tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16973018162889591112024-03-12T22:47:29.142-07:00THE SIMPLE LIFEjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.comBlogger369125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-50210810650696302642020-03-25T19:59:00.004-07:002020-03-25T19:59:52.365-07:00GardeningGetting close to garden time again. I have plants in the greenhouse. Tomatoes, Cucumbers and squash. Repotted tomatoes today. The were getting a little leggy and starting second set of leaves. Cucumbers are doing great as are the squash. They will go outside in a few weeks. Tomatoes are still quite a ways out. Will be starting some herbs soon. We also worked in our fruit garden. We have raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes and elderberries. Raspberries, grapes and strawberries we have had for quite a few years. The rest were put out last year. We were pruning and clearing out deadwood. The grapes have been good to us. We have only one vine, but will get anywhere from 50-80 quarts of juice from it each year. There are a lot of wild chokecherry bushes and wild plums in the area so those are always a possibility. They make very good jelly.<br />
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I hope everybody is doing ok in this time of crisis. Later. God Bless--johnnyb<br />
<br />johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-21423308476956182252020-03-23T05:38:00.001-07:002020-03-23T05:38:48.606-07:00Tales From the Whogonkies <i>Catchy title isn't it! Once I heard someone say they were from the Whogonkies. I always took that as being somewhere between here and the other side of nowhere. I am sure that I have been to the Whogonkies at one time or another as I am sure most people have been. It might only been in our imaginary minds as a child battling the forces of evil, (i.e. cowboys and Indians in my day), or just driving through an area of desolate country that you cannot imagine anyone ever living in. Then again it could be that area just over the next hill that I tell the grandson is the middle of nowhere. It is always over the next hill. So here goes my story of that area known as the Whogonkies.</i><br />
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Uncle Jake Holenhammer from chokecherry draw was in town yesterday. Said he really wasn't planning on coming to town, but when he hitched up the mules to go a neighbors, they got a little frisky and got a little out of control. He figured they must have wanted to come to town when they took the left fork in the road instead of the right one. Anyway he was making the best of it. He was headed for Mz. Betsy's House of Feel Better Quick. Said he thought it was soon enough to spring for a nice all over bath, shave, and haircut,etc. I think that there is something else going over there, but being the fine upstanding citizen that I am, I have not frequented the place. I have seen some mighty pretty ladies going in the back door. I just figured it was some kinfolk of Mz. Betsy, but maybe not. I may have to check into that a little more. Interesting project for next week.<br />
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There was a box supper and barn dance over at the Shimwater place Saturday nite. Good time was had by all. I was there bidding on Miss Annie Whizzlestones, box supper. I was able to outlast the other guys and we sat in a corner and enjoyed what ever it was she had prepared. I am not sure what the sandwich was, but I ate it to be polite. It was worth the "backyard trots" that I got just to spend some time with her. I may have to go courting some evening, without the sandwich this time. Anyway we enjoyed dancing to the music of the Schnagglenathy family from up creek a few miles. All seventeen of them. The refreshments were provided by Uncle Ned and his boys from up Rattlesnake Canyon. I'm not sure what it was, but it was tasty. Kind of had a little kick to it. Wasn't to many fights this time. Once in a while it gets a little wild.<br />
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Grandpa Smith passed on last week. Some say he was just a little on the other side of a hundred years old. Others said he wasn't all that old. Just was the life he led. I guess he had an ample supply of "shine" and tobacco every day. Some say they didn't need to embalm him, just put him away. Anyway he will be missed by all, especially the "shine" producers!<br />
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Speaking of the "shine" producers, been a few strangers in the area lately. Always a little suspicious when there is strangers about. Haven't heard of anything happening yet, but we will see.<br />
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I have to go. the sandwich is still working a little bit. Until next time--God Bless<br />
<br />johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-69200579291478444102020-03-20T19:24:00.002-07:002020-03-20T19:24:37.079-07:00First Day of SpringFirst day of spring yesterday. Day started off with fog so thick you could cut it with a knife. Fog cleared off and it was a nice sunny day. By 1PM the temperature was 64 degrees and no wind. By 4 PM it was cloudy again, wind was kicking up and temperature was dropping. At about 5 PM a thunderstorm rolled through the area and the temp had dropped to the lower 40's. At 10 PM the temperature was in the middle 20's and a blizzard was raging with 40+ mph winds. Didn't end up with very much snow, Just cold. Wind chills around zero this morning. Springtime in the High Plains!johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-79186302731224857922020-03-18T20:41:00.000-07:002020-03-18T20:41:02.210-07:00When I started this blog a few years ago, The Simple Life seemed to be a good theme. 10 years ago we moved to the country from town. Everything seemed like it was going to be so simple. As I sit here this morning and look back over my 73 years on this earth, I wonder if it is so simple. As I was growing up in the late 40's and 50's, it was simple. Our phone hung on the wall. You had to turn a little crank to get "central", the operator. When she answered, yes it was always a she, you gave her a number She would then ring that number and the person would answer. At the same time you could hear other phone being lifted up. Everyone was on a party line. It was like morse code. Longs and shorts. Ours was longs. If it was 1, 3, or 4, it was our neighbors. The coffee shops of today don't hold a candle for being gossip starters like the old party line phone system.<br />
