Good Morning!

[Dotch]

Morning. I think. Feel like I'm half dead but not quite ready for the boneyard. Trying to decide if this headache is sinus related or gin related. I'm going with sinus. Couldn't be the gin!  Trying to get mentally prepared to get a small batch of hay after chores and think coffee may be the answer I'm looking for. Saw the first tree swallows here yesterday too and heard the first brown thrasher as well. A few flower buds on one pear tree but none on the other so will likely be pear-less once again. Apple trees look good though and the plums are about ready to burst into bloom. I'm sorta on call today if someone needs info and a quick dig to see if their planter is indeed planting where they think it is. Otherwise it's time to finish yard cleanup and fire up the mowers to see how they wintered. Maybe finish the bluebird house cleanup and repair. Some of them are getting some age on them. 

 

[RebelSS]

Hope that knobache goes away, Dotch. Musta been the wrong spirits ya grabbed.  We're all getting age on us...woke up with this song in my head. One of my favorites. No idea where THAT came from. It's true, though...we look back on our lives as the good ol' days, but the future is not as bad as it seems....

 

[leechlake]

Mrs announced that the swallows are back a few minutes ago.  I see you guys did too.  LPS's comment on them being friendly may be true but this sub specie we have she hates.  Stucco house and pond behind us makes for swallow nesting heaven.  We have a walk out and reaching the nests with a gigantic extended pole is the only way to do it.  It's fun.  You have to stand under the mud nest and polk at it and the poo and swallow spit falls on your head.  They could rival Del at engineering because their nests are solidly built I can tell you.  It's fun sitting out with the Red Ryder and trying to kill them though.  It's funny because when I proudly hang multiple deer in the garage the wife isn't happy but if she sees me with one dead swallow she thinks I'm Daniel Boone.

Son just announced he's going to Prom and it's Fishing Opener.  He was going to bring a buddy so that makes 16 less walleye fillets for the landfill.  Wife just asked me to help with "a little something."  She's cleaning the house and asked if I'd be in charge of cleaning the main floor floors and the bathroom.  A few buzz words caught my ear, little something and in charge.  Some sort of sales pitch as if being in charge of this will boost my ego.  Fortunately or unfortunately in this case our house is fairly big.  1800 feet of "a little something" is my task but luckily I'm "in charge."  What happened to our old motto of me being in charge of outside and her being in charge of inside?   Maybe she will put a maid uniform on and I'm talking that black and white little number not the one they wear at Motel 6.

[lovebigbluegills]

Good morning all!!! I plan to take it pretty easy today, nothing much planned as its supposed to be rainy. I took out a pork roast Thursday and got it soaking in a brine after work yesterday. I put it in the smoker around 7, and hopefully it will be ready for supper tonight. I should have probably got up around midnight to put it in. If its not ready in time for supper, there's still plenty of leftovers to eat. The plan for most of it is to use for sandwiches to take to work anyhoo. 

That's enough for now, I've got a pile of reading to catch up on!!

[RebelSS]

Sounds like the perfect day, lbbg. Enjoy that weather!!   

[Dotch]

1 hour ago, leechlake said:

 Wife just asked me to help with "a little something."  She's cleaning the house and asked if I'd be in charge of cleaning the main floor floors and the bathroom.  A few buzz words caught my ear, little something and in charge.  Some sort of sales pitch as if being in charge of this will boost my ego.  Fortunately or unfortunately in this case our house is fairly big.  1800 feet of "a little something" is my task but luckily I'm "in charge."  What happened to our old motto of me being in charge of outside and her being in charge of inside?   Maybe she will put a maid uniform on and I'm talking that black and white little number not the one they wear at Motel 6.

A couple serving suggestions LL:  

 

[RebelSS]

Tell her NO SHOES ON THE BED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Cripes!    

[LindellProStaf]

It only let me like it once Dotch.  

