Saturday, April 16, 2011

Guess where I am?

I haven't had a vacation in WAY too long.  You know, a real vacation.  Not staying in a hotel because you're traveling on business, or attending a seminar, or a wedding, or on your way to Grandma's house.... but a real vacation, where someplace sunny and tropical is involved, and maybe a private bungalow on a private island. Like this one. 




(with permission from anoldent, because I've never been there to take a photo myself..sigh)


But no.  I'm in Salmon, ID.  It's nearly 50F today.  But hey, the one inch of wet snow they predicted didn't happen yet.  Whoo hoo!  I'm not here on vacation really. Caitlin is going through a 4 day long workshop to become certified as a horse therapy instructor. 








I am having a big break from mommyville (except for the phone calls, texts, Facebook messages, etc...). I'm enjoying the peace, quiet, maid service, not cooking,  and not driving anywhere daily.  I'm getting a LOT of planning done (cause I'm a planner), and downtime..... big time.  


Salmon has about 3500 people.  It's far removed from any big town.  Because of the mountains we had to drive from Washington, to Idaho, to Montana, and into Idaho again to get here.






This is highway 93 in Montana. Beautiful.






Just minutes down the road we see this dusting of new snow up high.










This is like one mile later. At road level.   










About the time we crossed into Idaho and were headed down the pass..  with 20 mph hairpin turns..  this is what it looked like at road level.  Snowplows were plowing the snow and ice on the road and it was slick.  It's APRIL.


Salmon is the kind of town I'd have given anything to live in a few years ago. Part of me still wishes I lived on some ranch somewhere living a homesteader's life.  Now that I have children who are older and highly involved in their passions, which require lessons and almost daily commitments away from home, I wish I lived closer to town, not farther away. 















Quaint little town, isn't it?  The courthouse is right up that hill.










This is a shot of main street.  Lots of little restaurants and a few little shops.   It's a pretty town.  Great place for a vacation if you love outdoorsy activities like white water rafting, hunting, and packing trips.  




We're staying at the Stagecoach Inn.  It's packed.  Because it's the annual Salmon Select horse and mule sale.  There are cowboys and cowgirls everywhere.  Even little tiny ones.  We're really happy with the hotel.  Free breakfast and excellent service.  The room is big and comfortable.  Walking distance to downtown and the Salmon River.








This is the "backyard" of the hotel.  Lovely area to sit out at the right time of year.  A little cool and rainy this time.  
















 I'm not sure what these trees or bushes are, but they look like flames.  They're all along the rivers here.  Love it!




So that's my travel log of Salmon, ID.  Tomorrow afternoon, it's back to Montana, then Idaho (again), then Washington.  We're praying there's no snow on the passes. Because they're predicting more.  It's APRIL for Pete's sake.  

Thursday, April 7, 2011

You know you want to look...

Spring has sprung at our place.  New life is popping up everywhere.  And it's not in the garden I haven't planted yet.  


I thought of calling this post, "Your kids should see this."  But then I started to feel a little guilty.  (But only a little.)  Because I know how kids and baby animals go together like peanut butter and jelly!  (And we're not keeping all 8 puppies....  that's right, 8.)  And I knew if your kids had just a peek, they'd never let you rest until you realized what I already know. You know you want one! (Or at least they do.)


Just look....  (and by all means, invite your kids to look with you!)










Awwwww........    see?  






  


The cute factor on this one is just off the charts.  










Here's a little black one.  








She's so happy just to not be in labor anymore (I know how she feels).  She looks like she's smiling, doesn't she?  She's taken to motherhood like a pro.  Caitlin says she's naming them all after Shakespearean characters.  Feel free to rename them whatever you like when you come to pick yours up in about 6 weeks.  


Not a dog person?  That's okay. 















You can take home one of these.  Awwwwwww.......  we aim to please.  We offer one stop shopping.  These will be ready in about 4 weeks.  My kids are hoping that we'll change our minds and let them keep ALL the puppies and kittens.  Silly children.   So go ahead and call in your order today!  We're even offering a 2 for 1 special.  Get one for free...   and get an extra one for FREE!  Isn't that great?  

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Bermuda Grass, You Ain't No Friend of Mine

I'm weeks behind our gardening schedule.  But with Spring break upon us, we're going to get 'er done!  I found Square Foot Gardening a few years ago and I love it!  Overall it's much easier, neater, simpler, and child friendly than typical row gardens.  It does cost some money to get going, but once started requires less upkeep and maintenance. Unless you have Bermuda grass.  












You can see it here, right up against my poor little wooden box.  The box doesn't stand a chance. Living in a rural area, with more weeds in general near us than where more pavement is the rule, weeding is always a big job.  Most weeds that make it into a square foot box are easily removed and fewer in number than in traditional rows in my experience.  Unless you have Bermuda grass.












This is a raised bed box of strawberry plants.  What?  You say you can't see the box?  Or the strawberries?  I KNOW!  Bermuda grass...  I curse you.  


I understand in some parts of the country Bermuda is the grass of choice because of it's drought and pest resistance and it grows heartily.  Oh, don't I know it!  It's also nearly impossible to kill off.  Well, over the decades, Bermuda grass has taken over a LOT of our 5 acres.  Including the area of lawn (and I use that term loosely) where we put our boxes.  Oh, we put the best quality weed fabric under the boxes (twice), but that's no match for Bermuda grass.  It grows by more than one mode, including deep tap rooting, rhizomes, as well as above ground propagation.  Well, isn't that nice?  


I set about finding a solution this year.  So gardening can indeed be simple and enjoyable.  One solution I found was to add a layer of old carpet to the weed fabric under the boxes as very little can stay alive or penetrate the carpet.  I certainly hope so, and so does Michael, who had the job of emptying all the boxes of dirt to do this!  










Jim, a very nice man from Franklin County Horticultural Pest and Disease Board, suggested hitting up the boxes now with a strong weed killer, including about 6 inches of grass surrounding the boxes.  Even this does not get rid of Bermuda grass quickly or easily.  But if you keep hitting it, you'll eventually win, or so I'm told.  If we treated all of our 5 acres for Bermuda grass, we'd have no lawn left!  (which someday will have to happen and be replanted, but not this year).  








Bermuda grass, you ain't no friend of mine.  I also am not a big fan of chemical means of maintenance.  Have you ever heard the phrase "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"?  Well, meet my new friend.  Generic brand weed control and I have just become allies in a war.  I'll have to be careful on future treatments near the boxes to make sure we don't get a couple of drops of weed killer on our vegetable plants.  Defeat is not an option.  


We have our supplies ready.  




Square foot gardening uses a special soil mix, rather than just dirt.  Peat moss helps maintain good soil quality and moisture. 














A nice mix of different composts is essential too.  But I've found, unlike what they tell you, my boxes still need some fertilizer added.   We do have our own compost pile, but neglected to water it enough to produce nicely broken down hummus, or mature compost.  But that'll get done this year also so next year it'll be ready to go.  


We also add vermiculite, which I don't have a picture of.  It's the little silvery things you sometimes see in potting soil mix, which holds on to moisture.  


Seeds on hand.  Somewhat willing children.  Hopefully beautiful weather.  Gardening has begun.