June 24th 2012 4:56 pm
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Vegetable garden isn't the only thing going on
around here.... We spent 5 hours to mowed the
entire ranch-yard,house-yard and garden ditch...
All in 1 Shot! So, I know Gma is a little stronger
than she was when spring started.
The only reason this was do-able is because: Gpa
finally with a lot of nagging...sprayed around all
the buildings with weed killer. He also moved alot
of junk! Gma told him, she didn't have time to
police the property every week before mowing.
Gma has had this argument with Gpa about drop
and leave it, everywhere mess for almost 40 yrs.
She says, she's helping him reform or die trying!
Cuz, all that extra lifting isn't good for her.
Being able to complete that chore sooner...
Allowed them to go fishing a couple hours
twice this past week. They need some down time
too...Fishing and sitting in the yard is how
they spend that time. Gma is still reading
before bed....just not as long as before.
Gpa started haying. Says, the hay doesn't look
that good. We've had alot of cool nights and
this stunts the grasses. Right away, he had a
flat tire on the rear of haying tractor. The
BIG guy! Then he broke something in the
head of the rear mowing head of the double
mower. He also had some issues with the
belts in the baler.
We made some fresh blueberry cobbler and a
pan of peanut-butter rice crispy bars. Yep,
they ate them up! So today, we made a big pan
of Lots of Chips cookie bars. Filled a 1/2 gal
jar and froze the rest. While spending the
day doing mega-laundry!
We are doing more and more laundry per week.
Both my peeps working outside so much, there
are many more clothes...Tons of HOT TOWELS
for me to lay in. I don't care, if it is 100
outside, I lay on Big hot plush bath towels....
Gma is jogging into the basement a zillion
times a day. No repairman for the fridge yet!
2 Coolers in the entry have beverages and
condiments in them. 2 old fridges downstairs
have all the meats,dairy and vegetable stuff
in them. She is picking up ice for drinks in
town. Freezes 1 liter bottles for the coolers.
We do have to give our flowers a little time.
As well as the other outside jobs. The cottonwood
is flying like snow! Extra step and patio sweeping.
We still have the usual cleaning of the house.
Except now we are lucky to dust 1 to 2 times
per month. We are keeping up with the vacuuming
and mopping of all the floors. Tons of dishes...
The shopping,errands....Bookwork
and pay the old bills...
Gpa now has 4 bottle calves to feed 2 times
per day. Gma washed the 4 ...1/2 gal bottles
and all that stuff for GPA.
I have 3 batches of kittens at my ranch. The
2 oldest batches, I've been making friends with.
They are curious and come up to me. Yesterday for
the 1st. time, I saw some tiny kitties, come out
from under our garbage building.... I ran over
and sniff and sniff! I yap and yap! Gma calls me
back,I try to Blow Her Off! She goes and gets
her cherry stick....She shakes it and says,
get in the yard! If, I don't... she gives a swat
on the butt...Now how can you swat a Princess?
Anyway, she says the Momma Cat is gonna scratch
my nose, if I tick her off...I run over there
ever chance I get ....Wanting to take another
Look and See!
Gma,I'm just Looking! Is it time to fire up
the grill for our ribeye steaks???? Oh boy!
While she's cooking meat....I can sneak over
and take a peek at the tiny kitties...
Catch ya later pals, almost time for Gma to
feed me.... Outside to snoop!
hugs and kisses,mazy
June 24th 2012 4:14 pm
[ Leave A Comment | 4 people already have ]
Replanted the green and yellow beans...
Put them in a big stock tank with the bell
peppers and squash. Discover while weeding
a big colony of ants...believe the Ants did
the first beans in...
We planted more carrots and hope the 2nd batch
come up better than the 1st time around. Also
put in more parnips. They really took a long
time to start coming up. Hope more will still
come out of the 1st. go round.
We will be planting additional lettuces and radish
to have additional crops of them. Gma pulled some
of the icicle radish to thin and they were plenty
big enough to eat. She also pulled a couple ruby
red radishes.
We lost 1 tomato plant to a cut worm....Are busy making
cages for all the tomato plants. We are using old woven
sheep fence for this. We have to take nippers and cut
it down. Each section makes 2 cages. The nipping is
tough on Gma's hands and wrists. We had 8 done and
she quit cuz her wrists were all done in. It was also
sprinkling. We have 15 more to make.
