Wool Blankets

I love old wool blankets.  They make the cabin feel warm and great to use for those really cold days and nights.  Perfect for Quenzee's (snow forts).  I have had these for many years and still as good as the day I got them and not sure how old they were then.

I felt that wool blankets deserve a  poem so I did a Google , sure enough there are poems on wool blankets. Who knew : ).   So I thought I would do a little Haiku poem for my wool blankets.

Old wool blankets you warm my heart
When snow is flying and temperature drops
The joy you bring it never stops

Well, I better keep my day job :-/


Knitting-

I've been working on socks and headbands for Christmas gifts.  The headbands are fast and easy,the girls love 'em.  I use the left over yarn from the knitted socks.

 Some like the flowers and some not.  I'll be knitting past Christmas for all the request for socks and headbands. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.   As rough as life can get sometimes we all have a lot to be thankful for.  From the really big to macro happenings in our lives. 

This is a beautiful Poinsettia I picked up at Hen House.  I love the reds and pinks and this is so Autumn, called Nutmeg.    I plan to keep inside and plant in the garden this spring.   I have had good results with other Poinsettias , they would grow but I would forget to get them back in before a cold snap.   I'm going to be on the ball with this one : )

Take good care
linda

Warm'n Up in the Cast Iron Kitchen

Yes its rough look'n but oh is it warm.  This Woodland woodstove has made our winters not so bad.  Even helped when the power is down and dinner needs cooked.   I've read, knitted and warmed frozen hands after morning chores by this woodstove along with a cup of coffee for a few years now.   Yesterday was beautiful fall weather and today its winter.   This pic was taken a couple of years ago but it stills looks the same today.   Wonderful warmth!   We use hedge wood, it crackles and pops , heats up really hot , so gets dampered down alot.  Along with this type of heat the smell of hedge is so good.   Great for using on the grill to.  It's my favorite wood to burn.  

I give the stove a cleaning with stove paint to blacken it up and almost looks new.  My cabin kitchen is turning into cast iron.  Guess its like potato chips for me, "can't have just one". 

The really big skillet has been in our family for many years.   Used on many a fishing/camping trips.  Fried bacon and eggs in the mornings and fried fish after a good days catch in the evenings.  One time I made a pancake for my uncle in that pan, it was the size of the pan.  The outsides measure 16" so maybe a 12" or 13" pancake.  He was surprised I could flip it, so was I. 

 Theres just not enough room in the kitchen for pots and pans so the wall makes a good spot for the cast iron.  It gets pretty worn so springtime after using the woodstove then a nice clean up will happen. I plan to use stone behind the stove for a more outdoorsy look. Get rid of that metal piece.

Theres a wok hanging on that metal , its well season altho I have not used it for awhile.   My first meal I made in the wok was chile, lol.   It makes wonderful Asian dishes : ) 

  I use my skillets all year, inside and outside by the Outpost.   Food taste so good cooked in these skillets and good for ya too!

My new buy is a couple of Lodge flat skillets , the kind that some restaurants will bring out steaks/chicken w onions and peppers, oh my!    I have not use them yet but look forward to some good eats using the woodstove.

My other find a couple of years ago was this Dutch oven with a pretty dome lid.  Not sure if I shared this before but thought I'd share if not.  It has dried beans stored in it now ready for a bean and cornbread dinner.                                                                                                       

My outside cooking I use the three legged camp Dutch Ovens.  The kind you put coals under and on top of the flat lid.   I love those and have made some good eats, esp the peach cobblers , yummmmmm

Yep its hard for me to past up a good buy on cast iron.  It cooks our food and warms my heart.

Oh I need to put another log on the fire!

Thanks for dropping by, Holidays are around the corner ; )
linda 

The Hen Den

I have been enjoying my Booted Bantams and  little rustic chicken house.   It sets right in the garden with the pen that will be for spring,summer and fall,  facing North for coolness and shade and then moved for a Southern exposure for warmth during those cold sunny days. 

