Will and he went down to the cities to pick up the last big loads of his things, and he’s spent the last few days sorting things out and putting things away. On Tuesday, he invited us over to his place for dinner. He makes a mean chicken adobo. It was served over rice and boy, did it taste good. Will and I sat on his futon, in front of the cozy woodstove’s fire and enjoyed visiting. It’s so nice the house is no longer empty. It felt so lonely!
I planted the rest of our peppers and expect them to be poking up about next Monday or sooner. It’s amazing how fast those seedlings grow. I’m already getting excited about the gardens and have picked out quite a bit of seed to plant, plus the planned asparagus crowns and potatoes. Our potatoes from last fall look (and taste) great. A few of the reds (Bliss Triumph) are starting to sprout. But none of the russets have. They’re German Butterball and Dakota Pearl. Our onions also are holding very well. Some of the white Ringmasters are sprouting. But I’m still able to salvage them. I want to chop them up and dehydrate them as they’re so handy in a lot of various meals.
Our squash is also storing well, right in the entryway to the living room, in crates. We still have a lot of them to seed out and eat, of course! Our friend, Dara, took a couple Gueramon Martinique home and cooked them after saving their seed. She was awed by the flavor and asked if she could take a crate home to can up (and save seed for us). Of course, I gave my blessing, and she called me to say they were all canned up nicely.
I had to laugh at our cat, Mittens. Will was in his chair, eating a slice of pizza when she hopped up and demanded a chunk for herself. It’s amazing what that cat eats. Of course, things like yogurt and ice cream are kind of normal. But what about chili and pizza? I mean my chili wasn’t very spicy hot, but it did have green chilies in it and it wasn’t mild. Mittens licked the bowl clean. Hmmm, maybe that’s why she’s Murder Mittens?
— Jackie
Your potatoes look great and your cat Mittens is a character eating people food…especially eating chili.
Have a good week
Sue
I’m so tickled at our potatoes!! So happy they were so abundant and tasty, too. Here’s hoping for this year too. We love our potatoes.
Yep, Mittens is crazy. She eats squash too and boy, you don’t want to get out the ice cream or yogurt.
Those potatoes look wonderful! I have grown the German Butter Ball type before and liked the way they produced and tasted. It’s nice that Drew is all moved in. Sorry it didn’t work out for David and his family to live close, but it will be so nice to have Drew close. It’s hard to watch a house just set empty. I’m getting anxious to start gardening. Soon it will be that time. Im thinking of getting a few chickens this year. I miss my hens. I think they will have to be kept in a pen or use a chicken tractor due to the amount of predators here. Baby Rhode Island Reds are 6 dollars each for pullets. That’s just crazy. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
We were very sad to see David and his family move to town. You’re right, it’s so depressing to see his house sitting empty. Much nicer that Drew is all moved in.
Yep, the price of chickens is nuts right now. Last spring I spent $11 apiece for Blue Oprington pullets, and two turned out to be roosters.
Cost of chicks are unreasonable! Since you got‘lucky’ on two roosters, try obtaining a broody hen! Or invest ( or find in storage incubator) every year I bravely purchase 5/7 chicks and fortunately 2-3 hens go broody. Last year only two! Hatching but it’s still less expensive than the purchase. Good luck!
We’re hoping a couple of our older hens go broody. We also have an incubator that our friend, Sherri, used to hatch chicks for herself and us last year.
We won’t be buying any more chickens as we have plenty now, including, of course, our several 11 year old hens that still lay.
Dear Jackie,
Drew sure will be a comfort for you and Will. It is always great to share a meal that you don’t cook yourself. LOL I hope he loves his homesteading days and stays forever. We sure do like the country ourselves and hope to stay until we die. My husband was leary when we first moved but he says now that he would NEVER live in the city again. I got out my pressure canner today to can some beans tomorrow. I also visited some Amish farms today to see when their crops are coming in. My friend said she planted 1,000 strawberry plants so I am hoping for lots more of fresh berries this spring. I am soooo ready for spring and especially canning season. Mittens sure is cute and getting kind of big. Do we need enroll her in Weight Watchers?! LOL
Yep, Mittens and Buffy both need work on a treadmill for sure. I’m also very ready for spring gardening and canning to begin. I’ve been so busy I haven’t canned much lately but do have a few packages of chicken breasts I need to can up soon. They are so versatile! The other day I made chicken pot pie and am planning chicken enchiladas soon. Yum!!
My potato crop last year was just fair-I had a hard time controlling weeds due to rain. Boiling sap today-long day and tiring but boy do I love the maple syrup. I’m waiting still for peppers to emerge. I have them on heat mats now 8 days-nothing up yet. I too find gardening very therapeutic. I use a portable stool. I love my ATV and my kids say I’ve forgotten had to walk. Hah!50 degrees here today-go figure. One son busy trimming brush/trees along edges of our field. Great day to be outside. Nothing beats a wood stove for heat.
I was so lucky in that Will took keeping the potatoes well weeded. I’m sure that contributed to our huge crop. I’m waiting for my last peppers to pop up too. (A watched pot never boils….) I totally get you using the ATV. I did that until I found swinging my leg over the back made my bad knees worse. The solar-powered golf cart is just the ticket for me! I use the heck out of it all summer. I even harvested a big patch of dry corn out of it.
