Filed under: fish, garden, house, pond, projects, rain, water garden, weather | Tags: floating water plants, garden, Koi, pond, railing, screen porch, water garden, weather
Our porch and pond continue to change. This week the railing that we had ordered special made came. 
Sunday we spent some time cleaning and roughing the metal, then Karen painted it. Today I installed it.
It looks great, and adds a bit of safety also. It’s only 4 steps up and a drop to soft grass so we were not worried about spacing on the bars. The hand rail will help get up and down the steps.
When we were in Colorado we found some nice brackets to add to the west posts of the porch, they were installed Sunday also.
They will allow the hanging of some decorative items to add some color.
Our floaters in the pond are really growing in this warm weather. Here’s the pond on June 30th,
and here’s the pond today, July 9. More and more the year old koi are turning from black to orange. It’s fun to watch them all come when I feed them, it is taking more and more food to make them happy.
I finally found our newest batch of kittens today, they are about 2 weeks old. Mom is not happy to have me around so I left them alone for now. When they get older I’ll start getting to know them.
Our grass is starting to show signs of stress from the heat of last week. Many places are starting to turn brown. No rain is forecast for the next week, but temperatures will be a bit cooler than they were.
Some areas in the corn are showing a lack of water. This was more pronounced in the 100 degree heat. Now that temps are in the mid 80′s the roots are able to keep up with the demand for water. There is some water if you go deep enough, I just hope it is enough to get the crop to the next rainfall.
Michael
Filed under: birds, garden, Minnesota, pond, rain, water garden, Wildlife | Tags: birds, deer, farm, frogs, Minnesota, rain, screen porch, summer, weather, wildlife
Our pond is under siege by an invasion of frogs. It’s not unusual to see three or four, but this afternoon we had 11 that I could count and there had to be more hiding in the plants at ponds edge. That tells me I did something right.
3 of many
Here’s some more.
There are six frogs hiding in the picture above.
The weather has been dry lately with not even a dust settler for this month. This morning we had a thunderstorm roll through and it didn’t even leave a tenth of an inch.
Our ponds also has drawn deer for a drink. I’ve not seen them at the pond, but have found them leaving when I step out in the morning. With the only open water source in some distance we are drawing quite a few birds also. It sure can make dinner in the screen porch an interesting time.
Michael
Filed under: fish, garden, house, pond, water garden | Tags: fish, garden, Koi, pond, screen porch, water garden
When I got my last Koi I was told he had one more he wanted to sell but could not catch it. Today I got the call that the elusive Koi had been captured.
New Koi
It’s a beauty, a bit bigger than the other big one I got (over 12 inches) and definitely fatter. For a while it just hung around the upper part of the pond, then it went off to explore the rest of the pond, and see the other fish. We’ll see how they all get along in the pond. Since they all came from the same place originally everything should be fine.
Here’s some more pictures of the pond.
Notice the sign.
There are good views from both sides.
Work has started on the steps for the porch. Things should be ready for the wedding.
Michael
So my screen porch addition is nearing the end for this summer. I’m down to the last few things. I think it’s looking pretty good for a mostly one man project.
I did hire the foundation work. My wife has done most of the painting. I had help a day or two for installation of some longer pieces, but this has been a long lonely project, and I don’t mind. With the right tools one person can do quite a lot.
We’ll hold off on installing the screens until next year, and then I can start the landscaping. Those details are already messing with my mind.
The steps kind of end in mid air yet, and I have some doors to add to keep folks from falling out and cats from coming in, but it’s time to move on to harvest. I’ll do a final purchase inventory this week. Install the last elements for this year. It must be time to party. Come on over.
Michael
Filed under: home addition, house, repairs, safety, time | Tags: machines, repairs, screen porch
Every building project has it’s ups and downs. There are the parts of the project that are enjoyed and those that are not so enjoyable. We are now at the part of our addition that I like the least, shingling the roof.
Some of it may be my age. Bending down all day to place and nail shingles into place is not easy on the older body. Muscling the heavy bundles of shingles up a ladder is easier for me than the bending over. On a hot day the shingles can scuff if you are not careful, so taking care of how and where you step is a requirement. Working near the edge of the roof with that drop to the ground is not such a fun activity either. There is only one thing that is good about shingling, it means the project is getting nearer to the end.
In the case of our screen porch, we have the siding and a lot of the inside and outside detail done. Most posts are clad in cement board to protect them from the weather. Bead-board plywood is on the ceiling and the walls. Karen has been painting the screen doors and some of the siding. The floor is waiting for me to install it.
I know the project would have taken even longer without the investment in power tools. The air powered nailers really speed the project up. They make it possible for me to hold a piece in place with one hand and nail it with the other. They mean that with the squeeze of a trigger I can put a nail into place. I love power tools.
If the weather holds I’ll finish the roof tomorrow. Then I can finish off the details on the walls and start the floor. I will not finish the entire addition by harvest, but it will be usable.
