Harvest Monday - January 30, 2012

Well it looks like my onion sprouts are doing well.  The celery plant is a little larger but since this is the first time I've grown celery I have no idea what it's supposed to be doing right now.  A nice garden blogger said she starts her celery from seed in January and gets a plentiful harvest the same year.  Next year I'll have to try that.

Remember all that rain? Well, the mountains got plenty of snow.  In just a few days the base at the ski resort doubled.  It's only 54" but that is way better than 21".  To be honest I haven't been skiing since before I had children.  I used to ski weekly during college.  And this time I skied on the same skis my parents gave me when I was 15.  I know you're jealous of my vintage skis, aren't you?  They're even florescent orange underneath.  They scream 1990! The helmet is new.  I need to get a good photo of it.

At least I remembered how to ski.  I was so nervous the first run. It brought back so many wonderful memories.  I am so grateful to have the strength to be back skiing.  

He wasn't nervous at all.  Just excited to be back in the snow.  Usually we go tubing with our children this time of the year but there just isn't enough snow in the valley ... yet. Tyler is a fantastic skier.  

Notice the snow on my black scarf. That wasn't from crashing. That was from a certain someone who sprayed me.  

And our daughter took snowboarding lessons.  She's never been on the mountain before. She had a great time and did wonderfully. I'm super pleased with her ability to snowboard in just a few short hours.

I'm going to try something else to keep my neck warm next time.

Lunch break

In line to get on the lift.

I've gotta have something to do when I'm not GARDENING. 

Can I mention one thing here?  

PLEASE Don't tell someone who has gone through 9 months of chemo and radiation that if they're going to have cancer, Hodgkins Lymphoma is the kind to have. 

Just say, "I'm glad you are doing better" or "you look wonderful for all you've been through" or "Is there anything I can do to help you?".  

HL kills people all the time.  Even stage 1 HL requires 4 months of chemo and 11 radiation treatments. a 3 inch wide tumor that reaches from below your lungs all the way into the middle of your neck isn't the kind to have. But it happened. And I am so grateful for each and every extra day. And there are a lot of cancers that only require surgery and follow up visits.  I know there are a lot more aggressive cancers out there.  I see it everyday with the Cache Valley for Hope cancer foundation.

Cancer is Cancer

Don't minimize the emotional and physical strain it puts on a person's life with a few careless words. Just help them feel loved and appreciated. What are some kind things you would say to a person who needs some encouragement?

OK, off my soap box now!

Harvest Monday - January 16, 2012 - making preparations

It snowed last night. 

This is how one of my square foot gardens looks right now.

On the 6th of January I planted onion seeds.  Last year I planted them on February 1st indoors and they were not big enough for transplanting in the spring.  This time I sprinkled fewer seeds over the soil so they would have more room to grow. 

The other problem is that I do not have my grow light station set up.  They are in the window sill on the south side of the house.  Less light and I'm at the mercy of the weather.  I bought a full spectrum work light but haven't set it up.

And then I thinned them today. 

Not all of the seeds have sprouted so I'm sure I'll have to do it again. 

These are Big Daddy Onions.

I saw this post via pinterest and thought I'd give it a try. My stalk sat in the water for a while longer than hers did, as you can see in my photo.  And I bought celery hearts instead of the large stalk because the big stalks don't fit in my fridge drawer. 

I've never grown celery before because the lady at the garden center said it takes two years to start them from seed.

In the post I linked to it said you can grow it in 9" pots so today I transplanted that celery into a 9" pot full of potting soil.

The water seeped out of the soil into the tray below but with our dry air it will be gone quickly.

And if you are wondering' "Why Big Daddy Onions?"

It's because they store well over the winter.  Some onions go soft within weeks of picking them.

I have the Big Daddy onions in a box in my unheated garage and they are doing well.  I just run out there and grab one when I need it.  If I still have some close to the end of spring I will chop them up and saute them and freeze them.  But for now they are doing great.