April 5, 2008
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We got Fruits!
Bright and early, the Beast took Baron outside to let him run off some energy. As a puppy (9 months old) but 85 lbs of puppy, he still has all that typical puppy energy that needs to be drained. The day was overcast and it had rained most of the night but it didn’t deter Baron from his need to run and play.
The Beast has this *game* he plays with Baron. Baron has this HUGE broken sapling he drags around with him and the Beast pretends he’s going to grab it so it sets Baron off and he goes dragging it at the highest speed he can manage. He will then drop it on the ground and turn towards the Beast to see if he is going to try to get it again. The Beast makes a lunge towards him (from quit a distance away so he’s really no threat) and Baron excitedly grabs the sapling again and off he goes. It gets truly funny after you watch it for a while. It also takes five to ten minutes before Baron finally drops the sapling and wanders over to watch what the Beast is REALLY doing.
What he is really doing is checking the many fruit trees and inspecting them for signs of fruit starting. As I mentioned before, the peaches, nectarines, plums and pears have been in bloom and, more recently, the cherries started blooming. He has been vigilantly watching for signs of any fruit forming and today he found them! He was ecstatic! It seems peaches, nectarines and plums are finally forming. It means we WILL have fruit this year. I doubt we will get any cherries but we definitely will next year. If that changes (if cherries do form on some of the trees), I will let you know. But the apple trees haven’t started blooming yet so we don’t know what will happen there.
We did find out that the crabapple trees (which are the primary pollinators for all apple trees) keep their blooms for weeks so they will still be available for pollination when the apple trees finally bloom. You can see the blooms forming on the trees so we may get lucky on that point and at least get a few this year. Now the Beast will be preparing for the Japanese beetle assault which we experienced last year. He found a deterrent for them last year that not only killed many but actually kept them away from the trees (primarily the peach trees) for several weeks (or until the spray washed off the leaves and fruits).
We had no experience with Japanese beetles in Florida so it was one of the things we had to learn (mostly the hard way) last year. This year…HE IS PREPARED TO DO BATTLE!
Although today is yukky and may be rainy off-and-on, we missed the violent thunderstorms that hit other areas. Most of those areas were to the north and west of us so I count us lucky on that score. The rest of the week is going to be amazing, mostly because the highs will be in the 70′s. I may hate to get on that plane to Chicago if their weather is too much colder but brave it I will! I wouldn’t miss that for the world.
I got my hair cut yesteray and I really like it. It’s way shorter than I really wanted but….it will grow and give me time to really *play* with it. The fun part is that I can *spike* it and it looks kind of cute. Well, as cute as it could be on this old, wrinkle puss of mine.
It’s very easy to blow dry and curl and takes about 2 minutes….well, maybe 5. It just seems to be such a short time compared to what it USED to take me. The Beast was a bit shocked when he saw me at first but did finally admit that it looks a lot nicer now. Heck, anything would have looked nicer. At least my *bedhead* upon awakening is not so shocking that even the dog looks twice and recoils. I DO have to go get some gel or whatever it is they use for spiking so I have some to practice. Right now, I have a spray I can use after blowdrying my hair that does it but I think the gel will be easier.I have to cut Bratfink’s hair when I get to Chicago. I don’t think she’s had it cut since I did it at the last family reunion. Plus Bee wants me to cut her split ends. We weren’t sure what the rules are on flying with scissors since I am doing all carryon so they told me not to worry since they had some good scissors there. Phew…would hate to lose my haircutting scissors to those big dump barrels they use to collect lighters people forget. But, if I don’t like the scissors, I will have to run out somewhere and pick some up to use. I was thinking…..maybe Hobby Lobby?
It’s not like I have an agenda or anything but I could spend some time looking around at stuff I want to bring home. 
Since it’s less than a week until I leave, I can now truly start packing so that I don’t forget anything. That is always a nightmare I have. Worse, I am going to have to prepack the BIG suitcase since the Beast informed me that we will be leaving for Centralia (and meeting up with his brother) the very next day after I get home. *sigh* I just hope they have at least halfway decent weather because I know we will be here in the Tennessee Valley. I just hope I am up to it after all the fun at Chez Cushee (my sister Bee’s house). She’s certainly been busy cleaning up her files and reorganizing her work area. All to make room for me to have my own space while I am there. Oh, not that she hadn’t intended to do that anyway but I was as good a reason as anything when you procrastinate for too long. I know how it is since I desperately need to do the same thing here at the *Farm*. Since we now have fruit, I figure we can call us a farm legitimately. It sure will be without question in a couple years when all the trees are producing. I have this nightmare about me being busy, busy, busy cooking and canning ’til I drop. Only time will tell.
Well, it’s time for me to do some housewifey stuff (laundry, making beds, washing throw rugs and washing the kitchen floor) so I should start and get it over with.
Love you all and don’t forget…..tell those you love that you do. ALWAYS. Even if it seems awkward to begin with, it gets easier over time. I even have some of my *other* aunts doing it now. It spreads once you start it.
Have a great weekend.
