Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[vickiw]

What an amazing, gorgeous day! I could take, oh maybe, 30 or 40 of these in a row

. Finally got some canning done. Now have a nice first batch of salsa. Tomorrow is going to be sweetcorn. Been throwing the bad ones to the girls and boy do they go after them!!! Made me feel good today watching my once battery hens stretching and dusting in the garden, content, knowing they're safe, feathers shining in the afternoon sun. The only thing that rouses them is the sound of my voice. They come running to see what treat I have for them now! They already have me so well trained.

 

[unkadan]

So it makes a micro climate for your plants then?Yes THe frost cant get in?Yes for the most part, but cloudy days, temps below 25º all come into play Can you grow cooler weather stuff all winter or does it just extend your season?Yes to both, still learning here but after this 2nd year I know I can grow spinach and certain greens all winter, the key is getting them planted in the next 6 weeks and getting them to useable size before the daylight hours decrease too much Is it clear plastic?The top is double layer gh grade the sidewalls are sliding polycarbonite panels

I have bought one of the old greenhouses used for spring plant sales from a local WalMart, it's commercial grade and very heavy duty, since I don't heat it at this point it would be considered a high tunnel,,,,,this winter I am considering moving the rabbits and maybe some of the chickens into it,,,this will provide some body heat. Also a nice sunny warm dry area,,,that said it will only be a portion of the 1200 sq ft. I do have a set of frames for another tunnel, smaller only 16' wide but these might get set up to house the critters,,,lots of things to do here and only so much time, $$$, and energy left in this ole man

tiki, the author of the books on growing in winter is Elliot Coleman, I have talked with him on the phone for a couple hours, very interesting guy that has been instrumental in getting this movement started. I suggest any serious or wannabie WI gardener get a copy of The Winter Gardener,,here's his website these I bought through Amazon;

http://www.fourseasonfarm.com/books/index.html

the newest very HOT trend is using "row cover" over crops/beds for season extension (and to add double protection in HTs) this stuff isn't to expensive and really works well for us here,,,,google or pm me if you want

last garden tip of the day,,,,IF you want to plant garlic,,,get your seed ordered NOW all suppliers are almost done with orders

bbl

 

[babylady4]

I was outta here before the sun peeked out.... not enough time to post on here, I was getting those rolls out of the oven and then flying off to Oshkosh.

Well, I must say that I am a bit over zealous..... so far I have the bed in the bedroom..... and nothing else. The curtains are up, but the blinds are too short for the windows so I have to return them tomorrow and get longer ones. Maybe I will get rollershades instead, but I do enjoy the blinds.... and of COURSE the d@mn dressers are too big for the bedroom now! I need smaller dressers........ sh!t. At some point I do have to attempt to get one dresser in here so that I can make headway in that room and get it painted tomorrow, before I get the bed together of course.... and also get the mattresses AND some bedding...

I think the bathroom will wait until Monday.

So..... BigFam had her 20th reunion last night..... where is she????? Sleeping off her 'good time'?

 

[Amyable]

Checking in...such a beautiful day! I was at Art in the Prairie in Brillion all day today. It's kind of like an artist meet-n-greet/appreciation type thing; there were about 20 of us, we set up display tables of our craft and its open to the public for demos and learning about local artists. Met lots of neat people, got some tips and leads, and had fun. There were wool felters, fiber artists, painters, wool spinners, jeweler, metal and wood sculpters, a wire weaver. People do incredible work! I am ready to hit the hay - Cartman had a horrendous night and kept us up past 3. No repeats child!

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Ha ha ha Cartman! Way to go...

BL4... I did not even get drunk! We had the second part of the reunion today. We had a family picnic. Then I had my friend from MN and her family over for more visiting and dinner. It has been a wonderful reunion 36 hours. I did post pics on Facebook. I tried smokey eye make up. Felt a little overdone, but got lots of compliments, so I guess it was worth it. Fun being a redhead again too. I'm so glad I went to this reunion.

I've got nothing to really update. I have GOT to get those silkies outside! They are stinking up the basement and I'm actually looking forward to cleaning up that room! Fresh musty basement smell is what I'm looking forward too.

 

[Raiquee]

Hey all!!

Long time no see. Sorry, been soooo busy! So, heres an update:

Me and DH are pregnant with number 3!!! ud: Hopin' for a girl!
DH is laid off again for a month (why does this always happen when we find out we are pregnant?)
Work is the same
Haven't sold my house, still drive forever and a day
Start school again Aug 27th.
Doing a lot of freezer meals
And stockpiling to help save money

Thats it. Sorry to interupt the chatter!! lol Thought I would say Hay heeeeeeeeeeey!!!!!

 

[Terri O]

Good evening all! I JUST got back from my day...well, I did lock up already and feed everyone My guy was in great form today. Not too hard to transfer between chairs and great appetite to boot. He even talked some. Then I went to my DDs Lia Sophia and Mary Kay parties. Brought the sloppies and the eggs....which were sloppy by the time I got there! Somehow they got jostled in the bottom of my bag and all slid to one side of the carrier. SAD....

Terri what kinda rooster is behind the white nird with the black tail>? It looks like my bw ameraucana.

I believe that is what I call "My Robins" The one pictured is Rudy I believe. It is hard to tell him from his brother if their heads are down! He is a cross between the New Hampshire hens and the Aussie roos I believe...but I am not sure! The father could (in theory) be Mr Red or Big Red and the hen could be an Aussie. I had a NH and an Aussie with babies last year at the same time and I dont remember which birds were from which nest! One of the pitfalls when they all run together for sure! The hens from the mix are just as nice...really large with dark eyes and the same coloring. Next year I may TRY to get this cross and enter them in brown egg layer class--they have to be 7-8 lbs each!

