The forecasters are saying we may be getting up to 18 inches of blowing, drifting snow today, into tomorrow. Ish! Will hauled some big round bales into the training ring, then moved the cows in there so they could have access to the cozy barn when the wind gets bad. The county next to us is under a blizzard warning and we’re only a few miles from the county line. We may get winds up to 60 mph or better, on top of a big snow. This morning, we mailed the seed orders and, already, the roads had drifted snow across them from a strong East wind.

It’s snowing like mad right now.

My knee keeps on improving. Yesterday, for the first time in over two months, I went in a store, shopping. Aldie’s was having a pre-Easter sale on hams and other things, so I stocked up. Yep, COVID seems to be gone (for now, anyway), but who knows what may be lurking around the corner. The economy sure doesn’t look great, does it? I love having big fat pantries and freezers full of good food. Tomorrow, I’m canning up some chili. On Friday, Will’s hauling in our big Angus bull to butcher and I told him I wanted some burger and several boneless roasts from the loin. As the freezers are full, I’ve got to “get rid” of some frozen meat that’s getting a little old. Chili’s the answer to some of that! What a problem, right?

I have flats of newly planted tomatoes waiting to go behind the wood stove as soon as I move the peppers into the indoor greenhouses.

Tomorrow, I’m also transplanting my fancy, cherry-flavored petunias. Today I rearranged the living room so we can bring in the little plastic greenhouses to set up next to the south-facing patio windows. Not only do I need them for the petunias, but also the peppers which have popped up. I got all the tomatoes planted and they need to replace the pepper flats behind the wood stove so they get extra heat to quickly germinate them. Yep, we’ll keep busy, regardless of what’s happening outside!

Aren’t the petunias gorgeous?

— Jackie

30 COMMENTS

  1. Good to see you are recovering and getting around again. I haven’t been following for quite a while here and went back to Feb. 1 to see that you had a knee replacement surgery. A friend of ours had one knee – great outcome and no issues. Had the second one done and ongoing trouble – ended up in a leg cast for almost a year!!! Horrendous! Just never know how things will turn out!! Glad you are getting mobile and doing better. Got some seeds started here and never got my order sent to you yet!! I’m still going to do that. Take care and God bless!

  2. Covid is not gone, I have it. I had all the vaccinations and I felt safe to quit wearing a mask. I’m very sick but I think I will live, God willing.

    • I sure hope your recover soon. I know COVID isn’t gone; just much less prevalent than before. Thank God!! We’re still VERY careful not to mix in crowds.

  3. Dear Jackie, your petunias are lovely! I bought the same variety and though we have a heated greenhouse, not one of my seeds germinated. What is your secret to such nice petunia starts.

    • I use ProMix starting mix, then dampen it with warm water. I carefully sprinkle the tiny seeds on the surface and press them in gently, not covering them. Then I water again with warm spray, cover the flat with a plastic shopping bag and place in a very warm place. They pop up pretty quickly.

  4. So glad to hear your knee is improving! Our weather has been crazy too. Highs of 87 on Tuesday with severe storms and wind and then highs in the 50 yesterday. I have 20 degrees as I write this. I covered my winter sowing jugs so hopefully they will survive. Several have plants sprouting. Prayers for you and Will to stay safe and warm. Spring has arrived, crazy weather and all!

    • Spring has arrived in some places, but we’re still seeing winter. Hopefully, this weekend will bring at least a temporary bout of warm weather to melt some of our snow. I hope you didn’t have those nasty tornadoes!

  5. Jackie is it possible for you to put your chicken recipe on here? I will understand if you can’t. I actually have 2 of your cookbooks, but can’t locate either! lol.
    I live in the PNW and usually we can start planting cold weather crops by this time of the year. However this year we are still experiencing snow, sleet, hail, you name it we’re getting it! I am almost 73 and have never seen this type of weather patterns in this area , it’s nuts! Glad to hear you are getting better, stay warm and safe please.

    • I will put that recipe here if you’ll tell me which chicken recipe it is. I have dozens!! It does seem like, all over, we’re getting real crazy weather. I’m sure hoping and praying it will soon turn around a bit.

      • My phone changed chile to chicken for some reason only known to spell check. Sorry for the confusion.

  6. Duluth is only 4″ short of the snow record! We got the snow, hail,lightning, rain and big winds last night but it’s better now. Happy your knee is getting better and I love your little seedlings! Take care!

    • Thanks Pam. We ended up with only 2″ of snow and that’s nothing. We were so glad we didn’t end up with the possible 12″ they were forecasting.

