New Nemesis??

 I mowed today and, in the process, may have discovered a new homestead nemesis.  It's not a new one, even to me, but since I've kind of been "doing the minimums" for the last couple of years it's had a chance to sneak up on me and get established.  Mulberries trees.  They're everywhere!! 

My new homestead nemesis?

Since it's the season for them to ripen I could easily spot their beautiful red and purple berries.  Everywhere.  Stubbornly growing up through every neglected fence line.  Stealthily invading every unpoliced border with the wooded area next to my house.  Brazenly growing up right through the lilac bushes.  Everywhere!

My next question is "What now?"  I have a chainsaw, of course, and will probably employ that to terminate most of them with extreme prejudice.  I'll drag them into a brush pile and burn them all this winter.  However, I know from experience most of them will grow back.  I could - and eventually may have to - purchase some Tordon or equivalent to keep them from coming back, but I prefer to keep the herbicide use to a minimum, or not at all if possible.  I will be looking for a non-herbicide solution first!

So there it is!  Another challenge to address on the Hoosier Country Homestead!  All that being said, if that's the worst problem I have going I'm still pretty well off!  I am, in fact, still blessed!

Col. 1:9-12,

Mark

Back again... Again!

 So...  I'm not dead yet!  I am: 

• Mostly recovered from a couple of rough medical years.  I'm much better now and am (hopefully) done with surgeries for awhile.  I have some limitations, but they're not too onerous.

• A 'long haul' Covid survivor from January of this year.  The 'survivor' bit was an open question for a few days, but once again God came through and answered a lot of prayers.  Lungs and heart have a ways to go, but overall I feel pretty good!

• Retired!  Not exactly my preferred timing, but I could no longer keep up the pace required as the site's Chief System Test Engineer and God has blessed so we can do so pretty comfortably.

• Able to be active for solid 1/2 days, which is enough to have a nice garden and keep up the homestead. Hopefully that will improve but even if it doesn't, it's all good.  I'll be telling you about it!

• Still blessed!

We're up to 5 grands,  we have a garden, and chickens, and have a lot going on in our lives. The plan is to catch up with you all and, at least once a week, get back to sharing a bit of our lives on the Hoosier Country Homestead!

Col. 1:9-12

Mark