Phaedra's 2023 Adventure

[Phaedra]

I stayed in the greenhouse for several hours today. Although I don't want to keep too many plants inside it in the cold months, there are onion, shallot, ginger, geraniums, asparagus, sage, and many daughter plants I propagated from our indoor plants - and they need some attention.

So, let's get things done.

About 140 onion and 50 shallot seedlings were transplanted into 5cm mini pots. As they won't grow much, 5cm pot should be good enough to accommodate them in the winter months. I might send them to the hoop tunnel next week.

My lovely spider plants! They were so tiny when I removed them from the flower stems, and now, it looks like each of them develops two legs (and want to run away?)!

I am trying to arrange mixed pots of them.

Great to see them doing well, even in the unheated greenhouse.

Wild strawberry - 24 young plants divided from 1 huge clump - all survive and develop decent roots in 5cm pots. I decided to replant them in the deep trays and let them stay under cover.

It's the similar concept like soil blocks, just without gaps. They are not fragile plants and won't grow much during winter. Next spring, I will 'divide' them again to the permanent growing location.

My azalea bonsai trees, they are just in the mood of blossoming, regardless of the bad weather outside, right?

One of our hens - she is either blind or with very very poor eyesight since summer. The roofed and well protected run also gave her a much safer environment. She knows where to find water and food, how to use the ladder to the coop, and the other hens growing up with her behave nice, too. DH and I usually stayed with her for breakfast until she decided to leave the food. It's a bit sad, of course, but life tends to find its way. She learns to be away from unnecessary troubles or being a trouble.

She earns my respect, and I'd love to be her support, too.

All the dried herbs I didn't consume from last year joined the materials I will use for making herb pillows. The new ones harvested this year are waiting for me.

Steamed bun with scallion omelet and sausage, coffee - so nice for a cold day

 

[Phaedra]

Snow brings winter another step closer. With the lights, candle and music on, the indoor space became cozy.

Thankfully, both roofed runs were done, and hens can enjoy dry and pleasant space with good ventilation to stay in the daytime. There are still some minor tasks, but in general, they will have a much happier winter than the previous years, when they had to walk on the wet, icy, snowy ground.

DH has a workshop to participate today, so I made him sandwich and tea.

I made laundry, brought our Christmas decoration box out and started arrangements, kept reading a novel, made a tea towel, made cookie doughs, and prepared food for hens/dogs/cats in two hours.

It's difficult for me to concentrate on a specific thing for more than 30 minutes, therefore, I used to achieve tiny progress for different tasks instead of complete a bigger chunk of one mission.

Our December Snack Basket for all post/delivery guys - snacks are still on the way, but I decorated the basket first.

Hahahaha, I love this bling-bling basket!

Sometimes, I think our house is like an ant hill - different spaces have different functions. In winter months, I enjoy staying in the laundry room for reading, doing chores, and now also sewing. Most spaces were 'equipped' with cozy sitting area, lights, coffee machine, speaker, books, and corresponding 'toys' for me, the busy ant, to play with.

The tea towel I made today, and I plan to make two from this fabric.

Cookie dough - muscovado sugar and cinnamon / cacao and whisky / coffee
When I have some time, I will make the dough and store them in the freezer. It will serve as gifts, products (for the shop), and our sweets for coming Chritmas.

 

[flowerbug]

...Sometimes, I think our house is like an ant hill - different spaces have different functions. In winter months, I enjoy staying in the laundry room for reading, doing chores, and now also sewing. Most spaces were 'equipped' with cozy sitting area, lights, coffee machine, speaker, books, and corresponding 'toys' for me, the busy ant, to play with.

i'm always amazed by what you can get done. the sun is out today and the little bit of snow is making it very bright. i may need sunglasses to look out my patio door.

 

[Phaedra]

More snow arrived, and the weather might remain like this for another few days.

The quail house is also equipped with plastic panels that usually used for simple greenhouse. I left about 3" ventilation on both sides. We plan to build a small hoop tunnel or so this weekend, and will move quail house underneath for double protection.

So far, they are doing ok. I bring room temperature water to hens and them in the morning and late afternoon.

Not much to do outside, my stages are inside. Let's have some shortbread made with high quality black tea powder. They are just adorable.

Prepared today's meal for dogs and cats. Cats prefer their raw meat as usual, but dogs prefer cooked food. A chef can handle both, no problems. I have to admit, the mini rice cooker makes things easier.

I also kept sewing 30~40 minute daily for some small things, like two dogs scarfs and a Christmas tree decoration.

The low temperature will stay for another week, so....why not just ....

 

[Phaedra]

Friday! Today's two veggie/fruit bags from Lidl - I am always amazed by how much good food such bags offer at three Euros. As usual, we paid six Euros and brought back two of them.

I boiled some water and started cleaning them up. Most of the scraps turned into the warm meal for our hens. I also added additional eggs and meat as many of them are still molting.

After a quick clean-up, the ingredients are ready to be used any time.

The lettuces with roots - after removing the outer big leaves, they were transplanted in the greenhouse.

Eat with Neighbor - Season 1, Ep3
Our neighbor caught a cold, and his wife is still in the rehabilitation center. After confirming with him that we will bring the lunch, I started cooking.

Fried Chicken Fillet
Leek and Potatoes
Sweet Peppers and Ham
Orange and Yogurt
Cookies and Tea (He has to add boiled water himself when he wants the tea. )

As DH works at home every Friday, there isn't much work to prepare two more portions. I also like to use what we received from the 3Euro bags. DH's tray looks more like the ones served in the cafeteria, haha.

Outside is still so cold, but the greenhouse is a nice shelter for many potted young plants.

I don't want to go out yet, so just let those garlic cloves move in the seed tray first. The weather should be a bit better after next Wednesday.

 

[flowerbug]

those 3 euro bags would be really welcome bargains here. so much variety.

 

[Phaedra]

those 3 euro bags would be really welcome bargains here. so much variety.

Ya! So it becomes our new routine to go there on Friday morning, really worthwhile.

 

[Phaedra]

The old PVC pipes we used in the past for the chicken runs were now used between two raised beds. It's a generally sturdy enough structure for the winter here.

As it became cold in a short time, I gave up the idea to build a wooden structure, just a hoop tunnel. I will optimize it a bit tomorrow, and then remove the quail house under it. So they will have two layers of protection.

After the quail house leaves this tunnel next spring, it will become the tomato house as it faces the west. And if we again change our mind to build a wooden structure, it's very easy to dissemble, too.

 

[flowerbug]

Ya! So it becomes our new routine to go there on Friday morning, really worthwhile.

are they ever out of them or do you have to get there right when they open?

 

[ducks4you]

Your sewing is Really improving!! GOOD FOR YOU to do projects that you can use!!