Tuesday, January 29, 2019

January's Garden (2019)


There are still no changes since last month's update. The garden is slowly disappearing.  Everything is dormant so we are eating it faster than it can grow, which is normal for this time of the year.  


It looks better in the pictures than it does close up.  Much of the green color is weeds.  WEEDS!  Why do they flourish effortlessly even in the bitter winter?


The bed below shows the importance of planting the seedlings early enough so they can be established before cold weather arrives.  The larger plants were transplanted about a month earlier than the smaller ones.  When they are put out too late, they just sit there and don't grow.  Of course, that begs the question, when is the best time to plant each vegetable?  I don't have a good answer yet.  If the weather would be consistent, I could figure it out.


This is my one surprise.  Tokyo Bekana has not only survived the cold weather but sprouted new leaves from the roots after I harvested it.  Usually, it is long frozen by now.


The broccoli has decided to begin heading.


That's about it.  January is a dull month in the garden.  There is nothing to do but harvest fresh greens for salads and sit inside reading seed catalogs.  It is the only good thing about January.

"Mother may say January is uneventful in the garden but she has never crawled around sniffing the muddy ground in the early morning.  A thousand different monsters walk across it during the night and I must guard against all of them!" huffed Scooter.


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Monday, January 21, 2019

First Blooms of the Year!


I saw two croci blooming yesterday and they are my first blooms of the year.  It was exciting!  Last year my first bloom was not until  February 13th so this is three weeks earlier.  I don't know if this variety blooms earlier and I missed it last year, or if we are going to have an early spring.   Whatever is true, this is the reality of our weather.




It won't stop raining and I have forgotten how the sun looks.  At least now I have hope spring will come.

Additional Links

First Blooms of the Year (2018)

First Blooms (2017) Hope is on the Way

Friday, January 11, 2019

Introducing Our New Roommates


We have twelve...twelve huge, inquisitive, troublesome, fascinating roommates.  A local breeder is leasing our pasture, mending our fences, and mowing our field in exchange for pasturing part of his herd.  Some are Tennessee Walking horses, others are saddle horses, all are broodmares with their colts.




They are magnificent animals full of energy and curiosity.  Suddenly, one will begin to gallop around the field, a few will follow and the rest will stand and stare at the circling parade.  In the house, it sounds like thunder so we look out the window to see if a storm is blowing in.


Their owner checks on them twice a day to make sure there is plenty of food and water.  The field is already stripped of every green grass blade or weed they can find; so napping on top of lunch has become a popular activity.


A couple are quite mischevious and have caused a few problems.  They figured out how to open the door to the old chicken coop, then pulled out the nasty cardboard covered in old hay left from our last flock of chickens.  It was a disgusting chore we have procrastinated doing for five years.  


Since the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, the temptation to escape has been overwhelming.  


One smashed part of the fence and the others eagerly followed their leader.  Waking to this view in my front flower bed did not make me happy.


It has been enjoyable having livestock again on our property.  It has added excitement, entertainment, and uncertainty.  She is definitely scheming and planning something.  I wonder, what will happen next?


UPDATE:  Life has not been the same.  There were more surprises in store for us.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


I DID IT!  Last year I was able to keep my New Year's Resolution.  It was to drive past more exciting mailboxes than the year before and I have done it!




My definition of an "exciting mailbox," is one that first causes a double-take then a quick turn-around to drive back and snap a picture. Who in their right mind would not slam on their brakes to admire this happy face?

He even had a saucy friend.




These made me wonder "What is that thing, where did they find it, and what possessed them to make it into a mailbox?"




Others were "creative copycats".  If the Jones' have one, I want one.  If all of your friends jumped off of a cliff, would you also jump?



I wonder if these were given as gifts to the person who has everything.







This one stumped me.  It's shaped like the State of Tennessee but has the logo letter "A" for Alabama State University.  Perhaps one family member is a Tennesse ball fan, another an Alabama fan so this is a compromise?  



Next are the ingenious problem solvers.  This guy didn't want to step over the deep ditch to get his mail.


If you don't want to walk to the mailbox, leave a note for the mailman to come to you. 


These people have a bell to be rung by the mailman, or if you don't want any bills, plant a thorny cactus so no one can get to the box.


This category is people who used whatever was at hand when it was installation time.





This is a real fire hydrant.  Seriously lazy.


How many poor horses had to go barefoot to make this mailbox?


A beekeeper used a bee house.  Hopefully, the colony had flown away before the mail arrived.

This is a gas tank from a motorcycle.  I know because I saw the owner in the yard and asked him.  He made it himself and was very proud.  Said it looked just like a mailbox to him so he used it.  I couldn't see the resemblance.


This last group belongs to people who should put "need mailbox" on their next birthday wishlist.





The best is saved for last.  


 

A dragon made from old Tennessee license plates.  


Wonder what my next New Year's Resolution will be?  Should I continue looking at mailboxes or the road as I drive?

Additional Links