MLH--I am wondering what the difference is between a "left" handed gun and a normal one? I could see on my .22 'cause to get the shells out you use your right hand but...enlightenment please?

Thanks for the menu Bigz! Sounds pretty darn good for sure!

RAIQ--I was wondering where you were! Congrats on the new addition! WOW--I must say that you and your DH are going to town in that dept...we went the opposite way...3 years apart! What ages will the boys be when your GIRL is born? LOL!

Guess it is time for me to close up...thanks for the answered questions Dan...I always wanted to extend the season--even down here. I will check out that link for sure.

OK-DDs are back. They have a request. BOTH of their parties are at ZERO! Here are the websites...if anyone is interestedin orering any Mary Kay or Lia Sophia could you please check them out and PM me with anything you want? I feel so bad for them and the consultants (being a past one myself) cause they dont make anything!

www.liasophia.com/doll She is running a special where you buy 2 and get up to 4 at half price...you decide which ones at half off-even the most $$$ ones!

marykay.com/chrysta34 Is the MK lady.

Thanks much my friends!
Have a great night--Terri O

 

[chikenscratch]

Long, but relaxing day today. We spent most of the morning cleaning the house, then went to the Harbor Fest with some friends (we hadn't been before and it was ok). Then we invited our friends over for dinner, to see our house & the chickens, and to try out our dandelion wine plus a few of our home brews.

DH is going golfing tomorrow with a few guys from our regional soccer team, while I go to regional soccer coach training. This year we decided to join the board and are getting our training underway. Later this week we each have a few meetings to attend for the start of the year.

Chickens are good. Still only 2 eggs. I'll let the girls loose tomorrow morning before running off to training. I think I'll let them try some yogurt with cereal for breakfast. Do they like thin yogurt? Thick? Or any kind?

Dan-the hoop house sounds awesome! Do you have a problem with the wind or weather destroying the frame or plastic coverings? I missed the link, I'll have to read back for it.

bf4me-I remember how thrilled I was to clean up the basement once the chicks were out...enjoy! Glad you had a great time with family & friends.

BL4- slow down......Waiting for an update on the ordinance meeting.

Nite all!

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All! We'll see how well this thing holds up tonight!

The problems seem to be hardware related. The keyboard went about a month ago (it's a laptop) and I've been using a another keyboard that I plug in to it. Now the touch pad seems to be going and I can't get it to recognize a "plug in" mouse.

Sometimes the page will jump to the bottom and get stuck, can't get it to move at all then. I have a desktop computer but for some reason I can't seem to get that to hook up to the wifi!

Raiq... Congrats! Hope you get your girl, but if you don't I'm sure you'll love him anyway! My girl didn't stay "girlly" very long. Seems like once she grew out of her favorite dress she decided it was more fun to be "one of the boys" .... 'till HS anyway!

LOL!

Sorry I forgot who said it, but whoever could get mink cages, please let me know!

Well, better get going and hit the hay... got to try to work in the coop tomorrow/today during daylight hours. For some odd reason the chickens don't seem to like it when I do "projects" in there at 1 am... silly chickens.

 

[vickiw]

I'm the first one up????? Can't be!!!! Good very crispy morning all! No frost, yea!!!!! But we came close, whew. Should be in the clear now until at least full moon now

. Those tomatoes better get busy, I haven't canned any chili base for winter yet!

Time to go let the girls out.

Happy, blessed Sunday everyone!

I'm back. AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!

Bear dogs in our woods! Sorry if I offend anyone BUT I seriously dislike anyone that runs bear dogs! They don't respect private property and don't try to tell me they respect their dogs, I've seen the aftermath. Our friend found what was left of a bear dog left to die in his woods after he got mangled. You could clearly see where the tracking collar had been. The "hunter" (using the term very loosely) must have just retrieved it so the dog couldn't be identified. We've had the dogs run right under the tree where my hubby sat trying to bow hunt. Had one guy show up up at our door once when I was home by myself in a dirty old orange coverall, reeking of stale beer. He just sat at the bottom of our drive, debating if he could just get away with driving across our field, I am sure, but then he saw me watching and came to the door. With a sneer he tried to "suggest" (aka bully me) that I let him drive thru our woods to retrieve his dogs that I could hear to the north. After I informed him his dogs were on the other side of the river and he couldn't get them from here even IF I let him, I informed him (with my best smile combined with a good glare) that I had already written down his license plate and showed him the phone in my hand. I informed him that NO ONE in this area allows dog running on their property so he might consider turning his dogs loose on the other side of the ridge next time. "No one?" he says. No one. He leaves grumbling and I hear his truck driving across the neighbor's potato field. The horror stories go on. Our neighbor (and town chair at the time) up on the ridge was flat out threatened and had to get on his big cat and aim it at their trucks in the driveway before a group of bear "hunters" got the message they weren't welcome. Don't know how many times we have driven down hwy k to see these "hunters' propped against their trucks, staring at a radar screen, gun in one hand, beer can in the other. True sportsman (or armed drunks?). Now they want to turn this same bunch loose on wolves? Is our state really that nuts? What about protection for these dogs?

Ok, sssccccrreeaaacccchhh, dragging my soapbox off (again) now.