Archive for January, 2009

January 31, 2009 – I’m Melting

After a long, cold stretch, it got over freezing today for the first time in a while.  I use the ashes from the corn stove on the driveway and the sun on the black ashes does a good job of melting through the ice and snow.

Although it isn’t all clear yet, parts of the driveway ...Read more.

January 30, 2009 – Repurposed Solar Landscpae Lights

Last fall I bought some of those cheesy solar landscape lights on super end-of-season closeout (you know the ones you see in some yards that never quite stay up straight – if you have some, I’m not talking about yours!)

I just mounted the small solar panel and the lights over the doors, instead of in ...Read more.

January 29, 2009 – Thingamajig Thursday #151

Here’s this week’s thingamajig.
Also check out the last thingamajig answer.

As always, put your guess in a comment below.
Hold mouse over this sentence to pop-up answer.
one year ago…”24 hours”

January 28, 2009 – A Peek Behind the Curtain

I’ve been behind this week because my new PC arrived on Monday.  The old one was 9 years old, had a big upgrade about 3-4 years ago and was giving some signs of failure – so rather than waiting for a failure, I snapped up one of the post-holiday deals.  It’s a pain in the ...Read more.

January 27, 2009 – Frosty Morning

The early morning brought ice fog that cleared off by mid-morning and left behind a delicate, fleeting landscape.

The view of the chicken coop.

And the close up of a spruce branch.
one year ago…”Pearl City Invitational Debate Congress Champion”

January 26, 2009 – Apple Pie

Everyone seems to have one thing they are exceptional at cooking, at our house, it is Linda’s pies.  When we first moved here over a decade ago, Linda entered some pies in a local pie contest and won in the fruit pie and cream pie.  It was hilarious as we could see and hear all ...Read more.

January 25, 2009 – Snowbanks are Back

I was hoping that the odds were low of having two similar winters in a row and that the towering mounds of snow along our road would not reappear this year.

Well, I’m wrong.  This week the plows finally got here and widened to road to mostly the whole width, but some places are about a ...Read more.

January 24, 2009 – Mercury in High Fructose Corn Syrup

From the “Never Eat Anything Your Grandmother Would Not Recognize as Food” department comes a revelation that depending on the manufacturing process used, high fructose corn syrup contains mercury. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is one of the most common ingredients in processed foods. Young children, especially, are urged not to ingest mercury. ...Read more.

January 23, 2009 – Laying Hen Update

The layers we ordered in early December were finally given free reign of the coop this week.

They are growing up nicely and all of them survived the brooding in temperatures down to -25.

Getting in and out of the coop has been a challenge, with the continual drifting, water dripping off the roof and filling waterers.  ...Read more.

January 22, 2009 – Thingamajig Thursday #150

Here’s this week’s thingamajig.
Also check out the last thingamajig answer.

As always, put your guess in a comment below.
Hold mouse over this sentence to pop-up answer.
one year ago…”One Corn Wagon Emptied”

January 21, 2009 – Emma at State Honor Band

Emma was selected to participate in an honor band day at Simpson College yesterday.

The group practiced all day and played a concert in the evening.  The first time the band played together, Emma thought, “Wow, this sounds really good.”  And she was right – take the top players from around the state and throw them ...Read more.

January 20, 2009 – Local Foods Move to Mainstream

For many years, many small farmers have championed the benefits of local food production based on claims of supporting the local economy, freshness, and quality. Recent books by Michael Pollan and others have given the concept a wider audience. Now, I believe the biggest producers have noticed and will soon be marketing their products ...Read more.

January 19, 2009 – Shrubbery Windbreaks

Here’s a view of the 5-6 foot deep wall of snow along the road where we planted highbush cranberries.

The tops of the cranberry bushes are about 6-7 feet tall and on the top of the photo the bushes are almost completely buried!  Very effective as a windbreak/snow collector.
one year ago…”Behave or Grandma Will Take You ...Read more.

January 18, 2009 – Hibernation

Martin’s got the right idea!

Find a warm spot, kick off your shoes and socks and take a nap!
one year ago…”Winter Light”