On Saturday June 30 Jo and I spent the morning at the CNY Fiber Festival in Bouckville NY. I am a knitter from way back and have finally discovered a taste for the good stuff. Yarn, that is. Jo wanted to go so she could see an alpaca. For some reason she has decided that she would like to have one. And Ron, blast him is encouraging her, but Jo has conceded that she has to wait a few years. Apparently she has been researching this online and has learned just how much an alpaca will cost to take care of.
It was a lovely day and we had a good time. Jo bought some gluten free chocolate chip cookies and a pair of alpaca socks. I found a cute snowman Christmas ornament made out of fleece in the first tent we went to, but it took me three trips through all the tents to find the yarn I wanted to buy. I came home with enough to knit two hats, now I just have to decide which pattern I want to use. That’ll take awhile.
Ron wasn’t home when we got back, he had headed out to the farm before we left. His plan was to use the weed wacker to clear out some of the underbrush in a couple of spots. It really is a major production when he goes out to work. Has to take the high boots, 4 wheeler and trailer, bug spray, water bottles, assorted tools, hat, and his helmet. Then it all has to come back with him.
Ron was delighted to see us home already. We could now help him get two more of his mushroom cribs out to the farm. Did I tell you he is not only planning to grow shiitakes but also red wine caps? Which is a whole different procedure. More on that later.
Since he had come home with all his trappings he now had to make two trips back. One to take the wheeler back and then again with the cribs and us.

Don’t I look smashing? Ready for creek crossing. Had some serious rain Friday night and the water is running both high and fast. The waders got me safely across, but the current was much faster and it made for an unsteady trek. Then we had to get from the creek out to the hemlock forest. There is water everywhere. It comes from the creek, the swamp and the spring resulting in washed out paths, drowned new trees and mud and more mud. Ron underestimated how much trouble the muck was going to cause him. We almost had to take one of the cribs off so that he could get up one of the small hills.
His innate stubbornness got him through though. Then we had to get them off the wagon and into the spot Ron had cleared for them. Six are out there so far, but we have 9 more to go. I may cry.
On the walk back I caught my foot in some roots and went down. Serious jolt through my whole body but no damage. Every time we go out to the farm it is different. Nature is amazing, but Ron is determined to figure out a way to reduce the flooding because it is going to continue to cause troubles.

Do you see the red flags? Each one is where we planted a tree. Anybody have a herd of goats they need to feed?