{"id":10896,"date":"2025-04-07T16:40:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T20:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/?p=10896"},"modified":"2025-04-07T16:40:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T20:40:10","slug":"were-getting-ready-for-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/2025\/04\/07\/were-getting-ready-for-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"We&#8217;re getting ready for winter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ok, so spring hasn&#8217;t really arrived and we&#8217;re thinking of preparing for winter? Are we nuts? Nope. We just know it&#8217;s coming, and we know how busy summer and fall are around here. Yesterday, after finishing transplanting eight flats of peppers, I went out and helped Will split a whole lot of firewood he&#8217;d been busy sawing into blocks while I was working inside. I work the tractor-mounted splitter, and he puts the blocks up onto it. We have a whole lot more dry logs lying around so we&#8217;ll have our work cut out for us any time we aren&#8217;t busy with other projects.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10898\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10898\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10898\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Peppers_0963-630x420.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10898\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Here&#8217;s one of eight flats of peppers I just transplanted.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10897\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10897\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10897\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Split-wood_0967-630x420.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10897\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This is just one pile of firewood that got split yesterday!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Yesterday, a bunch of our migratory birds showed up on our bird feeders. We got Redpolls, Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, and more Juncos. It was so nice to see the bird feeders full of birds again after a pretty lean winter. Will heard another big flock of geese flying over yesterday too. There&#8217;s still ice on the creek and ponds but there are also a few open spots as we&#8217;ve been having some warmer weather. Tonight&#8217;s getting into the single digits then we are set to really warm up. That&#8217;s &#8220;get the greenhouse going&#8221; weather! I need it as I still have a lot of peppers to transplant and no room in the house.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, we watched the PBS show which we were on. I was relieved to see it was well done and we didn&#8217;t look like weirdos or something. I loved seeing the gardens in production, not covered in snow and ice! I think it&#8217;s still on YouTube if you&#8217;d like to see it. The link is on the last blog.<\/p>\n<p>Our little calf, Jitterbug, is growing like a weed. She&#8217;s even starting to eat some grain with Mom. What a cutie!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10899\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10899\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10899\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jitterbug_0969-630x420.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jitterbug is growing like a cute weed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I&#8217;d like to really encourage everyone who can garden or expand their garden, to do so. I&#8217;m really not liking the way things are looking, with prices rising every single day. Growing at least some of your own food will do a lot to help the family budget, as well as doing as much canning as you can. If you&#8217;re still leery of using a pressure canner, please pick up my book, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/shop\/product\/growing-and-canning-your-own-food-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Growing and Canning Your Own Food<\/em><\/a>. It will make learning very safe and easy! I&#8217;m getting ready to can up last year&#8217;s beef as we&#8217;re getting ready to have two steers butchered next week. I sure do like having plenty of canned meats in the pantry as well as plenty of veggies, fruits, and dry foods. Please folks, stock up while you can! (I hope I&#8217;m very wrong here.)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10900\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10900\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-696x522.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-1068x801.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-560x420.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bill-Bean-tomato_0847-265x198.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10900\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Just expanding a small garden can provide big rewards for a family&#8217;s food security. This is one of our Bill Bean tomatoes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8212; Jackie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ok, so spring hasn&#8217;t really arrived and we&#8217;re thinking of preparing for winter? Are we nuts? Nope. We just know it&#8217;s coming, and we know how busy summer and fall are around here. Yesterday, after finishing transplanting eight flats of peppers, I went out and helped Will split a whole lot of firewood he&#8217;d been [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10897,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,27,8,9,13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10896"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10896"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10902,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10896\/revisions\/10902"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/JackieClay\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}