We weeded 12.5 hours this past week.
We also fertilized our vegetables. We used the water
sprinkler on Saturday after weeding.
We had 3 small rains during the night the past week.
So watering wasn't a daily chore. The fertilizing
took a couple hours. We filled our big tubs with
cold well water to warm in the sunshine.
We have carried alot of water to plants.
Keeps the plants from being shocked....
I think, I heard Gma cuss the Weeds?
The 6 hills of potatoes that Gma thought were
not going to grow... They DID! All but 1 hill
out of 40 has made a good sturdy potato plant.
This next week we should be able to pick lettuces.
Everything SHOT up several inches this past week.
The temperatures were warmer. We had more sunshine,
while the moisture came at night.
The potatoes,tomatoes,cabbage,broccoli and cauliflower
really grew.....Tomatoes are blooming....Gma was thrilled!
The parnips,lettuces,carrots,swiss chard were finally
tall enough that Gma could pull the weeds in between
the plants and not pull the baby plants....
Glad that is done...The 6 rows of corn and
40 hills of potatoes are waiting to be weeded again....
Found out my hooman-sis has a narrow tiller.
Gpa is going to borrow it and see if Gma can run it???
Not her knowledge of machines but her
physical strength. Sis said, 8 yr. old grandson
can run it. She has grass clippings in her rows.
Doesn't need to till anymore this season.
If Gma can handle it..we are going to buy one for her.
If, she can't ...we are still going to buy 1 for Gpa
to do it!!!!!!!
Next year:1. we will put all rows far enough apart for a tiller
2. we will spray for weeds a couple weeks before panting 3. we
will put the fence farther away from the end of the rows 4. we
will work soil up sooner 5. we will plant as soon as weather allows
6. we will add rotted manure to soil and peat moss 7. we have a
list of other veggies we would like to add to the garden.
8. going to check on the cost for a small greenhouse unit
9. changing the type of fence we now have AND Number 10
and the MOST IMPORTANT THING!!!
We WILL NOT let Gpa drag his feet on soil
prep and set up for the garden....
When the garden is a little further along, we will take some
pictures and post them for you to see. Gma is sure happy that
almost all her flowers are well established and little maintenance
perennials.
I'm No Longer Impressed with this garden project. I tootle over
there and sit,watching Gma....she digs and pulls and picks and
digs and pulls. Dumps buckets of weeds. Fills the big tubs
with water to warm by the sunshine. I sniff in the field by garden.
Puts stuff on for insects(my opportunity to go to the House!)
She doesn't do that often.... So now,I give her my bored,
tired or Hot LOOK....
She says:"TwinkieDinkie, ya wanna go to the house?"
I charge up the big ditch and sit on the driveway....
yipping, "Hurry Up,will ya!" In OTHER WORDS, I bale on her!
So,that's where we are with the garden...
She's been talking about freezing and canning.
I don't know what that is? If, it is connected
to the garden....losing more PlayTime??????
I just know,I'm NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT going to like this!
I don't think, things will slow
down here until winter arrives?????
Telling It, Like It Is: Here On The Prairie, Mazy
June 18th 2012 4:32 pm
[ Leave A Comment | 1 person already has ]
Overall the vegetable garden LOOKS pretty good!
We did have to replant green and yellow beans.
2 reasons: 1) a hard rain right after seeded
and the rain washed the seeds too deep.
2) something ate the tops off the beans we had
probably a gopher or a squirrel?
We are also planting more Carrots. Due to rain
and coming up spotty. Plus we Eat alot of carrots
in a year....Plan to do this tomorrow. 1st. we
have to work an area up to seed. We also need
to work an area up for the 2nd. crop of radish
and assorted lettuces. We will be seeding that
soon.Tomorrow is mowing yard and garden ALL DAY!
Even with hay bales for windbreak on the West and
snow fence on the other 3 sides of the garden....
