Garden Friday

 Welcome to Garden Friday!
It still feels like winter,
but the pansies don't seem to mind one bit.
I'm amazed at the fortitude of these blooms!

 The garlic just keeps on keepin' on!
I'm so glad that we planted three times the amount as last season.
The goal is to never buy store-bought garlic again.
Yeah, 
     it's 
          that 
                 good.

The cover crops are getting tall and filling in 
our two new beds.
These will house sweet potato, Yukon Gold potato
and butternut squash plants.  
As they were constructed last year,
they have yet to be planted,
and I'm looking forward to seeing how the cover crops affect them.

 The straw bales on the perimeter of the garden's south side
will be replaced with new bales purchased last fall.
The plan is to grow bush beans, cucumbers and okra in them.
The "discarded" bales will be used elsewhere on the property.

 Whaddayaknow?
This parsley plant is still hanging on
without much care.
Adding some worm castings and compost tea
should perk it right up.
Parsley is grown not only for cooking,
but also for the black swallowtail caterpillars to enjoy.

Our "spa" room is a makeshift greenhouse
where seedlings can be started while the cold wind blows outside.
Our aloe vera and lemongrass have overwintered in here as well.
Once temperatures warm up, they will head back to the garden.

 This week, I started working on our garden plan,
using the free planner offered on the Gardener's Supply website.
I've used it for the last few years and it's so easy to lay out your plan.
I'm still tweaking it, and hoping that by next week
I'll have the entire layout complete and printed out.

 A few packs of seeds came in the mail,
with more on the way.
This is a thrill every single time it happens.
Better than Christmas!
I've grown the tatsoi and tithonia previously,
but the Dragon Tongue bush beans and Cylindra beets will be a new crop this year.
It's so fun trying new varieties.

 The first of our daffs showed up this week.
It's been a rainy, windy and cold winter,
with intermittent gorgeous sunny days in the 60's.
It's no wonder that the plants don't know what to do.
I'm just grateful that spring is around the corner
so that we can grow some goodies!

We Have Enough

When we moved from Florida,
we were hoping to find a nice piece of property
where we could settle down for the rest of our lives.
Acreage was important, as there were dreams that needed to be fulfilled,
and nothing less than a few acres would do to make that a reality. 
Small town living was our first choice,
as none of us like the big city and its complications.

We rented a house for 6 months while we were house hunting.
What an experience that was!
The house was over 100 years old and not well cared for,
so we spent most of that winter  
C-O-L-D 
and easily got tired of the noise of the busy street out front.
It seems that when we started our search,
the housing market went bonkers again
and we just couldn't find what we were looking for.
The property would be fabulous, but the house was falling apart,
or the house was in good shape, but it was on a busy road
or too close to neighbors.
Ya know what?
We ended up right where we were supposed to be.

 We landed on just over a half acre of land,
on a corner lot in a rural neighborhood.
Yes, we have neighbors, but everyone has a good bit of privacy,
and we know every one of them by name.
The best part is that we were able to pay cash for the house,
and were able to remain debt free.
Huge.

 Our property has a large front yard for Big K (he likes his grass),
a huge area for the vegetable garden,
and a good bit of wooded area for the birds and other critters to enjoy.
It's a blessing having this piece of dirt to call our own.
I think of it as my half acre of freedom.
Was it what we were hoping for when we started our search?
Not really, but we choose to focus on that with which we have been blessed,
and know that there is a plan for this journey.

We share this space with birds, bees, caterpillars, butterflies,
squirrels, snakes, and even an occasional deer or two.
My goal is to make it pretty, yes,
but more important, a comfortable place for us
and all who choose to call it home.
We have worked on creating a butterfly and wildlife habitat
by fostering those critters any way we can.
In doing this, 
we stay constant in our gratitude.

 One of the biggest blessings of this homestead is the chance to follow my passion
in creating food for myself and others.
I plant the seeds, God does the rest.
What a wonderful arrangement.

It is something that never gets old, this gardening lifestyle.
Each new season presents different challenges,
as well as considerable rewards.
There is always something new to try,
and having this little piece of heaven on earth is such a gift.

Creating happiness out of disappointment is a choice.
It would be easy to think about all the things that could have been,
if only...
Instead, the opportunity is taken to see the potential in what is already there.
We can turn this place into anything we choose,
if only we are willing to dream and take steps toward that intention.
No one would accuse me of being afraid of hard work,
because it feels like part of God's plan for me.

 Becoming more self-sufficient is the goal of many,
and we are no different.
Growing some of our own organic food,
cooking from scratch and making our own cleaning products,
as well as repurposing items and buying used
are all a part of this homesteading lifestyle.
It doesn't matter whether you live in the country,
in town, or somewhere in between,
everyone can do something to be more interdependent.

 For me, the objective is not to merely exist alone,
but to become a part of a well-oiled community,
where folks can volunteer, barter and work together
for the betterment of everyone.
One of the best steps taken since moving here
was enrolling in the Master Gardener course through our local Cooperative Extension office.
Not only was I able to pursue my passion for growing,
but the friendships I've made are something I treasure.
It is comforting when I realize that we most likely will be here
for the rest of our lives,
and I'm so grateful that we have friends with which to share these years.

