Just hope you don't get ice.

There's arctic air coming down too.

I don't have anything in the ground just yet ( except for some overwintered stuff under tunnels).

But I'm getting set up to. Got seed potatoes and onion plants and sets on the ready and the ground all manured up and tilled in.

Guns cocked and loaded.

Rick

I bit the bullet & planted peas & carrots, then found a few store potatoes that had sprouted so I planted them. It was too nice a day to spend inside, especially if third winter is on the way.

I should have looked at the weather before planting. I never watch TV because I cant hear it. If the weather permits tomorrow I may go out and toss some hay on the onions. Nearly every year I have problems with the wet ground more than I do with ice. I have had better planting conditions this year. Part of the better conditions are because I did not plant a cover crop. I like cover crops, but it seems as they cause my ground to stay wetter, and down in this valley I seem to get everyone's excess water.

Jen, before covid I got a 10 or 20 pound bag of sprouted potatoes after Christmas for .99, I kept the potatoes till potato planting time, (they were really sprouted by then), those potatoes produced better than my seed potatoes.

This will be a week. Work will be a lot. Just got home from a late meeting. The rest of the week will be the same...and more.

However, we have chitted potatoes on the shop floor, a new raised bed in the hoop house, and healthy seedlings on the light shelf. The lettuce is too healthy.

Yesterday I was able to clean up the kitchen garden a bit. Pulled out the early weeds from the raised beds. And cleaned up trash and junk. Tidied up a bit.

Today, I was mostly off of work, other than the late meeting. We got the new raised bed filled with soil and finally got the utility room cleaned and organized.

Bad weather coming. If we could have a bad weather day and stay home, that would be great, but ONLY if everyone keeps their electricity. Otherwise, no thanks. Power outage is no fun.

The storm that blew through here last night was horrible. Hail pouring rain and terrible winds. I went out in it at 130 got my dog and put her in the shed. After I got back in I couldn’t go to sleep until 4. It was so loud in the teeny tiny house

Madge complained about the thunder also, I heard some of it. The rain was pretty hard, not sure how much we got, but it was plenty. The temp has been dropping, running about freezing now.

We went to Walmart, Madge wanted to pick up a few groceries, and I bought a pack of arugula seeds, grand daughter wanted to plant some.

I dont like this cool weather, it keeps me inside where there is not as much room to play.

Brrrrr. 28. Brrrr. We had freezing rain last night, too, Kim--and it's loud here when it rains, too. I hope you stay warm!

I ordered a juicer. DIL had been trying to get me to for several years. I finally did it. What I'm most tickled about is that all the best things to juice are all the things I'll be growing. What I'm least tickled about is that it sounds like a pain. BUT GDW and I both know we don't eat nearly enough veggies, so this will help. Also have ideas for what to do with the pulp. Juicer health has evolved!

I'm excited to see all the seedlings. And am proud of myself for not planting tomatoes yet. March 1 will be the date to plant them. And I didn't get carrots in--maybe this weekend? Later.

Nancy I love my juicer when I use it... but I also hate it... so much to clean up. I am more likely to use the vita mix and just let it run till all fruit/veggies are small enough to drink through a straw. LOL

It's cold. I am not motivated for much, but Nancy I started a new to me exercise routine I found via YouTube. I am sore all over. Not sure from it, or just because Arthur is bothering me, because it is cold.

Moni

Haha, Moni! That's what I was thinking when I said it sounds like a pain. Yikes. Oh well, I'm retired. I should have time to do a little cleanup! I ordered beets, carrots, celery, and kale. I shall start tomorrow. (I have bunches of berries in the freezer. I've got no tomatoes! Oh yes I do--some in the freezer.) We're supposed to have doc appts tomorrow, and chiro for me--my neck has been giving me fits. But we'll have to see what the weather's going to do.

I have a beautiful new granddaughter. We don’t have physical custody yet but she was just born. What a great birth date. Another garden helper

WOW, do we have a name? how is mom? I know how grandma is :)

Moni

Kim, congratulations.

