Up very early this morning but I was asleep very early too so it all works out.

We got more rain late yesterday afternoon.  I dont' know how much yet but it was very heavy for a while.  I took a picture around 4:30 pm just before the storm hit.


Kris wanted to see  inside the new  fridge.  Her word is my command.  This is probably the neatest it will ever be.

This is the inside with both doors open.  I still have things to bring down from the Milk Parlor fridge.



and this is the bottom freezer.  I have not unbagged and sorted the contents yet.



This is the two doors.  The left door is configured differently to allow for the ice maker supply into the door.




This is my favorite  feature of these French Door fridges:  The tray.  This one isn't as large as the Kenmore but it doesn't have that slide up door that caused me lots of grief.

This one just slides in like a drawer.



Enough about the refrigerator; I just want it to work and last forever.

I bought in my flat of broccoli, petunias and borage.  I was afraid of the predicted freezing temperatures.
I will keep them inside under lights until this front passes.

I watered the trays yesterday evening late and that should last them a week.  I just run the trays about l inch  deep with tepid water and a bit of fertilizer; stir it up; swish it around and then let the containers just absorb it.  If much is left, I drain it off into a bed outside.

We did go to Bolivar yesterday as planned; got the ATV license and hit the Wal Mart that is next to the License Bureau.  I couldn't pass by the herbs they had outside the door:  They were $3.87 each but are in 6 inch pots and look very good.  There is Greek Oregano, Sweet Mint and Lemon Thyme.  The thyme probably isn't perennial here so I will try to remember to dig it and store it when I do the rosemary.



I will be baking  my Honey Whole Wheat bread again today.  I gave a loaf to  both installers since I had all the breads out cooling when they came and they commented about it......and they went above and beyond on the installation.  DH said they couldn't have his white bread..........so I will be baking today.


Our hunt for the chickens was a bust.  We neither recognized anything at all....so after about an hour of seeing some new scenery we just kept heading west toward Stockton Lake and highway 123....then headed south and back.  I may just go ahead and buy some young chicks and raise them.  I did see some Sex Links on Craig's List.  That will mean a 4-month wait for eggs but so be it.

Friday Morning, April 5, 2013

Up at 3:15 AM and enjoyed the peace and quiet reading....and drinking  coffee.  It was pretty cold last night; I saw a skiff of ice on the bird bath....we actually saw a pair of Purple Finches enjoying a bath together yesterday.

I had great plans to mow yesterday but neither mowers was willing.  If it is very cold they just don't start.  DH is charging the battery on my old (and favorite mower) so, hopefully, I can mow today.

I also vow to spray with dormant oil!  No rain in sight for several days and nice warm temperatures.

I made my first garden faux pas this morning.   I dug a very large clump of what I thought was a weedy grass...then I realized  it was a clump of tradescantia!  It will survive.  I may divide it into several clumps and put it in an area where it can do its thing without me bothering it.  It is a Missouri  native  that grows in the ditches....in fact, I think that is where I got this one.

Saturday April 6,2013

WE (DH rode the new mower) did all the mowing, even the orchard.  He reported that the ground back there was very soft and wet  and he almost got the mower stuck.

I was even able to start up the old Stihl trimmer and do about 30 minutes worth when I ran out of string and energy.  No spraying the trees.....then this morning it is extremely windy and probably not a good day to spray....I see the oldest peach tree is dead and the split tree in the garden is showing color so too late to spray it.  The little plum is fully bloomed and the bees and other fliers are all over it.  I also see the bees on the weed, dead nettle, that I have been erroneously calling henbit. I get them confused every year.

Still no spraying....too late  for the plums, peaches and pears....maybe the apples will get it.

Sunday, April 7

Did some tilling and raking in the garden.  It is such  a slow process this year because of this culprit. It tills up in small clumps and has a mat-like system of very fine roots.  I have to till a while and then rake the clods out or I just cover them and the they continue to grow.  I have never had this in the garden before.

Monday, April 8

This is finally the day!  New fridge comes this afternoon and none too soon.  Here it is in all its SS (stainless Steel) glory.

Then we had to wait 24 hours before loading it fully and I still haven't done that yet.  I vow not to overload this one with 30 different jars of jams, jellies, pickles or other condiments!  I am not even going to bring down all that was in the other one.

I have now tested the icer maker and it is very nice.  I had two glasses of crushed and cubed ice water yesterday evening.

Tuesday, April 9

We made a run to Fair Grove late yesterday afternoon to look at the 45 inch square shipping crates I found on Craig's list.  We thought it would make an instant dog house.  We bought it, $40, and now we need to paint it  before placing it in the dog pen.  It is very heavy and we will have to use the front end loader on the tractor to get it off the truck.

Wednesday April 10

This is our baby girl's 45th birthday!  Hard to believe.  I still vividly remember her birth and the first day we brought her home.

