Collected this egg while tending to the chickens today, an egg that has cracked from being frozen. We may not get as cold as other places in the world, but last night was the coldest night in our area this season. 3F degrees, with a windchill making it feel like -15, this was not a night you'd want to spend outside.
At a warm 15F degrees currently, let's see what happens when we crack open this egg:
Even though it is still cold outside and everything is frozen, that shouldn't stop anyone from getting an early start to the gardening season. By this I mean sprouting seeds and growing seedlings indoors until the outside weather is warm enough for the plants to survive in.
Today's seeds are: American Flag Leeks, Green Globe Artichoke, Walla
Walla Onions, and Mary Washington Asparagus. I have begun the germination process by placing the seeds between moistened paper towel and leaving in a ziplock bag in the sun. In 2-3 days we should see
some growth and the sprouts can be moved into soil. In about 2 weeks, I can start sprouting the rest of the plants that can be started indoors.
Other plants that I plan to grow this year are carrots, cauliflower, chard, corn, delicata squash, ground cherry, peas, pumpkin, spinach,tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini. Hoping for a very bountiful year and plenty of food to practice various preserving methods with, most specifically dehydrating and canning.
Been some time since an update, so here is what has happened so far in a nut shell, with lots of pics and video.
So far this year, Titan has run a total of about 31 miles this season. Right now the ground is covered in ice and snow, things that don't go well with a bike. So since I don't have anything useable for the snow, running Titan is on hold until the snow melts away. At the very least he gets to enjoy hiking the woods and playing with the other dogs.
Have also introduced Titan to Weight Pull, took him to a seminar where he got to experience pulling the cart, and later he (and Tetsu) attended a Weight Pull Fun Match. At the Fun Match, Titan won first place in his class pulling a total of 663lbs. I plan to sign him up for some classes and enter Titan in some trials. In this video, Titan crosses the finish line at the Weight Pull Fun Match.
For the most part, we did lots and lots of hiking. Didn't see as many deer this winter as last, but did get a few close calls with some turkeys and watched a few hawks. Quite a few mishaps with off leash dogs and irresponsible owners, can't wait to move an area where we aren't bumping into these (or any) kind of people as much. Regardless, it's nice to be out in the woods, it's a great place to meditate about life and the world.
On the homestead front, the chickens haven't stopped laying eggs causing us to consistently have at least 3 dozen eggs in the fridge. It's nice to have eggs for breakfast, but even daily consumption doesn't make much of a dent. I have begun to breed the rabbits again, with winter almost over it is time to start getting some more meat in the freezer. Practiced egg tanning the pelts from previous litters, so far they have come out great and I plan to post a short tutorial once I have the perfected the process. With these pelts, I hope to make a trapper's hat and a belt pouch out of them.
I have started up crafting and art again, I almost forgot how much I enjoy making things. In the greater scheme of things, I would like to build up an inventory of items I or other local artisans have made and sell them both online and at events. I have been working on a website and facebook page, and will reveal them as soon as I have finished. For now, here is a happy little snowman in a bottle that I made, wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
That is all that I can think of for now in regards to what has been done this winter. Plenty of future plans to think about and lots more to do.
Since last year, I have started giving myself goals to work on for the year. Some goals were easy while others were a little harder to achieve, but I still managed to compete them in some way. So let's start off with a recap of last year's goals and how I fulfilled them, and then we'll move on to goals for 2015. Trying to think positively here as the year has been a very mixed one.
Get outside and exercise more...I'd have to say that we did fairly
well with this goal as we did spend a lot of time hiking, BBQing, and
just being outside.
Work on means
of making money from home...Haven't really gotten very far with this
one, at the very least I have an idea of what I want to do, I just need
to implement it.
Barn Hunt Tetsu...Have gone to 2 Barn Hunt trials this year, not as many as I would have liked but still better than none.
Dryland races and meeting mushers...I did go to the sled dog trade
fair with Titan to which we did learn a lot, hang out with some mushers,
and even did a race. Had a lot of fun with that one and hope to go
back next year.
WPD Tikaani and Titan...Didn't really focus much
on this, but our hikes have gotten longer so all of the dogs are
getting better endurance.
Special activity with Miyu...Haven't
implemented it yet as we did just literally think of this a few days
ago, but we would like to go canoeing down Carman's River and take Miyu
along with us. It was basically between her and Tikaani (Tetsu hates
water while Titan is too hyper), being that she is the smaller of the
two she wins out. This would have to wait until the weather warms up
next year, but at the very least we can get her a life-vest and work on
desensitizing her to being in a boat.
Do more art...I have done significantly more than in previous years, not as much as I would like but it's a start.
Art corner in reptile room...Still trying to figure this one out, at least we have the closet organized to fit everything.
Finally, hang out and meet up with friends...Yep to this one. Met up
with several friends at various dog events, rekindled an old friendship,
and met some great people on the way.
And now here are my goals for 2015!
Finish the kitchen, it is now basically a room with some tables and a hot plate. Time to turn it into a real kitchen.
Canoe or kayak at least once with the hubby and one of the pups (either Miyu or Tikaani)
Work on Tikaani and Titan's WPD title, I say this every year since
getting Tikaani but it's looking like this year we may have an
opportunity to get some legs on it.
More Barn Hunt with Tetsu, and try Tikaani out with it as well.
Have an idea for a home based business, so need to implement it. Get
the paperwork sorted out, build up an inventory, and vend at at least 2
fairs this year.
Work on the yard, organize and clean it up.
This includes, but not limited to: finish up vegetable area, getting rid
of the rest of the junk left over by the previous home owners, finish
expanding dog run, better fencing to divide front and back yard, finish
chicken run, build new chicken coop, and possibly a goat house that can
be converted to a shed if we choose to not add goats this year.
More hiking and more exercise, try to increase our average distance and explore new locations.
Race Titan next winter, we're both getting better in the woods might as well get him to some events.
Cook more and eat healthier. I love to cook, I really need to get in the kitchen more and stop being lazy.
LoL, a bit of a long list but the more that's on there the more likely
we'll have something done by the end of the year. 2014 ended spending
time with some great friends and family, now it's time to look to the
future and plan for a better tomorrow. Farewell to 2014, Hello 2015!!
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