Also, I hope your little house is okay after your crazy weather.

We had an insane storm July 2020. It blew one of my broody pens over the fence of the chicken yard and rolled the broody box, where Momma Hen and her chicks were. It was blowing and pouring rain (and a tree was briefly on fire -- rain quickly put it out), but I ran out in it without thinking and dragged that heavy broody box in the dark, blowing rain to the coop. Thankfully mom and chicks were uninjured. Amazing really that they survived.

So....I can imagine what your 1:30 am run out to get your dog must have been like.

My school job is out tomorrow. Hopefully the power will not be.

I'm irritated at myself for not having flowers started yet. Maybe next week.

The lettuce has outgrown the light shelf. I'll just start making salads from it, I guess. Nothing wrong with that.

And so it begins here in Norman , 14 * , -4 wind chill , I hear the rain/sleet beating on my north windows.

Now I'm hearing thunder sleet.

Rick

We have a thin layer of sleet/snow on the ground and 24 degrees. I have not been outside, but, looks like the wind is blowing enough to make me want to stay inside.

Hope you got your onions covered.

Rick

It has gone down here, since I got up. It was 13, now I have 10

Who can bit lower?

LOL Moni

You got me beat by 2 degrees.

Rick

I dont have my onions covered, and I shake when I even think about getting out throwing mulch on them, I dont have anything else to cover them with.. I am thinking most will survive, but will probably bolt.

Where is everyone? We have a coating of ice here, and I expect that some of you have it much worse than I do.

I went out to feed the 6 head of stock in the pasture, and fell two times. I came back to where the rtv was parked and drove it up to where I could just step from it to the handicapped ramp to come back into the house.

I have a shallow cardboard box under the porch cover, in which I place chicken scratch, the birds are having a party on the porch.

I have not been out to any of the gardens, it is just too cold and slick. I am sure everything has a layer of ice on it. I had planned on planting more onions anyway, I only planted 2 bundles of onions, all red. 1015Y is the one I plant the most of, it seems to do a little better than the red one, in my soil.

I dont plan on planting any potatoes. My neighbor said he would plant enough for me, I will just swap out some tractor labor for the potatoes. My tractors are larger than his, so it is easy to find work that he has a hard time doing with his smaller tractor.

I think we are all hibernating. LOL. I started a new workout routine just before this cold spell hit... but it doesn't do enough to lift my mood. Being stuck indoors, makes me not fun to be around... thus, I am miserable.

Add to this, my friend in Minnesota died yesterday... and the Ukraine was invaded.

Ukraine isn't terribly far from Germany and France, where my siblings are. Needless to say, I am on edge.

I mega covered my cold frames, and so far saw 27 as the coldest in there. I hope, I will be able to continue eating my own home grown salads... and I hope, my carrots will emerge sometime... I have them covered with two heavy layers of cardboard, weighted down.

Just turned my oven on for sourdough bread, and need to tent to my cabbage soup.

Stay warm, and don't slip and hurt yourselves please.

Moni

Ah Moni. . . What a horrible turn of events for you. I am so sorry. We've been quiet this morning, just trying to digest the Ukrainian situation and the sheer evil exhibited by Putin. I'm sure the reverberations will be felt all around the world.

Also word puzzles to distract me. AND so super cool, one little thing, at least. I was upset because I hadn't taken time to save Midnight ornamental pepper. Remy Orlowski (Sample Seed Shop) was about the only seller, and as you know, she died in 2020. I had seeds left from then to use 2021 and was thankful because I didn't see them anywhere else. But I ran outside last month, and there were several little peppers that had died on the plant, so gathered them up, brought them in and dried the seeds for a few days, then planted with the rest of my peppers 2/15. (I soak my pepper seeds for 24 hrs first--googling expert advice, most say it doesn't help. All I can do is cite my own experience.) The first peppers sprouted 2/6 and 2/7. . . now the Candy Cane Red (sweet), Sugar Rush Peach (hot), Ros de Mallorca are all up, and today it looks like ALL the Midnight Peppers are up--I sowed them heavily because I didn't think they'd grow. Ha! Here's a link to another small grower that got theirs from Remy. Yes--a very special pepper indeed! I was so tickled to see them--and now will always have the seed. When she grew them and I had just been informed by Amy/Dawn about her business, I bought several things. She had highlighted the Midnight pepper in a set-apart box saying that no one grew this and it was a pity because everyone SHOULD. I agree with her. I think I gave some away at SFs. I know Jen Hart took one to her boss.

