Fire, 'Facts and Garden Fun

I realize it has been a bit since my last update. Here is what we have been up to over the last few weeks...

Some beautiful, warm days last week provided the perfect opportunity to burn our fields/pastures/weed patch. Having grown up in Western Kansas, the spring burn is still a somewhat foreign concept to me. In Lane county, any spring fire is almost certainly an accident. Not so on the edge of the Flint Hills. I've learned that spring burns are essential to promote healthy bluestem growth and to keep trees from taking over your pasture land (not such a concern in Western Kansas ...) It has taken me a few years, but I'm finally past my fear of field fires and trust that folks around here are skilled and knowledgable in controlled burns.

Since our land was cropland just a few years ago, we currently have more weeds than grass. Hopefully with consistant spring burns and a little cultivating, we will have pastures before long.

Looks scary, doesn't it?! Looks like our house is just a few feet away from the fire! In fact, a very green lawn separated the fire from the house, all but eliminating any danger. Plus, the wind was pushing the fire away from the house.

A view from the porch of the burn out front.

Is it just me, or does the dog look concerned?

Eek! I hate this view of the house right now ... DESPERATLY needs landscaping! I'm working on it ...

The weather stayed delightful through the weekend, giving me the chance to plant some early crops - yea!! Peas, lettuce, carrots, onions and potatoes are all in the ground ... I am simply craving fresh vegetables! I can't WAIT!

Dusty was a lot of help, of course ...

.... but he tired quickly and opted for a nap on my sweatshirt.

After our beautiful days, we got a much needed rain early in the week. Rain on freshly-tilled gardens and just-burned fields provides the perfect opportunity for artifact hunting! (and yes I realize that calling artifacts "facts" in the title was ridiculous ... I just couldn't resist the alliteration.)

Here is what I found in the one of the gardens ... it's lovely don't you think? That's a thumb tack next to it for scale.

I was very proud of my little point ... until I saw what my husband found ... same thumb tack, muuuuuch bigger arrowhead. (humph)

He also found this tool. What a show off.