Better Safe Than Sorry

My trail cameras have been in their present locations for years.  Consequently, the local critters don't pay them much mind; at least as much as I can tell.

This inquisitive, yet hesitant, doe wasn't having any of it it however....

 

Evolution of Desktop Computing

The Tandy 5000 MC was a high-end PC introduced by the Tandy Corporation in 1989.  It was available through Radio Shack.

Equipped with an Intel 80386 CPU running a 20 MHz, 2 MB of RAM (expandable up to 16 MB) , it also came with the 40 MB hard drive.  The operating system was MS-DOS (v 3.3) and Windows 386 and it supported color monitors with EGA/VGA graphics.

There were expansion slots for further customization allowing additional cards for enhanced graphics, sound and networking. 

The target market for this device were business and professional users and the 386 processor (I remember it) was relatively new that year and very robust for the time. 

It competed with the IBM 386 which, depending on configuration, sold for $10,000 to $15,000 in 1989.

Talking Turkey

Wisconsin's spring turkey season came to a close this last Tuesday with Period F closing May 27.  Driving past a neighbor's property that day I spied a young man and (presumably) his girlfriend hefting a nice gobbler in the back of a pickup at the end of the day.

Congratulations.

I got my bird in the shortest hunt of my life.  Yowza!  And I'm looking forward to making some good eats this year.  I'll share; I promise.

Anyway, you can't get to many gobbler pics and these are fresh off the trail cameras.

Turkey poults are on deck....

 

Friday Music

Written and originally recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title. It has since been recorded by other artists, including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1969 whose version hit number 9 on the Hot 100 in November 1970.

Nice acoustic cover of this song by Guy Vincent.

 Mr. Bojangles.....

Snatch and Grab

Red fox have been making themselves more frequently observed on the trail camera trap line.

And this is an interesting video clip. 

When I have time I'll have to learn more about the Microsoft video editing tool on my new laptop.

Meanwhile, I grabbed the progress bar on the bottom of the video to scroll the video manually.

Looks like that predator got itself a small mammal.  I can see short legs, feet and ears.  That's it.  

No positive ID... 

 

You Say Potato, I Say Potatoh

L to R: Yukon Gold, Superior and German Butterball

I've grown a lot of  potatoes in my life, but not likely as many species that you will find at the Midwest Area Vegetable Crops Research Unit where you will find the Potato Germplasm Station; AKA the United States Potato Genebank (USPG).  Yup, the Fort Knox of potatoes is found right here on the peninsula  just north of Sturgeon Bay.  

Before 1950 and the US national plant germplasm system was started, potato breeding was basically  ad hoc by various scientists and breeders.  Consequently they were not available to the whole grower community, and got infected with viruses or otherwise lost. Potato scientists (yes, there is such a thing) organized to lobby for a centralized program to import, classify, preserve, evaluate, and distribute potato germplasm. 

Because we grow a lot of potatoes in our fine state Wisconsin lobbied extensively for a genebank, and we got what we asked-for.  It seemed a good idea to have all of this genetic treasure situated a bit removed from the production area of the state, and the because the UW research farm - Peninsular Agricultural Research Station (PARS) has been located on the peninsula since 1922  Sturgeon Bay was chosen as the USPG home in 1948. 

Unbeknownst to just about everyone it is here that research is performed to facilitate improvements in the potato of the future by promoting the use of valuable exotic genes found in wild potato species.  Wild potato species contain a veritable treasure chest of genetic diversity for potentially useful traits that may be bred into new varieties. These new varieties must be able to overcome the challenges of pests and stresses with less dependence on chemical fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides. The USPG is doing this through a 5-fold approach: acquisition, classification, preservation, evaluation and distribution of potato genetics.  This collection is part of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) - all 5927 potato specimens in the collection!

Check-out the Champion Spud to the left.

 

Potato scientists have a complete tissue culture lab and growth chamber facility to support a clonal collection of about 1000 tubers. In addition, there are 10 greenhouse compartments in which plants are grown to generate seeds and tubers for distribution to customers, as well as for cooperative and in-house research. Most of this work is performed in the winter.  Additionally, there are four large screenhouses for similar work in the summer. A seed lab is used to extract, dry and package the seeds. Freezers hold the seed collection, and a walk-in refrigerated storage holds research tubers.  