Electricity came to our part of the world in 1946-1948. Don't really remember that part. I do remember the outhouse and chamber pots under the bed, Saturday night baths in a big tub in the middle of the dining room floor.<br />
TV didn't enter my world until 1957. What a day that was when Dad brought home that Sylvania, I believe. Wasn't much for variety. 1 station, 2 if we went out and moved the antenna by hand. Wasn't much channel surfing. Our main entertainment came on Saturday when we would go to town. Us and most of the county! Women shopped and visited, exchanged recipes,etc. Men would go to the pool hall for some spit and whittle time, swap a few lies, talk about the weather. Complain if it was to dry or to wet or to hot or cold. Women weren't allowed in the poolhall, so when they were ready to go home, they would tap on the window to try get someone's attention. Smoke was usually so thick you couldn't see in.<br />
I went to a one room country school for 8 years of elementary school. No kindergarten. We went to school from September to the middle of April. We had to help our parents get the crops in. The school was a community gathering place during the school year. Big Halloween party with bonfire, roasting hod dogs and marshmallows. <br />
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We lived in a world where pictures were only take on cameras. Our phones either hung on the wall or on a table, not in our pocket. I never even lived in a house with A/C until I was out of the service. Families got together for Sunday dinners often, not just at Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. <br />
All the modern conveniences don't make life simpler. Maybe easier. We have lost our privacy. We can't even be sure that big brother is not watching us all the time. Everything goes at breakneck speed, even people. Always in a hurry. A pandemic has spread around the world in only 2 months. We are moving way faster than we can keep up with!<br />
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I don't think life is simpler now than it was even 10 years ago. We need to stop, take a deep breath and take a good look around us.<br />
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God Bless-johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-71986337691883152522015-07-12T20:18:00.002-07:002015-07-12T20:18:45.923-07:00Canning seasonWe started doing some canning this week. We have had a couple of picking of green beans. The next pickings will go to friends of ours who for one reason or another don't have any this year. This was the second picking<br />
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Then came kraut. We made up 2-5 gallon buckets of kraut. This is my sister-in-law threatening somebody with a knife, I think it was her sister for taking the picture! The kraut is working good already. We have more to do. will make Amish Slaw with most of it. We used 14 heads of cabbage for the kraut. We picked it up at a garden for $2 a head. <br />
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I get the job of packing the cabbage in the buckets. Safer that way. No sharp knives!!<br />
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Then came the beets. Me and Ma doin' our thing!! We might have a few more to do later. Squash is starting to come on. Tomatoes are running a little behind,<br />
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Sorry Kymber, but I had to post it!<br />
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We always give credit to the One who makes this all possible. Without His help this would not be possible. One time we stood looking at our garden, patting ourselves on the back for our fine work. 2 hours later we lost it all to a hailstorm. Coincidence? Only one knows .</div>
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God Bless All. johnnyb </div>
johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-761774614489203842015-07-03T05:05:00.001-07:002015-07-03T05:06:04.330-07:00Summer has arrivedSummer has hit with a vengeance this week. Though it looks like we may have a break for the 4th. A little rain yesterday. Just enough to put off watering for a day. We picked our first batch of green beans this week. These we put in the freezer. Some will be canned later on. <br />
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The outdoor canning kitchen is pretty much finished. A lot of odds and ends things to finish, but it is usable. It has been an interesting project. I need to get a water hook-up for the sink and a drain. <br />
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I hope everyone has a good and safe holiday. We are going to a cook-out at our daughters tomorrow. Our son has been here for a week, He is on summer break from his school job. He is a para for a middle school. It has been fun having him around. <br />
