February and January are over...finally! They were the worst two months of my life. We all survived Covid thanks to everyone's prayers. Bill's lungs are slowly recovering from pneumonia and he is beginning to get his strength back. Every day we celebrate any improvement no matter how small. Being so close to death for such a long time changes a person's perspective on life. We are moving slower and everything looks different.
The storms in January and February destroyed much of the garden. I thought I had planted too much, but it seems now it was the right move. What I don't understand, is why some of the plants survived while others right beside them didn't. Why did Bill live when so many other people who were younger and healthier didn't? It doesn't make sense.
A trailer load of horse manure was delivered by the horse trainer who uses our field to board some of his mares - I must unload it alone now. The garden chores will fall to me since our three sons are living in other cities. We have used all of the food it produced. In normal times, someone our age and in this poor of health would be cutting back on activities. However, with rising inflation, supply shortages, and food prices spiraling out of control with no stopping in sight, the garden is a necessity.
We are still eating all the fresh greens we want and have been able to share some. Once a day we try to eat a big salad for the healing nutrition. Of course, since it tastes absolutely delicious that chore is pleasurable.
As for what survived the winter, Serifon, Green in the Snow has lived up to its name. The side shoots are eaten like broccoli. It is in the mustard family but the flavor is mild and perfect in salads.
Some of the Swiss Chards sprang back to life after a little warmth. These were from my saved seeds so hopefully, they are adjusting to my crazy weather.
The collard greens have always been one of the best winter survivors but this year there are only a few left. A couple of the Frisee Endives that were protected beneath seem to have revived.
Five of the Vibrant Ultra Violet Mustards have survived much to my amazement. Last month I didn't think a single one would make it. Now they are putting out new green growth.
Last year the Scarlet Kale was tiny and pitiful so I planted a whole row in hopes of getting at least something. This year, when everything else suffered, it went wild.
Today's weather report forecasts sunshine and warmer weather for a few days. My seed order has been placed and I am dreaming of trying new vegetables. Never in my life have I looked forward to spring as much as I do now.
Last Year's February's Garden (2021)
I hope you'll pace yourself Jeannie and not do too much and suffer with your own health. I'm glad for this good report and hope and pray you all get stronger each day. It really does put everything in perspective. Take care. Lots of hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteOh Diane, "pace myself" - such good advice but so hard to follow. How does one do that when they are suddenly released from hell?
DeleteI know what you mean my friend. It's hard to let things go when there is so much to do. But you need to take it easy of yourself and get stronger so that you can be there for Bill. It takes a long time to recover from being so sick and you have been sick too. But you know all of this...I am keeping you all in my prayers and praying for a full recovery. Lots of hugs to you both, Diane
ReplyDelete"Five of the Vibrant Ultra Violet Mustads have survived much to my amazement." ...Is it supposed to be mustards instead of mustads?
ReplyDeleteDustin! You were sorely missed when I wrote this post! There was no one to proofread it so of course I made a stupid mistake. Hey, wait! I didn't make a mistake! There is a new hybrid plant a non-gardener like you wouldn't know about - mustards crossed with tadpoles called "mus-tads". My mistake was thinking I had made a mistake.
DeleteMiss you, Mom
I spy Scooter surveying the garden. That's wonderful Bill continues to improve. It's surely been an interesting winter. Here, the mixed greens did terribly, and I'll be surprised if the chard and kale return. Thankfully, the collards did reasonably well. Take care of yourself as best you can.
ReplyDeleteScooter was tracking a mole that has moved into the garden. The mystery has been solved as to why some of the plants didn't make it. When I harvested a few of the collards yesterday, a long tunnel had been dug under the roots. On a dry sunny day soon, I will let him dig and dig until he either finds the mole or scares it away. Right now it is too muddy so I keep calling away from the puddles. He will get so dirty it will require two baths to get him clean.
DeleteOh dear, so sorry you've had a tough battle with COVID in your family. Glad to hear you're both on the mend. How nice to live in a place where these types of plants survive the winter, even if some struggled. Sounds like you have great plans for your garden in the months to come. Take care.
ReplyDeleteBeth, I can always make "great" plans. I'm good at dreaming. However, making my dreams come true is where the difficulties arise. I always bite off more than I can chew.
DeletePraise God for Bill’s continued improvements! Yours as well! I am sorry none of your son’s now live close enough to help with day to day chores. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWe all wish we could be closer, especially Reese who is 10 hours away. Dustin came home this past weekend and gave Scooter a trim. It was the first time he has ever done it and was a bit surprised at the difficulty. Scooter does not cooperate...at all! He hates to have his front feet touched, wiggles, squirms and pushes away. In return, I sent Dustin enough homecooked meals to fill up his refrigerator freezer. Win! Win!