The storms promised didn't happen but we are getting a nice gentle rain, 1/4+ so far, and some lightening.

If the storms don't get worse, I think we will take advantage of  the rainy day and head to
Bolivar to get the license for the ATV and shop their Wal Mart for supplies.  Then, weather permitting,  take a wild razee over the country side to try and find the man we bought pullets from two years ago.  Why I didn't take down his name and phone number I will never know.  DH swears he can find him......lots of curvy roads heading back west out of Bolivar toward Stockton Lake........we shall see.

We have been having some very nice spring-like weather.  We have had about 3/4 inches of rain over a couple of days and the temperatures are warming nicely.  We are in the 50's right now.  I haven't done anything outside because the rain, actually more of a heavy drizzle lasted off and on.

The seeds I put under the lights are coming along.  Broccoli is up, borage is up, and the rudbeckia is up.
I put the peppers on a warming pad to speed them up.  I  turn the lights off at night but will leave the warming pad on.  Note:  The peppers are now up.

The sun just popped out fully!   That should warm things up.

More bad on the farm.  One of the llamas died of natural causes we guess.   We are having spring calves born which is always fun.

I plan to start more seeds this weekend.

The weekend is here:  Saturday,March 30, 2013

It has been drizzling  all morning and the temperature is around 50°

This was my milking morning but that wasn't to be.....Willow pulled one of her old tricks.  She refused to let down her milk for me.  I struggled to get 1/2 gallon and then gave up and turned  her to her babies.  I could hear her softly mooing to them.  I guess that made her happy.

Since I was already in the Milk Barn/Potting Shed, I decided to plant my warm weather seeds.  I did a flat of various tomatoes, and one of some flowers:  'Horizon' ageratum, melampodium, Fall Color rudbeckia, Giant Exhibition Coleus, salvia spendens 'Flare' . 

Later this afternoon I will make a large batch of rolls for MIL's annual Easter dinner..............again.

Easter Sunday

Rolls are made.  I walked the yard hopingfor  some pictures.  I was surprised to see a lot of my daffodils aren't doing much and some are just gone.  Maybe two years of drought?   I will try to remember  to fertilize and  order new bulbs this fall.  Nothing else was worthy.....except a very lush stand of henbit.  The sun is shining and it looks to be a beautiful day.


It was until we came home and found the refrigerator had died.....freezer had defrosted and filled the bottom with strange orange liquid.

Monday, April, 2013

Well, Sunday was a beautiful day but this morning dawned very cool, 40° and that is the high for the day.  We will have three days of cool and then back to the 70's.  Three more chances of rain.

First thing was  off to Lowes to buy a refrigerator......did that and was very disappointed they couldn't deliver until the following Monday afternoon.  Of course we have the fridge in the Milk Parlor but running back and forth for milk was a nuisance so we filled the ice chest and are keeping it on the patio.  I do miss the refrigerator in the kitchen. We are both anxious to see how the SS looks vs. the white monster we now have.  I got the same style, French doors only this time we splurged and got ice and water in the door.  DH will love that.

I have to laugh at myself.  I have been tracking our rainfall for quite some time and all I could see was 1/4 to 1/2 inch in the gauge yet the west pond is so full we can see it from the house then I found a 5-gallon bucket near the chicken pen that had maybe 6-7 inches in it!  DH tells me that is the last several rainfalls.  I filled the gauge with a glass of water and in a couple of hours it was empty again.  I guess the dog mauling it caused a leak.  I need to find the glue........

West Pond



Tuesday and Wednesday

Ordinary cooler than normal days....no rain.  I am putting off mowing until it warms more.  The daffodils are a disappointment this year.  I don't know if it is the results of  two years of drought or what.

I made myself make two aprons.  I wanted to include one for my Sis when I send her the last jar of  mincemeat.  Then I finally made the ties for the last two covers for the dining room chair.  I have material to do more aprons but outside Spring chores keeps calling to me so I put the machine away and tidied up the sewing room /aka Dining Room; put away the iron and ironing board and my house is now back  to its normal life.





I used the internet to locate a light for my 1960 era Kenmore sewing  machine!  I  was just thrilled when I found it. It has been burnt out for a couple of years now and I couldn't locate one locally.  I have been dragging a floor lamp to the machine each time I have to use it for something.  What a joy to just push a button.  I  am not looking to buy a new machine.  This thing sews beautifully and does all I need it to do.....why change.
The only negative is it is all metal and very heavy.  I have some difficulty lifting and lowering the head out of the table.  I can see the time in the near future where it will just stay up.


Nothing exciting going on in the kitchen.....I did make FlowerLady's cookies again.... This time I only added l cup of dried cranberries and chocolate chips (nuts and coconut in outside fridge).  We are enjoying them as usual.

to be cont'd (maybe).

Farm Note:

Jewel in heat 4/3/13