I will make note of month changes or plan changes so they can be compared for next year.
Homestead {Yard/Garden} Plan - 2014
I will make note of month changes or plan changes so they can be compared for next year.
Good Cheer!
Well, where is yours? Are you one of those that is ready for Christmas in September, or is it more like you turn around and wham! There's Christmas Eve? Somewhere in the middle?
I certainly am in the middle. I used to agonize over what to get my family that would be useful and practical at the same time that it was desirable and beautiful. While a present or two might fit all those requirements once every few years, it's nearly impossible to recreate a perfect gift each year. What's more? If you do find that perfect gift, who's to say you can afford it? I mean, I'm sure own desire for a milk cow is well-known in my family, but it's such and impractical gift as to make it ridiculous.
Instead I strive for simple gifts that are practical for the person. Each member of my family receives what I think they'd like best. Failing to find a physical gift, a gift card works very well. Nothing extravagant, but it allows whoever to freely make a choice of gift. Though, I do try to avoid gift cards when I can, as I see them as somewhat of a last-minute gift. Or a sign that I was unwilling to take time to think of that person and what they may like.
You know what's a fool-proof gift? Food. Everyone eats. At least, everyone I know does. Nearly everyone likes cookies, especially homemade ones so close to the holidays. Even diabetics can have cookies, in moderation of course.
I like tailor each gift to the individual person, and I thought you might like to see what I gave each family member.
And so, she has no use for frippery. What are you supposed to give a person like that? Well, in my estimation, she thoroughly enjoys spending time with her family, and takes that as her gift. She enjoys seeing the family together, spending time with us. We play Rummikub and try to beat her, even though she is the far superior player.
Just small things that are practical, or that allow the receiver to choose what's best for them. It feels good to give others something, especially something they may have wanted, but wouldn't have bought for themselves.
Of course, the real reason for the season is the celebration of the birth of our Savior. He came humbly into the world, but left it a far better place. Thank God! He is ever merciful. I am ever so grateful for the gift of Salvation!
I'm hoping you had a Merry Christmas too!
Until next time,
I certainly am in the middle. I used to agonize over what to get my family that would be useful and practical at the same time that it was desirable and beautiful. While a present or two might fit all those requirements once every few years, it's nearly impossible to recreate a perfect gift each year. What's more? If you do find that perfect gift, who's to say you can afford it? I mean, I'm sure own desire for a milk cow is well-known in my family, but it's such and impractical gift as to make it ridiculous.
Instead I strive for simple gifts that are practical for the person. Each member of my family receives what I think they'd like best. Failing to find a physical gift, a gift card works very well. Nothing extravagant, but it allows whoever to freely make a choice of gift. Though, I do try to avoid gift cards when I can, as I see them as somewhat of a last-minute gift. Or a sign that I was unwilling to take time to think of that person and what they may like.
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You know what's a fool-proof gift? Food. Everyone eats. At least, everyone I know does. Nearly everyone likes cookies, especially homemade ones so close to the holidays. Even diabetics can have cookies, in moderation of course.
I like tailor each gift to the individual person, and I thought you might like to see what I gave each family member.
Gramma
Gramma has long since stopped giving gifts, and for the most part, we (her family) reciprocates. I know she much prefers to have a clutter-free home. What's the point in keeping something in storage if it's not useful? I'm not talking about the spare bed we keep upstairs against the wall, I'm talking about decorations, redundant kitchen items, and the like.And so, she has no use for frippery. What are you supposed to give a person like that? Well, in my estimation, she thoroughly enjoys spending time with her family, and takes that as her gift. She enjoys seeing the family together, spending time with us. We play Rummikub and try to beat her, even though she is the far superior player.
Mom
Mom likes practical gifts, but she's a sucker for penguins. So, I got her a Christmas card, and a small stuffed Ty brand penguin. A pine-scented candle, since those are her favorite, a few pieces of candy, a homemade candle holder, and plenty of tea-lights to go in the holder.Siblings
Siblings are, by far, the most difficult to shop for. Holly got a candle holder like Mom's, along with candy. Ben got an Amazon gift card and more candy than the other two (Mom and Holly), because his little box was empty feeling. Becca did not come home for Christmas, and so has not received her gift. I'm choosing to keep quiet about that yet!Friends
With friends I like to keep it simple, so I limit gifts to my best friend. I gave her a tin filled with her favorite candy (Reese's), and at the very bottom, a gift card to Panera Bread. Panera was recently put in the nearest city, and she's been enjoying the heck out of it.Just small things that are practical, or that allow the receiver to choose what's best for them. It feels good to give others something, especially something they may have wanted, but wouldn't have bought for themselves.
Of course, the real reason for the season is the celebration of the birth of our Savior. He came humbly into the world, but left it a far better place. Thank God! He is ever merciful. I am ever so grateful for the gift of Salvation!
I'm hoping you had a Merry Christmas too!
Until next time,
Pumpkin Roll Scones
Mhmmm...
Don't these look good?
Who am I kidding? I know they do!
I saw a trick to make food photographs turn out better, and I think it worked! Awesome.
I have never made scones before, and so this was a real adventure. One of the local coffee shops makes some excellent cinnamon scones, so they're next on my list to try! Definitely make sure you have some people to share these with, because you'll be tempted to try and eat them all!
I saw this recipe over on Buttered Side Up and gave it a try for brunch one morning. Need I say it? Excellent! If you'd like to see all the in-progress pictures, click above. To go directly to the recipe, click over here.
Until next time,
Don't these look good?
Who am I kidding? I know they do!
I saw a trick to make food photographs turn out better, and I think it worked! Awesome.
I have never made scones before, and so this was a real adventure. One of the local coffee shops makes some excellent cinnamon scones, so they're next on my list to try! Definitely make sure you have some people to share these with, because you'll be tempted to try and eat them all!
I saw this recipe over on Buttered Side Up and gave it a try for brunch one morning. Need I say it? Excellent! If you'd like to see all the in-progress pictures, click above. To go directly to the recipe, click over here.
Until next time,
Winter Projects
...in the house of course. It's much too cold now to do outside projects! It was 10 degrees Fahrenheit last night. 10! That's -12.2 degrees Celsius! Brrr.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving. All the family was home except for Rebecca, my sister, who is in Virginia. She came up for the holidays last year, but decided to wait until summer to visit when it won't be so cold and you can actually go outside and do things.
Some things can't be attempted until winter because if lack of time during the warm months, but something's just don't feel right until winter. Like major sewing projects. I'm planning on making another skirt. Also, a lot more baking and soup-making goes on here during the winter, so maybe more recipes will be forthcoming. I tried a new one just today that was excellent. I'll have to get pictures and share it!
Also, since it's now winter, I should be able to finish my post on how we make it without a dryer all year, all seasons, and all weather.
I need to get slats for my bed now that I have finally been able to measure it. (A certain tool was missing for a long time!) On the subject of wood, I took measurements for a certain size of table that mom would prefer, and so I may try to build one. But again, it's cold and we don't have a heated outdoor space big enough for that project, so it'll probably get tabled (haha, did you see what I did there? ;)) until warmer weather pops around. If I find a reasonably priced one in the correct size range, I won't be too upset though.
I want to cart all the big blankets to the laundry-mat and give them a wash. That's one thing we just can't wash here.
Beyond those things? General organizing is pretty high on the list, but nothing specific. Those are the ones I can think of right now, more will probably get added to the list!
Until next time,
We had a lovely Thanksgiving. All the family was home except for Rebecca, my sister, who is in Virginia. She came up for the holidays last year, but decided to wait until summer to visit when it won't be so cold and you can actually go outside and do things.
Some things can't be attempted until winter because if lack of time during the warm months, but something's just don't feel right until winter. Like major sewing projects. I'm planning on making another skirt. Also, a lot more baking and soup-making goes on here during the winter, so maybe more recipes will be forthcoming. I tried a new one just today that was excellent. I'll have to get pictures and share it!
Also, since it's now winter, I should be able to finish my post on how we make it without a dryer all year, all seasons, and all weather.
I need to get slats for my bed now that I have finally been able to measure it. (A certain tool was missing for a long time!) On the subject of wood, I took measurements for a certain size of table that mom would prefer, and so I may try to build one. But again, it's cold and we don't have a heated outdoor space big enough for that project, so it'll probably get tabled (haha, did you see what I did there? ;)) until warmer weather pops around. If I find a reasonably priced one in the correct size range, I won't be too upset though.
