Honey do...

 Another busy weekend.  Worked on my log planter idea. Completed a project for my husband.  Gardened and got ready to garden. Racked and bottled some wine. Took the dog for numerous runs, none of which tired him out. I, on the other hand, am exhausted.

The log planter is shaping up.  I did a lot of sanding.  I'm still working on rounding out the inside so a pot will fit in the middle.  Funny thing is a few years ago while taking my noon walk at work, I found the best chisel/crowbar in the ditch.  It was like new and works like a charm to remove bark and shape the inside.  Finders keepers and the loser I'm sure is weeping. 

The project for my husband was to braid a turkey beard hanger.  It is no secret we enjoy having company during spring turkey hunting.  This is a place for people to keep their memories.  The internet is a great place to find ideas.  He showed me one and asked if I could make something like it.  It took me a few tries, but I figured out a way to make it work.  Creating new things is always a fun challenge.  It is also nice to cross things off of HIS honey do list:)

I was a little frustrated two weeks ago when the crocuses came up.  I was certain I had planted a bunch, but not many were showing.  I was afraid I had imagined planting them.  Lo and behold a bunch more came up this week.  Thank goodness.  I was afraid the bulbs were in the same place as the missing mosquito repellent and seed starter lids.  

This weekend we had to go to the farmer supply store.  What did I see, but this metal planter I've been eyeing on the internet for a few years.  I just couldn't bring myself to pay $200 for a planter.  Well, I'll be danged if this one wasn't on sale for $89.  I was so excited.  Of course, my sweet husband quickly got the last one.  Crossing things off of his honey do list pays off.  

The planter was a bit deeper than I would need.  That was easily fixed utilizing the hügelkultur method.  This is a form of composting that utilizes woody waste to retain soil moisture and fertilizer. Logs are placed in the bottom of the planter or plant bed.  The layer with rough compost. In my case I had some alfalfa, but you can use leaves.  Then you top everything with a layer of fine compost. The nitrogen rich additives will heat up sooner and as they break down will improve soil fertility.  This is my new herb garden.  I will fill it with my basil, rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme, lemon balm and chives.  I can't plant it yet, as I'm sure we have cold days ahead.

I bottled the pear wine.  Why it is purple?  I have no idea.  The pears were completely green.  It is a very smooth wine.  Normally my pear wine is extremely high alcohol content.  Again, no idea why.  I don't think this batch is as potent.  As you may have observed from this paragraph, I'm not the most scientific of winemakers.  It sure looks pretty.

Dollor was unstoppable this weekend.  I don't know how many walks I took him on.  He finally laid down when he reached my husband's plowed ground.  He found the cool earth refreshing.  I took him home and had to tie him up while I was outside.  He wouldn't stop chasing the chipmunks.  I thought I had forced him to relax.  Then I looked over and he had dug a hole in the lawn and was proud as can be relaxed and laying on the cool earth.  Needless to say, I wasn't as happy as he was.  

  That was a short weekend.  I still had things I wanted to do, but they will wait for another day.  

What did you do this weekend?  What is your favorite planter?  I hope your spring days were as nice as ours.  

Project weekend...

 It was a busy weekend. We tried some new recipes, built some birdfeeders, gave Dollor a bath, and did some cleaning.  My seedlings are making good progress.  A friend at work told me to save my tomato seeds on a napkin. Then just tearing of a piece of the napkin and planting it.  As you can see below it worked a little too well.  I have a plethora of tomato seedlings.  

The basil is up, as is my pumpkins, squash, and melons.  All that is left is my rosemary and pokey peppers.  You may think it is early, but they will do fine in the greenhouse.  

In honor of spring and the Easter holiday, I tried making a lemon cream pie and it was fabulous.  

Lemon Cream Pie

For the Crust:

• 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

For the Lemon Filling:

• 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step No.1: Make the Crust

• In a bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until combined. Press the mixture into a 9-inch pie pan, covering the bottom and sides evenly. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.

Step No.2: Prepare the Lemon Filling

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract, mixing until creamy and well combined.

Step No.3: Assemble the Pie

• Pour the lemon filling into the prepared crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Step No.4: Chill the Pie

• Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight) until set.

Step No.5: Garnish and Serve

• Top with whipped cream and lemon slices before serving. Slice and enjoy!
• NO BAKE LEMON PIE RECIPE - Forfoodiefriends 

I have wanted to make a peanut butter feeder forever.  This weekend was the perfect time to get it done. It snowed on Saturday and it was cold and breezy.  I couldn't find any plans on the internet, but it couldn't be that hard.  Well, maybe it couldn't be.  Measure twice cut once is not my motto.  My husband came to my rescue after I cut the wrong end and had to start all over again.     

The boards are:

3 x 4 1/2

4 x 4 1/2

6 x 6 1/2

7 x 6 1/2

8 wood screws and a little dowl 

As you can see there is a little jar of chunky peanut butter fit in there perfectly.  I painted the roof forest green.  I can't wait to put it up.  I've been wanting to make them forever.  That might be how long it would have taken me to make it if my husband hadn't stepped in and helped me.  