The High wind days(30-45mph) has burnt some leaves
on our tomato plants. The Better Boy and Heirloom
tomatoes are now blooming. The Early Girl and Beef
Steak tomatoes (raised from seed, now look healthy)
We had to really baby them....WIND has been very
frustrating. We have ice cream pails around started
plants. Will be making wire cages for the tomatoes
soon. Out of sheep fence we took down. we have 25
tomatoes plants.(only because we grew a few from
seeds and they didn't look to healthy going into
the garden)
Radishes both red and white are taking off and so
are the assorted lettuces. The Swiss chard is now up
but not the parnips. The cauliflower,red cabbage
and broccoli plants are really growing now. We have
6 rows of sweet corn. Both early yellow and bi-color
late. 40 hills of Northland Red potatoes. Corn and
potatoes are really shooting up....
We lost 2 squash and 2 sweet colored bell peppers to
some kind of cut worm. The 3 kinds of squash, cucumbers
and cantaloupe look good. The beans from the 2nd planting
are coming up. Due to insect pests....we are sprinkling
Garden Guard on all the vegetable plants.(The Mild
Winter is suppose to give us a Bigger Insect Problem)
We had rain 3 times last week. Rain is always the very
BEST for vegetables. We have been using water warmed by
the sun too...We did this because, our well water is 40
degrees. Give the plants a chance to get started and
a good root system on them. 40 degree water is a Big
shock to young plants. Then we carry the water in cans
and water each plant. The sprinklers will be used when
garden is farther along.
This also helps Gma with the weed situation. Gpa
procrastinated on working soil up.Due to this,there wasn't
time to spray for weeds 1st.,then plant. You must have
enough time that the weed spray will not kill your plants.
He also didn't use a garden tiller to finished working
the soil after the big plow and disc. Therefore,we have
a Ga-zillion weeds to hoe and pull......We also get a
hard crust on the surface of the garden soil. The soil
has chunks in it...this shouldn't be...THIS YEAR, IT IS
TRULY A PRAIRIE GARDEN OF DAYS GONE BY! ALL MANUAL TOOLS
USED TO WORK AND CARE FOR THIS PROJECT.....
As Gma works the soil, it will slowly improve. The weeds
will also improve, as we go along. Dragging his
feet has made Gma alot more work..... He now understands
why, we will do it Gma's way in the future. Raising
vegetables is not the same as raising small grain crops.
Proper soil prep for your type of soil, your area
is a KEY PART to a successful,productive vegetable garden.
Yep, we spend alot of time out there! Saturday we started
cleaning weed out between the little plants. They must be
up far enough you don't pull your vegetables up. Anyway,
Gma can only handle about 3 hours of weeding. (Otherwise
the physical fallout is too huge!)The weeding Never done!
We set up a schedule.... we do big cleaning and laundry 2
times per week. We do yardwork,mowing,veggie garden,flowers
4-5 times per week. We save,1 day for appts. and local errands.
We have daily morning chores and meals,plus the pet care.
By the time we cover all our Bases for the Week....Time to
start over again.....
NO OUR PLACE DOESN'T AND NEVER WILL LOOK LIKE BETTER HOMES
AND GARDENS.............WISH IT DID, SO GMA SAYS...BUT WON'T
HAPPEN IN HER LIFETIME! DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY HOURS YOU
WORK...
MORE HERE THAN ANY 2 OLDER PEOPLE COULD EVER POSSIBLY DO!
WE JUST AREN'T AS FAST AS WE ONCE WERE.....
THIS SUMMER......GMA HAS DEMANDED THAT WE TAKE A LITTLE
TIME TO JUST ENJOY THE GROWING SEASON. SIT IN YARD, USE THE
GRILL, GO FISHING, ATTEND SOME OF THE KIDS SUMMER ACTIVITIES.
WINTER RETURNS TOO QUICKLY ON THE PRAIRIE.
We do miss Everyone....Gma says, we should have some improved
physical strength by winter. She will have a healthy glow
to her skin....instead of looking like flour sack.... I
think, despite the arthritis and fibromyalgia....Gma is
going to try tubing behind the big boat ... Once upon a time
she was a lifeguard and swimming instructor. The daughter
won't drown her.......cuz,then she'd have to run home to
care for her Dad!
If we are fortune and have all we can eat and put up this
season. We will sell the extra produce to recover some cost
in going back to a full vegetable garden. Time will tell!
