Creek Log Jams

After Jolene and I moved into our house this past Summer, we realized that the Yellow Breeches Creek, which was supposed to be flowing along our backyard, was blocked by a logjam, and the creek bed was dry. We also learned that the land across the creek bed from our yard is actually a big island in the creek, with almost all of the water currently going around to the other side. This Spring, our goal is to get water flowing again through the creek bed on our side of the island.   Here are some pictures:

Logjam #1, from the front facing upstream.  Taken from the back corner of our yard.

Logjam #1, taken from the side.

Logjam #1, again from the front looking upstream.

Logjam #1, looking from the back of the jam, facing downstream.

After we discovered this logjam, we noticed that water wasn't even flowing up to it.  After looking around I found a second logjam, about 25 yards upstream from the first.  At that spot, the creek splits and should go around both sides of an island.  The second logjam is right at that split, preventing water from flowing on our side.  Here are some pictures of the second jam:

Logjam #2, facing upstream at a wider angle.  You can see stagnant water at the left.

Logjam #2, again facing upstream.  Water in the foreground is stagnant.  Water in the background is the flowing water of the creek.  It flows straight toward the logjam, but then gets diverted toward the right and goes around the far side of the island.

Logjam #2, from the side.  The water you see was flowing straight toward me when I was taking this picture.  The branch of the creek that flows on the far side of the island is directly behind me.  Our side is to the left.

Logjam #2

Lots of work to do this Spring... waders, chainsaws, and manual labor needed.  Let me know if you wanna help out.

Long Weekend

Jo and I hate going out to dinner on Valentine's Day. We like going places where can order of the regular menu, and on February 14th, there is usually a "special" Valentine's Day menu, featuring fewer options at higher prices. This year we went out for our dinner on Friday. Went to Rillo's in Carlisle, a place we haven't been in probably 6 or 7 years. Had a great bottle of Shiraz, Wishing Tree 2006, from Western Australia. Smooth, not very heavy tannins, would be great to drink anytime, with or without food. Jo had a salmon & crab dish, I had the pasta-variety dish called Daddy's Choice (lasagna, chicken parm, and broccoli fetuccini alfredo). They were out of cannoli, so I had creme brulee for desert, Jo had tiramisu. Jo's desert was better.

Saturday, Jo ran some errands with her mom, stopped at the farmer's market in Lemoyne, then made us dinner. We had a beer/garlic cheese fondue, strip steaks with red-skinned potatoes and asparagus, and pecan pie for desert. Awesome food. Sunday, Jo went in to work for a few hours, while I did some laundry. Had dinner at Jo's parents and Cuff had made homemade ice cream for dessert (which I had never had before). Really good stuff.

Monday we cleaned the house, went to Jo Jo's dinner and had pizza, saw Dean Faulk there. Came home and watched Pitt de-throne #1 UConn!!!! Dejuan Blair had an awesome game... it's amazing how strong he is. Sam Young had a great game as well.

Annoying: Comcast. Awhile ago, our HD channels started coming in grainy or pixelated, then some stopped coming in at all. Last week, some of the non-HD channels started to not come in randomly. A guy came out to check things out on Saturday. He put a booster on, but said the cable line from the pole to our house needed to be replaced. He said they'd be out on Monday to fix it. In the meantime, our internet/phone has been on the fritz. Monday came and went, no Comcast. Called on Monday evening, apparently the time was changed to Tuesday (thanks for letting us know). Comcast = Evil.

STEELERS SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!!!

STEELERS WIN SUPER BOWL FOR THE SIX-PACK!!!

Jo and I went over to Renee & Brian's last night for a great Super Bowl party. First, a recap of the refreshments (which, had the Steelers not been playing, would've been the most important thing to mention). Wings, perogies, kielbasa, chili, parmesan-artichoke dip, buffalo chicken dip, dream bars, Moosehead, Molson, IC Light (for those who can stand it), and our friend, John Powers Irish Whiskey (TO 'DA SWEED!).

Mike and Sam were there, along with Dom, the Jim Harris clan, Diane, and some other neighbors of Renee and Brian's. Great party, and an awesome game.

And now the two highlights of the game:

#1 - Harrison's 100 YD INT Return for TD

#2 - MVP Holmes' Endzone Corner Catch (Take Two)

All in all, a fantastic game capping a fantastic season. 'Da Stillers lived dangerously all season long - giving up the lead and making a late 4th quarter comeback happened so often it seemed to be part of the game plan. So it was only appropriate that we did it again in the Super Bowl.

SIX TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS! THE SIX PACK! ONE FOR THE OTHER THUMB!

WOOHOOOO!!!