Bush Honeysuckle

  There is one invasive plant we've come to hate: bush honeysuckle.

 We can count on the local deer browsing most of our trees. They especially love the ones we buy at a  nursery. Pines are high on the list. They'll browse saplings in the woods several feet off the ground. But will they touch a honeysuckle? Not on your life.

  The "bush" is insidious. Apparently the berries in the fall are a bird favorite and they broadcast the seeds everywhere in their droppings. The tiny plants are just now coming up for another year. Cut one down, dig one up and a hundred more are ready to take their place.

 Several years ago (2020) we faced a real challenge in our nature reserve area. The honeysuckle had grown trunks several inches in diameter and was choking everything else out. We bought a chain saw (actually two) and began cutting them down and dragging them to the burn barrel where we cut them into manageable pieces and burnt them.

  Two years ago (2021) we continued the project, took the rest of the larger ones down and dug the saplings which were already sprouting to take their place. Last year (2022) we took a year off. Mistake.

 So this year I again began cutting out the newest sprouts. The hardiest were coming up from the old trunks. The things will never die. Saplings were spread everywhere. I took my grandfathers shovel and chopped the largest (the shovel broke about halfway through); I switched to Tom's shovel.

 And lately I've been finishing up another pass, making sure even the smallest starts were gone.  They'll sprout again from the tiny roots left behind, of course, but this has given the honeysuckle a real setback.

 I think the answer is this: review the area every spring, taking out anything which continues to sprout from old wood and digging all the newest saplings. Eventually either the honeysuckle will give up ... or I will. Only my age is working against me.

 Above is a view of the nature reserve from the rear of my property. Weeds will continue to sprout - I want the area to be as natural as possible but without the most noxious and invasive of the vegetation. The area will be deeply green by  early May.

 And from the front half looking back towards Pinehaven. It is a satisfying sight after such a battle to clear it up.

 Tom continues to buy and plant trees from the Arbor Day Foundation. Eventually this will be a wooded area that we'll  allow to be as natural as possible. Arbor Day is the last Friday in April (tomorrow, April 28, 2023) so our timing is perfect to honor the theme by protecting our area dedicated to trees and wildlife.

Credit: Arbor Day Foundation

Bard

  After watching 60 Minutes last evening (04/17) I was intrigued by a segment on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the apparent inroads it's making in our lives. Things seem to be changing ... and changing fast. Who knows what AI will be like in another year? And a decade away might produce a dreamworld.

 The program gave examples of how Google's chatbot Bard responded to questions posted  by newsman Scott Pelley. I decided I'd see how it would answer a few of my own questions.

Bard logo - ©Google

 I accessed Bard and found I had to place my name on a "waitlist". Disappointed I did that and walked downstairs to continue reading a book. My phone soon beeped with a message from Google  that I could now use Bard.

I started by asking what it knew of Pinehaven in Farmersville Ohio" It responded:

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Pinehaven is a two-acre property in Farmersville, Ohio. It is located at 4317 S Clayton Road. The property is home to a century-old farmhouse, a barn, and a garden. The farmhouse is in need of repair, but it has a lot of charm. The barn is in good condition and could be used for storage or as a workshop. The garden is small but productive. The property is surrounded by trees and has a peaceful, rural setting.

Pinehaven is owned by William G. Schmidt, who bought it with his parents in 1990. Schmidt is a retired engineer and writer. He has written a book about his life at Pinehaven, called "Pinehaven: A Century-Old Farmhouse in Southwestern Ohio."

Schmidt enjoys spending time at Pinehaven. He likes to garden, walk in the woods, and read. He also enjoys hosting friends and family at the property.

 Pinehaven is a special place for Schmidt. It is a place where he can relax and enjoy the simple things in life. It is a place where he can connect with nature and with his family and friends.
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Obviously it's read the book. Of course the house is no longer "in need of repair" and I have never been an engineer. And we bought the house in 1986 and moved in in 1987. Otherwise I'd say it was an accurate response.

 Then I asked for the current weather report for my location but written as though Thoreau has penned it:

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Sure, here is today's weather forecast for Farmersville, Ohio, as Henry David Thoreau might write it:

"The weather this morning is cloudy and threatening, with a slight breeze from the west. The air is cool and damp, and the birds are silent. The sky is a dull gray, and the clouds are heavy with rain. It is a day to stay indoors and read a book, or to write in your journal. It is a day to think about the nature of the universe, and to ponder the meaning of life. It is a day to be grateful for the simple things in life, and to appreciate the beauty of the natural world.