I want to cart all the big blankets to the laundry-mat and give them a wash. That's one thing we just can't wash here.
Beyond those things? General organizing is pretty high on the list, but nothing specific. Those are the ones I can think of right now, more will probably get added to the list!
Until next time,
Alfredo Sauce
I know.
We're all supposed to be "healthier" by eating food that had its natural fat rendered, skimmed, separated, or chemically removed. But you should know that fat is your friend. My favorite food-information website, Food Renegade, has some very good articles: Butter As a Health Food and More Fat in Your Diet should get you thinking if you didn't already know.
So, alfredo sauce, while rich, isn't bad for you. Moderation and fresh ingredients are the key.
Until next time,
We're all supposed to be "healthier" by eating food that had its natural fat rendered, skimmed, separated, or chemically removed. But you should know that fat is your friend. My favorite food-information website, Food Renegade, has some very good articles: Butter As a Health Food and More Fat in Your Diet should get you thinking if you didn't already know.
So, alfredo sauce, while rich, isn't bad for you. Moderation and fresh ingredients are the key.
Printable Version / Adapted from All RecipesWe make this about one a month with some pan-seared chicken breasts cut into slices over hot fettuccine. Add fresh bread and it's comfort food that can't be beat. I read some where that Alfredo was "grown up" macaroni and cheese, but I don't know, I like macaroni and cheese an awful lot to relegate it to "kid food"!
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Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients:
1/4 cup BUTTER
1 cup HEAVY CREAM
1 clove GARLIC, crushed
1 1/2 cups fresh grated PARMESAN CHEESE
Over medium heat melt the BUTTER. Add CREAM and gently simmer for five minutes. Then add GARLIC and CHEESE, whisking quickly. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally until CHEESE is melted.
Serve immediately, preferably over hot fettuccine noodles!
*Note: Parmesan cheese is not a fast melting cheese like cheddar. It will take some time and patience for it to melt into this delectable sauce.
Until next time,
A Day No Pigs Would Die
Last night I finished A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck. It's one of those required reading books in school, and I think I have a vague memory of some of the action in this book. However, re-reading childhood's requirements always give me a better perspective on the lessons they were supposed to teach us. This is a very short journey, only 139 pages, but Mr. Peck sure does pack a lot into those few.
I was in the mall sometime around the middle of October looking for a present for Rachel. Recently a little used book store opened right in the middle, and I can't resist looking for a good book. I pulled this gem out and read the back. This edition has only reviews on the back, but they're what sold me.
The boy, Rob, has an innocence that most children at his age (12), don't have now-a-days. It's sad to see and even sadder to realize. One of my very favorite parts of the book comes from Rob, on his way to the fair, when he thinks of something to ask his neighbor, Mr. Tanner, who is taking him to the fair, but thinks better of saying it out loud:
The boy, Rob, gets a pig as a reward for helping a neighbor, and becomes friends with that pig, whom he affectionately names Pinky. He even takes her to the fair, where she of course wins a ribbon for best behaved pig. Most of the book is the innocence of childhood personified in Rob. Even so, we see the subtle grooming of the boy to become a man like his father. It is mentioned a few times in the book that the only reason Rob's father (Haven Peck) goes to the slaughterhouse everyday is so they can buy their farm and own it outright, and they only have five more years before it's theirs.
Another quote I found particularly intriguing is when Rob is talking to his neighbor, Mr. Tanner, after Mr. Tanner has asked him about school. Miss Malcolm is his teacher:
Until next time,
I was in the mall sometime around the middle of October looking for a present for Rachel. Recently a little used book store opened right in the middle, and I can't resist looking for a good book. I pulled this gem out and read the back. This edition has only reviews on the back, but they're what sold me.
"It will leave you better than it found you." - Book-of-the-Month Club NewsI'll say that it catches you off guard. Even though it's a young boy's coming of age story, it is in a large way, autobiographical. It shows a depth of character that few have and even fewer find. In today's society of fear and victim-culture, this book rings out with self-reliance. The father works his hands to the bone at a pig butchery and comes home to run a farm too. He teaches his boy the hard truths of farming and life in general. They are hard lessons, but this man's words are more real and sobering than today's idealized and romantic notions of running a farm.
"A lovely book....Honest, moving, homely in the warm and simple sense of the word. ...It isn't trying to move mountains and it has no quarrel with life.... It is perfect!" - The Boston Globe
"A small, rich, wise book full of pathos and an essential home-bred humanity that is becoming more and more scarce in the world. It lights up a way of life that is not so long past and shows...how very much we have lost." - Winston Graham
The boy, Rob, has an innocence that most children at his age (12), don't have now-a-days. It's sad to see and even sadder to realize. One of my very favorite parts of the book comes from Rob, on his way to the fair, when he thinks of something to ask his neighbor, Mr. Tanner, who is taking him to the fair, but thinks better of saying it out loud:
"Never miss a chance," Papa had once said, "to keep your mouth shut." And the more I studied on it, the sounder it grew."I know I never miss a chance to open my mouth, and it often gets me in trouble, or I come across as a know-it-all. I'll be taking this to heart.
The boy, Rob, gets a pig as a reward for helping a neighbor, and becomes friends with that pig, whom he affectionately names Pinky. He even takes her to the fair, where she of course wins a ribbon for best behaved pig. Most of the book is the innocence of childhood personified in Rob. Even so, we see the subtle grooming of the boy to become a man like his father. It is mentioned a few times in the book that the only reason Rob's father (Haven Peck) goes to the slaughterhouse everyday is so they can buy their farm and own it outright, and they only have five more years before it's theirs.
Another quote I found particularly intriguing is when Rob is talking to his neighbor, Mr. Tanner, after Mr. Tanner has asked him about school. Miss Malcolm is his teacher:
"She says I have potential. It means that someday I could do a lot. Miss Malcolm says that I could be more than a farmer."Rob has to learn hard lessons. It's so difficult to read and not think of how young he seems; not put yourself in his place. I promise your heart will break for this family. It's an excellent book. Heart breaking and heart warming at the same time. It doesn't hold back. Farming reality is not hidden or sugar-coated, but neither is it illustrated to extreme. It is quite beautiful and I would highly encourage you to read it.
"More than a farmer?!" Ben Tanner looked a bit red. "What better can a man be? There's no calling higher than animal husbandry, and making things live and grow. We farmers are stewards. Our lot is to tend all of God's good living things, and I say there's nothing finer."
Until next time,
A Very Good Article
Joel Salatin is an innovator in the world of sustainable farming. In this article he has some really excellent points. Please, give it a read.
Some (okay a lot... like 15) of my favorite quotes:
Until next time,
Some (okay a lot... like 15) of my favorite quotes:
"Farming should nest gently into the landscape rather than dominating it."
"If the earth is anything, it’s a loving partner, not a subdued enemy."
"The thing you have to understand is that every time, every time, every time the government regulates something, it always, always, always hurts the small players and helps the big players."
"Why do we feel so helpless? Why must our first cry of foul send us running to a federal government bureaucrat to make all things right?"
"I pretty much stay disengaged from the farm bill because I don’t participate in it; I don’t want violence used to give me someone else’s money (try not paying your taxes and see who gets violent); all I want is to be left alone to practice consensual commerce with my own tribe."
"The people who think the government needs to participate in America’s food system need to understand that it was the government that promoted chemical fertilizers and pooh-poohed compost (no pun intended), who said that manure was not even worth hauling to the field, that developed and encouraged DDT use to cure all bugs, that subsidizes high fructose corn syrup, that promotes mandatory irradiation, that told us with the food pyramid in 1979 that the foundational pillar of a healthy diet was grain-based carbohydrates.
The food pyramid, you may recall, made no distinction between Twinkies, Cocoa-Puffs and Pop-Tarts versus fresh-sprouted quionoa bread. The government promoted feeding dead cows to cows and gave us bovine spongiform encephalopathy—mad cow. Why would anyone in their right mind want to give the government any authority in our foodscape?"
"As a result, we have a generation of bored, childish young people prowling the streets at night getting into mischief and wondering if they are worth anything. This is an epidemic, and a blight on our culture."
