Think Spring ~~

Photo of three of the Board and Batten sheds. 

Things are starting to green up, 

so that means bugs.. lots of bugs and ticks.

Just glad my chickens do a great job at keeping the ticks at bay around the house and the two most close pastures they are allowed to run in.

Pear tree flowering...

Kitchen garden doesn't look like much at this point.  DH and I did a lot of weeding.

Putting down Hardwood mulch, to help keep the weeds from getting out of hand.

Knock on wood, seems like the grape vines and Current bush made it through winter.

I "think" the peonys made it, but time will tell.

Lost only one Rugosa Rose.

Going to use these as hedge rows, so they help protect the plants in the kitchen garden.

Bought a horse fly trap, horse flies are really aggressive here, makes it really hard to lead the horses to different pastures, let alone ride.
My Horses are good about it, and will stand still for us to kill the bugs.
 Their bite is super painful.

Hopefully next year, I will be able to afford another one.

Also using Fly Predators, to help with the other types of flies.

Have to do something, do not want to go through Spring/Summer/Fall like last year.

Red House Finch, letting us know, he needs more food... Now!

Indoor Garden ~

DH loves Fuchsias, but here in VA,  it gets both too cold

and too hot for them.

I bought him two harder to get Fuchsias, back last Nov for

his xmas gift, They arrived about Feb and have been 

growing well ever since.

Joy Creek nursery in Scappoose, OR

sells them.

They will be grown in the house, under a sunlamp.

Above, you can see the one, just starting to bud out.

There are two very different types.

Two Baby Roses that managed to survive.
Came in with spider mites from the company I bought them from.
Been fighting the mites ever since.

Way I am going with Roses outside, most likely, raise them in the house too.

They don't seem to do well here in VA.

Only ones to live so far, are the bank of Rugosa rose I planted (plan on using them as a wind break for the kitchen garden) and a very hardy Rose, 

on its own root stock.

It dies back in the winter and regrows, during spring.

Small flower to brighten ones day.

Tangerine tree is doing well, the canopy has doubled in size.

Trying a Selfie `

So I decided to give this selfie thing a try....
Remember I am older, and do not own a phone with a camera..

So I used a normal camera...

LOL

Can't believe how light my hair has gotten, still black at the roots...where it hasn't 

turned grey... guess you would call me, a fading black. 

Bread and the issues ~

2nd time making Hamburger buns using only 

Bob Red mill Organic flour... 

again a perfect rise.

So all the trouble I was having, was because of the King Arthur Flour. 

Never used that brand before I moved here.

Started using it, because, Bob Red Mill is super spendy in this part of the US and I can't get the Azure Standards wonderful organic flour here.

Think I will have to find a way to use all Bob Reds Mill Organic flour, even if it costs $9.00+ + tax for 5lbs.

Hatching eggs ~

Instead of waiting on a hen to become broody, 

I decided buy a small incubator.

6 of the eggs are from the Rooster and Hen below.

 They are an experiment I am working on.

The other 6 eggs, are d'Anver Millie fleur from one of the best breeders of 

Belgian d'Anvers in the US.

Keeping my fingers crossed they all hatch and this year.. 

they are All hens.
Need to break this Rooster streak!

Nari, in the Jungle ~

Haven't taken photos of Nari lately.  Though her

hiding in the Palm trees rather endearing...

And she thinks I can't see her. LOL

Bit of Ice today ~

Had a bit of Ice today, made things super, super slick and very hard to get around.

Luckily we decided to go to Williamsburg yesterday.

Birds have been very busy at all the bird feeders.

Iced trees

Birds at the window feeder... see the one peeking in the window?

The smudges on the windows are kitty nose prints. 

More Snow ~

More snow over night... 

was about 5" early this morning... 

if it keeps snowing like it is.. 

will get over the 8" mark again.

Not that I mind... since there are no ticks or bugs.

Wild birds, love the feeders this time of year.

DS, earning is room and board, while in College.

Plowing the Driveway~~

Way to cold for the Diesel Tractor to start up on its own this morning... so it need a jump from my Pilot.

Clearing the large piles of snow left by the counties snow plows at the head of our driveway.

We really, really need an angle blade for the back of the tractor. Some day we will be able to afford one.

Until then..  we use the bucket.

Pulling the snow backwards is easier on this wee tractor.

It won't be perfect, but a lot easier for DH to get his car out the drive, now.

Up Hill through the Snow..... Both ways~~~

Poor Lad had to walk up hill, 

Both ways, 

through the snow yesterday to get the mail.

Its 8* this morning, not including wind chill.

Going to be like this all week.
Supposed to have more snow tonight.

We have snow ~

OK....  so I measured the snow.  8 1/2" deep.

  Most snow I have seen here, since moving to this place.

Had to go take photos of some of the animals

Of course in the area of Oregon we used to live...we had a lot more snow.
So it was nice to see this.

Everyone is in the same pasture right now...since it is the only one I can get a heated water tank to.

But I don't think anyone minds... they all like each other.

Granted the animals wanted me to stop taking photos and feed them..and Dyfra had to tell me how bored she was and that I should get their hay...now!

No impressed on the new gutters, no only do they leak....

 they put them too close to the roof line...
If we ever have Ice or heavy snow, they will get ripped right off.

Sky lights on the hen house, that were "repaired"  leak too, so I need to some how find the money and someone that knows what they are doing to fix it, before the roof is damaged.

Katie saying,, breakfast,, breakfast now!

Goats are not thrilled....

Nice having snow... missed the beautiful snow we had in Oregon.