Starting from Seed

 Mr. Green Thumb has been in the house. 
 Early in April, a bit early for me, but not my Mr., Bill started planting seeds in tiny trays, filling not just one but several...at a time.  (I just knew he was up to something when he asked me to order a ' grow light ' ).
Soon he had tomatoes, 3 varieties of which he forgot to mark, bell peppers, sweet yellow banana peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, a couple varieties of cabbage, cucumbers and cantaloupe. 

 Hey, slow down fella, we've never done this before!

 The following morning, he was checking under the grow light where his seed trays lay, to see, if by some miracle, he had success after one day.  He'd mist daily, but lightly, until finally he began to see tiny green shoots showing themselves. 

Hey, this is getting exciting.  Next he transplanted each one into 3 and 4 inch pots as each plant had sets of 4-6 leaves.  It didn't take as long as we thought, in fact, we were surprised as to how fast these seedlings were growing.  As they grew out of the small pots, again they were transplanted into 1/2 gal. pots where they will stay until the day they are planted in our gardens outside.  That will be next week as we are predicted to get a couple quite chilly nights this weekend.  It will mean covering his prizes or bringing them back inside a couple nights.  

 I've helped with transplants and labeling, but these are his babies.  On cold mornings he'd even start a fire in the woodstove to keep the house and his tomatoes warm.

This past week he has been ' hardening them off ' or taking them outside to reach for real sunshine and acclimate to the weather.  It's been nice out so they've spent the nights camping out under the stars.  On windy days, he puts them on the floor of the deck, heaven's forbid, should one fall off the table and break.  

Weather permitting, we will have tons of tomatoes, plenty for canning this fall.  But what I'm anxious for is the wonderful, fresh taste of a warm, ripe thick slice of tomato the size of my hand between two slices of multi-grain bread with Miracle Whip and a shake of salt and pepper....mmmmmm, mmmmmmmmmm!!!

 Look who already found his way into Bill's garden...
this little fella is so small that he can crawl right through a 4" x 4"inch wire fence.
He can't be more than a few days old and already so strong.  Such a sweet lil fawn.

 There he is again, trying to hop through the grass across the field behind his Mama.

Just a bit of what we've been up to this early spring.  I'll keep unfolding the garden story as we try to make it grow.  Til then, we need more sunshine and rain in the little bit at a time, like we've been getting.    Our prayers for all of you who have so much more to worry about than a toppled tomato plant.   Bless you all from the north.

Alas !!!

 Wow, I've been gone a long time from blogging...
but I'm back.  I've missed you.  I've read when I could but have seldom commented.  For that, I'm sorry.
It's good to see a sunrise with you again.  and sunsets.
Both of these were taken out of my windows.

The 1/2 acre garden in the first photo is of our pumpkin/potato/squash/gourd patch.  Last fall we fell hard to a severe hail storm that destroyed all the crops of our 3 gardens.  We do not give up easily.  We already have replanted the pumpkins, 840-some seeds, to be close in count.  We also have 5 -100 ft. rows of potatoes in the ground, Yukons, German Butterballs, Viking Purples,and Pontiac Reds.  We pray for a good year.  There will be a couple rows of squash, Butternut and Buttercups...
Come this fall and help yourselves to the pick of the crop.
There will be a wagon full at a time...and then some.

To keep occupied this spring, however, Bill had planted a little garden in the basement of tomatoes, peppers, cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and more tomatoes, and more tomatoes, tomatoes coming out of our ears....
I started a few flowers, Allysum, Wave Petunia and Flax.

I've missed you all.  Tell me again, what you've been up to.
I shall return...did I say I missed you???

Stay Safe, travel safe with the summer vacationer traffic, and pray for good weather.
                                           \o/
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Blasted Anyway

How I am longing for days like this,

smelling the bluebells or dusting

my nose full of pollen from the lilies...

or swinging in the hammock while

gazing at the blue sky through the treetops.

