealous of grandparents, as I never had that pleasure when I was a kid. I remember there was one kid in school (I wont mention any names) that I really dis-liked because every monday here she would come with all the neat "grandma" gifts to rub in my nose.....apparently I could be a snotty in my younger days too...haha!!
So, Sunday was just beautiful outside and I spent the day working around the yard and mowing. I got brave and started putting out things that I probably shouldn't have since we did get a frost last night. Mom came out with Lucy and we took a mule ride back to see the ponds. I think Lucy enjoyed the ride more than mom...I noticed her clutching for the dashboard periodically (kind of reminded me of when I used to drive with her on Interstate 80 when I was in high school), but we had fun. The bachelor britches are all in bloom in the timber.
Things are really in high gear in the greenhouse. The bulbs Marsha and I brought back from Chicago are up almost a foot or more now, Marsha even has a peony with buds on it already.
Well, it is finally warming up nicely outside, so think I will put my house work on hold again and go do some digging in the dirt!! Surely, there will be no more cold weather,,,right??
Until next time....MOM

One patch of my tulips, they are especially pretty this year.

This is Jessica with her friends Veronica and Laura. I believe Laura is due with a little one in September.

Here is the little mommie to be. Little Ellie is definately making her presence known now.

It's certainly not for lack of news......well, at least what I consider to be news!!!

But it seems that I just don't get 10 minutes to sit down and update my blog. The other thing is that the weather has been so incredibly beautiful, the last thing I want to do is waste any time in front of a computer screen instead of being outside...with that said, sorry for the lack of updates!
It has been a very busy week!! Last sunday Kurtis spent most of the day assisting in burning off the George Kofron farm, it was quite a project and took through the day Monday to complete. It does already look much better, but has a long ways to go.
On top of burning weeds, working and trying to get ready to begin farm work (and still having baby calves) my husband has become "obsessed" with a new hobby......yes, Turkey hunting!! I woke the other morning, about 4:00 a.m. to what I can only explain as a "rather disturbing" sight. There at the foot of my bed was this image.....it was shaped like Kurtis, it moved like Kurtis, but something was well, just different. I blinked a couple of times to clear the sleep from my eyes and got another good look. I couldn't decide if I was just having a bad dream, or had somehow found myself on the set of the movie "Deliverence!!" Ok, so maybe I'm a bit naive, I didn't know Fruit of the Loom came in camouflage!!! and besides, how would a damn turkey know if you had on whitie-tighties!!! Anyway, there it was, my sweet loving Kurtie had "Morphed" into a camouflage clad killing machine!! It was down the stairs, out the door to the killing fields! Please check out the picture......the proof is evident!! And, I guess you cant argue with the results!
Thursday night was a very trying night for me. I have found that deep down in my genes reside the hauntings of the Lynch name. At about 8:30 we had a very bad storm, which actually resulted in a tornado touching down in Iowa City and destroying a large area of the town.....I know, I really do feel bad about that, but I was having my own battle right here at home. At approximately 8:40 p.m. I found myself standing at the back door, leaning outside and watching the hail mercilessly pounding my greenhouse. At one point I was shouting some very "colorful metafors" demanding it to stop.....it was then I almost choked and recalled the story of when Tim and Dennis Lynch were battoned down in their cellar, and while holding the door open with a stick began to curse the hell out of the weather too........do you see my concern!! The good news is the greenhouse survived. The bad news is that St. Pat's Catholic Church in Iowa City didn't.
So, now it's back outside to do some much needed yard work. Its about 78 degrees, lots of sunshine and everything is just popping! Until next time....MOM

And the kill is accomplished!! The turkey on the left is the decoy...the one on the right is the Tom that just wan't too bright!! The proud hunters are Kurtis and Josh Miller (one of Kurtis Scheels buddies) The little guy is Josh's nephew.

This is the upper portion of Father Bendas lake now. It has backed way up into the ravine and is the new home to many ducks and geese. The frogs also have all moved in.

And the burning begins..over 500 acres had to burned off .....where the hell are the wienies!!

Big News On The Farm!!!! The "Jayco" Has Landed!!!