[Coffee118]

Good mining all, going to the first golf outing today. Sunny and 76 degrees today perfect for golf. Since I'm still on soft food for about another week it looks like I'll have to have about 8 to 10 cheeseburgers in a can today out on the course . As for my ashes I'm having some dumped off of dock #1 at life of Riley resort in lake vermilion and then the rest at the ex wifes family cabin, then that way I'll always be around to haunt their dumb a**es. All have a great day

[RebelSS]

Morning all. Why have I been up for an hour?! The robins and crows started in at 5:30 am.... arguing about territory or something. Take it easy on those gums, Coffee. Big bowl of ice cream might help. Hope things are bearable and getting better.  Hit 82* down here yday and breezy. Dry as a popcorn fart, too. Speaking of ashes.... Burning ban in effect..so the knob neighbors next door have a big fire going last nite, in the open. Burning up tree limbs. Illegal in the city, anyway. Embers floating up and blowing around everywhere in the breeze. Then the ones behind me do the same thing. Shoulda called the cops on 'em, or informed them. Think I will today. Don't care to have my yard or house burn up because someone is brain dead.  Looked like a lot of fun anyway...when the fire died down, all you could see was three iPhone lit screens and silence. Must be a lot of fun sitting around a fire with yer beak in the screen of an iPhone. Don't they just have a "Fire" app they could use and sit around inside and watch? Bet the weather apps showed the burn ban. Mine did. We've become a lazy, stare at screen society. No interaction. People can't even converse anymore. The art of conversation is dying.  I'm thinking some cheddar scrambled eggs and sausage right now might help...toast with clover honey...then outside to start on my work ethics. Chalk-lining some patio block and marking some ground  for new edging and rock to be put in next week. Then maybe prep the deck for it's staining. Enjoy the day and weather guys, just watch the fires. 

 

[LindellProStaf]

Good morning.  Had a great day yesterday.  Went and did our shopping in the Falls which is fun.  Then came home and had a fire in our pit the wife made years ago.  A safe one Reb.  We have a small bluetooth speaker that sounds great.  I have the Iheart app on my phone and then bluetooth it to the speaker and listened to Highwayman radio.  Of course some cocktails were involved too.  Had some light sprinkles but we didn't mind a bit.  Had some good Willy, Merle Haggard, johny Cash, and even some Lynrd Skynrd playing.  Almost had me dancing.  AND there was that song I forgot about from Willy about when I die just roll up my ashes and smoke me up. lolol  Had to tell the wife about our ashes conversation.   Then we grilled up some NY Strips on the charcoal grill.

All of the Willy music got me to thinking of some of the movies he was in so we came in and found Honeysuckle Rose on Amazon and are going to watch that when I am done here.  Great movie.  I remember the beautiful little Appaloosa that he gives his daughter.  Also I liked Barbarosa and think he rode an App in that one too.  Maybe we will try to find that too.  

It is raining lightly here and looks like we got a 1/2" last night.  We need it to green things up some.  I got 6 lbs of country style ribs on sale yesterday and have them rubbed and in the frig.  That will be the smoking project today.  Can't wait.  

Well I better go since the wife is in movie mode now.  Have a great day all.  

[Boar]

well we got rained out, now im not sure what ot do with myself.wifes workin, i ran a load of clothes, took a shower, hd 3 hardboiled eggs for breackfast, oooooh im gonna cook a have for sandwhich meat. have fun.

[bobberineyes]

Morning gents,  been a great weekend.  Everything went as planned here the " stabin cabin"..lol.  no leaks after the water got hooked up, just a few signs of mice issues but I'll get even with them. Good news is the new wood duck boxes are up but the old ones I was gonna tear down are being used already, so I'll have to wait some. Had an awesome dinner over the fire last night, blade steaks and potatoes with beans and asparagus. 

Had coffee on the deck at 6 this morning and just sat and listen to the woods come to life....man that is neat. Pileated wood Pickers all over,  wood ducks peeping,  swans , geese and endless little birds singing away.  Well gonna clean up the place and shove off in a bit . See ya.  Oh yeah , 2 local labs that roam the woods here stopped by yesterday,  one female chocolate and a great big yellow male,  turned out it was remi's b-day and these three played fetch all frigging day. Needless to say remi was wiped last night..lol

Edited April 17, 2016 by bobberineyes

[Dotch]

Well so far we have Reb keeping a close eye on the neighbors so they don't burn his house down, LPS having WIllie Nelson flashbacks (saw him in an episode of Miami Vice the other night; he looked the same 30 years ago as he does now) and last but not least, boar cooking something for sandwich meat due to a rainout. Oops! edit: Boober (boar spelling) snuck in ahead of me. Looks like he's enjoying quality time at the cabin with a tuckered out dog. 