Can always have a storm go through and ruin everything.....
Have a Pawsome Week,
Miss You All,
Trying to Look at pics and read diaries
A few .....here and there......
Mazy and Gma K
June 18th 2012 3:33 pm
[ Leave A Comment | 5 people already have ]
Hi there pals...1st. I'd like to say, I hope all Dads,Gpas,
Uncles and Brothers had a Great Day just for the Guys.....
I tried so hard to post on Sunday, before the puter was
shutdown.
I was just reading my entry over and ready to save.... I
bumped a button and Zip it flew into cyberspace! There
wasn't anytime to redo my post. Gpa would have missed his
special time......
Ya'll know how hard my Gpa works....
A cattleman's job is 24/7 and cattle have daily care
needs.Somehow my Gpa HIT THE JACKPOT this Father's Day!
So anyhow, Gpa Never gets a Whole day to do nothing!
He even works when he is SICK! Good thing this hardly
ever happens.
FRIDAY to start the Special Weekend:
They made a trip to Bismarck for their supplies.
They stopped and bought stuff to service the haying
equipment. Gma bought Gpa a bunch of new stuff to
add to his fishing box. Since they both have their
own poles and tackle. They went to his favorite
place,Red Lobster and he had shrimp. Gma's plate
came with dessert...She gave the warm triple chocolate
brownie with vanilla ice cream to Gpa. Rained
during the night Sssssoooo Gpa had a couple extra Z's.
SATURDAY:
They both did their regular work. Gma in the vegetable
garden....Gpa finished up the installation of the new
rain gutters. Gma told Gpa they were quitting early
and going to Horsehead lake to fish for northern pike.
Gma had redone the line and tackle on poles. Packed up
all the stuff they needed. Took some drinks and snacks.
About 5 off they went to fish...It was a little windy.
Gpa let 6 smaller pike go....catch and release. So
they will grown some more. Gma caught the largest fish.
It was 30.5" and weighed 4 lbs. Gpa kept one that was
25" and weighed 2.5 lbs. Very nice fish...Gma lost 2
big ones,when they broke her line,took the steel leader
and lure. She had fought them towards shore, but they
were putting up a big fight! Gpa lost 2 big ones,too!
They both lost tackle to the pike.......Some cousins
stopped at the lake,visited and fished with them.
They had a beef roast with veggies cooking at home.
Home at 7ish.....Gma cleaned fish. Gpa fed the 4 bottle
calves. Did the stock tanks and all the grain chores.
It was almost 10 when we sat down for the roast
beef supper...I had beef too! Very late when we called
it a day. I was the only 1 who didn't need a tubbie...
Gpa and Gma thought the fishing,watching the water birds
was way better than the wedding they were suppose to
attend. Oops! I don't think, I was suppose to say that?
SUNDAY:
The wind had settled down, but it was only 70 ish ....
Gpa and Gma met the grown kids,son-in-law and grand-kids
at another lake called Isabel. Troy (son) was home from
Minnesota. Melissa(daughter) and Jaycen had their boat
in the water. Grand-kids McKenzie and Jaxcen were tubing.
The boat was bought last summer. They Never had time to go
and ride in it....They rode around the lake for a couple
hours. Then they went to the Big D for supper. It's a
summertime restaurant by the lake. They had supper and soft
serve ice cream sundaes. Caught up with what everyone has
been doing....Came home,fed those pesty calves. Played
with me after the chores. Gpa enjoyed the quiet of the
evening with Gma,Precious and me,of course!
They decided on Sunday to go visit another lake that
has Walleye pike in it. No one in the family has had
an opportunity to fish for Walleye. Everyone sure likes
to EAT them. They are meeting the grandson and Mom
to visit Alcaline Lake. Melissa is making the picnic
for supper. Cuz, Gpa and Gma have over 40 miles to get
there. The lakes by our house are less than 10 miles
away.
Gpa thought having both His children,grandchildren,wife
with him:Plus a walk across the prairie with me,eating
out twice,the boat ride,fishing,new stuff to fish with,
A NAP and I washed his face with kisses before we
went to bed..... was ALL HE COULD EVER WANT.......
