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Sunday, May 8, 2011

It’s been a quiet week in Lake Onleybegone!!!

Tuesday was a big step forward at the “Historic Onley Station”. We started constructing the first model train table for our new kid’s program “Play With Trains”. This is a version of a program which started in Danville Pa. http://aaahgraphics.webs.com/wcengineerhome.htm. Ours will be open to all kids, regardless of age (even older kids like me). Wednesday evening, thanks to Chief Engineer Dennis, the board was finished, the track was layed, and the first test run was accomplished. IMG_0120 IMG_0122

 

 

 

 

 

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Thursday the ‘Historic Onley Station’ got a new sign designed like a main  line Pennsylvania Railroad station signs. The original siIMG_0152gn was ‘lost’ many years ago, so our group, Society for the Preservation of the Onley Tran Station, Inc. (SPOTS) had a new one made. For more info click here http://onley-spots.blogspot.com/

Planting season is always a buIMG_0151sy time here. The  tilling was finally finished Thursday and Friday a large lump in a neighbors yard was ‘tilled off’. The babies in the green house are all doing well and are getting anxious to make their debut.IMG_0145 IMG_0149

  

 

 

                 With luck they will get planted Monday. That gives them a week to get watered in before having to survive a week on their own.

You might remember the story of the Maple tree we took down in front of the house, who’s chips are now part of the new IMG_0144“Butterfly & Hummingbird Meadow”. The spot where the tree was finally got spruced up and seeded with wild flowers (what else).  It will be a while before we see any results.

Friday started out with the simple job (not) of giving our hedges along our property line their annual trim. We are not ones who have the perfectly trimmed hedge row let alone a sculptured ‘Topiary’. While this may sound like a simple task you must understand that trimming 9 foot hedges are anything but simple, especially if you missed trimming last year (don’t know how that happened). To do ours our 8ft farm trailer has to be hitched to the tractor, Beatrice drives really really close to the hedges, I stand in the trailer with the electric trimmers with a long cord trailing me, and off we go. The project went very smooth. Beatrice even took a turn with the trimmer (and didn’t cut the cord). Unfortunately Saturday Beatrice went back and lopped off the last tall ones that we missed, then said “Could we take out that crape myrtle tree in the middle?”. Well out came the chain saw and down came the offending tree. This left a gaping hole in the hedges, luckily at the end of the row. THEN Beatrice said “Maybe we should just get rid of the stumps and last hedge”. Well out came the John Deere and removed the offending stumps. For some pics of this operation see her post

Saturday was a great day for plantingIMG_0154 anything according to the Farmers Almanac. So 8 rows of corn, 1 hill each of cucumbers, yellow squash, and zucchini went in (forgot the Butter Nuts) Lettuce, spinach, beets, beans, carrots, and leaks, were next to get planted. Next week the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant should be hardened off enough toIMG_0161 plant. And what are tomatoes without some fresh Basil and a little mozzarella. So now it’s just a matter of waiting. Till then  there is asparagus and strawberries to hold us over.

Till next week, be kind to someone in need. Grenville.

11 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

It looks like a busy, if quiet, week there. The trains should be a blast! Love the look of those strawberries, too.

Lois

Anonymous said...

I hate trimming the hedge so every second (or third or even fifth year :-) :-) ) I take out the chain saw and cut it all down as low as possible :-)

I think I´ll wait a couple of weeks before I even sow things for a vegetable garden :-) One thing is sure though, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers doesn´t work well outside a greenhouse here :-)

Have a great day!
Christer.

Anonymous said...

I forgot to mention that I´m thinking of building a model train landscape myself :-) But I want those smaller models so I can save some space :-)

Christer.

MadSnapper said...

train stations and gardens and butterfly's too, oh my oh my, yummmmmy strawberries. you have been and will be busy!

L. D. said...

I look forward to seeing your projects progressing along.

Montanagirl said...

My, busy, busy. The trains will be lots of fun. Our Grandson is in love with all manner of trains. Says he's going to be a conductor when he grows up. He's only six.

Anvilcloud said...

Catching up with the last three posts. You guys do keep yourselves busy, but I'm not sure about out of trouble. I think I am just a titch envious of your garden and of your railway. But seeing hos even a small gardening project tends to daunt me, maybe I should just let those feelings go.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hey what do you mean it was MY idea to take out the tree...WHO was driving the tractor :-) Maybe we should blast out the rest of the roots - how about a 4th of July band?

Out on the prairie said...

It sounds very busy. My days have melded together as one big get the plantings done.I put in tomatoes and planted all of my containers.

Elaine said...

We are just beginning our spring yard cleanup. Maybe I need a nap first.....

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Strawberry compliment Lois. This is the first year we have had a good harvest. Maybe Kjell can find room on the ship for a train setup. How 'bout an all train cruise?????I agree Christer. Hedges are my least favorite thing to do, but playing with trains makes up for it. Now i have to think of setting my own up again. Good thought Sandra, maybe a butterfly garden at the station!!!!! I'm looking forward to progress too LD. It has been really slow going on this project. Every kid loves trains Mona, just have to get them modeling them. Don't be envious AC, come on down and help weed, then we can hang at the station and wait for the train to come through. Planting days have that way of melting into each other Steve. And then there is the weeding!!!! A nap is always called for before serious cleanup Elaine. If you don't have time let me know and I'll take one for you!!!!!