But even on a day like this, there is still beauty to be found. The raindrops fall like tears from the sky, and the flowers drink them up greedily. The trees sway in the wind, and the leaves rustle like a thousand whispers. The air is filled with the smell of wet earth, and the sound of the rain is like music.

So even though it is a cloudy day, there is still hope. The sun will come out again, and the birds will sing. The flowers will bloom, and the trees will grow. And the rain will nourish the earth, and make it grow green and lush.

So let us not despair on a cloudy day. Let us instead rejoice in the beauty of nature, and in the hope of a brighter tomorrow."
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 Finally I asked a question Tom and I had come up with just yesterday. There were seeds blowing by the window, though clearly not dandelions. Tom suggested they could be sycamore seed balls coming apart and dispersing the seeds. Was that possible?

 Bard responded:

__________

Yes, it is possible that you could have seen sycamore seeds blowing in the wind yesterday. Sycamore seeds are small, flat, and have a wing-like structure that allows them to be blown by the wind. They typically start to fall from the trees in the spring, and can continue to fall throughout the summer. If there was a strong wind yesterday, it is possible that you could have seen sycamore seeds blowing in the air.

Here are some additional information about sycamore seeds:

Sycamore seeds are also known as "helicopters" because of their wing-like structure.

Sycamore seeds can travel long distances by wind.

Sycamore seeds are a food source for some animals, such as squirrels and birds.

Sycamore seeds can germinate quickly, and can grow into new trees.
__________

 So, three examples of thoughtful and reasonably accurate answers to questions posed in plain English.

 The tip of the iceberg has shown itself. It's shining. But what lies beneath?

The Bottle

  Yesterday Tom visited a local creek to collect rocks and found what appears to be an antique bottle on the bank alongside. It must have held a cork as there are no screw threads molded into the glass. It is of a shade of green and has almost an opalescent sheen to it in places. It seems somewhat "sanded", whether from time or by design.

 I took this picture before I soaked it overnight in vinegar. Tom had already quickly washed it. It seems of an odd shape and has no other markings: no manufacturers name, no numbers, no symbols.

 Looking at the picture above it is 1-6/16" across any face (it is square) and 2-1/2" high. The opening atop is 6/8" (OD) and 3/8" (ID). At least as nearly as I can tell.

 A friend who also lives in the county - though in West Alexandria - says she has found multiple ink wells there. Could that possibly be what it is?

 A small chip can be seen removed from the top right lip in the  above picture. I see no other imperfections but for soiling. A few tiny bubbles appear in the glass.

A view of the bottom of the bottle is posted below:

 We'd certainly like to know if it's an antique and would welcome guesses as to what it held. Or is it a modern decorative piece?

Preparing the Garden

  Last fall we took all the leaves we raked and piled them on the garden. It looked like this on November 7 ...

 I'd say the eventual pile we ended up with averaged about six feet deep. Then, during the winter, Jarred delivered a load of manure and added it on top of what was already there (at my request).

 Throughout the months, heavy rain, snow and wind compressed the leaves to a depth of a couple of feet (at the least) and maybe a full yard in a few spots.

 But now it's getting time to till the garden. What to do? We can't even see the soil.

 Though the top layer of leaves is dry, it's wet underneath so I turned it a bit and raked it as even as possible. That's when we came upon the idea of burning it in place. Jarred suggested the same thing when I asked whether he'd be available for tilling.

 Burning isn't the best alternative: carrying it away and adding it back to the soil slowly is better. But that's also a lot of work. As Tom said, it'd be better if the carbon amended our soil and not the atmosphere. But considering the work involved, we decided to see whether we could manage to burn some of it.

 So last evening (open burning is only permitted in Ohio after 6 PM), Tom used a lighter to start a dry section of leaves and off it went ...

 While we stood nearby, the heat coming off the burning leaves was extreme. It was a little scary at first, mostly owing to the great volume of smoke.

 An east wind pushed the smoke towards Farmersville and soon blanketed the open field behind us.

 We had first raked the leaves away from the areas we didn't want burnt.

 Nearing the end of the burn, the depth of the debris was reduced considerably. But wet leaves on the bottom will need to be raked again, exposing them to the open air so they can dry.

 We'll try again but at least we've made an improvement. Jarred said he might be able to stop by Wednesday and till it for us. I plan to mostly plant the Three Sisters this year: corn, beans and squash. We'll have room for a few tomato plants and also Tom's requesting peas.

