Long Time Coming

Well, no time like today to catch up on 4 yrs of our life!

A few things happened and some stayed the same.

I retired from the hospital on Jan 4, 2019. However, I continued to do contract work until July. I thought I was done, but along came an opportunity to work remote at several hospitals in Texas and California. So, I started back working. Then COVID hit.

Fast forward to Nov. 2021 and I decided to retire again. I officially retired on Dec 3, 2021 and boom - just like that.... done with the working life. It has been good, and I also mean good as in the retirement is real. I do not plan to work again in healthcare. I have been toying with opening an Etsy shop. I have always liked the idea of that. We will see.

We still plant out our little garden and can our goodies etc. We tried canning green tomatoes and dilly beans last summer and they came out delicious!

In the fall, our annual Cream Cheese Pumpkin Spice Muffins were a delicious treat and we so enjoyed them.

I still make my annual Christmas ornament and craft when the mood strikes.

I made porch boards last fall for me and Trevor. They came out really nice!

Last summer, I also discovered the many varieties of Hosta! I ended up buying 10-12 new varieties. I did lose a couple tho, however many are coming back and look wonderful. At some, point I will have to decide if they will live in pots on the back porch or actually be planted in the ground.

In the meantime, we continue to update and finish things on the house. The good intentions through the years to complete them got pushed here and yon. We hope to make headway and finally knock them off our to-do list. After that, who knows!

Cross Pollination?

Worried about cross pollination of tomatoes?....I was relieved to read if precautions are taken...there is little risk. Whew...good. Since I am trying an heirloom tomato (Cherokee Purple) and want to save the seed to replant next year..I need to keep them pure.

http://gardening.sheknows.com/2011/03/24/tomato-cross-pollination/

Sprouting Seed Chart

I've been thinking of sprouting my own seeds...interesting and very healthy. Still need to purchase a seed lid.


http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/seed-sprouting-zmaz81ndzraw.aspx#axzz2KVEsYG4m


http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedFiles/articles/issues/1981-11-01/Seed%20Sprouting%20Chart.pdf

Seed Germination chart

All in one place...I like!

Courtesy of: http://cultivatorscorner.com/when-to-start-vegetable-seeds

Tree Collards

Before an internet friend gifted me some old fashioned purple leaf collards I ordered some off the internet thinking they were the same. Come to find out what I got isn't even close to what I was looking for. Good example of not doing your research properly. But nonetheless I am giving them a go. They came bare rooted with instructions to stick into moist potting soil. So I did that and the wait began. Soon they started to leaf out. If I follow the instructions as directed they will be ready to plant in the ground by mid Oct. Now will I get to pick any this year? Good question...maybe I'll get a few to throw in with the ones I'm growing from seed... we'll see. I've seen them called both tree collards and tree kale and they can grow up to 9 ft tall.

Garden Journal

I've always wondered why keeping a garden journal is important. Well, now I know. Year to year it's just plain hard to remember what worked, what didn't and at what times you need to do this or that. Those who have never been farmers, like me, can't keep it straight on when to plant or when to start seeds. It becomes even more complicated when you start trying new things to grow.

Side note. I really like the B&N brand of 8x10 monthly planner but even before the Christmas season got into swing our local store ran low on the style I like. So, thinking I was just out of luck I bought one from Walmart. It's ok but I still wanted the B&N kind. So, my darling daughter found one in Minne and sent it to me. Only problem was I had already started using the Walmart planner. Which by the way is working wonderful for staying on budget. So, my B&N one has been riding around in my work bag...with nothing written in it and here it is...February!

Ahh, but last night I had a revelation....empty planner...garden journal...perhaps a match made in heaven? I do believe so. The calendar pages are large allowing me to write in notes, add dates for expected harvest, when we planted our veggies or planted seeds.

By golly, I may just be onto something! My new Garden Journal Planner may just be "all that"!

Added benefit, I can keep it to refer to for next season.

Yep, I'm brilliant!