Tuesday, December 30, 2008


this is Christ the King church over in Edina
we supply them with the birch and balsam and help set them up
they do a nice job and are great to work with

Tuesday, December 23, 2008


today was the last delivery of the season
i can hardly believe it's over
it was a good year
thank you to all who make it possible

Monday, December 22, 2008


finally the tree season has slowed down enough that i can get out for a ski and wouldn't you know it's 10 below. my theory was to wear my work clothes and they did indeed keep me warm but then i began to sweat and it felt like i was wearing a full body straight jacket.
still, it was lovely getting out in the woods. they are wonderfull anytime of year. in a few months we'll be tapping maple trees in this very spot.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Sunday, November 9, 2008

i'm beginning to suspect that the universe is conspiring on my behalf
the albert eisentraut came up for sale and it is plenty used, but its in my size and price range
i had all the parts, except bottom bracket, to build it out; including old campy hubs and derailleur which probably would have come with this bike
i'm hoping for a bit of warm weather so i can try it on a nice long ride

albert eisentraut frame


Friday, September 5, 2008

this time of year there seems to be kittens everywhere
yesterday we were unloading straw
the wagons had sat in the shed just a few days; since monday i guess
there in the middle of one load
was a fresh batch

Thursday, August 28, 2008

last night it rained nearly 3 inches
wow did we need that rain
it was so dry that this morning when we went out to pick, we hardly made ruts; and sure we got muddy, but not bad really.
this was an important rain.
it means the later crops will fill out nicely and better test wieghts on beans.
and it brings hope

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Friday, August 8, 2008

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Finally we are into sweetcorn season. The harvest began nearly 2 weeks later than normal.
today
we sold some really nice corn on Nicollet Mall; my niece and nephew helped; they were great.
this afternoon
my nephew dropped off an assortment of peppers and cherry tomatoes
my folks also left tomatoes on the counter
stir fry for dinner
pumpkin blossoms, kale, peppers, onion, garlic
wow this is a great time of year

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Sprouts

sunday
one had to get on hands and knees to see that the wheat was beginning to emerge,
and sweet corn was about to (emerge).
monday,
one could see some wheat from the tractor when passing by
tuesday(today),
one can see rows of wheat, green and lovely
sweet corn is like the wheat on monday

Monday, May 5, 2008

wheat

i don't think i've ever planted small grain this late
still
better than not planting

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

spring

this time of year
i swear
i drag so much dirt into the house
one could germinate seeds on the kitchen floor

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

strawberry fields forever

I’m transplanting strawberries. My dog is funny because when transplanting for some reason, for him, the row I’m working on is the most desirable place to be on the entire planet and he walks right exactly down the row. Then he runs and finds something to chew on and comes back and again lays right in the row. I mean how can he even tell? I suppose I expose some damp cool soil and there he plops himself down.
If we’re laying plastic for watermelon I have to leave him at home because he’ll walk right down the row of plastic mulch making holes all over it in undesirable places.
His name is Eddie. Eddie Spaggetti.

Friday, April 4, 2008

ok, i know i'm a little crackers
but look at it
no really
look at it


Saturday, January 19, 2008

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Monday, January 7, 2008

Jury duty

With the nice weather,
I spent the morning creating a mountain of snow and manure for a nieghboring dairy farm,
then loading as fast as they can haul.
It's not so bad really. I've been driving a skid steer since before I could legally drive.
Kermit was great for me as a kid. Somehow he knew, just to let me go.
One day I was loading, just like today, and he was feeding and watching me.
He gave me a raise.
It's great to be appreciated. And today too. They wanted me to stay.
But alas,
I am on call
they called
One can not see the sky from that place
the place they keep us