Will has started a big project in the basement. It started out that he wanted to build more shelves down the center of the basement to stack my cases of canned food that are currently on the floor down there. Yep, I overflowed the “not for food” shelves already. Yes, we do eat our canned food! I just can more than we eat, and I feel that’s a good thing, given the way the economy is lately. Even the dry foods I had stocked up on a few years ago are very welcome. For instance, I needed brown sugar for my pumpkin pies at Thanksgiving. I went down and found a bucket full of bags I’d bought for 99 cents on sale. Now it’s $1.90 on sale. Think of all the savings, not just on this but other foods! We have our own little store down there!
But when he started, he discovered the pink fiberglass insulation he’d put along the 12-inch sill plate on top of the basement walls had been pretty much destroyed by mice. How the heck they got in there, I don’t know as our basement is pretty tight. And we have two cats and two dogs that hunt mice with abandon. So, he tore out all the insulation (wearing a mask, I might add), stuffed it into bags, which I took to the dump this morning, and is using spray foam on the 2×12-inch sill plate instead.
While he’s been busy down there, I hit the kitchen, washing up all the dishes that had accumulated over the last few days, including pots and pans. Then I started in shelling sweet corn to fill some bins as our new catalog should be out this week and we’ll see (hopefully!) a surge of orders. I’ve been doing squash and Olinka naked seeded pumpkins as well. The shelves are covered with trays of drying seed. It’s so much fun! Just think of all those plants, come spring.
Our high today was 7 degrees F and the low tonight will probably be -15 or so. We have both the living room wood stove and the wood kitchen range burning merrily today, to warm the house up nice and toasty. It’s such a good, comforting heat! Meanwhile, I’m doing the initial garden planning maps, trying to figure out what to plant and where would be the best place. Yes, in August, we’ll be turning the seed business over to Lynn and Jesse. But we’ll still grow some seeds for them, as they have done for us. Plus, I’ll always have a big garden to can up. Gotta keep those new “for food” shelves full, don’t we? — Jackie
Oh my yes its cold , even into central WI. I just can’t wait to see that catalog! All of your descriptions sound so interesting. And I love all the canned goods you have!
I just Love looking at your pictures!!Stored brown sugar! Wish I had thought of that! I did read an exchange for brown sugar: 1 cup white sugar minus 3TB add 3TB molasses. Haven’t tried-yet. With price jumps the 25#white sugar in storage will be definitely needed. Looking forward to seeing the Seed Treasures catalog!! Sending you my order shortly after. Have the feeling many more will be coming to you for their seeds. Mice how they linger even with cats n dogs. Stay warm in side while seeding the corn. Canning plum juice and jam today
High today of 6 degrees. Hauling cattle to sale barn today. Lots of snow here. House toasty with wood heat. I wish I was in the house. Last feeder cattle calf sale of the year. Sale barn is one hour away. We foamed the sills of our basement-best insulation. However the mice still like to chew through the foam. Mice are a feature of country living-hah.
Twelve below here in Ely this morning. It takes a bit of getting used to. Thankful for the sun.
I’m looking forward to the new catalog. We are starting a ministry teaching people how to grow their own food here in the north country. If you were starting back at the beginning of your garden journey what 5 things would you grow?
PS…dang mice!