He had the BEST FATHER'S
DAY EVER!!!!!!!
Told by: LITTLE MISS TATTLETAIL,MAZY
June 11th 2012 5:00 pm
[ Leave A Comment | 5 people already have ]
Thank you pals for all the pmails,pressies and birthday
wishes for Gma. I totally missed knowing, I was a DDP
until several days after the fact. Kinda Funny it was the
same day as Gma's birthday. This was a nice extra birthday
pressie for Gma and I snagged some extra treats out of the
deal. This was a good thing,since I've been cheated Big
Time by this veggie garden.
No one ask me, if I was willing to give up my dogster
time for Gma to dig in the dirt. Plant stuff,water stuff,
and weed the stuff...Make endless trips to the garden
and spend hours and hours out there. Babying those
plants like they were pups or something real important!
I took a peek at my barkboard....only to discover that
a 100 posts from my pals! How will I possibly ever
catch up with everyone????? I mean really, this outside
work load is just crazy!
We go in and out all day long... We are weeding and watering
our flowers. Picking sticks and babying some new flower
spots. Then we mow and mow and mow some more....We turn
around and it is ready to mow again! Off we truck to
do the garden stuff......
We've had such weather extremes. High winds,nights of
possible frost. A couple pounding rains in 2 wks,followed
by a week without sunshine and real cool temperatures of
60's. Then last week, it was HOT and topped out at 90
on Saturday. A couple thunder-boomers rolled through.
We had rain....so Sunday, we couldn't mow again!
It was cool and cloudy,only 65....They went off to the lake
fishing. I stayed home and snuggled,since I don't like big
water. I made sure, I checked out the big northern pike,
they caught. Gma's cousin was staying for supper. He
cleaned the fish for Gma while she cooked supper. We put
6 big bags of fish in our freezer. We are having fresh
fish for supper. Yummy! I like fish of all kinds.....
Today we had winds of 30-45 mph and it was very chilly,
with a 60 for a high. Now it is in the 50's... I was
happy to have hot laundry to lay in. Today was big deep
cleaning day. Of course that ate up a whole day....
This weekend, my human bro is coming back for a friend's
wedding. It is also Father's Day on Sunday. I hope the kids
and grand-kids come here...so I get in on all the FUN too!
We are using our outside grill and patio furniture a lot.
We moved our big metal loveseat swing around to the patio.
So now, we sit in it more... than when it was in front-yard.
We had to call a couple repairmen....Our fridge is doing
funny stuff....not kicking off, when it should. Our central
air has a similar problem. We had to call around to line
up someone to come to the boonies and fix our stuff....
Gma bought herself a birthday cake this year. It was
Chocolate! She said,I wouldn't get my lazy butt out of bed
and make her a cake...so she wasn't having a white cake!
You guessed it....NO birthday cake for me! I did manage
some of my own treats....Gpa has been sneaking me a teaspoon
of ice cream on a regular basis.
The next 2 days we have to mow....After that we have rain in
the forecast. Gma hasn't has a chance to wash the other mud
off the car yet. Gma bought another deep freeze....It's for
her the veggies and her baked stuff. Now we have 3 freezers.
Her Aunt was having a household sale,since she moved to an
apartment.
I better go,as it is time to make supper....I will have more
stories about the garden in my garden Saga.... As soon as
my paws can snag that Gma to help me with the puter.
Everyone have a Pawsome Week! I miss my pals,groups and games...
Did you know it takes until fall to do a garden????????
Gpa moved the cows and calves to the summer pasture. He is
still fixing fence and corral. He is now working on equipment
for making hay. Won't be long and that will start.BTW-Precious
doesn't think much of Gpa and Gma's daily schedule,either!
Not enough lap time for us FURS!!!!!!!We're gonna STRIKE!
Catch ya later,Hugs and Kisses to All, Mazy
May 29th 2012 4:09 pm
[ Leave A Comment | 4 people already have ]
Friday we were out of bed early,raced around the house,
doing a few inside chores and prepping our supper. Late
morning we are outside with dirt,flowerpots and some
annuals for Gma to set into the perennial flower areas.
We planted 9 red geraniums, 2 asparagus ferns,2 large pots
for moss roses. We have 2 pots of flowers the grandchildren
brought Gma for Mother's Day.