"To those who still can’t buy the no-regulations idea, I propose a hybrid: at least allow those of us who, as consenting adults, want to opt out of the industrial system, to be free to do so. If we’d rather live in teepees, heal with medicinal plants, and conduct meetings using talking sticks and chiefs, why does that harm the folks who prefer brick and mortar, blood-letting, and Robert’s Rules of Order? Why must the non-conformists be summarily rounded up, hunted down, and marched to reservations? How a society treats its unorthodox determines whether it is a tyranny or free society."
"You see, our culture is where it is not because of what someone else has done to us, but because of what we’ve done to ourselves. We are not victims; we’re the problem."
"...and that means waking every morning knowing our future is not up to someone else; it’s not up to a government program or paycheck..."
"Now to the veganism “saving the planet” concept. Because most vegans are on a physically degenerative trajectory, if eliminating humans is the path to saving the planet, I suppose you could make an argument that veganism does indeed save the planet since it rids the earth of humans. But I don’t think the earth was meant to exist without humans; in fact, I think humans heal the earth better than anything—they also destroy the earth better than anything. Most of the time really good stuff has a really bad counterpart—like sex and wine."
"It ultimately comes down to values and priorities. Yes, I know the Kardashians are crazily interesting, but so is what’s going to become flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone in a couple of hours. Our privilege to participate is a choice we exercise. And that’s the most important exercise of all."
"These credentialed folks who wield guns via their enforcers have decided that Pop-Tarts and Cheerios are safe and should even be subsidized, but raw milk, compost grown tomatoes and Aunt Matilda’s home-canned sweet pickles are hazardous substances."
"In the cycle of history, that system made us rich, wealth corrupted us and turned us into wimps, wimps made us victims, victims made us dependent, and now we’re just a bunch of babies looking for another government nipple to nurse. Enough already."
"I don’t trust anything from Vilsack or the USDA. That outfit has been demonizing truth for decades. If they had their way, Polyface would not exist. I don’t have time to fool with their chicanery. They have an agenda that as evil for this civilization and the sooner they get neutered the better. Yes, there is a time for anger. We’ve been gentle long enough, giving the benefit of the doubt, trying to play on the team. Forget it. The team is heading the wrong way and destroying the earth, our food, and our freedoms."
Until next time,
Whirlwind
It's been a whirlwind here lately, and I don't mean the weather.
School started and I am now taking two classes - Contemporary Math and Introduction to Chemistry which includes a three hour lab one day per week. This year I'm paying out of pocket (last year I did too, but I had more pocket to dig in), and it's expensive! Some days I'm not even sure if it's worth it, but I do want to learn, so I slog through it. Easier said than done. I'm pleasantly surprised by my Chemistry course average so far - a 93 - even though it's easily the worst combination for my brain (difficult math and seemingly random symbols). It doesn't help that everyone is eight years my junior and "just did this stuff last year." I expected to do well in Contemporary Math, as it's very easy, and so far, I'm not disappointed. I am maintaining a 99 in that course.
As soon as school started, I practically abandoned the garden. I was supremely disappointed in how my garden did. I think the first (and foremost) problem was that I chose a very bad spot. One end received far too much sun and the other nearly drowned in water. I chose my plants carefully because I suspected this, but I wasn't prepared for the harshness of it all. The peppers didn't do much of anything until very recently. The only reliable plants were the green beans (and much later, the purple podded pole beans), the carrots, the snow peas, and the herbs. There is some garlic growing, but it was only planted this summer, so it won't be ready until next year.
So I'm left considering my options. Should I grow a garden? I know my grandmother was not happy with the way I kept it (too weedy), so moving from that bad area could be a challenge. I also disappointed myself with my own struggles against laziness in the last stretch. I was so good (out every day to check, weeding fairly regularly, etc.) from March through about September, but then I lost my drive for the care and upkeep. It doesn't help that I feel limited by my own skills and my want/need to please my grandmother.
Some to-dos are still left, and there's no telling when or how I'll accomplish them.
- I really really wanted to finish cleaning out and then installing the pipes for the rain water tank. It held some kind of food grade goo in it, but there's still a small residual amount left and it needs to come out. I've been trying all summer to find someone with a power washer to borrow, but I'm having a hard time getting people to help. I may break down and buy one.
- I really really wanted to build a chicken coop for chickens in the spring, but who knows now? My grandmother is not so keen on the idea and believe it or not, sometimes I find her intimidating to ask.
- I need to weed the strawberry patch before it goes to bed for the winter. It looks tremendous now that I stopped pinching off the runners. Only spring will tell if I've done harm.
Until next time,
School started and I am now taking two classes - Contemporary Math and Introduction to Chemistry which includes a three hour lab one day per week. This year I'm paying out of pocket (last year I did too, but I had more pocket to dig in), and it's expensive! Some days I'm not even sure if it's worth it, but I do want to learn, so I slog through it. Easier said than done. I'm pleasantly surprised by my Chemistry course average so far - a 93 - even though it's easily the worst combination for my brain (difficult math and seemingly random symbols). It doesn't help that everyone is eight years my junior and "just did this stuff last year." I expected to do well in Contemporary Math, as it's very easy, and so far, I'm not disappointed. I am maintaining a 99 in that course.
As soon as school started, I practically abandoned the garden. I was supremely disappointed in how my garden did. I think the first (and foremost) problem was that I chose a very bad spot. One end received far too much sun and the other nearly drowned in water. I chose my plants carefully because I suspected this, but I wasn't prepared for the harshness of it all. The peppers didn't do much of anything until very recently. The only reliable plants were the green beans (and much later, the purple podded pole beans), the carrots, the snow peas, and the herbs. There is some garlic growing, but it was only planted this summer, so it won't be ready until next year.
So I'm left considering my options. Should I grow a garden? I know my grandmother was not happy with the way I kept it (too weedy), so moving from that bad area could be a challenge. I also disappointed myself with my own struggles against laziness in the last stretch. I was so good (out every day to check, weeding fairly regularly, etc.) from March through about September, but then I lost my drive for the care and upkeep. It doesn't help that I feel limited by my own skills and my want/need to please my grandmother.
Some to-dos are still left, and there's no telling when or how I'll accomplish them.
- I really really wanted to finish cleaning out and then installing the pipes for the rain water tank. It held some kind of food grade goo in it, but there's still a small residual amount left and it needs to come out. I've been trying all summer to find someone with a power washer to borrow, but I'm having a hard time getting people to help. I may break down and buy one.
- I really really wanted to build a chicken coop for chickens in the spring, but who knows now? My grandmother is not so keen on the idea and believe it or not, sometimes I find her intimidating to ask.
- I need to weed the strawberry patch before it goes to bed for the winter. It looks tremendous now that I stopped pinching off the runners. Only spring will tell if I've done harm.
Until next time,
Loved
To be beautiful is to be loved. I like to think of it more like to be loved is to be beautiful.
I get caught up in the pettiness of the workplace just as easily as everyone else. I judge based on looks, clothing, speech patterns, method of payment (it happens when you spend a lot of your waking hours working in the grocery store). I see everything that is superficial. Sometimes I do it to make myself feel better, especially when I'm having a bad day. I am paid to serve customers with a smile, but I often feel like it's a burden and act like it too.
Then there are days when I feel and act like the child of God I claim to be. I feel love for everyone. I once read that if you love Jesus, you love everyone that same way. So if I love and follow Jesus, I need to look on everyone with love. Oh, is it hard sometimes.
Like the angry man who is also deaf. He practically screams and doesn't ask, but tells you what to do and how to do it with regards to his groceries. Or the woman with a sour expression who answers when you ask how she is today, “Terrible!” What are you expected to say to that?
Well, I'm happy to say that the woman and I have made friends. Every time she comes in the store, I make a special effort to go over and say hello. I once asked her why she always said she was terrible. Her answer was a long list of medical problems that almost prevent her from getting out of bed, and do prevent her some days. She wears a neck collar (a softer one than the EMT's use) most of the time and I used to think it was so she could garner sympathy. (Talk about seeing your faults in others! But that is another post all together.) It's part of her illness though that creates pain and weakness in her neck. She loves to grow tomatoes and has several of her own strains. So we talk tomatoes and I have a friend where before I saw a burden.
