Posted on 01/31/2026 6:26:44 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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Yep, The harsh cold Winter is passing, finally. Damn Canucks gave us some cold weather past 3 weeks.
If anyone wants redbud seed shoot me a pm.
I can probably find some to share.
Those things grow like weeds here.
The period from Jan. 24 through Feb. 9 brought some of the coldest conditions in years to many areas in the central and eastern U.S. Temperatures during this 17-day period were more than 10 degrees below the historical average.During the period, temperature departures of 17 degrees Fahrenheit below average were observed in Pittsburgh, 15 degrees below in Buffalo, New York, and 14.7 degrees below in the nation's capital. Highs in the single digits, teens and 20s were common, as were nights below zero and in the single digits.
Record highs will be challenged over the Central states this weekend. Temperatures will warm many hearts on Valentine's Day. - https://www.aol.com/articles/even-warmer-weather-awaits-central-185640626.html
But while we thought 50f was cold in Oct, yet after days of 20s in day and single digits or minus figures at night, and many below zero wind chill temps, then today at 36f (no wind) seemed rather Spring-like. Of course, I was dressed in my normal Winter layers, jeans, etc, and one t-shirt, one heavy thermal, and 3 light long sleeved undershirts, and a flannel shirt, and with just a sweat shirt for outside to do some of my regular additional snow removal (not much space to put it in this city), but with poor circulation in extremities at age 73 , and a low metabolism, then such layers are helpful. Thank God.
Snow after a few day. Sign lists Major Sins of America. One side in English, another in Spanish. Snow is cut into a shelf for banana boxes containing various items of surplus food that we are blessed to be able to pick up to be given away once a week, and I usually give each new person a gospel tract, by the grace of God + to His glory.
Well, we’re looking at a warm up for next week. For our area, the high is supposed to be in the upper 40’s Tues, but then a chance of freezing rain on Wed.
My onion seedlings are starting to come up so they’ll be going outside on the sheltered back porch for some sun and wind during the day.
The nights will still be too cold to leave them out, but at least they’ll be hardened off some.
This next week promises to be really ideal weather for a good sap run. The trees around here have started running from what I hear, but the cold stopped that for now. It would be good if they got a good syrup season.
No Bake Lemon Cheesecake Pie
Loaded with tart lemon flavor, creamy lemon filling and fresh whipped cream topping.
Ing Crust 1 1/2 cups grah/crumbs 1/3 c sugar 6 tbl unsalted butter melted. Filling 8 oz cream cheese 3.5 oz instant lemon pudding mix 1 ½ c whole milk 1 tbl lemon zest. Topping 1 c cold h/cream 2 tbl conf sugar 1 tea vanilla. 1 tbl lemon zest and lemon slices, raspberries and mint to garnish.
Instructions Graham Cracker Crust Lightly spray a 8–9.5" pie pan. Set aside. Mix grah/crumbs, sugar, butter. Press into prepared pie pan. Use measuring cup to press crust down. Chill 30 min. Filling--beat cream cheese smooth. Add pudding mix and beat creamy and well-combined. Add cold milk, beating in increments until creamy, thick and smooth. (Take short breaks between mixing, do this 2-3 times, to let pudding thicken.) Beat in lemon zest. Pour into prepared pie shell. Chill at least 3 hours to set up firmly. Whipped Cream whip heavy cream to soft peaks. Add sugar and extract and continue whipping to stiff peaks. Spread atop chilled pie. Garnish w/ lemon zest, lemon slices, mint leaves, and raspberries.
Notes--to ensure pudding sets up properly, beat in increments. Add milk all at once, beat it, and let it sit for 1-2 min to thicken then beat it again 2-3 times. This is an optional step, but it helps ensure the pudding sets properly. When beating filling, it is better to over mix it than under mix it so that the pudding dissolves completely. If cream cheese isn’t softened enough, you might end up with a lumpy filling, which still tastes delicious, but doesn’t look good. A store bought graham cracker crust can be used or bake this one at 375 deg 7 min.
We’re having a ‘False Spring’ starting today. Hit 45, I think? I can feel my Spring Cold coming on - which usually hits me around Easter, but is ahead of schedule.
Yes, I’m all full of Zinc and extra Vitamin C - took a nap today, which is very unlike me. Ugh! I’m not ready to surrender quite yet!!
My PLAN for tomorrow - into the 50’s! - was to tear apart the greenhouse and make the modifications I’ve been working on. May or may not happen but I’m thinking positive! You only get a False Spring once a year!
We usually get another snow dump during State Finals for Boys Basketball which will be in March. I’m always concerned because they’re crossing the state in bad weather in those stupid school busses!
If I DO get this cold, I have a week to get over it before our BIG EVENT of the Season, The Pecatonica River Valley Coon Hunters Club Banquet. We picked up the trophies the other day and my Emma Jolene is the Big Winner again this year. She’s pretty much aging out of the sport, though. She’ll be 10 this coming Spring. She was in the first litter of pups that I raised, so she’s special to me.
