Thanks to the YMCA's Festival of Trees for this year's tree. WOCC sponsored a tree which I decorated with a real pinecone skirt, deer skull, black snake skin, grape vine, pressed leaves, milkweed seeds like snow. When I undecorated it I brought it home to reuse it. We lifted it on a table so keep inquisitive fingers and noses away. Although we can count the little tree that the Hassingers gave us our first Christmas here, this is the first live tree we've had since Shannon graduated from college. This tree had some of Mom Kitty's ornaments on it as well as the beer balls and cap ornaments but no pigs nor any harps.
No ladybugs this winter. Hurrah!
Showing posts with label WOCC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WOCC. Show all posts
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Chainsaw crew
Woodland Owners of Centre County sponsored a chain saw seminar. Friday night, for 3 hours at Forest Resources Lab, Lee Stover and 2 of his students lectured and supervised basic safety and maintenance of the machine. We took ours, a Craftsman 16" 38 cc, apart and then back together with no extra pieces. We found we'll need Kevlar chaps, a safety helmet with face screen and glasses to be safe.
Today we spent over 6 hours in the Ag Progress Days Woods with Lee Stover as our personal guide to chainsaw use. It was a great experience. He told us, showed us, then watched us cut. The plunge cut is my personal favorite. A magnificent day (sunny, gentle wind, 60 deg) to be in the woods. I dropped one birch exactly where I wanted it. It sprayed sap all over; smelled like root beer. The other tree, a cherry,...not so much. I needed help and it didn't fall any where near where I wanted it to. Made a big mess. Paul did better with his 2.
Anyway, we both still have 2 attached legs and 10 attached fingers. Success. Thanks WOCC and Lee Stover.
Gambol found an egg under Paul's truck; first he kind of pointed on it then when I asked him to bring it to me, he did. No cracks. Buddy can walk at heel if I have cheese in my hand in the heel position but mostly he's walking up my heels.
Today we spent over 6 hours in the Ag Progress Days Woods with Lee Stover as our personal guide to chainsaw use. It was a great experience. He told us, showed us, then watched us cut. The plunge cut is my personal favorite. A magnificent day (sunny, gentle wind, 60 deg) to be in the woods. I dropped one birch exactly where I wanted it. It sprayed sap all over; smelled like root beer. The other tree, a cherry,...not so much. I needed help and it didn't fall any where near where I wanted it to. Made a big mess. Paul did better with his 2.
Anyway, we both still have 2 attached legs and 10 attached fingers. Success. Thanks WOCC and Lee Stover.
Gambol found an egg under Paul's truck; first he kind of pointed on it then when I asked him to bring it to me, he did. No cracks. Buddy can walk at heel if I have cheese in my hand in the heel position but mostly he's walking up my heels.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Summer 2005
The trees and meadow looked healthy and welcoming to the Baroness when she arrived on June 15 for some much needed recuperation after a long (and last) year in 6th grade. The only sadness was that the Loyal Pooch was no longer her champion protector.
June 24, 2005
The bear is back! This time we have pictures. He lounged around on the septic path for 20 minutes, scarfing up some cracked corn. The Baroness called to him from the deck, but he didn't look up or seem to care at all. He lifted his leg like a dog and mosied off to better pickings. If he had been in another place, he'd have surely been mistaken for a Newfoundland dog.
In July while the Baron was in residence, living room furniture was delivered. This made the Reading Hour (no TV, remember) much more comfortable. We had a little problem with the sofa but Caperella's(814) 355-4857) took it back to reupholster both arms. It's dry and hot this year so we enjoy the geothermal AC. We also made several improvements to make the Barony more livable, like hangers in the bathroom, closet, and garage as well as paint under the deck to protect the wood supports. We have a laptop, but only dial-up for now, but at least we are connected.
We've seen deer in the meadow, and we've seen lots of evidence, browse and scat, of deer in the woods, but today we watched 2 fawn nurse, rather roughly, for several minutes. They were at the top of the Lower Jennifer Trail; then loped away across the septic path and into the forest, seemingly carefree.
Wahoo! Toys. After much research and discussion with R, the Baron decided on Kubota at Dotterers in St. College. The RTV is a worksite model, diesel, 4-wheel drive, with a roof and hydrolic lift in the back. That will make it nice to unload rocks and dirt. Big Orange. The tractor is an L2800 with a Bushhog mower behind. Bigger Orange. The Baron only was able to drive his Toys for 3 days before he had to return to the prairie. The Baroness will take good care of them and give them plenty of exercise.
August 14
Lady Terra had to inspect the Toys so she came to visit for a weekend.
