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

[jvls1942]

Barb, I like it when you can't sleep. then you write nice long posts. lol
had the windows open during the night. this morning all kinds of birds were singing. like having a bunch of roosters that we don't have to feed.
those wrens sure have a big voice for such a tiny body.
I opened up the kitchen window . turned on the bathroom fan. the fan displaces 100 cu ft per minute. it draws cool air in through the windows.
cools the house down very nicely. then before it gets hot outside, we shut all the windows. the house stays cool for most of the day. don't need to run the AC much.
Yes, we got the trimmer stringed and started.
It started very easily. Annie tried running it a couple of times. but it quits running after a few minutes. I will have to check that out. maybe the oil is low ? It might have a thermal shut off if it gets too hot. My Cub Cadet mower has that feature. the trimmer is a Cub Cadet also.
It is a four cycle. Don't need to mix oil and gas
It is very powerful. I think you could cut down small trees with it.
I don't plan on doing much outside if the weather is going to be above 80 F. I can't take the heat.
I will find a cool job to do. The boat has to be hosed down. and the tire needs to be put back on it's rim.
I also have to rinse the rain barrel out. some leaves got into it and are plugging the faucet.
I take the compressor and blow throgh the hose when I need water for the tomatoes. but that gets to be a PITA..
Did I mention how the blackberries are loaded with blossoms ? I can't remember them being so ever before.. I took pictures.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I was wrong. Husband was able to work up the corn patch. Planting today. Corn is a 90 day variety. Wish us luck.

 

[jvls1942]

I was wrong. Husband was able to work up the corn patch. Planting today. Corn is a 90 day variety. Wish us luck.

LUCK
You should be OK. the field corn is doing good around here. sweet corn should be planted about two weeks after field corn anyway.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you Jim. We will see if I'm the puller or pusher of the little corn planter. Not sure which to hope for.

 

[jvls1942]

Thank you Jim. We will see if I'm the puller or pusher of the little corn planter. Not sure which to hope for.

I have one of those push seeders.
We (Annie) decided to not plant corn.
there is too much of other things that has to get done.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Corn and pumpkins planted. Got a bit of rain already, but light. I think I got about 200 mosquito bites, and my leg muscles were screaming up a storm. I started as pusher, than ended as the mule. Now we wait and see. Definitely won't be knee high by the 4th of July, but I will take ankle high.

 

[Callender Girl]

Congrats on getting your corn planted, Lisa, despite being a feast for the mosquitos.

Like you, Jim, I open the windows at night and close down the house during the heat of the day -- also, pull the blinds on the west windows as the sun goes down. There's a giant old tree by the deck that, along with a row of other mature trees, offers plenty of shade for the house. Good thing all of that works because there's no AC.

Weather report has backed temps down from the 90s to the high 80s, not great but better. Also, rain is forecast every day from now through Saturday. Guess I'll have plenty of opportunity to work in the garage. I'm making slow, but daily, progress.

I snagged two huge pottery planters at an auction last year, and this year, I planted them with bunny tail grass from SSE. They were lovely -- until yesterday when too many lively kittens attacked the "tails" as they fluttered in the wind. I lugged the planters from the deck -- the kittens' home base -- to the front steps.

Then, I rummaged around in the garage addition for some extra wire fencing to run across the bottom of the steps. It's not pretty, but it SHOULD keep the goose girls from ambling up and eating the grasses. Keeping them off the steps (which I never use) will also mean fewer occasions when they peck at the glass door and the dogs go crazy. I have enough crazy for all of us here .

 

[jvls1942]

good morning
I couldn't respond immediately because I didn't have my coffee yet.
70F already this morning.
Yesterday I cleaned out the rain barrel.
DD Barby gave me a screened cover for it for Father's Day. I didn't know there was such a thing
then I cleaned out the boat. It was parked in the weeds under a tree for too many years. the leaves had turned into really nice compost.
when I pulled the boat out of the weeds, I pulled one of the tires off of the rim. I will have to fix that before I put the boat up for sale.
Yesterday I checked the kraut that has been fermenting since Easter. I better get at canning it

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hi

 

[jvls1942]

what do you do when it is hot and raining ?
why, you can the kraut that you started on Easter weekend. I water bathed 15 pints yesterday.
I learned something. when making kraut, you start it so that when it is ready to can, it will be in cooler weather.
We had a good storm roll through in the AM.
we didn't get the real strong winds nor any hail.
then after dark it rained for a while. the first rain filled my rain barrel half full. I don't know how much was added last night.
today I am getting a haircut. It was either that or buying a dog license.
the wind knocked a few baby apples off of the tree.
there were three deer in the yard the other day.
maybe they will clean up the apples.
Or maybe the turkeys will.
it is getting light outside. the temp is 67F.
I should get out there while it is cool yet.
I had the boat all washed out. the rain gave it another good rinse.
Too bad there was no soap in it.