As a follow up to this morning's post, Jess and I went out and tried digging up some lilacs for replanting. Turns out its not that bad a job... other than today is warmer than it has been and very sunny... luckily there is also a breeze or I think I'd be really hot and sad!
The trick to digging out lilacs is that they make new lilacs by sending out what I would call a sucker root and then the new shoot grows from this and makes its own roots... the new shoot stays attached to the sucker root, so the key is knowing that when you dig it out, you must also sever the sucker root to get it loose.
Usually, I could just sever the sucker root with the shovel, no problem. But I got greedy at one point and wanted to take a lilac that is about 2.5 - 3 feet tall with a LARGE sucker root that I could not chop with the shovel. Out came the handy box tool from Lee Valley that has a hatchet on one end. Chop, chop, chop and out it came.
All in all we dug 7 new holes to put the transplants in... In some holes we put more than one stem in though, especially with the smallest ones at the end. I dug one large hole and put like 7 little shoots in it.
Already the hill looks nicer.... and it was free, other than a bit of labour, most of which we would've had anyhow if we'd bought them at the nursery. A couple of the larger ones we put in are a similar size to lilac bushes I've bought in the past for $20 - $25 each!
We added new soil to the holes and we brought some water in buckets in the back of the lawn tractor cart (ya know, 'cause every job starts with getting out the tractor!) to give them a bit of water to get them started. Jess then gathered up some of the big heaps of grass clippings from where I cut that path along the top of the hill yesterday and we put them around each planting as mulch.
Other than our time and sweat, the only expense was the 3 bags of soil that we used that I got a while back at TSC for $.99 a bag. I think that's pretty neat :)
I think we'll do some more another day, after we cool off! Tonight we're going back to get more of the free kijiji sod, hopefully the last trip!
-- L
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Always Busy
More busy around FHH.
Yesterday I cut all the grass AGAIN... including a swath along the top of the hill at the front side of our property. (If you're looking at our place from the road, its the right hand side, over near where we've been grazing the goats.) I got a "brilliant" idea yesterday while sitting on the lawn mower that I could dig out some of the new growth from the base of the lilac bush and transplant it over on that hill edge. The idea is to mix in some real trees both evergreens and maybe some maples and provide some cover from the road there.
I didn't dig up any of the lilac new growth yet, so I don't know if this brilliant plan will work yet or not, but we'll see how it goes. It may turn out to be one of those plans that sounds good in theory, but makes you wish you were dead when you actually try to DO it :)
After we picked Shawn up from work last night, we went a little farther into Kanata and picked up some sod that someone had dug out of their lawn to make a garden (thanks kijiji!). We brought home 4 muck buckets, a rubbermaid garbage can, 3 garden tubs, a blue water bucket and 5 plastic containers you get from buying trees at the nursery full of sod!
We are using it to help fill in the ruts that run across our property. At some point, years ago, someone drove a truck across the property a few times when it was very muddy and left these ruts. They generally aren't a big deal, except that we do have to cross them to get to where the goats have been grazing lately. They are deep enough that my lawn tractor can not go through them.
We filled some with manure early in the season and now this sod we're just laying on top of that. Makes a decent job... doubt the grass will grow, but eventually it will and that's ok with us. So mostly its free fill :)
I think after work tonight we'll make another trip and hopefully get the rest of it. Its a good deal for the person we're getting it from also, as they live in suburbia and have no way of disposing of all the sod. Everyone is happy :)
After we put all the sod down in the ruts, then we also moved the goat pen. They had pretty much used up the whole front section, so we moved it back away from the road now, closer to the old barn site. We have tons of grass to be eaten, that's for sure!!
We were definitely tired last night... again!!
That's it for now.
-- L
Yesterday I cut all the grass AGAIN... including a swath along the top of the hill at the front side of our property. (If you're looking at our place from the road, its the right hand side, over near where we've been grazing the goats.) I got a "brilliant" idea yesterday while sitting on the lawn mower that I could dig out some of the new growth from the base of the lilac bush and transplant it over on that hill edge. The idea is to mix in some real trees both evergreens and maybe some maples and provide some cover from the road there.
