I have access to aged manure, so I put a layer of manure on all of my beds to tuck them in for the winter. Of course, first I weed the beds then layer the manure around the plants.
I also have cut our long grass and placed the cuttings around my tomatoes plants to get a few more weeks of the season. Actually I have greens tomatoes that I thought I would pick some and the others try to extend the season a bit longer. The radishes seems to be taking off and the radish is a bit drier but still has a nice flavor for salad.
I love seeing the pumpkin stands along side of the road. There's a can or jar for the fees of the pumpkins near the home - festive displays for Halloween or autumn.
I have been researching snow fences that reduces the winds, so the snow does not drift. Since the west is where the lake is located, we will place the snow fence along the west side so the drifting of snow is removed from our driveway.
People are telling me that we should have a first snow fall in November, with a possibility of a dusting in October - wow.
Our barn with the two horses needs a bit of work before the winter sets in, like the door needs to be able to close and anchoring the overhead doors - one door is very light and the other door is an original. Obviously the barn is not air tight, but it is standing.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Friday, October 3, 2014
Wait a second - BREATH AND BE THANKFUL
Sometimes our/my mind/s get in the way of what we have right in front of us. My husband and I took a walk from a freshly mowed path at sunset and the beauty was intense. The rich colors of the sun setting was wonderful and the reason why we are where we are now. Whatever path we take, we needed to take that path to get to our point right now. I am very thankful for the bats, for the mice, for the beautiful horses that are here. The animals were here first, I need to adapt...
So I am harvesting all of our basil today, after a luncheon I made for my husband's office, since several temporary workers will be leaving soon.
I found a recipe on the internet of white bean and basil, cholesterol free, quick protein - it is delicious. The recipe was copies from the website "oh she glows".
Read more: http://ohsheglows.com/2011/08/04/high-protein-oil-free-basil-pesto/#ixzz3F5CS00bt"
My basil, I started from seed in the apartment and lugged the seed trays to our old house and planted the seedlings in the ground along with tomatoes, (way too late; however, we did harvest two tomatoes) and cucumbers from Monticello in Virginia. The cucumbers were from Asia I think, Cucumis anguiria. The cucumbers are really good, lots of seeds and small, but the flavor is crisp and strong, along with swiss chard and arugula.
Walk in Beauty!
So I am harvesting all of our basil today, after a luncheon I made for my husband's office, since several temporary workers will be leaving soon.
I found a recipe on the internet of white bean and basil, cholesterol free, quick protein - it is delicious. The recipe was copies from the website "oh she glows".
"High Protein & Oil-Free Basil Pesto
This is far from a traditional tasting pesto, but it’s so delicious I couldn’t stop eating it! The navy beans replace the typical cup of oil in this pesto recipe, making it not only oil-free, but high in protein as well. Nutritional yeast adds a cheezy taste while packing protein and B12. Enjoy this pesto spread on sandwiches, pasta, or even use for a dip for vegetables or chips. Spoon feeding encouraged.
Yield: 1.5 cups (see below for nutritional info)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves (don’t be shy- really pack it in!)
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 15-oz can navy/cannellini beans (1.5 cups)
- 1 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2-3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (1/2 lemon) I used 3 tbsp
- 1/2-3/4 tsp kosher salt (I used 3/4 tsp)
- You can add olive oil to taste if you prefer!
Directions: Add garlic clove to processor and process until finely chopped. Now add in the rest of the ingredients to taste and process until smooth, scraping down the bowl as necessary.
Nutritional Info: (per 2 tbsp): 41 kcals, 0 grams fat, 3 grams protein, 3 grams fibre, 0 grams sugar, 7 grams carbs.
Read more: http://ohsheglows.com/2011/08/04/high-protein-oil-free-basil-pesto/#ixzz3F5CS00bt"
My basil, I started from seed in the apartment and lugged the seed trays to our old house and planted the seedlings in the ground along with tomatoes, (way too late; however, we did harvest two tomatoes) and cucumbers from Monticello in Virginia. The cucumbers were from Asia I think, Cucumis anguiria. The cucumbers are really good, lots of seeds and small, but the flavor is crisp and strong, along with swiss chard and arugula.
Walk in Beauty!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
The Best Exercise!
Forever thankful....
