AWOL

Yep, I've been out of the loop again.  My bad.  I feel like it's been busy here but then again, not much is going on... and... I'll admit it... Justine introduced me to the evil that is Pinterest.  I had been avoiding it like the plague because I knew it has the potential to be a time-sucking kind of place.   So far, I've been good... we'll see how long that lasts.
The weather has been frightful.  Monday our high for the day was -7F.  The poor chickens were cooped up for a couple of days but they seem to have fared pretty well.  And, after a couple of weeks of no eggs at all, I've finally started getting a few.  Two today. Excitement!
Today it was finally above freezing for the first time in seemingly ages.  It hit the mid 40's!  So Justine, I16 and I went on a long walk (about 2 miles). It felt great to be out and about in the fresh air again.  I even opened a couple of windows in the chicken coop to let it air out in there since it was warmer outside than in.
Otherwise, it's a pretty slow time here.  I've been plotting the garden for next year.  I think I'll have my seed order ready to go soon. In the next couple of weeks I plan to start some cold weather stuff inside to try out in the greenhouse.  The greenhouse was a bust this winter. It got so cold so soon that everything froze off.  Last year I had fresh greens in mid January.  This year they all froze off in November.  sigh....  But I'm hoping that if I get some spinach and kale started inside that I can put them out in late February and have them survive in there. We'll see... it's an experiment.
Justine is home for only another week and then will head back to Philly for her next semester of classes.  We have been seeing a LOT of her fiance in the last few weeks but that's OK.  He is a great guy and we're all happy to see them both so happy.  She plans to move out of the dorms next year so we've all ben brainstorming things that she/they will need in an apartment and picking up things when we can.  We found a great 12 piece set of T-fal pots and pans yesterday.  The good stuff- stainless with copper bottoms: pans that will last a lifetime.  Got them on sale with an extra 15% off the sale price plus a mail-in rebate.  So we ended up paying just a little over half price for them- not a bad deal.  That girl has a good head on her shoulders and is always thinking ahead.
Otherwise, things are going.  I16 is finally taking Driver's Ed so we've got him out driving with us.  School is going well for both boys.  V is busy writing and now has a new client in addition to his old one so things are going well.  Construction is slow this time of year so it's a pretty laid-back time.

Hope you all are well.

Sunday already?

Oh my, where has the week gone!  And I only worked 2 days at my paying job last week!

Things have been going well here.  V arrived home safe and sound.  He is currently doing some repairs on the window at the bottom of the stairs.  Well, I guess when I say repairs, I mean he has removed it and is re-installing it.  It was put in really badly so he's trying to make it all right again.
The boys have been in school all week.  Although they had early release every single day since it was so unbearably hot and humid.  Justine is settled into her dorm room and started classes.  She has also restarted her blog about college life. If you're curious, you can check her out here.
I've been doing a little of this and a little of that. You know the drill- laundry, managing the garden and house.  I promise I'll do a feed sack to tote bag tutorial soon.  I just haven't had time.
I did go gather some jewel weed and am trying something new- a homemade itch balm.  I saw it at The Homesteading Neophyte.  And I've got everything on hand.  I'm trying to get it done today and tomorrow so I can send some out to Justine.  Her boyfriend will be out in Pennsylvania on business next weekend and is going to see her and deliver a few things to her.  So, itch balm and an aloe plant will wend their way eastward.
Otherwise, I've been wandering with the camera and having fun.  I'll leave you with a few photos of the week.

 Look at that clear blue sky!  But I do wish it would rain.  We have just finished the driest August on record. We had only 0.1 inches of rain all month.

 The greenhouse is cleared out and prepped.  I still need to re-set the pavers in the middle. There is one huge chard plant still in there but it looks pretty sad in the heat.  It was 99F NOT in the greenhouse!

 The mint is blooming and is a popular place for beneficial insects.  This is a Golden Digger Wasp.

And finally, can you spot the mantis?  She has been hanging out in the runner beans.  I nearly picked her one day.  

I hope all here in the US have a good holiday tomorrow.  

Photos from the day

A few photos of the morning to brighten your day.

