When we had to have our water main replaced (2/2002), the yard got marked up with all kinds of colorful flags and paint lines. We also happen to have the radio fence marked at the time with white flags.

I took a series of pictures, figuring it would be good reference in the future. I’ve since referred to it so many times, I went ahead and created this quick reference gallery: mac.fiveforks.com/stonecables.

Kathy and I bought a Dwarf Slender Hinoki Cypress to plant next to the mailbox. Based on this photo, the Faulkner’s TV may be at risk when I start digging. Stay tuned. (Hope the Faulkner’s can!)

Found this baby Praying Mantis on the fence. Mary Claire did the honors getting him to pose for the camera. (Click to zoom.) Reminds me of one of my favorite photos.

When we moved in, there was a plot of raised ground on the side of the house. It was clay, weeds, and old tomato cages. Kathy tried planting some vegetables, but the rabbits kept eating everything. She has now turned it into a flower garden. Our neighbors get a better view of it that we do, although you can see it from the street.

These side-by-side photos make me appreciate the difference between February and June:

The flags in the first photo marked our utilities because we were having our water main replaced. The flags in the second photo are because we are training Stout to heed the radio fence. (He figured it out in 1 day.)

Our little pond has been the home to several frogs over the years. Our first giant bullfrog died one winter when the pond partially froze. A smaller bullfrog survived and grew to the size of my fist. He had a very deep “croak.” One reason he grew quickly is that he would sit under the pond lights and lick bugs out of the air. Cherry picking, so to speak.

We’ve had goldfish disappear over the years, and we suspect that as the bullfrogs got large enough, they decided to cherry pick fish. Kathy and I decided to evict giant bullfrogs from now on.

Using a net and the cloak of darkness, it took me four nights to catch the giant bullfrog. He would jump just before my net could grab him. I even had a rimshot one time, as he bounced off the lip of the net. I noticed a pattern in his jumping… always jumping into the water in the back corner of the pond. So last night I approached the frog slowly, making sure the fountain spray interfered with his line of sight. With the net hiding behind the front pond wall, I quickly rushed forward, placing the net in the anticipated jump target. He didn’t move! I think the spray-block really helped with the element of surprise. I slowly moved the net toward Mr. Bullfrog, and he suddenly jumped right into the net. Victory!

Clyde had been watching with excitement from the kitchen window. I decided to bring my catch into the house to show Kathy. As I came up on the deck, Mr. Bullfrog (who had been trying to jump out of the net) found good footing and jumped out. He landed on the deck, and with one leap, jumped into the darkness of the backyard.

I ran inside to get a flashlight with net still in hand. Clyde ran with me to the basement and then back outside to track down the frog. He was very excited and glad to help. I was able to point the flashlight and Clyde in the right direction, and he tracked down the frog quickly. The frog hopped once, but I was able to snatch him with the net, trapping him on the walkway. Clyde stood over the frog sniffing. He was very excited.

Kathy came out and helped us get the frog into a cooler so we could deport him to a nearby pond. I took him up in the shower so I could take a few pictures and not worry about him jumping away. Clyde stood guard watching through the shower door glass.

At 9:45 pm the three of us (Kathy, Clyde, and myself) loaded the frog in the car, and went to pick up Kelly from Rachel’s and Mary Claire from a birthday party. We all decided to take the bullfrog to a very nice pond in the back of a model home in a new subdivision. He’s now sitting happily under the built-in waterfall. The pond has spotlights which will attract bugs and allow him to continue cherry picking. When the model home is purchased, the new owners will have a bonus of a croaking bullfrog. Hope they don’t buy any goldfish.

For such an unlucky day, I got news of a pretty big raise (years in the making.)

Kathy called me at work to report that Danny had spotted a snake in the back yard. It was a big one she said, just laying there coiled up near the stick pile.

I told her to try to throw a garbage can over it, and I’d come home to help figure out what it was.

When I got home, Kathy had been unable to get a trashcan over it because the snake was too near some sticks. I was surprised to see how big it was. It seemed dark and dirty, so it was hard to see the pattern. My guess was that it was a water snake.

