Just as I sat to write this blog, a note flashed across my screen from Donna Schmitz to say that we were ranked No. 2 against 9 other applications for the conservation grant from OWEB. Wow! I know that the bread isn’t yet buttered, but this is such good news that I have to celebrate anyway. Here’s the application description, which is a lovely portrait of the “Wood.” You’ll note that the property is actually 101 acres in size, but where’s the poetry in that?:

“This 101 acre property located 5 miles south of Corvallis, Oregon contains a mosaic of habitat types, including Oregon white oak savanna and woodlands, wetland prairie, and riparian forest associated with the Muddy Creek floodplain. Perennial and seasonal streams cross the property, and Muddy Creek borders the property line to the east. Proposed project will install fencing to protect the streams and wetlands from livestock grazing, stream crossings to protect stream banks from erosion, and solar pumping facility and troughs to prevent livestock from accessing the streams. These areas are in poor condition and lack a diversity of native plants because cattle have grazed in all these habitat types. The landowner will adopt a prescribed grazing methodology, reducing the number of cattle and rotating cattle through various designated pasture areas. Project partners include landowner, NRCS, USFWS, and Benton SWCD.”

I did say that I’d include photos in my next post, so here’s one of my favorites: (As always, be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it to viewable size.)

On the left we have Steve Bergen, a friend of the CA Viehls, and particularly of Charlie and Amy, whose swim coach/lifeguarding boss he has been these last 10 years or so. Seems he’s an alum of UC Davis, which had the opportunity of playing the mighty Ducks in the opening game of the ’16 season. So he and Charlie had a bet about the outcome of that head-butt, and of course, took the opportunity to come stay at the farm before and after. Too bad about the UC Whatevers, but hey, the Ducks? Who’d take that bet?

Peter is sandwiched between Steve and Charlie, who is driving the ATV, which seems to be a rite of passage for the Viehl grandkids. Big smiles all around.

I have another photo for you, pursuant to the subject of conservation. Last weekend, while Larry power-washed the barn’s windows (if you can call them windows), I wandered a bit around the lower property behind the barn. Followed a cow path along a waterway (now dry) until I came to the western edge of the savanna. And found this Martian-like area, which should give you a good idea of the devastation we here in the Wood call cow-trample. Not a technical term, of course, but apt:

I actually had to edit this photo, which came across to the blog sideways, though you would not be able to appreciate the directionality of what you see if it were upside down.

This one helps to define the scene, I suppose. Must be a seasonal pond, I don’t know for sure. Anyway, multiply this by 99 acres, throw on some blackberries, some tansy and some Astoria bent grass and you have some idea of the job ahead. Fingers crossed we get that grant!

Now about power washing. It’s been my ambition to get the barn painted a nice brownish red barn-color. But first, must wash years of mold and neighboring topsoil, blown in from the north, off the siding. Now colored a nice baby-poop yellow, so noted by my friend Vik. I wanted to do the job (I am Woman!) and actually did get the siding fairly clean. Whew, hard work! But I couldn’t reach the windows without standing on a ladder and was reluctant to do so. Larry bravely undertook that part of the job, and here he is:

I know, what am I talking about? Windows? That upper material doesn’t appear translucent, but per removal of the crud, does let light into the interior. And, sorry Larry, it’s a dumb picture, but you’re my hero anyway.

And to close the circle, about cow trample. It was my job to wash the north side porch decking before our last visitors. Got the hose out, doing well, until I reached the space outside the french doors from our bedroom. I’d noted these marks all along, supposed they were just dirt, but no. Cow or cows had been up on the porch, milling about, cow trampling on the wooden deck. Permanently embossed, they are, these bovine footprints. Well, I take the attitude that it would take an artisan many hours to lovingly paint this graphic design we now enjoy. Lucky us! Got it for free! But what, one might wonder, drew those cows onto the porch in the first place?

Come on down and see us. Set a spell. Coffee’s on, it’s a beautiful morning.