I'm doing a little Steam Punk on the side and plans for a Steam Punk rooster weather vain. I love going out and watching the chickens and sit on the bench with a cup of hot coffee.   The garden is close to the living room windows so I can enjoy them inside while I'm spinning and the woodstove fired up for the soon to be cold days.

   
 The side door is where I will be gathering the eggs this spring.  Theres 4 nest boxes, can't wait!   Those gears almost look like flowers.  I could add some metal stems and leaves. 

The outhouse in the background I use for a garden shed, its nice and handy.   I placed a bucket in the hole part for smaller tools.

Moved the other day for that Southern exposure, the chickens seem very happy in their new quarters.

 

The day I got the chicken house a fox ran across about 20 ft with a couple of hounds following.   I have not seen a fox on the place and now that I got chickens he will be one to keep a look out for!   I love the wildlife and go with what my Dad use to say when the wild wanted a chicken dinner "build a better pen".   Easier said then done sometimes.  


Garden clean up, gathering seeds and raking lots of leaves.   And working on the wood pile always! 

Spinning and knitting everyday : )

Thanks for dropping by
linda

It's Chicken Time

I know whats been missing, its chickens on the homestead.  I finally got my Hen Den and some Booted Bantams.  My wonderful neighbor helped this all happen for me.  After almost five years without chickens I don't know how I made it.   Our DD has chickens over at the other homestead but its just not the same taking care of your own and watching them do their chicken stuff.   The young roo crowed for the first time this morning, what fun!

My favorite chicken is the Barred Plymouth Rock, nice brown eggs. A nice all around chicken.  But I'm getting into the Booted Bantams cuz there just darn cute,( DD will raise the meat birds).  Nice to let loose in the gardens and they make good mothers.  Raised Bantams before, fun chicken to have on the homestead.  We even named our bantams.

I love the pin my neighbor made.  Heavy, heavy,heavy!  Made of cedar, old tin roof , wired vents on three sides with doors.  Door on side to gather eggs (can't wait).  The wood will weather to a old silver look.  And I'm going to make a steampunk rooster weather vain for the rooftop.  Looking for some old gears for this project.

The next morning after I got my chicken house and having a nice cup of coffee and looking forward to getting the chickens I could not believe what came running by but a beautiful red fox.   It ran to the creek and the neighbors hounds were in hot pursuit.   They gave up,went home and a fox with a new chicken house to check out later.   I'll have to keep a good lookout when I let the chickens free range.  I am happy the house is well built with heavy wire.

Fed them a few turnip greens from the garden and theres nettle growing along the banks of the creek bed that they will enjoy as well.   Theres something about chickens that make the homestead complete.


Spinning and dyeing and soon weaving.  Oh boy is this a super fun project.  I have been spinning up a storm and experimenting with natural dyes.   I'll get to posting my dyed finished yarns on next post.

Went to Missouri Town 1855 last weekend and met some really nice folks on spinning and dyeing.  I pick up something new to learn each time I meet a spinner and weaver.

I did my best spin so far from a blend roving of Jacob and Merino wool.  Over 1400 yrds of single ply.  I filled the bobbins to the brim.  Not sure what I'm going to knit up, a lace shawl with beads maybe.

 

Garden news:

Had and still having a great season from the gardens,  peppers (hot and sweet) are loaded and need to get picked.  Turnips and doing very good , kale is still pretty tiny.  Carrots need to be pulled.  Lots of small pumpkins for fall decorations and some for pie making and pumpkin seeds to roast.

Lots and lots of marigolds from last years saved seeds and many volunteers that pooped up.  Have to wait for a dry up and save seeds from pole beans and many other flowers and plants.

Leaves are turning and soon the fall and raking will begin.  Bonfires and hayrides this month and a corn maze to visit.  Lots of fun autumn things to do.

Lots of uncertainties in our world so best enjoy each day when we can.  Hope its a beautiful fall day and a chicken doing its chicken thing kind of day for you all.

Thanks for dropping by
linda 

Drying and Dyeing

Well it sure has been a spell since I have blogged last.  Its been rather busy and well you know how things can get.  So I'll just jump back in like it was yesterday cuz it does seem like it was just yesterday.

