Good Times

 

Spring personified.

Big brother Ethan walking home from Gramma's down a dirt road at the end of a day with little brother Emmett. 

T-shirts, backpacks, tenny runners/athletic shoes, water bottles. 

Snow on the mountains, green grass in the valley.

Roadside visits. 

Good times in the neighborhood have returned.

Bill said I should take my tomato to opening day of the local Farmers' Market tomorrow.  

I told him it might be wise to wait a while, and, of course, when the first 'mater ripens, it will go into my mouth.  

After we had the one-tomato discussion and I had downloaded a cell phone picture taken this morning, I discovered that I actually have three tomatoes hanging from the vine in the green house.  

Sometimes cameras see things that cataract-laced eyes don't.

It's looking like it could be a great tomato year this year, which will be nice because last year's crop was dismal. 

BTW:  Becky your five foster plants are still hanging in there.  No blossoms yet. 
 
Yesterday was farming day around here.

Bill laid out the harrow so I could hook it up to the 4-wheeler. 

Horses spent the day in the round pen, so that I could drag the barnyard and pasture No. 1.

Pasture No. 1 had been brush hogged in the fall, but with the horses spending about a month afterward, thousands of horse apples needed to be spread around to allow grass to grow and maybe even serve as fertilizer. 

Barnyard dragging just at the end of a good mud season makes all the difference. The harrow breaks up the mud, opens the ground up for breathing and drying and makes the place walkable again. Plus it looks nice.

So, with another spring project finished, Bill and I went our separate ways yesterday.  He loaded up his fishing pontoon and headed for Mirror Lake, while Foster and I went north to the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge, which now has its gate open for driving and viewing the waterfowl.

On the way, I stopped at Boundary Tractor.  Bill had given me the specs for purchasing some transmission fluid.  I handed it over.  The clerk asked what size containers I wanted, nothing that pouring fluid from a five-gallon can might be a bit dicey. 

"Give me the easiest to pour," I said. 

He did. 

Then, he said the price:  $192. 

Hmmm, I thought, wondering if Bill was expecting it to be that much. 

He wasn't, but at least we have transmission fluid for the Kubota.

I had a nice visit with Cal, the owner.  He sold my dad the first-ever Kubota tractor in the area. Harold eventually sold it back to Cal, who, in turn, has sold the same tractor six times.  He says the tractor is now retired in the Paradise Valley. 

I also met a nice couple, the Newkirks from the Dallas area who are moving to Bonners Ferry.   

During our respective afternoon outings, Bill caught one 13-inch trout at Mirror Lake, and I enjoyed taking pictures.  

So, we both enjoyed our afternoon. 

Another gorgeillious day ahead. My farrier Steve is coming this morning to put front shoes on all the horses. And, more painting or gardening will be on the project list. 

Happy Friday.