Father's Day Ride

Father's Day Pre-ride gathering spot preparing for departure.

We drove Rt. 140 to Rt. 12 to Planfield, Connecticut and stopped for lunch at Lucky Jack's Bar and Grill. With full bellies we continued South on Rt.12.

At our farthest point south we stopped at the Submarine Forces Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut, which I'm guessing is some 100+ miles from home.  We didn't go inside but parked, stretched and puttered around outside and along the water for a while, as it was a beautiful day.

It was a fantastic full day ride with over 190 miles logged.

Broccoli 2014

Broccoli was first veggie we picked this year!

\

Two heads picked and ready for eating, with two more in the wings.

Fire In the Hole...

Our big vegetable garden is doing terrific with all the plants beginning to take off!

Here we have tomatoes, zucchini and summer squash, broccoli and sunflower's along the back and to the left just our of camera shot are the green bell peppers and some parsley.

All mulched, weeded and staked.

Can't wait...

Lying in Wait

So, last weekend I got my tomato stakes in the group next to each plant and tied each plant.  However, there was one plant that I skipped, as I spied a beneficial friend lying in wait and cooling off.

You can see in the first picture a small hole in the mulch.  To the common folk I suspect this would have gone unnoticed but I knew exactly what was burrowed beneath and chose to keep my distance so not to disturb him/her.  If you look closely at the second picture you can see my friend peering out at me.

An American Toad !

Comfrey In Bloom

Our Comfrey plants all looks terrific and blooming away!

We have two different varieties: Blue Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum) and Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum)

Comfrey (also Comphrey) is considered a herb and used as a fertilizer and as an herbal medicine.  We use it for beautification and as treats for the rabbit's and chickens!

Sunday Mass Perhaps?

Ants!  I'm guessing thousands and thousands of them!

It's odd how they'll occasionally congregate and mass like this.  It's Sunday morning, so one theory I have is they're gathering for morning mass.  What ever the reason this particular group will NOT be attending any more of these gathering...

Take That!

 

Was greeted with this pile of grass the other afternoon.

This was my punishment for going on my first motorcycle ride (last Sunday) without him...

I Wear My Sunglasses at Night

I don't think I could ever live up to the standards set by dudes who wear sunglasses indoors.

Just saying...

Maiden Ride

Got my first real motorcycle ride in this past Sunday!!

Three of us, two newbies, took off around 10AMish and meandered the back roads into Rhode Island and back.  We stopped at a couple places along the way to relax and grab some cold drinks and some lunch.

When all said and done I put approximately 80 miles on the bike.

It was a beautiful day and awesome ride.  I can't wait to go again!

Graduate!

I signed up for, attended and passed the Massachusetts Environmental Affairs Bow Hunter Education class!

The class was held in Foxborough, at the Bass Pro Shop, this past Friday evening from 6:00PM - 9:00PM and Saturday 9:00AM - 6:00PM

Although this course is not required of Massachusetts hunters, it is accepted by all states and Canadian jurisdictions which require a government issued Bowhunter Education certificate for the purchase of a license.

Several years ago I took and passed the mandated Basic Hunter Education course which is required of all first-time hunters in Massachusetts.

I've met all the requirements to obtain a Massachusetts hunting license, if and when I'm ready.

Watch out Bambi!

1985 Yamaha Maxim XJ700

Here is my new, or rather vintage, ride!

A 1985 Yamaha Maxim XJ700

Open road here I come!

Mr. Toad Incognito

Say hello to my little friend!!

I was watering our tomatoes this past weekend when I spied this American Toad hiding (trying) in the sedum which boarder the back edge of the garden.

A welcome sight to say the least.  I'm sure he's gobbling up all kinds of insects, as he was a pretty good sized toad.

He contently stayed just like that for most of the day (I checked in on him from time to time).  I suspect he ventured out later in the evening to start eating.

The Chrysalises Are Hatching!

The Black Swallowtail chrysalises are beginning to hatch into absolutely beautiful butterflies!

The first two hatched a couple weeks ago.  Last week four more hatched out.  

Oddly, all six appear to have been females.  Wonder why - diet? temperature? or the fact that they were caged and kept in the garage all winter?  Interesting...

There are several more chrysalises. I suspect they'll also be hatching soon.  Hopefully they'll stick around our yard this summer.

Swept Me Off My Feet

So, I found this Agri Lawn Sweeper on the side of the road for free some 15 or so years ago.  Quite a find to say the least!  Over the years it got plenty of use and not just by me but my neighbors also.  I mostly used it for Spring and Fall yard cleanup and it worked great.