Spring was great, summer wonderful.  Not to many really hot days so far.  Garden is doing very well with lots of grilling the veggies and canning to do and freezing as well.   Also drying , I love doing that, having dried herbs and others like peas and carrots for making soups when cooler weather comes around.

Went to the farmers market last weekend and picked up a bag of sweet corn, 5 dozen.   I did plant sweet corn but a mini micro burst or a neighbors cow walked through it plus the coons are having a great time with it as well, so nice and convenient for them when the corn is down.  So I'm hoping they will leave me just a few.   I do have some Indian Corn planted in another garden and so far it is being left alone.

Freezing some of the corn I bought on the cob after cutting both ends off leaving  the inner husk on in freezer bags. Also freeze some in foil (great for grilling)  We'll see if it tastes fresh in a few months.   The outer husk is drying outside in the sunshine to use for hot tamale wraps (it will be a new thing for me to do).  Using my mini greenhouse shelves to keep them from flying all over.  I think a screen will be even better to keep critters off the husk.

 Also drying the corn silks for tender (fire starters).  So nothing wasted, the ends will go in the compost.  Chickens love them too.  (I have not got my chickens yet).

Fiber Fun!
I've been having so much fun with my Ashford II spinning wheel.  Lots of fun wools I've spun all ready and also been experimenting with plant dyes.  I had good success  with black bean dyeing , food coloring and even Kool-Aid dyes .  But I'm most interested in plants in my gardens and woods that I can experiment with.  Making mordants for setting the dyes, from Alum,Tartar,salt,vinegar, copper,some plants and even rusty nails to change the colors of dyes, so many more.  There is so much to learn how each plant will react.  I have just begun. 

The jars that I have put some plants/flowers in are out in the sunshine for a week now and this coming weekend the spun wool will go in for the dyeing.

The darkest is Hopi Red dye which is an Amaranth and the lighter red is also an Amaranth.  There's Daylily (orange) and Marigolds (orange).  The light one in the back is sunflower. I hope it has a pretty yellow.   The mordant will make the difference.

My last bunch of wool had alot of vegetable debris, tiny bits of grass and such.  Most came out when spinning but still could not get it all out.  So I will be dyeing this yarn in these jars and weave place mats or small rugs with a Rigid Heddle loom that I can't wait to get next month.   The spinning has lead me into weaving that I have wanted to do for so many years as well.

Thank you for dropping by and if you dye fibers and blog please let me know , would love to see how you work with your fibers.
Also if you have a knock out Hot Tamale recipe sure would like that too : )

All take good care
linda     

Bluejay Happenings

We are not the only ones that had a little blessing a couple of weeks ago (8th grand).  But the mama bluejay just had hers. 

I have been able to take some really close pic's of the progress and she has not attacked me yet.  She even stays close and I talk to her while I take pics of her and chicks.

Heres she is on her nest.  She started to fly away in the beginning but stayed on her nest for the photo shoot.

  Here she let me take a pic of her eggs

And also let me take a pic of her babies, awwwww , this was taken yesterday May,12

 

She stayed real close when I took the chick pic, I count 5

 

I talk real soft to her, thank her and walk away real slow.   My Dad use to call the Bluejays down and they would take pecans from our hands.   I'm not sure if that will happen again.   Last fall a Bluejay hit our window and I was able to get it before our cat did.  It was not happy but after it recovered it flew off.   I like to think this is the same bird and remembers the help : )  Or when these little babies get bigger I may just be hit with dive bombs from the mom.   I keep a watch out. I would like to get a couple of shots with all feathered out, well see : )

Have a good one
linda

A Bag of Fleece

My daughter brought over a couple of bags of fleece from her sheep for my Mothers Day gift.  I was  in the garden and all garden planting came to a stand still.  There was wool to tend to : ).  I'm hooked on this spinning adventure and have been a bit down cuz I ran out of wool to spin.   I almost thought of spinning dog hair, cat hair, dryer lint, anything to get back to spinning.  And today I'm a happy camper, I got bags of WOOL!

My first with raw wool, so heres what I did. I watched YouTube,  got the jest of what I needed to do and hit the bags. 