I am a work in progress, and I'm happy to say that God's love wins most of the time. It should be one hundred percent. I should be able to show kindness and understanding, overlooking the petty, all of time. Yet I am human, I am not perfect. There is only one person I know of who is perfect and His name is Jesus. I am not perfect. I fail. But I have the love of God on my side, and I only need to look to Him.
To be loved is to be beautiful.
Until next time,
I get caught up in the pettiness of the workplace just as easily as everyone else. I judge based on looks, clothing, speech patterns, method of payment (it happens when you spend a lot of your waking hours working in the grocery store). I see everything that is superficial. Sometimes I do it to make myself feel better, especially when I'm having a bad day. I am paid to serve customers with a smile, but I often feel like it's a burden and act like it too.
Then there are days when I feel and act like the child of God I claim to be. I feel love for everyone. I once read that if you love Jesus, you love everyone that same way. So if I love and follow Jesus, I need to look on everyone with love. Oh, is it hard sometimes.
Like the angry man who is also deaf. He practically screams and doesn't ask, but tells you what to do and how to do it with regards to his groceries. Or the woman with a sour expression who answers when you ask how she is today, “Terrible!” What are you expected to say to that?
Well, I'm happy to say that the woman and I have made friends. Every time she comes in the store, I make a special effort to go over and say hello. I once asked her why she always said she was terrible. Her answer was a long list of medical problems that almost prevent her from getting out of bed, and do prevent her some days. She wears a neck collar (a softer one than the EMT's use) most of the time and I used to think it was so she could garner sympathy. (Talk about seeing your faults in others! But that is another post all together.) It's part of her illness though that creates pain and weakness in her neck. She loves to grow tomatoes and has several of her own strains. So we talk tomatoes and I have a friend where before I saw a burden.
I am a work in progress, and I'm happy to say that God's love wins most of the time. It should be one hundred percent. I should be able to show kindness and understanding, overlooking the petty, all of time. Yet I am human, I am not perfect. There is only one person I know of who is perfect and His name is Jesus. I am not perfect. I fail. But I have the love of God on my side, and I only need to look to Him.
To be loved is to be beautiful.
The photo belongs to Brendan Bell on Flickr.
Until next time,
It's Official: Cortlands!
I've always thought apple trees in bloom were beautiful, but I've always thought that apples (and all you can do with them) were even better.
I have fond memories of buying bushels of apples in September to keep in the shed. Then Mom would bring in a bunch at a time and peel and slice and dice and make the whole house smell of apples and cinnamon. She'd make apple sauce and apple butter. Sometimes she'd add little cinnamon hearts to the applesauce and turn it pink. For weeks we'd have apple pies, apple Brown Betty, apple pan dowdy, apple cobbler. Sometimes she'd dry the apple slices too.
I think we liked best when she'd peel the apples with her knife, deftly removing the entire skin in a corkscrew. She'd put these in a bowl and how we loved them! We'd sit at the table and snack away!
Armed with these memories and my desire for more self-sufficiency, I convinced Gramma (property owner) to let me get apple trees! I spent a good long week considering everywhere on the property that I could plant a few, and I started research on types. After a long week of research, I talked it over with Mom, and we both agreed: Cortlands!
Not only are they Mom's favorite cooking apples, they are self-pollinating (very rare in the apple world), and were developed right here in New York State! They are a cross between the ever-popular McIntosh and the less known Ben Davis. They are known for their excellent multipurpose flesh and as fair keepers.
I'm planning on planting two in the spring about a foot inside the property line. The neighbors have some pines along there, but there is a nice gap where two will fit nicely. I asked our lovely neighbor and she said she wouldn't mind at all! I promised her I'd share when they started producing.
Even though there's years until a decent crop will come in, my mouth is already watering.
Until next time,
I have fond memories of buying bushels of apples in September to keep in the shed. Then Mom would bring in a bunch at a time and peel and slice and dice and make the whole house smell of apples and cinnamon. She'd make apple sauce and apple butter. Sometimes she'd add little cinnamon hearts to the applesauce and turn it pink. For weeks we'd have apple pies, apple Brown Betty, apple pan dowdy, apple cobbler. Sometimes she'd dry the apple slices too.
I think we liked best when she'd peel the apples with her knife, deftly removing the entire skin in a corkscrew. She'd put these in a bowl and how we loved them! We'd sit at the table and snack away!
Armed with these memories and my desire for more self-sufficiency, I convinced Gramma (property owner) to let me get apple trees! I spent a good long week considering everywhere on the property that I could plant a few, and I started research on types. After a long week of research, I talked it over with Mom, and we both agreed: Cortlands!
Not only are they Mom's favorite cooking apples, they are self-pollinating (very rare in the apple world), and were developed right here in New York State! They are a cross between the ever-popular McIntosh and the less known Ben Davis. They are known for their excellent multipurpose flesh and as fair keepers.
I'm planning on planting two in the spring about a foot inside the property line. The neighbors have some pines along there, but there is a nice gap where two will fit nicely. I asked our lovely neighbor and she said she wouldn't mind at all! I promised her I'd share when they started producing.
Even though there's years until a decent crop will come in, my mouth is already watering.
The photo belongs to Jonathan on Flickr.
Until next time,
Wonderful Rain!
We got a wonderful rainstorm on Monday. A couple of inches all together, and weren't all the plants just wonderfully happy! Me on the other hand? I was certainly grateful for the rain. It started as soon as I finished watering the entire garden. That's always the way though isn't it?
Gramma's amaryllis bloomed again. None of us have ever seen an amaryllis bloom in the summer! I was just reading a care article that stated that if kept in an evergreen state (where the leaves are allowed light and water all year instead of storing the bulbs for the winter), amaryllis will continually bloom. Plants are boundlessly interesting aren't they?
When I had decided that none of my pepper plants (from seed) where going to grow in time, I bought some pepper plants from the nursery. This is one of them, and its already got this beautiful little pepper on it! I can't wait to taste it, but it's got a little more growing to do.
The Boston pickling cucumbers are growing. Just a few so far, but there are lots of flowers and buds.
A handful of blueberries that I pulled off yesterday. They were a little tart still, so I'll be waiting a little longer to pick them. The second bush is going strong now that we caged it away from deer and bunnies.
We got our first yellow squash just today! We fried it up with some onion and zucchini (from the farmer's market) and was that ever good! (We also got corn, canadian bacon, cucumbers, peaches, and red onions. Yum, yum, yum!)
These are the garlic heads, going to seed. They're even growing already! We learned from a farmstand at the market that in order to get bigger heads, we need to pinch off the scapes when they grow. That will prevent all the energy from going into the seed and instead encourage it to grow larger bulbs! Guess what we'll be trying next year!
Until next time,
Gramma's amaryllis bloomed again. None of us have ever seen an amaryllis bloom in the summer! I was just reading a care article that stated that if kept in an evergreen state (where the leaves are allowed light and water all year instead of storing the bulbs for the winter), amaryllis will continually bloom. Plants are boundlessly interesting aren't they?
When I had decided that none of my pepper plants (from seed) where going to grow in time, I bought some pepper plants from the nursery. This is one of them, and its already got this beautiful little pepper on it! I can't wait to taste it, but it's got a little more growing to do.
The Boston pickling cucumbers are growing. Just a few so far, but there are lots of flowers and buds.
A handful of blueberries that I pulled off yesterday. They were a little tart still, so I'll be waiting a little longer to pick them. The second bush is going strong now that we caged it away from deer and bunnies.
We got our first yellow squash just today! We fried it up with some onion and zucchini (from the farmer's market) and was that ever good! (We also got corn, canadian bacon, cucumbers, peaches, and red onions. Yum, yum, yum!)
These are the garlic heads, going to seed. They're even growing already! We learned from a farmstand at the market that in order to get bigger heads, we need to pinch off the scapes when they grow. That will prevent all the energy from going into the seed and instead encourage it to grow larger bulbs! Guess what we'll be trying next year!
Until next time,
Everything is Blooming!
The cucumbers finally set flowers, and we are so happy! Anxious is more like it. They are climbing and sending out their little climbing tendrils, so they must be a vine-type. Gramma was concerned that she'd never seen a cucumber that wanted to climb, but the neighbors have climbing cukes too. These are also pickling cucumbers, because I've always wanted to try dill pickles. Mhmm... my mouth is watering just thinking about them.
