Garden thoughts #2 Too much rain and veggies to plant

Another quick post about the garden-

It has been so rainy which translated to lack of planting for a variety of reasons.  So it hasn't rained lately, but it took a while for the ground to dry out enough to get in there.  We had a lot of company over the weekend, so not much took place in the garden.  BUT the MA managed to get in some more spinach, some beets, onions, lettuce, radishes and I think some kale.  We have some peas and spinach in, and I know at least the spinach is sprouting.  And then we have the rhubarb plant that is threatening to take over the world!!

I had someone ask about the wetness of their soil- it is dryer on top but only a few inches down is really wet.  I think the smaller seeded garden plants will do just fine if you put them in now, if you can do so without compacting too much ground.  So anything that can take some cold is great.

We will not be putting in potatoes for a few days because we had a MOAT around the garden a few days ago, and we cannot plant anything that freezes for a week or two- so the tomatoes, all vines, and green beans are on hold for the time being.


If anyone has a different experience I welcome comments!

As far as the flowers- I had a big loss of creeping thyme and sedum.  More than usual and I also discovered my collection of "Coral Bells" took a hit.  I have many in containers and I stored them heeled into the garden as usual and they had a hard time.  The fancier ones are crispy critters of dead.  DANG IT.

I did buy 2 hanging baskets of beautiful hot pink Calabrocha for my porch and they are gorgeous- picked those up at Bernies aka the Seed and Feed in Fifield.

I feel really behind- even though the crazy cold and wet weather kept me from getting out into the gardens.  Oh well, I have all summer.

A more extensive post will come about soon-

Have a great and joyful day!

Bee update and other stuff

blood root

I was planning to do separate bee updates and posts from other things, but you know, it takes a long time to do one and I am too damn tired to do two. So folks, you will have to BEE PATIENT AND FORGIVING!  HAHAHAHA  these bee jokes are just going to go on and on, you know that, right??  :)

Brushing the bees away from the queen cage

carefully replacing one of the honeycomb dealies where the queen cage was

Our bee tools- hive tool, paint brush, multitool and spray bottle of sugar water

Anywho, we went into the hives tonight and took the queens out of their lil cages.  They could have been out already, but the corks that we were supposed to remove and replace with marshmallow fell into the cage, and then got in the way of the queen getting out.  sigh.  Well that was no big deal, and we just pulled the screen off the cage and dropped her in.  For anyone who thinks they can tell a queen bee from the rest- that is highly unlikely.  I mean she looked exactly like the rest of them, except she was holding her butt up in the air, very unqueenly if you ask me.  But hey, what do I know.  Anyway, she disappeared into the crowd.  I am sure they know who she is.  Interestingly, they had already started "pulling comb" on the side of one of the queen cages.  VERY fascinating stuff.  It is a trick to deal with those bees all clinging to the different parts.  We were trying to replace the combs without squishing anyone, which we mostly succeeded with.  Everything is all good to go now, we shouldn't have to do anything except fill the feeder pail once in a while.  They can take it from here.  We will just keep an eye on things and make sure there aren't marauders around.

Removing one of the parts of the hive to make sure the queen got out of the other cage - you can see the watering pan that has rocks in it for the bees to land on to get water

Crazy isn't it

And of course we had the cork issue here too.  

The bees had started to make comb on the queen box!

So today I went for a little photo shoot of some flowers both planted and wild and got a few nice shots. It gives me so much pleasure to have these flowers around and I am assuming that pretty soon the bees will start visiting these different blossoms as well.  They were pretty busy in the hive today, haven't seen anyone out and about quite yet, but I bet that will come soon.

Crocus

Blood root

Anyway, here is a selection of some of my finest daffodils and there are a few mayflowers and blood roots too.

And as we go into spring, and then summer- remember to be a joy giver!  And save some of that joy for yourself.  If you can't bee happy with you, how can you find happiness in the little things in life.  And those little things are everything!

Mother's Day 2014

Ah, Mother's Day again adjusts it meaning in my house.  In a new role besides a daughter-in-law, I also have a new mom in my family.  Another Grandchild has entered the clan and it is amazing and awesome.

I wanted to call my  mom and talk to her about this new baby boy.  She was such a strong supporter for me when I had my kids. She came up for at least 4 or 5 days each time a baby was born.  For the first one, it was nice to have a knowledgeable person in the house with me (no internet, kids!!) and then for the next two it was someone else to be able to hang out with the siblings.  Back then - and this was only about 30 years ago, there wasn't quite the culture of the dad  being involved in every aspect of the process.  And especially up here in the middle of the northwoods.  The MA was also deeply involved in building up his new business, and he worked then, as he does now- a lot.  So I do not hold any fault- the Grammas were the go to supply of babysitters, internet websites and emotional supporters.

