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Ironman Video

Today was a beautiful day for just taking the kayak out on Lake Wingra. Having our boats sitting at the Marina makes it so much easier to just go for a spur of the moment paddle. I took out the Old Town Egret and enjoyed a perfect afternoon on my favorite Madison lake.

As pretty as they are and as much as I admire their natural beauty these nasty little buggers are determined to feast on our roses to the end of their days. All of our four rose plants are being battered by these Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) and they attack my beloved plants in groups, as soon as the sun is out and start munching away on the flowers that are trying to open up.

My initial frustration has meanwhile progressed through an utter dislike to a solid grudge and it starting to turn into a personal vendetta of mine. Armed with a spray bottle of a water and Dr. Bronnner’s soap mix every morning and evening I embark on a spritzing crusade, sneak up to them behind my rose bushes and squirt like there’s no tomorrow.

So far the bugs have kept the upper hand but I’m determined to prevail…

I’ve been loving you a long time
Down all the years, down all the days
And I’ve cried for all your troubles
Smiled at your funny little ways.

Our two existing compost bins weren’t enough anymore so I built this one, a little wider than usual so it’s easier to use the pitch fork. It was a lot of fun to put this one together. I’ll post the building instructions as soon as I find a little more time.