Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Playing Catch Up

Future Homesite
We've been blessed with some much warmer weather this week.  I almost feel bad about saying that with all the folks to the east of us being pounded with inches and inches of snow.    I've been able to get out in the garden some. All the sudden it's time to get ready for spring planting.  Poof! Just like that.  And here I was just starting to enjoy the leisurely lifestyle!  

I got a few seeds in dirt yesterday.  Mainly herbs this time.  I've got it in my head that this will be the year that I'll have an herb garden. If you've been hanging out here awhile you know I say that every year.  I've not had the greatest luck with most herbs, but I keep trying. I've even got a nice spot for them almost ready.  For now though they are just seeds. 

  The onions harvested last summer are gone now.  I will sometimes pick up a few at the store for fresh cut onions along the way but for the most part this time of year I'll use the onions I dehydrated just for that reason.  I should have enough to last until the newly planted onions are ready.They did pretty well and I've only  been having to buy onions recently. They did "ok" being braided for storage.  I'd check them fairly regularly and dehydrate the ones that were getting close to going bad.

Another of the lessons I learned last year was that I need to buy my onion sets at places I trust.  I made the mistake this past year and picked some up at the local grocery store.  I had picked up yellow onions and they grew just fine. The problem was that they all were like double onion?  Each one seemed to have two separate onions in one bulb.  I don't know how to explain it.  They were fine for eating but a PITA to peel. 

We've got a great feed store over in Little Big Town that buys their onion sets and bulbs, potatoes and vegetable plants locally. New sets are starting to show up there and that is were I'll get my sets for this year. Last year we planted 75-80 feet of onions. We'll plant at least that much again this year. I'd like to plant some red onions and of course yellow onions.  Maybe even a couple of other varieties.

One of the things Mars has been working on (when the weather allows) is trying to clean up the area where the old house used to be.  It's the last of the "clean up" of the property. We know that there was a fire here but don't know exactly how long ago it was.  Mars thinks that someone had bought the place with intentions of remodeling the old house.  They probably stayed in an RV while the remodel was going on.  There was an old electric pole with a breaker box on it once upon a time where it was probably hooked up to. There's a newish septic tank . Mars found the original septic tank when we planted the Redbud trees.  There was a place in front of the dilapidated barn that had lots and lots of drywall pieces that was probably once a big stack of sheet rock.  There's a spot inside the house area that had piles and piles of glass. Some of it got so hot it sort of melded together.  So far he's picked out over 7 feed bags FULL of glass. Most in one spot, which leads him to believe that there were probably new windows stacked there to install during the remodel job. The house was set on pier and beams and there's a section toward the back that looks like it was probably an addition.  That's the area we plan to build on some day. 

Oh HECK.!!! I just looked out the window and all the dang chickens are all out.  I best go so I can find and fix their escape hatch.  Later ya'll.!

30 comments:

  1. I swear it was just yesterday that I was saying to myself that seed starting was a long ways away...and now, BAM! Need to get peas in the ground, more seedlings started in the house and a million more things I want to plant (but probably wont).
    Go get dem chickens rounded up!

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    1. I know, it snuck right up on us didn't it? I still have to get the rows ready to plant in. Compost, rake the hills back up and cover the water tape lines that have risen to the top of the rows. All that fun stuff. Honestly though, the weather hasn't helped much for outdoor work till now. I've decided I'll try to find tomato starts this year as well as a couple of other things that should already have been growing if I wanted them to go out in the garden on time. Still having some heating issues with the greenhouse so it looks like I'll move on to starting other seedlings that can't go out til our last freeze date. I'm going to have to wait till roosting time before these chickens will go in. They are obviously enjoying themselves to be coaxed into the coop/pen just let. I'm just glad no one was watching me try. In other words... I gave up and they will come home to roost when they are ready. (or so the rooster tells me)

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  2. I cannot grow Thyme to save my life.

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    1. Shoot, I can't either. I've been trying for a few years and still it won't come up. Or if it does pop the top of the ground it dies shortly thereafter. I've heard people say "Oh, Thyme is EASY to grow". Yeah? On what planet I have to ask! hehehe

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    2. I looked out the window at the 56 inches of snow on the ground and thought "Seeds are going to have to wait a while!" Enjoy!