I’m so happy your maple syrup is doing well. Let’s hope for a lengthy sap flow!
After the cold & snow last week, today it is 70. Forecast for Sunday is cold & snow. Crazy weather is getting crazier! No seeds started here yet, next week I’ll sanitize pots, still need to get somewhere for starting mix. This year I’m going to try the Gueramon Martinique and am really looking forward to tasting them.
So wonderful to hear Drew got moved in. May he you & Will be blessed with a great year!
Thanks Vicki! Gueramon Martinique is a wonderful smaller squash. Our friend, Dara, just begged me for a crate full to can up so she has it all year long. Our weather’s crazy too. Last night it was -22 F and Drew’s water froze in the downstairs bathroom because it was 45 in the living room this morning. Fortunately, this week is supposed to warm up.
There was a cat here once that looked just like Mittens and she ruled the roost. Callie’s nickname was Swimbo, the pronounciation of SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed). She was quite a character.
The daffodils are blooming here. Yesterday we planted out the first round of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower and then I sowed four 18′ rows of Wando peas. So we’re off and running! Another set of the brassicas will follow in a few weeks.Staggering the planting prevents avalanches!
So glad Drew has moved in. It’s no longer just a house but officially now a home. :)
Your cat, Swimbo’s name is what Mittens should have been called. She “tells” Will when she wants to go upstairs with him, to bed, when she is out of food or water, when she wants to go outside. Or come in. She’s very demanding!
Wow, blooming daffodils!! Mine are under snowdrifts yet. And brassicas already planted. That’s a big difference from up here in the frigid north!!
Mittens! She should write a book! Hint Jackie! Beautiful potatoes! Didn’t grow enough last year but the few we still had earlier this month, even with some sprouts were delicious in the big pot of soup I made with. So exciting to see the sprouts no peppers yet- only got them in last couple days. SO Look Forward to seeing your posts!
Is it safe to eat sprouted potatoes? I’ve always been told not to! If so, I just threw out a big bag from the grocery store that sprouted, despite being in a dark cupboard. 😢
Yes, it’s definitely safe to eat sprouted potatoes. I just break off the sprouts and throw them out and go ahead and peel the potatoes. They’re tasty and you don’t waste them.
We are so grateful to have so many nice potatoes. I use them in so many different ways too. I’m looking forward to spring planting so very much!!
Thank you so much for your emails I look forward to reading each one. I’m finalizing my seed order to send off to you guys hopefully by tomorrow. I’m so excited to get them especially the pepper seeds to get them started. I was wondering so did your grandson drew build his home on your property? Or is it just close by somewhere?
No, Drew didn’t build his home. It is on our land but our son, David, built in. It didn’t work out for them, and they bought a house in town. We were sad to see it sitting empty so were happy to offer it to Drew when he said he wanted to move up north. The house is about 1/2 mile down our driveway from our house.
At first I thought you gave Drew taters for a housewarming gift lol. While I don’t doubt his chicken adobo was good, eating a meal you didn’t have to cook is nice.
Is there a propane furnace at Drew’s house? It is nice that Will and Drew will also be able to cut/haul/split firewood together. And likely build a wood storage unit at Drew’s. I’m excited to hear more about Drew’s venture.
A month until Good Friday – will start watching for seed potatoes.
Nope, we didn’t give Drew potatoes for his house warming gift. : ) But he does get to eat them every day here. There is a backup propane heater at the house but he’s heating with wood as it’s cheaper. Right now, Drew can store wood under the house as it’s on piers from five to six feet tall, giving a lot of dry storage room.
We don’t plant our potatoes until June as we’ve found out they do better for us, when planted later, rather than earlier. Even those planted on Mother’s Day very often get frosted here!
Nice storage area for ready to burn wood. Wood that is seasoning doesn’t have to be “babied” as much as ready to burn. Glad he has a backup heater.
Established cat “appeared” to be more accepting of kittens until she was not. Another trip to the vet to ensure no eye scratches (there weren’t any). Soon they’ll be spayed which I hope fingers-crossed helps. Until then, short “leash” on established cat. As I’ve said to her, soon the kittens will be full grown AND there are two of them. Established cat tried to exert her dominance on our at the time established female. That lasted as long at said established female paw swatted back. I am hoping for detente but truly wish they’d all get along. Established cat needs a buddy/buddies whether she realizes it or not.
Yep, we had hoped Mittens would come to accept Buffy. But that never happened. They still scrap a bit, but no blood is shed. It’s more talk and swatting.
I admire you being able to sit in a futon AND get up out of it! Nice to see the potatoes looking so good. Looking forward to the garden photos. Not sure of garden plans here yet, whether to cut back or not. Life has thrown some challenges and can’t decide if a garden would be welcome therapy or just one more thing to do.
Personally, I’ve found gardening is uplifting and also therapy for my poor old knees. I absolutely look forward to going out and taking care of all that food-to-be.
Great news for you guys and Drew! Your potatoes are sure looking good. I love Mittens.
I’m so absolutely thrilled with our potato crop last fall! When things slow down with the seed business (hoping they don’t soon : ) ), I’ll get to canning a bunch of potatoes too, as they’re so convenient to use.
Mittens sure is a card. Who needs TV when you have pets???