Did you know this is the earliest arrival of Spring since 1896? Me either. File that under things that make you go hmmm…
Well, I think I had a pretty productive week. I had two big items to get going. One was completed, and the other has been started. Yay, me!
I've been reading through the Old Testament. All told, I read chapters 21-32 in the Book of Numbers this past week. Two quick thoughts: those wilderness wanderers whined a lot, and sometimes I find the Old Testament disturbing.
We were able to go on long walks with the dogs a couple days. Once along a creek by our place, and once around the lake just a few miles away. Our youngest, Kody, dove in the lake without a thought all the way up to his chest. Then quickly decided it was too cold and got out just as fast. The older one, Bear, who is more cautious and measured in his decision making, decided not to go in at all. It was beautiful scenery, and we all had a good time. So much so, one of us was all tuckered out afterward.
Think I mentioned this in the Cabbage Rolls Deconstructed post. I'll pop it in here, too, since it is part of the weekly recap. I created a facebook page for Stephlin's Mountain. If you like to follow blogs there, stop by and give the page a like. 'Preciate it!
So! Sowed any seeds lately? I did! Rosa Bianca eggplant, small cherry tomatoes, chocolate bell peppers, Poblano peppers, Fresno chili peppers, Thai basil, and Tom Thumb lettuce. I have more to do, but that's a start! B also got the small greenhouse put together for me, and all the pots are out. Ready and waiting! I was going to sow some rainbow swiss chard seeds, but thought I'd wait until after the possible freeze over the next few days. I also read that cilantro doesn't like to be transplanted. That right?
It took three more days' work, but I finally finished the women's history post I mentioned to you last week. The subject is Myrtle Terry Lawrence, organizer for the Southern Tenant Farmers Union. It's here at the Southern Graves blog, if you're interested.
One of my big goals for next week is to get some water kefir started. Anyone else made it before? Any tips?
Made a loaf of sweet Mountain Dew bread. Not a good step forward in healthy eating, per se, but it's a recipe I'm comfortable with. And I did have to make some adjustments in the actual baking process. This is my first experience with baking bread in a gas oven. Plus, said oven is smaller than a usual one. So even though I made my regular loaf size, I couldn't proof it as long as I would normally, or it would have hit the top of the oven. I double panned it, but the bottom heat was still too much for my liking. And lastly, I needed an egg wash for it to brown…It was still yummy, though!
We might have discovered a wild blueberry bush in the back corner of our lot. Fingers crossed!
Made iced sugar cookie bars and watched In the Heart of the Sea. Good dessert. Good movie.
Last, but not least by any stretch of the imagination…SNAKE! Bear saw it first. I walked by it at least twice before turning around to see Bear on his hind legs sniffing the air. Then he dropped back to all fours and backed up a bit. I followed his gaze to see a nice creepy black (rat?) snake slithering in between the railroad ties bordering our lot. By the time I got the dogs inside and grabbed the camera, it was out of sight. Even if I'm not exactly right in my naming of the type of snake, I'm still fairly confident it was not a poisonous one. But still! This is the one thing I've been fearful of since moving. I stress so much over my dogs, and it's not like I'm ever excited to see a snake. Ugh. Know of any natural snake repellant? (I'm only half kidding.)
Well, you're all caught up! What homestead happenings went on at your place last week?
Shared at Freedom Fridays, Simple Saturdays, Happiness is Homemade, and The Homemaking Party.
From my mountaintop to yours,
