Views From My Porch

These views are very frustrating to this farmer. It is April 25th, 2008 and the tractors are still at a standstill, the fields are muddy from another 1/2" of rain and the worst part is it is 37 degrees as I write this. More rain on the way and temps aren't promising to be above 60 for a couple of days.
To begin planting we will need the soil to dry and then we will begin. The soil temperature which is measured at a depth of 4" is about 10 degrees below normal and won't support corn germination until it reaches 55 degrees.

By this date we should be at least 50% planted. We hope to begin next week.
I need to get done with planting so I can begin with putting more time in to getting ready for Blogstock. There are lawns to mow, weeds to spray, berms to rejuvenate, paint to slap on, and of course the main thing, golf.
If we aren't planted by the time you get here for Blogstock, don't get too friendly with us or we may follow you home. We'll be looking for a new home if we don't raise a crop.

It's been mentioned before but please begin getting a couple of pages of info to Ralph. These won't be put on the net but a booklet will be handed out. My couple of pages will include 2 of my favorite posts I've written, a pic of my family or two and a short write up telling you about who I am.

Nebraska's Spring Game Is Today

This is a twilight photo of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln Nebraska. It is the photo I am currently using as my computer background. It's a neat photo when you click on it to make it bigger.
I will explain the need for the photo later.
Nebraska was easily the predominant team of college football in the 1980's and 90's. In 1993 they were a missed field goal from being national champs and were the national champs in 1994 and 1995. The 1995 team was voted the best college football team of all time in a recent ESPN poll. However in my opionion the 1983 team was just as good but failed to win the title on a missed field goal on the last play of the last game. Head coach Tom Osborne's era lasted 25 years and ended in 1997. His record was 249 wins 55 losses and 3 ties. Nebraska wasn't used to losing.
They fell on hard times the past couple of seasons. (hardtimes meaning they actually had one losing season).
They have hired Bo Polini as their new head coach this year. There are high expectations in Cornhusker land.
Now back to the stadium. It has been sold out every game since November 3, 1963. Easily an on going national record. Spring practice has been going on for the past two weeks in Lincoln. Most major college programs hold a 'Spring Game' at the end of spring practice. It has normally drawn 30,000 people in Nebraska. Today, Nebraska has sold out their 80,000 plus seat stadium for the spring game. It's a SCRIMMAGE. There will be 80,000 people in Lincoln today to watch Nebraska practice. How's that for football fans? GO BIG RED!

Dry Cleaning

On Easter Sunday past, our daughter jumped in the tub to hide from her daughter and two nieces.

They found her. This would be called a 'dry cleaning' I would guess.

A Friendly Trio

This trio sang in our church a while back. They were named 'The Redneck Angels' by our pastor. He was an interim pastor and we now have a new minister so on our interims last Sunday with us, he requested this group to sing.
They are all friends of their accompaniast on the left. My daughter. They call her the 'Music Nazi'.
The one on the right is also a member of our church. Their super alto is second from left and is Janell of One Square Mile fame. (her current post wasn't written by her)
The three on the left got to know each other first as trail riders and pretty good horsewomen.
They sing mostly what I call country. But I'm sure if you asked them that wouldn't be correct as there seems to be 50 different ways to categorize music. The lead is third from the left and has a great, strong voice.
I can invision them all riding into the sunset on horseback whilst mixing their voices into a wonderful 'dessert' of sound.
The piano on a horse is still a problem in my mind. That might explain why Roy and Dale always used a guitar. Happy trails to you.

A Gig

~The secret to success is sincerity. Once you learn to fake that, you've got it made.~

From my brief m.c. gig last night.

The police were called to my Grandaughter's daycare. There was a 3 year old resisting a rest.

What do you call a short fortune teller who has escaped from prison? A small medium at large.

Our local hardware store is giving away dead batteries, free of charge.

If you don't pay your exorcist you could be repossessed.

I saw a chicken crossing the road yesterday. It was poultry in motion.

I don't know why they never call me back for a second engagement.

Hey Ma! Company's Comin Down The Lane!

Addendum: We've begun adding points of interest to the blogstock blog. If you or someone you know needs an invite to the blog or to blogstock have them email Ralph or I. The invite to the website is all they need to get all of the future info. The entire executive committee of Blogstock is meeting for a high level (Denver) meeting to hammer out(golf) the details this weekend.

We had some excitement here on the Missouri River bottom last Thursday and Friday. Ralph and Char met some of their family here for a brief reunion. They were good sports about the fact that we were pretty busy. Marilyn had two full days of grooming and I had some meetings while they were here. Ralph spends his days at meetings that are very similar so he took it in stride. He even came to one of my open meetings as a spectator. He said "just for the entertainment."

It rained most of the day on Thursday which put quite a damper on planned activities. The girls of the group were great help for Marilyn at the kennel. There was also some horseback riding, and 4 wheeling.

I must say that the little girl in pink is as engaging a young lady as I've come across. She will look you right in the eye and do verbal battle with you if that's what you want. She asked me questions about farming that most adults wouldn't have the perceptive ability to ask. Very sharp and mature for only 14.

The whole group is engaging for that matter. They are a wonderful family and even though as witness the picture, I had to eventually ask them all to leave, I'll bet they will be back soon.

We hope it will be very soon.