Hi Everyone!! I promised Phil that I would get this started - guess I'd better live up to my promise!

We haven't been able to do much in the garden - we got that cold blast here in Illinois these past couple of days. I reckon it put paid to the peach and plum blossoms; haven't had a chance to go out and check on the strawberries yet. We've got sunshine today, and the thermometer is creeping up above freezing, so I hope to get some broccoli plants planted outside today, and some broccoli seed planted inside. I also want to put out some of my squares of lettuce, chard and spinach today. I'll be taking a few seeds to work with me tonight to glue to squares - if I manage to get a break! Work has been pretty busy lately! Hopefully, Hubs and I will get those last beds done today - maybe if I sweet talk him, he'll set them for me tomorrow while I'm sleeping!

I went to a clinical conference in St. Louis yesterday - left home at 5am; got back at 9pm - looong day! We're having Easter Dinner out here at the farm for friends and family (y'all come!), so I'm spending this morning cleaning (shoveling out?) the house - we sure are messy! After I do the garden work, Hubs and I are going to run over to the pizza joint where Jessie (daughter) works for supper; then stop by MIL's for cake and ice cream for SIL's birthday. We got her some gift certificates to my favorite used book store; plus one to the book store at the mall as well. After that, I have to go in to work; I have to work Saturday and Sunday nights, then have three whole days off! And, BOY! Do I have plans for those days! Mostly cleaning house >:o(

Well, I've got clothes to go hang on the line, then I reckon I'll thaw my fingers out in the dishwater! After that, I guess I'll get back to shoveling out the guest room 'til Hubby gets home. You folks all take care, and have a great week! Enjoy thw sunshine if you've got it!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), March 23, 2002

Answers

PS - Ken, I couldn't find the beans I was looking for at Seed Savers; but I did find a whole bunch of other things to want!! Hubs says to tell you "Thanks, Buddy!" Hee-hee!!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), March 23, 2002.

Hello Polly,I live in IL.about 2 hours NE of St LOuis,and yes it has been pretty chilly these last few days!Today isnt so cool,we went out side and messed around some,its still too muddy to garden we can only do clean up.My husband is finishing up my new very large pantrythis weekend (or next)so I will have lots of storage for this years bounty.Since you are from my neck of the woods (sorta) I was wondering if you know of any places to buy organically grown food and natural or less harmful cleaners.I know of one very expensive store in Alton,IL.I would like to find some place cheaper,thanks if you can help,willa in IL.

-- willa in IL. (goodall6@hotmail.com), March 23, 2002.

Hi Willa! I know of a couple of places in my local area, which is near Lake Shelbyville; about 120 miles N and E of St. Louis. We may be neighbors! One of the places is in Champaign/Urbana, called Strawberry Fields; then there is a small Amish health food store in Arthur. Are either of those located near you?

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), March 23, 2002.

Mornin Polly and everyone!!! Had a busy week-end and am finally getting a chance to sit a sip a little coffee before I get going again.

The weather is finally cooperating, so I'm racing against time to try and get some more cleanup in the yard done. I'm paying this year for not being here last year!!! Dave and I took apart my old asparagus bed and made 2 smaller ones out of it. Since we weren't here last summer, the weeds and poke bushes took it over and the asparagus was toast! I got one of the new beds filled with the dirt from the old beds and am hoping to get the other one done today. We're suppose to have rain tonight, so I'm hoping I can get it done. It's taking me forever, because those stupid poke weeds have got roots to China!

Daves' nephew and family stopped by for a visit yesterday, but I couldn't talk them into picking up a shovel. It's no wonder we don't get many visitors! They're all scared I'll put them to work! They live just outside of Chicago and love to come down and get away from it all. Makes me realize how quiet it is up here and hoping I'll never take it for granted.

My brother and family are stopping by on their way to Florida on Wenesday and have another brother that's coming for a visit the Monday after Easter. They'll be staying with my mom, but maybe I can be real sneaky and get them to come up here for a "visit"! I've got extra shovels.....

Well, I better get to work around here before I talk myself out of it. You all have a great week and here's hoping the weather is beautiful for ya.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), March 25, 2002.

I had to laugh at the 'over the fence" because I have had our cows get out every day this week. I fixed the spot where they had gotten out and they just move a little farther down the fence to another section! Thank goodness they don't go anywhere but into our feilds that are planted with oats (a cover crop) and clover! When I get to the pasture --open the gate and call them--they come running!