However, all that being said the problem with this lawn sweeper is storing it.  It's big, bulky and heavy.  So, the other day I made the spur of the moment decision and posted it for sale on Craig's List.  In less than a week this dude was sold and we pocketed $120.

It'll be missed but with my lawn tractor bagger's do an excellent job at pickup also, so it had to go.

My College Graduate

My oldest graduated with honors from Sacred Heart University's (SHU) John F. Welch College of Business the past Sunday!

Seems like only yesterday I was moving a nervous Freshman into the dorms.  Four years later she's a beautiful, confident young woman with endless possibilities and set to embark on the next chapter in her life.  

I'm a VERY proud dad!

Congratulations Stephanie!

It's A Veggie Gardening Time!

and we're off!

Our Garlic is doing terrific!  We planted these in the Fall and once the warm weather arrived these plants took right off.  Hmm, can't wait to taste!

Planted eight Cucumber seedlings; paired up.  Also, there's a single Red-Leaf Lettuce plant growing.  This must have come from last years planting AND I'm NOT complaining!

The coup de gras, our BIG garden.  Planted twenty tomato plants; (12) Big Boy's and (8) Jet Star, four Broccoli, twelve squash; (6) Zucchini and (6) Summer

Still to plant: peppers, pole beans, kale, parsley, carrots and radishes.

Apartment Space For Rent

Well, it last just one year before it went to the birds...

As you can there are six bird nests atop the support beam to our deck.  They're all American Robin nests.  I'm just not sure yet if there's more than one nesting pair that's taken up residence. The best view is from the basement door, however, even that view isn't the best and as soon as you open the basement door off they go.  But if I was to guess I would say there's only one pair.

I really would prefer they do their family rearing someplace else.  I'm pretty sure the cranky old homeowner isn't going to be too happy when bird droppings start adorning the support beam...

Emilie's Bed - Raised Flower Bed That Is!

Emilie and I, with help from the neighbor youte; her friend, built a new raised bed to replace the old, rotting one we had strawberries in for years.  This new one, however, is for Emilie's use.  To plant whatever her little heart desires.  As you can see form the picture she's started with some flowers - Dalia's and Salvia, and has begun decorating with some granite as stepping stones.

I'll get her thumbs green yet!

Sprung A Leak!

We noticed a couple of weeks ago that there was quite a bit of water in the cabinet under the kitchen sink. 

Our kitchen faucet head is removal-able so you can pull it out and use it like a garden  hose, for lack of a better analogy.  Upon further investigate I discovered that the hose (the one on the right in the above photo) sprung a leak about 6" down, which of course was under the sink hence all the water.  

Although we bought the faucet, a Delta faucet, back in 2005 once call to the company and a replacement hose was shipped out to us, at NO cost including shipping!

It arrived the other day and within 10 minutes I had the new hose installed.

Crisis averted.

Sunny Side Up!

Trixie found the one warm sunny spot and claimed it for her nap.

Ah, a dog's life...

Oh Deer Mr. Sedum

The Whitetail deer were visiting the other day.

There were three of them and I'm guessing a mother and her two babies from last year.  Nice to see they made it through the long, cold New England winter we just had.  Although, not quite sure how.  The younger ones ventured out onto the lawn; not the mother.  She stayed along the woodline and constantly on the look out.  Someone should tell her they're in Franklin, not the Serengeti.

As I've said in the past, they're welcome to come and visit as long as they stay in the neighbors yard.  You can see in the second picture below, one of the youngsters was snacking on the just-popping-through-the-soil Autumn Joy Sedum.  Ate it right to the ground before moving onto the next plant.  Just glad it was the neighbors plants and not ours.

Another problem that these Odocoileus virginianus bring with them are TICKS!  I've found several on me already this Spring.  The neighbors boy too. Little pest, potential big problems.

Guess The Critter

Can you identify the bird in the first photo - WITHOUT peaking at the second photo?

Well?

Hmm?

Nope, it's not an American Robin!

Good guess though.

Put on your thinking cap.

I'm smelling something burning!

C'mon you know this!

You can do it!

Take a guess...

Well?

Give up?!

Fine!  It's a <see below>

Baltimore Oriole!

He's hanging out, sticking out and dinning out on the pear tree's Springtime blossoms.

HBD Daughter #1

Wishing my oldest daughter, and soon to be college graduate, a VERY Happy Birthday!

In A Hurry Sally...

So, the douche-bag that rode my ass up the parkway and into the office park and who continued as we drove over the speed bumps and into the parking lot is the same woman who went out of her way to hold the locked door open for me as we entered the building, WHY?!

