Saturday, March 22, 2014

Checking In

Just in from shoveling another batch of snow.  We had a temp in the high 20s and snowfall much of the day yesterday.  Then last night around 10 p.m. the snow tapered off and the wind began to blow.  Often with high winds, the snow on our deck drifts up against the door and makes it challenging to get it opened up in order to get out on the deck and shovel it clear.  We can access the deck from going out the back door and around, but I guess it's more fun to pretend we're snowed in and have to "tunnel" our way out.

This morning the temp was down to 8° (cold front blew in) and we have sunshine.  So while out moving snow, Papa Pea and I both got overheated and stripped off a layer, but then a few gusts of wind would come by and just about freeze us solid.  Yep, we're still experiencing the joys of winter up here near the tundra.


Our potatoes are keeping really well and we continue to enjoy the bounty this year.  I'm still taking only the biggest ones (aren't they beauts?) and keeping any smaller ones for seed potatoes.  Hope this coming year's crop is as good as last.  We couldn't ask for more than that.


This was taken yesterday during the snow.  The birds were hitting our feeders like there was no tomorrow.  Sometimes they aren't as active during a snowfall, but they sure were yesterday.  I guess they knew to stoke up for the coming windy, cold night ahead of them.  Smart birds.

12 comments:

Sunnybrook Farm said...

Wow, too cold, I planted potatoes today.

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,

Brrr......it's still nice and cold there with snow on the ground and more coming down. I'm so happy to no longer be living in the U.P. Temperatures in Oklahoma today were in the 40's with overcast and wind. It's a little cooler than the heat we had the past two days. We are seeing Spring rolling in here.
Stay warm and enjoy those beautiful looking potatoes!!!

Anonymous said...

Brrrr... No thanks! We have had sunshine here, and are looking at an upcoming drought! But I'd rather not have the temps that you are experiencing.

Sue said...

We had snow all day yesterday . It's supposed to get below zero the next few nights. I'm on 10% propane--and the prices are still too high. I swear this winter will NEVER end.
Now I have to ask--how on earth do you keep your taters from sprouting. Mine have been trying since late January!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mama Pea said...

Sunnybrook Farm - I planted potatoes on March 20th. Once. Back in Illinois. But not up here. For sure. Way too much work to shovel through the three feet of snow.

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - Now why in the world would you leave temperatures like we're having to have temperatures like you're having?? Truthfully, the one thing I do miss living up here in northern MN is . . . spring. We just don't get it as we seem to go right from winter into summer. Our "spring" flowers bloom in June. Or some years July. Boo-hoo.

Mama Pea said...

Ruth - No matter where we choose to live, there are disadvantages, aren't there?

Mama Pea said...

Sue - Yep, we were forecast to get below zero last night but our temp this morning was 2° above. You're gonna have to break down and buy some propane, my dear girl, high priced or not. Sigh. 10% is getting mighty low. (Ha, our wood supply is LESS than 10%!)

We've been able to keep our taters in storage right at 35° this winter and I think that's why they haven't been sprouting.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Those potatoes look great! It is too early to plant them here. I will have to buy seed potatoes soon. We planted 31 lbs. last year, and more than 75% of them rotted in the overload of rain we got. I am praying for a much better harvest this season.

Unknown said...

Beautiful potatoes! How do you store them for the winter? Mine would have started to sprout by this time of year.

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - You planted 31 lbs. of seed potatoes! Wow, that must have been some potato patch. But when you're hit with way too much rain . . . that's so frustrating. The worst potato tragedy I ever had was when the patch got infested with wire worms! About 75% of them were unusable. Yuck. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you this season. If we have a good bunch of taters laid by, that's pretty basic and gives a feeling of security!

Mama Pea said...

Constance Ann Morrison - We were able to keep the temp in our root cellar right around 35° all winter and that has seemed to be perfect for the potatoes.