Tillin' in the Rain

[Chuck52]

Tillin\' in the Rain

To the tune of....well you know:

Tillin' in the rain,
Just Tillin' in the rain!
What a glorious feelin'
I'm gardenin' again!
I look like a clown,
With the rain comin' down.
Just chillin' and tillin' in the rain!

Imagine a manic, wild-eyed Gene Kelly thowing mud all over creation with his big ole 60" KK tiller.

I'm not quite there yet, but it's raining here in central Missery and the weathernerds say we may catch up to the normal precipitation for the year. They've been telling us we're an inch low, but since the ground thawed my whole place has been soggy and has been that way since the middle of January. Last weekend looked pretty good, but Ma Nature was just playing around. The ground was so wet I made little puddles just walking around. St. Pat's day has come and gone and my potatoes aren't in the ground. I have 25 wild plum and 25 blackberry plants in my basement waiting to be stuck in the ground. The plums are no problem; just stick a shovel in the mud and jam in a tree. I was hoping to at least till the strip where the blackberries are going. I did kill the turf with Roundup during a sunny day, but I'd like to till it under.

My old buddy Elmer used to talk about smearing in the seeds during spells like this. Time to plant the rice?

Chuck

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

Funny, while I was reading your post it started to rain. Out of a clear blue sky. Just a few drops but a sample nonetheless of what's coming when the monsoon season hits in earnest.

Here's to your ambition. Maybe I'll get some someday. For now all I want to do is sit and hug the air conditioner. The humidity right now is horrible. I can't seem to work up the inspiration to sing about that, but thanks for the smile! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Singin' in the humidity.......nope, just won't work....lol!

 

[yonahforge]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

I had the same conversation with the wife this morning about planting rice... We will get a couple of clear days and everything will almost dry out, but by Saturday it's raining again. Not enough time after work to get it done either. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif The stream behind my parent's house has actually had water coming up from the springs - first time it has done that in 3 or four years.

 

[Chuck52]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

Well anyway the spring peepers seem to like it. The world-wide decline in frog population doesn't seem to have affected them.

I know that later this summer I'll be moaning about the lack of rain as my tomatoes and beans wither. There must be a gardening equivalent to the "relax, don't worry, have a homebrew", mantra that works for brewmeisters.

Chuck

 

[MODiesel]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

Charles:

Another "Show Me" brother. Where in mid-Missouri are you? We've got constant rain out here also, down by Herman/Washington area. Creeks are steadily rising and even my fairly flat field is developing small pools.

Later,
Jay

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

Good to see you here again Chuck. Sorry about the mud. But since you're got some already would you mind me bringing up what I'm dealing with these days? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Monday I drove Iris into some dry appearing sand and found out there was no bottom. I had to go get the Cat 416B and use the hoe to pull her out. It was so deep and gooey that the old using the bucket to back out didn't work.

This morning I'm grabbing a bunch of materials, beams, pipe, purlins, metal studs, etc and hauling it up to the job site. It rained yesterday and the place was soaking before that. This means I'll probably drop the trailer out front on the blacktop and then use the Cat to put it into the building so I have access to it. Then I'll do a hold my breath and hang on across the pasture as far as possible with Lucy. When she stops stuck I'll put her into neutral and use the hoe to pull her into position so I can use the welder and have the tools at nearby.

What I'm doing is building an apartment inside a six thousand square foot metal barn. It's a fly by my seat of the pants venture. My friend has this character flaw. He believes in me.

So with metal at hand I've got to do all the welding that has to be done for this apartment before the end of next week. That's when the insulation is going to be sprayed. I've also got to run the conduit for the electrical.

It'll be a full week. But hopefully when next Thursday comes we'll have a four hundred square foot lower floor framed that will have a kitchen area, living area, and a bathroom area. The bedroom will be in a loft. The immediate use of the apartment will be for my friend on weekends. Later it will be quarters for help.

I know this sounds like crying about work. But a man can complain as he does what he has to do. Yesterday I used two angle grinders and rock rocks to eliminate all the sharp edges at a public pool grotto. It's hard to believe someone would build this extremely attractive facility for kids and adults who act like kids and have it laced with knife edges everywhere. Oh well, if they hadn't yesterday I'd had to do something else. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Chuck52]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

Jay,

I'm outside of Columbia.....hopefully the city won't catch up with my place until I'm gone. Where you?

Wet. Wet and miserable. I've got more blackberries coming early in April and I need to get the place they're going ready. It's not like it's pouring rain or anything, but I sure would like to be able to cross my yard without having to change shoes. We're supposed to get sun Friday through Monday, but then maybe more rain Tuesday...as if the weathernerds really know that far in advance.

Chuck

 

[Chuck52]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

Harv,

I've been here. Just haven't had as much to say since we can't scream at each other about politics, religion, sex, land rights, and a few other things.

So, when you get to the actual job site, you'll be in the metal barn and out of the weather? That's good. I would imagine welding in wet and possibly rainy places could get interesting. Is this apartment going to use metal studs? Have you ever thought about welding up a log cabin?

Chuck

 

[MODiesel]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

Hi Chuck:

Very small, nowhere town sort of in between Herman/Washington/Union. Highway 50 is my main thoroughfare. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I went to school at Mizzou in Columbia. Lived on the outskirts myself, east off of WW. Had a friend that lived out by Midway [and a friend engaged to the daughter of the owner of Midway Arms]. Spent lots of days out by the river and McBain and the "biggest tree," that big ol'e Burr Oak. I'm fairly familiar with Columbia.

Later,
Jay

 

[Chuck52]

Re: Tillin\' in the Rain

Jay,

I'm out past Midway off of 40. Used to see the big old oak fairly often because my son and I rode bikes on the trail down that way. Since I got my mighty 10.5 acres, I don't seem to have much bike time.

Been down to Hermann a couple of time for the beer festival. Nice area.

Chuck