Thursday, May 22, 2014

Good Fences, Gates, and Farm Machinery

Ah, May in Wisconsin. It's finally here...

...although I'm really disgusted with winter for killing my apple trees. After years. Dead as a doornail. I am so annoyed.  I'll be replacing them with two new McIntosh trees, for those are my favorite. So what killed them this year? It had to be the exceptionally beastly winter.


This is what my trusty McIntosh used to look like in the late summer.


and a closeup

I never used insecticides or anything on that tree. It bore perfect, wonderful apples year after year - and not without words of praise to God and encouragement to the tree.  It was amazing!


The grass IS greener on the other side of the fence.
Poor cows are on the corn stubble while the grass gets a tad longer.


The bottom pipe of this gate is actually about 2' off the ground.
I wonder if the cow is thinking about a way to flatten out and crawl under.



Ready to go!

I thought those chopper boxes looked so pretty all in a row.
I love red machinery. Not meant to be a slam, my John Deere friends.


And in case the irrigation system gets out of control,
the farmer's all ready with two canoes on top of the old wagon.

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This post is also linked to
From the Farm 
Photobucket

53 comments:

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh now this post makes me happy well except for your apple trees that is sad I am sorry. It was a very nasty winter I have not looked at my trees yet.
Love the canoe prepardness:)
Beautiful shots. Hug B

Anonymous said...

This is a great post. It is so Wisconsin,with the apple trees and cows. As your neighbor to the South, I appreciate that. MacIntosh are my favourites, too.

Roan said...

I had to laugh at the canoes. Farmers here could have used one last week. We had a nasty winter here, too. It's terrible about yoru apple trees. Hubs planted 2 apple last year. We were a bit surprised they made it through.

Diane said...

Sorry about your trees. Winter has really hard on everyone and thing. Love the photos!

Anonymous said...

I laughed at your first photo still thinking of your title. Farm machinery indeed that cow "mowing" the pasture.
So sorry about your beloved Macintosh that bore so much beautiful fruit. How wonderful you have replanted.

EG CameraGirl said...

How sad that you've lost your apple trees! I wonder if that cow really is contemplating a breakout. You never can tell what's going through a cow's mind. ;)

Phil Slade said...

Such a shame about your faithful old apple tree. Never mind, I'm sure the new one will bear lots of delicious fruit for you. Thank you for visiting Another Bird Blog.

TexWisGirl said...

really sorry about the apple trees! darn, they bore fruit! wow!

thanks for all the great farming scenes of my homeland! the chopper boxes brought back memories - and that smell of silage. :)

limboing cows - i like that!

Susie said...

Oh I laughed about the cow flattening out. LOL. The cow eating the grass over the fence just makes me shake my head, crazy isn't it. Great photos. xoxo,Susie

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

So sad to lose your apple trees! I lost a patch of black eyed susans that came up every year like clockwork and I'm not happy about it! Definately replanting, but won't be the same. Darn winter :-)

Anonymous said...

You always have the most interesting posts! :)

Sorry to hear about your apple tree. Yes, this past winter was truly beastly. Your McIntosh apples look far better than any in the grocery store.

I love the image of the cow bending over the fence to eat the taller grass.

That's definitely a prepared farmer with the two canoes!

Visiting from Good Fences #9.

~Lindy

Unknown said...

What a shame Judy - that tree was magnificent and ties in perfectly with the red barns and red machinery
Hurry up and replace that asap!
I have a post coming up on a tree next week - they're unbelievable works of art :)
xox

Chelsea Marrs said...

As a city girl, I'm super jealous you are surrounded by country and nature! Thanks for sharing :)

Best,
Chelsea
http://chowdownbythebay.blogspot.com/

Donna Wilkes said...

So sad about losing your apple trees. Love the cow contemplating her escape.

Anonymous said...

That is sad, and frustrating, losing your trees. I do like the cow next to the fence, she looks like she is just waiting for the right moment!

CJ said...

Love your cow shots, along with the fences.

I used to publish "the MOOSletter" the cow lovers' quarterly, with "all the MOOS that's fit to print."

Too bad about the apple trees. Yes it was a beastly winter in many parts of the country. I guess it wasn't as bad in PA as in Wisconsin, but the worst I can remember since the 70s. (We would have run off to the South American summer, if we didn't worry that we'd come back to frozen pipes and a real mess.) It must take years before you will have apples again.

Thanks for stopping by to view my first Good Fences post.

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

I like that first photo. Now why is the grass on the other side of the fence any better than what she's standing in? Thanks for visiting my First Fence.

Karen said...

Great shots. That cow is testing out the grass is greener on the other side of the fence theory!

nookworm said...

Nature rules again. Sad to loose trees of any sort. The cow looks to be very busy trying out the "other side of the fence" grasses.

Vee said...

What a horror to lose your apple trees. It takes them so long to get well established. Beautiful country you live in. Guess that's the trade-off.

Heide at ApronHistory said...

So sad to hear about your apple trees!! I was a little worried about my new hydrangea bushes, but they are leafing out very nicely. One of my goals this year, plant an apple tree! (I don't care if everyone thinks my back yard is too small... in England they train them to grow against walls....if they can do it, I can do it!)

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I love the farm scenes! Hope the canoes aren't needed this year. :) So sorry about your apple trees. They looked like they were very prolific, too. Hope the new ones will produce just as well.

Hootin Anni said...

