Farm Journal - 2025

[Meh]

Hellebore and quince are blooming. 

[sKePTiKal]

OOO thanks Meh! I like hellebore. I'm going to try adding some flowers into my herb bed(s).

So the garden plans. Every year, I plant a decent sized plot for 2 people & a variety of veg. Every year - bugs & excessive heat prevent me keeping up with it. Last year (and other places around the country same) had a very cool (too cold to plant) spring - then we went right to drought.

I'm REAL tired of messing with that & feeling like I MUST have a garden, when physically - it's very much a pain for me. So, I'm thinking.... being blessed with a lot of local produce (and meat)... at my age, do I really WANT to keep up this Sisyphean fight? I need some other sort of growing plan, just to satisfy me need to "know where my food came from and how it was nourished.

Maybe some sort of greenhouse (warm in the cooler temps) with raised beds.... like almost waist high so it's EASY. Most of the things I want to grow are root vegetables or greens - not so many "summer" crops. Hmmmm. (thinking out loud) Maybe that's the point to enter the re-design process. Getting ideas floating along in the brain ... maybe, if I do this... why do things need to be the x,y,z pattern? Try something DIFFERENT.

Meanwhile, I have painting to do in the "birthing" mudroom and trim to add, too. The white primer is bright in the dark corner, but it's glaring bright. Probably just use the khaki paint I used inside the doors. Khaki would be interesting with red & black.....

[Hopalong]

I LOVE the greenhouse idea, and who could do it better? Waist high "table" beds, bravo!
I accepted that I can no longer garden in the raised beds out back, because a 6" "raise" is no help to my back. Had I the resources I'd create what you're contemplating for sure.

How about a mushroom log or two? SO easy. Spores available online, wonderful harvests.

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

Even 18" tall "raised beds are actually low to the ground. We don't eat many mushrooms.

[Hopalong]

I've seen really cool raised beds made of stock watering troughs perched on sawhorses, or something like that. Actually waist height, which sounds so wonderful to me. Guess I could set up a couple of those for salad stuff, wouldn't mind! (Of course, my helper would do the lifting part.) Might be some of those around second hand, do you think?

Ex BF M and I enjoyed a mushroom kit I got him on Amazon. He loved it, it popped all over with oyster mushrooms and lion's mane (good for ADD) was to be next. When it was spent we tossed the debris (and spores) in his woods to do what they would. He'd add them to omelettes, stir-fries, anything he did with meat...happy boy. But not for y'all, so you'll find something you love better to grow. BTW, if you do anything about a raised-to-waist height bed, I'd really love to hear about it.

This is what I fantasize about (don't ask me if I used AI...aaaack):
 Elevated Trough Planters
If you prefer a standard trough but need the 3-foot height for ergonomics, use a trough with a built-in stand.
Tarter & Behlen: Produce "elevated" planter versions of their stock tanks.
Stands: You can find 2-pack horse troughs with 3-level adjustable height stands that can bring the rim to approximately 3 feet.
Gardeners Edge: Sells a trough-style raised bed on a rustic stand that provides a waist-high gardening experience.

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

I researched mushroom logs!  I'm fascinated by the idea, Hops!

Lighter

[Hopalong]

That's so cool, Lighter!
Hope you do it, and for once, I'll track every detail, promise.

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

I hope you ladies are ready for the ice storm. Lighter, you'll probably see the worst of the ice on this coast. Power outages expected; probably trees down in places. And freezing (near zero) temps. Fortunately, I don't think there will any strong wind.

Cold is already settling in here. We're in the mostly snow range - a foot or more. That puts B and maybe Hol on plowing duty. I can shovel around the decks and jeeps. C needs picked up from the airport - Sunday was original flight. Storm is expected to continue here & north into Monday. LOLOL. A person just has to work around the weather! I'm probably gonna have to reschedule eye appt Tues if my jeep can't get out to the highway.

We went out Tues/Wed to prepare to be snowed in and total slugs. MIGHT lose internet - our starlink is on a plug that's not on generator. The ipad has it's own cell chip - so as long as the tower is up, I have my "lifeline". LOL. Hol and I did a radio check yesterday (handhelds) just in case.

