Homestead Happenings

 

Greetings!

I hope your year is off to a great start!

In the past week, we've had over four inches of rain

over 2 days, so the garden is quite content.

So is this gardener.

It gave me time to work on 

another hobby, jigsaw puzzles.

They are a marvelous way to pass the time

during severe weather,

and it's one of the few things that I enjoy

which requires sitting down.

A check on the brassica beds found them doing fine.

The broccoli and cauliflower seem cozy enough.

The added straw and row cover 

no doubt keep them well insulated.

We have had quite a few overnight freezing temps,

but the days have been sunny and mild, for the most part.

In fact, I see something yummy in my future!

So grateful to be able to grow broccoli here in the winter.

Some of the lettuce that I had transplanted a couple of weeks ago

seems to be holding its own.

The kale (seen at the bottom of this shot), has been 

so slow to grow, and I'm not sure I'll get any harvest at all.

Time will tell.

The weather was so sweet this week,

that I even transplanted the rest of the lettuce

I had started using the winter sowing method.

Row cover was added after planting and a good helping

of shredded leaves was settled on top.

Upon strolling around the property,

I couldn't help but notice that there are 

a handful of plants growing right through the winter

with absolutely no regard for the temperatures.

This pansy display in our washtub

keeps blooming with no supplemental care.

It's fantastic to have this pop of color!

Although the candy tuft is not in bloom,

it is still green and healthy looking.

This plant has been in our pollinator box

for two years, and I need to remember

to add a lot more.

Another brilliant burst of color

comes from this sedum,

planted in a terra cotta planter and residing on the front porch.

Sedums have really become one of my favorite plants,

as they require very little from me.

Another new-to-me plant this past year

is the lamb's ear,

which forms a border on our front porch bed.

The texture is like velvet, which in itself 

is a great reason to grow it,

but just look at the soft, sapphire foliage.

The yarrow doesn't miss a beat

and has even blessed us with blooms!

It is one of the flowers in my winter arrangements,

when there is very little else blooming.

What a treat!

You're looking at part of my New Year's meal.

I usually make a few appetizer-type things

to nosh on throughout the day.

This year's menu included salmon patties

and this vegan nacho dish.

We had some tortilla chips in the house,

and I simply added cooked lentils, vegan cheese

and some homemade tomato sauce.

SO.  GOOD.

These gluten-free rolls I made for the holidays

turned out well.

My boy and I are both gluten-free now,

and it was just a little extra special having homemade rolls.

They are fashioned after the French brioche.

Gotta get the family history in there when you can!

They were readily devoured.

How's your year going so far?