Wednesday 24 October 2012

Cold Weather Scenes

The chickens aren't minding the colder temperatures.  They do wait until closer to 9am to get busy in the garden, but once they are out, they stay busy outside all day.  Jacques is a fine and handsome fella, isn't he?  He's second in line to the throne, but he takes every opportunity to shoot for the moon, jockeying himself into the alpha position.



Our alpha rooster, Claude is the clear leader, and he certainly straightens Jacques out in a very firm but non-violent way.  He's a lover not a fighter :)  The 2 "boys" crow all day back and forth in competition until they are hoarse and their voices crack.  We all laugh so hard ~ cheap country entertainment...


As you can see below, we've got a nice deep litter layer on the garden for winter protection.  Spent greens, leaves, manured wheat straw and finally, flax straw.  All we need is a nice blanket of snow to tuck it all in under a protective cover for the winter.


The greenhouse freezes at night, but during the day hovers close to zero.  



In it, I've got lettuce, beets, celery, herbs, broccoli, onions and a few other things struggling to grow...  It's doubtful that I'll actually see much of it reach harvest size, but a girl can try, can't she?



 This is the second 900 lb bale of organic flax straw that I've had delivered recently. I'm using it as protective mulch for new plantings and also as grass killer.  Where the bale sits now will be a HUGE flower garden come fall of next year.   I'm lazy and don't want to dig out the turf so by spreading the straw thickly now, I'm hopeful the grass will die off within a year just in time for fall planting in 2013.  The Honeycrisp apple tree in the foreground is toward the north of the property, and the crescent shape strip of straw is planted with Saskatoon bushes, curving to capture the sun from the south.  They will grow to 10' tall and will (fingers crossed) provide some shelter for the new flower garden by way of a microclimate.  Time will tell - I'm probably being overly optimistic :)


Indoors, it's obvious that it's Fall - apples and pears grace the fruit bowl,


and the very last of the tomatoes are finally ripening.


 Woollens and fleece have come out and are put into daily service


 as are the cozy fleece sheets.


Lego and beading projects are spread out after a long summer of them being packed away.




Mommy's "toys" are coming out of storage, too - fabric and sewing await my calloused gardening hands.


I've got a baby quilt to sew - our first Grandchild is due in ONE week!  Hop to it, Grandma!  Stay tuned... :)









6 comments:

  1. I have been following your blog for quite some time, and I have to say you are getting so organised - not that I thought you were unorganised before - but I'm reading between the lines and seeing an organised fully fledged homesteader now. Good for you. I'm so happy for you, all that hard work is paying off.

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    1. What a lovely comment... thank you, kindly :). Most days we feel "behind" but I suppose that is just how it is... We are certainly more in a seasonal rhythm now, which feels a bit more predicable at least, LOL. Many of the HUGE infrastructure projects are done, so that takes the pressure off.

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  2. It is nice to catch up with what is happening where you live. It is amazing how you are going through the opposite transformation to us with the seasons.

    Your garden is still looking good, and yes there is no harm in trying to grow things before the cold sets in...

    Roosters are so funny, I love how they have their special girls and they bok, bok around telling them what to do :) We have an older one and a teenage one at the moment, so the pecking order is already established and the younger one knows his place!

    x

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    1. Hi Tania - yes, I too am always fascinated by the differences/opposites between the hemispheres... Our roosters are a lot like that, too... they have their little harems and they take rather good care of their "girls".

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  3. You'll get that quilt done. I am hoping to be out and about in the garden today when the sun rises.

    Have a good one,

    Gill

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    1. Good for you, Gill! I have to get out there at some point, too and spread that bale of straw.... I'm procrastinating because it's cold and I'd rather be inside!

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