As long as there's no wind... we should be good. Even with the arctic temps.

[Hopalong]

Hope you'll be careful too Amber...it'll be a yikesey, sounds like. I'm not looking forward to it as my block "turns off" too often. Ironically, since there's a power station close by. Oh well. I'll be under the covers with Pup and we'll just tough it out. No choice really.

I can't clear snow or ice so all I do is wait for it to melt.

I'm also very affected/addicted when I lose the internet. I'm very dependent on being online to feel connected to much of anything.

Stay safe and warm and enjoy snuggling and vegging out with B!

hugs
hops

[Hopalong]

This made me think of both of you, Amber and Lighter, though tastes vary and y'all are waaaay post hippie, still thought you'd relate in some ways to this woman and her B.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onqPvEFnFHE

It was a pleasant, peaceful story to wake up to and have my coffee with.

Off to a big local diner-ish spot with my pal, who has anticipatory cabin fever, LOL.

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

We didn't get that much snow; 6-8 inches. But sleeted very fine flakes of ice all day yesterday. And the snow on the roof slid off in big piles onto the back deck (it faces west). Today MAY begin the digging out, except I remembered: once the crust of ice is broken up, the powdery snow will drift in the wind we're going to have most of this week. And the feels like temp is going to be about zero all week, going below zero at night.

Then, next weekend the AI is forecasting another 8 inches of snow again. Rumor has it, there is another storm setting up AFTER that one too.

I keep hearing a line from a poem, that was frequently used in Peaky Blinders: In the Bleak Midwinter... it's because I haven't been feeling 100% and my house is so small (especially with 5 cats draped everywhere) that I've just been sitting in front of the tv & computer. B was full-on storm prep up until it started, so we'd have dry wood, vehicles taken care of, etc.

Today, I think I've rounded a corner... and am a grumpasaurus... so I'm going to do SOMETHING useful today. Maybe thaw the venison and round up ingredients for crockpot venison stew, as I TRY to take over clearing the decks, while B plows. It's so cold, we can only work about 1/2 hr before having to warm up. We both have experience with extreme cold - so we know how to cope. Everything is going to take longer and that's just out of our control.

But, Hol did make it back from airport with C and I'll touch base with them in a bit about work coordination.

[lighter]

It was peaceful, Hops.  I enjoyed the use of reclaimed windows, lighting, switches and wood.  The gal built that entire tiny home....thought through toilet and kitty litter clean out from exterior....the handmade tiles, with little plant holder, very special. 

I have to say .....that projects way above my pay grade, but so fun to see.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Lighter

[Hopalong]

Oh goody. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!
That handmade tile with a freaking tiny built-in vase (bud vase?) got to me too.
Girl had a creative love for what she was doing, much like yours.

I didn't look up the depth of snow here, I'd guess six inches, but the ice on top is really all that matters. As with every winter, I feel zero worry about "getting out." So many friends are measuring how they're managing are extremely focused on clearing driveways so they can get out as quickly as possible? Me? Maybe I'll worry if I'm not "out" by crocus time.

Being retired it's easier, but I'm fully enwombed, cocooned, cozy and to my shame, LAZY.
Pup is devoted to food, warmth and brief excitement skittering through the yard for about five minutes.

I could be decluttering, but I've found someone I might hire for help with that, after melt.

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

Well, I made an attempt to shovel snow yesterday; took me longer to suit up for the cold than I was able to stand it out there. I did make a path next to house on the deck, to the "back door" in the bedroom. Snow is deep enough out there to provide them a wind break, while they're below it.

Jack snuck out the first night and didn't come back in till 2:30. Then he wasn't happy, he was snow covered and cold. It was his own fault. I've been letting the whole crew out in the mornings for an hour to get their curiousity sated & their zoomies out.

We are being slugs too. Except for B's snow plowing. He probably won't stay out as long today. I'm making chicken & dumplins. I also have split pea & ham, using Swanson's spicy chicken broth - VERY good. Probably make fancy grilled cheese sandwiches for that.

[Hopalong]

Oh stoppit, my car's iced in and I can't make it for lunch!

DROOOOOOOOLING...

heh heh hugs,
Hops