January 2011 - what is on your homestead horizon?

Well, I'll venture forth into the new year even though I don't have much to offer. And, we came from here... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1143680/

I just can't start a thread with Jayryunens' style. I still chuckle when I read Jays' first post in December.

My spare time is limited and being spent perusing the seed catalogues and websites looking for those illusive seed treasures. Oh yes, and keeping the fires stoked.

Cajun, I hope your husband and you are both doing better. Has the snow melted yet? I suspect the mud will be equally hard to tend to livestock in. I know when growing up we preferred frozen solid to muck when tending to livestock.

MsRobin ~ hope you &Hineni and a good time welcoming the New Year. Sounds like your CSA customers are more than enthusiastic. I wish someone around here was doing that as I would be a victim .

Porkpal, Darius, Lizards_keep and all other comers... please share what is going on at your homestead. What your plans are for this spring?

Yes, t'is January, the month of the seed catalogues! Yay!!!

Fantasies, dreams, idle ponderings, firm resolutions made in the complete absence of lurking reality. And warm fires, frosty whiskers on the critters, hauling hot water out to the tanks...

January, the stuff of dreams & nightmares! LOL

There you have it!!! Eloquent!
We should elect you thread starter... lol

And let me guess ~ "lurking reality" would be? Income tax time??? Grrr!

Actually, I was thinking weather & health, but taxes will do! LOL

I wish my garden grew as abundantly as my blather. =0) To think all those A's in English have resulted in posting my daily blunders. My wish is to but serve... tho' my historic unreliability makes me reliably unreliable.

You done fine, podster... thanks!

Podster, your oranges remind me that our citrus is a bright spot in the winter gloom. I love being able to give baskets of Satsumas for Christmas and to pick a snack from my trees to break up the endless chores.

Thanks so much for the new thread. You did good, Kid. :)

It is mucky here but drying up. Supposed to be clear through tomorrow I think. But it is still cold. Brrr

I had a bad night with my heart night before last and I didn't feel good yesterday but I slept OK last night. Too hard though so I feel crappy this morning. Got a headache. Stressful here. A dear lady from our church took her own life. She was bipolar and was very depressed. She had been in the hospital and they adjusted her meds and sent her home. They shouldn't have apparently. She was hearing voices. The wake was last night at the church. I cooked and sent food but did not attend the sevice. The funeral is today at noon. Her elderly mother is not well and she is having a very hard time with this as I'm sure you can well imagine.
Please keep the family in your prayers.

Will do, Cajun. =0(
Bipolar is tough. They have one of the highest rates of suicide. It's so hard to get the meds right, & so hard to get compliance. I've got a bipolar friend, too, & every time he starts to feel better (read going into a manic phase) he tends to go off his meds or screw w/the dosage. Tragic, really. He can be a delightful person & he can be utterly horrible; just depends where in the cycle he is.

What's a 'bad night w/my heart'?

That's the way Barb was too. Very sad. She was such a good person. I pray your friend stays on top of it.

My heartbeat is erratic sometimes. It's never "right" but the other night is was skipping lots more and for longer than usual. Had my arm hurting but it's OK now.

Get to the doctor!
Sounds like my thing, too. A couple of visits & the right meds, I am now good all the time.

Ordered tomato seeds today. Boy are they getting spendy. Need to start them by end of the month. Hopefully the weather will straighten out so we can get the high tunnel frame up. We got the ground posts in before it froze, & bad weather since.

I have started on a journey of improving my life/mind and ridding myself of excess baggage that just bogs me down. So, I had to laugh about how we went a few days without a January thread. I saw it as a test as to who was ready to step up and take the lead. I failed. I thought about starting a new thread, but decided numerous times not to. Anyway...

Podster, thank you.

Cajun, go to the doctor.

Bernie, good to "see" you!

Jay, I am still meditating.

Porkpal, cool about the oranges.

Heneni and I had a great time. We watched some movies and got caught up on our chatting. "Eat, Pray, Love" was really good (I watched it a second time before returning it), as was "An Unfinished Life" and "Faith Like Potatoes" (based on a true story). I also watched "Autumn Hearts". All quite inspirational.

We've had almost 50* for the third day now, so my mind is drifting frequently to outdoor projects. Just wish I had as much ambition as wishful thinking. I do have to clean out the hen house today. Is it too late to add the maure to the vegetable garden rows, or do I need to compost it?

I'd compost it. That stuff is HOT! Glad you 2 enjoyed your visit.

I slept good last night. I am having a productive day but I am fighting off a headache. It's the stress of the wake and funeral. Old baggage from my childhood and my DD's wake that makes it so bad. It will pass soon.

I shot one of my roos yesterday. He finally pushed me over the edge. I have hated him for a long time. He is free ranging and he takes feed from the others and hurts them. Yesterday he nearly killed a little roo I have and I went hunting. Shot him with my 22 pistol 3 times. I know I hit him all 3 times because feathers would fly and he would stagger and fall over. But he kept getting back up. I tracked him so I could finish killing him and cook him but I lost him. I figured he would die during the night but I think I saw him this morning. If it was him, I will have to get the shotgun out and do away with him. I hate a thief!!

