It's Getting to be Garden Season!

 Yesterday Kyle and I went to Salina for 

another Menard's pickup.

We returned the concrete forms we ended

up not using and got a $350 store credit.

And then turned around and bought some

potting and seed starting dirt,

some more electrical wire for the house,

and a couple of watering wands for 

the garden. Our water is SO hard out here,

they only last a season (maybe) and are

quite pricy! ($20 each).

We found some on clearance for $8.99!

And EVERYTHING in the store gets an

11% rebate! YEA!!!

Anyhow.

We also picked up our 53 boxes of flooring.

And since the rebate started within 14 days

of us paying for it, they gave us the rebate

on the flooring too!

YEA!

Another $300-ish, so our kitchen countertops

will be all paid for!

Yippeeeeee.

Anyhow.

As always, we hit Braums on the way out of town.

Kyle actually let me take a picture of him!

He said he realized there are almost NO pictures

of him in existence except when I sneak one.

So he said it was ok.

This morning Rod and I up-potted all the best

of the Lemon Boy, Sun Gold (cherry) and

Big Beef Slicer tomatoes into pots.

And then we refilled the 72 cell tray with

more Romas.

The first round didn't do well.

So we are starting them again.

I put a dome over them after I took the picture....

And am being MUCH more mindful how I water them

this time around.

The first round we did them in coco coir

which has NO nutrients in it and had a hard

time both with watering and feeding.

This time we bought actual seed starter mix

that has feed in it and holds water better.

So fingers crossed!

Nest Box!

Kyle built us a super cool nest box

over the weekend.

From scrap lumber!

(Yea for free wood....)

It looks old and mottled because he

painted it, didn't like the color, and

then painted white over it and

sanded some.

Currently there is hay in the nests and where

the eggs roll down to,

but today we went into town and

bought some fake astroturf stuff.

Should help the eggs roll.

And keep them clean.

And when it gets dirty we can just

pull it out, hose it off and 

stick it back in.

Kyle said they are already using it!

He finally pushed some chickens outside

and put their feed and water out there,

so they will figure out the great 

outdoors is actually GREAT!

Some went back in at night.

Some didn't.

(I have REALLY dumb chickens...)

They'll get it figured out.

Hopefully.

*** Oh yeah, we woke up to snow on Saturday

morning... it's mostly melted already.

It was beautiful while it lasted....

Wow... I've Been Lazy

 It's been quiet here.

It's COLD.

In fact, my app says it's currently snowing.

I went out to the kitchen during

break and peaked out the window

but didn't see any snow on the car.

(The place it usually accumulates first

since it's between two houses and usually

is less windy there...)

but nothing.

So .... maybe...

But, since it was cold, and kind of yucky...

Yesterday I read a book. (and a half)

And Rod learned about duct work.

And then today..... same.

I read another book.

And he learned more and then switched

to watching a series about Theodore Roosevelt.

And we made a quick trip to the local

grocery store for their big 3-day sale.

They were sold out of bread (2/$3)

but we got two buckets of good ice cream

for $5 each.

(Chocolate Chip and Cookies & Cream).

And paid regular price for a loaf of bread

for making lunches.

We had peanut butter and peach jam sandwiches

with BBQ potato chips.

I just finished teaching class,

so now I'm heading to the kitchen to make

us each a bowl of ramen noodles with some

little chunks of roast beef and mixed veggies.

And then we are re-watching

When Calls the Heart on Prime.

Did I mention Kyle is starting to collect eggs?

Maybe not today...... since it's COLD out there,

but the new girls are starting to lay!

A little early!

I wasn't expecting eggs until March.

So that's good.

Ok, have a GREAT weekend.

I'm NOT teaching this weekend.

So looking forward to getting to attend church.

(It's RS weekend...)

Checking In

 It's WINDY today!

They were saying 30-40 mph with

higher gusts...

It's currently registering 28 mph

on my phone app,

but it FEELS windier than that....

It was a breezy drive into town today!

But we got some fertilizer at Home Depot

and then drove to the nursery and got

some more fertilizer and a tentative date

for when they are getting delivery

of their seed potatoes and onion sets.

When we got home, I started a tray

of chive seeds.

Hopefully they germinate!

Meanwhile,

yesterday Rod and I made a run

up to the farm to get some little

pots for our tomatoes when it's time

to get them out of the seed trays.

(Not yet...)

We are at that part of the build where it looks

like NOTHING is happening.

But Kyle is busy running

LOTS of wires in all the walls

and up in the ceiling.

He got all the exhaust fans in the

two bathrooms, and the boxes for all

the lights in the ceilings.

