(DF) LOOKS A BIT LIKE WINTER

This morning, I woke up to find snow on the ground. Not much snow, sloppy wet snow, with the temperature barely below freezing letting it melt from underneath. It is enough to make me wish the field was already plowed to take full advantage though. This is the first snow of the year here, and after the warm winter leading up to it, this seems a bit wintery. Looking back though, and comparing it to this time last year, it is not so bad at all ............... almost tropical in fact.

Last year at this time, we had spent the past two weeks with what passes for deep snow and extreme cold here in Oklahoma. Driving conditions were lousy, the cold was bitter and nobody was prepared for it to stay on so long It was much more like the winters I remember from childhood.

With the rest of February and all of March ahead, it is almost certain that this won't be the last white stuff we will see. Nor will the mud it leaves in its wake be the last, but though it is inconvenient, the moisture and cold temperatures are necessary for things on the farm to grow and produce properly. For this reason, even those who don't like winter weather should consider it cause for gratitude. And of course, it could be worse.

With the world we know changing around us; everything from the economy to the climate shifting constantly, it is good to see things resemble what they have always been. However, lets not stop experimenting and preparing for the possibility of change. Learning new and more versatile ways will make any transition easier, but for now, it is good to see the seasonal cycles still working.

(DF) FIREWOOD

With temperatures dropping below freezing at night, firewood should already be cut and seasoned. Unfortunately, not everyone has had time or resources to do so. This lack of resources and opportunity led to a phone call yesterday morning inquiring about firewood.

It has been several years since I cut firewood for a living, but occasionally in an emergency, I still sell a few ricks. This was just such an occasion, so off to the woods I went to get a small load of wood, (about half a rick),for someone who had used up all they had and was concerned about the coming night.

The selling price for such a small amount was not much, but put a little gas in the tank and some left toward funding other projects around the farm. Every little bit helps.

As an added bonus, I managed to bring home a small load of firewood to add to the still insufficient stack here at dave's farm.

(DF) No Longer Just Frost

This morning found frost, not light or patchy this time, but serious frost at my place. By the time the animals were taken care of and the ice broken on the goat water, the remaining plants in the garden were looking a bit limp. The smell of frosted vegetation filled the air with it's pungent aroma and it was pretty obvious that the growing phase of gardening had ended for the season. The only plant unaffected is the pepper which had a bit better protection than the others.

With the forecast calling for warmer temperatures for a few days, I will let it warm up a little before potting the pepper. I have it on good authority that peppers will produce throughout most of the winter in the house and then start over in the spring for a head start on production. What I know absolutely nothing about, is how well full grown pepper plants transplant back into pots. With this in mind, I will try to give it time to adjust to one shock at a time, if the weather allows of course.

Now looking ahead, it is time for all the wonderful winter activities, in and out of the garden. We mustn't forget that spring will be here before we know it.