2022 Frozen Tundra Farm Report

[lighter]

All the steps involved in gardening..... you're putting in the time and effort, Amber.  Keep us updated.

Lighter

[Hopalong]

I'm finally focusing a little, since taxes forced it. Mine are so simple they only took a couple hours. Free IRS file and paid $15 for the state, which I didn't even need to file. Couple years back I was paying an accountant $350, but since retirement things are simple enough for me to plug it all in. My goal next year is to NOT wait until 9pm the day it's due at midnight!

Love your garden step reports, Amber. Vicarious pleasure for me for sure. This year I'm putting the veggie beds to bed and letting the soil slumber in compost pyjamas. Bit sad about it but not too much. Once I get the medical go-ahead I hope to get back to it. Meanwhile, I can at least stick some flower seeds in my big patio pots. And I still have a plan for front-yard sunflowers for Ukraine. Ordered 20 packs of seeds and give them to everybody who wants to do it.

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

Tired, but am making headway on the garden work, on schedule for a change. Fell on the bucket, trying to climb into the bobcat - nothing serious, a scratch no bruise - but oh, my OTHER muscles feel it. Today is my day to return to the beast - which I've forgotten how to drive - and get wood chips & mushroom compost spread. At least piled in the garden to spread - rain is coming in.

Sunday, S got back from work and Hol took off for a serious pay bump (she solved her vehicle issue and he bought a new commuter car)... so during this cold snap, he's working on the truck problem and getting his old car ready to sell. Greenhouse is just waiting for both of them to be home at the same time. B is dealing with the hold-up in getting a callback from people to move his surgery appt along... and trying to undo the effects of the last forced steroid shots while preparing for the next load to move. Another of his oldtime buddies stood him up after promising to come stay a couple days and help. 

My tax situation went from annoying to painful to my wallet. Turns out this fancy Covid employee retention credit is considered "income" by the IRS. That is so backwards and pretzel-logic it hurts my head to try to think of it. CPA promises this is going to result in some sort of refund... someday... but it depleted my "pin money" for projects and decorating ideas to dangerous levels. So I'm glad Hol is making NYC-level pay at least for these few days she's working. And S got a promotion too.

Next week, Mike's D turns 40, so Hol and I have a party to attend over the mountain. I hope we don't embarass her too much - being the red-headed stepfamily, LOLOLOLOL. Depending on the vibes, we may not stay long but we will make an entrance. Hol made a small casket from some of her scrap wood... as the "gift box". I think I'll paint "Its all downhill from here!" on it.  :evil grin: Mike was (in)famous for his tacky joke gifts, so I think she'll get it. I've collected a lot of little "midlife" survival items for her... and a sash & tiara...

Pollen season is taking it's own sweet time arriving this year. There are candles on the pines, but they're not in full assault yet. Oaks haven't started at all. Next couple days, we have nights in the 30s again... so I still can't put my babies out in their summer habitat yet. That gives me time to finish getting the dirt amended (greensand and rock phosphate already spread and soaking in with the last snow) and tilled up. High tomorrow is gonna be in the 50s so I may move the babies inside tonight sans grow lights.

I'm watching way more YT than is good for me. And struggling with the various projects/maintenance around here that doesn't require throwing big money at it.

Feeling very alone (even tho S is here and now we talk some without tension/anxiety) with Hol & B gone. If it's gonna get done - I gotta do it. Still waiting on last contractor for the shop to get here and blow in insulation in the ceiling. Jack is helping some - he doesn't seem to want to be an outside kitty again. Freddy is still not accepting him - even though he was neutered a week ago. Weird cat behavior. Jack wants his playmate Stinks to come in -- and he's gone awol so far this morning. Stinks is now HUGE and strong as all get out. He was having a case of the zoomies outside yesterday and he MOVES fast.

But other than that, all is well on the farm. I think Hol will back later this week, and can give me a hand hitching up the cursed disc to blend in the compost in the garden.