Took us until lunch time to do this project. A quick lunch and Gma the
slave driver has us back outside. Now she is weeding in the perennials.
Before I know it,she had a big tub of weeds. 3 hours into the plant work....
I'd had enough! I DEMANDED to go inside.... This Princess was pitching a fit!
I WON THE BATTLE AND WENT IN TO SNUGGLE ON THE LOVESEAT.
It was a cool day and very little sunshine....
Later GMA CAME FOR THE SEED BOX.
Off she went to plant:
PARNIPS,RADISHES,SEVERAL KINDS OF LETTUCE AND NEON SWISS CHARD.
I totally ignored her next project!
Friday during the night, the wind came up: the wind blew,heavy
rain, then hail,thunder and lightening! We woke up to water puddles
everywhere. Over an inch in the gauge,even with wind.
Saturday THROUGH TODAY we had VERY LITTLE SUN and SHOWERS.
We've been hauling the peppers and tomatoes out to harden those.
By evening we haul them back into the cattle room.
5p.m. they issued a FROST ADVISORY....so OUT WE GO!
Hauled all the flowerpots inside.
Also brought the peppers and tomatoes back inside.
The Sun stayed out all of 30 seconds today. Now more showers.
Gma left the started garden plants covered up all weekend.
It's like they have a little individual greenhouse around
each plant.
Gpa put hay bales on the west side of the garden to act as
a wind break. It's been too WET for him to work the peat moss into
stock tanks. Also too soft for him to put the garden fence up.
The yard is overgrown..while we waited for a lawnmower part that
arrived today.
Couple times this weekend,between showers we picked up sticks.
So we have several tubs of debris for Gpa to haul away.
The cucumbers and cantaloupe seeds planted in the house
came up. They are looking good.......
It will be awhile before they go to the garden.
A few seeds Gma will sow directly into the soil.
So we should have early and late crop.
The rain has messed with my peoples outside plans.
The rain will do the garden more good than hose water.
Now the temperatures have fallen off and are 15-20
degrees below normal. Haul it in, haul it out!!!
I thinks Gma is a CRAZY WOMAN!
I was MOST happy over the weekend...Gma caught up on laundry,
some cleaning and did some baking!
I ENJOYED LAYING IN THE HOT LAUNDRY. I SAMPLED THE
POUND CAKE AND BEER BREAD (SHE WASN'T FAST
ENOUGH AND CRUMBS FROM THE BREAD HIT THE FLOOR)...
I swooped in and grabbed those crumbs. I caught
up on my Napping and Pulled guard
duty on Memorial Day.
They went to my human sis's house to celebrate
Jaxcen's birthday. Just the 2 sets of grandparents
Sis had Gpa out together her new elliptical unit.
The kids both have moved to bedrooms in the basement.
So sis has been busy painting and decorating those rooms.
They had supper and dessert...It was almost bedtime when
they arrived home. Yep! It was Showering again!
Precious and I both stayed inside the house while
they were away.
We were not naughty and didn't break anything...
Gpa had to feed his 3 bottle calves in the dark.
Gma hauled her plants inside,yet again!
Human sis doesn't bring her plants in...if they freeze,
she will replant...Gma said, she's not going there!
If we keep up all this lifting...............
Pretty soon Gma should have her Summer Muscles .....
We are hoping the showers Blow off tonight! We have
tons of outside stuff to do. Grandson and his Mom
are coming up Friday night.
Jaxcen wants to go try his new birthday fishing pole
and lures.
Gma's Aunt is having a household sale on Saturday.
Only a 1/2 mile to her house.
Gma is expected to put in an appearance. Today we
did as much deep cleaning as we could fit into the day.
While the veggie and flower gardens are on the Back
Burner.....Gpa took me out to Hunt and Snoop!
I was inside for the better part of 3 days.
I am getting an increase in my Treat Allowance....
Mostly, cuz all this outside stuff is cutting
into my play time! I think, grown ups
call this a BRIBE?
Jaxcen is 8 now and he knows this stuff!
May 27th 2012 2:39 pm
[ Leave A Comment | 6 people already have ]
Day 1 of Planting the Garden...