What about here? Not much after chores and a bowl of oatmeal down the hatch. Got hay in the morning yesterday.In the afternoon we got the last of the tails docked, ear tags put in and shots given and pens of ewes and lambs moved so chores are a lot less hassle. Have been watching the birds this a.m. and have come to the conclusion I'd better put some jelly out for the orioles soon. Under the feeders today have been Harris's sparrows, white-throated sparrows, chipping sparrows and song sparrows. If the weather stays warm the plums will bloom and the apples will be right on their heels. Usually that means oriole time. Couldn't believe how fast the trees changed in a day's time. Rhubarb too. Won't be too much longer and it will be ready. Should motivate and do some putz work like the stick project, bird house project, start the lawnmower project, and maybe after that, the take a nap project. The burning ban is on here I think so won't do that. Don't have a permit right now anyway and getting one and using it has become a royal PITA here in the People's Republic of Steele Co. I have several large brush piles to burn and seems like any time I'd like to burn, the DNR has a silly ban on. That or it's raining or wet and it wouldn't burn anyway. 

Well, time to spring into action. Mrs. Cheviot went to Mankato so I can come out of hiding. I'll be pooed by the time she comes home and resumes her lusty pursuit. I may need to visit my chiropractor to figure out how to increase my stamina. 

 

[leechlake]

The RH Korean BBQ I had last night has spawned a full blown family one we're having today so that demands an adventure to the store to pick up some items.  Fleet Farm may get a visit due to my project today.  We're planting oats.  We have a spot in the backyard below a retaining wall that just has apple and crab trees and below wood chips.  The wood chips need to be replaced and I'm tired of doing it so we're pulling all of the fabric out and cleaning it up and are going to plant oats and eventually a prairie grass and wildflower number.  I've consulted my neighbor farmer and done some googling on it. Basically I'm now officially a farmer and it feels pretty good.  The wife and I went to find oats yesterday and she wanted to take her car.  WTF?  Farmers take the pick up I told her.  We headed West out of the suburban enclave and within 7 miles had found a feed store that had oats.  I got a short education from the gal and we were on our way. 

Finally, I went to get donuts this am at Holiday and there was a guy parked out front in a $75k Escalade.  Couple kids in the back and mom was inside buying a dozen donuts.  She was dressed up for church and after she got rang up she asked for a $9 receipt because the donuts were for church.  A farmer, like me, wouldn't ask for a receipt for doing the Lord's work.  Especially when the kids were going to eat half of the donuts.

Farm on boys....

[Dotch]

Well LL, now you've got to get yourself down to the farmer welfare office toot sweet Monday morning and get signed up for any or several of the numerous programs available. I'm sure you'll qualify under some touchy-feely, warm fuzzy sustainable, organic or cover crop scenario. After that, bending the bill of your cap so it fits in the mailbox to see when your government checks arrive (actually now it's the notice of when they've been direct deposited) is imperative. Just remember: It's all free!  

[delcecchi]

Dotch, my buddy that lives outside of town says burn, or maybe it's bern, permits are online now.  

[Dotch]

Tried that last year. No go then. Now for a price I am told. Rules differ by co. Going to the law enforcement center they're still free that way at last check. Still have to call the DNR # rather than the co. like we used to. They still send them out in the mail in Waseca Co., no $ or ?'s asked.

 

[RebelSS]

And down here in Dorktown no one knows what's going on. I just looked at the updated City Ordinances C I T E, and they now say outdoor burning is OK, if it's a Recreational Fire...no larger than 3' in diameter, in an "approved pit" (?!WTH is that?), and not burning rubbish or wood, branches, or limbs off of fallen trees''.  So, just what DO ya burn in yer "recreational Fire" pit?Recreational approved non-polluting logs?? Old worn out sheep carci? So many interpretations  and idiosyncrasies, there, it could only have been written by the dork squad in this town. 

