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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yesterday's weather was nice. Today not so much. I guess April showers bring may flowers, so I will try not to let it bother me. Thankfully everything is greened up so it should drink up the water quickly, and hopefully not flood my basement again.

Congratulations on cutting down your tree Barb. That's not something I could do.

Hope it goes well Jim. You are 2 wheels short of a big rig. That sounds like a judge of your character. It wasn't.

 

[jvls1942]

after that 4AM storm this morning,, we should have
a super bloom.

 

[Callender Girl]

I feel like Mother Nature has gone from being a benevolent prankster to being fully evil. Temps are expected to drop below freezing for the next few nights.

Lisa, I hope your basement stayed dry. And, without my sister and her experience in wielding a chain saw, that dead tree would still be in my fence line! Definitely not a project I would undertake alone. Or, with my wimpy little chain saw.

Jim, how's your project going?

I attended an informational meeting for private well owners last night. I thought I was uneasy about drinking my tap water before. Now, I'm glad I've been drinking bottled stuff!

On the up side, in Iowa, they not only recommend annual well testing -- which I haven't done -- but there is a state-funded program that makes it free (who knew?!) for property owners. And, if shock chlorination is necessary, the state will reimburse the cost up to $300.

Guess I will be finding out what's in the water here, but maybe not until July when fiscal year program funding restarts.

 

[jvls1942]

we have our water tested every year.
it was mandatory while we had our group home.
it is OK, but has an iron taste. we drink bottled
water. but cook with our tap water..
my project is ongoing, but we are gaining on
it a little each day.
I just went out and started a fire in the wood
burner. I'll give it an hour or so to warm up.
it is 36F outside.
we have a hen turkey hanging around. we
suspect she wants to nest in the pines along the
driveway.. that should be a safe place for her..
great grandson is coming tonight to stay for
the weekend. he is three months old already..

 

[Callender Girl]

Funny you should mention the iron taste. One of the guys at last night's meeting said he grew up drinking water that had an iron taste -- and he really misses it!

Three months old already? Wow!

It's gray, windy and in the 40's here. Good excuse to camp out on the sofa and read. I admire you for braving the cold to get some work done.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Our water here is filter. It comes out brown from rust straight out of the well. We use a reverse osmosis filter system for our drinking water.

A bit of basement flooding. Starting to dry out today just in time for more predicted rain.

 

[jvls1942]

I think we have located the area where water is draining
down alongside of the foundation.
when it finally gets more summerlike, I will attempt
to fix it.
after monday, it looks like spring will be here for a
few days. then I hope it turns to summer..
grand baby is here for the weekend. so no work
is getting done . he gets passed around like a hot potato.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I see my lettuce I planted in my raised planter has germinated. I need to check the stuff I planted in the garden.

Have fun passing that tator tot around Jim.

 

[jvls1942]

Tater Tot went home on Sunday, I don't know how
we handled having three tiny ones at the same time.
age must have a lot to do with it..
He will be back in about a month.
fyi,,, working in 41F temp in the shop isn't fun.
I lasted only about an hour. today I will light a fire.
can't get anything done with these cold temperatures.
the rhubarb is all up. chives and garlic, too.
the pear trees are coming back, I thought they were dead,
when the grapes start to bud, then we will know that spring is here.

 

[Callender Girl]

I am also ready for the end of the cold weather, Jim. I think it's especially cruel when it's sunny and bright out -- then, you step outside and it's COLD!!

Both rhubarb beds are doing fine -- although there was frost on the leaves yesterday morning. My garlic chives are happy, and my pear tree is fine. Congrats on yours!

The grapes seem to be on the verge of budding. But, I bought an extra Concord last week, just in case.

BTW, a great many things were easier to do when we were younger!