John Q. Adams. marblehead lager

After two weeks fermenting,two weeks secondary fermention, ready for bottling .

Comet PANSTARRS

This was our view of  the comet and crescent moon this evening. The comet is not visible to the naked eye but can be seen with binoculars about 30 minutes or so after sunset. This photo was shot with a 200mm lens at f5.6 and 3 second exposure.

more info on viewing the comet: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance

Track Meet in Skiatook

Ivy and Alaina competed at their first track meet of the season today and it was a COLD and WINDY day.  They are tough cookies.  Both competed in 8th Grade High Jump (Ivy 1st and Alaina 2nd) and the 3200 relay (the team came in 2nd).  Alaina ran in 2 more relays (1-Mile/2nd and 800/1st); Ivy ran in the 800 (2nd) and 1 mile (1st).  So, they both came home with metals from all their events.  They both cleared 4'8" in the High Jump but Alaina missed her first try and Ivy didn't.  That was very exciting.  Hopefully, the weather will be better for the next meet in 3 weeks time.
 

Happy Presidents' Day!!!

High atop the Sierra Nevada Mountains, fueled by residual snowboarding adrenaline and patriotic fervor, Brandon Covey and Elizabeth Horowitz got engaged. Happy Birthday, George Washington!

Chicken coop

Chickens coming in May.

Greenhouse Update

Well, closing in on a month since reporting on budding cucumbers and finally have some further development to report: Several of the female flowers painstakingly pollinated  by paintbrush have developed fruit. One cucumber has reached a length of nearly 8 inches and is nearly ready to harvest. At least 7 others have started maturing.

Getting more blossoms daily.










The tomatoes have also started to set fruit.









I'll be starting tomato and pepper plants for the summer garden this weekend.

Bee Here Now

When you grow a summer garden you pretty much take for granted that nature will take it's course and the blossoms will bloom and the fruit will grow. In the winter greenhouse a little more attention is required. There are no bees buzzing around to do the pollinating so you must bee prepared to do it yourself. All that is required is a paintbrush to move pollen from the male flower to the female flower(the one with the baby cuke attached). If enough pollen is transferred the baby should mature into a crispy green slicer. We've got a dozen or so babies so far...hoping for a nice winter-time cucumber salad. Tomatoes are just now starting to bud so that fruit is still a ways off!