Beau has been testing out a few new coon dogs, but so far hasn’t found one that he’s willing to buy. All of our current home-grown batch are trained on black bear, so they think hunting coon is a waste of their time and talents - which it is.
Mama don’t raise no Dummy Doggies, LOL! :)
That is a smart use of snow! :)
That said, I’m glad I can make ice in my freezer and not have to chop it out of the lake or a frozen river, LOL!
I spend spring grubbing them and Locust knees out of my lawn!
Sounds good, I never grew much beyond toms and Bttrnt Squash, the former bcz there is a clear difference brtwn store toms + homegrown, and the latter since you can pretty much just leave squash alone, and it provides a lot for long term storage.
Hope I can get some cow manure.
I was thinking about planting spinach and maybe swiss chard as an early or late crop. Need to start from flowers also. Thanks be to God.
Hit the Vitamin D hard, in addition to what you’re doing ... 20,000 iu for a couple of days.
Weather wise, 40’s tomorrow, 54 Saturday, 40’s & rain Sunday, then warming up for next week. Hopefully, the rain will help get rid of the snow.
Tomorrow, mom & I are traveling about an hour away to a vineyard for a Valentines luncheon. The place has several ‘venues’ ... we’ll be in the Irish Pub. Food is catered & should be very good. This should help diminish the somewhat depressing case of cabin fever I’m dealing with.
Saturday, if it gets into the 50’s, I am getting in the shop & trying to at least straighten it up, perhaps even get some serious organizing & cleaning done.
Sunday afternoon we’re going to a high school play. My cousin (3rd) is a Junior & has the lead. After church, we’re taking a ‘picnic’ sort of lunch to her grandmother’s, then will get her grandmother to the play early afternoon.
We had a nice surprise earlier this week ... notice from the mail carrier that there was a package, but no safe place to leave it - driveway situation kept her from getting to the house. When mom picked it up at the PO, it was a box of homemade cookies from our neighbor at the lake. He’s sent us some baked goods before - super nice guy & keeps an eye on the cabin for us. The cookies are GONE already :-)
“The cookies are GONE already :-)”
LOL! Sounds like a fun week ahead. :)
Thanks for the tip on the Vit D. I’ll see what we have on hand...
Tonight, since I HAVE to stay up until 9pm to roust Dolly out for a potty break so we can BOTH sleep through the night, I am working on my outline of what needs to change in the greenhouse...while watching a Murder Mystery of course, LOL!
Not feeling 100% perky, but you never know what extra vitamins and a good nights sleep can do! I remain hopeful!
This website is really poor, but I saw this place out of the corner of my eye when we were passing through the other day. Cool concept and I am going to buy some Alpaca yarn from them in the near future and make some Christmas gifts (scarves or mittens or hats) for next year.
http://argylefibermill.com/Fiftymilefiber.htm
How did your latest Prayer Shawl turn out?
I have found Swiss Chard to be more useful.
The thick stems can be used like celery although there is a difference in taste.
The leaves cook down just like spinach.
Spinach plants just don’t seem to get that big and I have found it more worthwhile to grow the Swiss Chard.
But perhaps you could grow a little of both and test them for yourself.
Vitamin D for Influenza (read last paragraph)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4463890/
You don’t have the flu, but Vit D was a major player with C19. It’s actually a hormone. Anyway, whenever we get sick with any sort of virus, we hit the Vit. D. I actually take 10,000 iu daily - helps my chronic hives.
Another interesting factoid regarding Vit D:
Deficiency increases risk: Individuals with vitamin D deficiency (serum levels <30 nmol/L) face a 36% higher risk of death compared to those with levels ≥50 nmol/L. Deficiency is an independent risk factor for death from pneumonia and other conditions.
The current prayer shawl is pretty. I just did a small swatch to experiment with a simple border & I like the result so I do think I am putting a border on it. Hopefully, I can send it off in a week or so - mom is anxious for her friend to have it.
I really do like the taste. I also liked the taste of the skimmed off solids, and since I am not lactose intolerant, I will not waste and I use them on bread or in soup or on vegetables. Intense taste, and incredibly salty! Mrs. Pete thinks its great, however I told her I was making "Clarified Butter" which is mostly true. If I told her it was Ghee she would probably associate it with Yak husbandry or Tibet and India and refuse to eat anything made with it. As long as its "Clarified Butter" its associated with Lobster and Crab and Texas toast! (I might tell her the alternative name after we have been using it a while!)
(Slide to article about decline in Yak herding in India)
(On the subject of "Bovidai"....while this is a different species, here is something about raising Musk ox in Alaska!)
ONE Musk OX = $30,000 of Fiber
(But we know you already knew this!)
I don’t know anything about Yaks! Salted butter works, I just prefer unsalted as it seems to work better. I’ve never used the oven method but it does sound much easier. Ghee solids are tasty added to food, salty or not.
This was the oven method.
https://paleospirit.com/how-to-make-ghee-in-the-oven/
Cute video of the musk ox farm!
Glad you liked the ghee - it’s tasty & has some good health benefits, too.
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