Winter winnings

This winter has been long and truly tiring. We had a lot of snow that fell throughout the state and really cold temperatures. We had many long nights and more long days when outside the temps were too low to got out. So what is the family to do? Well the kids loved playing games and well just being kids, with a lot of snow days from school. I taught my self how to crochet. To date I have made each of the kids scarfs that have come in handy this winter,my mom a scarf, my niece a scarf for next Christmas, and I have started on a blanket that will be given at Christmas also. So I have managed to beat the winter blues by working with some vibrant colors and get a bit of Christmas gifts made. Its a win win in my book. Winter is almost over and we have a bit more snow in the forecast for Friday but Spring is coming.... I hope.

And then there were 3

We have been very busy here on our bit. Raising lambs that have been orphaned due to either the ewes having too many( 2 are from triplets the other is from quads) or the weather getting bitterly cold. We have been having fun taking care of these boys' every needs. The one in the front left is named Biscuit, the black one is named Ace, the one in back well we named him Gravy. The boys in front will be 2 weeks old this weekend while Gravy will be a week old this weekend. They are fun to watch as they now are strong and run and play. The cat has no where to hide when the lambs are on the lose.
The weather plays its toll on these babies. With us having temps in the 40s for the last 2 days we are now having temps in the low 30s and snowing like crazy, Its hard to keep them warm. We are using a heat lamp light over their pen. Now we wait for others to be brought to us. We pray all the ewes will be able to take care of their young and keep them all warm but if they can't we will be here.. waiting.... with open arms to take care of these little bundles of joy.
Have a great day!

Winter Blast - again

At eight o'clock this morning it was -1.5 degrees outside. That's cold! No wait that's frigid. We have another 3-4 inches of snow on the ground and more expected for Monday evening. This has been a winter to remember. Now with 60% of the winter still to come we have had more snow then we get all year. I do hope this makes for a good growing season.

It always amazes me that no matter what the weather the chickens always act like its a perfect day. Cold - nah - just right all the time for them.

I do hope wherever my friends are they are warm. Have a Happy winter.

Go Rain Go!!!

No I am not going to say away. Recently I have heard alot about the rainy weather we have been experiencing but I am for one and alot of others around here tend to enjoy it. As in my way of looking at it, it gives me time to play catch up in the house with the cleaning. It helps the plants and veggies grow like crazy and gives me a slight break in packing water up to the gardens and new trees. It has given us time to redo the building that we traded for, it has kept our water barrels full,it has made the kitchen cool during canning, and our water bill low. Rain is my friend.

Thunderstorms

With the weather changing every few seconds, it seems, I could not help myself but I had to take a few shots of the storm that was brewing out our back door the other day. The top on was right after they said our county could see hail. The bottom one was later that evening. I really love this shot becasue I can see aface in the clouds. Can you see it? Enjoy!

a day of rain

means a day of baking. We had a great deal of rain fall on us today. The water barrels are full again and the gardens are watered. It truly was a beautiful day!!

a time for color and babies

Yes that is Spring. With Spring in full swing I thought I would share a few pictures of just a few things that are happening around here.


On the left are the kittens that were born under our porch. The photo on the right shows a baby robin bird, just emerging from the nest. Preparing to take its first flight. A robin has eggs in the tree out front every year. We are pleased to be able to watch them emerge every year.



The animals and the garden are not the only thing growing. Our flowers that attract the bees are blooming and keep us in beautiful flowers all Spring and summer long. We plant just enough flowers to keep the bees happy and just enough food to keep us happy around here.





With the rain falling, sometime which felt like buckets, we were also able to capture some in our homemade rain barrels for the garden and raised beds. It seems to rain, fill the barrels, then quit raining long enough for us to use what we saved then rain again. I hope to add around 3 more barrels this summer.



The apples are growing faster then last year. We have a total of 5 apple trees now. Two of which will provide us with wholesome apples this fall and winter. This is the yellow delicious in the picture above. The other one, not pictured, that will grow apples this year is called a Jonathan apple. The peaches are bigger already then in the past, hope to have pictures uploaded soon. We pruned the peaches this year at the end of winter and they are so much happier.
While we still have grass we are taking alot of time to reduce our lawn every year. I hope to have the front yard grass free in the next 2 years. Have a wonderful day!!!

How to tell that the last frost has passed?

You can almost sit down.

Okay so I have said it before, several months ago, that we will have a last frost but not when expected. We have not had a frost here for several weeks. I think all the rain has made the frost not happen. I am happy , that just means more work for me a little sooner then expected but I am pleased. Pleased to have almost everything in the ground. If the rain would just stop for a few days I could get everything planted and let the rain do the rest. But no such luck. I have been going out every morning and planting as much as I could until the rain starts later on in the day. We have about 33 tomato plants in the ground as well as 25 pepper plants. There is still plenty more that needs to be planted. But it too must be done according to the weather.

Spring?

Could it be? Spring? Well the daffodils are up and flowering and I just couldn't resist picking these and bringing them into the house. The robins are finding the best tree for there nests. The lilac bushes are budding and waiting for a bit of warmer weather before flowering. The peas have been planted. The weather is getting warmer every day.

The tomatoes are coming up and look very happy to be alive again this year. We have planted several varieties this year including German green, Rutgers, Break Odays, Dads sunset, Mama Leone. The cabbage is looking very well even though they are late due to the new "lesson learned" episode earlier last month. ( Lesson learned - onions and cabbage were killed by extremely cold unexpected weather in the shed)

Tomorrow I will be going to my moms to get some cardboard - some for things - some for use in the raised bed.

All in all I am excited about the weather being warm enough to get out of the house and get my hands dirty in the rick soil that longs for plants to grow and nourish my family.