The yellow squash are setting flowers like no one's business. Mini squash are growing, growing, growing! I am very glad I gave their plot extra compost this year, the plants are going to need it if they keep going like this! Gramma's yellow squash got aged horse manure and they're just as happy.
On Sunday after church I went to Rachel's house and got to use their new pool! It's 14' diameter by 42" deep and it's fabulous. We were in it for five hours, almost. Halfway through we were out and wandering around the yard for a break. I love going to their house. They have a real farm, with cows and sheep and chickens! They have a huge garden this year and Momma R and Rachel's sister Kate were snapping the ends off green beans. They let me reach into the bag and munch as many as I wanted. They also shelled peas yesterday, but I wasn't there for that (I did eat a few peas too though). Rachel also showed me their black cap bushes. I'd never heard of black caps, so I looked them up. They're wild black raspberries! They were good too.
Swimming yesterday wore me right out! I went home, made some dinner, changed into my pajamas, and was asleep on the couch by 7:30!
I noticed yesterday (the 17th) that the tomatoes have their first buds forming! I had just about written them off as failures. Three months and two days since I first poked the seeds into the potting soil, they are finally setting flowers! I just about danced yesterday when I found them.
The horseradish just wouldn't give up, so I let it grow, behind the log. I don't like horseradish at all, but others in my family do. I might even try to make some sauce out of it for them.
The last of the peas are drying on the vine. I will save these for seed next year.
The carrots are growing well. I wanted to check on their size, so I pulled one. They still have some growing to do. Our immensely rocky soil doesn't seem to be deforming them yet, but they are small.
Until next time,
Hot Days at Sweetgrass
Coming off our week of near-constant rain, we've had a week of constant sun and humidity. It's consistently run 80 degrees with 75+ percent humidity. The tomatoes are loving it, but I'm not. I won't complain though, I can work through it. It's mom that seems to have trouble with it, but she's always run a little hot anyway. I re- discovered the four pepper plants that I bought a few weeks ago. I had completely forgotten their poor existence. I watered the droopy things today and I hope they'll make a turnaround soon. They've even got little peppers a-growing.
I also finished weeding and mulching my strawberry patch. I've picked off all but one runner because I couldn't bring myself to, it's growing so strongly. I did separate one mini plant from its runner and planted it. I couldn't find straw in the hardware/feed stores, how weird is that? So I raked up the dried grass from the last lawn mowing and used that. It'll break down faster than straw, but it will work for now. I also scraped up a bunch of the dry grass for the compost to help dry it out.
Plenty of peas are ready for picking! I have to leave some on to mature so I'll have them for next year, but it's so hard to do. Fresh peas taste so good! No wonder I've never liked frozen peas. Blech! I know to stake them better next year. I'm picking up lots of plant to get a few pods underneath.
The yellow squash are loving this weather. A day or two after this photo and there are already two or three squash a inch or so long.
Here's a photo showing the two squash plants. One gets about an hour of more direct sun than the other, and you can see how it feels about that.
The front one is so not happy. Hopefully as the bushes (next to the squash on the right, not in the picture) grow, they'll provide more filtered light and the squash will be happier in successive years.
That's what's been going on 'round these parts. I have some more fun things coming up (something like five posts in the Drafts folder), so check in soon!
I also finished weeding and mulching my strawberry patch. I've picked off all but one runner because I couldn't bring myself to, it's growing so strongly. I did separate one mini plant from its runner and planted it. I couldn't find straw in the hardware/feed stores, how weird is that? So I raked up the dried grass from the last lawn mowing and used that. It'll break down faster than straw, but it will work for now. I also scraped up a bunch of the dry grass for the compost to help dry it out.
Plenty of peas are ready for picking! I have to leave some on to mature so I'll have them for next year, but it's so hard to do. Fresh peas taste so good! No wonder I've never liked frozen peas. Blech! I know to stake them better next year. I'm picking up lots of plant to get a few pods underneath.
The yellow squash are loving this weather. A day or two after this photo and there are already two or three squash a inch or so long.
Here's a photo showing the two squash plants. One gets about an hour of more direct sun than the other, and you can see how it feels about that.
The front one is so not happy. Hopefully as the bushes (next to the squash on the right, not in the picture) grow, they'll provide more filtered light and the squash will be happier in successive years.
That's what's been going on 'round these parts. I have some more fun things coming up (something like five posts in the Drafts folder), so check in soon!
June in Review
June also has had it's set of challenges as well, but I met with a lot of success!
Strawberries Are still doing well, including those I got from in and amongst my new herbs! Though they are a wild-type and therefore skinny and small. They are producing small berries.
Tomatoes I planted these outside near the first of the month and they almost immediately got powdery mildew. I made up a solution of milk and water and have been spraying it on the leaves of everything that will hold still and so far, it's being kept at bay.
Blackberries & Blueberries Our lone blueberry bush has tons of blueberries on it, so we netted it over. I got cuttings from another blackberry bush and am trying to root them. I got a blueberry bush on clearance for $2.49. It was the only one left and I thought it the perfect companion to our lonely one. I planted the new one a couple of feet from the first one on the last day of the month.
Raspberries The two surviving raspberry bushes have berries growing on them! I bought two more for a total of four. How excited I am for next year's crop!
Peas My first pea flower came out! I can't wait to taste my first homegrown peas! The first peas came out as well, but are too small to harvest yet.
Carrots Still growing tall and strong, but we have very rocky soil, so I'm not sure how they'll grow. Good thing it's an experimentation year!
Cucumbers Grew big and are planted on Gramma's side of the yard. We started with five, but there's four left now. They are growing strong.
Squash Were planted the same day as the tomatoes and are loving this sunny weather. Gramma has a few of these on her side of the yard as well.
Herbs I received Oregano, Mint, and Bible Leaf from Rachel's mom. I bought peppermint. They're all in containers and very happy!
Beans I planted Purple Podded Pole Beans and green beans, but I can't remember what variety right now. They are coming up beautifully. Except that an entire row of the Purples decided not to grow, and something is eating the leaves off every Purple that did come up. The green beans are coming along great though.
Lettuce I dug up all the Amish Deer Tongue lettuce and replanted black-seeded Simpson because the ADT was too close together and didn't form heads, just spindly leaves. I spaced the Simpson out much better!
Structures I also got pallets this month. The first batch was mostly rotted and bad, but I didn't know that before I accepted them. So a friend with a truck and I drove 45 minutes to get them. When we got back she said she had a few more for me. Then I called the local hardware store and they told me I could have all the pallets I wanted. I got a different friend with a truck to get those for me. I'm planning on building at least the framework and walls for my chicken coop! I built the compost with four pallets with some of these.
I keep letting myself get disappointed by other bloggers' success. I keep having to remember that they probably have longer growing seasons than I do. After all, I can't count on the last frost until almost the very end of May! I have all winter to refashion my garden plan with all the experience I'm getting this year and so next year will be better. But, most of all, I am having fun.
Compost Out of Pallets
Just before winter I followed instructions I found online. They instructed me to purchase a plastic tote, which I did, then carve holes all around the cover and a few in the bottom, which I did, and then stick it outside and add food. Well as you can guess this didn't provide enough air flow or enough drainage AT ALL.
So all winter we added food and all winter nothing happened. I expected that because it was winter so it wouldn't do much with all the freezing. But when summer came, it did the same thing... nothing. It just rotted. So today I finally had the chance to change it for the better! Mavis built one out of wooden pallets and I wanted to do the same. Since I finally have wooden pallets (one of the downfalls of having a car instead of a truck... you have to rely on others to help and they are busy too), and a few hours where it wasn't either burning hot or absolutely swarmed with mosquitoes.
This was the starting point:
Getting the pallets:
I had some extra wire fence stakes, so I grabbed four along with my cordless drill, the long handled mallet, and plenty of screws. I used the stakes to hold the sides up while I pieced it together. The stakes have what I'll call wings on the bottom six or so inches up. I pounded the stakes into the ground so these wings would hold the bottom of the pallet down.
Here's the right side and the back:
Here's a slightly better view:
I did that for the three walls, then used long screws to screw the sides together. I only did that at the tops because I ran out of longer screws. I'll pick up more tomorrow and add more. With the screws in place, the stakes were pulled up (except one).
