Bogieblog

Winter Prep, New Furniture Build and Things that go Bump

Saturday I spent several hours at the Ford dealership getting the Explorer's tires changed over to snows (mounted and balanced since I don't have spare rims), plus it needed an oil changed. While they were giving it a once over, they noticed there was no coolant in the reservoir. Did a leak test and found that a hose clamp had rotted and busted in two. At least it was an easy and cheap fix - although the compression test was more expensive than all the other work combined. However, I'm not complaining because if it was leaking into something, that would have been a whole bunch more. And, I used the rebate I got from when I put new tiers on the car last month, so that kept the out of pocket cost down a bit.

Beautiful day yesterday. Started out in long sleeve and sweatshirt, then down to short sleeves when I took the truck in, then down to a tank top as I did some yard work. I raked and used the leaf blower to get the leaves out from under the deck and mowed them into tiny pieces. Then raked out the drainage ditches and spread the leaves under the tree line in back. Took the planters off the back porch and consigned plant material to the compost bin and the dirt/roots went to fill in a couple of areas that needed soil. The yard is not quite ready for winter, I need to take the windmill down from the driveway garden - but it has been so nice the last couple of days, and it is supposed to continue into next week so I can leave it up for a while longer.

About 3 I went to do some reading in the sitting area out back and not 30 seconds after I sat down a chickadee literally flew into my arm. I saw the flash of feathers out of the corner of my eye just before I felt a soft bump and the little feet scrambling as he pushed back off. Tells you how long it has been since I've used that area - he was probably going to land on the chair and scope out the new water I put in the bird bath. Got to watch the feeding frenzy at the bird feeder that hangs off the back porch for a while before I started reading too.

In the evening, I started on putting together a bunch of parts that came in a 2'W x 4'L x 6" D box to make this.

Almost got the second one complete except it was missing 2 screws for the door hinges, so after a run to the hardware store today, I will get it finished. Then I gotta figure out how to get the huge entertainment center out of here so I can put the A/V cabinets in its place.

Last of Fall Colors

Two maples at the roadside garden have put on an outstanding show this autumn. First, the Japanese Maple has turned a nice fiery red from its summer burgundy.

The next maple is one that in all rights, shouldn't b there. When I had the willow tree taken down three years ago, I had the tree service take out all the scrub trees in the rocky, poison ivy strewn jumble that would eventually become the roadside garden. I had told the tree service to take out everything. But, the guy left a little maple on one end and shrub on the other end because he and his wife thought it would look better. They did say they could come out anytime they were in town and remove those also if I decided later that they had chosen wrongly.

Well, I'm happy to have that little maple there and it is showing fine color this year

Despite the severe drought, the colors were great this year, so of course at least one anticipated showing had to not live up to expectation. October glory started turning on 10/17 and this pic taken on 10/18  was the first of what was to be a progression series to show its build up. (for reference, you can see the trunk of Autumn Blaze behind, with most of its leaves gone)

Unfortunately, it never got its full color and it now has only a few leaves at the top. However, last year it did put on a really nice show, so I won't complain. If you enlarge the picture, you can see a nice tree in the background, to the left of the stair rails, that had some really nice color at the end of the street.

I mowed/mulched leaves Thursday evening, then again yesterday. I'll have one more mowing to go before the white stuff flies.

Rain and Autumn Colors

We finally got some decent rains. October 13-14 we got a nice slow rain that left close to 1.75" of precipitation.

All of it soaked in preparing the ground for the next system. October 16-17 we got another 2.25+" of rain.

Although we were in severe drought at 12-15" below normal, that will help put a dent in our needs. The new drought monitor doesn't come out until the middle of the week but I hope the whole state went to Moderate. Heck, the North Country might have gone to Abnormally Dry since they received  the edges of systems that stayed up that way. They also got snow yesterday - some places getting 8".

Last pictures of Autumn Blaze as it lost most of its leaves yesterday from the wind that appeared after the rain yesterday. Picture taken 10/15

Athough the burning bush still has most of its leaves, it was at its peak on 10/15

This big maple is next to the shed and drops its leaves later than the "junk" maples out back.

Yesterday I dropped off some cat food at the ARLNH, the rescue that I got Rita from. While driving thru Goffstown, I had to stop and get a picture of these maples.

Two weekends ago I primed the pressure treated wood that makes up the new frame for the garage door. The frame was put up in mid July, but the PT was green so I gave it 2 months to dry. Actually, the handyman was supposed to come back, but since he didn't, and hadn't contacted me at all, I figured I would do it myself since it is getting close to being too cold to paint. Last Sunday I put on two coats of paint. Next year I will repaint the concrete block so the white overrun will be covered.

October Color

Even thru the big wind we had in the middle of last week, the trees are holding onto a good amount of leaves.

Burgundy Belle, Planted 2017m in the driveway garden. Unfortunately the wind had a bunch of the leaves cupped, so the pic isn't as nice as I would like

Autumn Blaze, also planted 2017, is looking really nice and the burning bush in the background is partially turned.