Instead, it's presently only minus -15 degrees

but promising minus -23 by morning with

bitter cold arctic winds making it feel 

like minus -44...yes, you read that right.

We are getting Blasted !!!

Winter is here, the part no one likes.

I'd even rather be shoveling piles of snow

off my deck or playing in it with the grandkiddles.

But this???? ... not funny

Mother Nature.

It's not so nice when it's hard to keep 

the house warm or my achin' bones.

So what do we do in this refrigerator we 

choose to live in, you ask.

I'll be taking down the Christmas tree,

loading the branches with popcorn strings and 

cranberries, orange slices and tallow.

All for the birds so their bellies stay full and warm....

(after the cold snap!) but I will keep the feeders full.

I'll start a puzzle on the Stow n' Go felt

so I can move it off the table and make room

for card games and ' Farkle.'

How bout you? 

What do you do when the cold keeps you inside?

Bake something or roast something long and slow.

That'll warm the kitchen , at least.

No matter your pleasure,

Stay warm.  Our whole country is getting

a blast of cold, cold air that will 

frustrate some, please others.

Just do remember to bundle up if you 

' have to ' go out.  Don't let your nostrils freeze together, 

but do make the best of it.

Keep the little ones home from school

if their schools haven't closed.

Do not send them out where they can get 

frostbite in less than 10 minutes.

Keep on dreaming along with me....

of warm spring days.

Stay home and stay safe.

Blasted Anyway !!!

                                                     

That Time Again

During the fall and early winter we had a trail camera set up near where my hubby was planning to put his deer shack during rifle season.  About a month later, once the snow started to threaten to stay, this big boy was on the camera.  Bill's heart began to pump, but never to see the 8 point buck again.  He passed through during the rut, but that was it.

click any photo to enlarge  

 Hunting season had come and gone and another buck was never seen in real life or on his camera.  Before the next snowfall came with furry, Bill decided to move the camera closer to the cabin so we could watch the deer, turkeys, songbirds, squirrels,  as we keep them happy all winter with treats of apples and pumpkins and occasional hands full of corn.  

 Bill came in with the camera card, all excited to see if anything was still around after the annual deer hunts.

He got pretty excited to see the 8 point was able to outsmart all the hunters at least in the acres near and around our neighborhood., " but wait, Bill, that's not the first buck you saw,"  I told him.  This boy has a much taller rack and a darker forehead.

He was coming to the cabin at all hours of the day and night which was nice.  Maybe we would see him in the flesh if he comes in steadily.  As you can see, 

 By early Christmas morning, he came in sporting only half of his rack.  It's that time of year again, when the bucks shed their racks and put all energy into resting up for a new set of antlers come late spring, through the summer and early fall when they develop velvet to protect their new ' look.'   

Don't quote me on all my facts and fiction, but at least I'm close.  I do wonder each time I see one of these beautiful creatures, if we will see them again in another year.  The antlers will fall off, leaving a distinctive nob where they had been.  I will remember this fella by the dark, nearly black forehead and grayed muzzle he already has.  I'll watch for him, feed him and hope to see him again.

On the warmer days of winter, and before more snow, I will walk a few of the closer trails to see if I can find these antlers before the mice chew them for their calcium.

Enjoy the wonders of the woods around you.

You never know what you will see.

It's winter in our north woods where the air is crisp,

the shadows are long and the snow is icy cold on our skin.

The four seasons can be bittersweet !

Until next time ~

Stay safe and toasty warm

And careful of the deer in your headlights !

We Wish You ~~~

A Merry Christmas is coming, 

and I'd best get my ' busy' on.

 Fall has come and gone when I wasn't looking,

Snow is making a spectacle of itself,

rather well at the cabin, our promise place of 

peace, quiet, and calming.

 The tree is up, decorated and being enjoyed.

Can you believe it took me a couple days to hang 

ornaments and hide a traditional Christmas pickle.

I know, but it's a German tradition in our home.

