Updates and Some Redux

 

Early last winter, we placed an order for seeds for our garden along with a selection of berry plants and asparagus crowns. We planted a few berries at our last garden and they mostly fed the birds. I have no doubt that the birds up here will appreciate eating them as well but they seem like the best way to utilize the steep ravine sides that I no longer mow. Unfortunately, it was the first of May before they finally arrive and only after I complained. No wanting the deer to mow them off immediately until they had a chance to get established, I snuck out and got them planted before an approaching rainy few days and promptly fenced them in. The asparagus crowns however, that were supposed to be planted at least six weeks earlier, are still in my refrigerator waiting for the rain to stop, a bittersweet problem.

As you can see, we've been having timely and adequate rainfall this spring, a big departure from the previous two years. I'm sure the farmers are a bit riled up as most have not been able to get much planting done and here it is over 3 weeks into their planting season at this point but my garden is loving it. As of this writing, I'm hoping to make it down to the farm to get the remainder of the straw I bought a couple years back and haul it up here to spread around and keep the moisture we have gotten in case the summer turns dry again. That is a story in itself, but one for another post.

Also, another story for another post, is the development of fuel pump issues in my wife's vehicle which we just purchased brand new 11 months ago. Fortunately, if what I suspect is wrong, it is a known Toyota defect in the high pressure fuel pump, as opposed to the low pressure one that went bad on my minivan, which is a bit easier to access and deal with. Long story short for now, it has developed a gas leak in the engine compartment and smells like gas when driving. It is now being looked at and they promised to call me as soon as they get it diagnosed. I'm not holding my breath.