Short Vacation

This last weekend we headed over to Eagle Crest for our annual winter outing with the Turner side.  However we did not end up going sledding because the weather was so warm and there was not much for snow.  This made the drive over the Santiam pass very easy and low stress, so that was nice.  On the way over on Friday we stopped at the Detroit Ranger station and used the facilities while Emma got fed.  The kids and I also walked around the parking lot.

Saturday we headed into Bend to check out the Hobby Lobby that had recently opened.  Craft store on steroids.  They have lots of craft stuff and fun decor, and since they are owned by Christians there is a lot of Christian themed stuff.  I did like this sign:

And Jennie did pick this up:

Then the guys took off to Sportsmans warehouse for more manly stuff and Big R.  Then we headed to the pool after lunch.  Sunday was some Church time led by Mark and the off for a little hike down to the Deschutes.  

Back to the pool in the afternoon, and then early to bed for the kids, they were wiped out.  Monday we packed up and headed home.  We are very thankful for our neighbors willingness to care for our animals while we we're gone.  Evan had a few eggs to clean up when we got home and Lily found a quiet place to read her Smoky the Bear book.

Back to work and the routines.

Electric bill

Nothing interesting in the mail today, just our two electric bills.  Why two you may ask, well because we have one meter that serves our barn and one that serves the house.  And we use to have a third that served our old In-law quarters, but we finally had them pull the meter after paying $10 a month for a year.  What is humorous about the barn bill is that it is obvious when we have chicks based on the electric bill.

Notice the uptick in March and then the huge climb for April and May?  That is what happens when you run 3 heat lamps non-stop.  We probably run them longer than we need to.  Once the birds are feathered out they can withstand some cooler weather, but I just feel better about keeping them toasty warm.  Speaking of chicks it is getting close to that time.  We are thinking we might tone it down some this year and only get 15, instead of the 30 we had last year.  Soon the homestead will be full of babies again, Lord willing.  Baby animals that is.  

Garden 2015

Well it is that time of year again, when I start to stress/think about the garden.  We are actually ahead of schedule this year and just received our seed order from Territorial Seed Company out of Cottage Grove OR.  We like to use them, because a lot of the plants have been tested here in Oregon, so hopefully they will grow well in our area.  We also like using them because they are Non-GMO.  They do seem to be getting more Organic seeds, but I can not justify the added cost in my head.  I know how the vegetables are being grown and that no chemicals are being used, so that is good enough for us.
We usually start our planning off by going through our Seed box and cleaning it out, throwing away seed that is too old, and just inventorying what we have left.  We then make a list of what we are going to grow, or attempt to grow.  The past couple of years I have also purchased some seeds through Azure Standard.  They don't have a huge selection, but we can usually get a few things there and the prices are slightly cheaper.  Then this year we placed a small order from Territorial, and then purchased the remaining items from Als Garden Center.  There are some things that don't need to be Non-GMO, like flowers, and decorative pumpkins.  Finally we will need to pick up some seed potatoes and onion sets somewhere.  In the past we have purchased potatoes from Coastal Farm.
So, here is the list for this year, with some notes.

- Sweet Meat Squash - super yummy, thick rind that stores well, Azure.
- Butternut Squash - always a good grower. Azure.
- Buttercup Squash - we fell in love with this, last year we planted a bush, this year we are going with the vine variety.  Territorial.
- Hubbard Squash - huge squash, great for storage.  Territorial.
- Acorn Squash - got some heritage seeds from Als.
- Cinderella Pumpkin - grew these last year and saved the seeds, great for cooking and freezing.
- Decorative Mini-Pumpkin - just fun, Als.
- Pig Pumpkins - we will try and grow these outside the main garden for pig fodder.  just any old pumpkin will do, they are not picky eaters.
- Black Beauty Zucchini - we are going to attempt to grow record numbers, for us and pigs. Azure.
- Summer Dance Cucumbers - these long English cucs are delicious.  we grow them on a trellis.  Azure.
- Parsnips - will try them again this year.  Azure
- Cabbage - will try again as well, really want some big cabbage for kraut.  Azure.
- Beets - Jennie loves these, not sure why. Azure
- Sugar Snap Peas - these don't make it in the house, they are for snacking on when in the garden. Azure.
- Kentucky Blue Pole Beans - these are the ones we can each year, 100+ quarts, from two 50' rows, they taste wonderful.  Azure.
- Carrots - still perfecting these.  Azure
- Potatoes - yukon gold are good, or even small purple ones, just fun to grow.  Coastal Farm
- Tomatoes - we had so many tomatoes last year they probably re-seeded them selves since they went to waste in the garden, we love Beef Steak, or small Sungold.
- Walla Walla Onions - we are going to try these this year, probably get the onion sets from Coastal Farm.

Here is our seed box with list.

Last weekend we also purchase two small grape plants and liberated three mature plants from Jennie's parents to put in our yard.  We look forward to some yummy table grapes if we can keep the deer away.  We also are going to plant some nut trees this year.  We have an almond, walnut, and two filberts to get in the ground.  And in a moment of weakness I bought a Honeycrisp apple tree, because everyone knows they are the best.

Here are the kids in the grape holes, not fox holes.