October Glory hasn't even started turning yet so no pics of that one. However, the "junk" maples in the backyard are surprising me this year. I don't remember their ever having held color - they just turn from green to brown in one day. They have held color for 4-5 days so far.

Usually I get some mums and cabbage for added autumn color in the roadside garden (usually = last year since that is the first year for that garden :) ). With the drought, I wanted a little something that wouldn't need watering and I came up with this.

1st Mulching of the Leaves for 2020 Fall Season

Yesterday I raked leaves, mowed leaves (while mowing the grass), leaf blowed the pile from under the ramp where the rake can't reach, and did more leaf mowing. Fortunately I don't have to do the neighbor's yard too as he only gets leaves in the back yard - and what I can't see from my house, I don't take care of unless it is in the way of my regular mowing of his yard. Before/after pics (the aspect ratio on my phone got changed and I hadn't noticed - argh)

Took this pic after taking a couple passes thru the worst of it.

New double-sided compost bin. It was supposed to arrive today (Sunday), but came a day early so I put it together and set it in place. Actually pretty proud of myself as there were just 3 pictures for instructions (and they told me to scan a 3-D barcode to download directions to my phone. I would not have been able to see the directions on my phone and decided to try to puzzle it out on my own. Looking at it put together, I hear that "how hard can it be?" from the peanut gallery. Well, each barrel alone had 14 parts (not including the door). I not only got it together, but the only parts left were in the bag labeled "extra parts" . I'll transfer some material from my big barrel compost bin that does not get rolled because it is too heavy (the lid doesn't fit right so I can no longer close it anyway) and is in a shaded corner of the yard, so composting is really, really slow - and is really, really full.

Oh, and we got an inch of rain thru the week, so although it didn't really help on the drought front, at least it did help the gardens as the plants are getting ready for their winter's nap.

We haven't had any rain in two weeks. After months of only getting abut 1" of rain per month, we are in a severe drought with parts of the state in extreme drought. With state rivers and streams down to 1% (99% of years they have been running higher at this time), and lakes down massively, I have only been watering the four new plants I put in a couple of weeks ago. All other gardens have to deal the best they can on their own. Last I heard on the local channel, at present we are at the driest month of September ever, with 0.19" of rain. The month could move down in the list if we get the much needed rain that is forecast for tomorrow.

One of the black cherry trees has decided to show a bit of nice color anyway.

It has been since the early 80's that I last had to change a car tire. Yesterday I got to test my skills as I blew a tire in the driveway; a really good place for a tire to go. It was totally my fault  as I got distracted by my garage door being open (I was returning from the store). I always close the garage door when I leave the house, and I was trying to see if everything was still in there or if anyone was inside.Well, as I was rubber-necking, I hit a sharp rock on the retaining wall and the tire let me know it was not happy. No, no part of the car hit, just the tire.

I've never used a scissor jack before, or lifted from the frame, but I got the spare donut on and drove to the local dealer. I was discussing putting on two front tires with the advisor when she told me that Thursday some good rebates are coming out if I could wait. Since I have the truck (and don't have to drive to work either), I don't need the car right now, so I told her I would wait - and possibly just go ahead and put on 4 tires. I left the car in their parking lot and they gave me a ride home.

Bear Damage

Wednesday morning I was getting ready to let Rita out, and took a look around the backyard first as I always do. I take a look because there is a fox around, and I have seen coyote. The fox could definitely get into the pen if it wanted to, and perhaps the coyote too (I don't think so, but you never know). The neighbor's cat come in sometimes. Rita isn't interested in finding a way to escape so I just worry about something getting in. Well, this is what I saw

Hey, at least he left the feeder - and it was still in good shape. I know it didn't have very much in it as the squirrels are pretty thorough and compete heavily with the birds. All the bear had to do was turn the feeder upside down and it would have spilled the handful or two of seeds and nuts. Seriously, the only damage to the feeder was existing from the squirrels chewing thru the heavy plastic pipe at one of the feeding ports (thru the mesh wire around it).

Needless to say, Rita did not get to go out. After I got off work, I removed the fence panel, the very one that got crunched when the willow tree top came down. I tried to straighten the panel out again (remember, it had been smashed previously), but the bottom pole had been bent into a V so when I stood it up, the only part that touched the ground was the point. Even after "straightening", the top now has two kinks, one on either side of the center brace, so it wouldn't be stable. That green pole is a heavy duty T-bar that I didn't have a hope of straightening.

I neglected to take a picture, but the bear also bent the heck out of the cast iron feeder pole to get the feeder off.

I went to the local Agway and asked for a kennel expansion panel, and would they please deliver. However, checking all their 6 stores, there were no expansion panels to be found, only 1 or two kennel sets (10 x 10 x 6). Apparently those are in short supply and they couldn't even get any thru their connections. ARRGGHH.  Friday I contacted a fencing company to get a bar to replace the bootm piece. Once I got it all pt back together, I made it work, but this can't be the permanent solution this time.

