Is that spring I smell?

I have potatoes and onions in the ground. Loose leaf veggies and cabbage family items in, and let us not forget the peas. Now if we can only stay away from a hard frost in April, I will be happy.

Urth is no longer nursing on Eddie. Milking is twice a day on her now. And all the green grass that is coming in has increased the Dams milk supply.

Sammy comes when called. She seems a little weary, but pushes through that. Good neighbor told me horror stories about her. So I am confused on why he wants me to have her. Talk about a horse neophyte. But he tried to reassure me yesterday that everything would be fine, then proceeded to tell me a story about her throwing him. I haven't tried to ride her yet. We are just getting to know each other right now. I will wait to ride until I have a buddy to call the ambulance when I fall off of her, or am thrown off of her.

Are you getting your spring gardens ready, those in the Midwest? I realize there is still time for you northerners.

The Best of me

My Husband is home!!! Oh, guess I forgot to tell you that little detail. My husband has been away for work these past 4 days. He got home last night. The car parked behind us at the airport watched as we made out, big cheesy grins on those guys' faces.

I had many comments yesterday, a whole lotta amens, but little on what you want to learn. I do have several years worth of info on this blog, so let's do some tags so you can pick what you want.

Canning

Hot water Bath

Tools

garden

Butchering

Recipes (including bread)

So there you go, some basics of my knowledge. Of course you can click on any of the tags to learn more about a subject. At least what I know. I do have specific tags, like apples, onions, mistakes.

I have a migraine, this is the best you get from me today.

My Favorite Cabbage, the Brussel Sprout

Favorite Cabbage? Nope, they are my favorite vegetable, period.

I have received much flack over loving Brussel Sprouts, it hurt my younger years. Yet I did not allow it to get to me, well not too much. I had to hide under the sheets in the dark, to munch on them, less my friends would catch me.

But now, I am out from under those sheets, and shouting to the world, ok those that actually read what I may have to say. There is no shame in brussel sprout love! I should have realized that back in the day. Back when my friends could smell the lunch of brussel sprouts I had just eaten, back when those friends would question me, after the statement of "eeewww. . . you're eating those again?" and "why can't you like normal vegetables?"

And then I discovered fresh picked brussel sprouts, then I knew that this love would never be tamed. Hello, my name is Phelan, and I am a Brussel Sprout addict.

Now is a good time to start sowing those plants. Treat them like you would any late cabbage. They need ample amount of compost, for they are hardy feeders. Plant them out in July. When you do plant them out, snap off a few leaves, so they do not spend energy on them. Set your plants 16-20 inches apart. In October, once again break off the lower stems. Harvest your lower buds first. Before your first killing freeze, transplant the stalks into your house/greenhouse/basement. If your soil is moist, the buds will continue to mature. They are a late season vegetable, and a few fall frosts {but not the hard ones} will improve the plant.