Can’t garden without dogs.
Blondie, Sky, Gretchen and her shadow River
Honeybun was nearby somewhere.
-jsq
Can’t garden without dogs.
Blondie, Sky, Gretchen and her shadow River
Honeybun was nearby somewhere.
-jsq
A stroll after breakfast into the Desolation of Helene.
I didn’t video many of the blown-down pines, oaks, maples, etc. Some of them I will saw later to re-open some of the paths. Hurricanes: I do not like them.
Meanwhile, there are native wild azaleas, sphagmum moss, crawfish, cinnamon fern, and a few still-standing tulip trees.
Plus muddy dogs, two of them visible; the other two showed up shortly. Continue reading
Two dogs went walkabout.
River mostly washed off in her bathtub.
Sky was still wearing mud boots. Continue reading
Four rows that day, with Blondie and River helping Gretchen inspect.
Four rows the next day.
Should be enough.
And Sky and Honeybun were nearby.
-jsq
I went to find Sky in the woods. Then we went to the pond. Doesn’t look like much, due to the drought.
We went upstream on Redeye Creek to the first beaver pond. Near there, Sky also played circus dog. Continue reading
Thanks to Max Barzallo and Mary Clement for helping burn five acres around the house. And of course thanks to Honeybun, Blondie, River, and Sky for helping.
Now if another fire gets loose, it won’t burn to the house.
Burning five acres, Pine fire forest 2026-01-06, With neighbor help, and dogs
Here’s some video:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1644259806439943/
For those who are not familiar with prescribed burns, we live in a longleaf fire forest. Southern pine trees are fire resistant, so burns don’t affect them much, but the fire does cut back on vines and other undergrowth, as well as competing oaks, sweetgum, and other trees.
Wildlife benefits. Continue reading
River likes to clean her sister’s ear.
Sky seems to like it.
Blondie just looks away.
River cleaning Sky’s ear while Blondie looks away
All three are Carolina Dogs, a little-known landrace breed that was here before the settlers.
-jsq
And they were tasty.
River, Sky, greens, Gretchen, 2025-12-25 –jsq for OPF
Gretchen cooked the greens, and we ate them.
-jsq
I think they’ve adapted to woods and farm life.
Here’s a video:
Update 2025-10-05: Persimmons to eat and to dehydrate 2025-10-05.
A very flavorful fruit, and sweet but not too sweet. Perfect to go with breakfast oatmeal.
Persimmons on the tree, 2025-09-28 –jsq for OPF
These are Fuyu persimmons, a variety of the Japanese persimmon, Diospyros kaki.
Many moons that tree has been there since Gretchen planted it. This year it’s really bearing fruit. Continue reading