Updates On Three Fronts
First, a brief update on my wife's vehicle. The problem turned out not to be a fuel pump issue at all and one that was easily fixed. For some reason, the oil fill cap came off and bounced around upside down in a recess where it was located. This allowed a small amount of oil to spray the inside of the engine compartment and the heat of the engine burned that spilled oil and thus gave us the odor that we both though smelled like fuel. They cleaned up the engine compartment, changed the oil and put the cap back on in place and everything is right with the world. Perhaps due to the recent bruhaha with my vehicle, all was done free of charge. Of course they accused me of not putting on the cap but I have never opened the hood on that thing in the 5000 miles we have put on it since it was brand new from the factory. I suspect that it was never tight to begin with and engine vibrations caused it to eventually come loose.
Finally, a month late, my asparagus crowns came in and so I tilled up a new bed near our garden. Asparagus is supposed to be something deer won't eat if other things are readily available so for right now, it is outside our fenced in area. If the deer show me and the asparagus disrespect, I can always but another chunk of fencing and expand it to include the asparagus bed.
After planting all 20 crowns, a mix of green and purple, I obtained some mulched and covered the bed to help preserve the moisture. Although I worked in a bunch of compost and garden soil into the plot, it still had a fair amount of dense clay so we'll see how it does. This is my first time to every plant asparagus. When my mom planted the other bed, I was in my a young buck in my mid 20's.
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May 6 |
This was my garden the day I planted the asparagus. The potatoes are really taking hold along with the transplanted daikon radishes. In the background you can see some of the strawberries, onions and lettuce. Hard to see between the onions and lettuce are carrots and peas. In the foreground are dry shell beans that haven't yet poked up out of the ground.
While I didn't find any morels, I did find signs that the season is about over. When the mayapples get about knee high, I know that yellow morel season is just about over. There is supposed to be a rain tonight and another storm in a couple days with plenty of warm sunshine on either side of them. But moisture is adequate already for morels so I don't think the coming week will improve my odds any.
I had never thought that one could sell hunting rights. I've never heard of it here, but I don't know anything about hunting, and don't care to learn.
ReplyDeleteI've been hunting a few times over the years, mostly with others, but I have come to admit I'm not much of one. I prefer to watch and photograph wildlife versus killing it for consumption. I can't think of the last time I shot something to eat but it has probably been close to 25 years ago at this point.
DeleteSelling hunting rights is a relatively new thing. I don't think you could have done so 20 years ago. But as hunting lands become harder to find and hunting as a sport seems to be as popular as ever with high grocery prices, it was fairly easy to do. What this group pays per acre, per year to have exclusive hunting rights is eye popping to me but then, I'm not much of a hunter either. My parents started doing it this way since the one group rents the entire farm for hunting all year. This eliminates the need to create complex schedules to fit small parties on a particular plot of land on a particular day and keep everyone separated and aware of boundaries... all of which was done for free previously.
Relatively happy resolution on the car issue, Ed - although the oil cap just "popping off" seems a bit weird.
ReplyDeleteThe garden looks great! Very jealous.
I am led to believe in New Home 2.0 morels are a thing. I have a coworker that does hunt mushrooms.
I don't know how to explain it other than I hadn't ever looked under the hood since we bought the thing. I did hit that deer last fall and it was repaired, though that was bumper and sensor work and shouldn't have involved any oil cap touching but who knows. I've read online of others, driving different brands of cars, having similar things happen before usually blamed on not getting it tight or a gasket coming off so that it can't be fully tightened.
DeleteWe lease out some of our land for deer hunting (folks we know nearby) and I know lots of people lease from big timber companies. Before we married (and had our own land for duck hunting) my husband belonged to various dead or green trees reservoirs for duck hunting. While I know many folks don't like hunting (it's not something I care to do anymore), I still believe it's a more humane process than that which provides what you buy in a store. I might not be an ethical vegan, but don't let me get up on my soapbox about its environmental benefits.
ReplyDeleteI hope everything goes well with the new asparagus bed!
I don’t disagree with your thoughts on hunting. I enjoyed what hunting I have done but just don’t eat a lot of meat these days that isn’t cheaper to just buy. The caveat is that I always paid someone to process my animals.
DeleteNice break on the car issue. Wife is having trouble with her car right now. Likely some sort of transmission issue. I always try to fix it if I can, or at least diagnose what it is so she can tell the mechanic and then they usually won't triple charge her.
ReplyDeleteEverything I planted has at least sprouted above ground. Which is already an improvement over last year, so 🤞🏼
Yes, being informed usually means a cheaper price.
DeleteI'm with John and don't know much about hunting, but I had never heard of selling hunting rights to an area. I guess they sell grazing rights in many states, so why not? The home farm seems to be thriving!
ReplyDeleteIt has been a nice year thus far for gardens.
DeleteAll is good for you, except for your mushrooms. Not too shabby, right?
ReplyDeleteI’m happy with this year so far!
DeleteGlad to hear the problem with the car wasn't as bad (or as expensive) as first feared. Congrats on the asparagus bed! And commiserations on the mushroom hunting.
ReplyDeleteAs long as it comes up. I’m still waiting on it.
DeleteOh well -- some years are better than others, I guess. How strange about the game camera. I didn't even realize it was possible to get one with an antenna. So I guess it's connected to the Internet?
ReplyDeleteWhat a relief about the fuel pump!
I’m guessing I would choke at the cost of purchasing and running such a fancy game camera.
DeleteYeah for an almost easy fix for your wife's vehicle. I didn't know there were solar powered game cameras:)
ReplyDeleteI didn't either but I guess I'm not surprised. The ones I have came with an antenna and will connect and send so many free pictures a month to an account but I've found that it won't do that unless it has a really strong signal which is rare around here. Mine are battery operated but it seems like a no brainer to make a solar option.
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