Author: Diana Blakney

Bianca loves the look of the partially mowed field. Miss Tym died in the middle of the field mowing, but Sid revived her a day later … a malfunctioning tail light caused the shut down!

Some of the wildflowers (purple) we planted along the broken-glass road are blooming! Rose checker mallow (Sidalcea virgata)

And along the Rock Creek trail, tiny purple flowers (great hedge-nettle)

Keeping our forest trails/roads free and clear is essential during fire season.

I don’t understand how this big Scotch broom plant escaped earlier detection.

Griffith Creek is low.

The riparian Western red-cedars planted by the Marys River Watershed Council are thriving.

Woodcutter Mike has left evidence of his having passed this way.

Crossing Rock Creek feels great on tired feet.

Uh oh…a new obstruction across the Loop trail

No need for the chain saw when you have Bill’s muscles!

The internet/telephone cable folks are placing the cable to the mobile.

The new cable starts at the entrance and heads off to the right. You can see the trench if you look closely.

There weren’t many plums on this tree, but they were tasty.

Machines need TLC too. Sid notices a leaky tire, removes it, and …

Gives it to Dee and Bill to drop off at the tire repair shop. It is fixed and back to work in short order.

The woodshed (aka the Rickshed, named after our favorite carpenter/friend Rick) is 98% completed. Tortellini approves, but advises that there needs to be more gravel at the entrance.

Sid and Bill did some raking and voila!

Contrary to popular belief, Diana was not napping while the guys were raking. She was trimming bushes that were doing their best to break into the house.

There is always some heavy lifting to do.

Jonathan gets help from his mother-in-law … just a little push, Ma!

Joey and Uncle Bill catch up.

Forest bathing in the PNW … perfect for the California men

Not to be outdone, Joey gives mowing a try

Nice, even entrance to the mobile … great buldozing!

Sid is putting up the skirting and crawling under the mobile … Army Ranger training came in handy!

The Rickshed (woodshed by Rick) is looking good.

Mike the woodcutter reduced the stump that was impeding access to the cut through forest road. Nice.

Piles of nicely split firewood along the cut through forest road.

Mike split the oak and Bill and I loaded it up and hauled it to the farm. But…not before noticing a hornet nest right above the work area!

We don’t often see elk on our property, but here are two big ones.

Bianca looked, but decided not to chase the big rascals.

Jack the rooster is looking quite colorful lately.

Not yet split, but Mike the woodcutter left some nice pieces of oak, so Bill and I took a load to the farmhouse.

The woodshed is coming along nicely.

Even the woodshed has a fabulous view.

Nice work finishing the overhang.

Mike the woodcutter’s work.

Stump hazard!

Gone.

Mike also did some path mowing.

KC, Sid, Sunny, and Phoenix arrive for a visit and farm inspection after their wildly successful coursing event in Washington state.

Bianca was a gracious hostess and took quite a liking to Phoenix.

Ms. Tym gets a workout distributing soil.

Sid found this beautiful redtail hawk on Henkle Way. It had an injured wing. Sid took off his shirt, wrapped the hawk, and …

the hawk thanked him profusely! Neighbor Ed unhooked the hawk’s talons from Sid’s arm and Sid delivered said hawk to the Chintimini Wildlife Center where they nurse like birds back to health.

This fun piece of equipment got used for a couple of chores near the top of the big garage/barn.

Bill and Diana took a tour of a lovely tree farm. Touring other folks’ tree farms is a wonderful way to learn.

This big oak limb is perfect for Mike the woodcutter!

Another victim for Mike.

And this one is perfect for Bill.

Picking windows for the toolshed portion of the woodshed.

The Polish hens get prettier by the day.

See the coyote?

Hard working pair resting in the shade.

Day one involved getting a new battery for Unk’s Ford Ranger.

Moving and making repairs to one of the picnic tables.

Days one and two…buying and spreading straw to make the muddy part of the trail more walkable.

Can anyone tell me why Bianca selects a dirt pile to rest on when there is nice, green grass nearby?

Random wood … we will move it to a landing to slowly rot away while providing habitat for small critters.

Some pieces are too long for the Ranger and the forest road.

Sid is standing where the wood will be stored. Rick is standing where tools and mowers will be stored.

We are hosting a tour on Friday. Sid mowed the path to make the walk a wee bit easier.

We think folks will enjoy seeing a large wood placement in Rock Creek.

Clean up continues.

The woodshed is in the midst of framing.

Sandra is back in Pennsylvania, but her hard work in the garden lives on!

Sid demonstrates the spikes he needs to stabilize Bopcha’s viewpoint.