But as most of you know, my mom can't really hold up much of a conversation that would involve discussing the past, or deep, emotional sharing that a new grandson and his new mom and dad  would warrant.  There would be so many comparisons that would need to be made,  and extrapolations that should be worked on, as my son was an active child to say the least and he was SO different from his older brother. And of course, as children are, his younger brother was SO different from them.  Anyway, it is better not to bring on the sadness about things that can't be and see her next weekend when I am in that area.  She does better when you see her.

Anyway, here are a few TBT type pix that I needed to post today.  Because new babies in the house make one more than a little sentimental and just because I am the mom and I can!

Hey, do you know how hard it is to find pictures of me with the kids???  I was always running the camera......  sigh

With baby Mike

My three boysies

Oh boy- this was a while ago

Oh he was a pill

Ella crosses her legs at the ankle like this

Very young Jon

Little Greggy

Gotta figure out how to call Grandma!

Card for Grandma

Flowers from the kids

It is lovely and sunny and I want to get a bike ride in later.  I hope you all have a fantastic Mother's Day, whether you are a mother or not!  And it will be a joy!

Buuuuzzzzzzzzz

So guess what- the Mad Oswalds have embarked on a new thing.  And that thing is beekeeping!

Waiting for their new home

About 2 months ago the mad second son (who happens to be the new daddy) put in an order for bees for us.  He bought and built the hives and such and basically we were furnished a whole beekeeping setup! The supplies have been here for a while, but we had to wait until today (May 10) to get the bees.  Crazily enough, we picked them up at a little house in Rhinelander.  I was really expecting a little farm, but it was right in town!  Crazy.  Regardless we picked up our two packages of bees that they say contain like 10,000 honey bees a piece!  REALLY crazy to think we had all them in the truck. But they were safely tucked in their little box with their queen in their cages and off we came home.

One of the queens in her cage

A package of bees

We had stopped at the Mexican Restaurant in Rhinelander (yum) and at the Golden Harvest (oh yeah!!) and then to Hansens Honey Farm and then headed home.  When we got home, the first order of business was to start making the sugar syrup, because the bees need food to get their little hives going.  The poor dears need to eat!  So using a one to one ratio of sugar and water, the batches of sugar water was made.  The MA made feeders out of covered gallon bucket by drilling holes in the sides - it is hard to explain, but the little lip on the side of the bucket catches a little syrup and it theoretically doesn't over flow.  Unless the bucket isn't level, but that's another story.  So even if there is plenty to eat around the property (which there isn't right now) they still need this extra nutrition.

Boiling some water

1:1 ratio of water to sugar

Donning the suits

Ok, next, is the issue of getting the bees from Box A and B to Hive A and B.  Now if you are a bee person, forgive my vocabulary.  I just don't know all the right names of stuff. Be forgiving.  SO in essence you have to shake the bees into the brood boxes that have the honey comb things in them.  Trays?  idk.  anyway, there are about 10 that fit into the brood boxes and the bees have their little bees in them, and the queen hangs out there and they begin filling the area with honey to feed everybody.  When the bottom brood box fills up, you have to pop a new one on top before they decide that there is not enough room and they move.  You don't want that.

The cage is to keep the bears out

Putting the package of bees in- calm them by spraying with sugar syrup.

Removing the cork from the queen cage- I was rolling up the little marshmallow that the workers eat through to get to  her.

We took the bees over to the hive and pulled out the feeder can (that was there to keep them fed during their trip from Cali to Wisconsin)  and then take out the little queen cage.  You pop the little cork out and quickly plug up the hole with a tiny marshmallow.  The workers will chew through the marshmallow and release the queen in a day or two.  Enough time for the worker bees to accept her and let her start to get going on her queenly duties.  Which is to lay eggs for more worker bees.

Reassembling the hives

Let the shaking begin

Shaking in the second package of bees to the other hive

So some of the trays of honey comb stuff are taken out so you can get  as many bees as you can
 into the bottom box.  By shaking the little suckers out.  Once a bunch of them are in the box, the MA decided the rest could find their way there, so he laid the package they came in front of the hive.  We then reassembled the hive and put the feeder bucket inside so they can eat.  Then we repeated the process with the second hive.

Sugar syrup bucket- which we have to relevel a few times

By the end of the night, the vast majority of the bees were out of the package and in the hive.  We checked on them a few times and dealt with a leaky bucket (because it wasn't in there level) but the hives were softly humming at sunset.

Bees leaving the package and entering the hive

It was interesting to see a line of bees by the entrance to the hive fanning to cool the place off.  And to see the bees crawling in and out of the restricter we put at the entrance.  This is to keep robber bees out, but we don't have honey in the new hive, so I am not sure why that thing went in.  but oh well.  I didn't do a lot of research on this, I just learned alot by listening and a little quick reading.  I am the official recorder of the hive- but Bob the Barber was there when we hived them- so he took some pictures.  Don't you love the stylish white getups??  The bees were very docile.  It was not worrisome at all to be with them.

It was a fascinating process!

