Mushrooms

We found mushrooms tonight!!!! But only 4 nice sized ones. We will have a taste tomorrow for lunch. I think it si still too early and too cold.
WE will look again on saturday and sunday. It is suppost to be a nice warm and dry week end forcast.
Hopefully we will have photo's to show then.
At least we did not get skunked and come home empty handed.
DON HUNTED ALL OVER THE 40 ACRES YESTERDAY AND HE NEVER FOUND A MUSHROOM.
WE WORKED ALL DAY DRAGGING BRUSH AND BURNING TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY.
TED CAME AT 5 AND RIPPED OUT THE CAMPPER CARPET AND JUST STARTED LAYING A NEW VINYLE FLOOR.
iT IS GOING TO BE SO NICE.
WE SLEPT IN LATE TODAY. CHURCH AND BACK TO LOOK FOR MORE MUSHROOMS.

Postmaster League Convention

Don and I enjoyed ourselves at the League of postmasters state convention in Des Moines tuesday night. It was the Leagues 100 th anniversary. There were about 100 active and retired postmasters and spouses in attendance.

It was good to see old friends again and enjoy postal fellowship,but it is a chapter of my life I am slowly closing.

Isn't this a cute old couple???

Being Parents

Once a parent always a parent. Tracy called last night to update us on Jims treatment.
We were concerned because we had not had any word in over a week.
We knew his condition was getting worse and he was weak and unable to talk or eat much.
Wednesday the doctor said no more treatments for 4 days. He thought the break would help him build up his strengh. On friday tracy had to take him to the hospital emergency ward as he was deydrated. They hooked him up to IV'S and sent him home. He has lost 45 puonds but was able to eat some small noodles yesterday, but today he goes back for two more 100 % treatments and 5 more not so intense.
Lord we as parents have to give him over to you. We know God is in control and he knows the love we have for Jim and we know God loves Jim also.

Forest rebirth

This week end we camped at the Woods. It was neat to see all the new green growth as the seemingly dead forest comes back t o life.
The violets, dutchman breches, and wild plums are blooming. But no sign of mushrooms. It must be too cold still.
We could use a rain also. We found a small patch of false morels. Don says they come before the real morels.
We burned some more brush. It is an endless job cleaning up in so many acres.
We wore ourselves out and now came back to town to rest up for the rest of the week.
I have Postmasters convention in des moines Sunday and tuesday night. It is the 100 anniversary of the League of Postmasters. I felt like I needed to go as a past president and Postmaster of the year from 2005.
Don will go with me Tuesday night for the banquet.
I have a quilt and purse for the auction and photos from years past conventions.
Another week and April will be behind us.
Upward and on ward.

How does your garden grow?

Just overnight our garden started growing. the peas you can row and the onions are coming up. The lettuce is making a nice row. The grapes are budding and the strawberries are blooming so looks like a good crop is setting on.
the new friut trees are leafing out also. The raspberry bushes are growing also.
Soon we can plant the rest of our garden. Beans, mellons, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes and peppers.
We have a container full of herbs growing also.
It is so fullilling to grow your own produce. To know it does not have salmonila and the satisfaction of growing it with your own two hands.
It gives Don something to look at every morning and each night.
He will be glad when his switch grass comes up. that may not start growing until June.
We will camp at the woods tonight and continue with the job of cleaning up the brush and getting ready for the elecricity to get hooked up soon I hope.
But we are managing with the generator. Don is ready to fish the frivy. He can not decide on the siding as everything costs more then the privy is worth. I would hate to be buuilding a house right now.
One day at a time
Hoping to find mushrooms!!!!!

mushrooms

Don is dreaming of mushrooms. He is constantly thinking about the mushrooms he hopes to find at watson Woods.
As soon as he finds some we will post photos . we need warm sunshine. These cold days are holding them back. The farmers are slow with there spring field work or we are overly anxious??? Don continues working on the privy to house the compost toilet. It now sits in our front yard until he can finish it and we can move it to the woods. Electricity is needed for it to work and we are a long ways from hooking u electricity.
One day at a time and each new day takes us closer to mushrooms and electricity.
We are going to the woods toniight to hunt for mushrooms and see if there are any poachers hunting on our posted land.
Hope to have photos soon.
NO LUCK! THE GROUND IS STILL TOO COLD.
MAYBE BY FRIDAY!

Tractor Carport

Thursday evening at 6:00 they called and said they would put up the tractor carport that night . We said we were a 1/2 hour away so we took off for watson woods. We arrived just before they did. At 6:30 three guys began unloading and building the carport . They were finished and cleaned up by 9:30 with the aid of Don's generator and a bright light .
It was amazing to watch them work . One man carrying those long sheets of medal. Climbing up and down ladders. After only one sheet was put on the middle of the top they were up on top walking on the shed. Some cutting but mostly the sides all fit perfectly. Just a little pile of waste.
We spent all day at the farm friday and it was a gorgeous day to be alive.
we planted and cleaned uup and met with the rural electric man about getting electricity hooked up.
Everything is so expensive but we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Green Acres

Here is Don's allis chalmers D-14 tractor. He broke the 3 point hitch bar already and the bush hog power take off bar is too short. Ah the joys of farming!!!!!!

Don't we look like the couple from green acres? Two city slicker farmers.

Using Charlie's Old Seeder

Here is Don using his uncle Charlies old seeder. It has a $4.35 price written on the bottom of the seeder.
Bless his heart he walked over 5 acres to seed switch grass and clover for the deer. He was tired when we got home last night.
We used the rotor tiller to make a place for a garden at the top of the hill near the road. Not sure the deer will share what we plant??? We planted a long row of peas and will have to wait for warmer weather to plant any more. But we got a rain last night so all that we planted should come up soon. Most seeds take a aweek to germinate and grow so it will be fun to watch the plants grow and mature to harvest.

