One half of a fortnight...

So, the course opens up to our 40 members in a week. Sure, my current crew consisting of 3 of the hardest working Hispanics you'll ever find or appreciate, a 59 year-old crew foreman, a 26 year-old assistant golf course superintendent, a part-time, 57 year-old mechanic, and myself have been slaving away trying to get all of the tasks done in a timely manner. It's a blend of wrapping up winter projects, doing integral necessary agronomic tasks, and getting all of our fixtures out of storage and onto the course.

I actually love this time of year...much like the culmination of a hibernation of sorts. Being closed to our membership from early December through March has its bonuses, the last of which being the frantic lead-in and conversion from menial winter tasks to all-out paranoia. I admit, I did spend a majority of the daylight hours this past weekend at work. I guess I'll save that dream of camping for my next weekend off. I've still got about 6 weeks until it gets really crazy out there.

I had a great winter: finished a ton of work at the house, spent 2 weeks in Germany, got caught up on a large pile of books on my "to read" stack, and overall took every opportunity I could to embellish in anything I felt like doing at the time.

This year should be fun, in hindsight, they always are. It is never an easy existance doing what I do, but I enjoy the challenge and variety. Adapt and react is my motto. Mother Nature controls my hours and before I know it I'll be switching the alarm to 4:30 a.m. (nothing glorious about agriculture in that regard) and losing track of what day it is. Sunday evenings feel exactly the same as Wednesday evenings if you care to think about it. I'm really looking forward to my 5th season at the Club. Each year seems to be more productive and subsequently more satisfying. No reason to think that this year will be any different.

Camping

I think it just dawned on me, after a few green refreshments, that my season, and subsequent entire capacity worrying about something I have only a fraction of control over is going to start up here in a few weeks.

I'm seriously contemplating heading to an isolated spot on 500 acres I've so graciously been allowed to venture off to for a nice peaceful weekend. The fishing should be good, the scenery will be fantastic, and the down-time will be appreciated. It'll give me a chance to leave my house projects alone and venture out. It's actually been a while since I've even contemplated the thought. I'll see what I get done in the next few evenings, but without a soccer game on Sunday, and basically a free weekend, I'd be foolish not to capitalize on some good weather, clear skies, and some free time.

Another season on the horizon

Few things spur the onset of a new season on a golf course like re-pressurizing your irrigation system. We experience cold enough weather in the winter that it's a must to drain your irrigation lines and winterize your pumps. It's an arduous task and a Superintendent always keeps his fingers crossed that there aren't any major issues with cracked heads, broken lines, and massive leaks. So far, so good. We've been lucky 2 years in a row now...knock on wood.

I guess there aren't any more excuses for not getting the ball rolling ASAP. We'll start our spring fertility tomorrow morning.

I'm more excited about picking out what crops we're going to plant for the upcoming farming season. My crew and I "farm" between 2 and 3 acres each year which is a very nice perk on otherwise forgotten acreage adjacent to the golf course. Sweet corn, squash, zuccini, snow peas (if the deer, rabbits, and groundhogs don't get'em first), canteloupe, watermelon, cucumbers, green beans, and maybe a lima bean type plant will go in our lower field. I keep the succulents, various tomatoes, bell peppers, banana peppers, and jalapeno peppers planted adjacent to our parking within shooting range from my office window. I'm very protective of our tomatoes as is obvious by the loaded .22 caliber propped up next to the aforementioned window. Nothing beats fresh grilled rabbit accompanied by squash, zuccini, and tomato casserole on your lunch break.

It's all a completely organic process. We take pride in our no input (aside from manual weeding and harvesting) approach of our crops. No irrigation, no fertility, certainly no pesticides. I buy the seeds, a few cases of beer for planting day, and me and my guys spend a nice afternoon off the clock tilling and sowing our seeds. This year we're going to try a little mulch on the corn rows. Last year's crop was pathetic. No rain in the spring left a stand of Johnson Grass that would make a mid-western farmer instantly vomit. Harvesting was a huge pain and we all lost interest rather quickly. Current soil temps are still in the mid 40s so we've got some time to get ready and decide on our cultivars. I'm eagerly awaiting the full forsythia bloom (a farmer's indication of 45+ degree soil temperature) and the celebratory redbud bloom (planting time!).

I'll try to remember to post some pictures of our crops as we go through the season. 2007 was a banner year and we were harvesting no less than 250 ears of corn a week from early August through September. Divide that by my 9 staff members and you can imagine just how much we're taking home. I replace the soup loop with the produce loop, but that requires a little input on the consumer end. You have to be able to overlook a few earworms on the tips of the corn and add whatever culinary touch you prefer, but fresh, organic, and free is tough to beat.

Obviously, I get a little excited this time of year...

It's been a long 2 weeks

Without a toilet or a functional bathroom downstairs, but those days of sacrifice are finally over. I got my buddy to help me install my baseboard and quarter-round trim yesterday evening and put off the installation of my new sink, toilet, and various fixtures until today. No leaks so I guess I can say that it was a successful install. Aside from a rogue shock from a GFI outlet replacement it was pretty painless. Just more tedious in nature as most stuff ends up being.

I'll spend the weekend with a brush in hand finishing up my new mantle and painting trim in the two remaining rooms downstairs. There aren't many distractions this weekend and the rain will keep me focused and productivity should be good.

Daylight Saving's Time

Seriously, if you think about it, what in the hell is daylight saving's time? I've heard a myriad of reasons of why it exists but I still don't get exactly what it's point is. I do enjoy more hours of sunlight, but that hardly has do the with any clock that I'm familiar with. I was just getting used to driving to work and seeing the sunrise on the horizon. Now I just have to get creative with the first half-hour or so of work at the course since I'm not a huge fan of mowing grass in the dark with the aid of headlights.

I'm contemplating taking the day off from house work. Sunday is a day for rest isn't it? I'm about 85% complete with the bathroom renovation. I've reached a stand-still since I'm relying on someone else's nailgun for my baseboard installation. Sure, I could go old-school with hammer and nail, but finish nails, intricate molding, and a clean paint job frown at the sight of the ever present errant hammer blow.

Oh Baby!

Reid Thomas White
Born 12:47 p.m. March 5, 2009
9 pounds 2 ounces
21.5 inches

Good lord, that's a BIG baby! Must be something in the water?!

Grout Party!!!

I really wanted to throw stuff out in the street in protest, but none of my neighbors would understand the sentiment. I guess it's due to moisture, who the hell knows? My layer of thinset just will not cure. I took the time to prime my new mantle and spackle the holes from the removal of my previous atrocity of a mantle.

Man, this really puts me in a bind! I really wanted to get some things wrapped up this weekend, but it looks like this may drag on into next week. Not to worry, I've resorted to priming stained-wood trim in my frustration. Before I know it, I'll be done with these few deeds and contemplating just how in the hell I'm going to paint that 16 foot high ceiling in my den. I'll find someone daring enough I'm sure.

For now I'll carry my oil-based primer laden self to my operational shower and scrub a dub dub. It's been a long week already and I guess I don't mind the setback. Time dictates just about everything in my world so I've come to adjust to that factor. No Hooters tomorrow night, I'll be spreading grout and painting a mantle.

I'll post a few pictures once I wrap this hog up.