Modest plans

When we began this adventure back in February I sketched out modest plans for our first family garden. Something along these lines:

Just a few square immaculately-manicured plots to sustain us through most of the year. No pesticides. Only organic practices to feed our family.

Maybe a few imaginatively-pruned trees.

Certainly a topiary sprinkled here and there.

How hard could it be?

I can hear my parents snickering from nine hours away.

In our abundance of spare time, after fighting off rodents and hogs in the chili peppers and pulling weeds until our hamstrings are as tight as guitar strings, this is my crowning achievement.

Three tiny succulents, chosen because they're drought hardy when neglected for long stretches of time. Not exactly my romantic notion of what our first family garden would be.

Perhaps next year. In a greenhouse. After a good dousing of Roundup.

What a difference four months makes

From this

To this

Peanuts: We are just about ready for you.

Hooray for poop

I've never been so excited about poop in my life. Okay, okay, we'll call it organic compost from here on out to sound less gross.

This is the delivery system. It took two guys a 12+ hour day to get it all put out.

Then Nathan and I alternated driving a spring-tooth harrow behind the compost tractor to help cover up the freshly laid manure. (The winds were a'threatenin to blow away all those blessed nutrients.) This guy folded the compost into the dirt.

But my favorite part of the day was when the a/c in Big John went out. You know, the a/c we just had fixed while he was in the shop. Let me explain.

I was driving the tractor this afternoon. It's something like 100 degrees outside. I hit a bump and Big John stalls. After re-starting the tractor neither the a/c nor the radio works. Frustrated though I was, I just opened the windows and kept going.

Nathan arrives about an hour later back at the field. He joins me in the tractor and I explain what's happened. The man gets hot. I mean like angry hot.

Trust me: You'd be hot too if you'd just spent the small fortune we did to get Big John repaired. It was either pay for his repairs or buy a mid-sized car. Totally not exaggerating. There goes next Christmas's bonus too.

So Nathan is hot and he kicks the tractor. Hard. In the steering wheel console.

And then the wildest thing happens.

The a/c and the radio come back on.

Just like that.

I stare at my magician of a husband in disbelief. So kicking it does work?!! All this time I thought that was just the stuff of movies.

Another note to self: Apparently, it's all a matter of where you kick.

He's baaack

After five weeks in the shop, Big John ought to be well groomed.

Note to self: Must install cupholder asap.  

Buena Suerte Vineyards

Someone was left alone in the barn too long.