For Father's Day this year the Ladies suggested building the Ernst Memorial Bier Garten. We have lots of chestnut (oaks) and here is the rock. We have the Bier. Next, we need a bench. The Baroness went to a meeting of the Woodland Owners of Centre County at the Walizer's Chestnut Tree Farm to learn if The Barony might one day support chestnuts as it probably did before 1920.
With the Toys and 6 cu yds of compost that R arranged to have delivered, the Baroness got to work. First, a soil test, then lots of lime and fertilizer. A trip to College Garden's sale table and to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's native plant sale were next on the list. The Baroness moved rocks to form a shade garden for iris and lilies of the valley (to be imported from NE). On the east hill she planted 2 bayberries, 2 bleeding hearts, 4 asters, 2 monarda, 1 lavender, 2 blueberries, 2 hummulo stachys, 2 New Jersey Tea, 4 budelaria, a mountain mint, and 2 columbine. Deer apparently don't prefer fragrant plants; we'll see. The plan is to plant a few things at a time and see what makes it.
Summer 2005
-- Season-to-Date Statistics --
Average High Temperature: 82.18 Rank (1=Warmest, 110=Coldest: 17
Average Low Temperature : 63.78 Rank (1=Coldest, 110=Warmest) : 110
Mean SUMMER Temperature : 72.98 Departure (109-Year) : 3.64
Total Rain or Liquid Equivalent : 7.85 Rank (1=Wettest, 110=Driest) : 99
Total Snow and/or Ice Pellets : 0.0 Rank (1=Snowiest, 110=Least) : 110
Total Heating Degree-Days : 21 Total Cooling Degree-Days : 779
June 24, 2005
The bear is back! This time we have pictures. He lounged around on the septic path for 20 minutes, scarfing up some cracked corn. The Baroness called to him from the deck, but he didn't look up or seem to care at all. He lifted his leg like a dog and mosied off to better pickings. If he had been in another place, he'd have surely been mistaken for a Newfoundland dog.
In July while the Baron was in residence, living room furniture was delivered. This made the Reading Hour (no TV, remember) much more comfortable. We had a little problem with the sofa but Caperella's(814) 355-4857) took it back to reupholster both arms. It's dry and hot this year so we enjoy the geothermal AC. We also made several improvements to make the Barony more livable, like hangers in the bathroom, closet, and garage as well as paint under the deck to protect the wood supports. We have a laptop, but only dial-up for now, but at least we are connected.
We've seen deer in the meadow, and we've seen lots of evidence, browse and scat, of deer in the woods, but today we watched 2 fawn nurse, rather roughly, for several minutes. They were at the top of the Lower Jennifer Trail; then loped away across the septic path and into the forest, seemingly carefree.
Wahoo! Toys. After much research and discussion with R, the Baron decided on Kubota at Dotterers in St. College. The RTV is a worksite model, diesel, 4-wheel drive, with a roof and hydrolic lift in the back. That will make it nice to unload rocks and dirt. Big Orange. The tractor is an L2800 with a Bushhog mower behind. Bigger Orange. The Baron only was able to drive his Toys for 3 days before he had to return to the prairie. The Baroness will take good care of them and give them plenty of exercise.
August 14
Lady Terra had to inspect the Toys so she came to visit for a weekend.
For Father's Day this year the Ladies suggested building the Ernst Memorial Bier Garten. We have lots of chestnut (oaks) and here is the rock. We have the Bier. Next, we need a bench. The Baroness went to a meeting of the Woodland Owners of Centre County at the Walizer's Chestnut Tree Farm to learn if The Barony might one day support chestnuts as it probably did before 1920.
With the Toys and 6 cu yds of compost that R arranged to have delivered, the Baroness got to work. First, a soil test, then lots of lime and fertilizer. A trip to College Garden's sale table and to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's native plant sale were next on the list. The Baroness moved rocks to form a shade garden for iris and lilies of the valley (to be imported from NE). On the east hill she planted 2 bayberries, 2 bleeding hearts, 4 asters, 2 monarda, 1 lavender, 2 blueberries, 2 hummulo stachys, 2 New Jersey Tea, 4 budelaria, a mountain mint, and 2 columbine. Deer apparently don't prefer fragrant plants; we'll see. The plan is to plant a few things at a time and see what makes it.
Summer 2005
-- Season-to-Date Statistics --
Average High Temperature: 82.18 Rank (1=Warmest, 110=Coldest: 17
Average Low Temperature : 63.78 Rank (1=Coldest, 110=Warmest) : 110
Mean SUMMER Temperature : 72.98 Departure (109-Year) : 3.64
Total Rain or Liquid Equivalent : 7.85 Rank (1=Wettest, 110=Driest) : 99
Total Snow and/or Ice Pellets : 0.0 Rank (1=Snowiest, 110=Least) : 110
Total Heating Degree-Days : 21 Total Cooling Degree-Days : 779
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