Here's three walls up:
Here's another view:
Next was the hinges. I had bought hinges forever ago when I thought this project would be done much earlier in the year. I bought four total, two of one kind, two of another. I chose a strap hinge, because it allowed the greater movement and stability overall. I secured them in at angles because my drill couldn't reach well (I didn't know I had a drill bit extender until I was done). I also chose the lightest pallet for the door because I wanted it to swing without a lot of strain on my part.
This is after I added what was in the blue tote and added in some saved leaves to dry it out a bit:
I re-used the stakes to support the front sides. Where the hinges are, there are two stakes. One on the outside and one on the inside. The third stake I pounded in on the outside of the non-hinge side. It stuck out too far so I screwed it in. The screws from the hinges also stuck out too far, so I used the mallet to pound them flat.
Done!
Some things you might want to do differently:
So all winter we added food and all winter nothing happened. I expected that because it was winter so it wouldn't do much with all the freezing. But when summer came, it did the same thing... nothing. It just rotted. So today I finally had the chance to change it for the better! Mavis built one out of wooden pallets and I wanted to do the same. Since I finally have wooden pallets (one of the downfalls of having a car instead of a truck... you have to rely on others to help and they are busy too), and a few hours where it wasn't either burning hot or absolutely swarmed with mosquitoes.
This was the starting point:
Getting the pallets:
I had some extra wire fence stakes, so I grabbed four along with my cordless drill, the long handled mallet, and plenty of screws. I used the stakes to hold the sides up while I pieced it together. The stakes have what I'll call wings on the bottom six or so inches up. I pounded the stakes into the ground so these wings would hold the bottom of the pallet down.
Here's the right side and the back:
Here's a slightly better view:
I did that for the three walls, then used long screws to screw the sides together. I only did that at the tops because I ran out of longer screws. I'll pick up more tomorrow and add more. With the screws in place, the stakes were pulled up (except one).
Here's three walls up:
Here's another view:
Next was the hinges. I had bought hinges forever ago when I thought this project would be done much earlier in the year. I bought four total, two of one kind, two of another. I chose a strap hinge, because it allowed the greater movement and stability overall. I secured them in at angles because my drill couldn't reach well (I didn't know I had a drill bit extender until I was done). I also chose the lightest pallet for the door because I wanted it to swing without a lot of strain on my part.
This is after I added what was in the blue tote and added in some saved leaves to dry it out a bit:
I re-used the stakes to support the front sides. Where the hinges are, there are two stakes. One on the outside and one on the inside. The third stake I pounded in on the outside of the non-hinge side. It stuck out too far so I screwed it in. The screws from the hinges also stuck out too far, so I used the mallet to pound them flat.
Done!
Some things you might want to do differently:
- Depending on where you locate it, you may want to raise the front a bit above the ground to allow the door to swing without resistance. Bear in mind that this may also require a latch to keep it shut.
- If you have very pesky wildlife, you may want to add a cover or chicken wire to keep them out.
- I kept all of my pallets the same way, but if you click Mavis' link above, she alternates hers. Whatever works for you should be what you use!
A Quiet Afternoon
Despite the fact that there is only one blueberry bush, it grew berries again this year.We were quick to cover them, but as you can see I got the wrong sized net. Oops.
We folded it over four times and it should deflect most of the bird invaders.
Pallets stored out of the rain, ready for projects. There are more on the other side.
Gramma's garlic forming their scapes.
Tiger lilies getting ready to bloom.These have grown alongside the house for as long as I can remember.
They are nearly chest high now. We love them as cut flowers.
Looking down the driveway toward the road.More tiger lilies growing in the front.
In the back and to the left is the white lilac bush.
The stone wall is the 1800's era graveyard containing the bodies
of the family that owned the farm where our property now resides.
It isn't ours and we don't maintain it, but have always felt free to
go in and out at our leisure.
As Gramma says they do make quiet neighbors.
We Didn't Know We Were Poor
While purging old files at the office today, I came across a photocopy of this poem. I have copied it here exactly for you to enjoy. I can't seem to find it anywhere online or for sale. There is a page number [6] on the bottom left corner, and on the bottom right, it says Good Old Days Summer Special. Searching online for these terms and such doesn't seem to bring anything up. If anyone has more information, please e-mail me (found under the Contact Page), as I'd love to learn more.
P.S. I don't own this, and I'm not claiming it. I can't find anything out about it so I am using the information I have available.We Didn't Know We Were Poor
By Ione Boss
We grew up in a house by the side of the road
With nothing modern to lighten the chore,
Just a little old shack, with an outhouse in back,
But we didn't know we were poor.
The Depression had hit Oklahoma,
The sandstorms had done lots of harm,
Some people were sad, for they lost what they had,
But my daddy would not leave the farm.
He worked day and night on that old sandy farm,
And he plowed till his muscles were sore,
But he made the crops grow, from the seeds he would sow,
And he kept the wolf from the door.
We had chickens and turkeys, some pigs and a cow,
And horses, I think three or four,
A roof over our heads, and nice feather beds,
Now, whoever said we were poor?
In winter, the snow would blow in through the cracks
And the wind round the chimney would moan,
But with a fire burning bright, and a kerosene light,
We were happy in our little home.
And Mamma would work in the kitchen,
While baking the bread she would sing,
And the meals she turned out, would make us all shout,
For the food, it was fit for a King.
There were beans in an old iron kettle,
And ham sliced thick in the pan,
Corn bread and potatoes, canned greens and tomatoes,
Now, try to top that if you can.
We never had very much money,
We seldom went to the store,
But no one complained, in sunshine or rain,
And nobody said we were poor.
The springtime I think we like best of all,
When the warm sun shone bright on the land,
Oh happy day, when our shoes [unreadable],
And we could run barefoot in the sand.
The wild flowers grew in profusion
And they were more lovely by far,
Than the prettiest rose, or any orchid that grows
When we brought them home in a jar.
To place on the old kitchen table,
To brighten it up for the day,
Their wonderful hues, of pink, gold, and blues,
Made a beautiful center bouquet.
In summer we'd hunt the wild berries
And the plums in the thickets were sweet,
Sitting under a tree, contented we'd be,
And enjoy our summertime treat.
At evening when the whippoorwills called from the hills,
We'd sit round the old cabin door,
With the whispering breeze gently stirring the trees,
And we never once thought we were poor.
In fall when the leaves would turn golden and brown,
Once more we would go back to school
With pencils and paper, notebooks and erasers,
To study the Golden Rule.
That little red schoolhouse I'll never forget
Though I live to be 90 years old,
The secrets we'd share and the fun we had there
Was worth more than silver and gold.
The months and the years have swiftly gone by,
Since we lived in those good days of yore,
So happy at play, on that old farm all day,
And we never did know we were poor.
Entering Summer
Baby marigolds growing!
Pea flowers blooming!
Pea flowers on their way!
Carrots (and some weeds) going strong!
Looking down the garden rows. It's just a 30 x 5 garden this year.
Thessaloniki tomatoes growing after an early bout with powdery mildew.
May in Review
I didn't get specific dates for all the activities that occurred during May, so I'll break them down by plant instead.
Strawberries I couldn't get the strawberries to come up by seed, but I'll admit I was a bit lax in watering them too. I got frustrated and gave up on the seeds. Instead I was in Home Depot and spied some beautiful plants there including some already with strawberries! I let my eyes lead my steps instead of my brain and bought three plants. I know they were definitely grown with pesticides and artificial plant foods. On my way home I stopped at a garden center that I'd never been to before and picked up two more strawberry plants, but these ones were separated from an established strawberry bed on someone's land. The difference? No artificial anything. They even made the loamy, sandy soil on site. I chose a spot behind one of the logs we use to mark the driveway's edge and dug them in. They get plenty of sun there and I haven't lost a single plant.
Tomatoes The tomatoes grew vivaciously and I ended up transferring most of them into larger containers, but it was still too cold to set them outside.
Blackberries & Blueberries The sticks produced lots of nice leaves and were doing well, then suddenly took a downhill turn and died. I'm not sure what happened, but I'll try again next year.
Raspberries I transplanted the two bushes I bought and they are doing well. I bought golden raspberries, but they are dead and need to come out.
Peas The peas are growing well and are enjoying all the rain that May is bringing us. I've been weeding them regularly, but as they get bigger, they trump most of the weeds.
Carrots Carrots weren't weeded for a long time because until their feathery leaves came in, I couldn't tell what was carrot and what was grass and weeds. I've decided that next year I will do rows. The scattering method resulted in one very dense spot of carrots and very few in the rest of the designated plots.
