Back to the Basics

Those days of one or two eggs are hopefully gone.  One day last week we found four little beauties in the coop and yesterday hubby brought in three.  With more sunshine and warmer temps these little darlings should start really producing.  Not much sunshine today, but the weather is still warm here in central Georgia - at least there is no snow and ice!

Hubby decided to double the garden size this year and I am much afraid that he is about to double it again.  With all the good veggies we harvested last year, he has found many new things he would like to grow.  The potatoes, beets and bush beans are planted as is the asparagus.  As much as I love fresh corn, it is not an efficient crop to grow.  With only two or three ears to a stalk, the time and cost of the seeds, in planting and fertilizing does not equal a profitable return.   We'll see if we can still get a dozen ears for a dollar this year.  I may be way out of line with my thinking on this one.

I am growin my lettuce in containers this year.  It will be easier to manage and will provide a lovely addition to the deck.  I found some seeds for that delicious buttercrunch lettuce that I am more than ready to get planted, as well as some green leaf lettcue.  I haven't tried to grow any of the oriental varieties, but the foliage on the ones I have looked at in the seed catalogue is so pretty I may try a container of those also. 

The squash of last year was so good that we will definitely plant more of it as well as the okra.  I will also put in some zucchini this year.  Zucchini with some spicy deer sausage and tomatoes make a tasty sauce for pasta of any kind. Okra will go in last as the ground has to be warmed for the okra to sprout.  Celebrity and rutgers are my tomatoes of choice, but we will see what hubby finds.  He has been seed shopping and has found some pretty interesting varieties this year. Looks like my spring is already full, if I get all this stuff planted.  Let's just hope the neighbor's chicken don't rape the garden as they did last year.  They ate the seeds as fast as I put them in and those that did germinate provided fodder for those chicks all summer - they got more tomatoes than I did! 

The warmer weather and the increase in sunshine has been a healing balm to my mind.  It has been jumping with ideas which is a great relief as I was afraid my creativity was gone for good, so I guess I better get started on me an Etsy site so I can share my creations with the world.  Who would have thought in the 1970s that we could reach so many people at one time via a keyboard and a internet connection as we do today.  That is what thinking outside the box will do for you!

I thank you for dropping by and wish for you a peaceful and happy day.  

Happy reading!
Belle 

Spring is Coming!

If I say that enough, maybe it will come on!  Check the weather for our area this morning and guess what 3 days of 50 degree weather, followed by another cold week.  But no rain, except for Monday, so-o-o I cut my potatoes so they can cure and I can finally get them planted.  I had read that it was best to allow the cuts on the potatoes to "scab" over to prevent rot.  I had never heard this before and have previously just cut and planted.  Maybe this will mean more as well as healthier plants. 

I know I am late in my planting,  but according to my friends planting chart I should be able to plant on the 1st through the 6th of March.  That will give the little cuts 10 days to cure before going in the now soggy ground.  I tried to test the ground last week.  I dug a little hole which immediately filled with water.  My little potato eyes wouldn't stand a chance, so I have postponed until the ground can dry a bit and warm up a little.

I am so anxious to see new green growth I can hardly stand it.  Even the chickens are no laying regular.  Guess their little tushes get cold trying to push those eggs out.  Can't much blame them.  Chickens actually need so many hours of sun a day to be productive layers and we definitely have been lacking in getting sunshine.

I still have much pruning to do.  Yes, I am behind on that too, but I have an aversion to not only cold, but wet weather.  Combine the two and I become non-functional. 

I want to insert a request before I bid you farewell for today.  The season is always in for giving and supporting the Breast Cancer Foundation.  It is coming on the time for the wonderful efforts of the many "relays for life".  As a breast cancer survivor I would much appreciate all the support you can give in any of these efforts whether it be time, money, or some other venue.  But right now you can click on the breast cancer awareness site and "click" for free mamograms.  There have been tremendous strides in the fight against all cancers. Any and all support is greatly appreciated!

Time to move forward and get myself in gear. Thanks for dropping by.

Happy reading!
Belle

Back to the Garden

Fall is almost gone and winter is about to set in. I cannot remember such a mild Fall. Here is Central Georgia we have not even had a hard frost as yet, which is really unusual. Tonight might be the turning point though as a front is moving in with cold air and lot's of rain. It will probably finish the beautiful plants off leaving the landscape stark and desolate.

Our home is on a very old home site that was unoccupied for many many years. While clearing a path through the overgrown privet hedge, honeysuckle, and swamp briers, I found loads of shrubs and flowers from the previous inhabitants. Some I could easily identify - the Forsythia hedge that still flourishes, pomegranates, crepe myrtle and many I still have not identified - and some I could not. After realizing the treasures that lay at this old home site, the clearing and cleaning went a lot slower much to the chagrin of my spouse, who cared not a whit for plant life. I would trudge along beside him and watch carefully each stroke of the mattock, hoe or shovel and scream bloody murder if I caught a glimpse of one of these old treasures. You would have thought I have found gold and to me they were.

In my email box today was a e-newsletter from Fine Gardening that was chocked full of interesting stuff. I love the Mystery Plant section. I can recognize many plants that I have thought were weeds and pulled and plunked away that had I only known with a little nourishment and maybe relocation, they would have benefited my garden with beautiful and unusual foliage and flowers. I only wish that in 1978 this had been available in such an accommodating way. I know I have sent many a treasure to the burn pile in my ignorance and lack of resources. The newsletter is free and very informational, so check it out.

I needed to share this tidbit so maybe I could help save someone else's treasure. Seeds can lay dormant for years and pop up anywhere in the yard or garden so keep your eyes open. I have a plant in one of my terrariums that just sprouted right up this week after months of sitting in that soil. Still can't identify, but I will have a better idea in the next week or so. Some unexpected plant popping up in the garden is always worth looking into - you may have a great treasure pop into your life. Surprises are the spice of life.

Happy reading!

Belle