I started with the female sheep's wool , it was a bit more whiter.   Had some debris but not to bad.

Then came the cleaning, hot water, Dawn soap, dirty wool and you get a nice wool soup, yuck!

 This wash took the lanolin out and made some really white wool.   I had the wool dry out on my racks from the mini greenhouse.  Worked real good and was able to card and spin same day : )

Here I used cards that I have had forever, dreaming of this day to happen.  The left over debris falls out doing this and in the spinning.

 

My first roll.  Soooo soft.   This wool is from a Dorset hair mix.  Had some curly's and about a 4 or 5 inch staple.

 A basket full and I'm ready to spin!

I'm still not getting a consistent thin ply but I'm getting better, and with another bag and a half to practice , yeah!
I love this Ashford Joy 2, its was so enjoyable to sit out on the porch, listen to the thunderstorm and hope rain would hold back until I got a bobbin filled.    It did and I did 108 yards of yarn.  Put it on the Niddy Notty and will dye it up tomorrow.

Garden update:

Tomatoes and more tomatoes,  was a planting day until the wool came.  I did get a lot of things in and hoping there was not going to be a hail storm.  It passed and all was good.  I do have buckets to cover the plants just incase. 

Need to get the Winter Sowing in coffee cans planted. Just did a few cans today with more to plant out.  Altho a lot od plants in the WS, there was many that did not come up b/c of old seed.


Mothers Day:
Going out to see my Mom tomorrow, she is doing wonderful after her broken leg a couple of months ago.  Check out my sisters garden, have coffee on their porch and hear about how my BIL got to see a Bald Eagle swoop down and catch a fish at the pond he was fishing at.   How exciting to see that!  He had no camera : (

Have a great weekend, thanks for stopping by.

A very Happy Mothers Day to all the moms.
linda

Spinning In The Woods

A couple of weeks ago I got myself a new spinning wheel, Ashford Joy 2 and I love it. Altho I got to work on my spinning techniques but having fun doing it.

I chose this one for easy handling to take out to my Outpost and camping.  It is so quiet and spins like a dream.  I spin outside and just listen to the birds and cows and sheep in their pastures, so very peaceful. I wish I had done this years ago.  

I have an older fairly tale type spinning wheel that I never got the parts for.  So my dream of spinning was put on hold for so many years and now I'm spinning : ).   DD is raising some sheep so I'll have wool and go from sheep to socks.

Here is my very first spun yarn.  Its from wool I had for some time and it was a bit compacted.  I dyed it and then carded and made rolags which made it easier to spin.  Still its rough and will make a nice little project.

After the spin it is then put on the Niddy Noddy and then twisted into a skein.   

This was a wool I spun, dyed and then did my first 2ply with a textured tread, it to is a bit on the rough side but was fun to do. planning to put beads on this one.

I'll call these practice yarns Art Yarn : ).   Someday I'll be making a thinner yarn that is even.   Dyeing the yarn and then on a blending board will make for some interesting yarns, sky's the limit

Morels are up and the hunting is on.  Hubby and I found about 80/85 and we just started yesterday, some today before the storms came.  They should be out tomorrow full blast.   

Gardening is going full blast to. With cold crops put out earlier, peas are up and onions.  Lettuce, radishes, carrots, potatoes, kale, garlic and herbs and lots of wild flowers and perennials.   The flowering trees are beautiful this season.  

With over 2 hundred heirloom tomato plants that will be planted around May 1st.  I plan not to put that many out this year and give the plants to DD.   

Winter sowing did OK but could have done better if I had newer seed.  I used a lot of older seed and will I took a chance.  But I'll be planting lots of plants from the WS.  Its a really good way to get head start on the plants.  I'm very sold on it and cuz works : )

More important of all is my Mom is recovering very well.  She is a trooper and does her therapy and it sure makes a difference.  She even helped my sister transplant tomatoes in her wheel chair.  She was very happy doing that.   Now she can use a walker and soon move on to a cane.  She'll be dancing before we know it : ).

