Thursday, April 6, 2023

Blustery Winds/Awakening Time 2023

 

Coltsfoot, Spring's first flower

We've been through our time of Blustery Winds and Awakening Time. The winds blew in the change of season from winter into spring.


Our last measurable snowfall


On March 11, we received what I believe will be our last measurable snowfall of the winter season.

Our weather is now definitely springlike - warm and rainy.

Flowers are blooming.


Tiny Tete a tete daffodils only 2" tall

 

Faithful old Snowdrops


We've been able to get out for some nice walks, too.


April 1 at Taughannock Falls


We hope to make time to get away at least once a week through the spring, summer and autumn.

Here we have other ways to tell the season is changing:

We're down to nothing but beets in the root cellar.

One freezer is empty. It's been cleaned and is waiting to be refilled in the summer.

The second freezer has a few boxes of greens, cabbage and green beans left. And lots of fruit. It's going to be some mighty strange meals for a while. We're already tired of eating borscht. Tonight for supper we'll have waffles topped with fruit (of course).

Clean each and every jar!


Spring cleaning is another of our seasonal hints of change. I have finished the major work. All that remains is to clean the refrigerator, defrost and clean the second freezer and wash all of the windows. I'm waiting for some really nice weather to do these last chores. It really worked out well for me to divide the house into five units and just do one unit over a Saturday and Sunday. In five weeks I got the whole house done without wearing myself out or neglecting regular chores.


Cabbage, Kale and friends


This morning I took my cool weather plant starts outside to begin hardening off. These generally go into the ground in a couple of weeks. Sometimes it takes that long to get them accustomed to a full day of sunlight.

The warm weather plants are still being pampered inside with heat and lights, but are growing nicely. Today I also sowed my flower seeds inside.


Feeders for ill Hummingbirds that can't hover


Bob has also been busy. He finished this round of perches for the Wildlife Hospital. He made 50 perches in all, and really enjoyed the project. He looks forward to making more next winter, should they need some.

His next project was the music stand for my harp. This was a kit that he purchased, so it made up quickly. Yesterday we put it to work.


The finished harp desk


It looks great and works very well. This clamps onto my harp's pillar.  It brings the music much closer than if I use a floor stand. This is very helpful because now my aging eyes can see all of those little notes. (The multiple ledger lines below the staff are particularly troublesome!)


Now that the stand is finished, he's turning his attention to his mushroom garden.

We moved a shade awning into the garden area and he's been inoculating his logs with shiitake spawn.


Driving the spawn into the log

 


The finished log


He has finished nine of the twenty logs that he plans to do. He will also build a woodchip bed and inoculate that with wine cap mushroom spawn.


Once this is all done, he turns his energy and attention to the construction of our final porch. Yesterday afternoon all of the necessary supplies were delivered. The weather ahead looks great for the work to be done.

Bob will be busy with these things. I'll be busy in the yard and garden. The seasons have definitely shifted!


Joyous spring to all of you! We'll see you again next month. Now, on to Shoots Show and Growing Time!


Kathleen and Bob


Sunrise on March 10th