  7. STORMS…we got 60 mph wind already, hail and tons of rain in Lawrence County, Tennessee. We got oil lamps and gas stove so ok there for supper if electric goes out. IF we don’t blow away. We have been plagued with tornadoes for two months so just another day to hunker down per weatherman. Hope all your folks stay safe in the snow! Take care

    • We’ve been seeing all those terrible tornadoes in the south and pray hard for everyone there. That’s something you really can’t adequately prepare for. Our storm was a bust; wind and a little snow but nothing bad. Stay safe!!!

  8. We have been having highs in the mid thirties here in Copper Basin Alaska with lows from 2 to 25. Clouded over last night and started flurrying. This is supposed to continue through the weekend! We rarely get strong wind with the snow as we are between mountain ranges. Peppers and tomato’s sprouting. Keep up on healing, don’t push too hard too hard too soon!

    • Boy, that’s hard for me! I got SO bored lying down to rest my leg I could scream. But it’s much better now. You’re lucky about the wind. We don’t usually get a lot but this storm was a very blustery one….luckily without much snow for us.

  9. Wow-nothing like more snow. Makes one wonder when spring will come. My peppers are up but the tomatoes have been slow to sprout. Cold weather makes me look at the wood pile and hay stored hoping it will last. You can never have too much food stored. It’s crazy how prices have gone up. I hope you miss the storm.

    • Yep, spring will be late this year, I’m thinking. We’ve gone through more wood this year than ever before. And we haven’t had that much severely below zero weather, either. We’ve gone through nearly a year and a half’s wood!

  10. Hi Jackie,
    Been busy and haven’t been able to be here for awhile. It’s nice to hear your knee is so much better and could go to Aldi’s for some Easter shopping. I’m sure this had to be a nice venture.
    It will be nice to get the meat from the Angus in the freezer and agree having stock freezers and pantry is such a plus. Making chili will definitely be a good way to use up some of older meats.
    Your keeping busy inside regardless of the weather outside.
    We’ve had some dousy storms here with wind and some places tornado warnings.
    I’m not complaining no surprise snow storms lately. Weather has been a roller coaster ride.
    Haven’t talk to my sister who lives closer to Minnesota border to see how her weather is today.
    I’ve been busy getting plant starts going inside. Have strawberries coming up in my vertical planter as well as lettuce, tomatoes and spinach. Also have 5 new baby chicks keeping me on my toes as their growing like crazy and eating up a storm lol
    Stay warm and cozy and enjoy the beauty of the snow from indoors.

    • Aww, baby chicks… I love them! I can’t wait until I can let the new Whiting True Blue hens sit on eggs. (Or if they won’t, I’ll put their eggs under a broody Buff Orphington.) You keep those tornadoes away!! I hate them. Luckily, that’s one thing we have very few of, way up here.

  11. Weather in Kansas just as
    Confused. Yesterday high 81
    Then the front moved through
    Very quickly. Temp in 30 minutes
    Was 59. Todays highs in the 50’s
    Next week 80’s and 91 predictions
    Watering everything to keep my
    Perennial plants alive in this
    Sudden heat. Most have Tiny
    Leaves. Scrambling is best
    Word to describe Spring here

    • Wow, that’s confused weather. Our friend, Alisha, says it’s bi-polar!! Everyone has had crazy weather this spring. I hope it turns around soon.

  12. You can keep that snow up north now! Haha! We got 13″ Friday night/Saturday. Everything’s looking good and I hope your knee keeps getting better all the time.

    I transplanted all my tomatoes into pots on Sunday – all the varieties I got from you and they are doing great! Will probably be transplanting peppers next week some time. I’m trying more hot pepper seeds in a baggie on a wet paper towel on a warming tray since none of my hot sugar peach germinated. We’ll see how that goes! Jalapenos look good though.

    Take care, and thanks for keeping us updated.

    Jeanine

  13. Heavy wet snow here, wind…most roads in the area closed or no travel advised. (20 miles east of Minnesota North Dakota line.) Supposed to be in the 40s by the weekend so there’s hope for Spring! I planted tomato seeds a few days ago in the house and then had to go buy more ice melt to use outside as I’d used mine up. No wonder the birds are confused, I think people are too.

  14. Rain, t-storms, hail, winds, and tornadoes in my area. Put a bit of a damper on Election Day but we persevered. Tornado season started earlier than normal (March not April) and I suspect this is the new “norm”.

    • Also keeping fingers crossed for it to dry up enough to till the garden on Friday. Or Saturday/Sunday as I’m sure Grandpa will forgive me if I plant taters a day or two after Good Friday. No sooner than the snow was gone we got a couple of good rains.
      I forget what they are called but always the first flowers of spring for me. Pretty sure a wildflower/wood flower and with some TLC, I’ve managed to save them and am seeing them multiply. Bleeping invasive garlic mustard almost overtook them.

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