 The older I get, the more I love staying home.
I don't have the desire to venture very far
when I know that everything that I hold dear is right here.
There is just nothing like settling down with a great book or an old movie
on a cold or rainy day.
Surrounded by the people you love in a cozy nest is the ultimate in contentment.
What could be better?

My wish for you is that you find that space.
It's there, it just needs to be recognized.
We all have so much for which to be grateful.
Yes, things go wrong or don't meet our expectations,
but we can choose either to let it ruin our day,
or take action to improve the situation.
It begins with gratitude.
Find something to be thankful for,
and it will multiply.


We have enough.

Garden Friday

Welcome to Garden Friday!
It's been slim pickin's here in our garden,
so we have been enjoying finding some color elsewhere.

Our local big box store has been putting a few things out
like this sweet lil' candytuft.
It reminds me of allyssum.

 Pansies are still available as well.
I've been so happy to see the pansies on our front porch
blooming through the harshest of our winter temperatures.
They add so much cheer when things are looking bleak.

Need seeds?
Goodness, do they have 'em!
I think there might be a touch of spring fever around.
For the most part,
I order from seed catalogues,
and they've started rolling in.

One is a new-to-me "heirloom only" company
that I would like to try.

There were actually a couple of rain-free days in a row,
and I was able to do a bit of work on Kelsey's Woods
(that's what we call the wooded area of our yard).
Three big piles of twigs and branches 
were added to the chipping/mulching pile.
Now we'll need to be patient enough to wait 
for more rain-free/non-freezing days in which to do the chipping.

The seed collection was ransacked checked,
to see what I need to order for this season.
I use these vintage metal drawers I found at a thrift store
that have dividers in them to keep things tidy.

One of the best things about heirloom varieties,
is that seed can be saved from year to year,
and the crops are as close to the original as you can get.

Time was taken this week to get one tray seeded.

It felt good to be planting again,

even if it's just a little at a time.

I've decided this year to use a wall calendar

to keep track of when I plant what.

That way, I can look ahead to make sure

I have the seeds at the ready that I need for upcoming sowing.

I use an organic seed starting mix for seedling trays.

Some of the things started in this tray were

broccoli, kale, leek, and lettuce.

our neighbor

The snow has started falling as I write this
(Thursday afternoon).
So it is with winter in North Carolina.
There will be time for more sowing,
with warmer temperatures expected this weekend.
The snow is amazing,
but it sure makes it hard to garden!

Going Local-Catawba County Firefighter Museum

This Saturday, we made a trip to the Catawba County Firefighters Museum,
located in nearby Conover.

This field trip was perfect for our family.
Big K is a former volunteer fire fighter
(back in the Ice Age),
and C collects fire alarms and smoke detectors.
It was wonderful to see them both in their element,
and able to share their knowledge with me.

The museum is open on Saturdays from 10-3 and Sundays from 1-4,
and is located at 3597 Herman Sipe Road in Conover, NC.
Tours can be scheduled at other times for groups.
They can be reached at 828-466-0911.
David Pruitt, a former firefighter himself, is the contact person
and was kind enough to show us around.

We always enjoy vintage vehicles,
and this collection of fire trucks is no exception.
An array of ravishing red rigs greeted us
as we entered the main display area.
The trucks are models from the 1930's and 1940's
and have been fully restored by volunteers.

Original equipment abounds, 
including these antique hose reels, as well as an assortment of nozzles, 
tools and radio equipment.

This classic sprinkler bell was used to alert workers 
that the fire sprinkler system had been activated in a commercial building.

Before hoses were commonly used, these types of fire buckets got the job done,
one bucket at a time.
The cone-shaped buckets would be dipped into rain barrels
and passed from one person to the next until the fire was out.
The shape would make it easier to lift back out of the rain barrel
and also retain more water in the vessel when being passed down the line.

Along with historical documents, artifacts like this foam fighting equipment
help visitors understand the complexity and importance 
of the fire department within the community.

These wooden extension ladders reached up to 36 feet tall.
Today's ladders are usually constructed of lightweight aluminum,
as wooden ladders would be subject to burning.

These pull stations caught C's eye.
He has quite a collection of them,
along with fire alarms, strobes and smoke detectors.
He has offered to contribute to the museum
when he finds something they don't yet have.

This massive siren would be found on the exterior of the fire station 
to alert firefighters and provide information about the call.

exterior

Here's a street box that used to be in front of a building.
These were often found on city streets
and were useful in helping firefighters find the exact location of a fire.

interior

Inside, the lever, once pulled, would trip the alarm
and send a code to the station,
so that they could identify the exact location.

the inner workings

(sorry for the blurriness)

This alarm box would be at the fire station
and would correspond to the street boxes.
In case of a fire, the alarm on the street box would be activated,
which would in turn alert the fire station,
using a designated code.

Here's a video that explains it better than I can.

A large collection of bunker gear, or turn-out gear, was on display.

A variety of flashlights, searchlights and spotlights were showcased.

A host of metal signs from various stations were featured as well.

Although the museum is free to the public,
there is a donation jar just inside the front entrance.
Visiting this valuable resource is yet another way
to honor those who give so much.
We'll definitely be back.

Other Posts in Our Going Local Series:
Vending Machine Museum
Grier Truck Museum
Memory Lane Museum