 The Red Emperor Tulips are putting on quite the display.

 A lonely daffodil.  They don't seem to be multiplying very fast.

 A flat of beauty yet-to-come

 Syrphid Fly larvae!  I've been struggling with aphids on the spinach in the greenhouse and, since the weather has warmed up and it's HOT in there, the spinach has started to bolt.  I was going to pull it when I discovered dozens and dozens of syrphid larvae (Hover Flies) devouring the aphids.  Woo Hoo for beneficial insects!!  I've decided to leave it go for a while to give them time to develop.

 River is hopeful for a snack

The ladies line up, hoping I'll toss them some tasty treats.  They love their clover!

And now, the chicken coop awaits.  Off to more fun!

This and that

Yeah, I'm big on creative titles tonight, aren't I?
It's been a busy week here.  Even though I had Monday off, I still feel like I haven't gotten much done.

Marilyn has been taking quite a bit of time and care.  Not that I regret keeping her alive, but she is a lot of work. V has really stepped up to the plate while I've been at work since we've been feeding her every 1.5 -2 hours during the day.  She was just beginning to be able to find the feeder but then we moved the chicks into the dog kennel and she isn't adapting very well to the larger space, even though I tried to keep the distance and position of the feeder and waterer the same from the brooder lamp as when they were in the box.  We're still putting her into her little box with a dish of mash and she eats and eats and eats until her little crop is crammed full.  She seems to do better with the mash than with the dry feed, I think because it is more uniform and she doesn't have to aim accurately to pick up a crumble.  She does this sad but funny head bob trying to figure out the depth she has to peck to eat.  Sometimes she is to shallow and misses the food, sometimes she pecks too deep and buries her beak up to her nose.  She is still very, very small.  She is growing quite slowly. The other chicks are easily twice her size now, but they aren't picking on her, not even Bettie who is older and bigger than the rest.  The don't even pick on her when she tries to snuggle underneath them.  Sadly, the bathroom is cooler than Justine's room and Marilyn doesn't venture too far from the brooder lamp.  She can find the waterer on her own and even though she she can sometimes find the feeder she doesn't do well with either the dry food or the little holes she has to find in the feeder.  We'll keep at it and see how it goes.

In garden news, last night I finally got around to planting my tomato, pepper and eggplant seeds.  My little brassicas are growing nicely under the grow lights already getting ready for Spring which I hope will truly arrive soon.  We had salad from the greenhouse but sadly, I discovered I've got aphids on my spinach.  So, since it's supposed to be fairly warm this weekend I'm going to try to get out there with some soap/garlic/hot pepper mix to try to take care of them.

I haven't had time to sew since the weekend and I really need to get busy.  And I really need to get onto the exercise bandwagon since I've only got 106 days left until the big race.

The boys and I will be heading down to my parent's for Easter.  I'm looking forward to going but also realize that it's a day out of my weekend that I really need.

It may be...

It may be January.  This may be Iowa.  But look at what I harvested today!

Tonight's dinner salad courtesy of the greenhouse.

Thanks ever so much to my wonderful, talented, hard working hubby for his handiwork!  I'm lovin' it!

Brrr....

It is a chilly 6F outside this morning.  Brrr...  Chilly isn't really the right word- it's COLD!  After a spate of single digit temps a couple of weeks ago the greenhouse is looking pretty pathetic.  I think I may still have a few things out there that have survived- chard, kale and spinach- but they aren't really growing.  Still, when it warms up again they should take off quickly. But I guess I had salad from the greenhouse for Christmas so I can't complain too much.
It's about time to start looking at the seed catalogs and begin dreaming of the 2013 garden. It's still a bit early to plant even the early stuff but I'm hopeful for the coming year.  I need to decide what my new plant of the year will be.  Hmm... what to plant, what to plant?

I've been busy sewing this weekend.  I'll soon have photos to post.  I finally finished the long skirt with a bustle for me that I started over New Year's and on Saturday I whipped up a walking skirt for Justine that just needs hemmed.   I think maybe next I'll work on a jacket.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Today is my day off so I need to get busy if I'm going to get anything done.  I've got so much on my plate right now that I have to be careful how I juggle or I'm going to drop something.