Homestead Campsite

Here is the homestead.
It is starting to shape up and be comfortable. The boardwalk is complete and keeps us out of the mud. We sowed grass seed for a yard and wildflowers . It will be fun to see what comes up.
Don strung the hammock between two trees and we have a picnic table and chairs. Also we have a two seater swing and camp site fire ring.. He just needs to build a privy for the compost toilet and we need REC to hook us up to electricity. We only get one tv station and it is weak. But most of the time we are too busy to watch tv any how.

Easter Sunday

It is cool and cloudy ,but the promise of rain is holding off until tonight.
We will go to early church and then go to the farm. Don bought switch grass and clover to seed down the 7 acres.
In july he will plant deer food plots of turnips. the rest will be garden for human consumption if the deer and coons don't eat it.
Yesterday was spent in Leon visiting with my children and going to the casino in Osceola for supper. Kolby lost two teeth so he looks like a pumkin right now.But he liked the money from the tooth fairy.
Kirk was busy getting his new mower ready to start the spring mowing season and begin his new business.
Aglow was good with Anita from wayland as the speaker.
It was a very good day and it has been a busy week end . Don will be tired and ready to go back to work to rest.
Easter brings the promise of the resurection from death to life. Thank you Jesus for showing us the way the truth and the light. Now help us to carry your light to those who need to know who you are and the promise you bring.

Good Friday

Good Friday and cool but the rain held off so we got up early and planted our early spring garden in the back yard. Just like the Obamas's . Don tilled it last night and it was nice and lose ready for planting this am.
We planted potatoes, onions,lettuce, carrots, peas and radishes.
We will plant more asparagus and raspberry and strawberries down on the farm.
We may just be feeding the deer population.
Ah the joy of growing your own produce and eating it straight from the garden.
Life on the farm is good.
Much work to be done at the woods today to get ready for the tractor carport to arrive next week.
Boardwalk to build and concrete patio to put together.
Its beginning to look homey.

Full Moon over Watson Woods

Awesome!!! How beautiful last night to see a full moon come up in the southeastern sky. Hanging just above the treeline. BIg and bright yellow shining down on the woods. Just think how beautiful heaven must be as looking up we see only the under side of heaven filled with twinkling stars. Like the back side of a needlepoint is never as pretty as the top of the piece.
Our creator God is a good creator and he only makes good thinks.
How aweful to see that Iowa Judges think nothing is holy and allows same sex marriges . God must be really upset with mankind and there will come a day of reckoning. We need to get down on our knees before a Holy God and ask him to forgive our nation and continue to send down His blessing so all can see HIs glory .
The glory in each new sunrise and each sunset . And the beauty in a full moon over Watson Woods.

Purse making class

See the pretty purse I made tonight at quilting class. About 8 of us showed up to learn how to make purses.
I was able to complete mine in 2 1/2 hours. Now to make another one before I forget how to make them.
It was resallya fun group and we learned some fun things.
Now I have something new to make and sew besides quilts.
Hopefully they will make nice gifts ot give to family and friends.

Life in Osky with my friends is good.

Cold

It is a chilly day in Iowa today.
I can't seem to warm the house up. Don is getting the rotor tiller delivered tonight so a trip to the woods.
I have a pursemaking class tomorrow so good to go tonight.
He still has a blade and bush hog to be delivered and then he needs the tractor carport to get built. We are getting there one step at a time.
It is starting to look and feel homey.
We of course want to keep it as natural as possible.
He can't get the REC guy to call back about hooping up electricity. He has the compost toilet on order and needs to buuild a place to put it.
Tons of work there to keep us both busy for a lifetime.
We will pick up the switch grass and deer food plot seed saturday on our dway to LEon.

Trip to Kalona

Road to Kalona, Iowa yesterday with Cindy Allison for Mahaska county quilt guild. It is the quilt capitol of Iowa.
Saw many lovely quilts and heard the lastest and greatst in quilting news.
Then we shopped until we dropped. I found the cutest fabric with cute little tractors on it. I need to make a quilt or two out of the fabric . It will be a special quilt and be fun making it.
Don worked atthe woods yesterday all day.
There is still much work to be done there. He planted 4 trees to start an orchard at the top of the hill. He also planted the auspargus plants. We need some warm weather so we can till and plant to our little hearts contnet.
Life continues on one daya t a time.

Deer mania

What a lovely spring day in Iowa. We went to the woods directly after Don got home from work.
It was a nice warm evening in the woods.
Don started the tractor and we hung up the hammock between two trees.Just about dark we headed to Ottumwa to purchase friut trees.
Just south of our ground we spotted 12 deer. Eating peacefully in a pasture.
They are beautiful animals. And so peaceful. and graceful.
We purchased a bing cherry tree, apple tree and two mystery fruit trees.
The beginning of our orchard. We were lucky to get any fruit trees.
We planted herb seeds and pepper and eggplant seeds. into large resin containers.
Another good day predicted for tomorrow and then a lst minute snow storm.
Life is good in Osky.

Recession garden

Everyone is talking about recession gardens.
Last year we had a smill garden in our back yard. This year we are going to plant a large garden on the 40 acres. We have black berry bushes , blueberry bushes, raspberry bushes, aspargus, vegetables,and fruit trees to plant.
You will reap 9 times your seed cost in fresh vegetables.
We will have to take food to the kids or share with our neigbors. If we are sucessful and our garden is bountiful. Even the Obama's have platned a garden at the white house lawn.
It will soon be time to hunt mushrooms so hopefully we will be posting photos of our wonderful finds.
Dreaming of a bountiful harvest and food on our table grown with our own hands.