We sure wouldn’t have bet on it. But boy that’s a huge blessing right now. Will and Drew finished up getting the wood stove installed and lit a fire in it. Ta da! It drew fine and soon had a nice blaze going, warming up the house. Because David really insulated the house when he built it, the inside of the house was way colder than outside! A nice fire soon took care of that. They got the lithium-ion batteries Drew bought installed along with the inverter and charger. Unfortunately, the generator, which we’d bought from David, had sat for two years. They started it with no trouble. Then it died and they couldn’t get it going again. Today they’re working on it, hoping it doesn’t need to go to the shop. Lights in the house are nice at night.
Meanwhile, besides packing seeds, I managed to get two flats of pepper seeds planted and are now starting behind the wood stove where it’s nice and toasty. Peppers need very warm temperatures to germinate quickly.
I also found some Marrowfat beans I hadn’t remembered harvesting. Before offering them on the website, as it is too late for the catalog, I tested them for germination. They had been behind the wood stove, in a washcloth, dampened with warm water and put in a bowl, in a plastic bag to hold in the moisture. They’d been in for a week. Two days previous, I checked them and many were starting to germinate. Yesterday, I took off the bag and holy cow, the washcloth was humped up in the middle. I lifted it off and those beans had not only germinated but gone wild. They had all germinated but two out of 20 and were six inches tall with roots you wouldn’t believe. Yep, I guess those seeds are good!
In this spell of sunny, warm weather, son, Bill and granddaughter, Ava, took their horses over to the stable where Ava takes lessons and works, to ride in the outdoor arena. Bill hadn’t been on Abe, the Friesian our daughter, Randie had given them, since late fall. He went just fine and looked good from the photos Bill sent me. Yea! The two of those riders will have a lot of fun with their horses this summer. — Jackie
Hey Jackie, it was nice that you got the stove installed properly. Here in middle southern TN, it is 66 today and sunshine. Three weeks ago, we had 8 inches of snow and tons of ice that brought a lot of our trees down. It got down to 10 degrees or so, but we were warm and toasty in our log house. The power company worked for days restoring electricity in our area and Nashville to our north was not fully restored until Feb. 9th. It was bad for us but we have propane tank for gas fireplace and kitchen stove. We were lucky and did not lose power; but most people in our area did. I do love a wood fireplace but we have to consider our age and ability and got the propane. That way, we are still independent and self reliant, even in old age. We just watched it snow and sleet and I opened jars of my delicious canned goods and we had a good time. I made a quilt, too; but, I can’t wait for spring!
Yep, we, too, have fall cleanup jobs that didn’t get done. What’s new for us, huh??? Oh well, when the snow goes, we’ll get right on it. Before planting mania hits. I found four eggs today so our girls are starting in. Now if they don’t quit when it gets cold again…
Sounds like great weather nearly everywhere. I went out to burn last fall’s garden debris but the breeze is a bit too strong and could pull an ember out of the barrel. We are dry here so it would be a rapid nightmare. It was nice to empty the old barrel ashes onto garden and envision what will be growing where this summer. We gardeners are all optimists, with high hopes and the few occasional failures that keep us humble.
Sorry to hear about the generator; a disappointment, but as others have said, “Where there’s (a) Will, there’s a way!” So glad the big task of heat is accomplished, hooray!
It’s smart your considered the fire danger. Too many big fires are started from someone’s burning barrel.
The generator’s back working. I think it was just being a butt.
Low 30’s here in mid-Vermont, a nice change from the below-zero weather we had from the middle of January until last week. I started the peppers, boy do they take a long time to get going. I’ve also started a few flats of onions, can’t cook without them, and I’ll probably start celery soon. We have a short growing season so everything has to be practically ready to flower and set fruit by the time the weather warms up and they can go from the greenhouse into the garden, otherwise we get no peppers or tomatoes or cukes.
Generators are great, but you’ve got to stay on top of them and start them periodically, even if you aren’t using them much. Our son had that issue on Thanksgiving – power went out while I was cooking dinner at his (all-electric) house and he hadn’t maintained the generator. Most everything was pretty well cooked, so we reheated over sterno. Thank goodness for sterno!
You’re right. Generators should be started periodically, even when stored. It was David’s and he left it at the old house. We were scared someone might steal it so Will brought it home and put it in the barn. Should have started it, but drained the fuel and let it sit. Today they got it started just fine.
That fire in Drew’s stove looks great, warm & cozy! No fire lit here in east Nebraska it’s in the 60’s today and forecasted 70 tomorrow. Very dry with red flag warnings (no fires). I haven’t started any seeds inside yet, but outside I did put in a little lettuce in a covered sunny spot. Hope! It’s what keeps gardeners going. Last Friday we had a nice surprise, when I went out to do morning chores there was a baby calf dancing in the corral! So cute. The owner said I could name her, so I chose Gracie since she moves so well. Spring is coming! Peace!
Aww, a new calf is so cute!! I’m still planting the last flat of peppers. Only some petunias and pansies are going to follow soon. The rest will wait awhile.
In the upper 60s with sunshine here in northern Oklahoma. I just came in a bit ago and checked to see if you had posted and there it was. I always look forward to reading the latest from you. Seems we’re all keeping busy with outdoor chores in an attempt to “make hay while the sun shines “.
Yep, we always try to roll with the weather. I found a chicken nest with four eggs in it this morning. Luckily, they weren’t frozen.
Hard to believe it’s so warm for February. It’s 63 here right now and so nice to be outdoors.
Since older dogs have passed for awhile now it’s just me and the little one outdoors but he loves it.
Great you have peppers started behind the stove. Great place to start them since it’s so warm there.
Good too the Marrowfat beans are good and went wild when you put them in bowl. I’m not familiar with them. Can you explain them a little. Thanks.
Wonderful Bill and Ava went to the outdoor arena. Friesian are such amazing and wonderful horses. They will have fun riding this summer.
So glad the wood stove is up and running yeah!
I hope the generator won’t have to go to the shop but good if have it running. Lights inside the house will definitely be nice.
Have a wonderful day and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Marrowfat beans are a plump white, nearly round, medium sized bean that is very productive. I like them for baking as they do, as many people have said, taste kind of like bacon. Without adding bacon. Being a bush bean, they’re easy to care for and nice to pick.
Good news, they got the generator started with not too much sweat. It’s running well now.
We love Friesians and I have my own mare, Ladyhawk.
Thanks, Jackie. Where are all the comments? Maybe dealing with a new storm and snow where they live.
They’re coming along now. We’re under a winter snow advisory for tomorrow evening and Wednesday. Six to 12 inches of blowing snow, they’re forecasting. It IS winter, after all….
Weather here 50’s. Maple taps in-slow flow. With the great weather I’m getting more outside work done. Soon I’ll start my peppers and celery. The chickens are laying eggs again. We turned the cattle back on the corn stalks. All the snow is nearly gone except that in the woods. Wood burning in my outside stove lasts a day and a half. The sunshine is great. Good job on the wood stove. I’ve had similar issures with generators-they can be a pain. I still have fall clean up projects that didn’t get done. Great day here.