The weather forecast is for 8 to 10 inches of snow, falling tonight through tomorrow. Will’s been having trouble with the truck snowplow. He had to replace the motor (which had been on the truck for like 20 years, so it didn’t owe us anything), then the pump was not working. At sub-zero temps, he pulled the motor (again) and then the pump. Holy cow, it was frozen in a block of ice! No wonder it didn’t work. So yesterday, he removed the pump with the help of his handy propane torch, melted out and drained all the ice/water in the reservoir and brought the pump inside to thaw, dry and examine. This morning, he replaced the pump and added hydraulic fluid to the reservoir. Yeah, the pump worked, but it would only lift and go down. There has to be ice in the hydraulic lines as well. He’s working on that now.
Meanwhile, some good news. When I came home from the post office this morning, there were 10 boxes of our new catalogs sitting by the gate, courtesy of FedEx. I had several pages full of names and addresses of folks who had emailed or written us for a new catalog. So, I sat down and got to address the first batch of catalogs.
I really love the cover of the new catalog as it’s a customer, holding his prize-winning ear of Bear Island Chippewa corn, the biggest one I’ve ever seen. No wonder he was proud of it!
Just a note: all of our regular customers will be getting their new catalog directly from the post office near the printer. They went out today. It’s strange how our seed business started as a non-business and has now grown and grown. It goes to show you that you can “make money” doing something you’re passionate about if you keep at it and deliver something folks want or need. Yes, even on a self-reliant homestead, you do need a source of money, whether it be for taxes, fuel, repairs, insurance, or whatever. But it is nice when the homestead provides that cash. — Jackie
Here’s a side-bar, Jackie, to your mention of feeding deer. Isn’t that wisdom to have a feed lot, so that in time of need, you can dispatch and feed your family? Great idea! And besides, you know exactly what the content of the fodder has been for your good health. Regards from far north California.
Yes, I suppose it is. But we do have a herd of cattle that we could tap for meat if things would go south.
The weather sure has been a strange roller coaster ride hasn’t it? Here in east NE we’ve had below freezing, down to 0 for a week then yesterday almost 60. The snow is mostly melted, but plenty of ice patches left. Last night there were high winds 50 to 60 mph. The renters left 2 cows here for the winter so need to take a short walk to the north pasture to make sure the fence is ok. The catalog cover is great, looking forward to getting it! Keep warm & safe everyone!
One thing we can count on is that the snow that falls now will still be on the ground, come April. We never get snow melt in December, although that would be nice. I’m so happy with the catalog cover this year!!
I love that catalog cover! We had a warm day today, 43 degrees, but is forecast to drop all night and be in the 20s tomorrow. The wind is supposed to pick up in the wee morning hours with gusts up to 50 mph then quiet down mid morning and I hope it does.Wind is scary. Sounds like Will has had a hard, cold job in his hands. Those things always seem to happen in very cold or very hot weather. At least he can come inside to a nice warm house and thaw out and fuel up on your good home cooking. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
Thanks Marilyn! Yep, we often do get unpleasant surprises when the weather isn’t pleasant for fixing things. Yesterday, when he was plowing, he got a nasty flat tire on the plow truck. Luckily, he had plowed out and was nearly home when it went. He managed to get it off, just in time to take it and the other front tire, in to the Tire Shop in town, to get a pair of new tires. Ouch!!!
Here in Copper Basin Alaska we had -37 for a low and -30 for a high today. Further east toward Tok they had -50! Ot a lot of snow, maybe six inches on the ground. I need to remember to order catalog!
You should get one automatically, as you are a returning customer. If not, please let me know, okay? Gee, we almost moved north of Tok, years ago, but the sale on our New Mexico ranch fell through at the last minute (after son, Bill, had already bought return plane tickets!). The land was sold in the meantime, and we ended up back in Montana.
How do I get a copy of the catalog? Or at least, how do I order the pale gray Hopi squash seeds?
Thank you!
Click on the square button above these comments, that says Seed Treasures!
If you’d like a catalog, just email me your address at jackieclay2007@yahoo.com and I’ll get one right off for you. Or you can do as Elizabeth so kindly advised.
Winter is definitely coming! I just want to make sure I’m still on your mailing list. I want to try some of your peppers. My Hopi pale grey squash sure performed well this year and gave us some huge squash!
Wonderful!! All returning customers will be getting a catalog that was mailed directly from the printer on Monday. If you don’t get one soon, please let me know. I’m tickled that our favorite, Hopi Pale Grey squash did well for you!!
That is a fabulous ear of corn!!! Great choice for the cover photo :^)
I get a kick out of Sue’s comment “Where there’s a Will there’s a way.” So true!
Thank you, Nancy. That man needs to be cloned.
That ear of corn is amazing. So is Mr. Miller’s smile!!! Yep, Will usually figures out fixes for our broken stuff. Thank God!!
