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

[Callender Girl]

I'd like to trade for your cottontails, Jim. It is seemingly never to cold for the ones here to be out and about. However, we often frighten each other when I reach into one of the little hay sheds where they're holed up for a while. And, the rabbits have left plenty of "bunny berries" on my hay bales.

There are small signs that spring may eventually arrive. For the first time since December, the gate at the end of the ramp is unfrozen. It didn't matter that it was stuck open when it was bitterly cold because few of my chickens wanted to leave their coops and attempt to visit the house.

Golly, one of the American Buff geese, has resumed laying. She is still disappointed in my choice of locations for her nest. She likes to dig out the landscaping stone by the house foundation and fill the depression with fresh straw -- usually about 4 inches away from where I've mistakenly laid it.

Some, but not nearly all, of the chickens are producing eggs. Folks are gladly contributing $2 a dozen for my girls' efforts. And, I have FINALLY chosen the ONE breed of chicks that I will buy this year. No, I'm not going to say what it is -- just in case I change my mind for the gazillionth time.

 

[jvls1942]

It is nice to have something to read.
I haven't had much email since last week.
for the last couple of days my inbox was giving
me trouble.
No deal, Barb, no trade. but you can come
and take as many rabbits as you want.
I had a goose lay her eggs on the manure
pile. It was mostly straw bedding from the
floor of the coop. I kept checking and there
would be only two eggs. She finally gave up
that nest and didn't hatch anything.
When I went to use the pile for the garden,
I discovered that there were ten eggs stacked
one on top of another . they just sank in the
soft straw..
the big branch that was touching the
ground with all the ice on it, went back up
after the ice melted. that saved me the job of
having to cut it off.
Annie bought apple fritters from Walmart.
the best ones I have had for a long time..
The only drawback is they are not good for
losing weight..
Now that we don't have anyone here to take care of
Annie has gone into a cooking mode. Also not good
for losing weight. I have to find a hobby for her..
She cleaned up Randy's room and is making it
a spare bedroom for when the baby comes to visit.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Anyone growing Honeyberries? I just got a flier from Gurney's touting the wonderfulness of Honeyberries as a "less fussy, flavorful alternative to blueberries." Of course, they make them sound better than sliced bread, lol. Never heard of them before.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Anyone growing Honeyberries? I just got a flier from Gurney's touting the wonderfulness of Honeyberries as a "less fussy, flavorful alternative to blueberries." Of course, they make them sound better than sliced bread, lol. Never heard of them before.

Haven't grown them, but I did sneak a taste of them at the Fleet Farm last year. Probably stupid, but I carried a few berries home and washed them first and I wasn't impressed. They seemed flavorless to me.

 

[Callender Girl]

For the first time since late December, there is no snow/ice left on my deck. Naturally, with such a gloriously warm day, I spent my afternoon cleaning coops and removing the muddy muck from the duck shelter.

Drake hormones were raging. I had to put Sheldon in time out for about six hours since he and Layne insisted on battering each other. All the chickens -- except the Iowa Blues who are never free-ranged, and Billy Boy, the jerk rooster -- enjoyed running wild and free. It's been so muddy that they've been restricted to their runs for a very long time. Some of the hens showed a distinct preference for laying eggs in anyone's coop except their own.

After I stole Golly's egg out of her nest by the house foundation, the Easter Eggers stole the nest site and proceeded to "dust bathe" in the rocks and twigs.

Today, I am planning to try my hand at planting onion seeds indoors. I think I will also plant some in a container for the outdoors and build a milk jug "cold frame" over the pot.

 

[jvls1942]

Barb, now that you have all of your work caught up.
you can coast for a few days, eh ??
I am busy trying to find the most economical (cheap)
way to buy some of the items I need for the wood working
projects I have coming up. thinking of hitting some of the
thrift stores for casters/wheels.. I need at least eight of them
right off the bat..
I keep adding items to make, daily. Spring better
get here pretty soon..

 

[jvls1942]

things are looking up. I remembered an old wooden
trolley I used when I overhauled my tractor. I rested
half of the tractor on it and rolled it out of the way
so I could work on the other half of the tractor.
I just checked , and it has four inch casters on it.
I know they are heavy duty because they held the
weight of the tractor and rolled very easily.
I think we finally ate the last of the left overs.
Now I can make ribs and kraut. maybe talk Annie
into making dumplings on top of it..
I told her not to buy apple fritters, so she didn't.
she bought cherry turnovers instead. I am getting
wary of weighing myself.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We went to my mother-in-law's for her birthday. She's 96 and has recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. I ate too much. Nice day outside so I took my daily walk when we got home.

 

[jvls1942]

We went to my mother-in-law's for her birthday. She's 96 and has recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. I ate too much. Nice day outside so I took my daily walk when we got home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM (in law)

 

[Callender Girl]

Congrats on taking your daily walk, Lisa! My inclination after eating too much is usually to take a nap. Your approach is healthier, I know.

Ah, Jim, I know that you know there is no such thing as getting all the work caught up (hope your caster project is going well). Since yesterday was another nice day -- with precipitation forecast for the next few -- I armed myself with a bucket and poop scooper. Since the ice and snow has mostly melted, unburied dog poop was visible everywhere

As a reward for spending more time with critter crap, I dug through the tote with all the planting stuff, found my seed starting mix and heat mat, and planted Walla Walla onion seeds. Fingers crossed that I don't kill them.