leafette's Blog

For the Birds
Nov 30, 2007 | 7:50 AM PST
My farmer is off to make things a bit warmer for the call ducks in their section of the coop.  Of course they are huddling in an outside corner!  So a bit of styrofoam will cut any drafts and a bit of a wall to keep their body heat from floating up and over to the chickens who happily do their thing on their side.  Grain has a habit of being spilled and there is lots for the local birds.  In fact just half a mile away is a seed plant that makes bird seed as a very lucrative side line.   He also trys to convince our turkeys to stay in the big barn with his ducks but they prefer to be outside.  They will even roost up on the low  hydro wire that runs between the two barns.   They are quite entertaining as they all try to keep their balance as another joins the row.  Then things get real interesting when one realizes it is facing the opposite way of all the others!  lol

Local Yokels!
Nov 29, 2007 | 7:49 AM PST
oh, dear!  Too many choices and not enough $$$!  lol  So much for the locals.  I succumbed to some pretty pictures and chose Fall Scaping by Ondra and Cohen.  I'd very much liked their latest book and I've been thinking that spring swiftly morphs into the dog days of summer but fall can linger for quite some time and it does actually lend itself to the casual/natural landscape that surrounds us here on the farm.  There is another British book that I must have and it is very much the look I like.  Casual but not chaotic!  Anyway, I figure the locals can help me with reality closer to spring so I'll dream a bit until then.  And I'm definitely taking he who handles the budget back so he can fill Santa's bag.  What a lovely way to spend an afternoon!  I had peanut and sweet potato soup, a cozy arm chair and inspiring music.  Too bad the can't have pile was bigger than the must have pile!

Time off for good behavior!
Nov 26, 2007 | 7:32 AM PST

One for you, and one for you and TWO for me!  :^)  I'm running off to the big city tomorrow for some R&R and that means a nice big fat book store!  I don't usually go over to Rand McNally but I thought I'd just check out their garden section and they also have a lovely eatery!   I luv the library aspect and I can spread stuff around to see which gives me the most inspiration and practical/pertinent advice.  We do have the white stuff and the plunging thermometer but that is all part and parcel of winter here in the frozen north, though it does kinda makes the old nostrils tingle, sit up and take notice!  They'll be all fresh for those lovely library/coffee shop smells! 

Hmm, that lump out in the field hasn't moved for 10 minutes so I guess it isn't a coyote.  The stubble in the field is not quite covered with snow.  I guess I can report that all is quiet on the western front. 

Sugar coating
Nov 23, 2007 | 11:51 AM PST
Sun is shining, snow dusting is sparkling and sleep is happening for the garden.  I hope they had a few sips of water before  it was too late as I can't do it now.  I do know the garden needs structure and is still a garden in winter.  But we have such wind and high snow that most isn't visible.  Spring is very wet and there isn't a lot of time for  clean up so I hope what didn't get chopped doesn't make life difficult in the spring.  But the ground is freezing and my farmer is happily bringing in the hay bales that couldn't be got because of the wet ground and life in general.  And the icing on the cake for me is playing in my sewing room!   Life is sweet!  Truly a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.  Three cheers for Mary Poppins!

Double Thanksgiving
Nov 22, 2007 | 7:11 AM PST

Canada's Thanksgiving is done but I think I'll do a little more thanking along with the neighbours south of the border.  Sheesh!  Time to start looking out the windows again.  Winter is a yes/no thing right now.  But I think the temperature is going to be remaining below freezing and the snow will begin to pile up.  Ducks had their last swim, they are cohabiting with the chickens.  They do have their own good neighbour fence! 

I didn't get all the stuff cut down like I wanted so it'll be a busy spring.  But at least I'll know where everything is.  I planted some fall crocus bulbs and by golly, I'm amazed at the pitiful little flowers. Thought they'd just leaf out in the spring.  Hope they return!  My rabbit on a swing that makes me smile everytime I see the little guy is not put away.  I think the knots on the rope are froze so I'll get one of my muscle men to do that.  Then I'm ready to stack up my garden books, new and old, beside my bed!   I have my eye on 2 down at the bookstore and they are really local!

We have our own turkeys here on the farm and they are free range but they are coming into the gardens and pecking tomatoes, squash and delicate perennials! :(  DH isn't interested in the flowers but the garden produce is near and dear to his heart (read stomach) so he has come up with a plan for next year.  They will be at least four fences from my side and all I can say is Thanks!!!

 

 

Snow Drifts
Nov 9, 2007 | 6:13 PM PST
Well, we've hit a snow drift in the road.  Who'd have thought.  Our dear son in law has sucuumbed to a dose of culture shock.  Don't think the white stuff that has blanketed the ground caused it but this is his first experience of snow.  While he waits for his paperwork to be processed he cannot work and I guess 'helping' on the farm but not really contributing  financially has done a number on his male pride.  So we will sit at the window together and as we admire the beautiful hoar frost and pristine whiteness we shall contemplate simple things like the shapes and shadows of the branches as he carves the headboard for our first grandchild's cradle.  This winter I'll be looking at the garden with different eyes.  All the activity of spring seeding, summer weeding and fall harvest will yield to a time of rest and renewal.  And the awakening will be the welcoming of  spring when we will all begin the new cycle that will include a very precious new life and an appreciation for the strengths and weaknesses we all contribute to family life.  I think the human soul must be very much like a garden.

Flying High
Nov 6, 2007 | 12:41 PM PST

My farmer has Muscovie ducks.  They are not at all related to mallards.  They lay many eggs and are a very tasty, low fat meat.  They really aren't much for flying.  The males are too well endowed in the weight department and the gals are a bit like bomerangs and fly in low circles and their landings leave a  bit to be desired.  One old gal flew into a fence inspite of mid course corrections and after the rebound she shook herself a bit, gathered her dignity and proceeded to walk as though there hadn't even been a problem. But fall seems to be their time and their erratic flights are making it hazzardous to cross the yard!  And when they are not pursiung aviation aspirations, they are in my flower beds nibbling on the plants that should go into winter with their green leaves intact!  8^(

The ground looks like icing sugar has been sifted about and the skys are grey and overcast.

No time for crisises!
Nov 4, 2007 | 2:25 PM PST

Especially when they are just the regular type of crisis that don't even involve the garden!   But such is life.  I've hardly had time to think about my central axis.

Dh went to an auction sale and when all the broken panels were tallied it looks like almost 50 panels of a type of plexiglass or maybe just thick glass that is used in lighted ceilings.  We are thinking they were cheap enough to maybe think about planning a green house! 

Getting frosty here.  The ducks are thinking about switching to ice skates.  They may be asking for some solar panels to keep the water from freezing!  But no sunshine today.  In fact a good day to slip under the covers and read about zone 8 gardens!

Nothing like dial-up.....
Nov 2, 2007 | 7:05 AM PST

... for cooling good ideas!  The old computer can't keep up with all my clicks!  I was perusing the shrubs and trees section of the forum.  That Black Lace Japanese maple wanna be has been seen in Manitoba. VBSigh  I think I'll wait on that a bit!  But a big native tree for the back yard is definitely looming on Spring's horizon.

Life's big and little crises have a way of getting in the road of gardening but I do believe we have a bit of driving time today to talk about landscape options.  Dh's hobby is auction sales and he is slowly converting me.  So as he is making happy noises I shall present tree options.  He should know it is coming.  I'm sure he has the stack of books beside the bed as something other than another bedside table!!!

hum, hum, hum!  I can make happy noise, too!