The purpose of USPG, like any genebank is to acquire, classify, preserve, evaluate and distribute germplasm, information and technology pursuant to improving the crop. Right under your nose this is the  only facility in the US with that mission specifically for the potato.  Researchers here also support potato improvement around the world. 

The potato has about 100 species and more wild relatives which are accessible to breeding than
any other crop. At least 70% of new cultivar releases have exotic germplasm from USPG in their family tree.  Indeed, it is here that you will find the grandparent of  the Yukon Gold. 

It all begins here so researchers think about consumers a lot, since potato needs to expand demand to stay profitable.  Here you will find researchers working on evaluating and developing unusual forms like the Colombian orange-fleshed egg-yolk specialty type.  Scientists keep abreast of nutritional news and trends, since any kind of nutritional improvement in potato could make it a more attractive choice to consumers. Since there is no expectation that people will eat more, attention is paid to how the potato could compete better with grains.  And they're on the lookout for totally new outlets for potato.

Finally, substantial attention is given to how Wisconsin germplasm can address the needs of growers in Latin America, since this is a way to say “thank you” to the people who originally donated it to the world.

Fast Fact:  The Honeycrisp Apple (Malus pumila) was developed by the University of Minnesota at their Horticultural Research Center.  Designated as MN1711 in 1974, patented in 1988, and released in 1991, the Honeycrisp, once slated to be discarded, has rapidly become a prized commercial apple.  So, when someone wants to defund government-paid research at major universities it might just have consequences.

Out With The Old - In With The New

Yesterday’s voicemail brought the news that my new picnic table was ready for pickup.

This morning I went over to the high school where a bunch of freshly assembled picnic tables were waiting at Door 15 and the kids loaded one into the back of the pickup. 

 

The gnarly, 31 year old table in the background, is gonna return to the campsite where it originally lived. 

New table set me back $200.  Solid construction too.  Southern Door industrial arts program rocks!

Travels

From time to time I'll publish something here that references our travels.  

A year and a half ago we spent some time in the low country of South Carolina and Georgia. Some of that trip found its way here in the form of burial practices and coastal fortifications.  Just the other day Google Photos tickled my fancy with an unsolicited slide deck from that trip.

If you watch it be sure to watch for the photo of The Missus sitting on Forrest Gump's park bench.  (The real bench is on permanent loan somewhere else but the location fits).

 

Sunrise Bird

Sometimes one of the trail cameras delivers something with an artistic flair. 

 

It’s all unintentional and unstaged - pure chance.

 

Like this turkey walking towards ‘the light’….

 

Highway Patrol

Earlier this month I published some specs on the 1958 Ford patrol car.  

The 1959 Ford police car is a striking example of mid-20th-century American automotive design, combining both power and style. As part of Ford's lineup during a time of post-war optimism, this model featured bold, sharp lines, large tail fins, and an impressive chrome grille, all characteristics of the era’s automotive trends. 

The police version of the car was built to be both functional and imposing, offering a powerful V8 engine for pursuit and a distinct design to symbolize authority. Its appearance made it a recognizable figure on the streets, serving as a symbol of law and order during the late 1950s.

In terms of functionality, the 1959 Ford police car was equipped with several features that made it ideal for law enforcement. It had a heavy-duty suspension, powerful brakes, and extra lighting equipment to ensure that officers could respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. The inclusion of sirens, lights and a radio, allowed the vehicle to serve as both a patrol car and a pursuit vehicle.  As police departments across the United States began to modernize their fleets, the 1959 Ford was one of the standout vehicles, reflecting the era’s technological advances and the growing need for efficient and reliable law enforcement tools.

Naturally, this vehicle has since become desirable by car enthusiasts and collectors for its design and historical significance.  Its place in the history of American law enforcement vehicles is cemented by its iconic look and its role in shaping the image of police cars during a transformative period in American culture.  Nowadays, restored versions of the 1959 Ford police car are often displayed in museums and car shows, a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era when law enforcement vehicles were as much about style as they were about function.

