Preparations

Next step?  Setting the concrete blocks.

The "little mixer that could" can get the job done.

Stone masonry.

This is necessary preparation for enclosing under the deck.

Last block.

And the wall is done.  This project is again... To be continued...

Apparently, the humming birds are preparing for their long journey.

We couldn't count them all.

This evening, there was standing room only at the feeder.

Or is it flying room only?

Raspberry Fields Forever

It's raspberry picking time.  Well, actually, it is a little early, but the field is open.  The berries are not as plentiful in the ripe stage as they will be in a couple of weeks.  A neighbor went with me to pick today as we were a little disappointed.  Lots of people were in the field, but most of the raspberries are still way too green.  We enjoyed the outing.

I left the field with about two pounds.  Here they are, ready for the freezer.

They freeze quickly and are then ready for the packaging for long term freezer storage.  Yummy!

Deck Repairs

Repairs on the deck are needed before more construction begins.  So, here we go.

Demolition is always the first step. The rail from the north end of the deck is removed and leaned against the the front (west) rail.

The staring point is removing the rotten boards.

They really look bad, huh?

Oh, but here come the pretty ones!  A new type of pressure treated lumber gives it a "cedar tone" color instead of the characteristic green color. It should be much easier to stain after it is installed.

More rotten removal.

I love the smell of new lumber!

It was quite a chore and we miss our help... Cory? Steve? T-Bone? Anyone?

Completion for now.  More to come.  See those cinder blocks?

I caught an unusual view of the humming bird feeder today.

These two pictures are really not very good.  Those turkeys move fast.

It was fun to see them cross the road ahead of us today on our return from the mail box.  But even more surprising was the bear in the road after we saw the turkeys.  He was gone before we could get our 4 wheelers stopped and our cameras out.  I'm not sure who was more surprised, us or him.

Harmony and Rain

Harmony is a very unusual thing at the feeders.

And yet, here it is.

What a pretty rain storm coming.

This is the result of rinsing the rocks.  The white ones are under the eave, but the multi colors received the benefits of rain to bring out their color.