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    3. I'm so sorry Ian. I did this to you last year too. Gardening in your neck of the woods has to difficult. You have so little time to grow. 56 inches! dang

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  3. Heh Scifi... Ahhh I know we should have covered this earlier but did you unhitch that little Beans dog from the bumper before I took off? Seriously in order for the great kidnapping and trout payment to work properly we have to make sure we didn't pull some kind of "family vacation" thing with the Sandy's dog.

    Think she will notice the substitute isn't real?

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    1. Errrr.... I just KNEW there was something I was forgetting. As for the substitute, It would look a little more real if we'd have glued some hair back on his head. I stuck the new Beans out in the yard with his head to the ground. Maybe they'll think he's sniffing for moles??

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    2. Sci,

      Errr........stop back peddling to cover for PP. He's never getting the fish, they're under lock and key. As for Beans, I don't think you'll be able to get close enough to him before he latches on to you. P.S. he has already gotten rid of all the moles for us, lol

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    3. Underestimated his killer moniker.... lol

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  4. I have started tomato, pepper and eggplant seeds twice and they are all dead again. First was my bout with bronchitis and I forgot to tell Papa Bear to water them and this time was the Marine's hospital stay and forgot to water them. I plan on trying one more time but they will for sure be late going into the ground this year.

    Wishing you lots of fresh veggies this year!

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    1. Mama Bear, you know what they say. Third times a charm. This year I've already had to admit a sort of defeat. I was really hoping that I'd be putting in tomato plants that I started. Like you said they will be late going in. I'll be buying my tomato plants as well as my broccoli and cabbage from a little farm down the road. We are going to have to work on the heat and ventilation before I can start things in January/February. I'm a little disappointed but I've learned one thing since we moved here. Patience truly is a virtue. The green house is fine in a bit warmer weather so I'll still be starting stuff that will go in the spring planting, including my flowers.
      Let's hope for much luck with veggies this year. And would you please tell the Marine hello for me. I just loved that last picture where he was smiling! I'm sure everyone's glad to be home.

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  5. Our ground is still solid as a rock. If you want a successful herb, might I suggest borage. It is delicious and grows easily - even for me:) Also, it attracts bees.
    Happy digging.

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    1. You know what? I actually can get borage to grow. Two years ago I planted it in between the okra plants and they got HUGE. This past year I grew some but it was in a bad spot I think and it only got to about 16" tall. It's such a pretty plant and makes for an interesting texture and flavor in salads. I'd like to try making some ice cubes with the borage flowers to "amaze" my next door neighbor. Thank you for reminding me. I guess there ARE a couple of herbs I can grow!

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  6. I've always found my herbs do best when planted in pots...then you adjust to locations where they're happy, happy, happy.

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    1. That's a great idea! I'm going to have to try it this year. First I have to get them to come up though. Thanks! I'll get started on that one day this week.

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  7. Herbs are so hit and miss but I do think Stephen is right with the advice to plant in pots. Just make sure that they're big enough. That way you can move them around and it's easier to keep an eye on things. Also nothing will take over that way. I've never been overly successful at growing herbs from seed but the Farm n Fleet near here has a great variety of herbs so I work with that. I can relate to the nice weather too- it's been in the 40's the past 2 days here. I actually broke out a t-shirt! Good luck with the herbs!

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    1. Thanks. Like I told Stephen for some reason it didn't even occur to me to grow them in pots. Once started if I need to protect them from a freak freeze I can just move them to safer ground. I do have some mint in a pot that's doing fine. A friend sent me some complete with the roots. I've thought about putting some in the ground but I'd have to be careful with their location.
      Girl, I drug out a tee shirt today! It felt sort of funny not having long sleeves on, but it was wonderful.

