(no subject)
Had a bit of a rough night sleep-wise again last night. I've apparently gotten into this habit of not being able to *get* to sleep till about 1:00-1:30 AM, sleep for about an hour, wake up around 2:00-2:30 Am and then I'm awake till 5:00-6:00-6:30 AM when I can finally manage to drift off again. I do believe I know why this is because of a pattern I'd seen in myself before many times over ... I can usually sleep very well during Tom's work week (I say this because of his odd work schedule). But then on "our" weekends (which is completely different than the rest of the world), I stay up spending time with Tom as much as I can because of how throughout the work week, we don't get to see each other for very long in the day because of us having to sleep in different time patterns (shift work too on top of the odd days off). Then that throws off my pattern. I just have to be more diligent in sticking to my "normal" sleep schedule.
His work schedule is also why he makes sure he calls me every night from work when he gets the chance. This works very well to make it seem like we're able to spend significant time together every day despite the work schedule.
I think he was right-on last night when he suggested that a large part of my droopiness here lately may be due to a touch of cabin-fever. I haven't necessarily been feeling "bad"; just not as spunky as I normally am ... tending to experience some abrupt ups and downs. As soon as he said that last night, I began feeling better. I always feel better once I can at least somewhat understand something questionable in me ... I guess that's that inquisitiveness and analytical part of me run wild. But with this early and potent winter we've been experiencing this year (added to a nasty one last year too) and a couple of days of some "nice" weather this past week, I guess that's it ... a touch of cabin-fever mixed with Spring-fever! I don't normally experience the cabin-fever so much myself but I do think he's right-on on this.
I'm beginning to itch for my gardening ...
Ever since those couple of nice weather days a couple of days ago, all I can see in my mind is green plants shooting up. I'm already well into plans for my gardening this season. I also plan to get back into the home-canning and the like again like I used to. I will be also purchasing some additional berry bushes and grapevines. I'd like to add some horseradish root this year too. And, of course, all the usuals: regular tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, lettuce varieties, cucumbers, white radishes, red radishes, green beans, yellow beans, lima beans, peas, broccoli, brussels sprouts, collards, kale, spinach, maybe some carrots and parsnips. The corn I'll buy in season cause of the space needed to produce so little of a harvest causes it to be worth it to me that so long as I'm growing the other items, I'll buy the corn. I will also, again, supplement the beans and such with additional quantities purchased locally, as may be needed. This plan gives me plenty of fresh veg's to use during the summer months and plenty for me to put up for the colder seasons as well. I'm sure I'll end up growing something else too that I'm not thinking of at the moment ... always do once I get going.
As for potatoes, the local fruit & vegetable shop just up the road sells the 50 pound bags for only $12-15.00 year-round - when 10 pound bags are selling for 5-7.00, that $15.00 for 50 pounds is a fabulous price! That makes it worthwhile to always have a couple of bags on hand available in my kitchen (we use a lot of potatoes). Plus, in this old farmhouse, the kitchen cabinets are set up ideally ... for whatever reason that I don't fully understand, the wall that the cabinets are built on always stays cool inside the cabinets even in the hot summer months. This is extremely beneficial in food storage. Plus, I have the root cellar area available too for storage of food items.
I'm thinking about trying my hand at smoking some meats and some other methods of meat preservation I've come across. We'll see as time goes along here.
One thing I really really really really really want to get to get is a hand-cranked grain mill. I *SO* want one of these! I've located a place that I can purchase bulk amounts of grains at a very reasonable price and so I desire to stock up on these. But I need the grain mill in order to grind my own flours and meals. I've been looking at some online. But the prices are kind of up there. Eventually I'm looking to get one though.
Well, things to do as always ...
His work schedule is also why he makes sure he calls me every night from work when he gets the chance. This works very well to make it seem like we're able to spend significant time together every day despite the work schedule.
I think he was right-on last night when he suggested that a large part of my droopiness here lately may be due to a touch of cabin-fever. I haven't necessarily been feeling "bad"; just not as spunky as I normally am ... tending to experience some abrupt ups and downs. As soon as he said that last night, I began feeling better. I always feel better once I can at least somewhat understand something questionable in me ... I guess that's that inquisitiveness and analytical part of me run wild. But with this early and potent winter we've been experiencing this year (added to a nasty one last year too) and a couple of days of some "nice" weather this past week, I guess that's it ... a touch of cabin-fever mixed with Spring-fever! I don't normally experience the cabin-fever so much myself but I do think he's right-on on this.
I'm beginning to itch for my gardening ...
Ever since those couple of nice weather days a couple of days ago, all I can see in my mind is green plants shooting up. I'm already well into plans for my gardening this season. I also plan to get back into the home-canning and the like again like I used to. I will be also purchasing some additional berry bushes and grapevines. I'd like to add some horseradish root this year too. And, of course, all the usuals: regular tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, lettuce varieties, cucumbers, white radishes, red radishes, green beans, yellow beans, lima beans, peas, broccoli, brussels sprouts, collards, kale, spinach, maybe some carrots and parsnips. The corn I'll buy in season cause of the space needed to produce so little of a harvest causes it to be worth it to me that so long as I'm growing the other items, I'll buy the corn. I will also, again, supplement the beans and such with additional quantities purchased locally, as may be needed. This plan gives me plenty of fresh veg's to use during the summer months and plenty for me to put up for the colder seasons as well. I'm sure I'll end up growing something else too that I'm not thinking of at the moment ... always do once I get going.
As for potatoes, the local fruit & vegetable shop just up the road sells the 50 pound bags for only $12-15.00 year-round - when 10 pound bags are selling for 5-7.00, that $15.00 for 50 pounds is a fabulous price! That makes it worthwhile to always have a couple of bags on hand available in my kitchen (we use a lot of potatoes). Plus, in this old farmhouse, the kitchen cabinets are set up ideally ... for whatever reason that I don't fully understand, the wall that the cabinets are built on always stays cool inside the cabinets even in the hot summer months. This is extremely beneficial in food storage. Plus, I have the root cellar area available too for storage of food items.
I'm thinking about trying my hand at smoking some meats and some other methods of meat preservation I've come across. We'll see as time goes along here.
One thing I really really really really really want to get to get is a hand-cranked grain mill. I *SO* want one of these! I've located a place that I can purchase bulk amounts of grains at a very reasonable price and so I desire to stock up on these. But I need the grain mill in order to grind my own flours and meals. I've been looking at some online. But the prices are kind of up there. Eventually I'm looking to get one though.
Well, things to do as always ...