That was nice of her but it bothered the $hit out of me just the same.  Seems she was in a bit of a hurry to get into the office, so why wait and hold the door open for the person who's ass you were just riding for about a half mile?!

In my mind I proceeded slammed the door off her dumb head repeatedly, then leaving her in a heap in the doorway as I stepped over her and adjusted by coat.  However, in reality that's just not me.  Rather like the dumb @uck that I am I donned a smile and happily said, "thank you"!

Happy Lawn and Gardens

It's been a couple weeks now but the following items have all been completed:

Pulled lawn tractor out of winter storage, purchased a new battery, checked tire pressure and fluids - all looked good.  She started right up!

Thatched the entire yard/lawn.  Performed this tasked in several different directions to ensure a through thatch job!  Crazy just how much thatch came up too.

Mowed the entire yard/lawn, with the cutting deck set very low, to both cut the grass but more importantly to pick up all the thatch, leaves, sticks, bark, little rocks, acorns, etc.

Spread (2) 40lb bags of pulverized lime on the mossy areas of the lawn.

Spread (1) 15,000 sq ft. bag of Scott's Step 1 Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food on the entire lawn.

Turned (tilled but without the tiller) our BIG garden, approximately 15' x 24'.  This got the compost and winter rye turned and mixed in nicely to help "feed" the soil.  All are gardens are now ready for planting. Just need the New England weather to cooperate and warm up.

Re-edged a number of flower beds to help define them.

With all the rain we've had this past week the lawn looks fantastic!  If a dandelion happens to appear, it's pulled and fed to our rabbits. 

“the expulsive discharge of neuromuscular tensions”

The Best Reasons to Do It!

An interesting article on how orgasms can affect longevity...

"As it turns out, the benefits of sex are a factor in all three categories of male mortality – heart disease, cancer, and environmental causes (stress, accident, suicide) – and plenty of scientists are pushing the idea that the more sex you have the longer you’ll live."

"“For men, the more the better,” he says. “The typical man who has 350 orgasms a year, versus the national average of around a quarter of that, lives about four years longer.” And more than those extra four years, Roizen says, the men will feel eight years younger than their contemporaries. Is there an optimal number of orgasms for the average man? Roizen suggests, with a straight face, that 700 a year could add up to eight years to your life. This is an ambitious prescription: The average American adult male has sex just 81 times a year."

 “Frequency of intercourse was a significant predictor of longevity.”

 “Sexual activity seems to have a protective effect on men’s health,”

Wild Visiting Bird Managerie

A Chickadee

A Blue Jay 

A Cowbird (female)

A Robin

Some visiting birds

A Turkey Hood Ornament Perhaps

Here is an interesting picture of the lone wild turkey that has been visiting off and on throughout the Fall, Winter and Spring.

I find it rather unusual that she's alone all of the time.  I would have thought, with Spring in the air, that she would have connected with some of the other turkeys that are nearby.  Not yet anyway.

I would suspect that if she continues to perch atop vehicles she's gonna wear out her welcome very quickly!

Mouth Watering Garlic!

Lookie lookie!

Our garlic isn't wasting any time and taking off with the warm weather!

Can't wait, hmm hmm good!

Oh NO!

It certainly didn't take too long once the weather broke for the woodchucks to venture out, UGH!

They have a couple holes they're currently working on and they're not very far from our gardens.

Another gardening season and another seasons of matching wits with these darn whistle pigs.

Stay tuned to see who comes out on top!

The "Zakim"

The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, Boston MA.

Took Rt.93 over the bridge the other day on my way to the office.

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the above picture?

Easter Bunnies

We're happy to report that all (6) of our baby bunnies have been placed in their new homes.

I'm happy to report that both mother rabbits have since been moved back outside and are NO longer residing in our basement!

Happy Easter!

What's Wrong With This Picture?!

Apparently, when you're contracted by the town of Franklin, to perform road work in the town of Franklin, violation enforcement doesn't apply!

This roller was parked within 12' of the fire hydrant all weekend long, beginning at approximately 3:00PM on Friday!

It's Official I Now Hold A Class M License!

I now have a valid Massachusetts Motorcycle license!!

Took and passed the Motorcycle learners permit exam on 2-11-2014

Signed up for the Basic Rider Course (BRC), given by the motorcycle training school Training Wheels, in Norwood, on 1-31-2014

Just completed the (2) day class: Saturday (4/5) 7:30AM - 6:30PM and Sunday (4/5) 7:30AM - 12:30PM, which consisted of five hours of classroom time followed by a 50 question test and eleven hours of riding time.

The Motorcycle driving test was given at the end of class, which I passed!

Open road here I come!!