We had 19* temps on Friday, I covered my small fruit trees that were blooming with old quilts but not sure how much it helped!It's 83* here today and I am heading to the to the farm--"so much to do and so little time" but I love it.

Have to check my bees this week. They are doing so well--no problems at all (yet) LOL,

Hope spring is not far off. I am getting spring fever soooo bad.

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), March 25, 2002.

Hi all! Thanks, Polly, for getting this kicked off this week. Hope you all didn't think I'd jumped ship or anything. Just been really busy and not really getting all that much done (it seems). And today it's just too cold outside to do much of anything but the "have to" chores. I did go to the post office, the feed store (animal), the feed store (human), and delivered 15 doz eggs to a weekly buyer. Other than that, I've been hiding in the house from the 20somthing degree weather with its freezing rain!

I planned to work in the garden all day Saturday because the weather was soooo nice, but other plans were brewing that I forgot about. I went out to take care of the chores, let the chickens out, and started for the garden. My mom caught me on the way and asked if I remembered the auction she wanted to go to? I said, "Nope! Wouldn't have let the chickens out if I'd remembered!" See, I don't have a fence all the way around the garden, and a couple times already the chickens have helped us "rearrange" the planting we did. So I wasn't sure we would come home to much of a garden, but figured we'd just replant if we had to - worse things have happened. So we went to the sale.

The main reason mom wanted to go to the sale was for all the chicken stuff they had to sell (brooders, feeders, nest boxes, waterers, etc.). We didn't do too bad, but the whole time we were there I kept thinking, "Sure wish I could get some things done in the garden - if it's survived the chickens!" We got a 16-hole nest box, several nice feeders on stands, a 60 bushel hog feeder, a real nice metal brooder, a screen door for the front of the chicken house, and a ton of lumber. Had to make two trips with the pick-up and by the time it was all said and done, the sun had gone down. Then, of course, it turned off cold and nasty and rainy and icky. The garden will just have to wait, but the bright side of that is the chickens didn't get in the garden at all while we were gone, so I don't have to start all over :- )! And I'll get the fence finished first thing I do when the weather gets nice again so we won't have that worry!

Got lots planned this week if the weather will cooperate, but will be taking a break Thursday to help my oldest daughter, Jessica, celebrate her 12th birthday. They grow up soooo fast! She thinks she's 18 sometimes, and tries to act like her sister's mom (lil' sis is 4). When it doesn't cause problems (like, with discipline, which Jessica is quick to dish out to Kaitlyn)I can pretty much laugh at it, remembering my childhood as the oldest of the bunch. Other times, though, Jess has a habit of getting herself into trouble. I'm not complaining, though - we've got two of the greatest kids in the world! And birthdays are always fun - I get to be a kid again! Sort of like Halloween and Christmas :-)!

Anyway, not sure of what else to say today, so I guess I will get this posted. Just sitting here sipping a soda and "visiting" a while! Hope you all have a great day! Like someone else said - THINK SPRING!

-- Phil in KS (pigfarmerphil@yahoo.com), March 25, 2002.

Well, I'm thinking spring; but our weather isn't. Getting freezing rain now, may wake up tomorrow with a bit of snow. Hopefully it will all disappear sometime tomorrow. Getting a bit itchy to get in and work in the garden; but things have been so wet here, just haven't been able to get in it.

Finally had my first kidding last weekend. Two of my does gave me twins. Three doelings and a buck in all. This past Saturday had another buck. Also have another one getting mighty close, she is due this weekend; but is trying to go into labor now... figures with it so messy and cold outside now:)> After she kids I will have about 3 weeks before the others are due.

The compressor on our large freezer gave up the ghost yesterday. It wasn't but 7 months old. Luckily it wasn't jammed packed full anymore, and have some wonderful neighbors that had an extra freezer with room for some of our stuff till ours gets back next week.

Should bundle up and check on my girl...hoping I will get to sleep in house tonight:). Lacey

-- Lacey (cddllt@webtv.net), March 26, 2002.

It's cold and damp here in Kansas: I haven't done anything outside in a week. I had already planted cold-hardy seeds and I am hoping they aren't nipped by last nights weather (23 degrees). I'll have to see what comes up.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), March 26, 2002.