Cucumbers I started cucumber seeds, but accidentally left them exposed to the air when they'd just burst their roots out, so their roots dried up and I wasn't able to revive them. I started new seeds.
Squash I started yellow squash and they are growing well. I swear you can see them grow. They gain almost a 1/2 inch per day!
April in Review
Here's a refresher of the goals I posted in late 2012. It's what I wanted to do for the homestead in 2013. I've decided that I'd like to recap each month what I did to further my education and my goals for the property I have now.
So for April this is what I've accomplished:
- Sunday the 14th: Purchased pruners, a mallet, a knife, and rooting hormone from the hardware store. Purchased two 24 inch windowsill containers with drip trays, two large and deep containers for either flowers or tomatoes, and three bags of organic potting soil.
- Monday the 15th: I dug half the garden and freed that half from weeds and perennials. All perennials were relocated to a new area. White daffodils, chives, a peony bush, and what felt like three tons of yucca bush were all moved. The chives were planted in a container and the peony bush was planted on the opposite side of the house. I also removed a lot of rocks from the garden as well as black gardening mesh designed to block weed growth. I obtained 4 blackberry cuttings and 2 blueberry cuttings from my friend, Morgan. Began sprouting Red Wonder Wild Strawberry seeds and Thessaloniki Tomato seeds.
- Tuesday the 16th: I dipped the black- and blueberry bushes into rooting hormone and planted in containers to await outdoor planting upon root growth. Also, I filled a 24 inch windowsill planter with rocks on the bottom, and then organic potting soil, watered well and sprinkled Amish Deer Tongue seeds on top.
- Friday the 19th: I bought heirloom raspberry plants and am waiting until this rash of cold nights passes so I can plant them in the newly designated berry patch.
- Saturday the 20th: The daffodils dug from the garden went everywhere because we had too many. Some in Gramma's flower garden around the well-house, some alongside the deck, and some way up in the corner of our property where we are trying to encourage a tiny maple tree to flourish.
- Sunday the 21st: Yuccas dug from the garden were transplanted onto the front bank.
- Monday the 22nd: Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce and Thessaloniki Tomatoes sprouted!
- Tuesday the 23rd: I transplanted the tomatoes who had sprouted with gentleness and tweezers.
- Wednesday the 24th: I spied the first of the tomato seeds have produced leaves! I'm sure more will be out by tomorrow.
- Saturday the 27th: The rest of the garden was dug and turned. We extracted the catnip and horseradish roots.
- Sunday the 28th: Transferred more tomato seedlings. I've decided they'll go in the garden after all. Planted peas and carrots. Planted my Lily of the Valleys. I don't know if they'll live. Pulled two seedlings from the Amish Deer Tongue window box. They had malformed leaves. The first true leaves on the blackberry bush cuttings have emerged.
*P.S. I didn't receive any compensation for the seeds linked above. I bought these particular seeds from Baker's Creek this year.
Garden Planning
Since I've never grown a garden let alone planned one out, I needed some extra help this year. Through Pinterest I found Smart Gardener and signed up (it's free!). I was able to plan a garden using my zone, plot size, and sun angle.
Then you get to go and add all the vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers you want and arrange them in your virtual garden which will then reflect perfectly how you should lay it out in the real bed. They have a handy feature which allows them to arrange your garden for you based on all the variables. You can move and adjust and make everything perfect for you and your space. If you add a seed variety that won't have enough time to grow, it warns you.
On top of all that they give you weekly email reminders telling you that you should start -something- now.
For first time gardeners, this is great. In fact I could only find one downside... I didn't have enough room in my proposed garden for all the seeds I'd bought.
...bummer.
So, after that crushing disappointment, I re-grouped.
I decided that I'd grow my Red Wonder Wild Red Strawberries, Thessaloniki Tomatoes, and Dill in containers. My Schoon's Hardshell Melons are going to be in a separate raised bed on the front bank (where the most sun is available). The Arikara Sunflowers don't have a home yet, but I'm thinking Gramma's flower garden. The vegetable garden will contain: Blue Lake Bush Beans, Kuroda Carrots, Boston Pickling Cucumbers, Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce, Cimmaron Romaine Lettuce, Little Marvel Pea, King of the North Peppers, and Early Straight Neck Yellow Squash.
That's it so far, except for the blackberry bushes I'll be transplanting from a friends hillside. They'll go out with the blueberry bush (only one right now, his friend died) in my miniature berry patch.
As an aside about the blueberry bush. It did produce berries last year, but we didn't get any because I didn't know enough then to throw a darned screen over it! The reason it produced without a friend (blueberries need another bush to produce berries) is because there is half an acre of blueberry bushes across the road, owned by the Greenhouse. (It's awesome having a greenhouse/nursery across the road!)
I know it's not a whole lot, but this is where I'm starting and I am content to see what this endeavor will bring.
Then you get to go and add all the vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers you want and arrange them in your virtual garden which will then reflect perfectly how you should lay it out in the real bed. They have a handy feature which allows them to arrange your garden for you based on all the variables. You can move and adjust and make everything perfect for you and your space. If you add a seed variety that won't have enough time to grow, it warns you.
On top of all that they give you weekly email reminders telling you that you should start -something- now.
For first time gardeners, this is great. In fact I could only find one downside... I didn't have enough room in my proposed garden for all the seeds I'd bought.
...bummer.
So, after that crushing disappointment, I re-grouped.
I decided that I'd grow my Red Wonder Wild Red Strawberries, Thessaloniki Tomatoes, and Dill in containers. My Schoon's Hardshell Melons are going to be in a separate raised bed on the front bank (where the most sun is available). The Arikara Sunflowers don't have a home yet, but I'm thinking Gramma's flower garden. The vegetable garden will contain: Blue Lake Bush Beans, Kuroda Carrots, Boston Pickling Cucumbers, Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce, Cimmaron Romaine Lettuce, Little Marvel Pea, King of the North Peppers, and Early Straight Neck Yellow Squash.
That's it so far, except for the blackberry bushes I'll be transplanting from a friends hillside. They'll go out with the blueberry bush (only one right now, his friend died) in my miniature berry patch.
As an aside about the blueberry bush. It did produce berries last year, but we didn't get any because I didn't know enough then to throw a darned screen over it! The reason it produced without a friend (blueberries need another bush to produce berries) is because there is half an acre of blueberry bushes across the road, owned by the Greenhouse. (It's awesome having a greenhouse/nursery across the road!)
I know it's not a whole lot, but this is where I'm starting and I am content to see what this endeavor will bring.
*As a side note, I was not compensated in any way for this review by the author(s)
of Smart Gardener, I just found it truly helpful and thought to share it.
God's Sense of Humor
Sunday morning came, and the alarm went off. I shut it off and decided that even though it was
I laid back in bed for a few seconds and all I could do was smile up at the ceiling and tell God He was a funny guy.
So I got up, got dressed and got in the car to rescue Gramma. The church is in the very same town I had to drive to, so there was no reason for me not to go and so I went, and thoroughly enjoyed service and adult class lessons.
It still is making me smile to think that He went through all that trouble to get me to church. What an awesome God we serve!
Easter
, I wasn't going to go to Sunday school and church. I started thinking of a few excuses to give Gramma, because she's always concerned when I don't go and makes sure I know it! A few minutes later as I was drifting back into sleep my phone starts ringing obnoxiously loudly. I reach over to answer, sure it's my boss asking me something silly, and I see it's Gramma. I answer it because the only other time she had called (instead of texted) one of our cell phones, she had been in a terrible car accident. I said, "Good morning Gramma!" and she said, "Lisa, I've locked my keys in the car at the gas pump, can you please bring me my spare as soon as possible? Your mom is home right? She has my spares." I assured her that yes, I'd be there soon, and hung up.I laid back in bed for a few seconds and all I could do was smile up at the ceiling and tell God He was a funny guy.
So I got up, got dressed and got in the car to rescue Gramma. The church is in the very same town I had to drive to, so there was no reason for me not to go and so I went, and thoroughly enjoyed service and adult class lessons.
It still is making me smile to think that He went through all that trouble to get me to church. What an awesome God we serve!
Spring!
