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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We got about 4 3/4 inches here yesterday according to the weather guy. It poured and poured here.

 

[jvls1942]

I have my rain barrels equipped with hoses,
I don't need the water anymore this year.
I have the spigots turned on and the barrels will keep on draining as it rains.
I have limited access to the internet.
about all I can do is emails.
no google search or youtube

 

[Callender Girl]

Wow, Lisa! If I got that much rain here, there would be standing water in the yard, pastures, driveway and basement. Hope you fared better.

How frustrating for you, Jim!

Today's predicted high is 71 -- tomorrow's is 44, followed by many days in the 30s and 40s. So, today I need to wash down the exteriors of a couple of coops, add some bedding, dig out more of the goat poop (ugh!) from their pen, plant tulip bulbs and put away yard art.

Let's pretend I'm really going to get all of that done today. I'll save the goat pen for last. At least all of the physical exertion of shoveling goat poop will help keep me warm during the upcoming cold snap.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The yard is definitely soaked. So far the leaking into the basement is minimal for now. It is raining again today. We had a drought this year, so this rain will help to refill the water table for next year. Still very sloppy out. With seven dogs to wipe I'm wishing it was all snow instead.

 

[Callender Girl]

Omigosh, seven dogs! I get frustrated wiping up pawprints from just two.

Still, I don't have to shovel rain, so dragging a towel across the floor a gazillion times a day seems better to me.

 

[jvls1942]

I don't have even a toy dog.
No stress .
knock on wood, our internet is working fine.
Yesterday we went and checked out Cricket to see if they have service to our place. It appears they do. So, goodbye
T Mobile; who cannot give us a signal, and now they are raising their rates..
had raviolli and meat balls for supper.
I went outside for a few minutes this morning, quite cold. Lisa, that should make you happy. but no snow, yet.
I think the rain is done for this year.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It is nice weather out there Jim. Gonna enjoy today's walk. Thinking about ordering some more geese for next year. The 12 I have apparently isn't enough. I still want some white ones. I always change my mind in the spring when they get into breeding season and the noise is almost too much on me. They are easier than more goats, and husband is always willing to eat any extra geese if they get to be too much, but doesn't want to eat any goats, so those I'd be stuck with. 4 of those is enough. I keep the geese with the goats, so they share the same area.

 

[jvls1942]

when we finally decided to get rid of our geese, we had nineteen of them.
mostly Toulouse crossed. I liked the emdens.
the long necked Chinese were the most shrill . the ganders made the best foster parents for little geese and ducks.
We had the geese processed at an Amish place near Dorchester.
It was in January. 22 below. we put the
processed geese in the back of the pickup truck. by the time we drove home, they were frozen solid as bowling balls.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like the best way to flash freeze some meat Jim. I currently have 12, so I will be close to your highest number. They are easy to care for, and are very winter hardy. I don't feel sorry for them in the cold like I do the chickens. They also will keep the pasture trimmed down where the goats don't.

 

[Callender Girl]

I feel the same way about my geese; while I'm babying my chickens throughout the cold months, my geese --and ducks -- seem to enjoy the frigid weather. I am much more like the chickens.

I am surprised that your goats leave anything in the pasture. Mine are mindless eating machines.

Oh, except when they are evil eating machines. Tessa spent too much of yesterday STANDING on her back legs so she could steal leaves off the linden tree on the other side of the fence. Both the tree and the fence suffered for her efforts.