These guys were all lined up fanning outside the entrance 

Who knew there was so much to it all!  So it will be interesting to see what goes on today.  If the queens are out then the queen cage comes out and you leave them alone for a few days- just make sure they are fed.  I am sure I am leaving stuff out, but in essence this was the day!


A new way to find some joy- and some day maybe a little honey!

**A little footnote- we do plan to over winter the bees.

INTRODUCING!!!!!

 A NEW little baby boy Oswald- 

Gregory Fredrick
born 5/7/2014
7:58 am
8lb 4 oz  (not nearly as big as his daddy was!)
21 inches long (but the same length)


All is well, mom is doing well, Dad is holding his own and I hope to have pix to share later.


Another new life, another adventure in the diary of the Mad-Grandma!!  What a joy

Garden thoughts from Northern WI #1

I remember thinking at the beginning of April that I need to post way more!!  But wow that went fast and hardly any posts.  Hmm  Well, here is a step to change that!

A friend of mine- let's call her Tanya- in reference to my first EVER blogpost- asked me if I would post some gardening information!  I guess that was a surprise.  I don't feel qualified for some reason to post garden info. Tho I have been gardening since I was a little girl (then it was under duress and protest) and have been gardening ever since I moved up here- which was over 30 years ago.  So take this for what it is worth and please feel free to discuss amongst yourselves and leave comments.  And if blogger won't take the comments, leave them on  Facebook.  If that works for you.

So it is "early" gardening season here, we all know that it will freeze until June, so hold your horses!

Things to get in the ground NOW- and by now I mean when your ground is somewhat drained of standing water and it has been a little sunny to warm up the ground a bit.

*spinach
*peas
*hardy greens (kale, etc.)
*onion sets

Some people say potatoes, but I think it is a good idea to let the ground warm up a bit
Some people might say things like carrots and beets, and the cruciferous veggies,  but see above comment.

In our experience, and I am including the MA in this grouping, putting things in too early is just an exercise in futility.  Either the birds get them, or they sort of languish all cold in the ground, or something.

So for now, wait on most of the rest.

Until then, put in some compost, or dig in some leaves or sit and enjoy the "sun".

NOTE-
garlic can be grown so easily up here and should actually be planted in late fall.  About the time  that you plant daffodils and tulips.  And those cute little things will be coming up now!  :)

Also, the MA sprinkles spinach seed in the late fall (or has let some old plants grow up and reseed) and then we have spinach right NOW!  It is a pretty cool thing.

Don't even consider anything like beans, tomatoes or vines.  Just don't.  Or plan to cry and replant.

It is so exciting to be talking about gardening after this BRUTAL winter- the MA snuck out and planted spinach and peas last night while I was at the gym, so the process has begun.  And that will be a joyful thing!

Oh good grief

When life gives you snow storms, make sarcastic snowladies!  I love her snow crown!

And this was a pretty obnoxious turn of events:

A freaking foot of April Snow. Sigh.  I was unable to really take any artsy pictures with my big camera.  I just can't.

And so this is what I did:

I made Lola  hold a little offering to the snow and spring gods.  And then I made my ode to spring snowgirl.... complete with flowers, kale ponytails and flip flops.  I just have to find some joy in this mess....

Don't cha love the flip flops??

And the kale ponytails??

Deft use of pansies for added joy- a flower child!

The snow was not as packy as you would imagine- it sticks but I couldn't roll it into snow balls.  I bet as the day warms up it will though.
Regardless, I did the best I could and was somewhat creative with the accessories.  I just LOVE the little thing that I put on Lola's dish.  She's so CUTE!!

This is the cutest lil thing- dried flower skirt, pansy buttons, irritated expression

Tomorrow we are leaving to go to Janesville.  I am hoping the MA comes with me, as he is not feeling well right now.  Even though I have been accused, we all know he got this from some germ laden client.  Bummer.  I don't mean to sound unkind, but he was due.  I bet it has been at least 5 years, minimum, since he has gotten sick.  Really.  He makes ill..... oh wait.  LOL  Never mind, that is quite amazing really and I am always hacking and wheezing from something shared with me from a little darling at school.  I was really surprised that he was not up to his usual obnoxious self this morning.  Tax season got him this year.  And seeing his first free weekend is graced with a foot of snow covering the yard and garden, well going to Janesville to party with Ella and see the kids again is just perfect.

The good news is (besides the fact that we didn't have to use a snowday that we don't have) that the snow already seems to be compacting and melting. The temps are supposed to be in the 40's and that is good for us.  The rest of the weekend is bringing even warmer conditions, so by the time we get back, we should be back to where we were.... just some snow piles left.

Anyway, I wanted to try to find some positive in this pretty depressing day.  We all know that lying under the snow are those signs of spring that are waiting to see the light of day again.  Just have to wait for a while.  In the meantime, be a joy giver no matter what the weather is throwing at you today.