Things

How's that for an attention getting title, LOL!
I've been off for a few days and don't really feel like I've accomplished much of anything.  I keep flitting from one thing to another and never seem to finish anything.
We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year.  My parents are coming, my brother and SIL are coming as are 3 of our friends.  A grand total of 11 at the dinner table.  So, I've been plotting, planning and cleaning, as well as all the usual stuff I do.
I did manage to get a little sewing done but seriously need to finish my 'pay if forward' gifts and get them in the mail.
I also realize that I have been remiss in posting an Independence Days update.  Not as much going on this time of year but here goes a quickie:
Plant something-  hmm, it's been a while since I updated and I can't remember exactly when, but I planted another round of radishes in the greenhouse that are sprouting happily out there.
Harvest something- Lettuce, chard, kale, radishes and spinach from the greenhouse and a few eggs.  We've only got one hen laying now and she is only averaging about every other day.  sigh.  How I long for the egg glut of summer!  V has decided to have eggs for lunch and we will now have NO eggs in the house.  ACK!
Preserve something- Nothing really.
Waste not- The usual: composting, recycling, scraps to chickens.  Reusing some old 5 gallon buckets in the greenhouse- more about that later ;)
Want not- Only some cheap pasta for stocking up.  I'm counting my 'passive solar' project in the greenhouse in here.  I took two 5 gallon buckets (salvaged from drywall joint compound) wrapped them in black garbage bags, filled them with water and put them in the greenhouse.  I'm hoping that the water will heat up with the sun and then radiate heat at night.  Hopefully it will be enough to keep some of the tenderer things in the greenhouse going for a bit longer once it decides to get really cold.  It's all an experiment and the only sacrifice was a garbage bag so even if it doesn't work- not much lost.
Eat the food- broccoli from the freezer since the cold finally took its toll on the plants in the garden.  I'm  glad that we haven't spent that much at the grocery store in the last month or two.  We've been eating well out of pantry and freezers.  Not sure where to put this so I'll put it here.  The remodel on the pantry is nearly complete.  I painted yesterday.  And it looks so nice with everything sorted and organized.
Build Community- Nope.  I've been a homebody recently.  Although someone asked me about 'hosting' a chicken for them.  They would buy the chick and supply funds for feed if I supply them with eggs.
Skill up- Nothing. I really need to re-read sections of my 4 season gardening books....

So, you see, nothing much on the farmstead.  The Meyer Hatchery catalog arrived yesterday so I can dream of chicks for spring.

A weekend of photos

It's been busy here... but laid back as well.  The pace has definitely slowed with the shortening days and it's rather nice.  Rather than bore you with all the details, I thought I'd share a few photos of the weekend.

I ran my first 5k race in a long, long time on Saturday morning.   I'll admit, I did walk some of it and finished in a pathetic time... but I got my old, out of shape body out there and did it!  Look out zombies!  I'm getting ready for you!

V was helpful and carved the jack-o-lanterns into chicken friendly pieces with his sword.  I love the action shot with the falling bit of pumpkin!

 Spaz, the Mighty Hunter, was successful at stopping an unwelcome intruder.

And a little light demolition occurred in the pantry.  When the addition was built onto the house, they blocked up the original basement staircase and built the pantry and a closet on the other side.  Unfortunately, they didn't remove the original door lintel.

 You can see the top shelf of the pantry right underneath what's left of the door frame.  It was virtually unusable for anything larger than 6 inches wide.  But, thanks to the sawz-all and my honey...

 The old door frame is gone

 and the top shelf is opened up.

 A bit of plaster work- still currently in progress.

 And the newly opened top shelf is perfectly sized for the water bath canner and the stock pots.  Yeah!! The next phase will be doors over the top three shelves to protect the jars from light.  I do have larger shelves in the basement where most of our food stocks are kept but these are the 'immediate use' jars near the kitchen.  On the bottom shelf are my jars of dried beans and grains.  And underneath are cabinets that V built in that house small appliances, bread, potatoes and the cleaning rags as well as 'the junk drawer'.