Vintage NYPD 1959 Ford Police Car, Brooklyn, New York City.

The Garden Chronicles

After amending my crappy Door County soil that makes up my garden with four bales of peat moss and eight bags of composed manure I tilled it once before the rains came.  After it dried-out I rototilled it again.

May 15 - I planted peas, two varieties of radish and sowed three types of lettuce.

Peas emerged a couple of days ago...

click on image for a closer look

And the radishes peeked-out yesterday... 

 

 

Today I planted seven varieties of tomato plants - including a couple of San Marzano I scored at a new greenhouse; two basil, a rosemary and Italian parsley plant constituted the herbs.  This was followed by four sweet pepper and five broccoli plants.  I sowed a row of beets, green beans and an additional variety of lettuce.  Yes, fresh salads are in our future; fingers crossed.

If time allows; tomorrow I'll sow the pumpkins and cukes and whatever else trips my trigger.  When you live halfway between the equator and the North Pole the growing season is short.  Time's a wastin!

Vive le Jardin Magnifique!

Astronomy for May

If you're a regular reader you know what a New Moon is all about; it's when the sun and moon are aligned in the same celestial longitude so that you cannot see the moon as the illuminated side is facing away from us.

Consequently, this means dark skies.  And in the absence of moonlight interfering with the night sky that means fainter objects are easier to see.  In the winter the air is drier and this also improves your viewing prospects.

Last, but not least, no skeeters yet!

Fingers-crossed for clear skies tonight.

 

Beginning tomorrow May 27 and thru Wednesday, May 28 about 30-45 minutes after sunset cast your gaze to the northwest horizon.  In the twilight you should be able to spot a young waxing crescent moon rising along with the planet Jupiter.  If you're lucky you might also spot some earthshine (light reflected off the earth) on the larger unlit portion of the moon. 

A pair of binoculars can be helpful. 

 

Memorial Day

It is, in a way an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country....in wars far away.  The imagination plays a trick.  We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise.  We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired.

But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives - the one they were living and one they would have lived...

- Ronald Reagan

Originally called Decoration Day - Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country.

There is an American Cemetery and Memorial located in Colleville-sur-Mer on the bluff overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.  Dedicated in 1956 the Cemetery and Memorial is situated closely to the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 - the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II.  

This is the final resting place of 9,388 of our military dead - most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations.  If you were to visit this place you will note that upon the walls of the Garden of the Missing are inscribed an additional 1,557 names.  And because old battlefields continue to yield their dead - rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

In Plot E Row 26 Grave 37 rests James D. Johnston - Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.  Jill and I walked this sacred place on a typical rainy Norman morning and while I have no direct connection to James Johnston, his life before the war, or his survivors following the war what you can discern from the marker is that Johnston was from North Carolina and was a commander in the same division and infantry regiment my dad served.  

Some of you know that my father landed at Utah Beach as an infantry replacement.  He was a machine gunner in a heavy weapons platoon.  Dad fought in the battle of the hedgerows, the breakout at Saint-Lô and Patton's mad dash across northern France.  His participation in the liberation of Belgium was interrupted by wounds incurred in combat.  Following his recovery in England he served for a brief period in the US Army of Occupation in Germany.

Dad returned home from the war and lived a full and rewarding life. He worked quietly in a public school system and never spoke about his war experiences in any great detail until I was in college. I am alive today to muse about this subject because he survived.  James Johnston never had the opportunity to sit on the stoop and share closely-guarded feelings about the war with a son.  

This is why Memorial Day is personal to me.

A bit of reading reveals that Johnston died from wounds suffered from the detonation of a German 88mm shell at the blood-stained Crossroads 114 near Acqueville just outside of Cherbourg.  Death in combat was fickle in the skirmishes and battle for mere meters in the uneven and mixed woodlands and pastures of the Bocage.  PFC Gaertner survived - Lt Col Johnston did not.

When it came time for a permanent burial, the families of the dead were asked if they wanted their loved ones repatriated for permanent burial in the U.S. or interred overseas.  Lieutenant Colonel Johnston's remains lie here with approximately 461 graves belonging to 9th Infantry Division G.I.s.

