Isn't this just the cutest little guy!

ENOUGH!!!

All I can say is enough already with these below zero temps..... And with the wind chills it is closer to -20. I mean we aren't living in the Artic now are we? Today doing going out to the barn and doing chores was sooooooooooo hard. Just didn't want to do it, but when you have animals out you must go. Everything is now heaving too, which makes opening the stall doors abit of a challenge.
Tomorrow they say we are warming up to around lower 20's, see what you are missing Cath!! If you want I will send this weather down to you, and you can send yours to me. What we wouldn't give for those temps.
Have been riding the stationary bike, doing anywhere from 9 to 18 miles a day, just tough when you don't go anywhere, lol. But atleast it is burning those dreaded calories. Which I have plenty of.
Hope warmer days are on the horizon, everyone try and stay warm! Smile!

Just something alittle different! Have a bunch of funny pics, which I will post once in awhile. They are good for a chuckle, something we all need in these trying times.

"I love to hear Real gardeners talking, the Latin names rolling off their tongue, sonorous and beautiful. I feel abashed when I take a sleeve and say, "Do come and see that pink thing over there." "Ah, Centaures hypoleuca. Very nice, they say." Never mind. It smiles the same for both of us.
Pam Brown

"Reminds me when Heather uses all those latin names."

{Doesn't this make you feel warmer already?}

"A Gard'ner's Work is never at an end; it begins with the Year, and continues to the next."

John Evelyn from Kalendarium Hortense

Tonight is what I call a "crispie-critter" night! By that I mean when you are walking in the snow things crunch, and any animal outside tonight would be super cold! What I call a crispie critter. The temperature is around 5 degrees right now, and by tomorrow with the wind chill they say -20 degrees. Plus they are calling for anywhere up to a foot of lake effect snow, fun. Glad we are inside and warm, even my sibes are here laying near me. It has been so cold that I haven't taken any pics of the boys playing in the snow, so this is last year's. They seem to enjoy a good romp in the snow! Tomorrow I will walk to the creek and feed the two canadian geese, they haven't come to the barn in a few days and with this cold they need some food, so off I will go. Otherwise it is the same-ol-same-ol! Everyone stay warm.

PHOTOS

Just to let everyone know, who views my blog, all the photos are ones I have taken. All the photos are of the flowers and plants that I have grown
My passion for flowers that are either purple or orange borders on obsessive. Whenever I see a new one in those colors I must have it! I will also plant yellows and whites. I also look for new types of hosta and grasses. I saw in a catalog a hardy strain of banana, and one of bamboo I may try this year. Only time it gets rough is in the fall when almost everything in pots comes indoors. Hubby could do without, but I remind him atleast with all the whiteness outside the house is full of plants. Some right now are even blooming.
So come spring we will bring them all back outside again, and add to them. Not to mention the gardens that hold all the perennials, and the veggies. Can't wait to get back to the dirt!
Stay warm, keeping smiling!!!!

"It is utterly forbidden to be half-hearted about gardening. You have got to love your garden whether you like it or not."

W. C. Sellar & R. J Yeatman Garden Rubbish

This is Zero, he is Java's dog. Java is my siberian husky, who didn't have a playmate, other then the cats. So I found a rescue site and adopted Zero. My husband says it is pretty good when a dog has his own dog. Well tonight we are heading into the deep freeze and instead of sleeping on their enclosed front porch on a couch I will try and get them to sleep inside. More then likely Java will pace through the house once the lights go out and keep putting his nose into my face until I let him out. They prefer the porch which gives them the option to go outside into their pen. Which by the way is a 30' x 50' pen. With a six foot high chain link fence, because they are know to go over anything less.. Sibes are excape artists, and once loose will run till they can't run anymore. They are not ones to keep to their own property. They are high energy and maintenance. They never stop blowing their fur, which anyone who has ever owned one knows all too well. Well everyone have a good one and stay warm, I know we will try!!!!

Made a apple pie for the hubby, and have a roasting chicken in the oven. Tomorrow will make chicken soup, [no dumplings though sis!]

"To dig one's own spade into one's own earth! Has life anything better to offer then this?"

Beverly Nichols

My sister's blogs

My sister has gotten me into this so I am returning the favor by posting her blog address. If you get the chance take a look. http://nollsnip.blogspot.com http://alittlewanderlust.blogspot.com and http://gardeninginthezone.blogspot.com Hope everyone enjoys them as I am.

Was looking at my sister's blog http://gardeninginthezone.blogspot.com and saw where she talked about growing corn. This reminded me of this past summer when Ken told me his mom had trouble with her corn. So I am going to give some tips on growing a bumber crop of corn. First you need to lime the soil before tilling [this sweetens the soil]. Next when planting rows the more the better, doesn't matter of they are long or short rows, just need more then four to pollinate. When putting in the seeds put in two per spot. An old time gardener told me this is so one kernel is for you and one is for the birds, grubs. Next sprinkle in alittle fertilizer. Run your rows the same direction as your winds come from the most, here that would be from west to east. This helps so the rows don't blow over. Now when your plants are about knee high fertilzer again. Then when they start to tassle give them a heavy dose of fertilizer again. And when your crop comes in remember me! Happy eating.

I don't know how people deal with their moods when they have no garden, raspberry patch or field to work in. You can take your angers, frustrations, bewilderments to the earth, working savagely, working up a sweat and an ache and a great weariness. The work rinses out the cup of your spirit, leaves it washed and clean and ready to be freshly filled with new hope. It is one of the reasons I am addicted to respberry patches. The pie is purely symbolic.

Rachel Peden

Gertie the Goose

Today I want to tell you about one of the oldest members of the family. Her name is "Gertie" and she is atleast 24 years old. She flew in 23 years ago and has been here ever since. Now her life here as been pretty normal, except for one thing. That is the mate she chooses, which isn't a goose but a white duck. The first one appeared here about the time she did, and well she decided on him as her mate. Pretty funny watching a duck follow a goose but those two were never apart. Until sadly "Dickie" died. But soon after there appeared again another white male duck. This one we named "Whitie" and he bacame her mate. Then one stormy night he was gone. So Mom went and bought a male gosling for Gertie. But she wanted no part of him. and the next year she suddenly had "you guessed it" another male white duck. Now we don't know where they come from and she doesn't leave to find them, so we figure it is her fate. She prefers a male duck and we now have Whitie II. They go everywhere together, and if one day either passes one I will wait to see, if another goose or duck takes their place.