I didn't dig up any of the lilac new growth yet, so I don't know if this brilliant plan will work yet or not, but we'll see how it goes. It may turn out to be one of those plans that sounds good in theory, but makes you wish you were dead when you actually try to DO it :)
After we picked Shawn up from work last night, we went a little farther into Kanata and picked up some sod that someone had dug out of their lawn to make a garden (thanks kijiji!). We brought home 4 muck buckets, a rubbermaid garbage can, 3 garden tubs, a blue water bucket and 5 plastic containers you get from buying trees at the nursery full of sod!
We are using it to help fill in the ruts that run across our property. At some point, years ago, someone drove a truck across the property a few times when it was very muddy and left these ruts. They generally aren't a big deal, except that we do have to cross them to get to where the goats have been grazing lately. They are deep enough that my lawn tractor can not go through them.
We filled some with manure early in the season and now this sod we're just laying on top of that. Makes a decent job... doubt the grass will grow, but eventually it will and that's ok with us. So mostly its free fill :)
I think after work tonight we'll make another trip and hopefully get the rest of it. Its a good deal for the person we're getting it from also, as they live in suburbia and have no way of disposing of all the sod. Everyone is happy :)
After we put all the sod down in the ruts, then we also moved the goat pen. They had pretty much used up the whole front section, so we moved it back away from the road now, closer to the old barn site. We have tons of grass to be eaten, that's for sure!!
We were definitely tired last night... again!!
That's it for now.
-- L
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Obviously May is "Missing In Action" Month!
It's been a long time since I made it here to make updates. We've been so busy and by the time I actually have TIME to post, I'm out of energy!!
Spring is definitely here and we've been working on all the projects we sat around thinking up all winter! Our lilac bush bloomed this year (we missed it last year) and is almost done now. Soon I will try to think it out a bit and prune it back and try to make it look a little less unruly!
This past weekend my parents came to visit... was so nice to see them again and catch up. Their visits are never really long enough for my liking... I'd love if they could stay longer... but I also know they have other things they have to do... I'm glad for any time they have to spare to come for a visit.
While Mom and Dad were here, we got 2 trees planted in the side yard. One is a honey locust and the other is a hackberry. They don't look like much yet, but even once they leaf out this year they'll be better. Thanks Dad for all your hard work digging holes for the new tress in our crappy clay soil!
We've also been working on putting up some 5 strand electric fence for the goat babies. The posts were put in last fall... the insulators are up.... the ground rod for the fencer unit has been pounded in (Thanks Dad!!).... now we just need a bit of time to hook up the fencer and actually run the wire. We're doing 3 strands of regular wire and 2 strands of electric rope for visibility. We're hoping this will work out ok and hold in our goats.
We've had the goats out on grass for weeks now... every two days we move their enclosures to a new grazing area for fresh grass, they seem to like that well enough! They are good eaters and it only takes about 2 days for them to clear their pen (approx 30 feet diameter) of decent grass. We could maybe get 3 days out of it, but I don't want them eating it too low. We have lots of grass, there's no need to worry about running out just yet. The spots they ate first, are already just about filled in and could likely be grazed again. We'll wait a while to do that though, make sure all the manure has gone away and the grass solidly reestablished.
A couple weeks ago, we got a great deal of some 5 foot chain link fencing on kijiji... we haven't decided where that will go up yet... but we'll use it somewhere for sure! I just can't pass up a good deal on used fencing in good condition.
I've been doing physio on my knee, its an old injury that now apparently has some arthritic changes in it. I'm not sure if the physio is helping yet or not, its more sore than it was when I started, but mostly because I've learned to compensate for it for a very long time. This morning I actually got fitted for a hinged brace for it.
The ligaments (MCL and LCL) are shot in it, which allows my lower leg to move left and right against my thigh. Obviously this is not good, so this new and extremely expensive brace should help stabilize it and act like external ligaments and maybe let the inflammation settle down and slow down the progression of arthritis in it. I should have the brace in about 2 weeks or so... takes a while since its custom made. It'll look similar to this but should be metallic blue. Hopefully it will provide some relief and stability.
We installed a garden next to the house... on the driveway side, next to the mudroom. I haven't planted anything there yet, I added some manure and grass clippings to the soil and I'm waiting for them to break down a bit more before I plant. Likely in the next week or so I'll put something in there. It'll be a good place to plant bulbs in the fall... its on the south side of the house and right against the house, so they should come early next spring. Spring flowers, what a novel concept around here!