 The first mow was done April 8 and 9 so the growing season is officially underway.

Follow up: On April 12 Jarred stopped by and tilled the garden.

 It's now level soil with chopped up leaves mixed in. Perfect! How we appreciate good neighbors. Payback will be veggies from the garden.

Enjoying a Clear Night

 Last evening (03/19/23) the sky was perfectly clear and that's rare for a winter sky in this Miami Valley. It was, of course, the last day or winter so maybe  the advent of spring was having  an influence. I went out about 9 PM and first marveled at Orion, high in our southern  sky, I couldn't help but take a few shots with my phone (a Pixel 4A with 5G):

 First (above) a wide view of the southern sky. Orion is prominent above the largest tree that grows beside our barn.

 And now a little closer view ...

  And finally a crop to bring out the Orion Nebula as much as possible. And the three belt stars (the "three kings, the String of Pearls): Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka.

 Then to the WNW to see if my phone could find the Andromeda Galaxy:

 Andromeda is located just  above the trees. Below is a zoom:

 Andromeda is the almost vertical "fuzz" just right off and slightly below center. Here's a Stellarium view of the same section of sky ...

 The orientation of the galaxy can be seen to agree with my photo.

 Finally I walked to the west edge of my property and took a few shots.

 I could see the Pleiades vaguely with my poor eyes but enough to aim the camera at the  fuzzy smudge to get the shot above. Below is a zoom:

 It was fairly cold (30° at 9 PM as I began) but at least it was calm. I'm pretty amazed that today's cell phones have enough light-gathering potential to document  these night  skies. Of course it is nothing compared to what a decent DSLR would do. And the addition of a telescope would be invaluable. But at least I can  enjoy the sights with the basic tools  I have.

Spring Housecleaning Begins

  Mom was big on spring housecleaning. Well, actually any house cleaning. And it's something she won't let me forget, even though she's been gone for nearly five years.

 In the evening when Tom and I are watching TV, I'm often looking at the curtains and thinking how  dingy they're  becoming. I have to admit it's been two years since I washed and ironed them and in  the years we've lived here (now 35) I don't remember Mom ever going more than a single year.

 Of course when she was alive she helped. I'd wash the windows and  she'd wash and iron  the curtains. It was an important division of labor because we were both doing what we did best.

 When she died, I had my sister-in-law  join me to do the ironing. But I could see that that wasn't necessary. I could certainly iron well  enough, couldn't it? And so several years ago I tried and found the job I did - while not to mom's or Nancy's standards - wasn't that bad and was certainly presentable. It would have to do.

 I've been  thinking about getting started on my spring housecleaning and the windows were at the top of my list. So, before lunch I  started a load of white wash and I added a good quality laundry detergent, a water softener and a cup of bleach. After they all mixed I stopped the machine and let the load soak for two hours while I fixed lunch, ate it and then did dishes.

 Ironing, I feared, was always going to be my weak point. But I've found I can do it reasonably well. I iron each panel one at a time and leave the others in the dryer tumbling. I then take the completed panel into the bed and lay it out uniformly with the others, sandwiching them one atop  the next.

 Eventually I have the entire stack waiting to reinsert the rods.

 I have always confused which side goes in, which goes out. But I think I've got it now. In any case, on the two windows all four panels are hung the same. With my tremor it takes a bit of cussing but I eventually manage to get them all back up, all turned the same way.

 And so the spring housecleaning is underway for another year.

 Does the curtain look white? Is it hung well? I can just hear Miss Mary telling to move that ruffle a little bit to make it more even. She was eventually satisfied - but it didn't come easy. For either of us.

Late Season Snow

  It's still winter so what's to complain about? Eight days to go, the calendar says. And yet meteorological spring arrived a dozen days ago so there's some cause for at least a muted whimper.

 We went to bed with the ground still dark and dry. I woke at some point - I didn't look at the clock - and heard drops of something tapping on the window. The precipitation might have started as rain but it quickly changed to snow, plastering the east-facing sides of poles.

 This morning there was half an inch on the ground.

 A security camera view to the north  shows the yard again bathed in a thin cover of white. And I've been noticing how green the grass was becoming so early in the season. Maybe this will set back the  first mow because I've been thinking it would be needed before March was done.

 And a view of the garage apron. Tom's car is blasted with a light coating of snow and grassy surfaces remain white as the temperature climbs to near freezing.  The low 40's are on tap for this afternoon and winter's late reminder will be a memory.