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

[jvls1942]

I have been tracking the incoming storm today. It is steadily moving across Minn. It is moving into St Paul now at about noon. It should be hitting just north of Wausau at about 4 PM. It is a wide spread storm on radar.
Happy birthday to Anjanet's daughter. let us know what roads she will be driving on, so we can avoid her.
I spent the morning recording serial numbers and specs of all the small engines so I don't have to search for them in the future.
Barb, the squash should grow normally even with the bite marks .
could the bite marks be from slugs ?

 

[jvls1942]

once again the storm was over hyped.
that's fine with me, but this is getting to be like the "boy who cried wolf"
Wausau was even mentioned on the national weather report.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yeah, it was pathetic. Some lightning, but not much else. I guess it's best not to have storms. I think the weather is always hyped up on the news. They use words like attacking, and aiming, and generally make weather seem evil and angry.

 

[Callender Girl]

We were under severe thunderstorm warning until 9:45 last night. After I went to bed, I could hear plenty of thunder and, finally, some rain. It's still too dark to check the rain gauge, but since the grass is barely wet -- two dogs did their business outside and didn't leave a single muddy pawprint -- I'm guessing I will still be watering plants today.

On the plus side, we will be getting a break from the heat wave -- no 90s for at least a while.

Jim, don't know what is eating squashes, but it's greedy. There's barely anything left on the vine. While I generally blame squirrels for EVERYTHING, I did discover a new critter situation this week. All but one of my flower beds is mulched with Menards' recycled wood mulch; veggies get straw mulch.

But, I went all fancy for one little bed and bought a single bag of cedar mulch to baby my new ajugas and hosta, and dress up the established' environment. Critter digging began almost immediately. Looked like the holes squirrels make when they are burying walnuts.

I was cursing the little tree rats -- until I saw a pair of eyes peering out of the mulch. A huge toad jumped out of one of the holes. It repeated the performance the next day. Guess I'll just gently replace divots and let the big guy have his fun.

Yesterday was a great nature day. There was a 4-inch-long, brown praying mantis in the daylily bed. She and I both sat there for a long time, and she turned her head toward me as if she was studying me, too. And, a male goldfinch serenaded me before picking at the seed head of one of the catmints, about 10 feet from where I was standing.

 

[WIchickMama]

once again the storm was over hyped.
that's fine with me, but this is getting to be like the "boy who cried wolf"
Wausau was even mentioned on the national weather report.

Same here, just a nice gentle rain!

Heading out fishin this morning, just for fun not for food.

Enjoy the day

 

[Callender Girl]

The duck ramp is built and installed! Today, I will clean the tub -- which is really a waste of time with ducks, but I'd like to start with clean water -- attach the new hose, and fill it.

Jim's best friend, Michael, came over from Prairie du Chien for a few days, and he helped me complete the ramp yesterday. We just had to make one small adjustment to my original plan, which makes me feel pretty good about my design abilities.

Apparently, working on the ramp causes the skies to open and spit out sprinkles of rain for mere moments. It happened again yesterday.

I am enjoying the cooler weather -- it's 58 right now -- but I should wish we could get a soaking rain.

Michael brought mint and basil from his garden, and some cantaloupe and cherry tomatoes from an Amish farm stand. Also, some of his homemade pesto that was delicious on whole wheat spaghetti last night. It was nice to come in from chores and have a meal prepared and waiting for me -- a real luxury these days!

Jim, I am not seeing slugs, but I am also not seeing much left of my squash. Oh, well. Zucchini from the local farmers market is plentiful right now, and I can use it for almost all of the same dishes.

Today, we will be working on making removable gates for the newly stained deck to discourage chickens from pooping all over it. I have some 6-foot-long deck railing pieces that were $5 each from Menards discount area. They don't exactly match the existing railing, but I asked Tom to leave the leftover stain, and I think once they are the same color, it won't be too noticeable.

Hope everyone's week is going well and that you all get some gentle, nourishing rain!

 

[WIchickMama]

We got a little bit of rain a couple days ago, not enough to be a soakers but enough that I didn't need to water for the day.

Hatch day for my broody is Sat/Sun. We did lose one yesterday, someone kicked the egg out the nest and it must have cracked open. Then of course curiosity must have surfaced in a couple hens as it was wide open but not pecked/eaten. Thought about fencing her off this morning while the others are laying and see if that helps, but then she can't get off to eat/drink if she wants. Though I am not sure that she is doing much of that lately, especially now at day 16/17. Any thoughts? Just let nature take control? I plan on just moving her and the eggs/chicks, once one hatches, to a nest on the copper floor I constructed but not caging her off. I will put some food/water in the coop during the day but I really want this as natural as possible. I did construct a temp pen that I can put around the area for the first 3-5 days though if that would be best. Hardware cloth sides so the other hens can see. What do you think is best? First time with chicks so any advice is welcome.

Raspberries are starting to turn-fall gold and another fall variety that I can't remember it's name.

Tomatoes are coming, though I have blossom rot on the roma variety, makes me sad. Still useable but looks not so pretty.

Canned 11 pints of green beans and 1q 1/2 pints of zucchini relish (not sweet) and bread and butter zucchini slices. Lots of work but nice to start the winter preparedness.

Weather looks nice through the weekend, then it gets hot again. I will take the 70s and 80s for a bit.

Have a good day all!

 

[jvls1942]

good morning, I got up at four a m ..
barb, I always thought that gates should be different than the fence. in your case, railing. it defines the opening and breaks up the monotany of the fence.
my carburetor did not come yet.
it is now a day late.
I am working on the tiller in the mean time. it has me stumped.
I have been resisting pulling the flywheel off. but it looks like i am going to have to.

 

[jvls1942]

I usually let the hen take care of the chicks. they will go outside and teach them what to eat and what not to eat.
she will protect them from other chickens. I usually put a shallow pan of water for the chicks to drink and sprinkle a little grain/feed on the ground. I had hens taking their chicks out in 40F weather with no problem.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Getting enough green beans for a meal now. Need to go water today. Goslings are out most of the day. They still get chased but not too bad so I'm no longer afraid they will get killed.