Today it is useful to remember and honor the lives that brave men and women sacrificed.  

Both of those lives.
 

click on images for a closer look

 

 

_{*Eight Stars to Victory - Mittelman, The Battery Press}

 

Practical Considerations Of Trade Taxes - Updated With New Developments

I've been casting-about for someone; anyone, who can explain to me how the taxation of imported goods will improve your and my prosperity and general lot in life.  If the world becomes a safer place, bonus.  So, if you're reading this and have a simple elucidation that connects the economic dots you know where to find me.  Meanwhile, while the president has promised trillions of dollars of foreign investment in the US I haven't seen anything in particular happening in Wisconsin.  

February of this year Apple announced a $500 billion effort to build a new factory in Texas and expand manufacturing in several other states.  But according to the Wall Street Journal that plan has been in the works since the Biden era.

Pharmaceutical giant - Roche - pledged $50 billion in domestic expansion; then walked-back the pledge following the president's executive order limiting drug prices.  

BMW announced that it was considering additional shifts for US factories.  Honda announced they were considering shifting Ontario production of their popular CRV to Indiana.  Last month, Stellantis commenced a planned retooling of a previously mothballed plant in Illinois; the earliest opening date is the end of 2027.  It takes awhile people.

Sure, the Trump Administration is rather loosey-goosey in claiming credit for stuff that has been in the pipeline for years, conflated or planned changes regardless of tariff policy.  I don't have a problem with that.  Politicians predictably claim credit for unearned stuff all day long.  The reality is that reshoring of manufacturing and assembly operations along with their complex supply lines takes 3 to 6 years to bring to fruition; about the time Trump is preparing to leave office in his Qatari airplane and long after the mid-term elections.  I wish I could be a fly on the wall of America's corporate boardrooms.  Do you suppose I'd be witness to talk about waiting this guy out?  I wonder.

The practical effect of the on-again, off-again, inconsistent tariff and trade policy along with a global trade war has been a freezing of business investment activity.  Last Tuesday I listened to Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson on the Julie Mason Sirius XM POTUS channel as he shared his misgivings over trade taxes and impacts on Wisconsin business.  Coming from a private-sector guy his musings over business investment grinding to a halt carry some weight.  Business wants and needs predictability and certainty before making outsized investment commitments.  Complicating this are recent retailer announcements of price increases as Trump's taxes erode already slim profit margins.

Some have speculated that a case that heard oral arguments just last week in the US Court of International Trade could end all of this nonsense if this obscure federal court grants small business plaintiffs' request for an emergency injunction upending Trump's policy ambitions.  Who knows where this shall go.  Time will tell. 

So, we'll have to wait this out and see what develops.  We're already half-way into a 90 day pause with many trade taxes already in place and in full force and effect.  What happens after the 90 day pause expires?  

Your guess is as good as mine. 

What I know for sure is that corporate America is taking a long pause to assess the matter and during this period of wait and see not much is happening.  And who can blame them.  Last week the president got up on the wrong side of the bed and in a fit of pique threatened the European Union with a 50% tax on their exports to the US.  And In a new first; he petulantly singled-out  specific companies (Apple and Samsung) with an import tax of 25% if they didn't begin moving their assembly operations to the US before the end of June. This is absolute bananas.  

I predict a summer of interesting economic outcomes.  And maybe a surprise or two*.

Meanwhile, unlike deep pocket Apple and Samsung, small business owners are taking it on the chin.  Beth Benike, an Army vet and owner of the Minnesota based company Busy Baby is just one of the millions of small business owners being impacted by President Trump’s up-and-down, back-and-forth, red light-green light and increasingly petty and impulsive import and curiously personal tax policies. Like I said - bananas.

Small businesses must now contend with the weight of burdensome new costs. “I don’t know how to operate in this new world,” Benike says. Even Trump’s lowered China tariff of “30% is still a lot.” What’s more, she says, “we don’t know what happens after 90 days” when Trump’s pause expires. In this uncertain landscape, Benike asks, “how do you plan anything as a business?”

