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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday the ‘Historic Onley Station’ got a new sign designed like a main  line Pennsylvania Railroad station signs. The original sign 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 busy 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.

  

 

 

                 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 “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 planting 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 to 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.

What do you mean where is Grenville????? I’m right here!!!!

Actually almost everyone was right in their guesses where i was. But Possum wins the Super Sleuther Award. And as Poetic Justice she gets a full day of weeding at the F&P. Just pick a day in late July or early August and the farm will be yours for the day.

Grammie i wish i was on my way back to Maine for some snow shoeing. Sounds like you’ll have lot of that later in the week. Elaine, you are so right about the call of the wood. I still haven’t figured which way is up on that piece in front of the shop. Sipping Blueberry juice was right Pat in MN but it has been too chilly to lite the fire on the patio. And out playing with JD is always on the schedule Christer. LOIS!!!!! You make it sound like i’m lost in the wilderness. Now that we have a ‘Super Wal-Mart’ there is no wilderness left here. AND Steve, don’t let the cat out of the hat full of spilt beans about the ‘Exotic Island Trip’ planned for Valentines day, her Birthday, and of course Muskrat Day (more on that as it unfolds). Don’t feel bad Mona, there are lots of daze when i’m not sure where i am either. Your right Ann. When the Jets and Patriots crumbled i hit the very bottom of favorite teams, and that was really stretching it. I’m not even sure if i’ll watch the Super Bowl.

SOOOOOOO ,,,, yes i have been a little busy of late. Between teaching English as a second language and working in the shop for the most part.
 
The first 5 photos are the same piece of walnut from start to finish. This years product is going to be candle holders. The last photo is a piece of wild cherry that was hanging around the shop for about a year and just begged to go for a ride on the lathe. It became a pair of tea light holders.

After patiently (not) waiting for something to break the surface, we finally have some Broccoli on the left and some Spinach on the right.
  
You really have to look really close, but there is spinach and broccoli just starting. Their little cotyledon  leaves are barely visible.

And there was lots of stuff to do at the Historic Onley Train Station. About a week before Christmas the nice folks at the IRS sent us an early gift, our 501 C3 certificate. That makes us officially a Non Profit Tax Deductable organization and culminates a year and a half of work. Now we are in full gear going after some serious grant money so we can finally get a new roof. Then there was some Planning Commission stuff and Master Naturalist fun. And lets not forget those all important afternoon naps.

And you thought i was goofing off!!!!! BUT thanks to all for wondering where i was. Without you i might still be lost!!!!!!

The Great Greenhouse Pt2

We are really moving along on this. Today i added the last of the soil. So far the soil heaters have kept it to about 50F even when the air temp has dropped to match the outside temp (in the 20’s and 30’s at night). Next came watering with some tea made from water and chicken  manure (an Eastern Shore staple). And finally i decided on the lighting. Since we only have sunlight for about ten hours a day i like to add some extra hours of electric light so the plants get about 18 hours a day. I got lucky today as the local building supply had ‘brooder fixtures’ on sale this week. These are usually used in chicken brooding operations and can take up to a 250 watt bulb or a heat bulb. I’m using 60 watt bulbs. Two fixtures came to $12.

I have gone back  and forth on whether to use florescent lights as in the past, or the compact florescent bulbs, or the standard incandescent bulbs. After some research i found that the standard incandescent bulbs cover about the same light spectrum as the others and generate some added  heat to the air in the green house. The down side is that they cost more to operate. For now i’ve opted for the extra heat even though there will be some extra expense. As it warms up in the spring maybe i will go to the CFL’s. Tonight will be the test to see if the amount of heat generated is worth the added expense.

With luck i will be planting some lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower this weekend (i’ll let you know when the salad is ready Possum). If that works maybe one tomato and one cucumber plant.

Let the Growing Begin!!!!!!!

Today we are coming to you 'live' from the County Library. Beatrice is busy shelving books and I am here blogging away.

The soil finally warmed up, dryed out and turned nicely so the only thing to do was PLANT. And that is what happened yesterday. After retilling the first bed and then seting in the rows, the seeds started flying into the ground. Well maybe not flying but a lot got planted. Lettuce, spinach, parsnips, beets, onions, scallions, carrots, and peas (a little late but what the heck). I'm sure the good Lord was smiling because He watered all the new seedlings last night and this morning with a nice gentle rain.

CRITTER NEWS: The first of the Purple Martins arrived Wednesday, so up went the house. Now we have to wait and see who take up residence this year.
Today is "back recovery day". A day to enjoy the flowers on the peach tree (and hope for a good year) and get the seedlings in the Bio-Dome ready to make the big move outside in two weeks.

Somewhere around the 22nd of this month the second round of seeds will get planted so we have a continuous crop of greens through the summer and hopefully into the winter. We will also set out the tomatoes and peppers then, get the first plot of corn in for 4th of July, squash and zucchini (yes only ONE hill this year!!!), and what ever else we can (except for the pumpkins).

The rest of this weekend is for fun. 2nd Friday tonight, Elks sale tomorrow, rearrange storage, eat on the porch. Maybe take a trip to the Zoo on Sunday. Basically just enjoy ourselves. And we hope that you will take some time and enjoy your weekend also.