pond installation May 2010

How it all starts. This was an existing pond that the owners wanted to enlarge and add some features to it. That involved removing, digging and reinstalling.
The owners wanted a waterfall at the back of the pond as well as making it look as natural as possible.


The finished project. The sound of falling water - so relaxing

First Day of Spring

My beautiful Star Magnolia out performs itself every years. This is an old photo and Maggie is twice that size now and getting ready to dazzle us once again with her striking white flowers. Henny Penny particularly loves to dig around under her branches looking for all sorts of goodies - grubs and bugs and worms - oh yah.

Today, the first day of spring is a gorgeous one. I got to do some of the things I love. After putting a beef stew in the cooker, Tyler and I went for a walk ( he rode ) around the farm. His mom and dad are very busy getting the chicken house ready for our new babies- 25 Buff Orpingtons - the sweetest little ladies ever. I can't wait to hear their little peeping.

Tyler feel asleep in his stroller so he is being "watched" by his parents and I am here. Dinner, laundry and finishing up Tyler's sweater.

Windy Weekend

Windy weekend up here on the hill. That just means spring is even closer and soon the magnolias and flowering crabs will be in full bloom.

The First Arrivals

It doesn't look like this yet, but it's only a matter of time before it does. Just yesterday we got our first shipment of plugs so you know what that means. Planting marathon this weekend. Now that Kati and her husband have moved north we have more planters. Don't think Tyler will be much help though. I remember all the springs when our kids were young. Tonka trucks in the soil bins were a very common occurrence.

February is Jelly Bun Month

This is Tyler Benson Bond, the newest addition to the Benson Farms work force. He is getting ready to help his Uncle J.G. do the seeding. Uncle J.G. told him he needs to make sure he has plenty of bib overalls for the spring and summer work.

Today Aunt Debba brought home jelly buns from Holland Farms. It is the only time we indulge in them. Thought we would send a photo to Marolyn aka Mother Ginger titled future BonBon becomes a jelly bun eater.

This years cover to Johnny's Select Seed brought back some old memories. The wonderful days of planting 1000's of tomatoes and peppers behind the tractor.

We haven't started the seedlings yet.....but soon. Just thinking about them makes me feel warmer. Hoping this cold spell ends soon.

Miss Henny Penny hiding under the blue spruce. I always forget just how old she is but it is well over 6 years probably more like 8 or 9. Of the hundred plus chickens that we have had, she is the only one to survive the coyotes, foxes and neighbors dogs. She and her coop mates used to hop up our outside stairs (1 1/2 flights) to the 2nd floor porch, walk to the edge and jump off. They were the funniest site flapping wildly while plummeting to the ground. Surprisingly, every once in a while she will pop out an egg, a very elongated one.

We first got our hens for their eggs and soon found that we didn't have a problem with Japanese beetles. Which caused the skunks to move away because there wasn't any grubs to feed on. Of course, that might be just a coincident.

Chopping Wood

Sometimes this is how we get our wood to use in the greenhouse stove but most times we try to be "green" in the ways we get our burning supply. We gather old pallets from local businesses that we chop up into stove size pieces and we never pass up wood that has been put out to the curb either. Trying to conserve not only our natural resources and save money can be a bit of a challenge but the end result is worth it.

The final project. Battened down and sealed up ready for a crop of hanging baskets.
Attaching the plastic to the outside end.
This is where all the family members come in handy. It is also where we do not want any wind to come up. James and Kate work to pull the plastic along the ridge while Joshua and Doug nudge it along.
Joshua is slowly unfolding the plastic edge while James is doing the cutting.

How to Cover a Greenhouse

Arriving at the end with success but now the fun really begins.
The plastic once it is centered along the top ridge is slowly maneuvered to the opposite end.

Joshua is quite adept at scaling the purlins and eaves.
During a late spring snow storm our biggest greenhouse collapse from the weight of the snow. It took several years before we decided to recover the house.

First you pick a sunny day that has no chance of wind. Next you gather all your family members to help in the project.