Jackie, what are you going to do next year with all your spare time once you sell the seed business? I remember when you started selling seeds. Can you even imagine all the veggies that are grown all over the country from your little seed business? I’m so thankful you’ve shared your wealthy of knowledge from canning ,stocking the pantry and preserving seed. ❤️
We really won’t have a lot of spare time, as we will keep growing some seed for Lynn and Jesse as so many things must be isolated to keep pure seed. No, I can’t fathom all the veggies that are growing all over the country from our seeds. And, I hope, people are starting to save their own seeds, so they won’t ever be lost. I think Will counted like 94 different varieties that only Seed Treasures carries.
Great cover! Always enjoyed ordering seeds from you!!!
Isn’t that a wonderful cover? I love it!! I’m so glad you are having good results, planting our seeds!
Holy cow what a project for Will. You’re lucky you have such a good mechanic. That “project” would not be fun and very frustrating. Here, we had 14 inches of snow (SWWi). My chickens quit laying for 2 days. I only barely bang on the feed bucket and the cattle come running for feed. I have kept all your catalogs you have sent me with their distinctive covers. We’re going to get rain and ice tonight and we’ll hunker down. No sense going anywhere. You have a long driveway. Good luck Will. I know he’ll get it fixed.
@Everett Lindsey – you a bit NW of me so I thought you’d be getting snow according to tonight’s news. We’re getting freezing rain/bit-o-snow. As it stands today, another 6-8 inches for me on Saturday (what is with this three Saturday’s in a row snow?). We ran an errand this morning and the east/west road on our way home was starting to drift over so I hope the county is keeping an eye out.
Wow, we didn’t end up with as much snow as you did. All totaled, we only have about 8″ on the ground. It is kind of raw though. Our cows hear us coming before we can bang a bucket and they sound like they’re getting killed. I wonder what the neighbors 2 miles away think?? Will takes down extra seeded-out squash and pumpkins too, which they really, really like. He got the plow to life, but the hydraulic lines on both sides must have ice in them too, as it won’t angle. Luckily, the plow froze in an angled position so he can plow anyway, until he gets it fixed. Equipment!!!
I can’t wait to receive my catalog. Btw, your smile is contagious. Thank you for being you. ❤️
We’re having fun, sending out catalogs to new customers who have emailed or written in. Hey, I can only be me. : )
Love the cover you chose! We’re getting a steady drizzling, not the forecasted downpour nor the high winds. 40’ s at night mid 50’s days! Bugs are Still around.Plus the blue birds! Very unusual for this late in the year. Seems like winter s past usually kicks in snow ice by now.Though I do recall a mild December- followed by-0 February a whole month Wills sure keeping him self Busy! As are you!. Sure hope he can get the lines unthawed before you get drifted in. Stay warm!
He managed to get the main pump thawed out and plowed the driveway nicely. We didn’t get the nasty snow dump they forecasted though. It went south of us. Whew!! Bluebirds??? Holy cow, we haven’t seen them for months now. And bugs? We did see a mosquito flying in the living room though!
I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating.
Where there is a Will, there is a way. If Will can’t fix it, it can’t be fixed. That man is a keeper, you two are the dynamic duo. Stay safe and snug during the snowstorm.
I agree with you. It’s amazing at how many different things he can fix. Me, I don’t have the patience he does. With animals, yes, but equipment, not hardly!! We didn’t get that snow storm. It went south of us. This time.
It is only December 7 and we’re already tired of snow lol. Hauled in more wildlife feed today, that was fun – I should have did a bit more shoveling to make it easier to walk..
Better half raked off part of the roof – discovered a down spout extension was frozen solid cause ice cycles to form (and drip leaving lovely patches of ice). In most of the areas that get “raked”, you have to turn around and shovel what you raked off.
We will have two days of temps just past mid-30s and freezing rain/bit-o-snow. So glad I do not have to drive to work. And if the forecast is correct, I may need to blaze another trail through the snow as the current one will likely be icy slick as it goes downhill. The ground wasn’t frozen when the first snow hit right after T-Day.
Trudging through the snow, with or without carrying anything is a workout. You just have to pace yourself.
I like the cover of the catalog – you should keep one for yourselves. Planting may be a ways away but planning is not.
Well, we got half of our snow, about 5″. But the sun’s out today and we’re making use of it. It’s funny, the deer now come when I call them and the turkeys are not far behind. So far, we’ve got 5 deer and about 20 wild turkeys. We used to get about 14 deer but that bad winter a couple years back sure thinned down the herd.
I love the catalog’s cover too. I think I’m going to order a canvas print of it to hang on the wall.
I’ve not had the turkeys show up yet but I saw a flock of around 30 in a field not far from me the other day. Two does and their sets of twins are regular visitors. Going to have to put out a bit more feed late afternoon I think.
Now we’re down to 4-5 inches Saturday but I still think I’ll do my normal Sunday visit to a relative on Friday. There still will be shoveling to do with that amount of snow. Some of the ice did melt today but I wish the sun had come out.
Do you have a snow blower? We got one after years of shoveling paths here and there, even a 1/4 mile long driveway, years ago. It made all the difference in the world!!! Why didn’t we think of one sooner?????
We have a skid steer but still plenty of shoveling to be done – roof rake or not