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General Forestry => General Board => Topic started by: Magicman on March 18, 2016, 06:24:26 PM

Title: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Magicman on March 18, 2016, 06:24:26 PM
She is buzzing here with Spring activities, and has sorta been having me buzzing. 


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/IMG_0281.JPG)
Cleaning, raking, planting, and today putting new patio furniture together.  Her stuff.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/IMG_0245.JPG)
I am careful to remember the words on this sign.   :)   
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: yukon cornelius on March 18, 2016, 08:57:56 PM
We moved our blueberry bushes and elderberry bushes close to home and today I brought home bee supplies! Henry got a container of nightcrawlers for his worm ranch. We even found mushrooms. We thought it was spring but now it is snowing.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: thecfarm on March 18, 2016, 09:04:46 PM
Got Any daffodils up yet?
At the store people are coming in buying rakes. Way too early for that in this area.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Magicman on March 18, 2016, 09:35:58 PM
Our Daffodils have bloomed out, but the Redbuds are mostly in full bloom.  Pear and Crabapple trees are fully white with blooms.  Yellow Jasmines all along the highway.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: curdog on March 18, 2016, 09:55:41 PM
Some of my daffodils are done, some haven't bloomed yet. The red buds just got going this week and my camellia is just about finished. The grass needs to be mowed in places, but  working every day has put mowing on the back burner for a little while.  And as much as I hate bradford pears, they do look pretty in other people's yards right now.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: chevytaHOE5674 on March 18, 2016, 10:38:58 PM
Plowed snow yesterday.  :D.. Does that count as a spring activity?
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Brucer on March 19, 2016, 01:26:49 AM
The snow on the road over to my son-in-laws beehives is still 30" deep. However, the sun's been coming out and the bees are already out foraging in the middle of the day. I haven't a clue what they're harvesting.

In the wooded areas the snow is only about 15" deep and there's quite a bit of bare ground showing around the base of the trees. The tips of the huckleberry bushes are just starting to show above the snow.

I'm getting ready to drop a couple of Cedars that are too close to the house. They're going to fall directly into the huckleberry patch so I want to get them down while there's still decent snow cover on the berry bushes.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: timberlinetree on March 19, 2016, 06:50:22 AM
I bought someone a fishing pole.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Skip on March 19, 2016, 07:28:05 AM
Daffodils are up and so are the ramps (early), snow tonite, 60's next week typical spring weather
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: sandhills on March 19, 2016, 10:45:08 AM
Calving, 70F one day, snowing this morning, yep, it's spring time.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Ron Scott on March 19, 2016, 11:48:12 AM
May go out to the Spring Carnival events at the Caberfae Peaks Ski Area in a little while. Tomorrow is the last day that it will still be open for skiing. I was able to hit the slopes for 43 times this season, so had a good ski season. 
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Roxie on March 19, 2016, 12:09:57 PM
Toting many people to area mud sales.  Also spent three evenings driving five Amish men (school board members) to inquire with parents and then the young girls for teacher replacement beginning next school season in late August.  Needed two new teachers, and stopped at 24 homes before they found two. 

On the home front. raked leaves from corners and flower beds, pruned grape vines, made a nice burn pile, washed windows and laundered curtains. 

Snow tomorrow, but I don't care, it's also the first day of Spring.   laundry-smiley
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: millwright on March 19, 2016, 05:25:34 PM
Making maple syrup, just had 5 " of rain and after that 4" of snow.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: r.man on March 19, 2016, 07:58:29 PM
Two questions for Roxie, what is a mud sale and are Amish considered to be home schooled?
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: 21incher on March 19, 2016, 08:11:47 PM
Saw some bluebirds yesterday, so I cleaned out the bluebird boxes today. Watched the 2 bluebirds checking out the 4 boxes for about a hour and they finally picked a home for the spring and started building a nest. To early to do any outdoors gardening here yet. :)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: jmouton on March 19, 2016, 11:23:58 PM
my spring activities include me working around the  new house and my girlfriend  making my list longer ,   you are right magicman  they are always right,,,


                                                                                                   jim
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Brucer on March 20, 2016, 02:19:15 AM
OK, got one spring job done. My son-in-law can get to his hives without snowshoes now.