Logs of creamy, melt-in-your-mouth fudge have been cut and boxed, ready for the trip they will be taking as~

 our first Christmas celebrating will be with our daughter and her family.  Everyone else, our boys and their families will meet us there for fun, food and games.  There are always games., board games, snow games, who can hug Grandma most gently games and Scrabble, of course.  This Grandma can't wait.

 I also am anxious to do some cavity-craving therapy.  I have been getting feedback on who's bringing what so I know my sweet tooth will be more than pleased.  Remind me to make a dentist appointment when we return and to check my blood sugars and cholesterol.  These treats could do a person in....yikes !

 All of the goodies will be the bonus of our weekend.  The most important thing for us to remember about Christmas, is that True Love was born in a Stable. 

 (Thanks to a dear friend who sent us that perfect saying to remind us of the reason for the season.)

So, until we can get back to the comfort and warmth of our Cabin in the Wood, we wish you most joyful

preparations for Christmas.

My entries have been few and far between lately, but I still do some blog reading, just not commenting much at the moment.  Thank You for your patience with me.

So, until next time or year,

I wish you love and happiness 

and Christmas Joy all year round.

\o/

/\

Still Dreaming

all photos in this entry are borrowed from the internet, thank you.

 I've been dreaming again...

I'm still yearning for a, wait for it, wait for it,

 a SUNROOM...

just like the yellow one,...

still dreaming.

 One I can enjoy while basking in the sunshine

during our long, long winter days,...

one to bring a new year in with...

a place for that perfect Charlie Brown Christmas Tree...

still dreaming.

 Look, here's a dream of a sunroom for my daughter's

large farm house, wouldn't that be dreamy?

I'm still dreaming of the day I can curl up in my Crazy Quilt,

just like this one., while I carefully cut~

 Snowflake Ballerinas .

One can dream, can't she???

I'm reminded by my dear, once again ~

" Don't rush me," he says.

So I dream on.

Hmmm, shall I hire a carpenter?

Have a fun weekend  and

DREAM BIG !!!

' The Hunt '

Are you one that is driven by ' The Hunt?'

 This past spring, I had the honor of scouring throughout 

an old barn.  There were treasures everywhere like weathered old doors like the one leaning above, inside a barn stall.

There were a number of antiquated chairs, each with their own charm, barn charm, in this case.  I'm partial to the blue one.

 Look who caught the corner of my eye...

well disguised on a fallen leaf as I walked by him

trekking through the woods.  Was he hunting too, for a place to burrow into the mud for the winter?

 OK, back to ' the hunt.'  Lying on the loft floor of the old barn was half a round table top that will later be made into a side table.

 What do you think ~ a trap door or a hay hole cover?

One thing I knew for sure, I loved it, especially the handle.

 These are old piano panels, left to be re-purposed, I suppose.

The keys and inner workings of the piano were later found all charred on a burn pile.  What a pity.

 On another ' hunt,' this beauty of a woodstove was found.

Bill helped to lift and load it later, for it's trip to a new home.

Notice the door ~ angels or eagle's wings, mountains and trees ? 

Inside the door of this grand primitive stove was a thick roll, I mean thick, roll of money that went with the stove.  Hmmm.

  My guess ~ a test of trust.

Back in the barn were more treasures such as these 

cross-glassed windows. I'm in love.  

 Mirrors are always a great find., especially when they are

plate-glassed.  They still are the most treasured to me....

heavy, strong, long-lived.  This one came off an old dresser.

Even antique re-bar can be re-purposed into something useful.

Tho none of these items came home with me,

I know they will all be put to good use sooner or later.

I simply enjoy ' The Hunt.'

Thanks for hanging around while I turned a few antiques over and checked them for sturdiness, usefulness and charm.

Maybe, just maybe, 

my next hunt, I'll bring something home to work on.

For now, I have plenty of projects in my own barn

that need dusting off and enjoyed in our home.

Enjoy ' The Hunt ' if that's how you roll.

Until next time, keep it wonderful, fun and safe.

\o/

                                                     /\