I changed out of my office attire and put on some work gloves to catch the snake. Kelly was very interested in helping me, but Kathy kept holding her back (despite Kelly’s protests.) Danny watched with much interest, since, after all, he had discovered the snake. Nicole nervously kept her distance all the way up on the upper deck. She was 40 feet away and 10 feet up. At least one of us would survive to tell the story.

I grabbed the snake and it immediately squirted a lot of milky white smelly stuff from its tail. A lot of the stuff, actually. Smelled awful. I put the snake in a garbage can. Nicole was terribly nervous. Kathy was excited. Kelly was delighted and trying out her new word “snake! snake! snake!”. She was also frustrated that she was shorter than the garbage can, so she immediately tried to pull it over.

I put the can next to the lower deck so that she could climb up and get a better view.

We poured some water into the garbage can to clean the dirt off the snake. That did the trick because the bands stuck out that looked just like the water snake markings we had seen at Washington Square. We had read back then that water snakes make bad pets because they are so mean.

I let the snake out in the yard and caught it (with Kathy’s help and a hockey stick) so that I could pick him up. Everyone got a good look and feel, including some neighbors walking by. Kelly held the snake in both hands (with me holding the head.) She looked pretty brave. Her fingers couldn’t even reach all the way around the thick snake.

We then let him go in the ditch, and he slithered back towards the river.

Biggest snake I ever caught in my life. Not as big as the Yellow Rat snake, though, that my Dad wouldn’t let me catch when we were canoeing down the Ogeechee river.

A 32 foot extension ladder has joined the house. Danny helped me position the ladder to clean out the back gutters which were filled. He would hoist up the top section with the rope and pulley, and he would place the boards under one ladder foot to make things level.

Kathy was very nervous about the entire thing.

Today was a strange weather day. It would start raining, stop, the sun would come out, and the cycle would repeat again. The wind was so blustery that I was concerned about being blown off the ladder. The hammock rocked itself in the wind.

In the evening we found out tornados had swept through northern Alabama and were moving over north Georgia. Kathy and Nicole spent the evening concerned about the tornados coming our way. We listened to the news reports through dinner and on into the evening.

It’s just as well that Kathy and Nicole get so concerned. If a tornado does ever come, they will be the ones who get me and Danny off the ladder and into the basement.

P.S.

I felt Kelly’s new molars. She can do some real chompin’ with those back teeth. She is very proud of them.

It is snowing. If tomorrow was a work day, we wouldn’t go to work. Nicole had not been feeling well all day, but was very excited by the snow. Danny and I went out to play in the first inch that had fallen. We scraped snow off the cars and threw snowballs at each other.

I then heaved one at Nicole who was looking out the window in her pajamas. She jumped back 3 feet.

As they slept the snow continued to fall. Should make for a delightfully chilly morning.

County Extension Director

Dekalb County

101 Court Square

Decatur, GA 30030

Date: 09/05/90

Sample #1

Laboratory No.: 88498

Kathy Cashin

These are the results and recommendations for the soil sample you submitted for your fescue lawn. The laboratory results show that the PH is 5.3, the phosphorus level is 14 (low), the potassium level is 176 (medium), the calcium level is 752 (adequate), and the magnesium level is 120 (medium).

The soil test results indicate that the PH of your soil is low and lime should be applied, therefore, broadcast or spread 25 lbs. of agricultural limestone per 1000 square feet.

Based upon the results the following fertilizer treatments are suggested:

For establishment, incorporate 25 lbs. of 5-10-15 per 1000 square feet into the top 4-6 inches of soil prior to seeding. In November and February apply 3 lbs of ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) per 1000 square feet. Follow this fertilization program for the first year only, then use the maintenance recommendation for the next 2-3 years. Retest 2-3 years after establishment.

For maintenance, apply 10 lbs. of 10-10-10 per 1000 square feet in September and November. In February, apply 4 lbs. of ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) per 1000 squre feet. In May, apply 1 1/2 lbs. of ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) per 1000 square feet.

Clippings do not contribute to thatch under proper management and thus, do not need to be removed. If they are removed, increase the fertilizer application rate by 30%.

Caution: Water lawn thoroughly immediately after applying fertilizer. Do not apply a fertilizer when grass is wet.

If you should have any questions, contact the county extension office.