Well, here's a non-picture for you! Looks a bit different than the view of the same raised beds I showed in my last post, doesn't it? We had snow two days ago, and it was just enough to totally cover our raised beds for the first time this year.
Yep, Mother Nature gave us a mini-blizzard this past Wednesday. Only about 3-5" (hard to tell because of drifting) of snowfall but it came down all day accompanied by high winds which made for some very interesting conditions. For about one hour in the afternoon, the snow turned to rain. The temp was at 29°, but none the less, we had rain. Then it turned to snow again so you can imagine the icy mess that made on every surface outside.
All in all, we continue to have a very mild winter. We may get a couple more inches of snow today, they say, but the temperature of 21° at mid-morning makes it not uncomfortable for being outside doing what needs to be done.
We're still shaking our heads (but with a happy grin on our faces) at how little wood we've burned for heating so far this season. Here we are at the end of January and we're only a smidge more than halfway through our smallest wood cache. Can't complain about that one bit.
A big pan of Swiss Steak is simmering on the stove this morning, Papa Pea is off to get a resupply of fresh, raw milk from the farm and as soon as I'm done here, I plan to sit at the kitchen table and get serious about crop layout for the raised beds and field garden. If I don't have my plan in place by planting time, I waste too much time deciding what to plant where when I could be actively doing the planting.
But first, I have to bottle up the latest batch of kombucha, pay a couple of bills, order some new Christmas CDs which we decided were definitely needed as we played all the old, old ones (over and over) this past holiday season, put a couple of batches throw rugs through the washer, get some soup defrosting for lunch, finish the first mitten of a new pair for the twins, put the last couple rounds on the latest rag rug I have in progress, and fill both inside wood boxes.
HAHAHHOHOHOHEEHEEHAHA! I am so unrealistic when I make my lists for the day.
And this is the "off" season.
ReplyDeleteTo all those that wonder what housewives do all day........read and weep.
(Not complaining , though. I LOVE my life!)
Sue - Same here, I wouldn't change my good life for anything!
DeleteBut you're so right . . . it's all those "little" things that need to be done every day that seem to eat up all that time we think we're going to have for hobbies and recreation in the winter. :o)
After those pictures, it would be just mean to tell you how lovely it will be in GA tomorrow. : ) Your list makes me tired and I don't even have to do it! But we are spending tomorrow continuing to clear out the "forest." Ugh. Did you ever do a post on kombucha? Enjoy your steak!
ReplyDeleteAngela - Isn't it a good thing we ALL don't want to live in the same place/climate? We love the snow and don't mind the cold . . . well, except when it gets down to 30 below or so.
DeleteI have never done a post on making kombucha because there are so, so many different ways to do it and the method that works in one season or even area of the country doesn't work in the other. I tried very unsuccessfully for a long time to make ours using explicit instructions from a friend in New Mexico. I finally had to figure it out for myself by finding what works for us here. There are tons of books and articles out there on making kombucha at home so you should be able to find a good start from them.
That snow looks so lovely. We only have ice slicks left (that's a whole lotta fun, come chore time) with frozen piles of poop. Charming visual, no? I would love a post on your kombucha. I have a dehydrated mother and would love to rehydrate and start a batch in March. Because you know nothing can happen in February... :)
ReplyDeleteSusan - Oh, you have poopsicles, too, huh? Read above comment to Angela regarding making kombucha. I've never worked with a dehydrated mother. Did it come that way or did you dry it for extended storage?
DeleteHaHa! I thought your raised beds were caskets at first. You see? I don't know what to make of snow. HaHa!
ReplyDeleteLaurie - They often do look like caskets when they are mounded over with snow. Not the best visual to look out upon!
DeleteWow - amazing list - even if it is just a dream list. Guess you'd better concentrate on the garden plans.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn - I finally got all the garden beds plotted out yesterday. Now on to the field garden!
DeleteThe only thing on my list today that I committed to was a big hot chocolate after walking the dogs...the rest was just dumb luck :)
ReplyDeleteRain - Now you're a girl who knows how to make a sensible list for the day!!
DeleteOh no! All those snowless days were too good to be true, weren't they?
ReplyDeleteLeigh - I know it seems strange (possibly weird) to folks choosing to live in a more tempered climate, but we love the winter time and especially snow. Without it we aren't able to get out on our snowshoes or skis to enjoy the pristine wilderness that kind of exercise affords. Also, since we do have cold weather, we really need the snow cover to protect plants and septic tanks and water lines. So even though it's easier (much!) to get around without a snow (and ice!) cover, we are happy to finally have a decent amount on the ground now. (Do you think we should have our heads examined?)
DeleteMama Pea,
ReplyDeleteThis weather is just amazingly weird this winter. No snow on the ground for us, and it's in the 30's with the wind blowing terribly.
It's better to plan out your garden beds early before Spring officially arrives.
Sandy - We had more wind today which made it absolutely miserable out there. There's something about wind that I don't like even in the summer time!
DeleteI've got all the raised beds planned but still haven't tackled the field garden . . . which is always harder for me. But I will do it soon!