The property came with two elderly horses, age 30 and 26, who are the most beautiful creatures. I have been feeding the horses a few apples and now they come running when they see me. That is a beautiful picture when the horses start running. The horses have been here for 20 years and their Owners told me that if we moved them they would not be so happy. So we have a couple of pastures and I am learning about taking care of horses which I must say is rather a happy time for me. Another happy time is riding an old Schwinn bicycle around the farm that we found in the back of the barn - it is simple joy.
Our home insurance agent emailed me a said that she drove by and noticed the horses, so I need to have additional insurance. I explained to her that the horses are friends and wanted to keep them on the farm. Now we are in the process of our agent looking to find additional insurance for the horses. If we are said to have 'boarders' then it is an additional $700.00 to $1,000.00. If we purchase horses, we will find out how much it will cost. Naivety is not the best characteristic. I'm not really sure how the insurance agent found out about the horses, because the horses have been in the back pasture and we live off a state route that the speed limit is 55 mph. I'm not so paranoid, but it does seem suspicious that the agent saw the horses from the road.
The BEST EXERCISE is mowing grass with a walk behind mower which is the only mower we have now. Although, we did find a Jari and got it running. A Jari is a sickle mower and was built in 1950s/1960s. So, I have been using the Jari to mow the back pasture which has taken me about 4 days and I probably have 4 more days. Again the best exercise and better than any gym that I have been a participant. Although sit-ups and toning the triceps is an additional exercise for the full body work out. I start mowing in late morning or early afternoon due to so much moisture we have in this area. I am thinking it is the 'lake effect' that we have so much moisture. I am also preparing the beds that have been here - removing the weeds and placing a layer of aged manure for a top dressing. I have been reading "A Northeast Gardener's Year" by Lee Reich which I am finding to be a real comfort in my gardening practices. Eventually we will have a greenhouse from old metal cased windows that we have acquired along with a bread oven. So we were thinking of the greenhouse with an attached bread oven. We would keep the bread oven filled with wood to heat the greenhouse during the winter months. I read some place of heating the greenhouse two ways or keeping it from freezing:
1. Place 15-day old manure in a trough about 4 feet deep and 3 feet wide and 8 feet length, covering the manure with wood shavings to keep the ammonia from leaching out. This would 'warm' the greenhouse so the winter seeds would not freeze. The decomposing would warm the greenhouse. I am not sure how long this would last - surely not the entire winter. More research is needed. on my part.
2. Then I read filling black barrels with water and stacking the barrels along one wall of the greenhouse. I read this from a University paper and I am sorry I do not remember of the University that was researching this practice. Sun is required, of course. And more research on my part.
I would really like to research solar, hydro and wind energy to 'get off the grid' so to speak. I have seen these great youtube videos creating hydro energy. Although our stream is about 100 meters or I think it is about 350 feet.
The property came with two elderly horses, age 30 and 26, who are the most beautiful creatures. I have been feeding the horses a few apples and now they come running when they see me. That is a beautiful picture when the horses start running. The horses have been here for 20 years and their Owners told me that if we moved them they would not be so happy. So we have a couple of pastures and I am learning about taking care of horses which I must say is rather a happy time for me. Another happy time is riding an old Schwinn bicycle around the farm that we found in the back of the barn - it is simple joy.
Our home insurance agent emailed me a said that she drove by and noticed the horses, so I need to have additional insurance. I explained to her that the horses are friends and wanted to keep them on the farm. Now we are in the process of our agent looking to find additional insurance for the horses. If we are said to have 'boarders' then it is an additional $700.00 to $1,000.00. If we purchase horses, we will find out how much it will cost. Naivety is not the best characteristic. I'm not really sure how the insurance agent found out about the horses, because the horses have been in the back pasture and we live off a state route that the speed limit is 55 mph. I'm not so paranoid, but it does seem suspicious that the agent saw the horses from the road.
