When the barge started listing to one side (for the second time), we decided to perform another "Sinking Barge Extraction". This time, we wanted to put it on the trailer so we could bring it back to the shop for refurbishment.

First, we had to relocate all of the 'stuff' that the trailer was keeping off the ground.

Next, we had to replace two very flat and deformed tires. Luckily, they were on opposite sides - and we had two spares that held air!

Next, we sank the trailer while Bob rowed the tilted barge across the lake to the grassy boat ramp.

The plan was to slide the barge right up onto the bed of the trailer. But then again, there is that well known adage about 'The best laid plans of mice and men...'.

After getting the barge up as far as we could (which wasn't nearly far enough), we tried to haul it up the ramp. After digging four holes with slipping tires, we came to the conclusion that grass and mud don't really provide a lot of traction (bright, aren't we).

After returning from an appointment later in the day, we thought that 'two jeep power' might just do the trick.

After making significant progress up the ramp (four feet) before all eight tire began digging in, we had to resort to 'The Third Plan'.

After firmly planting the backhoe on the slope (exciting with no brakes), Jym hauled Ann (driving), the jeep, the trailer, and the barge up the ramp one arms length at a time.

The traction problem becomes obvious. The two ton barge (no longer floating) is so far behind the trailer's axles that it is lifting the rear of the jeep off the ground.

Not to be deterred, we just kept to the plan (we didn't have a fourth one), and slowly inched up the ramp.

After a look at the situation and a brief conference with the driver, we voted to continue (the other choice was to abandon everything where they sat).

Finally, after about six pulls with the arm, we were at the top of the ramp and could just drive forward with the tractor while Ann displayed her stunt driving ability.

While Jym jockeyed around, pushing and coercing the barge into position, the trailer's hitch and the jeep's receiver held fast - shudder to think of the alternative.

With a final lift and shove to center the barge on the trailer, the rear of the jeep returned to earth.

After all the plan changes, pushing and shoving with heavy equipment, and vehicular aerobatics, Jym sedately drives off into the sunset (actually, to the shop) while Ann drives the backhoe home. All in a day's work at the farm - no big deal!

One of our normal summer tasks is to chop up all the downed oaks that expired over the winter. This serves two purposes - first, it gets rid of the fire hazard of drying twigs and leaves, and second, it provides the means of warmth for the coming winter.

First, we have to shorten the long branches and trunks.

Next involves collecting all the little piles strewn where they fell and depositing them into 'drying' stacks.

This stack will sit all summer and fall losing water until it's ready to give up their BTUs for our comfort throughout the winter.

Although not actually an activity that takes place on the farm, this past winter, the snow piled pretty high up the hill, and we tried snowshoeing for the first time.

Our first outing was on a walk with the American River Conservancy at Ice House Reservoir with rented equipment.

After a significant investment, we had shoes and poles, and started wandering out on our own.

The views, quiet, and lack of crowds are the major attraction. The exercise above 6,000 feet isn't bad either!

Our newly discovered favorite meal is hot (or at least warm) soup after a few hours of an outbound trek.

Once we reached the far end of the outbound loop, rather than retrace our steps, the GPS lets us explore a different route back.

Unfortunately, the GPS doesn't predict the terrain we have to negotiate to get back to the car.

In order to figure out where to place the keypads and solar panel mast, we had to trim back the overgrowth on the roadsides.

Jym fabricated the poles to mount the keypads on.

Digging the holes for keypad poles is tedious in the stuff we call dirt. Think six foot breaker bar and lots of sweat.

Once we got two foot holes, we trued up the poles and dumped in concrete mix and water, and stirred.

The first round of trenching (for the buried wires) was done by hand - or more correctly - by pickax.

Being not as young as I once was, we brought out the backhoe for the next set of trenches.

After the mast for the solar panels was erected, we had to set the guy wires so the wind load wouldn't bent the pole.

After replacing the old, bent, gate with a new one, Ann spruced up the old panels with a bit of elbow grease and paint.

To make it official, we also transferred our farm's sign to the new gate.

With everything else done, we mounted the last mechanical component, the actual gate actuator.

Then it was time to wire it all up and program the controller and keypads.

Finally, we can open the gate at the touch of a button (if you know the secret password).

Although this year's garden started with dire predictions of failure (because we did it all wrong), and a late start, we are currently inundated with more stuff than we can eat.

In order to keep the local deer population from eating all of our hard work, we scavenged some bamboo to weave a high fence along the road.

Next, Ann went back and forth, churning up the dirt (actually - mostly packed clay) to a depth of about 10 inches.

Jym then put together some bamboo teepee shaped things for plants to climb upon.

Jym spent time making his version of unbound, raised planting beds. Looks a lot like we're burying very tall bodies.

With the plants in, it's still looking pretty sad.

Given a month or so, the birdhouse gourds have made good use of one of the bamboo structures.

Now, Ann looks for edibles as she waters.

A day's harvest in the middle of August.

Couldn't resist playing with our food.

This year, the Dam Inspector decided to come early, so we had to spend almost two weeks of intensive work clearing the faces and the area below the dam.

After Ann had cleared most of the front face, Jym tackles the steep parts.

Jym is practicing for the 'Cattail Underhand Toss' event for the next Olympics.

After she decimated the front face, Ann works on the back of the Dam.

After stumbling, sliding and falling down the back face, Jym gets closer to the end.

Attacking the last patch.

The dam inspector continues to be happy with our diligent efforts to present a well maintained earthen dam.

Unfortunately, the Island Goose's eggs succumbed to malicious critters, so the pump house goose was smarter.

The first goslings to appear (on Jym's Birthday).

All six obviously took the first step off the pump house roof, and made it to the lake.

Given a few months, the little ones became big ones.

When the lake finally filled completely, in early winter, we were able to enjoy the fruit of our labors and row out for lunches and quiet relaxing time-outs. Apparently a resident Canada Goose thought we did a good job too, and chose a spot behind one of the big rocks to nest. As long as we aren't too boisterous with our lunch, she doesn't seem to mind our presence.

After dropping me on the shore, Ann heads back to the island on our 'slow boat to China'.

Pulling into the 'dock' on the side of the island, a pair Canada Geese monitors her progress.

Now that we're here, we get to enjoy our little slice of heaven.

And nestled in among the boulders at the edge of the island, one of our resident geese has staked out a patch of dirt as her own.

On her dinner break, we got a chance to see what she's been sitting on.

Another resident chose a site that was a bit safer (at least in her view). We just wonder what her six offspring will think about that first step.

While the lake wasn't a lake anymore, we decided to refurbish the small island that has been growing wild for at least 15 years. In the past few years, beavers have wreaked havoc on the willows growing around the perimeter of the island.

After draining the lake at the beginning of the year, by the end of the summer the bottom had dried enough to drive on it without sinking up to the axles in mud. The small island was now just a small hill that we could get to easily from the far side.

After clearing an access road to the top, we started brushing out the smaller bushes and weeds.

When Michael and Gayle came to visit, they were also put to work (menial and supervisor) clearing willow stumps that the beavers had left.

It took quite a while to chop up the felled willows into pieces that we could feed to the chipper.

Some horizontally oriented trees were so entangled in the brush that they had to be forcibly persuaded to join it's fellows in the chipper.

After we had gotten most of the 'hill' cleared to our satisfaction, it finally rained (heavily) and the lake level started rising to the point where it was again an island.