It's not pretty, in fact downright ugly, but I can let Rita out anyway. It is barely stable because it is still horribly out of wack and doesn't track along the straight line of the timber it is supposed to rest on.I'm pretty sure that the first snow dump off the roof would wipe it out.

It's times like these I wish I had a real truck. I can find a used panel on CL but getting it here from 40 miles away is a challenge without a vehicle that has the capacity to carry it. And if I have to rent a vehicle to carry it - well, let's just say I might as well buy the entire kennel from Agway between the mileage and gas I would have to pay for.

Last of Fall Planting

Turtle heads in the shade garden are blooming - bees love them

 

Planted a couple of Rose of Sharon's in my new garden area by the swamp.

And I got a different type of turtle head  that I planted in this section

I wasn't really pleased with the way the rock wall came out, but found a way to make it much better (in my opinion) by adding cap stones.

The small plants between the two Rose of Sharons are Japanese Anemones, Curtain Call Pink (it is tough to see the RoS's as they blend into the greenery of the shade garden). I also added some crocus bulbs that have been in the fridge since last fall. It seems the chipmunks/squirrels have already been digging those up. I could find some re-planted somewhere else :)

My place got a 1/2" of rain on Wednesday, but no more rain is in site at least for the next week so watering this area will be my night job.

FHC September 2020 G2G

Last weekend I went to an FHC get to gether (G2G) for a guy that is moving from NJ to NH (eventually). He had someone come in a clear the house lot and yard. The person did it for free as he got to keep the wood. However, he left all the tops so the G2G was to help pile those into burn piles for the winter.

Three of us were from NH - The two on the left (me and Mike - from towards the seacoast) and Molly on the right (her husband was there, but he is physically disabled so was a cheerleader). Dave, the land owner is the one with a drink in his hand (his wife took the picture). Brad, in the yellow shirt came up from CT with his wife. And Mike, next to Molly, is from Massachusetts.

Mike from NH was actually there to cut a small path to the pond for the wood and the rest of us put up 7 huge piles for bonfires. We got fed well, with a late lunch, for our efforts.

A couple of weeks prior to the G2G, Mike from MA had mentioned in the gardening section of FHC that he needed to dig up some volunteer Rose of Sharons and give them to neighbors or take them to the dump. I replied that if he was coming up north, I would take a couple of them. Well, he came thru and brought a couple with him. I was expecting smaller starts, but they were about 6' tall with the rootballs.

Dang, he saved me about $120 bucks right there (I happened to be at L*we's on Labor day and checked out the prices). Can't beat that with a stick!

Maple Down

While working from home, I try to take a break each hour and take a short walk around the house to get the blood flowing again. It doesn't seem like much, but if I worked in the office, I would be going to get coffee/water or the restroom - which is more than 6-10 steps away from my chair.

Tuesday morning as I was in the backyard I heard a crack and saw some green leaves fall in the property behind me (where the parking lot for the apartments to the left is). Didn't think anything of it as small, dead branches have been falling on a regular basis with the drought this summer. My guess is that was the start to the end.

At lunch time, I went to take another gander around my gardens. But when I got out the back door I immediately noticed there was something amiss.

The neighbor's kid to the right happened to be just finishing mowing, so I told him about it because I know sometimes their dog goes back there (not often, but it happens. The next time I went out, I happened to catch the the landlord walking up to the apartments, which was amazing since he is rarely there. I pointed out the widowmaker so he could have it taken care of. By late afternoon, the top had weakened the small trees that were holding it, so that part was down even though the trunk was still in the air.

Friday morning around 9, there was a terrible racket and the house started shaking, then I heard chainsaws starting up. Can you see the guy cutting on the tree top in the first picture?

By noon, this was all that was left. BTW, the terrible racket that had the house shaking was the grinder they used to reduce it all to wood chips - actually wood chunks.

Don't know why the tree came down. It wasn't windy and the tree top looked pretty healthy. As I was picking up the chunks that had made it into my backyard, I noticed they were heavy with moisture, so it is pretty strange. On the other hand, it was a maple, of the junkier kind (not red, swamp or rock), and I believe those are just fairly week trees to begin with.

The last time my area got a decent rain was clear back at the end of June and since then we've gotten a reliable 1/4" of precipitation each week. This past week my area didn't even get any moisture besides dew so we are dry, dry, dry. I've been mowing every 2-3 weeks and this past Friday was one of those times. It only took less than 1 hour and 15 minutes to do both yards, which normally is about 2.3 hours or so. I didn't mow about 1/4 of the neighbor's yard, and about 1/3 of my yard didn't get touched. Those areas were either brown (most of my front yard and part of the side yard), or where even the weeds hadn't bothered to grow (back behind the pen and between the shade garden and sitting area, plus the neighbor's back yard).

NH counts 90+* days like Kansans count 100* days. Our average is 10 days per year, but we are officially up to 21 (or maybe 22 since I didn't see the news Friday night). I know it got up to 90 at my house Friday, but they only count days that Concord gets up there since that is the official spot. However, yesterday the high was int the low 70's so it seems to be turning the corner. Still basically no chances of rain, but cooler will at least help.