[LindellProStaf]

The only other thing I can think of to burn Rebs would be tires.    They would fit in that size of an area perfectly.  What a great idea huh?   So LL you are planting oats?  We buy some wildflower stuff every year and put it on hills around here and they look nice.. I am interested in this oats planting thing though.  Would be bird feed later on too.  So what is your rationale there?  May be good to put around the house so I don't have to weed whip.  Maybe I will put oats around every object I have to weed whip around.  When I lived in Stillwater our neighbors did their whole lawn with wildflowers.  Lots of people were upset about it.  It did look junky for awhile till the flowers appeared.  AND he didn't have to mow the lawn.....

[Dotch]

I would say tires with a little tread left would probably be OK then. They're really not rubbish if they came out of the garage. Most are less than 3' across and as long as you enjoy it, it should qualify as recreational 

[leechlake]

couple things, my farmer neighbor couldn't tell me much about planting oats but we did talk about the gov't check program longer than oats.  The odds are in my favor since I'm a rookie that I will have crop failure.  My buddy in SD mom is a retired crop insurance person so she should be able to shepherd me (no pun intended) through the paperwork to find out I get nothing back.  My crop is planted and I watered it.  The Farmer's Almanac says rain Tuesday so that's nice.  Oats supposedly only take a few days to germinate and I'm hoping that's true cause it's a slight slope and I need those seeds to take hold.  I've hot extra seed and plan a second seeding once I get some stuff growing.  That may hold the seed on the slope a bit.  Most farmers don't farm on hills but I do.  Btw, labs like oats.  I poured some in a bucket and the dog turned horse and started eating it so now I also consider myself a rancher with livestock too.  Gonna need to come up with a name for our spread here.  K Bar Ranch maybe, we'll see. 

Finally, my wife said my cowboy boots look dumb with shorts on.  I saw some fetching gals the past few Summers that looked pretty good with boots and shorts.  Since I'm a rancher/farmer now I thought I'd give it a go.  Giddy up.

4 minutes ago, LindellProStaf said:

The only other thing I can think of to burn Rebs would be tires.    They would fit in that size of an area perfectly.  What a great idea huh?   So LL you are planting oats?  We buy some wildflower stuff every year and put it on hills around here and they look nice.. I am interested in this oats planting thing though.  Would be bird feed later on too.  So what is your rationale there?  May be good to put around the house so I don't have to weed whip.  Maybe I will put oats around every object I have to weed whip around.  When I lived in Stillwater our neighbors did their whole lawn with wildflowers.  Lots of people were upset about it.  It did look junky for awhile till the flowers appeared.  AND he didn't have to mow the lawn.....

my rational is based on our neighborhood.  It's called Wild Meadows and the original premise was to make the "common areas" into prairie style landscape with wildflowers.  They plant oats a lot and then incorporate the wildflowers.  The oats look dynamite frankly.  The do prescribed burns every few years and did one the other day, pretty cool process frankly.  Looks like garbage for a week or two and then the land comes alive.  It seems like a lazy, easy way to fill the area and it should match the surroundings.  If it doesn't no big expense either.  

[Dotch]

Yep LL you should qualify under the beginning farmer program. Forgot all about that part of the gravy train. And best of all, you can make your own oatmeal. Disappointed you didn't post a pic of you in your cowboy boots to make the rest of us jealous though. Oh well, I know how it goes as a farmer. Can't waste time dinging around, gotta get on to the next chore. K Bar ranch. Has a certain panache. I like it.   

[leechlake]

I've got a lot to learn.  First thing they said is I gotta learn how to lean on the back of the pick up in a group and not talk much, just say "yep" a lot.  I get antsy and want to do something but you gotta just stand your ground and keep leaning on the back of the truck.  Also, I've changed my name to Delbert 'cause Kris isn't a farmer name.  I tried to take some other names but they were taken; Earl, Wilmar, Travis, John, Quintin, Harold, Henry, Oscar, Brad...all taken.

[Dotch]

I can see you're a quick study. If you get yourself some red hankies so you can make blowing your nose in public sound like a motorcycle taking off you'll be well on your way. Of course the time honored one and two finger farmer nose blowing techniques  were invented for those times in private so as to avoid getting your hanky dirty. Oh and striped bib overalls, pronounced "overhauls". You're a nobody without those