Papa Pea went over to our neighbors' place a couple of hours ago. He and D are working up and planting out a small meadow there with what we hope will be good browse for the deer in our area. The guys got caught in a couple of the downpours but kept working until getting to a good stopping spot.
After coming back home and changing out of his soaked duds, he remembered he's been wanting to spread some wood ashes under our fruit trees for several days now and during this wet period would be a perfect time.
So back out he went (between bursts of the heavy rain) to do the job. I have a feeling when he comes back in there will be an extra cup of strong coffee enjoyed this morning. The outside temp is only 46°, and it's 68° in here so I've finally started a small fire in the kitchen wood stove to help keep away the dampness. There's a pot of chicken soup with dumplings on the stove which helps chirk up the atmosphere, too.
If we can stop thinking of outside jobs to be done (duh), looks like it will be a comfy, cozy day inside. We aren't minding the rain at all, but jeepers, could we use some consistently warm weather about now.
20 comments:
That's one hard working man you have there Mama Pea. Our weather is unsettled the past three days so I never know if I should hang the laundry up or just use the dryer. As soon as I hung up the laundry it started to rain so I had to take it all down and throw in the dryer. Tis spring.
I wanted at one point to live up north as far as you are. Not so sure now. I'd love to have your space though! It's 65 and everything is s green:) Can you post some pics sometime of your home? I bet it's cute!
Sparkless - I know what you mean about getting all the laundry hung outside only to have to take it down less than an hour later and put it in the dryer! Yep, that's spring.
Nancy - The outside of your house looks A LOT cuter than ours! You'll probably get to see a lot of ours this summer as I want desperately to paint it. Hubby is trying to discourage me from the task (I'm the chief painter around here) because he thinks there are other things we should do first. Sigh. Where's that crew of 6 summer interns when you need them?
Your gardens and flowers are already looking beautiful. And, yes, living this far north does present some challenges. But we wanted to settle in an area where we could afford some acreage and not be by any large populated area.
What a guy, can't you find some inside projects for him to do for a day or two. Nice to think about sharing your space with the wildlife, would much rather share mine with the deer than the skunks and rattlesnakes, LOL. Oooops, bird just flew into the window again ..............
I miss thunder storms. We don't get them here.We get rare lighting storms. But ever time we do, we have a fire. So I'll pass on those. Why is he putting ash around the fruit trees?
Tombstone Livestock - Many, many people up here feed the deer by putting out corn and hay for them. We'd rather go the route of planting the natural grasses for them to munch on. But we don't have a lot of open area to work with so we're trying to take advantage of the spot our neighbor has cleared to make a meadow of sorts.
We do have skunks up here, too, but thank you very much you can keep your rattlesnakes!
Michelle - Yep, lightning starts a lot of fires up here, too.
We put wood ashes around the apple trees 'cause they need potassium, phosphorus and calcium for the formation of apples. Our ashes are primarily from maple wood which has a fairly good balance of those three. More calcium with smaller amounts of the other two. The calcium also adds alkalinity to our soil which tends to be on the acidic side because we're in the middle of a pine forest.
MP, I think you may need to pull that mans battery pack! The Ever ready bunny called and would like it back!
Smart to sew the feeder field, keep them full and they might leave the gardens alone!
Nothing so valuable as a strong,hardworking man!
Katidids - Well, I know it makes me tired trying to keep up with him!
You can't garden up here without fencing to keep the deer out. We have a 7' high fence around the gardens, berry patches and fruit trees, but only a 3' high electric fence around the poultry pasture. It doesn't happen too often but every now and then a deer will jump over the electric fence. The grass is always greener, you know . . .
Simply Scaife Family - Amen! I think I've decided to keep him. (It will be 50 years this summer!)
Once even a hint of spring hits, it's hard to not think of the zillion and one outdoor projects awaiting us. For once your weather is similar to ours! Except add about 10 degrees for latitude difference.
I'll send you some of our 80-90°F humid, rain-less weather. We are hurting for a cooling off and some rain.
I enjoy the rain, as it means I don't have to water the garden, but geez. It would be so nice to have 'normal' weather every other year or so, wouldn't it? That word picture of your warm, cozy house, with the aroma of hot chicken soup wafting through the air, almost made me cry. Adopt me?
We've had the rain too, but warmer temps. Hope none of that crazy unstable weather got your far north. Methinks both you and Papa Pea simply love where you live and how you live and it shows. Have a good day Mama Pea!
Leigh - I'm writing this Thursday morning and we have sunshine this morning! First time in many days. I know it will take a couple of days for the garden to dry out before I can really get in there, but I can find many other outside projects to work on until then!
Kristina - We've yet to get more than half a day of what could be called warm weather (70° or so) but I know you and other places have had too hot weather too soon this season. Ugh.
Susan - Why would I water the garden when THERE'S NOTHING IN IT YET! (No, I'm not upset, why?) I'm beginning to think we are, indeed, all gonna have to make it through yet another year of wonky weather. Ish.
P.S. Adoption papers are in the works. ;o]
Lisa - All these disasterous weather happenings the last few years make me so nervous. We are in a phase of unrest in more ways than one in our country.
We thought long and hard about where we wanted our forever home to be and despite all the disadvantages we may need to deal with up here, we've never regretted our decision to settle here. Hugs to you, Lisa!
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