...that's too bad about the weather and winter kill!!! You had me drooling with the looks of those beautiful apples on the branches...heavy that they are!!!

The fencing is great [oh, and I LOVE the hide on the first cow!!]

Ida said...

So sorry about your apple tree. We really didn't have a super hard winter here but there was a real cold spell in Feb. and I lost a couple of my favorite rose bushes so I know how you feel.
The cows look neat behind those fences. I got a good chuckle about them thinking about squeezing under the fence and the canoe in the field. Hope it doesn't rain that much!

Suzan said...

That's aweful about the cold killing your well established apple trees! I thought the winter had taken-out my fig tree!! But it did start putting out green shoots. Not sure if it'll have the strength to give me any figs - but at least it's still alive! Loved that cow eating grass on the other side of the fence!!

Rose said...

Sorry you lost your apple source, but have sure enjoyed all the pics...including the ones of your apples.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Judy, I love your photos of farm scenes! Sorry about your apple tree. I know it's too late for that tree, but is there any way to protect large trees from winter?

Ruth Kelly said...

I assume that your snow is finally melted.

Valerie said...

oh no! So sorry about your beloved trees. I have a stand of maples that I absolutely love. They create a full canopy that drapes across the front of my yard. I would be heart broken if something happened to them. Hugs. Blessings and Sunshine, Valerie

Debby Ray said...

Oh no...the apple tree was gorgeous...sorry you lost it. I do love the colorful farm impliments and the other rural scenery and fences....oh....and the cows too! I do love cows ;)

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

I'm so sorry your apple trees got killed by the horrible winter weather. I sure hope they will revive. I like the photos of the farm very much. I also like to look at photos of cattle. You live in a lovely country.

camp and cottage living said...

Oh, I love your first photo, Judy.
Yes, the grass always appears greener on the other side!
So sorry about your apple tree...
It's too early to tell if ours made it through or not. I'm sure hearing how a lot of fruit trees were lost after that rotten Winter we all had!

Unknown said...

I love your apple tree, sad to hear the winter got to it.
I love the first picture, lovely and green. The greens are so beautiful at this time of year.

Deanna said...

Oh, how sad that you lost your tree. We lost a lot of trees as a result of two years in a row of severe drought. The ones that really broke my heart were the row of dogwoods across the front of our house. We have one survivor. The license plate on my car is TREHGR so you can probably imagine how I feel about trees. ;)

LV said...

What a delightful tour of your farm. I truly enjoyed it. A very nice place.

Cheryl said...

I am feeling your pain about the loss of your apple tree! Such a large, full, healthy tree! This winter was brutal.

Love the cows! (I know, I love sheep too. They are my favorite. But cows are a close second.) :)

J_on_tour said...

Sorry to hear about your apple tree, you'll just have to persevere with your plan and hope that future winters won't be as severe. I suppose I could claim to have a sort of apple tree ... a high unruly branch grows over from the next door neighbours garden ... too many cooking apples than I know what to do with.

Bossy Betty said...

Such wonderful pictures! Sorry about the apple tree.

Carola Bartz said...

Your McIntosh apples do look perfect! I can so understand that you are annoyed - I would be mad!! I hope the new trees work out and you soon get those tasty apples again.

Denise said...

Very sorry about your apple trees.

Terri D said...

What a shame about your apple trees! We had an orange tree in the backyard when we moved here, and then lost it to a terrible winter. We only got about a dozen oranges from it. We didn't replant. Sigh.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I remember losing a big old apple tree at my Dad's in a storm. It just seemed unreal that after all the years it could be blown down. I love your big beautiful fields and neat fences. Enjoy your week my friend! Sweet hugs, Diane

Pamela Gordon said...

Wonderful farm scenes Judy. I love living in the country! That's too bad about your apple trees. It was a rough winter.

21 Wits said...

Oh shucks, sorry about your apple trees! I'm still hoping my lilac trees will be fine. I usually have flowers by now! Great capture of the cow!

NanaDiana said...

My Dad loved red and white machinery, too, and had International Harvester tractors.

I am so sorry you lost your apple trees. I lost all my rose bushes but that is nothing compared to losing a tree.

A lovely post here today- xo Diana

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi Judy Sorry about the Apple trees. Love all the countryside and the fences.Love the last shot.

marilyn said...

So enjoyed this post ... Love that cow getting the 'greener' grass.... Grew up with red machinery but ride a 'green pony' for all the mowing I do today. Hope you got those new trees planted already.

Amy Burzese said...

So sorry about your apple trees. This winter was harsh to say the least. We can see damage to some limbs on our trees. May your new ones thrive and provide you with beautiful apples very soon.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Sorry about your tree. Love the cow in the first photo....the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!! Enjoy your weekend.

Carla from The River said...

We are experiencing the WINTER BLUES around here too. Several of our lilac bushes are not looking good. And another bush. Our apple trees both are coming along slowly!!

The canoe shot is so funny! You should send that in to the Country Today as a funny.

ellen b. said...

Hello there! I enjoyed scrolling through your photos for Good Fences! This has been a brutal weather year. Blessings!

Gert said...

Love your photos! The cows are so funny..wishing......smile! By the way I love Red too..ha!

Blessings,
Gert

Chatty Crone said...

You have a lot of comments here girl. So I am sorry for your apple trees - I hate that. But your farm is just gorgeous and all your equipment - it looks so colorful and wonderful!

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