We are supposed to get a big storm with lots of snow and wind. Up to 10 inches of blowing snow doesn’t sound like fun. But here it is, 2:48 PM and nothing but a good breeze so far. However, we’re all set, should it come. The plow truck is gassed up, the cows and horses fed extra hay, and there’s plenty of food in the pantry and cellar. We’re not worried about losing our power as the batteries in the basement are charged by our solar panels and it was sunny until about noon. If we get the snow, I’ll just do some house cleaning, which needs doing badly, and seed out a couple more squash to eat and save their seeds.
Today, our friend Sherri came to help package seeds, and grandson, Drew, also helped out. I also shelled some Seneca Blue Bear Dance corn and seeded out three Hopi Pale Grey squash (from which Will whines he needs a pie). Unfortunately, Drew also likes squash and pie, so I’m elected, I guess.
Next week, I’m starting our tomatoes. Although I’ll be growing fewer this year, we still plan on saving seeds to help out Lynn and Jesse, who’ll be taking over our seed business in August. We learned the business over the course of several years but they’re jumping in when it’s really taking off. My peppers are doing great and some already have two sets of leaves!
I hope everyone is as ready as they can be for the next wave of crazy weather, whether it’s hail, rain, or blizzard. Hang tight and know it will pass. Just do the best you can to prepare and then pray. — Jackie
Wow! Hoping grey seeds are beauts! How did you get them so clean? I thought I had a lot… by time I got the Shelly skins off my much fewer, mynrespect for all your hard work is even Higher! Sounds as if the east is really getting hammered. Ice, snow, rainfall here last week. Winds howling today and 70 forecast for the first of the week. Every one is experiencing a weather system like no other. Wonderful to have friends help you out with the seed business . Take care. Glad Will went back for some well earned sleep!
I take my squash and pumpkin seeds out, one by one, carefully pinching off the small ‘cord” that attaches them to the meat. When done, I rinse them well under running water, massaging them with my hands to get off most of the yuck. Then I drain and pour out of the sieve onto a plastic lined cookie sheet. (I used to just use the cookie sheet but found sometimes the seeds picked up a black stain from the old cookie sheets I use.)
We were blessed not to be getting this next big storm. It went south of us. Whew!!
Thank you! I been just taking seed clumps and pulling apart then rinsing repeatedly with a sieve. Il be sure an pinch off from now , blessings on missing the last storm
I think we are just on the edge of this next storm. Temperatures are going to drop like a rock and we can get 1 to 3 inches of snow. Wind sounds like the biggest threat. We will just stay in and wait. Meanwhile, today (Saturday) is Pi day, lol. What a great time to make those pies for Will and Drew. (and yourself. The cook should get the first slice:) Hope the storms pass you by. Have a blessed week
Yep, today is pie day. Just as soon as I get a few more seeds packed, I’m getting a couple of pies in the oven. A agree, the cook should get the first slice!! And second…. : )
Crazy weather is right! Today, we hit right about 80 degrees……… Sunday night we could hit a low of 29 with Monday being a whopping, sweltering 51 degrees (I hear some say they would love that for a high!) and by next Thursday…… 91 and going up even higher after than. We should be seeing highs in the 60’s……. In TX, we keep our snow clothes and summer clothes all handy for the SAME day!
Wow, now that IS a big swing in temperatures!! I thought 51 to 7 was a big drop. Yep, I’d be happy for 51 as a high!! LOL
Hey there folks, storm will hit southern Tennessee too. Temps going from 74 on this Sunday to 25 that night with rain and heavy wind 40 -50 mph. They say some snow flurries, too. We already had ice storm that toppled trees and damaged many more. This will bring the rest down for sure. So, everyone, prepare and hunker down. We are hoping that it will not freeze out our fruit trees already in bloom. It depends on how long it stays 25 degrees. I don’t know what is worse, 3 ft of snow or tornadoes like what we get with weather rapid changes. Everyone take care and stay safe.
Oh, I HATE ice storms!! I sure hope you don’t get that wind and/or more ice. Gee, with fruit trees in bloom, that doesn’t bode well. We had that happen a couple years back and NO fruit, even wild fruit. That’s one reason I can so much! Ma Nature isn’t kind. She’s sometimes a witch.
We got 11 inches so far from this storm. Next one is due Sunday between 1- 2 FEET and another storm right after that. 3 in a row! This has to be our St. Patrick’s day storm early. Yesterday it was sunny and clear. Gotta love living on the UP of Michigan!
Yep, we ended up with a foot, plus lots of big drifts from the wind. We’re supposed to get those others too, but we’ll see what we’ll see. Maybe it’ll suck up the north shore of Lake Superior, instead. But then it might hit you! I hope not. Sun’s out today though.