Yes indeed!! We finally managed to bring the long awaited camper home. It's only been about 6 months since I bought it, and it took that long to get it home! The folks at Thompson RV were very nice and said "We knew you would come for it eventually, and if you didnt, we could always sell it again".
So, I'm very pleased with it so far, it towed down the road like a dream. On the way home Kurtis and I stopped at Blains Farm Store and bought some essential supplies in anticipation of the camping season....lets see, here is a few items I saw Kurtis going with in the cart. A fine new BBQ grill (folds up nicely for easy storage, he gave me the demonstration on how it works....haha), two folding lawn chairs, one handy folding table, three bags instant light charcoal briquettes and a rose bush (I dont think that was for camping though) Oh, and a handy dandy all in one set of Stanley tools for those small unexpected repair jobs. Oh, what did I buy? One bag of Cadbury mini eggs....you can see where my mind is!!
Last night Kurtis and I finally got around to going out and giving the whole outfit a good looking over. We put all the slides out, turned on the nice stereo system, the fireplace (and furnace..it was cold last night) and stretched out on the king size bed....we both declared "Yeah, I think I can tolerate camping ok with this thing...it really is roughing it though!" I can't wait to fix my first camp-out meal! Bring on the beans and weiners!!! Some smores would be nice too.
Well, back to reality and cleaning house......drats!!!!! Until next time.....MOM

My first spring flower of the year! Even on a cloudy day, just screams of spring!

A terrible cloudy cold day....but we managed to bring the camper home...I cant wait until our first official outing!!!

The reason I love spring, living in the country and my wonderful husband....

I'm sorry, but this blog has the potential of becoming a bit sappy. It was so incredibly beautiful outside today that I just can't help feeling good and very lucky!

So, I get home from work....I go to the greenhouse..its a balmy 8o degrees, things are growing, the air smells of dirt and new growth! I walk over to the grill, peel off the cover and ready the big boy for a nice BBQ supper tonight (yeah, baby weiners and Brats).

Then, when I think it just cant get any better.....I hear the crunching of gravel, I see the Cat run and take cover under the shed.....yes, It's my big guy Kurtis arriving home in his big red pickup, stereo blaring (cause, of cource he has the windows down enjoying the weather) I believe the tune was a K.T. Oslin selection. I immediately exit the greenhouse, give hime the usual greeting (sorry, that's private) and he heads in the house. Oh, I forgot to mention he had in his possession another treasure he purchased from work (no need to explain here). He disappears in the house.

Out the door he comes, it's just amazing...he has transformed from daytime polished Gun salesman to everyday casual farmer. Ah yes, there he is the guy I married....my farmer. Now here is the neat part....He says to me....do you want to ride along, I need to go check my calves. Now how is that for romantic! So, we jump on the old mule and off we go..we make the rounds thru the pastures, little calves running for their lives as we circle them....it really is quite cute. There are black ones, white ones, chocolate ones and a brown.

Then, it was on to the other side of the road where the turkey live...so we drove down to the timber, sure enough there was about 30 turkey who immediately took off runing and flying as soon as they seen us. We then drove down around the pond..Kurtis shut the mule off and coasted down the big hill to the pond...we sat there and listened to the frogs sing..(must be the dose of the Dewey gene I have) the sun was going down and it was just plain beautiful!!! A pause to enjoy the beautiful countryside busy waking up for another season. We then toodled our way down to the other pond, around the corn fields and meandered our way back home...A nice fare of BBQ was the perfect ending to a nice day.

Now how could you top that evening....well, I just don't think I can, but tomorrow is another day...and I look forward to it. Hey, guess what?? I may get to go get my camper tomorrow..here is how it may work out
1.) If it doesn't rain tonight...Kurtis is planning on burning off George Kofron's property....
2.) If it does rain.....and they can't do the burn.....and it doesnt storm too bad, and if there isnt too much wind...or too much lightening...we may go get the camper!!!! So, do you think it will happen....we'll see. (Thompson and Sons called me today and wanted to know if we planned on picking it up so....I dont know what their problem is, after all I only bought it last November!!!)
So, untill next time......MOM

Today was a blustery spring day......to be followed by a wintery cold night!!