As the Prairie TattleTail,I must say
Thursday was the LLLOOOOONNNGGGEEEESSSSTTT
day of my little doxie life!
We all trucked over to the patch called the garden.
Starting with stakes and twine to mark off our planting
area. Gpa grabbed a shovel and started digging holes.
Oops,this was after Gma said,let's mark the rows with
stakes. Then Gma crawled along with her box of seed
spuds. Laying the spuds with the eyes up,so they can
see where to grow! The ground was dry so,they put some
water in the holes. They spaced the rows about 3 feet
apart and covered the holes. The small box of spuds
made 5 rows. I HAD TO DIG A COUPLE UP TO SEE IF THE
EYES WERE STILL UP! This didn't make Gma happy and
I was told to sit down! Next came the two kinds of
sweet corn. An early all yellow variety and a late
bi-color corn.
Once we started,Gma was like a possessed devil!
She felt Gpa had drug his feet in prepping the soil.
Gpa is our professional procrastinator of the family.
She is thinking about the growing season and how
long to harvest veggies. Now that the soil is ready,
if not planted quickly....will have to work it all
up again.
We also planted yellow and green beans,then onions.
Don't plant your potatoes by onions they don't like
each other,so she says. I thought after that we would
quit...clean up and fire up the grill for supper.
Gma decided to plant the purchased tomatoes,broccoli,
cauliflower,red cabbage as they were already
hardened for the garden. Now are we done????????
She goes and get ice cream pails to put around
the started plants for protection from elements.
Nope, she plants purple and orange carrots. I've
retreated to sitting under the edge of the pickup
in the shade. Can we go in now? I've had all the
FUN,I can stand for 1 day.
Gma goes to get them a beverage and I race to the
house. I'm done supervising for the day! I settle
into the soft loveseat for a nap. They mark off
another area for lettuces,radishes,parnips and swiss
chard. Before Gpa can leave, she realizes there isn't
any room for the tomatoes and peppers she started
from seed. So, Gpa marks off another area for her.
We also have two 8 foot stock tank filled with dirt.
They have to have peat moss worked into them. One
is for summer and winter squash,cucumbers and cantaloupe.
The other is for red,green,orange,yellow,purple
sweet bell peppers.
It was only in the high 60's so not too Hot for so
many hours in the open with no shade. Ground was
dry so Gma started watering right away. She cleaned
up her tools,this dirty little doxie and then herself.
We fired up the grill for BBQ'd ribeyes,corn on the cob
and salad.
My old people had ouchies all over the place! Here Gpa
thought he'd get the fence up too.FAT CHANCE!!!!!!
Before bed the weather man is on TV and he is saying
possible Frost in NW North Dakota. They thought he
was full of it! Well didn't freeze here, but did drop
to 35...That was too Close! Gma will now cover the
started plants as needed. Good thing, there is alot
of miles between NW and South Central N.D.
I beat the old folks to bed!!!! Gardening is WORK!
I'm asking for an increase in my treat allowance.
This is doggie slave labor....I want a Union!
May 27th 2012 2:27 pm
[ Leave A Comment | 3 people already have ]
GRANDMA'S PLAN....Grandpa run the grain plow through
the future garden. Followed by Call the Man with the
garden tiller tractor to finish the soil prep.
GRANDPA'S PLAN.... Run the old grain plow through
and Plant said garden!
NOT GOING TO FLY.....
Grandma quietly told Grandpa that he had NEVER RAISED
VEGETABLES. It wasn't like seeding oats,barley,wheat,
flax or hay grasses. She wouldn't tell him how to do
that!
The ground had to be REALLY WORKED...NOT HIT AND MISS!
So, Grandpa conceded he has not raised Veggies only
Eaten them..
Grandpa plowed to break the ground. Followed by running
the disc over the ground. Gma was curious with all
the equipment noise. She went out to LOOK! OMG,what
does he think he is doing????????
Gpa thought, they were ready to go...NOT!
If, he could break up the big clods of dirt and then
level the garden area....Maybe, they were ready to
move on to the next step????? (Gpa,you mean there's
more to this,GARDENING BUSINESS?)
Gpa assured Gma, the ground would pass her inspection.