 

 

*Kentucky Senator Rand Paul had an interesting take on all of this.  In a recent radio interview he scornfully suggested that Trump will ultimately cave and allow an automobile to be classified as "assembled in America" when it's brought here to have the wheels bolted-on.  

 

True Story.

 

Stay-tuned....... 

Edit to add:  Yesterday the US Court of International Trade ruled that Trump does not have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs under 1970s-era emergency legislation.  In fact, the judges said an injunction wasn't enough they issued a summary judgement invalidating and blocking almost all of Trump's trade levies to date.  Of course, the White House announced today they will appeal the judgement so we're back to more chaos.

 

Initial thoughts include the following:  Heretofore, Trump has only cut one deal so far - with the United Kingdom.  How does this complicate ongoing negotiations with anyone else going forward?  Does this offer Trump an off ramp for what many consider an ill-advised and poorly executed trade policy?  If things go sideways on appeal for Trump will SCOTUS agree to hear the case?  What if  SCOTUS does not and allows an adverse Trump ruling stand?

 

Stay-tuned.....  

Child Safety

Before air bags there were sponge balls.

This is why my generation is stronger than most....

 

Gentlemen - Start Your Grills

It's been grilling season for a spell already; nevertheless, there is this.

Backyard venison - rare to medium rare.

Spargel from the kitchen garden, anointed with EVO -  grilled.

Baked tater with butter, sour cream and chopped chives from the kitchen garden.

Cracked pepper and sea salt over all.

Pretty good chow if you can get it….. 

 

Red Fox

Interesting to me is the anecdotal evidence of increasing fox sightings around these parts.....

 

Friday Music

Wednesday of last week Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band opened their Land of Hope & Dreams Tour in Manchester, England. 

Bruce launched this run of shows with three statements about the the current state of affairs in the United States, with comments preceding his songs "Land of Hope and Dreams," "House of a Thousand Guitars" and "My City of Ruins."  Naturally, this has gotten under some some people's skin.  

Snowflakes.

As a young man I came of age in the 1970s with Bruce Springsteen rocking my life via a four speaker Craig, surround sound, AM/FM, stereo cassette sound system in my trusty VW Westphalia camper van. I was a popular guy.  But I digress.

Not one to shy-away from politics Springsteen has long had an activist streak.  Which might explain why I've been a follower since I got hooked on the music with Greetings from Asbury Park.  And a fellow American who's grateful for patriots like Bruce to stick it to the oligarchs.

More than fifty years of rockin' the lives of ordinary Americans; yes, us little people. The Boss speaking truth to power.  

Some things never change.....

Getting Away From It All

Doggo absolutely loves going to the kennel - for either a daycare day at the spa or an extended boarding if we're traveling or out of town.

Red River K9 offers boarding, grooming, training and daycare.  And because our red bundle of energy is in her formative years an opportunity to be away from us, socialize with other dogs and run with her pack is good.  She burns-off some energy, learns to make new doggie friends and get away from it all.

I'd bet that for her it is how I felt as a kid and got a chance to go away for day camp or one or more weeks at a time to scout or church camp.  

Last weekend she got the boarding treatment and following that a day-off while I taught a class.  

Photos from the kennel's Face Book page.  Except the last one - all tuckered-out....

 

Constitutional Confusion

The writ of habeas corpus is addressed in Article 1, Section 9, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Suspension Clause. This clause states that "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it".  Even I know this as it has been covered in the current affairs class on several occasions.

Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, bungled answers yesterday about habeas corpus, incorrectly asserting that the legal right of people to challenge their detention by the government was actually the president’s “constitutional right” to deport people.

At a Senate hearing, Senator Maggie Hassan, Democrat of New Hampshire, asked Ms. Noem about the issue. “Secretary Noem,” she asked, “what is habeas corpus?”

 

“Well,” Ms. Noem said, “habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their right to—”     

 

“No,” Ms. Hassan interjected. “Let me stop you, ma’am. Excuse me, that’s incorrect.”

Astronomy For May

If you happen to be an early riser, or just have to get up to pee before sunrise take the opportunity to cast your gaze to the eastern horizon.  There's going to be a conjunction of heavenly bodies starting tomorrow morning and continuing thru Friday.  