https://www.smallhousefarm.com/product/midnight/

We had a nice chili supper last night, and I think we'll just have it again, with hamburgers this time.

Just wrote a LONG post and Houzz ate it😡 Try again:

Larry we put on our YakTrax before going out this morning. We had 1 1/2”-2” of sleet yesterday then enough freezing rain overnight to glaze it over. My husband fell yesterday when we were chasing a cow with a new calf. Nothing broken but really sore today. We are both in our 70’s and dont bounce anymore I hate that you have to feed someone elses cattle but the cows and God bless you.

Nancy I soak my pepper seed too. Also okra, hibiscus, and any hard coated seeds. I have several plants ready to pot up to a larger pot. Bought seed potatoes at Atwoods in Stillwater this week when went after feed. They already have sprouts so will cut into pieces and let cure till plant mid March. I have bowl of onion sets in greenhouse that I’ve cut the tops off a couple times already - husband cant eat onions but we can eat the tops

Hahaha, that made no sense, about peppers germinating. I intended to say the first peppers germinated on days 6 and 7!

I am over here dreaming of spring and preparing for my garden talk I will give on Saturday.
I am very excited after I gave a talk at the garden club meeting in Q. It was very well received and I was so encouraged.
The whole computer zoom thing is new to me. But I will have my daughter to help.

Farmgardener, I think that I need to invest in some Yak Trax.

yes, Larry, get some Yak Trax. They ROCK! :)

Moni

Moni, I do a few YouTube workouts. Mostly 3 that I rotate through. One is a low impact kickboxing, another is a 10-minute ab workout (I do arms with weights on this day too), and a wonderful workout that is for people with a foot injury. It is amazing and will tone you up fairly quickly. It's good for everyone not just people with a foot injury.

School is out again tomorrow. I might just stay home from my other job too and make jelly and jam. I'll need to go in on Saturday to catch up on a couple of things, but that's okay.

I have a lot of berries in the shop freezer, and it will be nice to clear them out before summer. I'll need to check my supply of jelly jars though.

We found out yesterday that Indian Hills will become a turnpike. I live very close to Indian Hills. Very close. Maybe a quarter mile? If that. I have no idea what this will mean for us. The only way into our little neighborhood is Indian Hills. It's a one way in, one way out neighborhood. It's hard to figure out how they'll make another entrance. There's homes/properties on all sides of the neighborhood and a lake on the east side. Even while they're building it, how will we get in? I don't know. Very upsetting. This was supposed to be our forever home. We've put a lot of work into it. It's not just us--it's a lot of people all up and down Indian Hills. Some people who live on properties that have been in their families for years! Like 75 years.

Maybe we'll be a weird "no man's land" neighborhood just off a turnpike. Sooner Road is slotted to be a major exchange/exit. Sooner is also very close to us.

Other than that, I need to up pot stuff and start tomatoes and peppers and flowers and eggplant and roselle soon.

Kim, I'm excited for you!

Larry, thanks for caring for the animals.

10

Jennifer, I would not worry about the way to get in and out of your property, a road can be built in a short period of time, and that is the first thing they will do. But, it is anyone's guess about the long term impact it will have on the neighborhood. The land I live on has been in the family for 70 years, and a lot of changes have happened since then, most people would say that they are good, I like the better roads, but most of the properties have been split and sold, so I have a lot more neighbors, most I dont even know. The neighbors I do know, I seldom see. With TV, cell phones, and a much busier life, plus covid, things are so much different.