Poof and then just like that the weekend was over.  It was fun, but way too short.

Did you try any new recipes this weekend?  Was it a busy holiday weekend?  I hope you were able to enjoy your time with family.

Here comes the crocus...

 The weather has been nice here.  There has been a lot of elk in the mornings on the way to work.  Someone left out their round bales, and the herd made short work of them.  

The crocuses are blooming and I took a lot of pictures.  If the turkeys don't get them the snow, we are predicted to get Tuesday probably will.  The dang turkeys snip them off.  They don't eat them, but they seem to think they need to be beheaded. 

We got some bentonite and put it in the bottom of my frog pond.  All of the construction around here has ruined the tree frog habitat.  I'm hoping this will give them at least one mudhole for their tadpoles.  

With the good weather we got a lot of projects competed.  One I have been pondering all winter was cutting up a downed aspen.  It was hollow and I want to make them into planters.  I will take off the bark (otherwise the ants will eat them), sand, and stain them.  The work on it so a flowerpot will fit in the hollowed part. 

My cousin took some photos of the sunset from her home.  I am a few miles away, but it was the same sunset, and I also took some pictures. The photo below was the sunrise this morning.  It sure has been nice the last couple of weekends, and we have taken full advantage.  It sounds like there is rain and snow in the future. 

What has the weather been like there?  Are your crocuses up yet?  Any garden projects you have been dreaming about completing?

In the blink of an eye...

 Last weekend I was snowshoeing.  This weekend started with Saturday in the 70's!  The foot of snow we had last Sunday melted, under a warm southernly wind.   It was great getting in the garden and cleaning up the flower beds.  Dollor even took a few minutes to sit with me.  Not for long though, then he was chasing chipmunks.  Dollor was not happy when I picked up all of the sticks, twigs, pinecones, and bark that he has left in the yard.  He couldn't understand why I didn't think they were necessary. 

After cleaning out the beds, I planted my seed trays and the greenhouse.  I have searched high and low and I cannot find the tops to my seed trays.  This is very upsetting.  Especially since I still haven't been able to find the mosquito repellent I bought in August.

Carrots, lettuce, peas and spinach are now incubating in the greenhouse. I ran the sprinkler for quite a while before planting anything.  It made for a nice humid and warm.  

Of course, things can change in the blink of an eye.  Last night the fog rolled in and it rained.  Then it snowed.  

And after a glimpse of spring, winter set in again.  It did end up melting before the end of the day, but it wasn't the same.  The air had a chill that it didn't have yesterday.

Last weekend to ward of the chill, I tried warm vanilla custard:

Ingredients

    2 c. milk

    ¼ c. sugar (or more or less to taste)

    2 eggs

    pinch of salt

    ⅛ tsp. vanilla

    ground nutmeg

Instructions

In a small pan, heat the milk and sugar just until it starts to simmer and come to a boil. (see Notes below).  In the meantime, blend the eggs, salt and vanilla. Once the milk mixture starts to bubble, remove it from the heat and add a small amount of the milk to the egg mixture. Blend immediately.  Add the rest of the milk to the egg mixture and blend well. Pour the warm custard into two mugs and sprinkle with nutmeg. Enjoy!  Warm Vanilla Custard Drink - Thrifty Frugal Mom.  I really enjoyed it. 

What was your weekend like?  Have you been able to garden yet or are you still snowshoeing?  

Celebration time...

 My brother got married this weekend.  I am so happy for both of them.  It was a wonderful ceremony, and everything was decorated beautifully. It was good for the family to spend time together. Especially in celebration.  Part of the ceremony was braiding a rope and then 'tying the knot.'

It was a blizzard on the way back for us heading to Deadwood and for them heading to Minnesota. 

Bear Butte was a delightful site when we finally got to the hills. 

The bighorn sheep greeted us when we got to Deadwood.  

There is a lot of country to see when you cross South Dakota.  Still my favorite view is from the family cattle pasture overlooking the river.  Growing up I rode a lot of horses through those draws. 

I am so thankful that we were able to celebrate with my brother and his wife.  Any time you can spend with family is precious.  Taking a few days with my parents was also also a highlight. It was a weekend where memories were made.  Some were precious and others were hilarious.  

What was the last family event you attended?  

Ready for Spring...

Today I prepared for spring.  I took all of my tools and scrubbed them with steel wool and then gave them a coat of mineral oil.  I took apart all of my pruners and sharpened the blades.  All wooden handles were coated with linseed oil, as well as my tool caddy.

Can you believe the rust on my clippers?  The poor tool caddy was bone dry. 

There they are.  All shined, sharpened, and ready to go. Spring, I am ready.  

A few more sunsets and I am sure it will be here.  We have some snow predicted in the future, but for now it is warm and we actually don't have much snow on the ground.

Are you ready for spring?  When was the last time you gave your tools a good once over?  What do you do to prepare for gardening season?