Working in the Greenhouse and Garden

I repotted some aloe vera plants.  There were 10 baby aloes to divide and pot up.  This is new to me.  I read that you aren't supposed to water them for a month or so after repotting.  And if they survive the month, you are all clear.  Maybe that is why it did so well through the winter; it got forgotten quite a bit.  That's my kind of plant!

I have tomatoes and various peppers that I am in the process of transplanting to 4" pots.  I had to order some soil mix before I could finish and went to pick that up today.  I get to play in the dirt again tomorrow. 

It is also past time to get the garden tilled up.  I laid black plastic down last fall to try and kill some of the torpedo grass.  It seems to have done a fairly good job and the clay soil is actually "tillable" with a shovel.  Nonetheless, we are going to rototill it and get it ready for plants soon.  We had to buy a new battery for the tiller today so we can get it done! Always something, ain't it.

I am behind, according to the yards in our area, in mowing as well.  I will get the mower out this week and get it in shape for the summer.  Hubby is charge of the weed eater.

I have onions up and my cabbage is slowly progressing; no rabbits have found it yet.  I am getting excited about getting some things out in the dirt!  I know it is a tricky time and could be a little early, so I am being as patient as I can. 

I did sow some marigolds, petunias (way late) and I also have cantaloupe, zucchini and cucumbers (too early probably).  I can't seem to help myself.  When I have new soil mix, a container of seeds and a nice day, I go a little crazy. 

I guess I really need to get out the Clemson planting schedule and Farmer's Almanac and see what I really should be doing.  Well, for now, I have to get out the old nail brush and do some scrubbing before fixing supper. Or I could just paint my nails brown...

Food Friday

Do you feel like you are in a rut in the kitchen?  The same meals over and over and over...
It's especially true when you are on a tight budget and try to buy bulk to save and stretch.  Now that the coldest days are past and soups and stews are no longer as appealing, it is time to mix up the menu a bit, just a little anyway.  That means that my menu will be dependent on whatever the stores put on sale though.

Aldi had fish on sale so I bought a package.  We had fish tacos and baked tilapia from it.  The California vegetable medley was also on sale for 95 cents.

 I went through the freezer and found our rooster quarters from this summer and some from a huge 10-pound bag and figured I needed get those cooked up too.  Baked chicken quarters, cauliflower bake and green beans.  We barbequed the rest and had potato salad with it.

We will still have our beans and cornbread this week, especially since the hog jowls were reduced.

Even trying one new recipe every once in a while seems to help rejuvenate the chef in me, especially if it is a good one.  Another thing that really re-motivates is finding a little shop with some really awesome, wholesome ingredients, such as the cornmeal and wheat flour.  Time to bake again!  Why do I bake in the summer more than the winter?? 

Tuesday To-Do 3/15/16

Last week's inside chores:  Too many to remember.
Last week's outside chores: Too many to remember.

Okay, I could list them all, but let's just leave the past in the past.  Time to live in the present and work on the future.

This week's inside chores: Follow daily schedule and cleaning routines.
Lots of food prep to catch up on.  Oats, trail mix.  I don't think I need to make any more hot chocolate mix now. 
The weather is now at the point where we can leave the heat and AC off. I will be changing filters and doing some furnace dusting and checking, even though it's on its last leg.

We finally have Kilz on the dining room wall.

This week I hope to buy my paint and get that finished over the weekend.  Getting there, I suppose.

Speaking of paint, I also need to repaint some of the hive supers and get them ready for our bee package as well as a possible hive split this year. I will check out any oops! paint while getting mine.

Time to get the poor houseplants out of doors, at least move to the greenhouse for some fresh air and sunshine.

This week's outside chores:  Let's face it, for the next several months, most of my chores will be outside. 

Transplant tomatoes into 4" pots.  The peppers and parsley need a little more time.  My basil croaked when I decided to go to town one day and forgot to turn on the fan.  It got too hot in the greenhouse.  :(  

Time to dig the garden.  I have cabbage and onions in the ground.  I had potatoes, but something dug most of them up and those have to be replanted.  I will be sowing some more seeds this week.  I will also be direct sowing some lettuce and radishes.
I also need to reinforce my garden fence so that our rabbits don't crawl under and feast on anything.

Continue to buy and spread bags of mulch on the path.

Barn clean up and preparation for Mollie's due date in the next week or two.

Move the stanchion to a better place until after the last kids are born.

Find duck eggs.  Daisy has been preparing for Easter and hiding her eggs since I don't let them in the garden anymore.  Should be 7 or so by now. 

Burn leaves, limbs and debris from the fall and winter.

I would like to restack some of the firewood so that it is "in order" for next fall/winter.  But we will see what the weather does. 

Most importantly, well, not really, but it is time to set up the outside laundry area!  Yay! 

Have a productive week!!