Yesterday Jess and I dug out the sod around some existing trees in the side yard. They keep getting hit by the lawn mower (they were hit with lawn mowers long before *I* moved in!) and I wanted to make it so I wouldn't have to mow so close to them. After we removed the sod, we added a couple bags of the soil I have around that I bought at TSC a while back on sale. Cleans it up around them and looks nice. Perhaps will add some nutrients to the soil and maybe those trees will grow a bit more... I'll put some manure around them in a couple weeks also.
For Mother's Day, I got some lovely flowers from Jess, Martha Washington geraniums. They are gorgeous, though one of them seems to not be doing really well... I'm not sure WHY, as its in the same type of container, same soil and right beside the one that's doing well. Seems strange to me. Shawn gave me a book "All Flesh Is Grass, The Pleasures and Promises of Pasture Farming" by Gene Logsdon. I've only read a bit so far, since we've been busy, but it seems like a neat book. I've read some of his other books and I find them really interesting. I look forward to making some time to read it all! :)
We took the dogs to the vet last night for their heart worm tests and meds. They did just fine, the tests were all negative, as expected. We really like this vet clinic... you're in, they do their thing and you're out. Not near so much lecturing and time wasting as our old vet. Not near so stressful on the dogs OR us.
Though we did just receive an ad in the mail for a mobile vet practice that interests me. His whole practice is based on coming to your house and he's affiliated with an animal hospital for emergencies and referrals. I don't know anything about the vet himself, but the concept really appeals to me. He also provides at home euthanasia, which is something I will likely have to think about in the next while.
Speaking of which, Buddy (my shep x) is doing ok right now... about a month or so ago he wasn't doing great. Him and Pixie were wrestling in the yard, when he suddenly yelped and wouldn't bear weight on his hind end. He was unable to do stairs for a few days and we carried him upstairs at night for bed. He's been slowly improving though, but we're trying to be very vigilant about them not messing about and re injuring it. Its remarkably hard to stop them though, his brain still thinks he's young and puppy like, his body.... not so much. Anyhow, no decisions need to be made NOW, but its something I just KNOW is looming ahead of me at some point. I guess that's always true when you have animals.
I know there are tons of things we've been working on that I haven't mentioned... I just can't recall them all right now, of course! Anyhow, since there's always so much to do, I should get going and do some of them!
I'm planning to post a few pics also, so check out the FHH album!
--L
Spring is definitely here and we've been working on all the projects we sat around thinking up all winter! Our lilac bush bloomed this year (we missed it last year) and is almost done now. Soon I will try to think it out a bit and prune it back and try to make it look a little less unruly!
This past weekend my parents came to visit... was so nice to see them again and catch up. Their visits are never really long enough for my liking... I'd love if they could stay longer... but I also know they have other things they have to do... I'm glad for any time they have to spare to come for a visit.
While Mom and Dad were here, we got 2 trees planted in the side yard. One is a honey locust and the other is a hackberry. They don't look like much yet, but even once they leaf out this year they'll be better. Thanks Dad for all your hard work digging holes for the new tress in our crappy clay soil!
We've also been working on putting up some 5 strand electric fence for the goat babies. The posts were put in last fall... the insulators are up.... the ground rod for the fencer unit has been pounded in (Thanks Dad!!).... now we just need a bit of time to hook up the fencer and actually run the wire. We're doing 3 strands of regular wire and 2 strands of electric rope for visibility. We're hoping this will work out ok and hold in our goats.
We've had the goats out on grass for weeks now... every two days we move their enclosures to a new grazing area for fresh grass, they seem to like that well enough! They are good eaters and it only takes about 2 days for them to clear their pen (approx 30 feet diameter) of decent grass. We could maybe get 3 days out of it, but I don't want them eating it too low. We have lots of grass, there's no need to worry about running out just yet. The spots they ate first, are already just about filled in and could likely be grazed again. We'll wait a while to do that though, make sure all the manure has gone away and the grass solidly reestablished.
A couple weeks ago, we got a great deal of some 5 foot chain link fencing on kijiji... we haven't decided where that will go up yet... but we'll use it somewhere for sure! I just can't pass up a good deal on used fencing in good condition.
I've been doing physio on my knee, its an old injury that now apparently has some arthritic changes in it. I'm not sure if the physio is helping yet or not, its more sore than it was when I started, but mostly because I've learned to compensate for it for a very long time. This morning I actually got fitted for a hinged brace for it.