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God bless all--joihnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-20359387440685407462015-06-20T05:12:00.001-07:002015-06-20T05:13:19.748-07:00Good Morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Started work on the inside of the project. I was going to use OSB on the walls, but I have plenty of pallets,so I am using the boards from them. </div>
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Using paper shred as an insulation in the walls. Getting closer every day. Canning season will soon be on us.<br />
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Some shots from around the garden. First run of cabbage is doing good. A lot of kraut in the making. I have another 30+ plants that will be for a later crop. They have been in the ground only a couple of weeks.<br />
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Zucchini that are getting close. <br />
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One of the beds of green beans. They started blooming this week. <br />
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The garden has been doing ok. We have enough rain to help. Temperatures are starting to climb into the summer range, so we will have to start putting water to it. Still getting asparagus. Carol says her raspberries will be ready soon. Good jam on the horizon!!<br />
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And after a hard day of work, keeping the place safe from all the wild animals (bunnies), Bela hits the showers before heading in for supper and a nap!<br />
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God Bless all. Have a good weekend.--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-72611611536923194022015-06-14T06:24:00.000-07:002015-06-14T06:24:32.911-07:00CelebrationA small town near us has a celebration every 5 years. Called an ox roast. no ox, just beef. there may have been an ox when it was started 101 years ago. Meat is cooked over coals in a pit for a day or so. Very good. there is all kinds of things go on during the day. Parade, school reunion, live music, dance in the evening, lots of refreshments, (lots), games, and just a lot of fun. The town has a population of 100-200. Probably closer to 100. Yesterday there were thousands in for the celebration.<br />
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The last pic needs to be enlarged to get full benefit.<br />
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Also something for the kids:<br />
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Always a good time. </div>
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God Bless--johnnyb</div>
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johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-16505413545989562482015-06-13T06:37:00.000-07:002015-06-13T06:37:38.773-07:00RamblingsGood Saturday morning! Some rain in the area again in the past few days. We didn't get much here. Just a few sprinkles. Enough to cool things a little. More work done on the canning kitchen this week.<br />
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I got the other window installed yesterday. Will start making screens for the windows now and putting up trim and then the inside. It won't be long until we will be canning. The beets are growing, the beans are in bloom, and cabbages are in the head. Tomatoes are starting to bloom. I thought they never would start to grow. The ground didn't warm up until later this year.<br />
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Time to do something productive. In hope everyone has a good and safe weekend. In the immortal words of no one, "If you can't be careful, name it after me"!<br />
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God Bless all--johnnyb<br />
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<br />johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-11892151085895854072015-06-08T06:14:00.001-07:002015-06-08T06:14:24.854-07:00And the work week startsI used that phrase in the title kind of loosely. In retirement there doesn't seem to ever be the start or end of the work week! I didn't realize that we had planned up so many projects over our lifetime! We probably will never live to see all of them completed. Someday we are going to do this or that or whatever. Someday, for some reason or other, we will not be able to do the things we would like to. Tomorrow I will celebrate the 39th anniversary of my 30th birthday!! My how time does fly. It just seems like yesterday I was running around in dirty diapers. Oh wait, that was yesterday. Just kidding!!! The one good thing about growing older with a spouse of a close age is that you can forget things together. Yesterday while sitting at the table eating lunch and both trying to remember a name, the mention was made at least we haven't got to the place where we forget each others name! Name tags with pictures are not required uniform of the day yet!! These are all things that I used to chuckle at my parents or grandparents. Not so funny anymore. I used to get back into shape after a long winter in just a short time. Now it takes almost to winter again!!<br />
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I joke about it, but with the exception of more aches and pains, creaks and pops, it just ain't too bad!<br />
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We have a door and one window in the outdoor kitchen.<br />
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Hopefully we can get siding on the front today. Then start to frame for the windows and screen on the other sides. <br />
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Here is a picture of one of Carol's flower beds. The moisture we have had has been a blessing. This country looks like an oasis!<br />
