Protecting Garden Seedlings From Spring Frost And Snow

Back at the beginning of the week I saw the weather forecast and almost cried. There was a forecast of snow and cold temperatures.  My garden seedlings had just poked their heads up out of the soil. I know the peas would probably be OK because they are cold tolerant. I just did not want to take a chance.  Last year I lost many plants to an unpredicted frost. This is what I did to protect my seedlings.
I had a bin of plastic water bottles that were headed to the recycling center. I cut off the tops of the water bottles and pressed them in the soil over the seedlings.

It worked amazingly well. Complete portable protection. I waited for the snow to melt off the following day and took the bottles off ASAP. I did not want to overheat the seedlings. How is your garden coming along? Happy Gardening! 

A Little Bit Of Everything

I have been slacking on my blog these days. I thought a little update on what I have been up to might be in order. So, we have had this stray rooster hanging around our home for a couple months now. Well, I am not sure I should call it a stray as we do know where it came from. The neighbors two doors down moved away and did not take their rooster with them. some new owners have since moved in to the home but I am guessing they don't think the rooster belongs to them. He has been hungry so I have been feeding him and he has decide to adopt us as his new family. The cats and dogs have no problem with him hanging around. It is kind of funny to see them interact.

Our cats and rooster sharing water.

Rooster enjoying the barn cats food.

We took a trip over Thanksgiving to see our grandsons Pooh Bear and Little Roo. We even took Scooby with us. I had never taken a dog on such a long ride before. Scooby behaved great. We will probably take him on lots of future trips considering how much he enjoyed the trip.

I placed a sheet over the back seat and blocked the space between the seats so he could not get into the front seat. It work well and no dog hair was left on the seats or our clothing. 

My grandsons made  a ginger bread house. That was so much fun. While Pooh Bear glued the house together with icing Little Roo snatched a wall and started munching on it. It was so hilarious.  My daughter and I were laughing so hard as Pooh Bear was trying to build the house with parts that had little bites from them. I caught a cute photo when Pooh Bear thought no one was watching. Who could blame him for tasting the icing it must have been hard to resist the temptation. Lol, they were so much fun.

Any how we have gotten our share of snow and maybe someone Else's share of snow you might agree. I just hope by morning it has stopped so I might be able to get to my Christmas tree in the storage shed. I can not for the life of me remember why I decided to store it in the shed this year. I did that about ten years ago and had a hard time getting to it. So after that I have always stored it in our house. One forgets many things as we get older. So this is the first year in many that I do not have my tree up the day after Thanksgiving. 

Embracing The Season – Winter Walks

The following post was written in collaboration with and brought to you by Pavers.co.uk.

As temperatures begin to plummet and snow starts to fall, we seek shelter and warmth at home. This usually results in a lot of drawn-out evenings where the grandchildren are bored and you’re restless.
To combat this and make the most of the season, get wrapped up in your thickest coat and venture into the great outdoors! Here are just a few ways you can embrace the season:

Snowball fights

As soon as there’s an adequate level of snow on the ground, the kids will be itching to go outside. Before you go, make sure you’re all suitably wrapped up with coats, hats, ear-muffs and gloves. Speaking of which, if you’re going engage in a friendly snowball fight with your grand-kids, you should pick up a pair of gloves that won’t leave your hands wet and numb. A pair of leather gloves like these from Pavers, are perfect.

Sledding

If you know any good hills that are near your home, you should definitely relive your youth by going sledding! There are a variety of sleds available from most toy retailers; choose one that’s sturdy and easy for the kids to fit into. If you can fit into it yourself, that’s an added bonus! Amazon has some excellent sleds you can order in time for the coming snowfall. 
Whizzing down the hill is a hoot, and the trek back up again is an excellent workout for you and the kids. Just remember that some children have seemingly infinite amounts of energy, so schedule regular breaks for less strenuous activities if you start feeling tired.

Snow sculpting

Sledding brings us nicely onto out next activity. Snowmen, snow igloos and snow angles are all excellent laid back winter games. Help the kids create a snowman that will stand tall throughout the season; just make sure you pack the trademark carrot, scarf and hat to complete the look. Building an igloo is a little more involved, but the extra effort goes a long way in creating a magical outdoor experience. This guide on instructables can be followed over the course of a few days until you create a structure even Pingu would be proud to call home!

Treasure hunt

Nothing says fun quite like a treasure hunt! Buy a couple of small Christmas treats and bury them in the garden the night before the kids arrive. Write out some easy to follow clues and give them to the kids, so that they can track down your hidden treasure. Arm them with a small shovel or trowel and they’re ready to start playing Indian Jones!

Health and Safety

In order to have the best time possible, it’s important that you take these necessary precautions. Dress for the weather. Layering your clothing will allow you to remove a layer if you become overheated. Take a watch with you and keep track of how long you’re outdoors. If they start to complain about numbness or aching pains, take them indoors immediately to warm up by the fire. You’ll also want to make sure the kids, and yourself, stay properly hydrated during the time outside. It may seem like madness to take water out with you on a freezing day, but it’s very easy to become dehydrated when you’re running around during the more physically asserting games. Stay safe and have fun out there!

Could This Be The Last Snow Of The Season?

I was sitting at our window this morning watching a robin that has been hanging around for a few days now. She seems to have an injured leg. I have been watching her hopping around our pond eating little bits here and there. This morning while watching her I got to wondering if the melting snow drifts in our yard would be the last of the snow this year. I really do hope that this warm spell is here to stay. I am a little itchy to get to work in my garden.
Little Bug Stopped by for a visit today. I could tell he was feeling a little cooped up right along with his grandma. So, I decided we had better enjoy the last of the melting snow together. I gave him his sand pail and a garden spade and let him play in what little snow we had left in our back yard.

"I'm going to dig a tunnel"

"Grandma, my feet are stuck!"

"Grandma, you can't catch me!"

Little Bug's visit gave my spirits a big lift today. I hope it will last until Easter. What kind of day did you have today? Do you think we will get any more snow? Is this warm weather here to stay?