[Hopalong]

Can't imagine anything but happiness in Mike's D's heart to see you and H show up! And the gift box is great. Hope you have a great time.

Sorry for the currently lonely breeze, but when your loved ones get back it'll be balmly again.

So amazing to read about all the large volumes of good stuff you're able to add to your slice of earth-pie. Have to admit I envy it! A big bag of worm castings many years (and garden attempts) ago was the only earth-changing amendment I did. Plus some compost, too. But that year, with the worm stuff? Plants were leaping out of the dirt.

Taxes are such fun. I don't get if they needed to be withheld from employee paychecks or what. But it does remind me of my one tax scare years back. I'm glad it's a transient thing, and knowing you're secure in your life even if there's some belt-tightening necessary, is a good thing.

Does it call up any inner questions about the long term?

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

No inner questions Hopsy. Just a resolve to use my brain & mouth to better purpose than I've done recently. I've become way too trusting of people I don't actually know, of late.

[lighter]

Hear! Hear! To using Brazilian and mouth to better purpose!!

[Hopalong]

Wot?
Brazilian?

I am confused?



Hops

[sKePTiKal]

That's one of the more humorous "autocorrect" typos I've seen in a while.... That's the first thing I turn off on a new device. I don't want suggestions; I don't want to be "told" how something is spelled -- I want to be able to do that MYSELF.

on "assistance devices" for healthy people.

[lighter]

Heeee!

[sKePTiKal]

Thought of you and the moss yesterday Lighter.

I have rocky spines of the bedrock sticking up all around my house and a random collection of boulders in one area that houses my firepit. Moss and lichens covering open dirt around most of those rocks... huge areas of lichens along the driveway... and it's all natural. Anyway, around the firepit area is where I wanted to establish an herb garden. The soil is horribly poor there and topsoil almost non-existent. It would be lovely to see large, tall clumps of bee balm, lavender, etc tucked between those boulders ya know? (Some good helpful flowers too.)

But that would mean burying the moss in topsoil to be able to plant. And now I'm torn. LOLOL. Maybe when B is here next time, I'll pick his brain some on my plans. I have the equipment to be able manage this without killing myself - and his efforts at cleaning up the woods that are encroaching are opening up new possibilities too. Hillsides require terraces or swales... and I need to be able to drive my "toys" to places to bring enough tools and conserve my energy for the actual work.

[sKePTiKal]

Well, the farm is now baking in this heat. This afternoon I need to go water my seedlings after the sun starts to move around and plant a couple more herbs. Garden's still not ready. Hol & I managed to get the disc hitched up - then spent 2 hrs troubleshooting the wiring to the PTO and motor. So it's now dead where it sits until B gets here. The backhoe blew another hydraulic hose... I'm beginning to think it's user error. We've replaced 4 so far and since they need to be custom built they ain't cheap.

According to Medicare, my tax returns for subsequent years after 2019 weren't eligible to be considered a "loss of income due to circumstances beyond my control" due to covid, so my appeal on the premium adjustment was denied. It will flluctuate down next year. Then, I got a gigundus, outsized tax payment... that has depleted a lot of my savings. Good thing the metal shop is done though I haven't gotten the bill yet for the insulation. But the steel is ordered for this summer's roof replacement... and this is gonna be an expensive proposition; knew that up front - but it has to be done.

Helga needs a new exhaust before she can be inspected; B's work on it so far has REALLY improved it. Hol's car needs a tuneup and speedometer cable. Their truck had a coolant leak; Steve was able to fix that. Steve's new car supposedly had a transmission issue. Either he imagined it, being a new unfamiliar car, or again perhaps user error; or the issue was minor. And he still has to get the subaru driveable and sold. Mine still needs an oil pressure sensor and an oil change... but B's list is already pretty full. Hol can do her own car; she's pretty good at that and she's not sure about Helga's exhaust - because if it needs welding that's more B's specialty. I was going to trade in my daily jeep for something older and less techno-gizmos on it but given the good mileage it gets I'm hesitating. It'll be 10 years old next year. The rubicon is older than that and doesn't have 30k miles on it yet. But it's hardly fuel efficient.