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  8. Sci - first off, i simply cannot believe that you are in cahoots with PP! and what on earth did you do to Sweet Sandy's little Beans?!?!?!? i am honestly shocked at your behaviour - bahahahah!

    first off - can we not talk about starting seeds until at least the middle of march? some of us live in a place where the only way that we can even begin to think of starting seeds in the middle of march is because we have a ginormic greenhouse. and even then, it's only cold weather crops. i won't start tomatoes or peppers IN THE FREAKIN HOUSE until late april!!! sorry for the yelling. it's just the jealousy rearing it's ugly head.

    anyway, Stephen is right. try the herbs in pots first and keep them in the house where the temp is controlled. a lot of herbs can't handle even one cold night. once the herbs have taken off in their pots, then plant them outdoors but only after you are positive that there is absolutely no chance of a cold night. some herbs that don't seem to mind a few cold nights are oregano, mint, rosemary and surprisingly chammomile. we potted those herbs and put them in the greenhouse in december and they have somehow survived.

    anyway, poor Mars and all that clean-up. jam sends his best to him as jam is now trying to dig up all of the crap that blew all over our yard when we got our sooner than normal flash-freeze. you wouldn't believe the junk frozen all around our yard.

    spring is on it's way honey...i just know it! your friend,
    kymber

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    1. kymber I guess my dark side showed when I saw all those beautiful trout that Jambs been catching. And I just loved the fishing trip he took me on. Then PP had this idea.... ya know.... something just came over me when Sandy showed us all those beautiful trout. I was just the lookout and Beans was just going nuts so I put a leash on him and.... well.... things just sorta...happened. I think my male bunny found out somehow (call it karma) because the very next morning he bit me pretty good. Wanna see a picture? Did you know that PP is an excellent trout cook? Yup, a very good cook.....

      I know it must be painful to hear about folks already starting seed. If it make you feel any better my Dad was planting in February. He likes to tease me about it. When I set out tomato plants he's already starting to pick his if it makes you feel any better.
      I'm going to have to find some more pots for the herbs. Some I don't have any trouble growing. Easy ones like cilantro, basil and dill. For some reason I've had no luck with much else so I'm hoping that planting them in pots will work better. It's sure worth a shot.

      The picture doesn't really do any justice to just how much rock, bricks, rusty sheet metal, and old pipe lines.and other stuff. We've been having some wind around here too. 15-20mph with gusts up to 45 mph. I can do without it. It would be real nice out without the freaking wind. You would think we were down on the coast. geesh.....
      I just love your ginormous greenhouse. It is so very cool. I haven't heard you mention your pepper plants. Did they make it through the winter?
      xxooxx
      Sci

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    2. SCI,

      Just admit it, it's all PP's fault!!!!

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    3. I'm pleading the fifth. Kind of like that Sabilious (sp) chick.

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  9. I have so many goals for this years garden, it is so nice you are going to put in a herb garden, I was thinking I would like to have a small one kind of like a kitchen garden. I stand out and stare right now and boy am I ready to get some seeds started, I hope you got all of your chickens rounded up.

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    1. That's what I was hoping for this year. A little kitchen garden would be so neat. I know what you mean about standing outside and planning what will go where this year.
      As to the chickens I've been having quite a time trying to get the ones who are supposed to be in there and the one that shouldn't. I'll try again this evening and hope I can get everyone where they are supposed to be. Those dang chickens aren't helping ... not one bit!
      lolollllll

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  10. we have had mild temperatures the last two weeks and some rain...ground is way to soft for gardening yet but it is getting time for starting seed, pruning trees and bushes, maybe giving the potting sheds and the tool sheds a good cleaning out and sharpening up the garden tools too. i have troubles growing herbs with the exception of rosemary...i noticed this afternoon that my day lilies are starting to peek out of the ground so spring is just around the corner for us in n.e.mississippi.

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    1. When you mentioned day lillies I had to go out and see if ours are coming up. I'm doing the happy dance when I saw that they are popping up all over the place. Spring IS right around the corner!!!!

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  11. It is so smelling like spring here but despite the almost 70 degree day today they are calling for lows of 20's all next week....so I am starting my seeds indoors for now.

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    1. Our forecast is pretty much the same as yours. You can't really smell anything here because of the the winds that will try to push you right over.

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  12. SCI,

    Are you really starting herbs outside? Our temperatures are suppose to drop again next week.
    I hope your herbs don't get hit with frost. I have to agree with Stephen and Kymber, herbs do very well in pots. You could even place a bag over the pot and make a miniature greenhouse to help the herbs along.

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    1. Sandy, I've got nothing in the ground yet. I've just started some seed in the greenhouse. You know... that's not a half bad idea about the bags.l. Thanks!

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