The spring peepers were finally in full-throated cry yesterday. I started hearing them faintly on Monday, but it was still getting too cold at night for them. This is the latest I can ever remember them finally being out and singing for real. What a contrast to last spring, when everything was running about 10 days early! This year, everything is late. A few crocuses have just appeared in my back yard in the last couple of days, and a cluster of daffodil sprouts are up, but signs of life in my yard are still scant. The grass is yellow and matted flat, and there’s still just a bit of snow in the north shadow of the house.
Waxing Moon in Cancer, I’m starting seeds today! I went down into the crawl space, which is so nice and tidy after all my hard work in the fall clearing it out, and got out seed trays and bags of seed starting mix. I don’t even need to buy anything, except the seeds–tomatoes, bell peppers and basil. I have a few egg cartons that will serve perfectly to make up for the few extra “six-pack” tray fillers I need. I’ve just been annoyed that none of the seed displays I’ve checked so far have had Brussels sprouts seeds. Broccoli, yes, but not Brussies. Of course, last year’s Brussies did nothing but hide under the marigolds, which throve, but didn’t stop some pest from chewing on the Brussels sprouts plants. I’m still hoping that I might get better results by starting them early–and not neglecting the garden for six weeks like I did last year. 🙁
As far as I know, the outside watering ban has not been rescinded. I’m planning to collect gray water, and check with Town Hall to see if I can get a waiver for fruit and vegetables. I’ve never watered the lawn, ever! I don’t even wash my car! I use outside water for food plants and that is all!
It’s funny how fast memory fades. Just two months ago, the snow banks on either side of my driveway were higher than my head, by a couple of feet. I’d never seen the snow so high outside the kitchen windows, in 21 years. The level snow pack was so deep, it was higher than the old trash can in back, and I didn’t see any deer tracks in my yards–they couldn’t get through the snow. Now it’s all gone, and I’m thinking about raking the yards and tilling the garden. I’d like to plant peas, but it’s already a bit late for them, and nothing is ready (I do have a couple of containers I could try putting them in).
The persistance of the cold weather does not bode well for this year’s growing season. Last year, we had the Endless Summer. I was still doing yard work outside into the first week of December! Now we’re having the Endless Winter. It just doesn’t want to give up. I’m dreading the onset of air conditioners even more than usual. (Gods, do I loathe air conditioning! I freeze all winter and the second it gets warm, everyone turns on the refrigeration! Sometimes I wonder if the Zombie Apocalypse really has happened, and people need to keep themselves well chilled or parts will start dropping off.)
The cats and I are all on diets. Vincent–he’s a huge fluffy faux-Maine-Coon-Cat–had gotten so obese, it wasn’t funny. I’d switched to all dry food, and free feeding, rather than giving them three meals a day and shutting up Vincent so he wouldn’t wolf down his food and then run to shove one of the daintier eaters away from his/her dish and hoover down that. For a while, that seemed to be working okay, because they didn’t inhale the dry food like they do the canned type. Magda and Giles just don’t overeat. Giles, being a boy, is built more sturdily than his sylph of a sister, but neither of them has a spare ounce anywhere. But Cerridwen was growing a round little tummy, and when she sat, she’d changed from a nice steampunk silhouette to more of a Southern belle hooped out as wide as she can go. And Vincent…OMG. It was just sad, how fat he got. It kind of crept up on me. I think he was eating a lot more when it got colder.
So now Vincent gets fed by himself, and all the dishes are picked up before I let him out–and he’s getting Iams weight management food, on top of that. We’re into the second bag of Iams, and he’s slimmed down noticeably, but he has a ways to go. I’ve been tightening my own belt at the same time, and I’ve lost about five pounds since February 22. I’m sliding down steadily, but I’d be doing better if I had someone to lock me up for meals–and stop me from buying cake slices at the grocery store bakery when I’m having a frustrating day. 🙁 But I’ve definitely stopped and reversed the creep upwards from last year. And of course, I’m working out harder than ever.