The BEST EXERCISE is mowing grass with a walk behind mower which is the only mower we have now. Although, we did find a Jari and got it running. A Jari is a sickle mower and was built in 1950s/1960s. So, I have been using the Jari to mow the back pasture which has taken me about 4 days and I probably have 4 more days. Again the best exercise and better than any gym that I have been a participant. Although sit-ups and toning the triceps is an additional exercise for the full body work out. I start mowing in late morning or early afternoon due to so much moisture we have in this area. I am thinking it is the 'lake effect' that we have so much moisture. I am also preparing the beds that have been here - removing the weeds and placing a layer of aged manure for a top dressing. I have been reading "A Northeast Gardener's Year" by Lee Reich which I am finding to be a real comfort in my gardening practices. Eventually we will have a greenhouse from old metal cased windows that we have acquired along with a bread oven. So we were thinking of the greenhouse with an attached bread oven. We would keep the bread oven filled with wood to heat the greenhouse during the winter months. I read some place of heating the greenhouse two ways or keeping it from freezing:
1. Place 15-day old manure in a trough about 4 feet deep and 3 feet wide and 8 feet length, covering the manure with wood shavings to keep the ammonia from leaching out. This would 'warm' the greenhouse so the winter seeds would not freeze. The decomposing would warm the greenhouse. I am not sure how long this would last - surely not the entire winter. More research is needed. on my part.
2. Then I read filling black barrels with water and stacking the barrels along one wall of the greenhouse. I read this from a University paper and I am sorry I do not remember of the University that was researching this practice. Sun is required, of course. And more research on my part.
I would really like to research solar, hydro and wind energy to 'get off the grid' so to speak. I have seen these great youtube videos creating hydro energy. Although our stream is about 100 meters or I think it is about 350 feet.
Our Old House
OMG...
We have arrived.... Now I understand that you should have money before you purchase an old house. Buyers' regret totally for right now but very Thankful for what we have accomplished.
After the second bat encounter in our house, calling for my husband to assist me. Think of a matador in the ring, but the ring was our house. My husband had a towel and since bats I believe have sonar and will not bump into the wall, hence the towel. My Husband would raise the towel to direct the bat to downstairs and out the door. At one point, I was in the bathroom freaking out and my husband came in and also the bat and was flying and I felt the flutter of the wings on my leg, which after the fact was kind of cool, maybe. So my hero husband took care of the bat. Then, of course we have mice because we are in a rural area. My husband sleeps through everything and I hear the most faintest of sounds...
The house has fireplaces, none of which have been used for the past 20 years, plus they're huge chimneys that have no covers, hence the bats arrive inside. Quick fix and not a designer fashion, but with all of the boxes we have from unpacking, I cut into a flat shape and covered the fireplace using heavy duty packing tape and duct tape. I hope nothing else comes through.
So we have this great wood stove, hopefully to save on our heating bill, we thought we would get that started with clearing the chimney and purchasing a chimney liner. My husband and I cleared the one chimney and found that one of the fireplaces had a chimney fire many years ago. We were cleaning out the old liner, then my husband found the remains of a duck. How did that happen?
Although my dear husband who is part carpenter, thank goodness, made two cap covers for the chimneys, one with a vent because the furnace is vented out. We placed the cap on the chimneys because we found $2,500 later we could have a working wood stove/heater for this winter. Well, we will put this on the 'back burner' to save the future winters.
We have arrived.... Now I understand that you should have money before you purchase an old house. Buyers' regret totally for right now but very Thankful for what we have accomplished.
After the second bat encounter in our house, calling for my husband to assist me. Think of a matador in the ring, but the ring was our house. My husband had a towel and since bats I believe have sonar and will not bump into the wall, hence the towel. My Husband would raise the towel to direct the bat to downstairs and out the door. At one point, I was in the bathroom freaking out and my husband came in and also the bat and was flying and I felt the flutter of the wings on my leg, which after the fact was kind of cool, maybe. So my hero husband took care of the bat. Then, of course we have mice because we are in a rural area. My husband sleeps through everything and I hear the most faintest of sounds...
The house has fireplaces, none of which have been used for the past 20 years, plus they're huge chimneys that have no covers, hence the bats arrive inside. Quick fix and not a designer fashion, but with all of the boxes we have from unpacking, I cut into a flat shape and covered the fireplace using heavy duty packing tape and duct tape. I hope nothing else comes through.
So we have this great wood stove, hopefully to save on our heating bill, we thought we would get that started with clearing the chimney and purchasing a chimney liner. My husband and I cleared the one chimney and found that one of the fireplaces had a chimney fire many years ago. We were cleaning out the old liner, then my husband found the remains of a duck. How did that happen?
Although my dear husband who is part carpenter, thank goodness, made two cap covers for the chimneys, one with a vent because the furnace is vented out. We placed the cap on the chimneys because we found $2,500 later we could have a working wood stove/heater for this winter. Well, we will put this on the 'back burner' to save the future winters.
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