Covo Hills Farm: August 2014

A singular sunflower - better luck next summer

August 22, 2014 - Pumpkins & A Sunflower

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but think we're home free with pumpkins this year. The plants are knee high, no weeds and lots of good-sized pumpkins - in August already.

On the minus size, Jeff has one sunflower to speak of, but it's growing tall.

As Jeff began shoveling dirt into what will become the bridge road, I noticed the truck's old dirt splattered license plate.

This dirt pile is why the tractor was on the opposite side of the creek before someone tried to save five minutes by going over the ATV crossing.

Jeff and the Tractor

Come and listen to a story 'bout a city boy
who loves to drive a John Deere tractor toy.
Then one day, he's piling dirt by the bridge
And drives that ole tractor straight down a ridge,
Into the creek, that is, little wet but more dry.
The next thing he knows, Jeffery J wants to cry.

Instead he goes home and tells Marianne,
Who gulps, "OH, NO" you better not tell Dan
Until you have a quick and fool proof plan
or the only thing you'll be driving is your mini van.

So along comes Jared and his tractor mighty tall,
He says "Don't worry, it's not stuck bad at all,
With my dad's advice it should be easy to haul
While Dan's out in Californy playing beach ball.

So the moral of this story is simple and sweet
Don't try to save five minutes in the summer heat
Cause the next thing you know you'll be in the creek
and wishing you could turn back the days of the week.

(Warning: Do not drive a tractor across a makeshift ATV crossing.)

"What did I just do?"

"Please, God"

Jared to the rescue

Jared, Jeff and Greg

Story-telling with neighbor Tim

Mid- August, 2014 - 16th Hole Covo Style

It's difficult for spectators to see the lower golf green while seated so I had an idea. Why not create an elevated observation deck behind the tee box, like the 16th hole grandstand at the Waste Management Golf Tournament in Phoenix. Jeff actually liked my suggestion and created it in a couple days. Of course, he put his own twist on it by proudly planting the American flag.

August 17, 2014 Farmer's Special

Two weeks into the drying stage, our garage smells like an Italian restaurant. Poor Ozzie sneaked out there one night. I heard his weak meow the next morning - probably held his breath all night.
Today, we discarded the decaying stalks and cut the roots - and amazingly - the intense garlic smell is gone. Jeff did a quick weigh and came up with 20 pounds of Music, German White, Italian Red and Spanish Roja.

August 16, 2014 And the roof came tumbling down

Dan and Jeff decided to fast track the barn demolition by cutting away the upper beams, causing the roof to collapse. There's talk of restoring the bottom level which is in pretty good shape.

As the trademark red barns disappear from the American landscape, we can do our part to preserve history. Lizzy was curious about the typical red color and learned that farmers in days past mixed rust or animal blood with oil. No wonder we couldn't match the color with store-bought paint.

August 6 - 7, 2014 Moving into the 20th Century with Nick and Lizzy

The first and only time Lizzy visited Covo Hills was in May 2009, back in the days when we slept in the camper and cooked all meals on the campfire. Fast forward five years to a beautiful solar-powered lodge with lights and the most common of household appliances. Dan installed the refrigerator before we arrived to chill the necessities: beer, water and Gatorade.

Looks like Lizzy's tree grew the tallest in five years. It lost a branch but grew a baby.

Nick and Lizzy took a spin around the property, after Jeff went on the hunt for thistles to burn.

We enjoyed a couple fun and relaxing days.

Nick knew there would be at least one father-son "project" - preparing the covered bridge driveway.

August 5, 2014 Garlic Harvest

Talk about mixed emotions! The abundant rainfall has doubled, maybe tripled the size of pumpkin patch in a week, with baby pumpkins already visible between giant sized leaves. By the same token, the weeds have shot up and overtaken the dying garlic plants. (See the green patch to the left of the pumpkins - that's the garlic garden that looked so manicured a few weeks ago). Together, Jeff and I parted the weeds - he with the shovel, I with my hands - to find and dig out the hidden bulbs.