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What?

Prepare for the garden? We still have months of winter left!

True enough.

But now is the perfect time of year to start figuring out what to plant, where to plant it, and get ready to either order seeds from the catalogue or exchange seeds with other gardeners.

Exchanging seeds can be a great way to go if you like to plant heirloom seeds or you are in the market for crops that are not sold at your local grocery store in the spring.

This year, I will be planting some new (to me) crops, as I plan to follow the methods presented in “Four-Season Harvest” In this book, Eliot Coleman teaches his reader that it is possible to harvest year round, even if you live in a zone 5 climate. One of the most elements of his process is to pick a crop that can tolerate cold weather.

So, this year, I am in the market for the following (new to me) garden seeds:

• Arugula
• Green Chicory
• Endive
• Escarole
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Leek
• Mache
• Mizuna
• Radicchio
• Sorrel

While I love the winter, this afternoon has made me look forward to spring!  Do you have any of these seeds?  I’d love to exchange with you.  I’m listing my barter items at Swaperoo.

One of the biggest things I’ve come to realize is that you need to “store what you eat and eat what you store.”  Makes a lot of sense!  If you are storing food that you just don’t eat – then you won’t know what to do with it when the times comes that you would like to use it!

The spreadsheet available on that site has been a great resource.  I have changed it a little, though, to fit our eating needs and lifestyle.   Or, should I say,  to fit our supply of food!   Fortunatly, we don’t need to store “all” of our food.  Some of it is produces on our land…   we have gardens and animals that help out in that department.

So, I’m busy figuring out how many chickens we will eat – - – and therefore how many times a week or month we will have chicken for dinner.

Anyway, it is a great tool for anyone interested in storing food. Check it Out!

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It is raining out. The sheep and chickens have found little corners of shelter.

I have put the tortilini soup in the crock pot and freshly baked bread is warming again for a cozy lunch.

As I watch our land get a nice dose of water, my thoughts turn to fall – - – and all the potential projects waiting for me.

• Dishcloths to knit
• Rugs to stitch together
• A winter pantry to stock
• fruit trees to plant
• perhaps I should harvest the cattail leaves for basket weaving

I am looking forward to a winter of cocooning.

Think Before You Speak.

This could be just the tool that I have been needing to help my kids figure out how to get along with one another.

I’ve added this bracelet project to the list this week.

Think is…

an acronym for what’s really going on in your head.

Is what you’re about to say:

T- thoughtful
H – helpful
I – intelligent
N- necessary
K – kind

One of the first decisions I am grappling with is – - – should I get a hand wheat grinder or an electric wheat grinder?

PRACTICALITY

Definately, an electric wheat grinder would be more practical. It will get the job done more quickly and it will not be as much work to get my flour ready for baking.

NOISE

On the other hand, electric wheat grinders definately make more noise. In my goal for a peaceful, inspiring, and old fashioned home, the electric wheat grinder sure seems like it would be a distraction.

While I haven’t made up my mind for sure, I am leaning toward a hand wheat grinder.

After a while though – I might decide to back it up with a kitchenaid wheat grinder.

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Here are a few pics.  It is clearly still a construction site, but you’ll get the idea…

kitchen and dining room

This picture is taken standing in the kitchen, looking into the living room.  The wood on the ceiling in the kitchen, and the red wood on the wall came from the barn we took down.  We brought the outdoors in with this house!  (We also used exterior lighting in the living room!)

back porch

This is perhaps my favorite part of the house – the back porch.   In the summer, this will be in the shade.  Ahhh.   And the view from the porch?  Spectacular!

back porch view

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My husband has enjoyed some of the images so much that he even recommended we hang them down at the motel. Image Kind

Unfortunately, I just don’t think my photos have the quality to be enlarged. ;(

Perhaps it is time for me to get more serious about this photo thing.

• New Camera?
• Classes?

Yes. I could enjoy that.

(Oh, and here is my photo hunt entry for this week: clouds)

glacier park view

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