So, we’re making good use of this nice weather. Will’s out working on our small flatbed trailer. When we hauled the new golf cart home, we lost a wheel on the road, making it necessary to drive something like 40 miles back to International Falls to get another wheel and tire. Holy cow! The lugs had come loose and fell off, letting the tire disappear into the woods somewhere. He thinks they were the wrong lugs, as they were just a little smaller than the correct size. Today he shoveled the trailer off and put the correct lug nuts in. That way, when our ATV is done at the shop, we can use that, which has ramps, to load it easily, instead of needing the shop’s forklift.
Drew is busy hauling water to the house to fill his indoor water tanks. He and Grandpa are trying to get the propane dryer hooked up. David had never used it as it needed a part. Hopefully, with water and a running dryer, Drew can wash clothes as I’m doing today.
This morning, I fed the chickens and deer. The deer were already pacing around in the woods, waiting for me. We have four that come every day but yesterday, there were eight! We were sure tickled to see that many. The deer population is way down due to that nasty winter we got three years ago. Deep snow and a very late spring killed a lot of deer off. We fed “our” bunch, but a lot more, further away, starved. The DNR started feeding in March but by then, it was too late.
I have to laugh. Will and Drew have started brushing Buffy with a dog slicker brush. She sheds year-round so badly you sneeze when she’s on your lap. She sure loves it! I can’t believe the difference between her appearance now and when she was a tiny kitten. What a change!
I’m starting to plant my tomatoes with Bill Bean today. No matter what a big batch of seeds I had saved, we completely ran out of seeds to sell! I was sure surprised! It’s such a great tomato and now has a near-cult following. — Jackie
That really is the cutest photo of Will and Buffy! It made my heart sing.
I am loving the updates.
Buffy really, really loves to be brushed. I guess it’s petting plus to her!
We are forecast to hit 90 degrees today! Way too hot for this time of year. I think Mother Nature is bipolar. 0 last weekend and now the other end of the scale. I planted lettuce, radishes, spinach and onions in containers a couple of days ago. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. The biggest snow storms I have ever seen came in April, so I don’t think we are out of winter yet. I would happily send you more deer. They are thick here and of course where there are deer there are coyotes. I hear them howling across the creek at night. It sure is an eerie sound. Sounds like Drew is making good progress on making a home. How nice to have him close. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
Thank you! No, I don’t think we’re done with winter yet, no matter what the calendar says. We, too, usually get a big snow in April, right around the time the daffodils are trying to bloom. I’ve had snow smash my blooming spring flowers down so now Will plows the snowbanks on my flower beds, which slows down the blooming time. |Today it’s supposed to hit 60 degrees F, above zero!!
After a spate of record warmth made plants in the garden “juicy”, we had to cover everything for two mornings of 29 when that cold wave came through. Uncovered yesterday as warm weather is back today. Local wisteria is blooming, mixed with the yellow Carolina jasmine strung through the trees. So pretty! Early azaleas are starting to bloom too.
Started pepper seed three days ago and will start tomatoes next week. We’ll be setting out the kale and more cabbage plants today and sowing more turnips. I think winter is 98% gone. :)
Wow, I love wisteria. Grandma used to have a big vine overhanging her fishpond that Dad made for her. I loved it so much. Here, we are too cold for it to live.
I’m so glad your winter has ended. I’m looking forward to that here in another month and half.
I love that the deer come when you call. It’s an honor to be trusted by wild animals.
Speaking of the wild, as I was traveling in the hill country Tuesday night, a pure WHITE fox ran across the road ahead of me. It was a glorious sight!
The Hopi Pale Grey are flourishing in their little peat pots and ready to go in the garden tomorrow. We had one freezing night last week but today it’s in the low 90’s. Texas!!!
Wow, I’ve never seen an albino fox!! That’s special for sure.
We’re months away from planting in the garden. I usually try to start about the first week of June, and even then, sometimes we get a surprise frost. We sure watch carefully!
Today nearly 70 with a big melt down. My mother years ago bought 4 new tires and the garage “forgot” to put the lug nuts on one tire. The wheel spun off and fortunately she was ok. So it goes. Mud city around our place and soon calving season.my early started peppers are growing. Tomato seeds planted 3/15. Spring is here. First Robins seen 3/10. Here we have too many deer with winter herds of 30-40 plus. We try to take 6-8 for each year. We donate to local people what we can’t process. Turkeys (wild) are very abundant. Fuel prices are going up. I do have a bicycle-hah! Too hard on my knees. Spring is here.
We didn’t get 70 today, but it was 47 and we were thrilled. Except for all the mud and puddles everywhere. I’m planting tomatoes today and should finish up tomorrow. No Robins yet. We do see some wild turkeys once in a while, coming for corn where the deer eat.
I gave up on a bicycle years ago. But we DO have horses!
Since better half had to do election deliveries on Monday, no chance to plow. Thankfully the sun on Wednesday and sun/temp today cleared the driveway. And most of the snow in the yard/garden/woods.
We only need a bit of fertilizer – more for lawn than garden. We too have been tilling leaves for 20 years and it shows. We don’t lack for leaves and they need to go *somewhere*.
Tomorrow is the last day of “restricted activity” (ha when it comes to kittens). Established cat is doing much better with them – I tell her they no longer “stink” now that they are spayed. It is more of a “I’m the alpha cat” chase rather than the “I’m gonna kick your butt” chase. We’ll get there. Just like our kittens, Buffy knows a good home.
The snow did not phase the popping up hostas and daffodils. I’m starting to get excited about morel season.
Our normal source for seed potatoes was a bust. Better half passed from one seller, said they didn’t look good – no idea what he meant. So no Pontiac Red this year, we’ll see how this white potato does.
That’s too bad you can’t find the potatoes you wanted. I think we’ll see shortages of everything quite often, given the way things are going. Thankfully, we have plenty of our own seed potatoes to plant this spring. I’m so grateful!!!
Glad your cats are getting along better. Buffy and Mittens still are enemies, but not blood-drawing enemies anyway. Mostly hissing and noise.
We’ve got melting going on. Forty Seven degrees F today and lots of snow has gone. But, boy is it muddy everywhere!!~
I’ve gotten potatoes from Wood Prairie in Maine with very good results. I didn’t see any Pontiac Red on their website, but they do have a selection of red potatoes. Maybe there’s something that will interest you.
woodprairie.com
@Vermont Farm Wife – thanks for the info.
We had 24 turkeys this morning – 4 Toms (in full feather fan) and 20 hens. Later 3-4 solo Toms were at the feeders. Unless we get deep snow in the winter, we usually don’t see too many turkeys.
The kittens saw the solo Toms last night and were just fascinated by them lol