Even if, he had to go buy a garden tiller. His Dad
had always tilled Gma's garden for her.
Now Gpa has another brain storm.... He goes and gets
the garden dirt rake. He works and works to rake up
quack and other nasty stuff....Throws it out of the
garden. Then Gma looks again....BIG dip in the middle.
Can't leave that or all the water will run to the
middle and wash out all the plants... So, he rakes some
more...Throws out big dirt chunks,too! Now it is
LOOKING better....The tiller-man would have been easier!
(Gpa ends up wearing blisters on the hands, that do
manual LABOR everyday!) He also is READY to Admit
GARDENING is a BIG Project!
I helped by digging holes in the area to see how hard
the ground was. I was also looking for worms...
Gpa told Gma, I was practicing for the potato planting.
Sure, why not? I could dig holes for the potatoes...
Finally,Gma says, well will try it...The area for the
potatoes doesn't have to be worked as fine as other
areas. Leaving it, as we will see, how this goes?
The day before, they had to go to Bismarck for Gma
to buy some started plants,a new sprinkler,some
garden dusting powder for insects and some fertilizer.
Gpa had already made a trip for extra hoses,supplies
for the fence,some odds and ends.
GRANDMA SAYS: GRANDPA THOUGHT...
We could just whip the
whole thing up in 1 Day!
Gpa could agree to Help get this up and going
because he rented his cropland a young energetic
farmer with big dreams. Now Gpa will just work on making
hay for the cattle,fixing fence and rebuilding corrals.
Plus a few 100 other jobs that GO with those mentioned.
Of course, in Gma's defense she has a 100 other things
to do,too!
IT'S AGREED, THE GARDEN IS PREPPED AND READY TO PLANT!
Gma and Gpa go to load up everything they think they
need on the pickup and drive it over to the garden area.
READY OR NOT? HERE WE GO! NEXT,PLANTING SOME GARDEN....
May 27th 2012 10:59 am
[ Leave A Comment | 3 people already have ]
The Ponderosa hasn't had a full vegetable garden since
1989..She did raise a garden from 73 to 89.So, she isn't
a novice with vegetable production. The in's and out's
start to finish...Planning,prepping,planting,hoeing,
watering,pickin g,cleaning,freezing,canning and eating.
WowZer! So, why now in 2012 are we having one?????
Gma is NOW 23 yrs. older! WOWZER! Sure isn't because she
has less work these days. She isn't as fast as she once
was,either!
Well, there are alot of reasons to take this huge project
on again. Raising your own tastes better. The sky rocketing
prices of vegetables the last few years is just plain
CRAZY!!!!!! Gma hasn't been overly satisfied with the
choice or quality of available produce. SHE IS A BIG
VEGETABLE CONSUMER. The real decision came with
Grandpa being willing to pitch in!!!!!!
Grandpa was willing to do the soil prep-work. Put up a
fence to keep animals out. Help Grandma mark off the
areas. He would assist in planting...So Great! Grandma
had Gpa for the heavy duty stuff that would do her in.
Grandma took most of the winter thinking about what she
wanted to include in the garden. She wanted to add
several vegetables that she eats often, but hasn't grown
in the past. They are Neon Swiss Chard,Broccoli,Ruby
Red Cabbage,Cauliflower,Parnips and Red Romaine Lettuce.
Now have varieties made for the northern climates.
Tolerant of the extremes here on the northern prairie.
Grandma started making a list of things she needed for
the garden. She started buy stuff in February, I think?
Really? Yep, really! Gma is a planner! Now Grandpa is a
fly by the seat of your pants guy....Oh Boy! I already
see trouble brewing!
Stay Tuned for PREPPING,PLANTING,RAISING AND HARVESTING
THE GARDEN OF 2012.
IT'S SURE TO BE INTERESTING....
Mazy The Prairie TattleTail
May 27th 2012 8:29 am
[ Leave A Comment | 3 people already have ]
FOR ALL THE FALLEN
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SACRIFICES FOR
OUR COUNTRY AND HER PEOPLE.
WE WILL ALWAYS HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED...
YOUR ALWAYS IN OUR PRAYERS,
TRAVEL SAFELY THIS MEMORIAL DAY!
AMAZING GRACE
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