Odds 'N Ends . . .

Went to Napoleon first thing this AM to check on an auction. On the way there, I got behind a pick-up and a grain wagon. Don't know where he was headed. It is way too wet to get into the fields. And he drove right by the elevator in Ridgeville Corners. He did pull into the gas station there for gas. I pulled in too for a coffee. Would you believe that he pulled out in front of me when we where leaving. After a couple miles I was able to pass him.

Had to park several blocks away from the auction and while looking at the stuff, I decided it was waaaay too windy and cold (low 40's) to stand around.

The Route 24 by-pass opened a couple sections west of Defiance to the Indiana state line. I decided to check it out. Route 24 tween Napoleon and Defiance was the only divided 4 lane highway in these parts -- now it goes to the Indiana line. It was a nice ride. There were some unbelievably wide and deep ditches in spots! The Napoleon to Toledo sections were begun this summer and will take a couple more years to complete. The section from the Indiana state line to I-469 at Ft. Wayne was started this past summer and will take a couple more years to complete also. They say that that 24 was one of the most dangerous highways in Ohio. That is in the process of changing. Lots of accidents and fatalities in the past.

I've been 'cleaning out' my pocket camera the past few days. Here are a few more pics I've taken since August.

This is a garter snake. First one I've seen on the course. Drove the mower right up beside him. Didn't bother him a bit.

The first week of Oct. we had a company come in and plug the greens. Then we clean off the plugs and spread sand. Then we have a brush that we pull over the greens to work the sand in. This is #11 before the sand was worked in.

We are plugging the fairways ourselves. You can't see the machine very well that doesthe pluggin but you can see the mess it leaves. We have another machine that picks up the plugs. Then we drag the fairways to work in the debris that is left. I been mowing the fairways before they are plugged. Been waaaay too muddy for me to mow any after they've been plugged. We are something like 2-1/2 inches of rain above average for October.

Would you believe that a group played on this fairway after it was completely plugged but before we could clean it off, etc.

Given a choice, I'm not one to get up at the crack of dawn. But when I need to get up, I do it. Being outside all the time, I've seen my share of sunrises. Here are a couple from the last month or so.