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God Bless all who this may touch!--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-17679501727957855712015-06-06T05:50:00.001-07:002015-06-06T05:50:50.657-07:00Summer KitchenWe got the roof and part of the siding on the summer kitchen. The top part will be hinged openings. It is getting closer and we exited about being able to do the canning outside. <br />
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The garden is coming along. Things are starting to grow a little as the weather warms. I put in another dozen cabbage plants the other day. Still another dozen plus to go. We had another 1/2 inch of rain last night, so we haven't had to water much. I still need to plant more sweet corn. Some rodent is digging up the kernels after I plant them. <br />
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A good friend from Colorado brought 4 more Aspen orphans to plant. We are starting to get a small "forest" started. He also brought some pallets he picked up at the feed store. Another "project' in the making. <br />
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There has been a lot of bad weather in the tri-state area here. We haven't had any right here, but some areas have. tornadoes, heavy rain, a lot of hail. We don't need the bad stuff anywhere.<br />
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God Bless all--jobnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-81115963076149875592015-06-03T05:51:00.001-07:002015-06-03T05:51:41.152-07:00Early morning picJust happened to catch this view from our front door this morning and wanted to to share it.<br />
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God Bless--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-32446015675586794232015-05-31T07:24:00.001-07:002015-05-31T07:24:24.164-07:00Cool weather.May 31 and it is hoody weather this morning. Been unseasonably cool the last couple of days. We went to the car races Friday night and it was almost too chilly to enjoy. But we did any way. We have always been racing fans. Both of us were dirt-tracking at an early age. Nothing like seeing 3 or four cars side by side coming around a turn. NASCAR is ok, and I try to watch whenever I can, but it still doesn't to dirt-trackin".<br />
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We did a little more work on the outdoor kitchen. We have most of the roof on. We are almost ready to start the sides. It has been a fun project. Can't wait to get the outside done, so I can start the inside. We could use it as it sits now, but we have time to finish it.<br />
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I need to do a little work in the garden or the weeds are going to bypass the produce. With the rain we have had, this country looks really good. We haven't had the heavy rains that other areas have had, so it has been nice. Our prayers go out to those who have suffered because of the severe storms or flooding. <br />
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God Bless--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-72974003512634638882015-05-28T06:36:00.004-07:002015-05-28T06:36:48.191-07:00Thursday morning ramblings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had a nice shower go through last evening. About 1/4 of an inch here. Right west there was a lot more, with some flooding possible. More of the same tonight in the same areas. We are happy with</div>
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the small amount and no severe stuff. What moisture we have had makes this country look like an oasis. </div>
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These are some pics from around the place this week. The canning kitchen is coming along. Maybe get the rafters up today if it don't rain. We are looking forward to using it this summer and fall.</div>
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The iris flowers are in full bloom. We were given a tub full of flowers last year. We had no idea what colors. Ended up with 6 different colors. My Mom always had a lot if Iris. Brings back memories of many years ago. We put mineral tubs with the bottoms cut out to keep the critters away. We have done the same with fruit trees. Keeps the rabbits from gnawing on them.</div>
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The garden is doing ok. Temperatures have not warmed as much as usual, so the ground is still a little cool. Night-time temps still in the upper 40's and low 50's. <br />
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Cabbage plants are doing pretty good. I planted the first dozen early in April. 2 weeks later I planted the second dozen. The first has done good. Second did't fair too well. I have another 40 about ready to go. We hope to make a lot of kraut this year. We only made a five gallon bucket last year. It is about gone. Carol also did up a few quarts of Amish coleslaw. It is gone!! Much more of both this fall.<br />
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Time to go. The dogs think it is time to feed the chickens. My thought for the day--the middle of nowhere is always over the next hill!! God Bless--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-47159923062153753192015-05-25T07:23:00.001-07:002015-05-25T07:23:22.059-07:00Memorial Day 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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God Bless-johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-46345343997066526952015-05-25T06:27:00.005-07:002015-05-25T06:29:29.184-07:00RememberI hope everyone takes a little time over this weekend to remember, not just our loved ones, but all those who have passed on before us. It is not just placing flowers or wreaths on graves. We need to remember those times with our friends and loved ones. The good times, the bad times. Those that are the reason we are here , and those that helped mold our lives into what it is today. There are those who gave that we may be free. Sometimes we tend to forget those who helped structure the freedom that so many take for granted. Just because they have been gone for a couple of hundred years, does not mean they should be forgotten. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and whole list of others are always mentioned. But what about the unnamed colonial farmer who lost his life for the cause? They all need to be included. Go to a local cemetery and find the old part of it. Spend a few minutes pondering over the graves. Were they pioneers looking to start a new life. Was it the forgotten grave of a child. Maybe a mother in childbirth. A whole family lost maybe. They all need to be remembered. We don't necessarily need to have known someone to be able to hold them in remembrance. Just remember!<br />