While I was digging out the road, I also opened up some access to my edger (which is parked here for the winter). The hives are somewhere behind the distant snow piles.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11885/4730_north_field_road.JPG)

A bees-eye view of the road ...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11885/4732_looking_south.JPG)

Up to 7°C this afternoon (45°F). Spring is here for sure ;D.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: timberlinetree on March 20, 2016, 05:48:32 AM
I started cleaning out the garage and found my chain saw collection.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/28754/20160319_144907.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/28754/20160319_144641.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/28754/20160319_144947.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/28754/20160319_145038.jpg) 
I have around 20-30 of them.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Roxie on March 20, 2016, 09:46:48 AM
Quote from: r.man on March 19, 2016, 07:58:29 PM
Two questions for Roxie, what is a mud sale and are Amish considered to be home schooled?

Mud sales are spring consignment auctions, hosted by area volunteer fire companies as fund raisers.  Heavily attended by Amish and English alike, because they are held before field work on the farms begin.  Hence the mud.

Although the Amish pay school tax on their land and buildings, they do not use public schools, and have their own one room school houses, each with about 30 scholars.  Teachers are recruited from the young unmarried girls.  Minimum age 17.  They generally teach until they decide to marry.  Children attend school to 8th grade, or 15 years of age, whichever comes first. 

Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Roxie on March 20, 2016, 10:47:16 AM
Speaking of spring activities, I thought our members might enjoy these photos from the Philadelphia Flower Show this year.  The theme was National Parks, and lumber and trees were well represented. 

One of these hollowed out cookies would look awesome next to some water feature.  The archway was a tribute to the redwood forest. 



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11566/flowershow.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11566/flowershow2.jpg)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Den Socling on March 20, 2016, 11:02:31 AM
I'm draining all of last year's gasoline out of mowers, chippers, saws, trimmers, etc!  >:(
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Ken on March 20, 2016, 06:45:57 PM
Put the plow on my truck this afternoon in anticipation of a significant storm tomorrow.  Can't complain though as I've only had to use it a few times.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on March 20, 2016, 07:10:56 PM
Quote from: Den Socling on March 20, 2016, 11:02:31 AM
I'm draining all of last year's gasoline out of mowers, chippers, saws, trimmers, etc!  >:(

This is a good idea Den.  :)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Brucer on March 20, 2016, 08:17:26 PM
Second chore on my list (now that spring is officially here).

The Tree. It's the nearest one, and no, the camera isn't tilted.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11885/4733_tree.JPG)

The Huckleberry Patch. Pretend the snow isn't there.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11885/4734_huckleberry_patch.JPG)

Tree Meets Berry Patch.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11885/4735_tree_and_berry_patch.JPG)

Logs.  ;D ;D

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11885/4738_logs.JPG)

No humans, animals, or huckleberrys were damaged in the process. The tree had to go -- it had serious butt rot. I'll saw it parallel to the bark and get some decent lumber from it.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Magicman on March 20, 2016, 09:33:11 PM
X marks the spot Bruce.  OK then the flagging marks the spot.   ;D
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: gspren on March 20, 2016, 09:43:36 PM
  Roxie already explained "Mud Sales", well yesterday I went to one at our local fire hall and I'm proud to report that for 3 years in a row I sold more stuff than I bought  8), at this rate in about another 40 years I'll have all my unneeded stuff cleared out.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Jeff on March 20, 2016, 09:49:14 PM
We are moving stone walls.  :)    I told Tammy while I am still able to shovel dirt and move walls, I'm moving the wall I built when I was 23 years old so there will be room for my wheel chair ramp. :)

Our tree was murdered by Rabbits that lived behind the wall, (the tree lived there, not the rabbits) so we took it out. The next logical step tpo me was to dig all the dirt out (Wow! There was a lot!) and move that Wall.  I told the neighbors I was going to put up one 3 times as high and MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT! :D :D  Actually, I'm still forming in my mind on what I will do there.  :)



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/wall1.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/wall2.jpg)

https://youtu.be/Yd0TWuoh3CQ

Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Brucer on March 20, 2016, 10:08:20 PM
Quote from: Magicman on March 20, 2016, 09:33:11 PM
...  OK then the flagging marks the spot. ...

Not a good picture but yes, the flagging tape was the target. With a white background it's hard to aim the fall so I stuck a branch in the snow with the tape on it.

However ... I missed. If you look very carefully at the first picture you'll see a wire rope heading off to the right. In spite of the lean I figured the tree would hang up because it had so many branches interlocked with the adjacent trees. Sure enough, I had to winch it down. The only decent anchor point was off to one side of the fall line so the tree tended to pull in that direction as it started down.

Mind you, if I hadn't told you, you wouldn't know. Those Cedar branches would have flattened the target even if I was 4 feet off ;D.

Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: fishpharmer on March 20, 2016, 10:35:12 PM
Quote from: Jeff on March 20, 2016, 09:49:14 PM
We are moving stone walls.  :)    I told Tammy while I am still able to shovel dirt and move walls, I'm moving the wall I built when I was 23 years old so there will be room for my wheel chair ramp. :)

Our tree was murdered by Rabbits that lived behind the wall, (the tree lived there, not the rabbits) so we took it out. The next logical step tpo me was to dig all the dirt out (Wow! There was a lot!) and move that Wall.  I told the neighbors I was going to put up one 3 times as high and MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT! :D :D  Actually, I'm still forming in my mind on what I will do there.  :)

Wheelchair's, walls's  :D :D Dang boss, that looked like a lot of work. 
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: sandsawmill14 on March 20, 2016, 10:44:51 PM
we had snow  :o :o :o on the first day of spring only lasted a few minutes though ;D :)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: pasbuild on March 21, 2016, 02:41:14 AM
Rode the bike into dad's so we could clean it up and make a few repairs, nice sunny day
 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10524/12595929_10206450682451454_928069704_n~0.jpg)
4" of snow the next day, looks like I will be picking it up with the trailer.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Chuck White on March 21, 2016, 11:32:15 AM
Not too much going on here!

Been making Maple Syrup, down from last years production, on the verge of pulling the taps.

Took the snow pusher off the JD-1023 and put the loader bucket back on (5 minute job).

Converting the surge brakes to electric on the sawmill, Won't be a big job, redoing the hitch was the biggest part!
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: roger 4400 on March 21, 2016, 03:08:27 PM
Selling my old 2000 f250 and buying a new F150 Heavy duty payload, it should be here in a month, it will be made in Kansas city in 2 days.......It is funny to see the progress of technology, my old F250 had a 5.4 l , 260 Hp and 350 pounds of torque, The new F150 is 5.0 liter ,385 Hp and 387 pounds of torque, and can haul almost the same load but the new one can tow almost 2000 pounds more than my old F250  :D.....can't wait to see that. Have a nice spring season.
Overhere 30 miles north of Montreal, 18 inches of snow and cold for the season.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: yukon cornelius on March 22, 2016, 01:48:35 AM
Chic chick chickens coming tomorrow. New bee hives painted and ready to be placed to see if we can catch some homeless ones. Got some seeds tonight and garden will be started very soon.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Peter Drouin on March 22, 2016, 06:41:30 AM
yukon, put some lemon grass oil at the door of the hive. Bees love it. I got 2 last year that way.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: yukon cornelius on March 22, 2016, 09:40:43 AM
We will try that, peter.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: DelawhereJoe on March 22, 2016, 04:19:11 PM
Yukon..have you tryed seeding your hive with old honey comb and queen attractant. I've read that people can pick up a wild swarm that way.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: yukon cornelius on March 23, 2016, 10:55:55 PM
Delaware, that's what I am trying right now. I have never had bees before. I have 2 hives set up but I am only buying one batch of bees. I am trying to attract a second batch.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: sandsawmill14 on March 23, 2016, 11:08:52 PM
got the garden ready to plant  :) but its supposed to rain tomorrow so i will be done for a few days i guess :)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: John Mc on March 24, 2016, 09:04:15 AM
Cutting up the firewood I should have done last fall or over the winter.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: plowboyswr on March 25, 2016, 02:13:45 PM
The Wife has been busy taking easter photos of the kids.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/28346/20160323_170608.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/28346/20160323_170244.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/28346/20160323_170954.jpg) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/28346/20160323_112159.jpg)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Magicman on March 25, 2016, 02:21:48 PM
Hey, I know them.  :)   Very nice.  8)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Roxie on March 25, 2016, 06:27:23 PM
Those are some great photo's, and what awesome children!   :)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: gspren on March 25, 2016, 08:45:36 PM
   Really nice, your wife has a talent for setting the shot and the kids look like they love it, great photos.
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: trapper on March 26, 2016, 12:30:03 AM
my wife remembers them from the chili dinner.  Things like this makes the forum a family.  thanks youkon
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Jeff on April 14, 2016, 04:33:56 PM
I re-purposed part of the wall we took down. It's now about twenty feet from where it was and turned upside down and spun 180°. My friend Mike and I used his engine hoist to position it.  It twernt as easy as I thought it was going to be. We've estimated it to weigh around 1000 lbs.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/20160414_144240.jpg)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: Magicman on April 14, 2016, 05:37:34 PM
You were busy today.   8)
Title: Re: Share your Spring Activities
Post by: 69bronco on April 14, 2016, 06:22:26 PM
Started tomatoes and peppers, got one raised bed ready for kale and spinach today.