Apple Trees

Today
I'm
planting
apple trees!


















With
the price
of
gas...

















...and
foods
skyrocketing...

we
will
love...

...growing
our own
food!

You
don't get
more
local
than that!

Besides
there's
nothing
sweeter...

than the
smell
of
apple blossoms
in the spring!

So
I grab
my
shovel....

and
my
gloves...

load up
the
wheelbarrow...

...and
head out
to
the field!

Of course,
I have
help.

Digging
the
hole...

Setting
the
tree...

Thank-
you,
Koda!

Go
help
your
Dad.

He's
battling
the evil
buckthorns!

They've
invaded
our land...

with
dastardly
dagger-adorned
branches.

Tom
cuts...

I plant...

...and
the dogs
get
in
the way!

Koda
finds an
old bone
to chew.

Marshall
goes
exploring.
















I'm
finishing
my
tree planting

watering
my new
apple
trees....

What's
she got
now?














Oh,
Marshall!

Koda
just
watches
with envy.

It's okay,
Koda

We
love

you!

We leave

the 

labels on.

(So I can

remember

what I 

planted)

Cut

the 

base 

cords.

And leave

our 

new 

apple 

trees...

to 

grow

skyward!

Time

for

a 

drink!

and

a

drink...

and

a 

nap!

The Bike Commute

Finally!

A day

in lycra!

Indiana

is finally 

warm

enough...

...and
light
enough...

...that I
can enjoy
biking
to work!

On with
the red
jacket!

Grab
the
backpack....

...and go!

Bits
of sunlight
peek
through the
cloudcover.

I dodge
the
puddles...

Fun
to see
the neighbors'
flowers....

...and
the sprouting
of
political
signs.

The buzz
through
New Castle
is gray...

...except
the blaring
red
of the
fire engine.

I hope
I don't
have
an autopsy
today.

Henry County
Hospital
waits
for me...

We ride
the elevator
up.

(is this
the only
elevator
in town?)

We used
the take
the stairs...


...till the
cleats
slipped
and we fell.

The
microscope
waits
for me...

...and
stacks
of
slides...

The more
purple
I see
the more
likely
it's cancer.

I keep
an eye
on the phone.

Hope
the coroner
doesn't call.

Helmet
waits for me
on the corner
of the desk.


Hours
pass.


Unbiked.

I'm thrilled
when the work
is done
and I can hit
the road!

Out
the
door!

It's brighter
now
in
downtown
NC!

The
reconstruction
is moving along
nicely...

I see
the Young Life
building
has been bought.

(It was
Kresge's
in my day.)

The good ol'
Courier Times
is still
here...

...and the
Castle Theater
is still
alive!

Dairy Queen
is busy!

Not so much
Family Video.

:(

Spring
flowers
everywhere!

Lots
of bikers
out!














Wanna
race?
















I'll get
behind
this
peloton!

I see
we finally
got rid
of those
yellow
railroad cars!

photo by the Wall Street Journal

Someone
tell the
Wall Street Journal!

Glad
to see
the
FUN Playground
is busy!

Proud
to have
my name
there!

Met a friendly
Rottweiler
at
the park...

Got chased
by a
not-so-friendly
brindle.

I'm glad
to get
home...











...to my
own
friendly
Koda!

I love
my bike
commute...

...through
my old
home
town!