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God Bless--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-59434634048307364802015-05-22T07:43:00.000-07:002015-05-22T07:43:05.233-07:00Spring Goings OnGood morning to the world. We are having rain. We have been getting a little of the wet stuff for the last couple of weeks. Not a lot, but enough to green things up. Temps have been cool also. Our winter was dry. Not much snow. The garden is getting a slow start with the cool weather. We raised most of our veggies in the greenhouse this spring. We had a frost ten days ago that killed some plants even though they were covered. Our asparagus crop has been good this spring.<br />
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Rhubarb has also been very productive this spring. Our Quaking Aspens are doing well. They are sending up shoots, so we are on our way to an Aspen grove.<br />
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Started the first project of the year yesterday. We are building an outdoor canning kitchen. We were blessed with a quite a bit of re-purposed material this winter. Always makes it easier to do when the materials are on hand. Hope to have a lot of things to can this year. <br />
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It seems like I just hibernated for the winter. There were some things I was going to do, but just never got around to it. Did a lot of reading. We go to a book club once a month. The state historical society along with the local library, provide a book and we meet with a person from the Historical Society to cuss and discuss the book. It has been quite interesting.<br />
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Enough for today. My coffee cup is empty. Time to fill it. God Bless All. --johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-56036345794668743322014-11-11T06:58:00.002-08:002014-11-11T06:58:48.411-08:00Veterans DayHappy Veterans Day to all my fellow Veterans. God Bless---johnnyb EM2 USN 1965-1970johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-4881799132744706202014-11-10T04:49:00.001-08:002014-11-10T04:49:13.458-08:00Old Barns and Old PeopleVery heartwarming video. Worth a few minutes to watch.--johnnyb<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J8Ioa1gVVeA?showinfo=0&rel=0">Old Barns and Old People</a>johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-84508523663938388932014-11-09T07:12:00.001-08:002014-11-09T07:12:46.431-08:00Sunday morning Another week has passed and another started. It seemed as if the week flew by. There was a lot going on I guess to make it seem that. Election day, and I hope that went as to everyone's liking. It went well here for us on our state. I am glad it is over. TV ads, flyers in the mail. Seems like there is a lot of money spent that could have been put to use elsewhere. Oh well, I am not a politician, never was one nor will I ever want to be one. Enough on this subject. <br />
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This week will be a test for the little greenhouse. Temperatures are forecast to be down in the lower teens. Highs in the 30's. I redid the solar heater this week. I replaced the aluminum cans with a metallic dryer hose. Seems to be working ok. High temps have been in the 70's, so 30's will be the test for daytime. Night will be the real test. I have a couple of different heat methods to use, so we will see. I planted lettuce, basil, and cucumbers a week ago. The are up and growing under a heat lamp. The tomato starts are doing good.<br />
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This one I rooted in water. It is doing ok since potting. I have a couple of others that were cuttings that I went directly to potting soil. They are doing ok also. <br />
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A friend gave us an old wringer washer yesterday that is in pretty good condition. We have been looking for one. this one just kind of fell into our hands. Right place at the right time. <br />
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Time to go. We have some last minute things to do for the upcoming cold spell. Could be a long time until spring. <br />
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God Bless--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-73543122262862141792014-11-01T09:14:00.000-07:002014-11-01T09:14:05.421-07:00Fall is finally hereFall has finally are arrived. We started the pellet stove for the first time this morning. This is the latest we have had to use it. The nights have been cool, but not cool enough to crank up the fire, <br />
We picked tomatoes until last week. Frost finally got to the plants, and it was time to let nature take its course. I did take some cuttings from the tomatoes and they are doing ok so far in the greenhouse. The jalapenos were planted in a mineral tub, and I just moved it all inside the greenhouse. This winter will be kind of an experimental thing with the greenhouse. What works I use again and what doesn't, oh well I tried! I had also picked a bunch of green tomatoes. They are ripening on racks in the greenhouse. <br />