And then he took yesterday "off" and

mowed one of the pig pastures,

pulled a drag through all 4 pastures

(to knock down the poop),

installed a solar powered door in

the chicken coop and made them a

little wooden ramp to get in and out...

and then dragged the coop out to

the pig pasture so they can work

on spreading the poop and eating

all the fly larvae.

He said this morning the door opened,

and he could see little heads peeking

out but then deciding the big wide world

was just too scary.

So nobody had come out yet.

The easter eggers have been out on

grass (in our yard) but the new babies

have never even SEEN the outside world.

I'm going to order some new nest boxes

to install in there.

They will hopefully start laying in the

next couple of weeks.

Kyle said with the warmer weather,

he's finally getting some eggs.

Whew!

(We didn't BUY any eggs this week

for the first time all winter!)

***Update!! Kyle just gathered 7 eggs.

6 brown, which means 5he new girls have

already started laying!

He brought Bear out with him.

He likes to play with Pebbles and BamBam.

They look like they are eating each other,

but it's all in fun.

He's always excited to go out there,

so he must be ok.

Baker In the House!

 Well..... someday.

SOON we hope!

Jim gave Sabrina a fancy

KitchenAid stand mixer 

this year for Christmas.

And she has practically worn

that baby OUT already!

She is turning out amazing stuff

with her new toy.

Pizza dough, cookies, cakes,

you name it.

This weekend she mastered BAGELS!

Jim said they taste like the REAL DEAL.

And then it was on to BREAD.

(Regular white bread on the left

and our "no knead" recipe on the right...)

Glad to see hers didn't get golden brown

either...  I thought I was doing something

terribly wrong.

Nope.

It's just the recipe I guess.

Anyhow.

We have made an executive decision.

When they move here, 

Sabrina is official in charge of

ALL BAKING.

So..... packing yet?

(grin)

Subway.... Yum!

 We decided to get out of the house

yesterday, so a trip up to the farm

was in the works.

Kyle was putting in all the boxes

for the pot lights that are going

in the ceilings.

He moved a couple around to better

spots - he is so good at this stuff!

He also put in all the boxes for

the ceiling fans that are to come 

after the ceilings are finished.

I sat in a folding chair, just inside the

sliding glass door, in the glorious

sunshine, and read a book.

Rod wandered around the property with

Beau as his little side-kick.

(Yes, he wore his brace. Good man.)

Anyhow.

I didn't take any pictures.

Bad blogger.

(grin)

After a couple of hours at the farm

(and I finished my book)

we headed back into town.

I made up a little tray of cheese,

crackers and summer sausage

(thanks again Mom & Dad, we are

still enjoying our Christmas gift!)

and then we did some puttering around...

(And I started a new book. lol)

Rod spent a couple hours on the computer

in his office, figuring out the plumbing

configuration for the two bathrooms.

And then came out looking for dinner.

And then we remembered the Subway

gift card Rozann and Greg gave us!

Subway for the WIN!!!

(And they were running a special...

1 foot long for $6.99, so we get to 

eat AGAIN for free in the future!)

It was delicious and hit the spot!

Thanks guys!!!!

So... basically free food all day!

WEEEEEEE!

(it's the little things that make me smile.)

Good Visit 2 MONTHS!

Can you believe today is Rod's

TWO MONTH anniversary?

That is just crazy.

Especially when you see the

leaps and bounds he has made

in his healing.

We got up "early" and headed down

to Wichita for his 2 month checkup.

We learned a few things.

Like they do not take x-rays every visit.

Darn.

We were hoping to see his progression.

Also, he's supposed to be still wearing

his brace, at least when he's out and

about. Rule of thumb, if you will be 

walking more than about 50 feet.

Also, still NO bending, lifting or twisting

for another month.

He IS cleared to drive though.

So he will be able to drive himself to church

this weekend (good since I'll be teaching.)

We took a couple selfies in the office

while we waited for Ryan to arrive.

I forgot to put on makeup,

so there you go.

And, of course, this is Rod's good side.

LOL.

After the visit (a quick one) we 

headed up the highway to Braum's for

a burger and milkshake.

And then we stopped at the half-way point

in Salina at Menards so I could show him

the countertops we are thinking about getting.

I really like this one.

It's almost totally smooth.

This one is a little busier pattern but

possibly a little smoother surface.

They are both the same price...

Anyhow.

Then I went over to show him the flooring

we picked, and it's on CLOSE-OUT!

Only 10 cents cheaper than usual, 

but once it's gone, it's gone...

So I called Kyle and we figured out how

much we need and went ahead and

paid for it.

We will drive over sometime in the next

2 weeks to pick it up.

(And return any of the stuff we already

bought we ended up not needing...)

We usually buy a little extra of everything.

And we made it back in town

JUST in time for a quick blog post

and then turn on the computer for

tonight's class.

Whew!

All in all a good, successful day.