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The Garden Thread - January, 2026
January 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 01/01/2026 5:52:41 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: dfwgator

I like this one:

A dog limps into a bar on three legs and says, ‘I’m looking for the man who shot my paw!’

Ba-Dump-Dump-TUSH!


501 posted on 01/26/2026 12:47:00 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: FamiliarFace

A foot of snow is a LOT to contend with in one dump. Mind your backs! ;)


502 posted on 01/26/2026 12:48:22 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: FRiends

I gave Beau the mission last week of bringing three different ‘meats’ up from the freezer and I would see what I could come up with.

Today I am making this awesome beef roast - but it works as well for elk, venison, bear, moose...or any roadkill. ;)

Braising times will vary, depending upon the size of your roast but 2 hours at 325 degrees is a good starting point and then use your meat thermometer. 165 degrees for beef in the thickest part of the roast.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/coffee-pot-roast-3059802

A tossed Salad and Oven Roasted Herbed Red Potatoes, too.


503 posted on 01/26/2026 12:54:43 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Yeah, it was only an inch or so when we went to bed Saturday night, then 9” when we got up yesterday. Another 3+” fell throughout the day. We do have to be careful. It would be easy to go overboard.

Although the power is still on (plus we have a generator), with temps this low, our sunroom is pretty cold. Windows on 3 sides, and opens to the kitchen, and near the family room. I’m so grateful to have a really nice fireplace. It sure makes things cozy when nighttime comes!


504 posted on 01/26/2026 1:30:53 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Liz

Escabeche de Pollo (definitely true S American since all but one recipe were in Spanish)

Kinda close but I don’t remember any orange or red coloring. Could have been her own regional or family version.


505 posted on 01/26/2026 1:32:05 PM PST by Pollard
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To: FamiliarFace; Diana in Wisconsin

I spent 2 hours outside shoveling the driveway this afternoon. It was 28°, sunny & not much wind so not too bad for shoveling. Around 3:30, clouds blocked the sun & the wind really picked up so I came in, plus I was tired. The temp had dropped to 25°.

We got a couple of inches of soft, fluffy snow, then several inches of sleet on top of that. To shovel, I have to cut blocks in the hard about 4” upper crust, small enough to pick up with the shovel & also get the snow layer underneath. I got about 2/3 of the driveway shoveled from where I parked the car to the road. I will have to finish the last 3rd tomorrow. Note to self: park the car a LOT closer to the road next time!

The road itself is clear - crews had chemicals down Thursday already & snow plows went by while I was shoveling, one in each direction. They’re mainly getting slush back off the edges of the road at this point. A small beat up old PU roared by & I heard some loud metallic noises - 2 snow shovels had ‘flown’ out of the back of the PU & were in the road. I started ‘postholing’ my way to the road to get the shovels before someone hit them at speed & had a wreck. Fortunately, before I could get very far, the PU came backing down the road in the other lane, past his shovels - I was pointing to the shovels & he pulled up to get them. He could see I was shoveling & yelled to me “that stuff is hard, isn’t it?!” I hollered back “yes, but at least we didn’t get freezing rain!” He agreed, then said something about he was thinking about getting some dynamite ... LOL.


506 posted on 01/26/2026 1:32:42 PM PST by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: dfwgator

Omg. I didn’t see that ending coming!


507 posted on 01/26/2026 1:33:21 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Pollard

I’m thinking she had to have made something “popular”
w/ spices and ings available to her...... here.....


508 posted on 01/26/2026 1:34:54 PM PST by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.)
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To: Qiviut

My MIL got hit with an ice storm on Sunday (Charlotte, NC). One caregiver went out of her way, and spent the night at her house both Saturday and Sunday nights, because she knew MIL was anxious about it. (She’s 97 and refuses to move into assisted living.) All is well, but I do wonder about the roads for the caregiver to get back to her house. What an angel this particular caregiver is. She’s a very thoughtful and compassionate person.

I don’t think we’re slated to see temps above 25 for the next few weeks. That’s as far out as my forecast goes. I’ll take the teens though, over these single digit and sub-zero temps!


509 posted on 01/26/2026 1:43:54 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Cute!