Things are very tuff in the greenhouse business this time of year. Today it got up to 85 degrees inside the greenhouse, but tonight it is suppose to get down to 21! So, after a brief discussion with Kurtis as to what course of action to take, we decided the heat lamp application for overnight protection of my young seedlings was best..the lillies I think could care less. In putting up the "red" heat lamp, and turning it on, it reminded me of when we used to get little chicks and start them under the heat lamps...I swore I could almost hear the little chirp chirp sound they make when all huddling together for the heat. Come to think of it, I miss my chickens. I kind of mentioned this to Kurtis as I was giving him this nice warm memory, and just in passing mentioned "Wouldn't it be kind of nice to get a few chickens this spring?" Well, let's just put it this way......ain't gonna happen! He did have a point, if I want to do much camping this summer....you can't leave chickens alone......remember what happened to our mother the nice warm summer evening she was a bit late getting home to shut the chicken door......there was an all out chicken slaughter carried out by a couple ill-fated coons. I changed my mind promptly.
Speaking of camping...I have laid down the law to Kurtis. He has to work all week this week except for Thursday...I suggested that maybe I will work on Wednesday, then we can dedicate Thursday to bringing the big boy home.....I immediately heard a bit of hesitation in his voice, then he muttered something about burning off Georgie Kofrons if it dries out enough. Do you get the idea I may never get this thing home? I'm very close to just having them deliver it, and if it wasn't for the fact that they do all the hook-up adjustments, I would. I'm being very patient, but I do feel a big pout coming on soon.
Not much more to report tonight, so until next time MOM

This is a tray of the lollipop lillies. They are up a good 2 inches now and are turning bright green......Sweet!

In a word describe this weekend........Battle zone of the seasons!

So, with all the cruddy weather we had this weekend, I should be ALL caught up on my domestic duties..right......wrong! Now, here's the thing, when its nice and sunny and warm outside I seem to have more energy...This weekend in a nutshell was pittyful. I know we need the rain, I know April showers bring May flowers......but enough already. I did get quite a bit accomplished Saturday, you know, the usual..wash and change bed sheets, do laundry, vacuumn, clean kitchen...dust....put on new roof, re-landscape the yard, build a barn.....well maybe "everything" didn't get done, but I did try. Sunday, was a complete wash out. It started out too early when I heard Kurtis go out the door at 5:00 a.m. to check the cows....Why? I mean what the hell does even a cow do at 5 in the morning!!!! But, he did....Just as a heard his newest partner in cow checking start up (the mule) there was a huge clap of thunder...apparently he got up and watched the weather and seen there was a nasty thunder storm coming, so he dashed out and did chores....I wonder what the odds of getting blasted from lighting while riding a bright red mule is??? Hmmm, I hope not as good as the odds of rolling one (sorry, couldn't resist)
So, after all the rain, lightning and wind, my greenhouse seems to be still standing in all its glory..everything inside has a calm quietness about it as though there was no imminent threat to its existance....so I'm happy. At one point when I was looking out the back porch door and yelling a few colorful medafors (sp) at the thunderstorm it reminded me of some relatives of mine years ago that had the same praise for the weather from a basement shelter door..... suppose it's genetic?
So, until next time....MOM

Its dark, grey and gloomy...I'm starved for sunshine and warmth...

I know March is really not totally a "spring" month, but I do expect more from it than we have gotten lately. We have gotten some nice rains, and the grass is pretty green now, but It's just plain cold out today. I have so many things I need to be doing in the house this weekend, so I guess I will try to buckle down and do them.....but by god, next week had better be an improvement!! So, it looks like doing wash and cleaning house is on the agenda today.
Even though spring is lacking outside, I have lots of action occuring in the greenhouse. Lets see, so far I have the following things up.. Cypress Vine, radish's (via Kurtis), yellow coneflower, a couple of pansys (very poor germination so far) snail vine and prickly catepillar vine. If all goes well, I should have enough vines to just about cover this farm...Kurtis will be so thrilled! I have not seeded any of the warmer weather varieties yet as ......we have yet to have the warmer weather....make sense?
The bulbs that have been potted up and coming on strong, most of them have shoved their noses through the dirt and look great! If all else goes to hell, by god we should have lillies!
So, back to my domestic duties..until next time...MOM