Central MO is just as crazy. 56 today, 65 tomorrow, 65 on Sunday, then snow, rain, and 10 on Sunday and Monday evenings. Then 70’s by next Friday. It has been very windy here as well.
Our plants are started downstairs. We did get 4 inches of rain in the past week—sorely needed. And of course, lots of mud. Our little beagle has a nice undercoating.
It’s always a challenge, isn’t it?
That it is, Susan!! You never know what tomorrow’s going to bring lately. I hope all the tornadoes and hail skipped you.
You are getting the storm that just passed through our homestead in North Idaho. The wind was awful, uprooting trees by our house and snapping others like twigs. This is the fourth windstorm like this we’ve had this winter. We only got eight inches of snow, so that wasn’t too bad. We prepared in advance for the onslaught, but you never know what will happen. Best wishes to you and your family!
Thank you Dawn. We got wind, but nothing like you did. No broken off trees or even smaller limbs. Lots of drifts though. I had to dig my car out of a 3′ drift so I could go to town and mail seed orders this afternoon.
Hi Jackie- Crazyweather is right! We got snow two days ago. Not “normal” for March in our area. Looks like we’ll be getting more over the next few days as well. Serious planting usually begins in the next couple of weeks for me but I’ll hold off. It pays to wait Ive found and seedlings grow more quickly and catch up with earlier plantings once the weather warms. I was going to cut back on my garden this year but have decided to go full on with the global situation currently.My kids and grandkids can always use produce particularly with grocery prices continuing to rise.
The neighbours benefit as well and they repay me in all kinds of ways.i love my neighbours!
Yep, the old saying “what goes around, comes around” is sure true. When you are kind and helping to neighbors and friends, you always end up benefitting in some way or another. Even just plain feeling good about gifting garden produce is sure a big benefit to me.
Crazy weather, crazy times. You can never be completely prepared but trying to be ready is worthwhile. The wind is unbelievable and we await what snow/rain that might come. We have no need to go anywhere. I’ll start tomatoes this weekend. The price of everything is going up. My Dad would say the “only constant in life is change “. He said learn to prepare and embrace it as this is inevitable. I take this to be life’s major challenge. I try to be ready.
Yep, we do too. Although there are some situations you cannot prepare for, most emergencies can be less stressful if you are fairly well prepared. With the current world situation, we’re even doubling down on what we do. Who the heck knows what’s headed our way anyway???
We’ve got about a foot of snow on the ground, and the snow is still coming down sideways. So, we’re sticking tight until it quits and plowing can be done.
We too are waiting re: weather – 8 to 11 inches between Sunday/Monday. Ever worse news is better half is doing election deliveries both days. His route is the rural part of our county (my old stomping ground). Winds are supposed to gust up to 60 mph tomorrow and around 30 mph Sunday/Monday.
I plan on making a just in case run for pet food/litter and assorted sundries on Saturday. We have plenty of food and Saturday will be corned beef and cabbage (don’t ask how much the CB brisket cost at the butcher shop – it *just* fits in our crock pot). Plan is to take some to dad on Sunday but if the weather is crap, I will run it out on Monday (give me a good excuse to miss a meeting – checking on dad!).
Stay safe and Drew being close is an added benefit
Our snow came late yesterday and last night. This morning, we had a foot and it is still snowing. Lots of wind too. We’re hanging tight until it winds down. I have plenty to do in the house!! Will looked out and went back to bed. Ha ha.
My co-workers in MSPL are preparing for 24 inches of snow. This BS RTO is just crap when it comes to winter weather in areas that get snow.
It was windy here today (no trees down here, mostly hickory branches) as it was in MSPL area. Besides the trampoline in his area that blew into a field adjacent to his property, eight trees down in town – all were rotten.
We lost power twice today – fired up the generator for outage 1. Second outage was shortly after we had lunch so we took out naps. Power came on shortly after nap time.
Better half tilled the garden and the soil looks good. No go on seed potatoes at the place we usually purchase. We’ll keep watching.
Shew, it sound like you got some nasty weather but if you can till in the garden, you’re WAY ahead of us. We have two feet of snow on top of frozen ground. Pussy Willows have been spotted. Not by me, but Sherri saw some and there was a vase of fresh ones at the clinic when I went for my yearly.
We weren’t the only ones taking advantage of the weather. Better half and I both saw farmers out in the field on Saturday. Nasty weather here – first rain then snow is coming. Come Friday/Saturday temps in the 60s. We are “short” precipitation wise but I suspect we’ll catch up between the rain and snow.