We have some nasty storms today so I hope you all are safe and perfect weather.  Thank you for your visits.

linda

Might As Well Knit

What do you do when your mom falls and breaks her leg and wait while a four hour operation is going on.  You knit and knit.  Pray and knit.   Its been an ordeal and mom is coming along really well for her age 87. She is spunky!  Mom is back home at my sisters and we take turns watching 24/7.   Pee breaks in the middle of the night with a bell ringing from mom. Sis and I would be sleeping in the living room with moms bedroom door open and jump up and run in, lift her on the pot.  Hats off to nurses and aids who lift their patience.  It really is a job. We are doing good along with nurses and therapist who come out and work with mom. 

So theres nothing but knitting to do when mom is sleeping and recuperating.  So I got a couple of different  socks made and now I need to make those second socks.
I'm making my socks a bit more challenging with harder patterns to follow.  So far so good with just a few glitches.

Ridge and Eyelet from Hand-Knit Socks by Threads Winter 2014, very easy

 

Periwinkle Picot from Love of Knitting  Spring  2014  designer Phyll Lagerman
This pattern I altered and did for a smaller foot.  I thought I was going to be in trouble but turn out ok.  Next pair I will use the correct yarn and follow the direction to the letter.  Was fun to do after I learn how the pattern went. 

 Tomorrow I'll be watching mom and I'll bring my knitting and work on those second socks : ).

Garden update:

Seed potatoes (Red Pontiac) are cut up and ready for the St Patrick's Day planting.  Rain, snow, sleet or sun shine I always plant the potatoes on that day.

Almost Spring!

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day-- don't forget to wear green ; )
linda   

Asking For Help Pays Off

I'm on a site that has many members from all over the world, called    Ravelry (click on).     Its a place  you can keep track of your knitting's and crochet projects, your own library , patterns , an outstanding data base and you can share and ask for help with many more features.  It is awesome.  I have already learn some new things and the one that I thought I would never understand and do is the cable stitch.  So heres 
the first attempt that had me working on  tell dawn.  I gave up and asked what was I doing wrong and in no time I had help and the answer by just a picture of what the problem was.

So heres the problem pic. The problem was the cable getting real tight. See how it is getting smaller.   If your a knitter you can see what the problem is just like a few members seen.  

After they told me I  was leaving out some rows (which I thought I was following) I finally got it quick : )  Heres the result of their help.  Now thats more like it and was so much easier to knit.  

And here is the finale project, a cabled headband.   I Can Cable Now, yahooooooo!
 

After sewing up the back I made my first knitted flower and added a vintage button. Its not perfect for sure so each time I'll do better on my knitting.  This was started in the evening Feb 28, and blocked it, March 1 I sewed the back up and flower.  So this is a very fast project.  Fun to do!

These will make great gifts. the next ones I'm going to work in some beads, the sky is the limit on cables.   Plans for cable socks and someday a sweater.   The pattern for this is on Ravelry (free) and was so easy to do.

Something I thought would be so hard was not at all.  Its about following the directions, having a little help to understand , I'm so very grateful for the help.   

I do hope you check out Ravelry ,, there are so many who enjoy helping and make it very easy to share.


Garden:

I picked up 100 lbs of seed potatoes today , Red Pontiac and  Kennebec .  I'll be giving half of each to my dd and I'll still have a lot of taters : ).

 Bulk seed :  picked this up today as well
Sugar Snap Pea
Denver 1/2 long
Boston pickling
Red Kidney Bean
Blue Lake Bean
National Cucumber
Kandy Korn  Corn
Kentucky Wonder
Purple Top White Globe Turnip
Mammoth Sunflower

Picked up a some seed starter mix and new trays for the heirloom tomatoes and peppers to start tomorrow.

A big snow storm is heading our way, wood stove going and all hunkered down with knitting projects : )

Have a great weekend
linda 

Forcing Spring

With snow on the ground this Forsythia is a warm welcoming of Spring to come.   Starting's from my grandmothers plant back in the 70's we now have many bushes that will burst with flowers this Spring.   But for now this handful of cut branches started in warm water inside will do just fine.   They bloom right on St Valentines Day, perfect!