I had to edit, because I stated we had been on the land for 76 years, but we have only been her 70 years.

Our story about Yak-traks: An icy time in the past, Daughter and youngest son were here. Ron was going out for some reason. Son says be careful, the front porch is solid ice. He shows the Yak-traks on his feet. Daughter says leave the door open so I can hear you yell if you fall. He turned around and said When has THAT ever been a problem. It's funnier if you know him. He's loud to begin with but he can bellow like a klingon.

Larry you should definitely have something to prevent falling. Of course they might act like ice skates on ice.

Nothing new. Ron was going to go out and get some potting soil, but decided it would be frozen.

I soak all seeds for a couple of hours before planting indoors. I might, if I remember, when direct sowing. There's also a thing called priming, where you soak a seed, then let it dry out. I think the instructions for spinach are to put seeds in an airtight container in the fridge for a week. I've never done the fridge, but I have soaked them and dried them and planted a few days later. Seeds are amazingly resilient.

I am so sorry Jennifer. Is the turnpike a given or can you fight it?

I do miss the sample seed shop. I always checked there first.

Good luck Kim, how are the roads in Texas? My son is in San Antonio doing a National Guard thing.

I hope the weather this weekend is better.

Read all about what the OTA does to people:

https://www.facebook.com/StopTheEasternLoop/

A**holes

Rick

Now I am doubly glad to have bought here in the city. Before I kept looking all over on my bicycle rides.... At least, I can walk to a lot of places of business.

Moni

Thanks Amy. I have been iced in for 4 days. I haven’t needed to get out thankfully. I am going to daughters today about 4. Temps are up today so should get a good thaw. My sil goes to work early and she said roads are treacherous.
Thank y’all for sharing your knowledge these many years. It is because of you I garden and now consult with people how to garden. Kim

Amy, I agree, I need some way to keep from falling, and I think the Yak Trax may help. I have thought about taking an old pair of shoes and just running some sheet metal screws throw the bottom, and placing a shoe insert on top of the screw heads. I cant walk much, so I seldom wear my shoes out, they just come apart from working in the mud and water. I would bet that I have an old pair of shoes and inserts that I could play with.

I was luck when I fell yesterday. The first time I fell I landed with my chest across the top of 5 gal bucket that I had feed in. The second time I just sprawled out like a drunk sailor, but did not break anything.

I seem to break teeth when I fall. The first one cost me a little over $2200.00, the second one I just had pulled. The last time I was told the repair bill would be around $5000.00. I am still trying to find a better solution on that one, I will go for a root canal on Mar 7 or 8. I am not sure what will happen after that, I may ask for a review on Nancy's juicer. I may have to quit eating all together.

I have the RTV parked at the end of the handicap ramp now. Madge ask me to get the mail, I doubt that it is over 200 ft to the mail box, but I drove the RTV. There was not a car in sight when I checked for traffic, by the time I crossed the hwy, every car in the county had to drive down the hwy.

Ive knowm of people using old golf shoes on slippery parking lots.

Baker Creek is donating this weekends seed sales to organizations helping the people of Ukraine. i spent $40

Amy, we're going to a Ward 5 meeting next week. I'm not sure if we can fight it or not.

Larry, we were just told tonight that they'll be taking a quarter mile on either side, which would be our property. If that's true or not--who knows. I don't know where we'll move if it's true. We won't be able to afford anything like what we have now. We've put quite a bit into our property. Will probably have to move back to a regular neighborhood. I just need to be in a city that will allow my chickens.

We took our extra bed--the one in the third bedroom--to our friend's mom who is being moved into an assisted living facility. She was desperately trying to get it furnished for her mom. ...and we're really not using that bed.

The roads were good. Dry for the most part. But, I fell in our own front yard. Very slick.