The waning crescent moon will rise during the wee hours of the morning followed by the yellowish dot of Saturn with much brighter Venus the last to rise.  If you have binoculars you might be able to spot Neptune positioned immediately to the left of Saturn.

You Are What You Eat - Part 2

Slammin' Salmon!

Pan-seared medium rare, side salad, crusty baguette.

Breakfast the next day, lightly toasted Asiago bagel, cream cheese and leftover fish to start the morning right.

You are what you eat….

 

You are What You Eat - Part 1

I'm a lifetime oatmeal guy and developed a hankering for Irish porridge oats on our visit to Ireland immediately before the COVID shitshow. 

Flahavan's Irish Porridge Oats are a cherished staple in Ireland, renowned for their creamy texture and wholesome flavor. Milled by the Flahavan family in Kilmacthomas, County Waterford, for over 200 years, these oats are produced using a unique double-steaming process that enhances their natural creaminess and quick cooking time.

My favorite porridge.  Polished-off an entire case last winter.

Microwave Method:

• Ingredients: ½ cup oats, 1 cup cold milk

• Instructions:

  1. Combine oats and liquid in a deep microwave-safe bowl, allowing a couple of inches at the top for expansion.

  2. Microwave on high 3 to 6 minutes (appliance wattage may vary)

  3. Stir-in a fistful of frozen blueberries and let stand for 1 minute before serving.

     
     
      

Porch Beer

After working in the garden it's always good to retire to the porch with my sidekick to enjoy a bowl of salted in the shell porch peanuts, a frosty Canadian lager and watch a spring thunder storm roll-in.

It's quitting time after-all.

Raising a toast to our friendly neighbors to the north!

Trade Tax Increases In The News

Following the announcement of price increases from Walmart over the weekend tariffs are, at least for the moment, back in the news.

President Trump says cars made in the U.S. will face “absolutely no tariff,” but it’s not so simple. No car is built from 100% U.S. parts—not even the U.S.-built Ford F-150 pickup truck. Major components of the car are from Mexico, Canada and South Korea, which could all be a part of the auto tariffs.

Wall Street Journal takes a look inside a Ford F-150 to better understand Trump’s slew of new tariffs and why automakers are warning it could backfire.

Has Asparagus Ended?

Contrary to my fears a week ago I guess not.

While hardly like the harvests of yore things have picked-up a bit.

There is this...

And venison steaks on the grill tonight to accompany grilled spargel anointed in EVO and freshly-cracked black pepper and sea salt.  Maybe a big baked tater too.

Long Road To Get Here

Fourteen years ago I published a short observation of Wisconsin's efforts to measure if the Emerald Ash Borer had spread To the Peninsula.  Inevitably, it did and the work of this non-native pest has left its mark.  The landscape is now covered with dead and dying ash trees.

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) kills ash trees by feeding on the tree's inner bark, disrupting the flow of essential nutrients and water. The larvae tunnel under the bark, creating "S"-shaped galleries and weakening the tree's ability to transport resources to its leaves and roots. Over time, this damage can lead to canopy thinning, branch dieback, and ultimately, death.

All of our mature ash trees are toast although just as with the elm species considered extirpated three generations ago natural regeneration persists, plenty of ash seedling continue to sprout in the forest understory.  So, maybe there is hope.  We dodged a bullet as the trees we planted decades ago were a mixed bag of native Wisconsin conifers and hardwoods.  Yes, the ash is dead or on life-support depending-upon how you view the situation but most everything else is thriving.  Meanwhile, some of my neighbors have woodlots dominated by ash and it breaks one's heart to drive by it on a regular basis.

Recently we hired a contractor to remove the dead ash from immediately around the house and all the dead trees on our side of the county road that posed a threat of toppling-over, landing in the road thus creating a hazard to vehicular traffic.

A crew of four, mechanized equipment; it took a day and a half.

From around the house, most of the logs were removed, smaller trees and the slash were chipped.  Along a quarter mile of road everything was dragged aside and left in the woods.  I have more firewood now if I'm inclined to cut it, split it and fetch it.   And boy has the view from the porch changed!