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

[jvls1942]

not even noon and Annie and I got the mailbox set up.
we got permission to put it at the end of the wheelchair ramp.
no more town plows, farm equipment or distracted drivers
knocking it down. only , maybe, me ??
Annie saw two tom turkeys close to our place this morning.
it is hunting season for them right now. they are safe from me,
I don't like to eat turkey very much.
I got a note from a nephew offering me some apple
twigs to graft. I have to check and see what I have available
to graft to.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It is a nice day out today. I started some cucumbers, and direct seeded some pots on my deck. I will cover them with some clear plastic panels at night and see how it goes.

The predators have returned here. 3 of my muscovy hens are gone. Why can't they take all the big fat lazy males? I thought I had 4, but I counted 5 drakes. 2 might have to go if I keep losing hens. One hen is already brooding some eggs. Hate to lose them all as they are good at bug patrol.

 

[jvls1942]

female muscovys like to go hide when they have eggs to hatch.
keep a positive thought..
they will sometimes come off their nest to eat and
drink, but they are quick about it.
we went to menard's and got a bag of post
setting concrete. the mailbox post is in a plastic
five gallon bucket. the bag filled the bucket
about 3/4 full. that is 50 pounds of counter
weight. I also have it screwed to the
ramp railing. that should hold any letters
that we get..

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately these hens left piles of feathers with a bit of meat, so they aren't nesting. I'm suspecting coyote by the way the were plucked and by how my dogs are acting. Fox generally just snatch and run with occasionally stopping to adjust the grip. Husband said he will look around more on the weekend. I did hear the coyote packs howling last night. I was hoping they would continue to leave us be.

Glad you got your mail box back up Jim. I like the idea of it being in a bucket as you can always move it.

 

[Callender Girl]

Lisa, so sorry about your ducks! I used to love to hear coyote concerts -- until I had vulnerable poultry and livestock. Now, when I hear them, I run outside and yell like a madwoman, hoping the sound of my voice will irritate them enough to go elsewhere.

Hope your seeds do well. Weather looks like it will stay above freezing this week, so I am toying with planting some stuff that I've been moving in and out of the garage.

Congrats on the mailbox, Jim. Previous owners anchored the one here in a big, old milk can. Long before I got here, someone or something hit the can, and my mailbox looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Gives it a lot of character.

Did you find suitable "hosts" for those free apple tree grafts?

Today's weather looks great, so I am going to "take inventory" of all -- okay, maybe not ALL -- of the outdoor projects that need to be done. From the looks of my riding mower, buying a new front tire will be included. It's been aired and is certainly still leaking.

If I try to keep airing it to just get by, the tire will surely go flat when it's impossibly too far away from the compressor. Experience has taught me that the mower will also run out of gas when it's at the furthest point away from the gas can in the garage.

 

[jvls1942]

Barb, lawn mower tires are notorious for losing air.
I put inner tubes in them as the problem arises.
same with my wheelbarrows.
you can get a lot of extra life out of a crappy
looking tire..
It is raining right now. of course, why not ?
I had to leave the tractor out over night.
I have an apple tree that didn't grow. it is
sending up shoots from below the graft.
I will see if any of them are robust enough
to try a graft.
I will check online and see what is available
for root stock..
Barb, your yelling at the coyotes apparently
does work,, they all went over to Lisa's ..
we have coyotes in the neighborhood. but
I never saw one on my property. there are also
wolves, the wolves keep the coyotes in check.

 

[jvls1942]

I got the wheels onto the jointer yesterday.
then I says to myself, self, why not put a
storage shelf in the bottom. ? I should
finish that today.
I fell asleep watching TV. woke up
listening to Leave it to Beaver..
who watches that at 2AM , on purpose ?

 

[Callender Girl]

Don't want to sound like an old person here, but the black-and-white world the Beav lived in -- and the "problems" he faced -- seems a lot more desirable than some of scary stuff that goes on today.

Congrats on getting those wheels on, and best wishes with the shelf.

I spent Thursday doing all kinds of outdoor work while the weather was warm, sunny, dry and not too breezy. I will spend today wishing my joints and muscles enjoyed my accomplishments as much as I did.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I fell asleep watching TV. woke up
listening to Leave it to Beaver..
who watches that at 2AM , on purpose ?

That would be me.

 

[jvls1942]

That would be me.

OK, now I know.
yesterday I got the storage shelf built into the
jointer. wheels are on . it is all finished.
now to wait for someone to come along to
help me lift it off of the table ..
Annie offered, but i don't want her to hurt herself.
besides, when bro Dave helps, he does most of the lifting.