CG, is this a new HT you are putting up? How many do you have now?

I am really drooling over all the seed catalogs coming in. But I don't have much room to garden so I have to limit myself. I am trading some indeterminate tomato seeds for other things I will have room for and enjoy. I still need to build another SFG bed out front. I think I am going to need some more pavers for the walls.

This pic is the bed I built at the end of fall. The snow is gone now. I have to make this one just a bit more narrow as I can't reach the middle. Won't make that mistake on the next one. I am also going to use some containers, hanging baskets and bales.

The snow a year ago smashed our 30 x 96. We had a 21 x 60 frame. This summer we bought a 21 x 60 that had a damage hoop. We are going to put them up side by side to make a 42 x 56. Should hold plenty of tomatoes. The 30 x 96 held 320 plants.
We have the one for strawberries 21 x 60 & another 25 x 48. Might get some more if we can find some cheap.

Working in the cabinet shop. We are very busy & work keeps coming in every day.

Robin, noting your "journey", you might be interested in:
The Theory of Anyway
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/25115

The Anyway Project: Down to Brass Tacks
http://sharonastyk.com/2010/11/09/2033/

I found the roo. He was still getting around but duck walking like Hitler's soldiers. I went up after dark and caught him off the roost. He is in a sack in the wash room and I will take him off tomorrow. I am getting rid of all the game roos tomorrow except the little one that was hurt. As of right now he is blind. Both eyes are closed but I don't know if it is swelling, old caked blood or if his eyes were put out. I am giving him a few days to recover before I worry him too much. I have him inside in a rabbit cage.

I am also going to trade 2 bantam hens for a couple of big stock hens. Young hens. One is an EE that lays green eggs. I already have an EE roo. I will pair them and hatch some green eggs toward fall. I hatched the roo from a blue egg.

I got another seed catalog today. It is from Bountiful Gardens. I had not gotten it before. I am still waiting on Baker Creek.

Dang, Darius, I may be MIA for a few weeks. I got lost amongst all the blogs (Sharon's and a couple of others). I love reading about preparedness.

Got the henhouse cleaned out today. Couldn't put it off any longer, since it's suppose to be pretty cold over the next week.

I picked up a calender planner at the dollar store and am going to go through it and write in all of my gardening schedules, ie: seed starting, transplanting, treating fruit trees, etc. With such a large garden, it sure helped keep me on track last year.

I wish I was that organized. I want to be Robin when I grow up.

LOL Cajun!!! Best wishes on your little roo. Most folks I know are getting into the little chicken business. It means little eggs but also little chicken food. I keep suffering the urge... How'd the big boy taste? Or haven't you yet...

I know stress can trigger angina but the angina is there for a reason. Yes, get yourself checked out. Correct meds for this may ease some of your other issues. Take care of yourself ~ your husband and critters (and us) can't do without you.

We always have a group of friends to dinner on New Years day. One gal brought me a calender planner. I've never used one before only using a wall calender. Last night I filled in the blanks with birthdays and 'to do' stuff like estimated tax payments and doctors' visits. Now, if only I don't misplace the planner. LOL

Porkpal ~ the oranges in the photo were freshly picked Miho Satsumas. I have a small potted tree that I move into the GH. I've been told it can be planted outdoors here but I have resisted. I need to either pot it larger or plant it. A friend gave me some of those large blue mineral tubs but then I won't be able to move it. Have a Meyer improved lemon and a Mexican thornless lime too but they will need winter protection. The Satsumas are the best tasting. You have more than one tree? Do you fertilize?

Johnnys' seeds has the best selection of herbs I've run across in a big seed catalogue. They will get some of my hard earned moola!

Darius ~ reading your MsRobin links ~ this phrase struck me... and it is a thought to live by.

You can put some chicken manure on the corn patch... it's such a heavy feeder.

I tried old hay bales one year, Cajun & had serious trouble w/mice in my crops. And gophers. Lots of things like living in bales. Grrr... Not to mention, they broke down in 1 year, so I was back to rebuilding the bed. Like I've got time.

Our winter was so late in coming, I'm wondering if spring will be long again this year, like it was last year. I may set planting dates back a week... ???

Cool about the meditation Robin.... how's it going? Any problems coming up w/the technique?

Visited w/a DG gardener in the area yesterday, lots of excitement over the upcoming planting season. Great visit. =0)

Podster I have seven trees - at least four different kinds, both Satsumas and true oranges. I don't remember the varieties. I fertilize only with barnyard manure: a mix of cow, chicken, horse and pig which I allow to compost in place. I also have a Meyer lemon and another very good lemon which came up from the rootstock of one of the oranges. Both of them got frozen back last winter and did not flower or fruit this year.

Thanks for that information Porkpal. I am enjoying the 'fruits' on my labors and trying to decide which way to jump on them. They definitely need more root room.