Long story short... she found a tiller on craigslist; mom had the cash; and she brought it home that afternoon. So as soon as the temp drops to bearable, I'll be donning my overalls and playing dirt farmer - FINALLY. B is bringing 3 tillers; so I guess the kids will get this one.

Still no word on surgery/insurance approvals etc yet. It's almost June and that's stuck right where we were in March.
But he DID have to go get more steroid shots... which promptly caused his feet to erupt again and has upped his pain levels (which the shots are supposed to help) to the point, he finally found a TENS unit on Amazon that's helping as long as he runs it on high, for the maximum allowable time. He's definitely hoping to be here in a couple weeks, but I know he also tends to make sure he has a firm appt during his stay.

I warned ya I was gonna be busy! But I didn't think I would be so stressed & overwhelmed - feeling defeated - by all of it. Hol does her best to help - but both of them are working more now. S is working as much as he can, in case jobs all dry up again. Told him, it'd help if they both be home at the same time - he's developing gardens and permaculture spaces; Hol always has some project or other going on. She did get her trees planted. Their greenhouse kit is here and she just picked up the sheet metal that project needs.

We're just doing one thing at a time, until the "problem list" shrinks. Plugging along as best we can. We are planning a roast ourselves in the sun day with margaritas, though. Maybe more than one - Debbie will be here over the holiday. I'm in menu planning phase now... figure I'm making potato salad and burgers & dogs on the grill or firepit, one day. And then easy meals without a lot of time prepping. I need to pick a day to defrost my freezer, too. It got iced up a few years back - before the generator - when we had no power for 4 days. Exciting, huh? 

I kinda miss my pool for "days off". Hol has a big stock tank that she's plumbing with a drain to collect/reuse water on her flower beds. Maybe I'll borrow her truck and get one for up here too.

[lighter]

Hey, Amber:

I have to admit your post exhausted me just to read all the parts and pieces and repairs and jobs and planting and murder of moss or not murdering moss....maybe just shovel it up with a layer of whatever it's growing on and place it BACK on top of whatever soil you put down to grow the helpful plants?  just a suggestion as it seems to want to grow where it's at, but lady, you have your hands full and what I wanted to read most from you just wasn't there.

Wasn't there in any way...... the medical stuff set up and under way for B...... just not there and it's a disgrace.... we should do better by our Vets. 

Take care of yourself and your body, while you still can.  I know you're pretty careful, so that's all I'll say about that.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Well, I'll get a little R&R next weekend. My friend Debbie is coming out for a change of scenery.

I simply can't fight or think or care about the things I can't control anymore. Like the medicare & tax things; I was ballistic... and then just shut it all down and accepted the situation. It is what it is. As long as I can keep minding "my own garden"... and finding the things I want to do -- or just NOT DO, coz I have that choice too -- then I have nothing to complain about.

Buck will be here; appt or no. We have plans to deal with the possibility there will be no surgery. I don't often let myself pine for him, but I do miss him. And vice versa. We speak frequently. He's busy. I'm busy. And since he's the expert at working through the bureaucratic tangles... I'm only focusing on things I can do to help, in the meantime.

[sKePTiKal]

Until it cools off, I get to wash pollen off car & ranger... and play plumber. I have a couple leaky toilets. Joy.

Jack is starting to want to be outside more now.

[sKePTiKal]

B will be here next week; needs a blood test and something else minor before surgery on the 24th. Then he's here for a month recuperating, under my watchful eye.

Hol & I got the brassicas planted; it's getting ready to rain - but I'll get tomatos and peppers in next then till more garden for some feed corn, beans, squash... etc.