Seeds are (hopefully) on their way, the garden has been raked out of dead leaves. Now it's just pulling the old flowers and the gigantic Yucca bush out of the garden and I'll be ready to sow/transfer. Just over a month until our last frost date!
I don't have a fence, but I'm sure I'm going to need something up. We have plenty of wild bunnies who could use fattening up. I am anxiously awaiting the nursery across the road to fly it's "Open" flag so I can run over and get mulch and some dirt.
We had our first real day of spring on Saturday and it was just glorious. Makes me anxious for the lovely days ahead. The crocuses were poking their heads out of the front flower bed adjacent to the driveway, there's something poking out of the flower garden (my new vegetable garden) it's tulips or hyacinths or daffodils, but I can't tell yet. Too bad they have to go. I'm (not so) secretly hoping that they are daffodils, my favorites. There are buds on the big lilac! I'm praying they don't get frozen off in another hard frost like most years. I simply love the smell of lilac.
I also have the following sewing projects promised:
Apron - Gramma (I'm thinking Quinn's Gathering Apron.)
Flat-Bottom Zipper Pouch - Amanda, purple.
Fix/Mend Zipper on Red Pants - Holly.
Small Curtain for Podium at Work.
And I went yesterday after work to a local fabric shop to look at a fabric for Gramma's apron and Amanda's purple zipper pouch, only to realize after getting halfway there that I was way too tired to be making the drive. I'd like to tell you that I then turned around and made for home, but it's not true. I made my way (slowly) to the shop and discovered it was closed! Color me disappointed.
Feeling a bit more awake, I decided to take a second way home... that I've taken only once before... and I'm sure you see where this is going. I got lost and made it to a town I've never been to before. Go me! I turned around, drove all the way back and found the right road and went home. Jeepers!
I don't have a fence, but I'm sure I'm going to need something up. We have plenty of wild bunnies who could use fattening up. I am anxiously awaiting the nursery across the road to fly it's "Open" flag so I can run over and get mulch and some dirt.
We had our first real day of spring on Saturday and it was just glorious. Makes me anxious for the lovely days ahead. The crocuses were poking their heads out of the front flower bed adjacent to the driveway, there's something poking out of the flower garden (my new vegetable garden) it's tulips or hyacinths or daffodils, but I can't tell yet. Too bad they have to go. I'm (not so) secretly hoping that they are daffodils, my favorites. There are buds on the big lilac! I'm praying they don't get frozen off in another hard frost like most years. I simply love the smell of lilac.
I also have the following sewing projects promised:
Apron - Gramma (I'm thinking Quinn's Gathering Apron.)
Flat-Bottom Zipper Pouch - Amanda, purple.
Fix/Mend Zipper on Red Pants - Holly.
Small Curtain for Podium at Work.
And I went yesterday after work to a local fabric shop to look at a fabric for Gramma's apron and Amanda's purple zipper pouch, only to realize after getting halfway there that I was way too tired to be making the drive. I'd like to tell you that I then turned around and made for home, but it's not true. I made my way (slowly) to the shop and discovered it was closed! Color me disappointed.
Feeling a bit more awake, I decided to take a second way home... that I've taken only once before... and I'm sure you see where this is going. I got lost and made it to a town I've never been to before. Go me! I turned around, drove all the way back and found the right road and went home. Jeepers!
Preparing for Spring
It's hard to believe winter is already (well, almost) past us. I so enjoyed this winter. It was nice to have a winter at all since Virginia doesn't have what I'd consider a real winter season. (This coming from a native Central New Yorker.)
We had plenty of snow accumulation, but now starts the little know fifth season - mud. We live in a river valley, and you know what happens in river valleys? Rain collects there. And that makes mud.
Otherwise I've been gearing up towards planting my garden. I still have to prepare the soil (and buy/gather mulch). And order seeds. I can't believe how long it's been since January, when I was actually ready to order. Mom contributed $75 towards the seed order, so I'm waiting on a check from her to order. I did buy organic (but not heirloom) cantaloupe seeds, but am trying to think of a place to plant them since the proposed garden space certainly isn't sunny enough for melons. I'm thinking the top of the front bank, which would get sun all day except right before sunset.
I've also been talking to a local breeder about getting a Miniature Australian Shepherd dog from her early next year. I'm waiting on an email back so mom and I can go visit them. I've been reading a lot about them and the current contention between Australian Shepherd/Miniature Australian Shepherd/Miniature American Shepherd people. My chosen breeder maintains that her dogs are just slightly smaller than average Australian Shepherds, instead of the Papillion x Aussie crosses Miniature American Shepherds seem to be descended from. Australian Shepherd people are mad because "there is no height division within the breed," which is true. I want an Aussie, but can't have a larger dog right now, so this is an excellent solution for my situation.
I'm so in love with this breed! Who could resist a face like that?
Also on the dog front, I've been training mom's Miniature Long-Haired Dachshund, Bailey in basic obedience. He is smarter than I believed and I am truly enjoying working with him. It's nice to work with a dog again!
Our computer crashed a little while ago, but it up and running after a through cleaning and a hard drive replacement, so that was exciting. iPods are difficult to browse the internet on when you vehemently want to use the computer for it's FULL keyboard!
So, ONWARD TOWARD SPRING!
We had plenty of snow accumulation, but now starts the little know fifth season - mud. We live in a river valley, and you know what happens in river valleys? Rain collects there. And that makes mud.
Otherwise I've been gearing up towards planting my garden. I still have to prepare the soil (and buy/gather mulch). And order seeds. I can't believe how long it's been since January, when I was actually ready to order. Mom contributed $75 towards the seed order, so I'm waiting on a check from her to order. I did buy organic (but not heirloom) cantaloupe seeds, but am trying to think of a place to plant them since the proposed garden space certainly isn't sunny enough for melons. I'm thinking the top of the front bank, which would get sun all day except right before sunset.
I've also been talking to a local breeder about getting a Miniature Australian Shepherd dog from her early next year. I'm waiting on an email back so mom and I can go visit them. I've been reading a lot about them and the current contention between Australian Shepherd/Miniature Australian Shepherd/Miniature American Shepherd people. My chosen breeder maintains that her dogs are just slightly smaller than average Australian Shepherds, instead of the Papillion x Aussie crosses Miniature American Shepherds seem to be descended from. Australian Shepherd people are mad because "there is no height division within the breed," which is true. I want an Aussie, but can't have a larger dog right now, so this is an excellent solution for my situation.
I'm so in love with this breed! Who could resist a face like that?
Also on the dog front, I've been training mom's Miniature Long-Haired Dachshund, Bailey in basic obedience. He is smarter than I believed and I am truly enjoying working with him. It's nice to work with a dog again!
Our computer crashed a little while ago, but it up and running after a through cleaning and a hard drive replacement, so that was exciting. iPods are difficult to browse the internet on when you vehemently want to use the computer for it's FULL keyboard!
Photo from Madaise on Flickr.
Max Moves On
I recently wrote about Max, the Sheltie that I had taken in a few months prior. I came to the conclusion that he and I both deserved better. He deserves a home that understands him and wants him and can help him. I deserve a dog that is everything I want. So I got in contact with a breed rescue and we spent a few phone conversations discussing the program and what they could offer for Max.
And, the thing is, I liked how it sounded.
I was very skeptical. I have never done anything like this before, but I desperately wanted help for Max. After back and forth-ing on it, I came to the conclusion that I was happy with what they could offer, and they were willing to place him with one of their foster homes.
So last Friday, that's exactly what happened.
He's in his new place now, and I hope happy. I'm waiting until Monday before asking about him, to give everyone (including myself) time to adjust.
I miss him, and I know he doesn't understand. He was shaking in the crate in the back of the car that came to pick him up, and that breaks my heart. Then again, I know it's best for him.
That doesn't stop me from feeling bad.
And, the thing is, I liked how it sounded.
I was very skeptical. I have never done anything like this before, but I desperately wanted help for Max. After back and forth-ing on it, I came to the conclusion that I was happy with what they could offer, and they were willing to place him with one of their foster homes.
So last Friday, that's exactly what happened.
He's in his new place now, and I hope happy. I'm waiting until Monday before asking about him, to give everyone (including myself) time to adjust.
I miss him, and I know he doesn't understand. He was shaking in the crate in the back of the car that came to pick him up, and that breaks my heart. Then again, I know it's best for him.
That doesn't stop me from feeling bad.
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