Preparing the Garden Spot

It has been some time since writing on Flat Creek Rolling, but here goes…

I have nothing in the ground to call a food garden.  We have plenty of things to call garden. They have flowers and such growing in other spots, some have already bloomed and died off like they are supposed to do.

However, back to our garden spot.  It had been covered in tall weeds and grass.  I mowed it down, rode it down with the mower on Wednesday (6/6/18).

This morning (Saturday June 9) I went and tilled a small spot at the lowest part of the old garden.  My thinking is, that when the creek has risen out of the banks the time or two since we moved in here, the water, as it lowered left better soil for growing things.

I may be too late in planting anything.  I am going to plant some beets, carrots, and things such as that, but we need some rain. The ground, this morning, was really too dry for tilling, but it got tilled anyway.

I am going to try, and we will see what happens.

From the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim

Potato Garden

I know.  It has been several months since I wrote anything here.  This has not been a priority with me, but I will endeavor to make it so.

A few weeks ago I bought some seed potatoes (35 pounds), and my wife and I cut them up as you must, and then I planted them.  I ended up with nearing six full rows of approximately 100 feet in length.

As of today they are looking good.  We do need rain.  We received some rain this past week, and that helps.

Right now all we have is potatoes growing in the garden, but we have plans for tomatoes, bell peppers, and some spicy peppers too.

It is fantastic watching things grow.  It will we wonderful to have a good potato harvest, hopefully around July.

From the banks of Flat Creek.

~tim

Dogwood Trees

I have noticed driving around lately; whether it be driving my bus route, in the car or truck; that there are numerous Dogwood trees in bloom.  They are so beautiful in bloom, whether they are white, red, pink, etc. they are lovely.

A year or so ago our son James and his wife Amber brought us three Dogwood plants, we planted them, but none have survived.  Sorry James and Amber.  Thank you very much for thinking of us.

Our son Timothy and his wife Sarah Lynn brought us three Dogwood plants to plant in our yard; just yesterday (April 17, 2015).  Madge and I went out this morning before the rain started falling, and planted them.  Hopefully these will make it.

I have noticed many Dogwood trees with a canopy top look; with a top that spreads out almost in a circular flatness.  It looks pretty neat with them in bloom.

I pray all are enjoying Spring.  I know I am. 🙂

From the banks of Flat Creek.

~tim

Gooseberries

There was a time when I was a child my Dad worked with my Uncle Duane, Dad’s brother, putting up hay for the Winter, and feeding cattle.  My uncle and his sons, Dad, and myself would put up a lot of hay each Summer.  Part of the treat of working at my Uncle’s farm was getting to eat dinner, our midday meal.  Let me explain where I grew up we had breakfast, dinner, and supper; there was no lunch.  Sometimes for dinner one dessert my Aunt Ollie prepared and served was Gooseberry cobbler.  Most of the time these were served at family get togethers.

Aunt Ollie’s gooseberry cobbler was the best I have ever eaten.  If you have never eaten a gooseberry cobbler or pie you have missed a treat.  If you have eaten a Rhubarb pie; that comes pretty close, but it is not gooseberry.  Uncle Duane and Aunt Ollie have gone home to be with the Lord.  We no longer have family get togethers with their children, nor do we do the hay thing.  I miss them, and I miss the Gooseberry cobbler.

I mention this because I am going to experiment with raising some gooseberries.  I thought about a few months ago, but never got around to do it.  This morning I needed to go to town [Cassville], and take care of some business, and pick up some meds at the pharmacy; but I had to stop on the way out our road to trim a tree limb out of the road.  When I started rolling the limb, and its brush over the hill I noticed a clump of Gooseberry bushes.  I decided then and there that when I came back by I would stop, and pull a couple of them, plant them at our house in the fence row, and see what happens.

I did just that.  They are planted, and hopefully will begin producing berries in a year or two.

If they do I will need to make me some fresh Gooseberry pie, or cobbler.

-tim

Planting Rose Bushes

Now, I do not know if “Rose bushes” is the proper description of what we were planting or not, but that is what my wife and I did on the fifteenth of this month.