DeleteIt took me a quite a while to recover from my bout with the beast. My personal belief is that it was engineered and there is no way one can predict who gets it and who survives. I am just grateful I did, as my BIL did not (more due to medical mistreatment than anything else) and he was younger than me. Gardening and canning are my therapies. To be out of doors, smelling the soil and the world waking up, seeing the green living things. We live in north central Illinois, so not waking up yet. It has been milder and warmer than usual, and today will be close to 60, so I am going to peek under the frost covers. My herbs survived a cold and snowy winter last year but seem to have succumbed this year...no rhyme or reason as they were covered the same. The same with my parsley! Getting ready to start seeds indoors. Continued prayers for your Bill and you to be restored quickly to complete good health.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was engineered and designed to kill. We can't begin to imagine the evil they have brewed and have stored in vials in their evil lairs. I hope we never find out.
DeleteWe are slowly and quietly healing. The sun is shinning today and I am in the garden. Bill can't go any further than the length of the tube on the oxygen machine. Yesterday evening we set on the front porch in our rocking chairs (like the two old people that we are) and watched the sun go down. We haven't done that since last fall. We never thought we would be able to do that again.
I am glad to hear that Bill is on the mend. I almost lost my husband 5 years ago and our lives will never be the same again. Each and every day is precious. DO you know any teenage boys that you could hire for help? We have teen down the street and I don't know what we would do without their strong backs. We have just had to let so many things go though. We do the best we can every day and that is enough.
ReplyDeleteI know quite a few teenagers that are here working with the horses on our land. I hadn't thought about asking them. They would probably love to earn some extra money. Joshua and Dustin are close enough that I can save heavy lifting for them when they visit. Joshua will be coming home tomorrow night to get a huge load of salad greens and in return he will be getting the ladder out so I can put up the Purple Martin houses. I could let it go but we have tried for years to get them to nest here. They eat a large amount of insects and are entertaining to watch while sitting on the porch. Reese will be here for two weeks in August just when the garden is coming in. He is my Ag guy and loves to be out in the garden. Heat, dirt, bugs - nothing bothers him. We will be harvesting as much as possible those two weeks. He works for food so will be taking as much as his car will carry.
DeleteLife looks the same but everything is so different.
Jeannie,
ReplyDeleteYou can grow a better garden than anyone else, even when you are "down and out!" In the middle of winter, no less!!! It looks wonderful, as always.
I'm happy to report that I've finally got a few seeds popping up. I had planted a "gambler's crop" about 3 weeks ago and was beginning to think I'd lost that gamble to very cold and wet weather. It was just the right timing for peas, but a little too early for others I planted (beets, carrots, boc choi, spinach, green onions, radishes, and lettuce). They are all cool weather crops, but I began to wonder if around 20 degrees (unexpected cold snap) was too cool:). A few things are starting to come up, others do not have even one sprout showing, but I'll be happy with whatever I get. It was worth a few seeds to try in a year where it seems that food costs will escalate.
I sent Rob out for canning supplies, such as a 50lb bag of sugar, vinegar, canning salt, pectin, and more jar lids. Because lids were so scarce around here last summer, he began collecting lids last fall and we really had enough. Now we have extra. I can preserve anything I grow, buy or scrounge now and there are enough for family members as well.
I'm glad you were able to get some manure and spread it, even though it was a chore. I know that's one reason your garden always produces well.
Our greenhouse is bulging with little plants--several kinds of tomatoes and peppers, several varieties of flowers, and lots of onions. We have done some transplanting the past couple of evenings and tonight I planted some red cabbage, green cabbage, mixed cabbage and broccoli seeds.
This season is full of hope.
Rob says to tell Bill he is praying for him.
I got the manure spread all by myself! I'm so proud of me. I even asked for another load. Your cold snap will be here on Friday and Saturday night when it drops down to 11 degrees. All of the hoop houses are down because I got impatient and tired of looking at them. I don't know if anything will make it so I will do a really big harvest on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteI have started seeds inside in the laundry room but it is too early for anything to sprout.
Bill can now sleep laying down in bed without it feeling like his lungs are being mashed. Getting a good night's sleep has really made an improvement. Monday he went back to work for a few hours. Going up the steps to the second floor bedroom/office was hard. The therapist worked with him on the bottom step going up and down the bottom step until his strength was built back up. I can't lift the oxygen machine and he can't carry it and breathe enough air to go up a a whole flight. He added a longer tube to the oxygen machine so it would reach all the way.
We appreciate Rob praying. It has made all the difference for us.