The fact that you have manged to keep them alive in containers is impressive to me !! Bravo.

I would have killed them.

Not that tough but that is why I'm scared to uproot them. lol

Glad to see you joining in Dyson! How is your homestead doing? Any plans for 2011?

Retirement! Sounds like it will mean more work for you ~ LOL It actually sounds like you won't have time for your friends here at all... Glad to hear you have hopes and plans for retirement.

We have a small retail business and enjoy our work. My husband said he retired the day he opened his business. In spite of the road hazards encountered over the years, we have consider ourselves blessed.

We have a small corner with a fireplace, coffee pot and sitting area. Needless to say, it has attracted a large group of "retired" folks with nothing to do. This I don't understand. They ragged on me one day when I said something about work. One said ~ there you go using the "W" word again. I politely told them, the one thing I wouldn't do when I retired was hang out here! How sad not to have things you enjoy or be physically able to pursue your dreams.

So, how many days to retirement?

This message was edited Jan 6, 2011 6:45 AM

Retire; What you do in the evening when you go to bed.
Retire; I got new tires for my car, I retired it.
MN people retire & buy a house in Texas or Arizona, then have two houses to keep up & pay taxes on. They will whine about running out of money.

I enjoy being retired. Go to the coffee shop for a little fellowship & a few dice games. The rest of the day I do what I enjoy, working in the cabinet shop, visiting customers, and in the warm months, working the garden & farmers market.
I spent an hour in the shop this morning sanding some boards so the final coat of polyurethane can be sprayed on.
Now I am off to the coffee shop. This afternoon I have a board meeting for the farmers market. I will run a few errands before the meeting.
I get to do what I like all day long!
Bernie

LOL Bernie ~ Yep! I'd say you work harder than those of us not retired. Or as they say in Texas "retard"

Reckon I could make money running a coffee shop for the retired?

We knew some of those retired Minnesotans ~ they would choose TX for residence as we don't have a state income tax for their investments and their allegiance to the great state of MN.

To Retire ~ buying new casings for my ride. (New tires)

Podster, care to share what a bit about your business?

'what a bit ' ? I'm thinking you are asking what type?

We have a small retail "mom & pop" sporting goods business, opened in the mid 70's. It is my husbands' recreation, hobby, passion and living. Not overly lucrative but we have made a passable living and slowly, steadily built the business and acquired our homestead. One piece at a time and paying as we go. Also, over the years have accumulated a large group of friends, supporters and customer base. I don't regret the time spent at all and truly love what we do for a living. I worked separately for the first five years while he poured all the profits back into the business. I have worked with him since 1982.

Lol..I keep saying my mind is going. It was two thoughts that ran together and I didn't catch it when I proof read it for spelling. ["share what your business is" or "share a bit about your business"] Glad you were able to figure it out.

Pretty cool. A lot of truth to "Do what you love and the money will follow". Way to go on building your homestead the way you did.

I think I have the perfect project to accumulate my MG volunteer hours. I'm working on my outline today to present to my Extenxion Agent for approval. I'd like to do a Vegetable Garden Workshop, one night a week for 6 weeks starting in February, with an emphasis on organic and naturally grown. Some ideas for weekly subjects will be proper seed starting and setting up a schedule of when to start seeds, preparing/enriching the soil and soil tests, pests and control, diseases and prevention/remedies, misc ideas such as rain barrels, season extenders, composting. The local BP gas station has an adjacent dining area (seats 40) and the manager has given permission to use it and I can get all of the printed material from the extension office. I think if I include the subjects on the flyer that might entice some people to come to the workshop. Any thoughts or suggestions?

OP vs hybrid seeds. Seed saving. Edible landscaping.

Gorgeous day today & I'm whupped... stayed up too late last night. Perfect for working in the GH, think I'll end up taking a long nap instead. LOL

Jay, thanks, great ideas.

LAND

I FOUND YOU
hooray
may i join you all ?

I thought you already had, and were just taking a break, Sue!

Hey, Taynors! How are you doing?

Well, for pete's sake, where ya BEEN?!

oh just hanging around . :)
Jay you know where i be ? ! lol :)
i was on other threads and just got lost ? it happens with me at times. Just get lost , then i get found.
Caj how is your heart ? did you get it checked and is the mean nasty roo a gonner ?
darius how are things with you ? i saw a documentary about a family in WV . Family name is White. Very strange documentary on that family.
msrobin i m doing fine thank you. Got my own business up and running . how are you , glad you enjoyed your time with Sunny.
worked at an apple orchard farm this past fall. very fun... hard work... lost weight .... then the holidays came and well... same story i m sure most people have.
good to see everyone !

Hiya ~ Sue I am glad to see you joining us. I figured you were just sitting in your new greenhouse savoring the moment! LOL

MsRobin, I am liking your idea for the vegetable garden workshop. It certainly sounds far more ambitious than the master gardeners to be have done around here.
I wanna live there and do the classes too.... whine, whine, whine! Maybe you could do your class outline on a thread here and we could sit in vicariously?