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version January 15, 2001
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April 10 Number Four Almanac
There was that brief Spring three weeks ago. I worked outside. I raked leaves.
I worked in my garage cleaning and making work benches. I started all sorts
of little projects. I built garden fences. I was so excited about the
imminent garden. Then, about two weeks ago it started to snow. It snowed,
in all, 11 days and nights. Every morning and evening there was one to six
inches of new fresh powder. Sure I have been skiing but it has been too cold
to work on little projects out in the shop. I have lost all hope about planting
seeds. One day in the middle of this little winter, I was talking to
a neighbor, about not being able to work in my shop. "All you need" he says
"is one of those little propane or kerosene heaters." "I know, All I have
is a little electric heater. It is just not big enough," I agreed. Then walking
home, I was weighing the convenience and cost of propane, and kerosene. "I
have kerosene (in a big tank for the furnace), all I would have to do is buy
a heater." I thought. Then, "well I have propane too, it is attached to my
barbecue grill." Then I had one of those wicked back woods thoughts, "how
IS a barbecue grill different from a space heater, really?"
Two disclaimers, do not EVER operate a gas grill indoors, especially not
in a wholly wooden structure, and Just so you know I didn't buy a gas grill
in the first place. It came with the house or I wouldn't own it at all.
Mikey, oh Miquih How does your garden grow?
Right now, in pots and trays. My indoor garden has started to overflow on
all flat surfaces. Every year I get a little better at starting seeds ahead.
The most exciting thing this year is peat pods. I'm
told that the use of peat had started to endanger the peat bogs of the
world, and there is some alternative, like walnut shells or something, but
I couldn't find that. And these are so cool. Just add water to the little
discs on the left and wait. Soon you have little 1-1/2 tall pod pots in which
for to plant your seeds, on the right.
So far, I have started watermelon, two kinds
of tomatoes, garlic chives, sweet and lemon basil, red peppers, eggplant,
cosmos and nasturtiums. I also am experimenting with starting roses from seed.
I found a couple of rose hips in a neighboring camp's garden and decided to
try. As many rose hybrids as there are, my chances are nearly nil, that the
seeds are viable, and less that I will be able to get them to grow.
It is all about making my own houseplants from the materials at hand. Here
is my three week old grass. I am waiting for my ginger root to put up sprouts.
I was getting impatient so I dug them up. The dirt smells strongly of ginger,
and the roots are putting off fresh pods. Very exciting.
I haven't been writing much about the puppies. They are well. I'm thinking
a lot about their upcoming first birthday, May 1. I don't know what they would
like. Here we are on a sleepy afternoon. This is 6 PM. I am still in my pajamas
after a full day of listing items on ebay. How Exhausting!
The puppies aren't thinking about their first birthday. They play in the
yard a lot. They play with sticks, firewood, toys they have found or stolen.
One of their favorites is a child's doll that they have now ripped limb from
limb. Above is a toy. Sadly this mole could not stand the puppies brand of
fun for long. It is sad that this cute little mole is dead, but I like that
the puppies meet the world on their own terms. Hope and Star had hours of
fun digging this little guy out of the snow, then letting him burrow back
in. They were actually afraid of it.
These icicles are the product of eleven days of snow. Three weeks ago I
dug the rain barrel out of the snow bank. The water off the roof, filled
the barrel and melted the ice in it. Now it is all frozen again.
Well, that is what I have been up to, partly. I am going
back out to the shop which is strangely smoky and smells a lot like grease
and hamburgers. I can't say why.
Love,
MiXiM
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