Today it topped out at 27 degrees above zero F! We were thrilled and it sure gave us a hint of the spring to come, here at the very end of January. It sure makes you feel like being outside instead of inside at below zero temperatures.

Yesterday, Will went out and started up Old Trusty, the big bulldozer, and dozed a trail way out north of the North Garden, where he remembered a huge white spruce tree that was dying due to carpenter ants invading the lower trunk. There’s no fix to that, unfortunately. So, today, he took the chainsaw out and drove Old Trusty back out to the spruce. He cut it down, limbed it, then hooked up with a chain, to drag it back up to the yard near the sawmill. After a short break, he went back out to cut off the remaining butts where branches had been cut off then cut a firewood-long chunk out of the butt of the log. Yep, bad carpenter ants! Then he cut another slice, further up. Ah ha! They hadn’t gotten too far up the trunk at all, but it would sure have killed the tree as the tree was already showing brown needles throughout the whole top.

The carpenter ants have gotten into and have killed this big spruce tree.
Will is trimming up the butt to see how far the carpenter ants have gotten up the log.
Luckily, the ants haven’t gotten far up the log. We’ll get lots of lumber out of it!

Will needs some more 16-foot 2×10’s for his run-in cow shed and our friend, Mike, needs some 16-foot 2×6’s for rafters on the addition he’s going to build onto their cabin. That one huge log will give the guys most, if not all, of what they need. What a win-win situation … except for the poor ant-ridden tree.

Friends are wonderful. Dara comes to help us pack seeds once or twice a week.

Mike is busy helping a friend put siding on their summer kitchen today, so Dara is here helping us out packing seed packs. We’re both excited to figure out just what we will be planting too, this spring. There’s always a little room for more of this or that. (And I know this guy with a BIG bulldozer…) — Jackie

25 COMMENTS

  1. A quick but I think important question
    You mentioned in the last BWH to not put manure ( horse ) directly in the soil where you are putting potatoes as it will cause them to go to tops etc. this is a problem we have had and are wondering when and what fertilizer to put on potatoes as we will be planting soon

  2. Here in Maine last Friday it was minus 27. Today was a balmy 34! What a huge difference. Tomorrow it will rain all day and then Friday we are getting 9 to 12 inches of snow. Yeehaw.
    Wowzer! What a massive log. Just amazing with a man with a chain saw and a bulldozer can do. Love it. Pyro

  3. Was delighted to find our Seed Treasures order waiting in the mailbox yesterday (major happy dance). The only downside is that now I can hardly wait for Spring! Jealous of Kim+French. We are expecting a serious snow / ice storm over the next three days. But still can plan and dream.

  4. I was so excited to receive my seed order in the mail yesterday. Can’t wait to get them in the ground. Thanks again for being so prompt with our order.

    • There’s a lot we can’t do with our mom-and-pop seed company; those beautiful, full color catalogs, mechanized seed harvest and packet packing. BUT we make up for it with hand-selected seeds and a very fast turn-around.

  5. Was in the 30s this morning so I took the opportunity to clean out the two wildlife water sources and refill. Nice to be able to take off the gloves and I started getting hot lol. Hit around 43 this afternoon but will be short lived. Light snow on the way (the worst weather is south of us) and 15 in the morning (no idea of wind speed yet).
    The birds will make short work of those ants. After any wood cutting/splitting is done, the birds/wild turkeys show up.

      • LOL.. While it was 15, felt like 1. Downside of the “nice warm day” is be careful where you walk – icy patches waiting to getcha.

  6. That is an amazing tree!! I’m so glad most of it can be used. My seeds arrived and I am so excited to try some locally grown seeds. So you may think me odd, but I have never eaten a dry bean in my life. I’m on an adventure to grow things and try them since the good Lord gave them to us to use. Is there a good beginners guide to cooking beans that you can recommend? Any other “bean thoughts”?
    Sincerely, Nancy

  7. Your life sounds so marvelous! I long to have a tiny community where I can make a difference. My heart belongs to the Lord first, then I long for the mountains and outdoors, and for a few friends, a good word of faith church to attend, and my children and their families close by, to get to know them.

    • That does sound perfect but few of us can ever arrive there. We love our Lord and our life but have no mountains. Our families are scattered around the country, so we scarcely know some of our grandchildren. I’ve learned that you do the best you can every day with what you have.

  8. Hi Jackie! We moving ( hopefully still have to close) from mid-California small farming town to a another even smaller town in Idaho. My husband wanted to go back for years as he grew up there. So excited and anxious about it. However the temperature there has been in minus single digits to low teens. Big adjustment for us from 50 to 60 days and 30s at night. It not a farm but over third of acre lot. So Im trying to learn everything about dealing with cold temperatures.
    I’m wondering how you managed with all of your moves and buying/ selling property. Any insights?

    • Get started boxing up and getting rid of non-essentials early or you’ll be crazy when you finally start the move. Get to know some folks up in Idaho after you move. Being that your husband is from the area, that’ll help; you won’t be some “new Californians” on the block then. Church, a small cafe, a feed store, etc. are some places to start. The natives will be able to help you adjust to the cold. And if you need any questions answered from me, just ask! Happy move!

      • Thank you! We’re getting ready to start sorting and plan a garage sell. What doesn’t sell will be donated to local charity thrift stores. Nothing they can’t make money from. I know our hardest things to give up will be books. But many our now on computers but that doesn’t help when the power goes out. I’m selling plants that won’t live in zone 5- most of them, lol. Everything has to be gone through on whether or not we keep it. Moving truck rental are sky high leaving California. Opposite coming here, prices are normal. Seems people really want to leave this state. Stay warm!

    • Hi, Cat: We, too, have thought of leaving far north California for beautiful Idaho. Probably Clark Fork. We have friends there in that tiny town of 500, but bigger Sandpoint is only 18 miles north. Our friend who lives in Clark Fork was actually raised nearby, just like your husband. He is in his early 60s now and he and his wife moved back about 3 years ago; back t his childhood. They love it! They have a tiny town to minister to people, wonderful distant neighbors, all the outdoors he could possibly want for his hunting and fishing! They couldn’t stand hot Redding temperatures anymore. But, from his childhood he knew he could handle the long, cold north Idaho winters.

      • Thank you! We looked at Clark Ford but couldn’t find anything at the time. My husband is the son of missionaries. So we have to have a good church in the area. He’s not a missionary, his head injury in the Army makes it difficult to talk at times. We’re going to be (hopefully) in southeast Idaho, Grace to be exact. Praying the town will be accepting of us. I’m a Texan, love it, but the heat and mostly humidity makes me hurt a lot. Stable temperatures don’t, hot or cold. Another reason to be in Idaho. My Dad’s side is from eastern Oregon and Washington, with a few scattered throughout Idaho and surrounding states. My husbands family is likewise scattered around the area I mentioned. It’ll be nice to be closer to all of them.

  9. Here a high of 40. I felt like I could be in a T-shirt. Making your own lumber really saves money. Lumber is high priced now. My chickens and cattle loved the sun. What’s the name of Will’s sawmill? Spring getting closer.

    • We loved having just a couple day break. Today we had a high of 10 degrees F and a 35 mph wind. Brrrr. His mill is a HudSon. Come on spring!!!

  12. Taking the sheets off my tender plants today, and planting peppers tomorrow. Going to be 80. Zone 9 weather for you. Should have most of my spring garden in by next week.

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