I bought some Epsom salt with eucalyptus, peppermint and clove. I'll soak tonight to try to help with the future soreness. Plus, I've got another cold and maybe it will help with the cough too. A sick student sneezed snot right into my face on Tuesday. :/

Other than watering everything on the light shelf, I haven't done anything garden related today.

Well, I guess making jelly is sorta garden related. I used the frozen roselle juice, strawberry juice, and blackberry juice that was in the freezer from last year.

Hazel I am so sorry you slipped on the icy surface. I hope, you are not sore today.

To bad also, about the kid sneezing on you. I hope, you put a mask on him.

Back when I lived in Ponca City... actually outside of Ponca... along highway 77 it was a two lane highway... but then the state took part of that property (my father in laws) to make two new south bound lanes.. and the present roadway was turned in to the two north bound lanes. My FIL tried to get more money from the state for his land... but ended up with less.

We had 1 1/2 acre way at the end of the original 10 acre property. It was before we got so many turnpikes... and I bet, this will never be a turnpike. I am sorry this is happening to you.

How long have you lived there? I wish, you could have found out what the long range plans were for future roads.

Moni

Jennifer, I am so sorry about your home. I would guess your first move would go to the city or hwy dept. and get a copy of the drawing to be used to do the modification. It is hard to fight any thing like that, but you need to know what your options are. I would say, that, they are not planning to take a quarter mile on each side. I cant see where they would need that much room. They may offer to buy a quarter mile each way to try to sweeten the deal, but I doubt it. I am not sure that I have ever noticed a quarter each side right of way, other than for an air port.

I understand your feelings, we had to fight the planning commission one time, a person can sure get upset when someone starts messing with their home. I would hate to be trying to buy a home now, and, as far as I am concerned, building one would be worse. Our grand daughter did not come down for a visit last week end because they are build a home, and the windows that were ordered in Aug. had come in. Supplies are hard to get foe everyone, especially the little guy.

Hugs Jennifer. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. You be careful on the ice, too. In 1979 I fell on ice and broke my ankle. I have been terrified of it ever since.

You too Larry. Maybe a stick like skiers use?

I have nothing new to add. I guess I'll go make my Baker's Creek order.

I've just decided that I'm not going to worry about it. I'll go to the meeting and "protest" with the others, but, honestly, if they don't take our property to build anything, we will just stay here more than likely. It will not be fun being so close to a turnpike, though. My BIL said a developer will probably want our neighborhood at some point if the turnpike people don't take it.

I guess, my things is--how much more do we put into this property if they'll force us out? This is not a fancy property at all OR a fancy house. We bought here because it really is just the perfect size for all we want to do. Our last house in a regular neighborhood was fancy and large, but had almost no backyard.

I don't want to go into mega debt to buy a large piece of property. I'm sure we would qualify, but at our age, do we want a large house debt? We've paid this house down quite a bit since living here, plus used our money to add a 1200 sq ft. shop and do some remodeling--the entire kitchen, living, dining, and utility was gutted. The hall bath was remodeled a year ago. Tom did most of the work on the bathroom, though. Our bedrooms and other bathroom need help. The carpet and other bathroom especially. BUT, do we spend the time and money doing that? Also, just the work of adding the gardens and remodeling a 12'x16' shed into a nice coop. I just think of how much work I did on the kitchen garden--it took a couple of years to dig out all of the bermuda grass.

But ya know, the local news keeps showing the same picture of Franklin NOT Indian Hills when it talks about the new turnpikes. It's the next main road to our south. To me, it makes more sense to use Franklin. Seems like there's less development. Except Toby Keith's house. lol. And his Hollywood Corners place. Oh, and the votech.

We will just see what happens. Either we will stay, or we will be forced out. Whatever happens, we will bloom where we are planted.

I'm not sore from my fall. Thank goodness. I might have a bruise. Once I realized I was not going to be able to stop it, I let myself just fall without tensing up.

I've been sick a lot in 2022. It's like the first year I worked with children--was literally sick half the year. Maybe our immune systems were weakened from not being exposed for a couple of years. It's like starting over.