The Eastern bluebirds are hanging around. I’m amazed! I think I’m finally going to do my blue hair color again, and try out this new brand, Special Effects. The astrological transits are favorable for it. 🙂 The last time I went for a haircut, the salon was under new management and my stylist had quit! One of the new stylists gave me the best haircut I’d had in ages. I warned her that I’ll be going back to the blue hair. She didn’t seem fazed by it!
Waxing Moon in Cancer, I’m starting seeds today! I went down into the crawl space, which is so nice and tidy after all my hard work in the fall clearing it out, and got trays and bags of seed starting mix. I don’t even need to buy anything, except the seeds–tomatoes, bell peppers and basil. I have a few egg cartons that will serve perfectly to make up for the few extra “six-pack” tray fillers I need. I’ve just been annoyed that none of the seed displays I’ve checked so far have Brussels sprouts seeds. Broccoli, yes, but not Brussies. Of course, last year’s Brussies did nothing but hide under the marigolds, which throve, but didn’t stop some pest from chewing on the Brussels sprouts plants. I’m still hoping that I might get better results by starting them early–and not neglecting the garden for six weeks like I did last year. 🙁
As far as I know, the outside watering ban has not been rescinded. I’m planning to collect gray water, and check with Town Hall to see if I can get a waiver for fruit and vegetables. I’ve never watered the lawn, ever! I don’t even wash my car! I use outside water for food plants and that is all!
It’s funny how fast memory fades. Just two months ago, the snow banks on either side of my driveway were higher than my head, by a couple of feet. I’d never seen the snow so high outside the kitchen windows, in 21 years. The level snow pack was so deep, it was higher than the old trash can in back, and I didn’t see any deer tracks in my yards, they couldn’t get through the snow. Now it’s all gone, and I’m thinking about raking the yards and tilling the garden. I’d like to plant peas, but it’s already a bit late for them, and nothing is ready (I do have a couple of containers I could try putting them in).
The persistance of the cold weather does not bode well for this year’s growing season. Last year, we had the Endless Summer. I was still doing yard work outside into the first week of December! Now we’re having the Endless Winter. It just doesn’t want to give up. I’m dreading the onset of air conditioners even more than usual. (Gods, do I loathe air conditioning! I freeze all winter and the second it gets warm, everyone turns on the refrigeration! Sometimes I wonder if the Zombie Apocalypse really has happened, and people need to keep themselves well chilled or parts will start dropping off.)
The cats and I are all on diets. Vincent–he’s a huge fluffy faux-Maine-Coon-Cat–had gotten so obese, it wasn’t funny. I’d switched to all dry food, and free feeding, rather than giving them three meals a day and shutting up Vincent so he wouldn’t wolf down his food and then run to shove one of the daintier eaters away from his/her dish and hoover down that. For a while, that seemed to be working okay, because they didn’t inhale the dry food like they do the canned type. Magda and Giles just don’t overeat. Giles, being a boy, is built more sturdily than his sylph of a sister, but neither of them has a spare ounce anywhere. But Cerridwen was growing a round little tummy, and when she sat, she’d changed from a nice steampunk silhouette to more of a Southern belle hooped out as wide as she can go. And Vincent…OMG. It was just sad, how fat he got. It kind of crept up on me. I think he was eating a lot more when it got colder.
So now Vincent gets fed by himself, and all the dishes are picked up before I let him out–and he’s getting Iams weight management food, on top of that. We’re into the second bag of Iams, and he’s slimmed down noticeably, but he has a ways to go. I’ve been tightening my own belt at the same time, and I’ve lost about five pounds since February. I’m sliding down steadily, but I’d be doing better if I had someone to lock me up for meals–and stop me from buying cake slices at the grocery store bakery when I’m having a frustrating day. 🙁 But I’ve definitely stopped and reversed the creep upwards from last year. And of course, I’m working out harder than ever.