Saturday, April 5, 2014

Eleven Days and Counting.....where did the time go?

I have had company almost back to back....that is my excuse for not journaling/posting.

Last company left Thursday morning.  This one was my Sis and BIL and niece.....a funeral in his family.  It was wonderful to see them again, especially our niece who we hadn't seen in ages....she is talking about another trip  to the farm and bringing her brother.  That would be good times! 

This weather has reverted  to  winter.  26° and a heavy frost on everything.....I am getting tired of this but I may have mentioned  that  before.  My strawberries are still covered.


This is looking out the back porch door.  Note the cat waiting for DH to come out to feed them.  I could fib and say that is an early groundcover under the frost, but in truth, it is that blasted dead nettle (lamium purpureum).  This plant has taken over everything.

I  was all set to till the garden  before the company came.......the Merry Tiller wouldn't start.  It is something simple (like I poured an oil/gas mix in) that should be easily corrected since I just poured a very small amount before my brain kicked in.  I love my Merry Tiller that I have had  and used ruthlessly  since 1976.  It is a tiny model,  The Scotsman,  3.5 hp  Briggs and Stratton engine.  I was checking  Craigs list for something and up popped an ad for a Merry Tiller for $225!  It is a 4 hp model and had the tires and two sets of  tines. I told DH that it might be a good idea to have a second one for times just like now.  If you  put something into the shop at the this time of year, it could be several weeks before they would get it fixed and I need it now.  Into town  we went and met the neatest couple of serious gardeners.  The man made me think so much of my Dad!  He finds these items at auctions and fixes  them and sells for additional money and to keep himself busy.  I tilled a small flower bed and knew immediately I wanted it.  Then we got home and  the next day cold weather hit.  It was in the 40's and very windy and now the frost this morning........maybe tomorrow afternoon, I hope.

The Tiller new sells for around $1800 and the tines are $160  a set.  My tiller just has the cultivator finger tines so now I have the slasher tines too.  That type is better for breaking new ground (sod) even thought I can do that with the finger tines that I have...it just takes longer.

I have peppers, tomatoes and thyme up.  The eggplant still hasn't germinated yet.

The couple with the tiller gave me seeds of vining okra that I don't think Mom and Dad liked.  I will try some.  She said it gives great screening it is such a lush vine.

The poor daffs are drooping this morning....



Another cat waiting for breakfast,



I  was hoping the glistening frost would show on the rhubarb, but it didn't.


8 comments:

  1. We had temps in the mid to lower 30's last night and frost on everything this morning. Most of my tomato plants survived. Should have brought them in last night but I got lazy and didn't really think it was going to get so cold.
    We have dead nettle here, but since it's not in the pasture area, I don't mind it especially since it's one of the first sources of feeding for the honey bees. You can also eat it like Henbit. Or not :)

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    1. I have enough here to feed Willard! I have never tried eating it. Right now I would have dandelions to go with it and some dock.

      I forgot it was a first food for bees; thanks for reminding me.....maybe I will tolerate it better now.

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  2. We had frost on the vehicles this morning but nothing too serious.

    Have a great day.

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  3. Frost? You have had a lot of company, Glenda! We will be back from vacation next weekend and I am anxious to see what our yard looks like...let alone seeing the dogs! Crazy, right? Here I am in Aruba...and I'm homesick after one week!...:)JP

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    1. Enjoy Aruba while you may.......................it will be colder home.

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  4. Glenda,

    Company will keep you busy, time flies and before you know it weeks will go by.

    Hubby got our tiller started, walked it back to the gate, unlocked the gate, and was ready to till the garden beds when the darn thing shut off and wouldn't start back again. Needs a little work, so he put it back in the garage until he can fix it. So our tilling now will be by hand!!!

    I see the frost glistening on your rhubarb plant.
    Enjoy your weekend.

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  5. Only 20F here this morning and everything white with hard frost. At least the sky is clear - we could use a bright day. Spring is elusive this year. That little tiller is quite the find! Glad you will be getting good use out of it. Some of my tomato seeds are popping up in the basement germinator is about the closet I am to spring right now. Brrrr.

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    1. I tilled with it some this morning.....not as crazy about the slasher (normal) tines as I thought! The tiller worked well.

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