What is everyone up to this weekend?

Madge and I went to town for breakfast and pick up some fertilizer and range cubes. I noticed that all the plants at Farmers Coop looked like they had had hot grease poured on them. The plants at tractor supply looked nice, they had rolled them inside, and were priced almost a dollar higher for a 6 pack.

I ask at the Coop if they had any idea about the seed and fertilizer supply. I was told that the seed are ordered in the fall, and that $800,000 dollars of seeds were order, and they were to have been shipped this week, but the trucks were not able to bring them in. They have no idea what Covid and Russia are going to do to the seed and fertilizer supply, but no way it can be good for us. I also picked up an extra diesel can, and may even repair my outside diesel tank. My plans are to have fuel to have food and to plant cover crops for next year.

HJ, that stinks! Hope everything works out to your satisfaction. But if you do have to move, the market is still pretty good. If you've paid down on your house, you might be able to find something that won't be a huge debt.

Set up a seed shelf in the garage & am going to start tomatoes & peppers this weekend. Right now I'm sorting things by priority to see how much I can plant before I run out of room. I'm pretty sure I've already hit that point, but I can jusify it by telling myself they're all old seeds. If they sprout great, if not I cleared space for more seeds.

We’re making our semi-regular ER trip to Tulsa with darned cat Jerry. i told him we’d just have them amputate both ears. catch you all later.

Jennifer I empathize with you. A local builder is putting 240 homes on the quarter section that adjoins our farm. We have owned the farm for 31 years and built a house here 18 years ago. There will be a lot of water turned onto us, right across where our biggest and clear pond is. It sickens us to know how many dogs and people will be coming across our property - plus all the trash. We’ve known it was inevitable for several years but kept hoping it wouldnt be in our lifetime. We have been to meetings and talked to everyone possible, but were told it really didnt matter what we thought. We dont have money to fight what will be a losing battle and the developer just says ”I told you I’d buy you out if you will leave” We’ve put 30 years of hard sweat and work and many many dollars into redoing pastures and ponds and improving this place. More than it is our home, our family, friends, doctors, and church are close. I expect we will just try to stick it out as long as possible. I understand your heartache, I’m not sure my attitude is as forgiving as you. It’s a hard change to accept.

Nancy, I received the Aspabroc seeds from Pinetree yesterday. Going to get them planted this afternoon. With the new conflict I fear we’d better all plan to plant a bigger garden. Reminds me of the Victory garden era.

We still have a lot of ice - maybe by tomorrow the ponds will thaw enough to let cattle out. We had another new calf this morning - makes 16 so far. Baby calves are so precious to watch.

Haven’t let the guineas out for several days, they have a safe, secure house with plenty of space inside. We’ve seen more big coyotes this week - looking for food like the birds and other animals. I try to tolerate until they start getting chickens or calves. 3-4 raccoons are here almost nightly tearing up bird feeders unless i bring them in - some nights I forget. Wildlife is entertaining, but can also be destructive.

Larry, invest in a set of YakTrax - you won’t regret it

For those who watched one of the latest Roots and Refuge videos where she had the photo box organizer for organixing seeds, she mentioned getting it at Michaels. The Michaels around me were out of them, but Hobby Lobby had a lot. So, try HL if you want one but cant find it at Michaels.

(Source: Popular Mechanics)

Rick

With the so tragic events of the past 3 days in the world, appt for me because of pain--no relief; ER appt for Jerry Kitty today, watching seedlings grow too fast. . . just anxiety, hope for the countries suffering so, including the Ukraine now. . . Is it true that "The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing"?

I love this group of gardeners. Thanks so much.

Hazel, those look just like what Kim has... I need to take a new picture of my boxes... all free... all just empty yellow raisin boxes.... LOL

This is last years picture. I found a bigger cardboard box they all fit in... sorted by when I sow them.

Here is last years mess:

Those are exactly what I use Jennifer. I have 6 full and one new one