On the Chopping Block

I have to say that one of my favourite springtime jobs is that of splitting wood. I'm still too timid to try it with the axe, but my job is to do the first cut with the wedge and sledge pictured to the left. On Monday, Dave took down the first of this season's dead trees to clear out. We'd been anticipating this removal for two years, actually, and it doesn't really change the look of the place at all. Right now, it appears that we may

have next winter's wood all on the ground. We moved one of the woodsheds from the driveway - where it was decidedley unattractive - to behind the garage. I am moving wood that we split last spring into it. That wood has been hiding under a green tarp all winter. We've learned a good deal about "wood management" in our two years in the Koots and I hope we're approaching having it into a manageable system this year. We anticipate that this year's felled trees are the wood for the winter of 2010. I love having a bit of a woodlot. The sun is coming out and it's time to go split wood!

Raising the Bar

Last year I wrote about the necessity of having two wheel barrows at our property. This week, I discovered we're pretty much in need of two "bars" (the tool pictured). We received the bar from my brother-in-law who has good knowledge about essential tools in rural B.C. This is our hole digger, rock lifter, rock mover, and shed mover. This past week, Dave was busy moving our wood shed and I was busy creating a new garden and that requires "derocking" the area. I needed the bar to pick out the big rocks and Dave needed it as a lever for the shed - I think we need another bar soon.

This is a pretty frightful picture but I tried cropping it and it didn't seem to want to upload. The things I need to learn about blogs! However, you can see we still have a lot of snow to get rid of before real gardening can begin.

Knocking the Socks Off

A friend who visited New Zealand gave me some yarn as a birthday gift. Here's the first sock knit up - isn't that cool? This is such fun yarn to work with because of the interest it continually generates. Gotta run - it's time to pick up those needles once again.

It's My Party and ...

Yesterday I had my birthday and the day before received this lovely spring bouquet from Andrea, Scott and Demitri. Tuesday, before Dave left for his ski trip, he also brought me a bouquet of flowers - one can NEVER have too many bouquets in the house - especially in March.

I decided to celebrate with all the new women in my new world and invited the women from my knitting, reading and walking groups. Quite a few people had to bow out because of illness but actually things worked out pretty well. I had a "drop in" affair and made a couple of cakes neither of which came out truly well - hence no picture. The chocolate layer cake was tasty but a bit lopsided. The cheesecake looked a little forlorn but with toppings, looked bold. Both cakes tasted just fine. It nearly turned out to be two parties - the 3:30 - 5:30 group started this affair and then another group of 7 or 8 women showed up at 6 - 9. We had plenty of wine, dessert, junk food and laughs. I've got a wee bit of a sugar hangover today.

At 7:30 a.m. my neighbours in Pine Ridge called and sang me Happy Birthday, with Gerda accomapnying on her violin (she plays in the Okanogan Symphony) which was a unique experience for me given my musical family. Thanks all, for coming to the party, for phoning, send me email greetings or posting on my FaceBook wall! It's been a good way to turn 57.

Signs of Spring

It's March 2nd and for the very first time in 2008 I am able to hang laundry outside. I do call that a sign of spring, even if I do have to stand in snow! Today is a gorgeous, sunny, light wind day in the Koots. This picture is pretty suitable for The Clothesline, don't you think?

Mushroom Caps

Yesterday I went for a snowshoe along Keen Creek and was able to see this wonderful cap on a stump. I'd seen something very similar last week while Dave and I skied Twelve Mile Creek, but I'd forgotten my camera. This one is just as good - do you think it's a sign of spring?