Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Spring is finally here! Ironic we had to have summer first.

Yes we have finally gotten some sure nuf spring weather.  Highs in the upper 60's and 70's, clear blue sky, and nice breezes to strong winds.  We went from a mild winter to a mild summer in a matter of days where temps were actually pushing the upper upper 80's for a bit.  I was afraid I would lose some of my cool weather crops, but, with temps dropping into the thirties tonight I am now worried I might have to try and save my tomatoes.
Other than weather, things are going well here on my little homestead.  I have baby peaches and so far have been able to spray on schedule.  I have blooms on the snow peas, and a few on my tomato plants.  I have actually harvested a little spinach and a little lettuce from the garden.
When I first started all of my outside tasks I didn't think I would ever see it come together, but things are beginning to take shape, and i'm thinking i'm in the wrap up stage of some of my projects.  That's good.  I'm hopeful i'll have a lull in the "fun"  for a bit between these projects, and the beginning of harvest time.  That's where things get nuts!  This year i'm thinking of doing my canning outside on my grill burner using a propane tank.  If it's good enough for my mom then it's good enough for me(smile).  I have memories of my mom making jelly on a Coleman stove as we camped out.  We were camping because our house wasn't dried in yet and so we camped I think for about 6 weeks while the house was dried in. We then lived in the house while it was worked on (mostly by my parents).  I was 10 years old then.  Good times, but my parents tell me they shake their heads now and say it must have been two other people that did that.  Anyway, I digress.  The reason i'm planning on canning outside is to cut back on power usage. A) propane is cheaper right now, burns hotter, and B) it won't heat up the house which causes the AC to run ALOT to cool things off.  I'm going to begin my morning by placing my pressure canner and my water bath canner outside with the water already in it to get it heated some before I begin the process of canning.  I believe this will work mainly because we have some seriously hot summers(temps in the 90's and poss 100's).  I figure the water will be in pretty good shape by the time I get started so it shouldn't take long to get it heated up on the stove.  This is an experiment I am willing to try.  If it doesn't work I can fall back to the "normal" way of doing things, but i'm not out anything if I try it.  Oh and for those of you that are thinking "what about bugs or debris?". I'm going to have it covered so no worries on that account.  The fact remains I don't want to heat up the house.
Well I need to get started on my day.  I'm in the kitchen today making this weeks bread, cleaning out the fridge, and my pantry.  So you  guys have a great day.

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