New project:  Wool felting
I always wanted to do so I did a very small project from some wool my DD gave me.  She has the sheep so I'll have plenty of wool to play with.  I checked out some youtubes and was so impressed with how its done (looked pretty easy) and the creations ppl made.  Beautiful art.   Would be a great kid project!

This is a leaf 5' by 4 1/2" .  DD colored in beet juice, an experiment.  It turn a nice brown color and kept it color through the felting process.   She did well in the coloring.  Fun project to do and easy!

Watching the Olympics and knitting.  I finished a sock and now the that second sock.   Its always hard to do the second sock b/c I'm already to start a new one.   But its got to be done.   My goal is to start doing some fancy socks , that means a trip to the yarn shop : )

After the snow melts I'm keeping my eye on the ground for popping crocus and other early pop ups.

Have a great week
linda

Winter Snow

We got a nice snow storm yesterday so I got my old showshoes off the cabin wall for a photo shoot.   Here they are in the snow with a pair of cuffed knitted socks I started during the Super Bowl and finished yesterday.  They went fairly fast.   The pattern is in Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush collection.   Called "The Road to Oslo"   Back in the 1920's skiers would wear these types of socks, the cuff pulls over their ski boots keeping the snow out.   I think the snow would go right into your foot faster.  No matter, I always get snow in my socks and feet no matter how hard I cover them up.

I love these snowed in days in the cabin.  Woodstove  keeping us warm with single digits outdoors. Makes it fun and peaceful knitting.  Until I run out of yarn and all these beautiful things to knit.   Next time in town will be to the yarn shop.  Would it be cool to have these new drones dropping yarn off by the cabin, I might like that ; )

My next challenge will be knitting 2 socks at one time on a single circular needles.  I have had the book for some time and I think I'm going to give it another shot.   Youtube helps on some of these techniques.  I need all the help I can get.  Plans on working more on Fair Isle patterns.  Lots of great patterns to work with. 
 

Here the snowshoes are on our porch with about 10" of snow.  These old snowshoes have not touched snow for many years.  They will go back on the wall in the cabin for the winter look and lots of history they must have had.   I have had them for many years and have no history on them other then decoration but I can imagine how they must have help someone through the deep snows.  Maybe a dad bringing food for his family from a far away hunt.   Mom keeping the cabin warm and kids doing their chores.  Happy to have their family back together.   I hang that on my walls.

 Winter sowing:
Well just what the doctor ordered, snow and thats just what the winter sowing needs.  Cat does not know theres coffee cans with seeds under that snow.  Probably could care less but I'm excited.   Snow will be good and before long there will be green plants ready to plant in the gardens.   Love Winter but oh boy Spring, it will be here soon. 

 

Thanks for dropping by, have a good one
linda

Work'n Those Needles

I'm starting the socks for Christmas gifts early altho can't wait and give them away as soon as they are knitted.  Just finished the red and green socks giving a couple of days of knitting for each sock.  It use to take me months to complete that second sock but the more I knit the faster it gets.

Working on how to knit mittens , these seem to be a challenge for me and like socks just need to keep at it.   Don't even want to think about knitting a sweater now, that seems like a really big challenge, but I would love to learn.  Hats, scarves, socks and dishcloths are my projects for now with mittens on the needles with lots of undoing.

The best part its relaxing and I like to knit in the evening while watching a movie or watching the snow fall with the sounds of the woodstove crackling wood along with a cup of hot coffee.   Last night it was ice pellets falling and we woke up to an ice covering in the woods.

I'll be knitting when the Super Bowl is on, stopping to see the commercials and eating some hot chicken wings.  Hope all goes well and a good game.    I'm looking forward to the Olympic Games and need to get some more yarn ; )  

Have a great weekend
linda

Winter Sowing

It starts with a nice winter day, some seeds, soil, containers and the Winter Sowing is on.  Its easy and fun to do and helps with the long winters and a great start.   I have grown hundreds of plant this way and this season I'm so excited to get started again.

First the seeds, I save many of my heirlooms but I can't resist the seeds in the store and even the cheap 20 cent paks do well.   Heres a just  few!