Michael
Filed under: Farm, harvest, home addition, Minnesota, rain, Soybeans, summer, weather | Tags: farm, harvest, hot, Minnesota, rain, screen porch, Soybeans, weather, Weed control
Into every life a little rain must fall. That old saying could be changed into a lot of rain for some folks this past week in areas south of us. When you get 7 to 11 inches of rainfall here in the corn belt you have a problem. We’re just not ready for monsoons here in the center of the continent. Luckily we’ve missed those massive rains here, but we’ve had our share.
We have been getting some really hot, humid days to the point it is difficult to work outside. Today is forecast to be one of those. Usually this kind of humidity is followed by a storm and one is forecast for tonight. We’ll see how much rain we get.
Yesterday was a wonderful day with temps in the lower 80′s and reasonable humidity. I spent most of the day working on the screen porch, but some time was spent baling hay in the afternoon. Today I’ll spend some time in the morning on the porch then I’ll switch to jobs that have air conditioning for the hottest part of the day.
I have 70 acres of soybeans I want to cultivate before they get too big. This is part of the last field I planted and they are just right for a quick trip with the cultivator. That should discourage the last weeds just enough so they will not be a problem. When soybeans are planted in 30 inch rows they take a while to shade out the center of the row. Once they do it’s hard for weeds to get enough sun to grow.
Summer field work is drawing to a close. We’ll still be scouting fields for problems, the most common one being aphids in the soybeans. Road ditch hay is mostly cut, but we are not done, we’ve been dodging those rain events. Those with oats and wheat are watching their fields to see when they can be harvested. County fair season is upon us and school will start in less than a month. It’s time for us to get the combine (harvester) out and get it ready for fall. Still plenty to do here in the slow part of the year.
Michael
Filed under: Farm, home addition, house, Minnesota, rain, Trees, weather | Tags: rain, screen porch, trees, weather
Again it rains. Last night we got another 1.54 inches of rain with some in the area getting much more. This is getting a bit old. I have not been out to look, but I’m sure the puddles are now small lakes. Our basement sump pump, which was holding off the water, is still pumping as water sneaks past it’s defenses.
Happily the wet weather pattern seems to have broken for now. There is no rain forecast for the next week. We may need that week to dry things out.
I had gotten most of the broken trees cleaned up from the last storms, now I’ll have to check to see if there is any more damage. My big chainsaw is still in the shop so I have been making do with my limber. It will handle the small stuff well, but I have one large tree I need to cut that is waiting for the bigger saw.
We put the walls up on the screen porch yesterday. With the rain, the porch had the prospect of becoming a pool, but a porch must have drainage scuppers, and the scuppers did their job.
Off to church this morning. A chance to catch up on the area rain fall reports and storm damage. Then, since I have my son here, a bit more work on the porch.
Michael
Filed under: Farm, fertilizer, home addition, house, Minnesota, nitrogen, rain | Tags: farm, rain, screen porch, weather, Weed control
I finished spraying the beans. I was supposed to get the nitrogen applicator to side dress the corn fields today but the applicator is still in use at another farm. While I waited I worked on the screen porch. The floor is now on the porch and I need to make another lumber run.
We have a severe storm warning for tonight along with a forecast for a 90% chance of rain. If we do not get too much rain I can get at the nitrogen application soon. We could just be sitting here waiting for things to dry up again. All the time the corn is growing and soon it could be too tall to get into the field. Oh well, we’ll do what we can.
Michael
Filed under: Farm, Minnesota, rain, time, weather | Tags: farm, rain, screen porch, spring, weather, Weed control
Despite all the rain, the block work is now done for the screen porch. I have the lumber to build the floor so I can begin any time. The plan is to put the plate, a 2X8, on top of the block wall and backfill the trench, then I can begin building.
Now the sun has decided to shine and I need to get some spraying done if the fields are dry enough. I may have to put off the next step, and then I may not. Rain is forecast for Thursday, so I may only get one day to spray, or I may not.
Michael
Filed under: Corn, Farm, fertilizer, home addition, house, Minnesota, nitrogen, rain, Soybeans, tillage, weather | Tags: Corn, farm, fertilizer, rain, screen porch, Soybeans, weather
OK, now this is getting to be too much. It has rained for most of the days in the month of June and I have work that must be done before the corn is too tall, and time is running out. Our best hope for nice weather is Wednesday, and then it is supposed to rain again.
I got a good start on spraying the weeds in the corn, but I need another day to finish. The soybean fields already have weeds taller than the beans. This is frustrating.
Also on the to do list is the last application of nitrogen and cultivating corn. With my dad taking off a week for a trip west, I’ll be hustling when the weather clears. The corn is growing fast enough that I may not be able to get all of these jobs done.
If it was not raining, I could at least start work on the screen porch. Due to the rain the block work is not yet done, and I will need dry weather to do a decent job of backfilling dirt in the trench. I have the lumber here to start building, but no sun, more rain, makes for a frustrating day.
Michael
