Save the Onions; Inventory

With the strange weather prediction, Bulldog Man and I decided it was best to cover up the onions planted several weeks ago in order to protect them from temperatures below freezing. 

We pulled out clear 3.5 mil plastic you typically find in the painting section of a hardware store, 4 concrete blocks, two feedlot panels, several planters, and bricks for weight.  We placed a concrete block on each corner of the garden box, and then laid a feedlot panel on top of the blocks.  The 3.5 mil plastic was then unfolded and laid across the feedlot panel and down the sides of the garden box.  Another feedlot panel was placed on top of the plastic to keep the plastic in place, and planters, along with bricks, were laid on top of the plastic; hanging on the sides of the planter to prevent the wind and cold air from seeping through the plastic. 

 

If this doesn’t protect the onions, then were just pure out of luck and will have to replant onions after the weather passes.

*****

Every couple of months, I take inventory of items in my pantry, make sure food is rotated and used before the expiration date.  The same thing is done with our 5 gallon containers of long term stored foods, spices, and emergency medical supplies.  

A list is always compiled to help restock items used, and to help with locating coupons on needed merchandise.  Granted it’s hard to find coupons on everything you buy.  Whenever possible, I try to find a coupon through newspapers, or the computer, to save money whenever possible.

So tell me, when was the last time you inventoried and rotated your food products (short and long term) and medical supplies? 

Signs of Life

After pulling out my greenhouse, putting it together, and hanging my grow lights, I planted seeds for tomatoes, peppers, and all kinds of herbs.  

This morning, I found signs of life in the greenhouse.  Little seedlings of Amish Paste, Sunrise Bumble Bee, and Pink Brandywyne tomatoes were popping up.  I also had Tomatillo’s, Bee Balm Lemon, Borage, Yarrow, Chamomile, Lavender, Hyssop, Basil, Tarragon, and Thyme growing.

I have two more shelves of the greenhouse to fill with pots and seeds.

While these are growing, Bulldog Man and I have a garden fence to remove, and new feedlot panels to install, and garden tires with sidewalls needing cut.  All of these tasks will be handled soon, depending on the weather.  

Our local weatherman has indicated cold weather with the potential of more snow to come next week…….LOVELY!!!!!!  

In the meantime while waiting on the weather, I’ve been canning more items to fill my pantry, taking inventory on all first aid items, dry and canned goods, and replenishing stock. 

I don’t know about y’all, but I’m not pleased with the economy or what’s going on across the world.  The more I read or hear about the world, the more I get aggravated and want to make sure my family is taken care of.

What’s going on at your place?

  

It's All About The Bait

Bulldog Man and I’ve been fishing the trout season; just about every weekend in OKC, at Dolese Pond. This trout season we caught absolutely nothing.   While at the pond, we learned from the other fishermen, that this year’s stock of fish came from Nebraska, not Missouri as in the previous years.  

We would always start to fish at 5AM.  We would drop our lines with bait and wait for hours.  The process of feeding the line with bait became a pattern. 

Both Bulldog Man and I noticed; we never once felt the fish hit the hook, take the bait, or pull the line.  Was it all……. about the bait?

We changed up bait several times.  The pole never moved, and the line never tightened; but yet the trout would take the bait…..so I guess it was all about our bait!!!

The trout seemed to love the garlic marshmallow Power Bait in chartreuse, or pink with glitter, or the dough. 

This year’s trout catch……………….ZERO!!!!! 

Remember, it’s all about the bait…. not that hook, line, or treble…….

Bulldog Man and I were a bit disappointed, because we both rely on fish as a food source, and trout is our favorite fish.    We discussed changing up our fishing plans, and decided on going out to a couple other water spots to make sure we catch trout this year.

The bright side, our time together is never wasted when we go on these fishing trips.  We always find time to just enjoy this beautiful earth, water, wildlife, and each other…..and to top it off….we always get to relax and leave all of our stress during the week behind.  Life is good! 

When was the last time you slowed down, and enjoyed what’s right in front of you?

Onions, Signs of Spring, Beans

Not too long ago, I ordered my onions from Dixondale Farms out of Carizzo Springs, Texas.  I came across this company through a friend, Sandy, over at the Texan Blog.  She orders her onions from this company, and has been very happy growing onions.

I ordered 1 bundle (approximately 5 dozen onion plants); the Intermediate-Day Variety package, which consists of Candy, Red Candy Apple, and Super Star onions. 

My intentions were to plant these onions the first of March.  Temperatures were too cold, and I just couldn’t make myself work outside in the cold.

In the early afternoon hours on Friday, I raked up the straw covering one of my raised garden boxes.  Then, I proceeded to manually till up the entire garden box, preparing the soil for planting.  Gradually, I soaked the entire box with water, and allowed the water to seep into the soil.  After taking a brief break, I came back, and planted 4 rows of Dixondale Farm onions in this one garden box.  Then I covered the entire box with a layer of straw (the same covering I raked up earlier). 

Click to make bigger.

Now I need to wait a couple of months before harvesting onions ……. Have I told you I’m not a very patient person, lol…

*****

Spring is practically here.  Sitting on my kitchen window sill are several starts of organic celery.    When I have a root ball on the bottom of each stalk, I will plant each in soil outside in one of my garden boxes.  I’ve found this is the only way I can grow celery in this part of Oklahoma.  In the past, I tried growing celery from seeds and didn’t have much luck.  

3 ends cut off of organic celery, in the process of growing roots.

When my Phal schilleriana orchid, also known as the “Pink Butterfly” starts to bloom, I know spring is not far behind.  

Little buds forming, here's one.

Do you have plants blooming right now?  

*****

If you haven’t had your laugh today, check this out.  Beans, our dog loves to watch, “The Pioneer Woman”.