I have done Winter Sowing for a few years and my coffee can containers have lasted very well.  All have a number on the outside so I can keep track of whats growing each season.   I also keep a journal of the plant with number and there's a plastic label in the container too.   The label I make from cut up strips of milk jugs with permanent marker with plant info and date. 

I use potting soil but you can use soil less mixtures too.   Heres a pic on the deck, after about 3 inches of soil in container then water and let drain before adding seed.  Sprinkle some soil on top, add clear plastic with holes poked in the plastic.  Be sure container has bottom drainage holes.  Holes on bottom and on top is very important.  Your pots will be out in all the elements winter can bring so needs to have drainage from condensation,  rain, snow and protection too.

I just did 39 containers yesterday with many more to do.  Their nestled in some extra cement blocks to keep it a bit more organized and from blowing around.  They might not look pretty but come early spring and all the green tops coming up I can't think of anything more pretty.   Well I can but they do look nice : )!  

Heres a list of what I planted Saturday,

 January 15, 2014 Winter Sowing:
1-Cabbage-- Early Golden Acre
2-Onions -- Evergreen Bunching and Southport White Globe
3-Broccoli -- old seed
4-Asparagus -- old seed--Mary Washington
5-Leeks-- heirloom
6-Parsley
Tomatoes:
7-Cherokee Purple--saved seeds -heirloom
8-Stupice--saved seeds-heirloom
9-Beefsteak-organic
10-Amish Paste-saved seeds-heirloom
11-Abe Lincoln-saved seeds-heirloom

12-Pepper- sweet bell type, Rainbow Mix
13-Joe Pye- saved seeds
14-Sweet Williams- bought and saved seeds
15-Echinacea- White Swan
16-Shasta Daisy- Alaska
17-Four O'clocks- Mixed colors
18-Canterbury Bells-
19-Columbine-Mckana's Mix
20-Liatris spicata- Blazing Star- purple

Also a shot at some Bonasi from some old seeds that were sealed very well.  This will be something new for me.
1-Fagus Sylvatica--Native Beech
2-Acer palmatum- Japanese Maple
3-Cryptomeria japonica- Japanese Cedar
4-Pinusthunbergia-Black Pine

Hope your Winter Sowing, if not I do hope you give it a try, you'll be hooked.   Below is a link to get you started and all you need to know to get you gardening in winter when the snow is flying.

Winter Sowing

Thank you for dropping by, have a great week!
linda

Ski Trip

Yesterday was trip to Snow Creek.  First time for all of us.  I took over taking pic's and watching the little ones who did not want to ski.  But before long my 5 yr old granddaughter wanted to give it a try and off she went.  WOW! they learn so fast.   We are planning another trip soon and I'll be skiing next time.  Can't wait.   Its been awhile but I hope it will be like riding a bike, I HOPE! Cross country is what I like to do and never went down a big hill like this one. Not sure I will take that, its not on my bucket list.

Could not have asked for a beautiful day, weather was perfect, lots of sunshine and nice inside with fireplace going and hot chocolate and good food. Best of all the kids learned something new and was outside enjoying winter and all the fun activities it brings.  

In the summer months they turn the slopes into a mud run.  I like the clean snow better : )

Its been absolutely wonderful weather in the last few days, and garden planning and preparing is going on.   The days are staying a little lighter each day that passes and the snow is almost gone along the creek banks.

Last weekend we spent the day over at my first homestead with the family where we built a cabin and really lived in the sticks with no running water and an outhouse.  We did some cleaning up and it was a day of wildlife sightings.   While we had our heads looking up at a large flock of geese flying over a herd of deer ran passed us, oh was it a sight.   On the trip over about 10 minutes away there was a filed full of wild turkey and further up a owl was along the fence row with a catch, probably a field mouse.

We got a lot done and gathered some sticks and had a quick hot dog roast, shaved some wiener sticks out of long sticks and talked of the old times when we first moved to country many moons ago.

Whether one lives in the city or country or in between theres always something out in nature to enjoy.  Could be a critter, tame or wild or a flower coming up its all around us and all we have to do is slow down and enjoy.

Thank you for your visits and have a great week.
linda