Sorting the Seeds

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Oooh, excitement is starting to build.  It is almost time for starting the seeds indoors for this year's garden! 

 

 

We typically cannot start planting here in Minnesota until the end of May and sometimes until as late as the beginning of June.  Many old-timers say after the first new moon in June ..... others say after the long weekend in May.  I just wing it and take a chance when I think the temperatures will be warm enough overnight to prevent the seedlings from freezing.

 

What to plant this year?  Hmmmm.  We have some plans for a bigger garden and raised beds so decisions will have to be made soon. 

 

 

Last year, I saved some seeds from heirloom plants and will attempt to plant them and hope they grow.  The veggies and fruit we gleaned from those plantings were delicious!

 

Tomatoes, beans, broccoli, peppers, radishes, cucumbers, squash, carrots, zucchini and herbs are our old standby and are planted each year. If all works out with the larger addition, I would like to try pumpkins too!  We use quite a bit of pumpkin puree around this homestead once winter hits so there is nothing better than the taste of growing your own!

 

 

 

So I better get busy and start drawing up the plans for which plant goes where.  We make sure each plant is rotated as not to deplete the soil of valuable nutrition the plants need. 

 

Have you started your seeds indoors or have you already begun to plant outside?  I would love to hear what you have planned.

 

 

 

Happy planting and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

 

December ..... the planning and holiday month

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Where oh where did November go?  Time slips through my fingers oh so very quickly.  Soon the holidays will be upon us.  I need to sit down and write out a plan ...... soon!  My baking, shopping, decorating plan.  My writing the Christmas card plan, mailing parcel plan, my picking up Lucas and my Mom for the holidays plan.

This holiday season will be a little different.  Lucas has decided to stay with Sarah this Christmas.  Sarah is unable to cross the U.S. border and through customs due to her nationality and her Chinese passport.  We did not realize the paperwork involved for her just to enter the United States for a visit.  Oh me, oh my.  What a disappointment for us all.  My son Lucas has taken the caring/loving/protector role and will visit with us for a week soon and then return to her and they will spend the remainder of the Christmas break together in their little apartment.

When I drive Lucas back, I have plans of a small artificial Christmas tree finding its way into the trunk of my car along with the gifts that they will open on the 25th.  I made Lucas promise that they will at least pick up a  rotisserie chicken from the supermarket on the evening of the 24th and enjoy that with some potatoes.  He promised.  It saddens my heart to think of these two young adults spending the Blessed holiday alone .... but they are together and together they are making their own memories.

photo credit

Again, time slips through my fingers oh so very quickly.  I remember when Lucas was only a year old...celebrating his first Christmas.  Soon Bob and I will be in rocking chairs on the porch watching grandchildren running through the yard..  That, however. will come all in good time.

For now I reminisce of Decembers past while I sit at the kitchen table with a hot bowl of cabbage and ham soup, catching up on some reading and admiring the pine cones I gathered during my morning walk.  After I am done lunch, I will quickly wash up the dishes and get started on some projects that need to be attended to now that it is December.  With the snow beginning to fall softly outside my windows, maybe some Christmas cookies are in order this afternoon.  How are your plans for December coming along?  Are some of your traditions being adjusted as children grow and family members change their plans or will your holidays look like holidays past?

December is upon us.  The holidays are here.  Enjoy each day as it unfolds as soon these days will be only memories.  Remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Outbuildings

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We inherited many outbuildings when we bought this property. There is an old farmhouse...

which we cannot use except for storage as it is literally falling apart. There is also the barn which I posted a picture a few posts ago. Also the old white shed which is on the side of my blog.... I love that picture the best. There is also the shop where Bob works....

Then we have what we call... 'the little house'. It was where Bob lived before we were married. Right now a friend of ours is staying there until October.

Then we have the storage trailer....which, like the old farmhouse, is packed to the rafters with extra furniture, books and extra stuff!
It is ugly but it holds alot! We didn't pay a cent for the storage trailer but we did have to pay a few bucks to have it moved to our property. I don't know what we would do without it.

We also have the garden shed. I love this little shed and my plans are moving it 500 feet back to where our new house stands so I can use it as a real garden shed. It is a little crooked but would hold alot of extra seeds, black dirt, gardening tools and the garden tiller. I have big plans for this shed. I love the idea of being able to start my plants from seed and placing them in pots which will all be done in this shed. I want it painted a cute color and have little door on it....maybe with a wreath hanging on the outside. To me it is the perfect space for my creativity in growing flowers, veggies and getting my hands dirty.

It doesn't look like much now but when I get done with it it will be perfect!