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I am now wondering if I shouldn't have made it a little bigger! I am also experimenting with different ways of heating naturally, without electricity. Daytime is no problem with the solar heater as long as there is plenty of sun. I want it to be totally independent from electricity. I think it will be okay.<br />
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Our grandson is here for part of the weekend. 20th birthday yesterday. Pizza last night and then a nice evening of just visiting. He only lives 20 miles away, but a 20 year is a very busy person, so we don't get to see him as often as we would like. <br />
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God Bless all--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-1077798701655547662014-10-13T09:44:00.000-07:002014-10-13T10:02:11.850-07:00Happy MondayI say Happy Monday because for some people it is. I think it is a Federal Holiday, so some people will have a day longer to recuperate from 2 days of football, or just plain old R & R. (or I & I for some).<br />
Just sitting here waiting for the temperature to rise a little higher before going out to do whatever. Seems like it makes no difference what I plan to do, I always get side tracked. We have had only minor frost here, we are still getting tomatoes. Unusual for this time of year in this neck of the woods. It has been a busy month. I did get the green house completed. Have some things moved inside.<br />
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I have been picking tomatoes and letting them completely ripen inside. The trees are fig trees that we are going to try and raise. May not work, but we will try. They were brought to us from a friend in Beaumont TX. The corn is bloody butcher corn for grinding. I had to get it off of the stalks. The birds seem to like it more than the sweet corn! Also some mint and thyme drying. <br />
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Ms. B has been making jelly and jam from the juice we had canned up during the summer. Raspberry jam, white grape and chokecherry jelly. We have also dehydrated some apples. The chokecherries we pick along the county roads. Raspberries, and grapes were from our own garden. <br />
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It has been a fairly good garden season. We split most with my sister-in-law. Her garden didn't do well. Next year she will have a space at our place. <br />
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We have actually had a little moisture this fall. Some areas more than others. At least the wheat crop will have a fighting chance this year.<br />
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God Bless all--johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-13719787311458731022014-09-13T07:24:00.002-07:002014-09-13T07:24:46.145-07:00Saturday morning.Nice crisp 34 degrees this morning. I covered some of the garden plants last night. I haven't checked to see if there was any damage. Hope not. Still lots of tomatoes on. New crop of green beans are just blooming, and some late sweet corn is just about ready. We have been getting a little moisture this week. Actually had a day of drizzle on Thursday. It has been a long time since that has happened. <br />
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These turkeys were motoring past the house yesterday. The drought and heat of the past couple of years has been hard on the wild bird population. They are starting to build back up again. Turkeys were not bothered as bad as pheasant and quail. We have raised quail in the past for release and some bred pheasant hens were released last spring. Hopefully it will all help. <br />
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One of our broody hens hatched 3 chicks last week. They are doing fine. We also bought another dozen chicks. Our other layers are st<span style="text-align: center;">arting to get some age on them. Time to start replacing them.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Hope everyone has a good weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">If you are offered a wooden nickel, take it. Probably worth more than a real one.--johnnyb</span>johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-22934912115461071442014-09-11T07:14:00.003-07:002014-09-11T07:14:32.820-07:009-11Just remembering.--God Bless-johnnybjohnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697301816288959111.post-40731380328780036672014-09-10T15:27:00.004-07:002014-09-10T15:27:47.877-07:00Just thinkingWe have White Americans, Black Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Japanese Americans, Irish Americans, Chinese Americans, Korean Americans , and the list goes on and on and on. I for one am an American. Not Swedish American, (my grandfather was a Swedish immigrant). I am an American and damn proud of it! If you want to be an African or Korean or Irish or Hispanic, fine, but go back there and let those of us who want to be American be American. But I guess if you went back to Africa or Japan and called yourself an American African or American Japanese or whatever, you would be looked down on. Unless you have dual citizenship--Be one or the other. Stand up America and be proud!!!!!!<br />
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I apologize if I offend anyone. I don't intend to. I have had wonderful friends from all nationalities throughout my life, but they were solid Americans. Just a burr under my saddle--johnnyb.johnnybhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15583515325585742368noreply@blogger.com12