510 posted on 01/26/2026 1:45:07 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Humm. Looking down from the helicopter trying to find a place to land! No Joy!


511 posted on 01/26/2026 2:40:14 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission (Zone 6B KS/MO border 19F Blue Skies and Sunny )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Humm. Looking down from the helicopter trying to find a place to land! (Maybe on the potato slices off to the side?)


512 posted on 01/26/2026 2:48:23 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission (Zone 6B KS/MO border 19F Blue Skies and Sunny )
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To: Liz
Could be. Meanwhile I'm going to try this one from Chef Gruel.

This Is the Kind of Food I Cook on a Weeknight

A one-pot braised chicken thigh stew that’s cheap, forgiving, and deeply satisfying

But for tonight, it's liver and onions fried in bacon grease leftover from yesterday. Diced potatoes to precede the liver.

My 10" cast iron skillet does have some signs of rust and I'll be burning the seasoning off and starting fresh but not tonight. Hopefully between the liver and skillet, I won't OD on iron. Heated it up, put some oil and Kosher salt in it and scrubbed it down. Dumped the excess salt on the step outside the door to melt some snow. When doing that, I remembered I actually have some snow melt salt. Haven't needed it in a few years though.

513 posted on 01/26/2026 2:52:06 PM PST by Pollard
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To: Pollard

Snow melt salt and Kosher salt are interchangeable in many recipes.

JUST KIDDING!! :)


514 posted on 01/26/2026 3:05:40 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

LOL, the ex bought my son some Himalaya Pink Salt in a grinder but it’s Best Choice(not) brand and me working with my hands forever can’t hardly crank it. He can’t crank it at all. I grabbed McCormick today. Might have to open and use a little tonight to test it.

Best Choice is a little better than Always Save which is absolute crap.


515 posted on 01/26/2026 3:22:13 PM PST by Pollard
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To: Pollard

Seasoning your pan.... Avocado oil is a good choice. High smoke point, no taste.


516 posted on 01/26/2026 3:25:55 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission (Zone 6B KS/MO border 19F Blue Skies and Sunny )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

added to my grocery list


517 posted on 01/26/2026 4:22:35 PM PST by Pollard
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To: Pollard

Check this out:

https://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/a-science-based-technique-for-seasoning-cast-iron/


518 posted on 01/26/2026 4:38:53 PM PST by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: All

CREAMY SPINACH SOUP / in a jif
Saute lge sweet Vidalia onion, chp, in 4 tbs butter. Add s/p, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes. Then add 2-10 oz pkg Stouffer's frozen creamed spinach, thawed, and 4-6 c strong chicken stock. BTB; simmer a few min.

519 posted on 01/26/2026 5:12:27 PM PST by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.)
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To: Pollard; Diana in Wisconsin; Qiviut; MomwithHope

Beautiful! I’m gonna bookmark that page.

You and my brother would get along well. He’s a divorcee, if that’s what’s you call anyone these days. Bachelor? Kinda sorta.

He’s young enough to wish for love again, and old enough not to care.

Anyway, one time a few years ago, he remarked that my hubby obviously wasn’t a bachelor anymore, and by that he meant, hubby didn’t use one pan to cook a meal in. More than one pan to cook in meant more than one pan to clean. We learned a lot from that trip. I use a lot of pots and pans, and I don’t mind cleaning them all up afterwards.

The recipe and the website look great! I will keep my eye on that! Thx!

Speaking of my slightly older brother, he’s coming to Indy next week on business (downtown conference). They’re not staying with us this time, as he wants receipts to turn in for him and his right hand man. We will be seeing them, though. Either where they’re staying or for a meal back here. We will see what those Florida boys are up for. 😍

He and I just had a fun text conversation about how cold it is here (single digits to sub-zero windchills) , and how warm it is there (30 for the low, mid 50’s for the high). He can’t believe I went outside to check the mail today with it only being ~ 5 degrees.

See?!!

I’m not making this stuff up! After 30 + years, I am just now getting used to these temps!

My brother is so funny. Great sense of humor. He was my hero as a kid. We are just 16 months apart. I tagged along until he wouldn’t let me anymore. God bless Mama and Daddy for not stopping at 4 or 5 kids.


520 posted on 01/26/2026 6:24:36 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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