Every Picture Tells A Story, Don't It?

I tried using the home computer for the blog and the pictures wouldn't load. Here's a bunch for you.

Aniversary

March 4th was our 17th anniversary. We celebrated by going to the Tri-County Beekeepers Conference in Wooster. We had a little side trip first. There's a lumber company in Charm , Ohio that says they can make the siding I need to repair my barn. I punched in Charm, Ohio into my GPS and told it fastest route.
We stopped in Ashland so Stacey could have bad Chinese food then it was off to Amish country. There were rumors of flooded roads on our route but as intrepid travelers, we ignored them.
Rt.250 takes you right through the heart of Amish country. The GPS took us nearer to the spleen. We started going up down and around on roads that wouldn't make good driveways. We saw many Amish from close proximity. There was no other way to see them since there wasn't anymore room on the road. At one point, we were going around a curve on a road so narrow that you couldn't pass a pregnant goat on it and found a sign that said “ Road Narrows”. Road narrows to WHAT? We're holding on to the bushes now to keep from sliding off. It was a slow and memorable trip but there was no flooding. Sometimes, it was close to the road but not quite over it.
Keim Lumber is in Charm. They have 3 acres under one roof. The inside is finished in fine hardwoods. They can make the pattern of siding that I need. They gave me 3 options. The first 2 would require I sell a Ferrari Testarosa to pay for the 10 boards I need. Unfortunately, I don't own a Ferrari Testarosa. We did buy some odds and ends including a great looking windproof lighter. We didn't really need it but it was cheap and looks really cool.
Off to Wooster over much better roads. We checked in to the Mirabelle B & B and went to the beekeeping museum. There isn't a lot left. A tornado took the shed where most of it was stored. What's left is in some unused basement rooms in one of the university buildings. Old extractors, some odd hives, pictures and honey containers. The two guys who maintain this as a hobby were there to explain it all. I'm glad we finally made it. Stacey got to sit on Rev. Langstroth's bench.
We had a good meal at the South Market Bistro. They cook better than us. Not much, but still better.
Next morning, our hosts provided a hearty breakfast and it was off to the conference. We enjoyed all of it, spent far too much on bee equipment and talked to all. We took off at the close and headed home in a steady rain.
We stopped at Cracker Barrel in Sandusky for supper and afterwards, Stacey wanted to see a movie. On leaving the theater, we walked into snow. The remainder of the drive home was at about 25 to 40 mph.
The next thursday, I had an upper GI but the doctors were unable to find all my money. I was going to include the picture but Stacey thought you'd enjoy these instead.

Beautiful West Virginia

I'm in a van with 2 seats and 3 people. I've got a folding chair in the back and I'm pretty comfortable. We're on our way to New Cumberland, WV again to work on a perceived radio problem. We just put new antennas and feedline on the courthouse and the customer is complaining it still doesn't work the way they want. I don't think it's the courthouse.
It's been a while since I've updated you but I've been lazy. That's got to stop. I've got to build myself up fast to deal with the spring farm work. I should have a lot more to do this year.
My former fencing student is back from New Zealand . She has her degree but talks of getting a law degree with vague thoughts of saving the world. It's a waste of time, really. The world will putter along as it always has. Her family is all fine and overachieving as usual. It was a good visit.
Stacey and I attended The Evil Dead, The Musical at the Valentine Theater. Actually, it's a little theater buried in the side of the building. It was difficult to get tickets to. They sold out as fast as they could print them. The theater had to shoehorn extra shows in and still couldn't meet the demand. I managed to get us tickets out of the spatter zone, well mostly. I was able to duck behind a really big guy at critical times. It was a great show although hobbled somewhat by poor acoustics and spurious profanity. I think they managed to work in quotes from all the movies. Stacey and I finished the night with nachos at a mediocre Mexican joint.
The next day, Saturday, Stacey went to a bowling tournament and I went to the Toledo Botanical Garden seed swap. This year, it was held in the Erie Street Market and had enough room so that you could back away from the crowd and catch your breath before diving back into the fight. I came away with quite a few packets. Some were items I had forgotten to order and some were new varieties to try. I hope I can manage to get them in the ground.
I had some time before the swap so I bought some new boots. I've got another pair of Thorogoods. They're expensive for me but they are well made and actually made in America. I've gotten so tired of wasting my money on Chinese crap. My old ones were beat causing me a lot of foot pain. Within an hour, 90% of the pain was gone walking in the new boots. I still have some heel problems. I guess there's more damage there. I've taken my old boots in to be rebuilt. Try that with Chinese crap.
We had the Symphony that night but Stacey ran late at the tournament. We had to stand through the first set, the overture to Don Juan. The second set was a Bruch concerto for violin and viola that was beautiful. I suspect it was especially good to me because I'm loosing my high frequencies in my hearing and the viola is lower pitched.
After the intermission, they played The Organ Symphony by St.Seans. For those of you not familiar with the gentleman, he is now considered one of the great composers and noted for his organ works. The Organ Symphony has almost no organ in it. It was very good anyway.
Sunday, Stacey was back to the bowling tournament so I goofed around for a while. I( had a slight headache anyway, About noon, I took the Ford tractor back to work on brush clearing. The lifting arm takes a lot of the work away. The more I ran the chainsaw, the worse my headache got. I couldn't get the brush lit either. Finally, I went back and changed out the lifting arm for the back scoop. I used it in place of a furrowing plow to re contour a section of the field to drain the water off slowly to hopefully reduce erosion while still draining the land. I haven't been back to check my work yet.
By this time , my headache had reached epic proportions. I put my toys away and spent the rest of the night on a heating pad.
Tomorrow is March 4th and our 17th wedding anniversary. We're going to a Bed and Breakfast in Wooster for an overnight stay and attend the Tri-County Beekeepers conference. We haven't been there for a few years. I suppose it's not a wildly romantic time but it's what we got. More to follow.