Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[jvls1942]

good morning
yesterday I started just one 5 gal batch of wine
that is about all I can handle at a time.
I did boil the blackberries. that worked very well.
it smelled so good that I almost was tempted to make jelly. but I fought the temptation.
I will wait at least a week before I start another batch. I don't want to be messing with both batches at the same time when it comes to racking and bottling.
today I want to get the railing finished in the garage. if it will be warm enough out there.,
it is 30F right now.
stitches can come out tomorrow
we need rain. had none for over 2 weeks

 

[Callender Girl]

There were FOUR baseball playoff games yesterday, so my work (aside from essential chores) came to a standstill earlier than it should have.

I had a lovely visitor yesterday; a large, brown praying mantis stationed herself on the upright post by the deck steps. It looked like she was "chicken watching," staring down at the feathery flock. At one point, she appeared to be waving at me when I got close. Although it was probably a defensive gesture, I didn't want to be rude, so I waved back. By evening, she had moved on.

She was much more fun than discovering two hens about to eat a dead sparrow (I removed the corpse; I know chickens eat other critters, but I don't want a front row seat).

In just over two weeks, the Work Crew will be back. I am looking forward to their efforts, but not to turning on the furnace. I am fine with running an electric heater in my bedroom on chilly nights, but I suspect they will want to actually be warm night and day. Sigh.

I got an early start to today because the coyotes came calling at 3:30. Most of the crops are out of the neighboring fields, so I think it would be a good time for the coyote crew to move on to someplace with more cover -- far away from me and mine.

Best wishes with your wine, Jim. And, it's really dry here, too.

 

[jvls1942]

there are coyotes around here too. I never hear them because I don't go out after dark very often.
thanks, the wine is off to a very good start.
I have to buy one more ingredient to add to the must.
the deer ate all of the apples from both trees.
as a result we are going to Sally's and picking some from her trees.
yesterday I removed the second railing completely. I have it about half replaced. shouldn't take too long to finish it.
35F at 8AM , shaping up to be a nice day.
not so, in Florida. a niece and her hubby decided to ride out the storm. they are way north in Jacksonville. still not a good idea, IMHO.

 

[Callender Girl]

I know we, in the Midwest, have to deal with scary weather. But derechos and tornados are pretty hit and miss. Hurricanes spread so much widespread devastation that I can't imagine living in coastal areas.

I don't go out after dark much either. But my trusty canines want to make sure I never sleep through a coyote concert.

 

[jvls1942]

byc wouldn't accept my last post, and then I lost it
try, try again
it looks like we will have to wear long johns to watch the packer game today.
it is too cold to work outside.
went for a fff . i had perch this time instead of bluegill. you know the news is skimpy when i write about what i had to eat.
dd brenda came and removed my stitches. she had all the right tools. she is a r.n. ..

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I still ran a fan in the window last night here. I'm always hot. Nice to see a bit of rain. Yesterday we topped off the garden beds with compost, and lawn trimmings. Also took my 2 pots of geranium in the house for the winter. Should have cut off the blossoms, but they are too pretty, so will clean up the mess they make in the next few weeks instead.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hi

 

[Callender Girl]

Jim, I wish I could have written about what I had to eat -- but I haven't eaten anything since Friday night. I dutifully got all the vaccinations this fall that are recommended for "older people."

Saturday morning's shot went fine. But I woke up Sunday with a killer headache and extreme nausea that had me running to the bathroom all day. In fact, I am still a bit nervous about trying to eat anything today.

And, I slept through the Mets-Dodgers game -- so, an all-around terrible day!

 

[jvls1942]

It's a good thing they have shots that make you feel better, eh? We always pass on the flu shot.
very cold again today. third day is a row.
Annie made a large kettle of chili., good for cold days.
i am messing with two batches of wine. have one set up for straining. have a half of a bucket of blackberry seeds and skins to dump somewhere. i think i will dump them on the other side of the road. we don't need any more berries on this side of the road.

 

[Callender Girl]

Chili sounds delicious. Now that I can hold down solid food again, maybe I will make some today -- but probably less spicy than usual.

Yesterday was rough, but better than long-term illness. I still have flashbacks to last year when I had some "unidentified" virus for several weeks and coughed so much that my ribs hurt. This is the first year I've gotten the flu and pneumonia shots. But I will be interacting with more people than usual this fall; the Work Crew is coming this month, followed by my sister's annual Halloween party (where I picked up last year's virus).

In my experience, blackberries are the most prolific spreaders. I didn't understand why a friend offered me all the plants I wanted to dig up several years ago. Now, I totally get it. Despite severe pruning, they just take over more and more space. Good luck getting yours to stay across the road!