Double Rainbow!

Jeff, Marissa, and Darren came over to our apartment last night to eat pizza and play Settlers.  (Marissa won!).  There was a big rainbow at sunset so we had fun taking pictures.  You can't see the "doubleness" in these pictures but I posted a video of facebook in which you can see the 2nd rainbow.

Spiritwood Lake Forestry Report

Tom, Michael and I arrived at the lake last Friday night to this sight:

Another 80-90 year-old ash tree had blown down in a storm, probably a couple nights earlier. It was the one behind the new cabin, the one remaining "swing tree" with the cross piece and chain still attached, about 40' tall. Fortunately, it fell eastward and landed parallel to the cabins. Unfortunately, it fell on the young bur oak tree and bent it over about halfway up.

So we got to work. Tom used the electric chain saw to cut off branches and we started dragging them to the burn pile. It was a calm evening, good for burning, and there was already some dry wood piled there. That burned right away and got the fire hot enough to burn green wood. We also had to cut some broken boxelder branches which the ash broke off as it fell.

As soon as enough branches were cleared away from the oak, Tom got on a ladder and straightened out the trunk. He attached a splint to keep it straight, and wrapped some cloth around the place where the bark was torn. We're hoping it will survive and thrive!

Just couldn't resist doing some planking.

After the branches were burned up and the trunk cut into logs for the woodstove, all that's left is the stump. And some wide open sunny space.

Here's a little taste of the wedding I went to a week ago in NC. I (on the far right) convinced the groom (mid-air) that it would be a good idea for us guys to throw him up for the camera. He was pretty scared as you can tell (gripping his own pants and wide eyed, stiff as a board.)  It was a couple good friends of mine (Ben Johns and Caley (Hedrick) Johns) from Lee University that were getting married and I had the pleasure of being there to celebrate with them. From sitting in the choir loft (as one of their many good friends) singing two hymns during the ceremony, to contradancing with live bluegrass at the reception, to wine and sangria, to camping out that night and swimming in the cold creek the next morning.... IT WAS A BLAST. Hope you enjoy some of the pictures.


While I am having a great time here in TN, I miss you all. Hoping for a serving job at Olive Garden (interview on Monday),
Love,
Joel

The Lake Season Has Begun!

It's gonna get warmer!!! This is the crew who enjoyed Memorial weekend at the lake, plus Tom who was taking the picture. Brian did not get the memo about hoods. The only water activity was putting in the boat lift, and fortunately for everyone else, Brian brought his dry suit for that project. Oh, and Bella isn't deterred from her usual water activity no matter how cold the water is.

Carolyn posed by the irises in her Van Gogh iris jacket. Beautiful! Edie has been keeping this flower bed weeded and it looks great. All the trees are doing well. Time to submit ideas and preferences for what we should plant this year. We counted at least 20 varieties of trees, native and planted, on the property.