Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[WIchickMama]

I'm going to try to get the garden cleaned up for spring. Then I can spread the coop cleanings on the garden area to sit for the winter.

I have to finish part of mine too, but dang if it isn't cold this morning. Went out about 30 min ago to check on water for the chickens and one waterer had ice-boo!! gotta break out the heated dog bowl, was hoping to wait a couple weeks as I didn't want to chance chicks drowning but I don't want to have to break it up every hour either. UGH winter.

Today is a quiet but busy day at work, lots on the schedule but also might be applying for a different position at a different Agency, still at the state. We will see, I dislike updating my resume as much as winter, lol.

Canning up some veggie broth today.

 

[jvls1942]

i just brewed up a cuppa. i am stalling going outside.
still in the mid 30F's . did I mention that I am
tired of winter already ?
Wyo, had broadcast winter rye on your garden. put it on thick.
it will help keep weeds down. You don't have to rake it in. you can
but you don't have to.
I planted buckwheat once. I just let it get tall.
the ducks enjoyed knocking it down and eating the seeds
then I plowed it under. it really loosened the dirt up.
haven't seen a squirrel yet today. there must be some
out there yet.

 

[WIchickMama]

I just put vegetable broth in the canner and with the leftovers started some chicken and corn soup, house should start smelling good soon.

I am thinking about going out on my lunch break but yep, still chilly here too and yep officially over winter, lol

 

[wyoDreamer]

The wind yesterday ripped the suncover on my garden swing, almost in half. I will have to find some outdoor fabric this winter to replace it with. Today I will be moving the seat section of the swing to the barn for storage.
This wind is really fierce out there. Yesterday and today, feels like Wyoming winter. No snow here though.

Summer is over.

 

[jvls1942]

here it is, I hope you can follow my gibberish.
potato parker house rolls

makes about 66 rolls...you can cut the recipe in half if you wish
I use my mixer with a bread hook

2 envelopes yeast or
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
put yeast and a teaspoon of sugar in a half cup of warm water
in a large bowl:
beat 2 eggs.
add 1 1/2 cups warm water.
2/3 cup oil
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup mashed potatoes
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
add yeast .
gradually add 9 cups of flour.
keep mixing with the bread hook for about 5 minutes
then I knead it in the bowl a little and shape
it into a smooth ball.
smear with butter or oil and cover with a towel .
set it in a warm place until it doubles in bulk
divide into smaller more manageable pieces.
roll to about 3/8" thick.
cut out about 3 inch circles or cut into 3"x 3" squares.
butter half of circle and fold in half. overlap the cover
a little and pinch the edge just enough to hold it together.
put on a sheet pan and let them rise for about an 1/2 hour.
BAKE at 400F for about 15 minutes until just turning brown.

you add the scraps from the previous cutout dough
to the next batch or just gather the scraps and
make a ball to roll out. for the last one or two,
just shape them into any shape and fold them over.
all of the shapes taste the same.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Apparently I'm the only one enjoying this gorgeous weather.

Supposed to warm up over the next weekend. Plans are to mow the lawn one last time and put the clippings and leaves on my blueberry shrubs.

 

[jvls1942]

I think Annie is done mowing lawn.
when it warms up I have two grapes to plant.
I think I will heel them in the raised bed until spring.
If the junk man doesn't come, I have a big pile of
scrap iron to move to somewhere out of the way
for plowing snow.
the next few days are going to be all about getting
ready for snow to come.
yesterday I got the metal heat shield hung behind the
wood burner in the shop. I really didn't need it, but it
puts my mind at ease if I have to leave with a fire going.
we didn't catch any squirrels yesterday. that is a good sign.
we caught five on the two days before . the total is 11 .

 

[WIchickMama]

Well today looks nice for Oct, in the 60s with some 70s over the weekend.

Mama hen kicked out 3 eggs from her nest yesterday, they were all dead in shell. I opened them up, one was a quitter probably around day 10 the other 2 looked to have detached air sacs. Hopefully the remaining 3 make it or it is going to be hard to break her because I likely wont find chicks this time of year young enough for her to take. Today is day 19.

Covered up all my strawberries yesterday. Both kids are home today. They are headed to a farm down the road this morning, while I work, to plant garlic and play with the animals. Likely will pick me up some cabbage too

Anyone have any fun plans for the weekend? My oldest is part of a small group of kids singing the National Anthem at a demo derby at a local fall festival tomorrow. Other than that we will be outside as much as possible.

Enjoy the day all!

 

[Callender Girl]

Sorry about the dead chicks; how disappointing! My only experience with a broody resulted in three dead eggs, one chick who hatched but was dead when I found it, and two girls who are still with me today. I hope your remaining eggs hatch into healthy little ones.

The closest thing to fun that I have planned is heading to Bomgaars Sunday for Ladies Night. I don't care what they call it; for 3 hours, it's 20 percent off everything that isn't already on sale. Time to buy all the feed I have room to store!

Between being a bit under the weather (which always make my mad; I SHOULD be able to will myself to feel better) and my basic procrastination tendencies, I've accomplished very little this week. With three days of warm weather predicted, I need to get myself in gear -- there's still plenty to do outside.

If I count thinking about something as an accomplishment, then yesterday wasn't a total loss. I believe I finally know how to construct a hand railing for the steps on the south side of the deck with leftover materials from other projects. Every winter, I wish I had already built one, and I have no idea why whoever built those steps thought one wasn't needed. They built a railing on the east steps.

However, the east steps got covered by a ramp with its own railing when I had that double pelvic fracture a few years ago. The ramp has its good points (easier to move furniture in and out of the house, my blind dog refuses to use steps), but it gets incredibly slick in the winter. Rough-surfaced adhesive strips don't hold up well or for very long. I HAVE to use the ramp for the dogs, but it's a risky venture when it's icy.

Things change so quickly in the fall. I feel like the leaves on the walnut trees had just turned yellow. Then, suddenly, the trees are bare and look desolate, while the yard is full of leaves.

Four robins, who haven't left for warmer climates, were in the yard early in the week. Yesterday, I spotted my first junco, a sure sign that winter will be here (too) soon.

 

[589205]

Apparently I'm the only one enjoying this gorgeous weather.

Supposed to warm up over the next weekend. Plans are to mow the lawn one last time and put the clippings and leaves on my blueberry shrubs.

You’re not the only one…