 The chard is doing well in the greenhouse.

As is the leaf lettuce.  I see salads in the near future.

I hope you all had a good weekend as well and that all those out east are beginning to get back to whatever normal you call yours.

The fat lady sang

You know that saying "It ain't over til the fat lady sings"?  If that's true she must have really been belting out the tunes last night.  I woke about 6:15.  The thermometer on the front porch read 33 degrees.  But....  further away from the house it must have been much, much colder.
Things in the garden that weren't covered were frozen stiff:

 Now that they are beginning to thaw they are becoming limp:

and the air has that smell of frozen foliage.  Even the plants that were covered took a hit.  There may be a couple of peppers that survive but most everything is history.  So, I guess that effectively ends the 2012 main season garden.

 But there are tiny lettuce seedlings up in the greenhouse!

And a view of the new garden shed (pre-frost when the squash vines were still trying to take over the world.
I'll have to go out again later to see what, if anything, is salvageable.  sigh...  I wasn't expecting this for another couple of weeks.

It's a greenhouse!!

V finished the greenhouse last evening!  So, today, I got to play inside.
I was up early this morning since I15 had to be in town by 7am for parking lot clean up.  The City High Band works to clean up the parking lots around the stadium after home football games at the university.  They get paid for this and the money goes to fund all sorts of things like trips, uniforms, music, etc.  It is also part of their grade that the students 'volunteer' at least 4 times.  So, since it is still early in the year and warm(ish) and still light at 7am. I15 has been going to all the clean ups in September.  So far he has done 2 of his 4 games.  With lots of students there to help it generally takes less than 2 hours.  But wouldn't it be amazing if tailgaters cleaned up after themselves and the high school kids didn't need to pick up their garbage?!  What a concept!  But, then, the band would be out of money that they need and would have to do other fundraisers.
But, after clean up, I15 and I made a trip to one of the local garden centers and picked up 12 bags of topsoil.  They are selling it cheap since they want to clear it out so they don't have to store it over the winter- and I happened to want some for the greenhouse.
Behold!

 Here it is in all it's glory.  Well, I guess it's not that glorious...

The frame came packed in this really cool box made of green corrugated plastic.  Which I cut and used to build little raised bed frames inside the greenhouse.  I love being able to repurpose stuff.  And I had some left over edging spikes from earlier this year that I could use to hold it in place.  After lunch, K12 helped me load in the topsoil.

Filled with topsoil and planted:  Lettuce (2 kinds), spinach, chard, kale and radishes are all in!  The kale is mainly for the chickens.  While I like kale, I'm about the only one who does (except the chickens!).  We can't keep it in the regular garden over winter or the deer will eat it (at least they always have in the past).

  V has moved on to his next construction project.  The re-construction of the garden shed just to the north of the garden.  To the left side of the photo (behind the gate) you can see the Long Island cheese vine trying to take over the world.  It was over the fence but V tossed it back in.
It has been a busy weekend,  I'll almost be glad to get back to work tomorrow so I can get some rest, LOL!

A Sunny September Saturday

It was a gloriously beautiful day today.  Brilliant sunshine and temps in the mid 70's- perfect for working outside.
I did some weeding and other work in the garden. I finally finished off all those giant lambs quarters along the fence line. I picked tomatoes and a few tomatoes.  I did laundry. I made roasted tomato/pepper salsa.  V worked on my greenhouse.  All in all, busy but pretty laid back.
Here are a few photos of the day.

 The first Long Island Cheese squash was harvested!

 Tomatoes, peppers, onions and garlic go into the oven to roast

 ... come out

 and make a fabulous salsa!

V working diligently on the greenhouse.  See, it isn't big- only 6x8 but I'm excited to get some fall greens planted in there.  He managed to get it finished tonight but it was too dark to get a good photo so I'll post one another day.  I will still need to put raised beds of some sort in there before I can plant.
And finally...

I'm so glad to see that someone was able to relax today!  Eesh!  I can see that the rug desperately needs vacuumed. That is the dog and cat's favorite spot to lay so it tends to collect lots and lots of fur.  Hmm... I think it is I15's turn at vacuuming this week.