This, that and the other

Sorry it's been so long since we've provided any updates.  Not a lot of exciting news, though I figured I could cobble together a few paragraphs of mundane stuff and hopefully make it seem exciting.  For our Facebook friends, consider this the unabridged version of posts you've seen in the past, along with some news that perhaps you haven't.

Labor Day Weekend

I took off and headed north for the weekend, while Neta held down the fort at home.  While I was gone, Neta reported that we'd had some new "visitors" move in.  Sorry, no snakes this time.  We have...bees.  Not nearly as exciting or dangerous as a rattlesnake, but fascinating nonetheless.

They aren't camera shy, but they don't seem to want to stop and pose.  Busy, I guess.

They have taken up residence in the eave/ceiling of our front porch.  A quick call to a local beekeeper revealed that bees do not destroy the structure they inhabit, they only expand into existing voids.  If you do see a beehive that is messing up a house or structure, it is because wax moths or mites have affected the hive and the bees can no longer keep the temperature regulated (normally they keep it at a perfect 98 degrees), and the wax begins to melt.  The beekeepers also told us that since this hive is about 10 feet off the ground, they won't see us walking around under it as any threat.

They were far more active over Labor Day weekend and just after, but since then activity has slowed a bit.  We think the hive just formed, if not that weekend, not long before.  We are awaiting word from the landlord whether he wants to remove it or let it stay.  It's not bothering us.

By the way, while Neta was fending off hives of bees, I spent my Labor Day weekend golfing and fishing with friends in Maryland.  Tough life!

28 inch Rockfish at Bloody Point Lighthouse

Getting Started on the Farm

We've been a little bored and antsy.  Living in a rental house, there isn't a lot to do other than maintain.  Making changes isn't on the menu.  We don't own the farm yet, but we just couldn't take it anymore, so this past Saturday we loaded up the car with the chainsaw, string-trimmer, loppers, clippers, a saw and, of course, a shotgun (in case we encounter a critter with ill intent).

While there are plenty of places that need our attention, we decided to do some brush-clearing.  There is a lane the goes down to the big pond that, over the years, has become overgrown with trees and weeds.  We decided to start there.  Neta's dad chipped in to help as well.  Did I mention the weather warmed up a bit over this past weekend?

We had only planned to work for a couple of hours, which we kept to.  In the grand scheme of things we didn't make much of a dent in things, but it just felt good to get out there, cut down some mimosas and maples that had taken up residence in the ditches that line the lane and also clear away some tall grass and blackberry vines that had taken over.  Our progress was too small to warrant a picture, though Neta did take a "before" picture that we will eventually use for reference.

Ahhh....the beach

With only a few days to spare to say we went to the beach "this summer", Neta and I headed out to Tybee Island to spend a day relaxing in the sun, listening to the waves and enjoying the warm ocean waves.  It was a great day.

Photo credit - Neta Bozman

The temps were in the low to mid 80's and the water temp was 79-80.  It wasn't terribly crowded and we found a parking spot as soon as we got there.  We enjoyed a couple of hours alternating between sitting in the sun and relaxing in the warm water.

Around mid-afternoon, we packed up our stuff and went in search of a place to grab lunch.  We found a cool and dark little dive bar-like place called the Wind Rose Cafe.  The food was delicious (as TripAdvisor said it would be).  After that we walked around a bit, wandered out onto the pier and grabbed an ice cream cone.

It was a nice way to "end" the summer.  Though a trip back this coming weekend to say we enjoyed a fall day at the beach wouldn't be unreasonable.

We're Gonna Need A Montage...

This post is just a collection of pictures that have caught my eye, either at our (temporary) farm or nearby.  It might not be a real montage without music, but this isn't MySpace so you'll have to provide your own tune.  

There is just something about an old gate - this is my favorite view here.

As if the gate wasn't pretty enough, this flowering vine grows all along the fence.

That's morning glory growing on the fence too, but I haven't seen any blooms yet.

 We've harvested all these pears now.  I'll post about all the goodies I made soon.

Craig swears I only picked the pears so I could get this picture...but that was just a bonus.

Sammie was fascinated by the pears, and quite unhappy when I wouldn't let her
eat one.  I had to take it away when I realized she was actually eating it.

An old (tobacco?) barn that Craig and I came across while out gallivanting about the countryside.  

I love junk stores and thrift shops, but this was a huge letdown.
So much promise on the outside, so blah on the inside.

It seems unlikely that it got stuck up there naturally (about 8' up), but
equally unlikely that someone braved the weed-choked ditch to put it there.  

Soon to be a t-shirt...the first cotton bolls have started popping open.

Wildflowers growing along the roadside.

Morning glory growing wild.

More wildflowers

These are growing all over the backyard - so pretty.

Scuppernongs right before I picked them.  More goodies!

Temporary roommates: the skink and the toad.