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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Barb sounds like you had a good experience at the vet. Here chickens are considered livestock, but livestock vets won't see them.

There aren't enough vets to go around. It's getting harder to get in at any vet office. They are all overwhelmed. It's going to get worse. It's also hard to find doctors, and now dentists. The younger generation isn't apparently going to college for these things anymore.

I cannot imagine having 5 cats in the house. Especially one's that don't get along. Hopefully you can find some homes for them, but there's always more cats than good homes unfortunately.

My garden is starting to look raggedy. The beans are long and dying out, and the cucumber plants as well. Strawberries are overgrown and are thriving. Might start to take out more stuff this next weekend. Gotta try to wrangle the squash and small pumpkin plants and cut back to set fruit.

 

[Callender Girl]

Lisa, I didn't have to imagine having five cats in the house because I had six for years. All but one lived in the basement after I rescued a pregnant stray who had kittens 15 years ago. The upstairs blind cat is still doing well; four of the five basement cats have passed away.

I was looking forward to having just one upstairs and one basement mouser. Until the three strays showed up this spring. With the exception of more chickens in the distant future (my coops are full!), I am trying my best to have FEWER animals. I hope fate -- and stupid people who dump house pets in the country -- will cooperate!

My garden now consists of ripening cherry tomatoes, some still-green full-sized tomatoes and a gazillion grasshoppers. One more pumpkin is ripening on the fence. Oh, and walnuts are everywhere -- some because they're falling off the trees, some because squirrels are relocating them. It would be impossible for walnuts to fall onto my chicken coops because the trees are on the opposite side of the house.

My "herb garden," a set of pots lined up on a table outside my back door, is still producing sage, chives, parsley and basil. I won't need to water today because last night's storm dropped more than an inch of rain. It also interrupted my DISH TV as I was watching the Phillies play the Braves.

I was concerned that the chicks, who were experiencing their first storm, wouldn't know enough to head into the raised coop. I was right, they cowered under it instead of inside. So, I went out and individually lifted all seven into their shelter. I came inside, peeled off my wet clothes and threw them in the bath tub. I will hang them out to dry later today.

 

[jvls1942]

I made great strides in the shed.
finished the bottom shelf. have all the pieces cut for the top shelf,
should get it done today.
had a lot of rain last night. will not have to water today.
have lots of green tomatoes, too.
the squash are adding blossoms each day. up to 14 as of yesterday.
yesterday l slipped getting out of the shower. l jambed my left shoulder. it hurts quite a lot.
I went to the Dr. for my heart checkup. she asked if I had fallen within the last few months. I flatly lied and said no. I didn't consider that the type of fall she meant.
lots of walnuts falling here, too.
the grey squirrels are coming up from the river again to collect them. I wonder what the flood plain will look like in 25 years from now . there are walnut trees popping up all over our few acres.
the ones in the lawn get mowed off every week.

 

[Callender Girl]

Okay, congrats on the work in the shed and not having to water. BUT, not so great that you didn't mention the jammed shoulder.

Whenever I'm at a doctor's office, I mention EVERYTHING. It might not have been the type of fall she meant, but since you're paying for a medical opinion, I'd tell her anyway. Off my soapbox now!

With guests due to arrive in less than a week, I am trying to spruce up the place -- pull weeds, mow with the little mower, wash down coop exteriors, plant a small ornamental tree.

Between weather delays and feline drama, it's not going as well as I'd hoped. Also, fresh off a big vet bill for my Speckled Sussex, it looks like I will be making another trip to the Shangri-La of vet clinics.

Last night, I spotted a piece of string wrapped around the leg of one of my runner ducks. As I was untying the string, I realized there is a big, black spot under her foot. Sure looks like another bumble.

I wonder what people without pets do with all their money?

Of course, I also wonder what people who can sleep through the night do all day? I tend to take little naps during the day -- usually when I'm not intending to sleep.

 

[jvls1942]

this is a "before" view of what I had to go through in the shed.
I am having trouble with the "after" pictures. i will send this and try the "after" pictures on another post.

 

[jvls1942]

these are the extra shelves i built across the end of the shed.
note the slot along the wall where the shovel is. eventually there will be several long handled tools in that slot.
still searching for another picture.

 

[jvls1942]

this is a shot of the peg board on one side of the shed. the other side is similar.
the white line above the ladder is a continuous 6" shelf. this shot doesn't show the depth very well.
the shelves recede between the studs. i am going to patent that idea.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Great work on the shed Jim. I love good organization as I'm pretty bad at it. Sorry about your shoulder. Hopefully it heals up quickly. I can imagine that pain.

Barb my plan was to downsize. So here I am with about 45 more chickens, 4 more geese, and 4 more turkeys. I wasn't very successful and am now kicking myself at all the extra feed I gotta buy. I guess I will try again next year.

 

[Callender Girl]

Well, Lisa, you added a lot more birds than I did. But, I still had to come up with two more coops to accommodate all my new chickens!

Jim, your shed project is inspiring! I headed out my garage, plugged in a couple of batteries, moved some stuff off the floor and quit before I made any real progress. I think I may just nap a bit before I go out again

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well, Lisa, you added a lot more birds than I did. But, I still had to come up with two more coops to accommodate all my new chickens!

That's what I get for having a 40x40 pole shed, along with another coop and turkey shed. The urge to fill them is always there.