More Snow?

It's Saturday and we've got another couple inches of snow! What happened to the global warming?? ROFL We all waded out in the mud last night and caught up soaking wet horses. I rearranged around 100 or so square bales of hay so I could get all the ponies in the barn with the goats and chickens. Those cold and wet ponies were happy to see me!

Today was a very nice day even with the slightly icy roads and sloppy barn lot. The college girl played an away basketball game close to home and a new homesteading friend joined me. What a pleasant time we had, I hated to come home.

Looks like the weather for southern Illinois is going to be cold with a possibility of more snow showers Tuesday but warming up a little by next weekend. Right on time for seed starting! I'm thinking I might start some cold crops in containers in the house. Carrots, lettuce, radish, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts all can handle the cooler might temperatures in the house. I will have to set my compost inside for a few days so it warms up enough to work with but I think it's time.....

I've been reading a new book called From Vines to Wines. I picked it up with the intentions of better learning about grape vines and growing them specifically to make a good wine with them. I'm just 3 chapters into it and I have already learned a bunch about making wine! I also learned why the grapes that were here on the farm when we bought this place didn't do so well or why the eating grapes I planted struggled like they did before the lawn mower accident(hubby mowed them). I've always just thought I didn't have the knack for growing fruit trees, bushes and vines but now I realize it's not all me. Whew, I was a little worried. I now know there is much more to growing grapes to make wine than I ever dreamed there was. Also, hey Pete! I know why your home made wine is yucky now! Email inbound, LOL.

Ooops, I didn't do a cheese giveaway post yesterday, i will do one on Monday........

I've got 16 bags of cans crushed with another 3 or 4 needing crushed for recycling on Monday. Boy am I ever glad there's lots of beer drinkers on the back roads around here, LOL. Hope we hear something this coming week from one of the places we've been trying to get work at, keep your fingers and toes crossed and say a prayer or 2......

Thursday nothing

There is nothing going on here at all. What a day. It's sloppy and muddy out with more icky weather on the way. The groundhog was right, 6 more weeks. I thought about starting seeds this morning but I decided to work on some cheese instead. The darn kids are eating it on me about as fast as i can get it done.

Still nothing for work around here, we were told at an interview yesterday that we were over qualified! That's not helping. We put the last of the money in the fuel tank this morning and we'll be taking some cans to the recycler tomorrow. What a life.

Soon as this little cold snap rolls past us here in southern Illinois, I'll be starting seeds.

Talking about Self Sustained Living

I guess I didn't say anything about this and I should have. did you know that there's a radio podcast over at Pioneer Living? The Milandreds were kind enough to invite me to participate in one of their podcasts, it is #5. I enjoyed it a great deal.

This evening, i was invited to join Matt over at Prepper Podcast. We talked a little bit about solar, gardening and just all around homesteading stuff. I think it went okay, I haven't heard it yet. I hope it went well.

A busy day for us today without much accomplished. Seemed like we were playing catch-up all day. Maybe a more productive day for tomorrow. Maybe a little seed starting? Maybe.....

Cheese Giveaway Winner of the week

Todays winner is Aaron! Congrats Aaron, email me at mmpaints@yahoo.com and tell me where to send your gift!

I still have a 14oz piece of cheese i can give away for a $12 donation. Gen, yours is waiting on you, it's safe ;)

Woohoo! I's Febraury! I'm gearing up to get all my seeds started for this years' garden. I am very excited about this new planting season. So much to share, so much to do!