Thursday, June 27, 2013

Thursdays Thoughts, The June Drop



Much like April when the orchard is in full bloom,
a natural occurrence happens in June as well.  The June Drop.
I don't know if all citrus varieties do the same, but 
Navel Oranges naturally thin themselves from the tree and fall to the ground. 
Hence the name, June Drop.
Leaving the remaining fruit on the trees to become bigger and better.
All part of Mother Natures plan.


JS has finally gotten use to the annual event (after 20 years)
The first few years, he would go into the orchard, pick up a hand full
 of the little dropped oranges off the ground 
and with a slightly "In Mourning" look
 (much like the look he would give the coffee can full of mountain oysters
setting on the ground at my families calf branding)  
then look up at me and proclaim
"There's got to be someway to stop this!"

My thoughts were always "Oh John, you'll never make a farmer"
knowing that lots of orchards have to be thinned by hand,
this was a blessing and I for one was grateful. 


Now days JS doesn't even notice the drop and the routine
 of the orchard has become old hat.
The four seasons are marked by 
Spring Flowers, Summer Watering, Fall Coloring and Winter Harvest.
A routine that runs it's curse in the same order year after year.

Still the wonder of it all, is new each time I see it.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

June Blessing


The orchard soaking up a much needed
 and surprising June rain.


A Blessing from above.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Thursdays Thoughts, "Projects"


Never a shortage of things to do on the 18.
There is always a project, in some varied stage of unfinished.
I have decided that every flower bed needs a good cleaning.
"One Down"


The project to finish fencing in the back yard is coming along.
All It needs is .........
Block man to put the caps on the wall,
Fence guy to finish the ....."fence"


Post to hand the lower gate,
Back fill the wall and level

I hope it will be done soon,
because,  "I need the gate to finish another project."


Cross fencing the olive orchard.
Thank You Ranch Dog for showing were the new fence is going.


JS decided he wants to take the top off the Land Cruiser for the summer,
so that meant pulling out the snowmobiles and cleaning the garage !!!
Oh..... your funny, you think JS is doing that.


Today, I'm cleaning the snowmobiles and covers,
so I can put them back in the garage.

This was not what I had planned this week,
but it never is.................   ;D

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Biscuit Go's Shopping


Dawn and I took The Biscuit on her first big shopping trip to Chico today.
We're getting her trained right.
Cathy's Sew and Vac, Lowe's Home Improvement
and Costco for lunch.....   No Neiman Marcus in Butte County.
Her mother looks the same way when I take her shopping, 
All Smiles and Drools........  ;D

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Thursdays Thoughts, Cussed By A Cow


I got a "butt chewing" this morning and I hate to admit it, but I had it coming.

Cows were throwing a fit and I though it was because
I hadn't gotten them fed.  We have a lot of dry feed
(the reason for having cows) so weekdays their on dry feed, with hay
(JS got a little existed about having cows and bought a "little " hay)
On weekends I turn them out, onto the green irrigated feed.
Of course, I always get a big ear full, when the gate is shut to that field.

Hays fed ? ................  and they're still walking the fence ?

"Here comes the part where I feel like a jerk!"
I shut their water off yesterday.
Yes ... I feel bad.......   and a little dumb.

It was leaking and making a big mud hole.  I needed to level it,
fix the float and clean it out, from the dogs getting in it.
Turned the water off so the cows would drink it down, 
that would make it easier to empty and fix.

Just glad the temperatures been cooler.

"Water tank full, Cows quiet, still leaks"

Friday, June 7, 2013

It's a Biscuit Kind of Day


A couple times a week Daughter Dawn
emails me photos from her phone of
 "The Biscuit"
This is her latest portrait.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Thursdays Thoughts, It's a Fine Morning


"It's a fine morning,
when you can chase
 a rabbit through the orchard,
tree a squirrel,


give the cows ... what for
and take a dip in the pool


 all before lunch."

Ranch Dog



Tuesday, June 4, 2013

"Wrath of The Biscuit"


Nana babysat me for the first time today.
The first 30 minutes was all fun, I got changed,
held, kissed, we played, my Nana's the best.
Then I got hungry!
!!! And my Nana tried to feed me with a fake teat !!!
I showed her the "Wrath of the Biscuit"

I wasn't born yesterday.