The ligaments (MCL and LCL) are shot in it, which allows my lower leg to move left and right against my thigh. Obviously this is not good, so this new and extremely expensive brace should help stabilize it and act like external ligaments and maybe let the inflammation settle down and slow down the progression of arthritis in it. I should have the brace in about 2 weeks or so... takes a while since its custom made. It'll look similar to this but should be metallic blue. Hopefully it will provide some relief and stability.
We installed a garden next to the house... on the driveway side, next to the mudroom. I haven't planted anything there yet, I added some manure and grass clippings to the soil and I'm waiting for them to break down a bit more before I plant. Likely in the next week or so I'll put something in there. It'll be a good place to plant bulbs in the fall... its on the south side of the house and right against the house, so they should come early next spring. Spring flowers, what a novel concept around here!
Yesterday Jess and I dug out the sod around some existing trees in the side yard. They keep getting hit by the lawn mower (they were hit with lawn mowers long before *I* moved in!) and I wanted to make it so I wouldn't have to mow so close to them. After we removed the sod, we added a couple bags of the soil I have around that I bought at TSC a while back on sale. Cleans it up around them and looks nice. Perhaps will add some nutrients to the soil and maybe those trees will grow a bit more... I'll put some manure around them in a couple weeks also.
For Mother's Day, I got some lovely flowers from Jess, Martha Washington geraniums. They are gorgeous, though one of them seems to not be doing really well... I'm not sure WHY, as its in the same type of container, same soil and right beside the one that's doing well. Seems strange to me. Shawn gave me a book "All Flesh Is Grass, The Pleasures and Promises of Pasture Farming" by Gene Logsdon. I've only read a bit so far, since we've been busy, but it seems like a neat book. I've read some of his other books and I find them really interesting. I look forward to making some time to read it all! :)
We took the dogs to the vet last night for their heart worm tests and meds. They did just fine, the tests were all negative, as expected. We really like this vet clinic... you're in, they do their thing and you're out. Not near so much lecturing and time wasting as our old vet. Not near so stressful on the dogs OR us.
Though we did just receive an ad in the mail for a mobile vet practice that interests me. His whole practice is based on coming to your house and he's affiliated with an animal hospital for emergencies and referrals. I don't know anything about the vet himself, but the concept really appeals to me. He also provides at home euthanasia, which is something I will likely have to think about in the next while.
Speaking of which, Buddy (my shep x) is doing ok right now... about a month or so ago he wasn't doing great. Him and Pixie were wrestling in the yard, when he suddenly yelped and wouldn't bear weight on his hind end. He was unable to do stairs for a few days and we carried him upstairs at night for bed. He's been slowly improving though, but we're trying to be very vigilant about them not messing about and re injuring it. Its remarkably hard to stop them though, his brain still thinks he's young and puppy like, his body.... not so much. Anyhow, no decisions need to be made NOW, but its something I just KNOW is looming ahead of me at some point. I guess that's always true when you have animals.
I know there are tons of things we've been working on that I haven't mentioned... I just can't recall them all right now, of course! Anyhow, since there's always so much to do, I should get going and do some of them!
I'm planning to post a few pics also, so check out the FHH album!
--L
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Not All Redneck... A Bit of High Tech Too!
As I posted, Jess is now home for the summer... not having cable tv has not been an issue until now... she likes to watch Lost. Last week, we decided to see if we got any channels without cable. (Not something we had thought of checking before she came home!) It turns out we can sort of get the channel that has Lost and Greys Anatomy on it. It's fuzzy and unclear, but the audio was ok.
Last night, we went to Best Buy and bought "rabbit ears" for the tv....they are nicer looking than the old fashioned rabbit ear antennas, but not that different either. Shawn hooked it up and voila! That same channel now comes in clearer than cable! There are also a couple other channels we can get. A french one that's very clear. The channel we THINK House is on, but its really fuzzy and unclear, but we also didn't spend any time trying to adjust the rabbits ears and see if it would help.
So... we're like all high tech now here in redneckville ;)
-- L
Last night, we went to Best Buy and bought "rabbit ears" for the tv....they are nicer looking than the old fashioned rabbit ear antennas, but not that different either. Shawn hooked it up and voila! That same channel now comes in clearer than cable! There are also a couple other channels we can get. A french one that's very clear. The channel we THINK House is on, but its really fuzzy and unclear, but we also didn't spend any time trying to adjust the rabbits ears and see if it would help.
So... we're like all high tech now here in redneckville ;)
-- L
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