I do not believe I have ever seen the soil so dry as it was.  I dug down to nearly a foot deep, and usually in May the soil is a bit sticky with moisture, but it was not on Tuesday.  It was dry, and in much need of rain.  Anyway we got the rose bushes planted; and where my wife wanted them.

We are struggling to keep some of our trees going.  With dogs chewing some of them off; then I come along and cut them off to get a clean cut.  One I have done this with was coming back really well, then I look at it one afternoon and the pup or something had dug it up, practically destroying it.  There was still a sprig of hope in the ground, so I filled the hole in, watered it and it still has a green sprig popping its way upward.

The Rose of Sharon shrubs I panted are doing very well.  Looking forward to when they will begin to flower.  I do not expect they will this Summer, maybe next year though.

It is pretty neat watching something you have planted grow upwards toward their Creator.

-Tim

In the Ground and Growing

At least I pray they are growing.  I am speaking of trees and shrubs I have planted on our near vacant acreage.  It has been pasture land for many years; until we moved our home onto it a year and one half ago.  We just got around to getting some trees planted.

Some of them look as though they will be fine, and take off in a growth spurt.  The trees are called “hybrid poplars” and are expected to grow speedily, and do not have a very long life span either.  But I wanted something that would provide shade in a few years for a few years.  I planted eleven of them, three Colorado Blue Spruce trees and a dozen Rose of Sharon shrubs.

I completed mowing the yard again today.  It had not been mowed in a couple of weeks, and you could really tell it.  It looks wonderful now.

I thought they were gone for the season, but while I was mowing the backyard a Bald eagle flew near the tree tops over Flat Creek.

-Tim

 

Easter Weekend

This past Easter weekend was a big event around our house; here along the Flat Creek, as it flows by.  Most of our kids and grandkids were around most of the time, and for a few hours all were around.

We had a cook out Friday evening with barbequed hamburgers on the grill, with hickory charcoal, and oak wood.  My were those burgers really delicious.

Madge and I ordered some trees, plants, flowers, and/or shrubs a while back, and they were delivered by our wonderful United States Postal Service.

I had an annual checkup with my cardiologist yesterday, and I am a research patient as well.  They are trying out Plavix on me.  I have taken it for a year now, and for a year I will be on a pill provided by the doctor’s office, Plavix or Placebo; none of us know.  For a year I do not have to purchase the pills, they are provided.  I also do not have to pay a co-pay, and they pay me when I visit the doctor.  Now, that is different.

Anyway, when we arrived back home yesterday afternoon I began planting trees.  They are just small seedlings, about 2 feet in length, maybe a little less.  I wore myself out, but I did get nine of them planted.  I have two more Poplars to plant, then three Blue Spruces, and 12 Rose of Sharons.  We will eventually have some shade around here.

Last Thursday evening I mowed our front yard, then I mowed the back yard on Saturday.  My it sure is looking good around here.  The old rider I am using is hanging in there.  I did break the bead on the left front tire Saturday doing some finish up mowing around the road.  I hit a hidden stump.  It will be simple enough to fix, unless I punctured the tire; I do not think I did though.

We got some rain this morning.  My how things green up after a rain.  The sun is shining now, and it is so gorgeous out.

Sunday morning was great for worshiping the Lord of the Universe, who died was buried, and rose bodily from the grave.  What a wonderful and glorious Creator.

-Tim

Putting in a Garden

In the past few years we have attempted to do some gardening, but without much success.  This year our son Timothy and wife Sarah have done much work on getting the garden spot ready for planting.  They spent all day this past Saturday [March 10] harrowing, plowing, tilling, and other things too.  I spent part of that time burning a brush pile; and part of the afternoon doing a little bit to help.

I was worn out.  I am fairly certain that Timothy and Sarah were worn out physically too.

It is amazing the temperatures we are having now.  Trees are budding.  The Bradford Pears are in blossom and leaves have come out too.  It seems so early.  There is an old weather proverb that says, “Thunder in February; there will be frost in May.”   Well, there was thunder in February.  We will see if there is frost in May.  Frost will be a death knell for many plants unless they are protected.

It will be interesting watching how the Lord will bless our crops this year.

On the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim