Winter has Arrived!

Yesterday morning we awoke to this gorgeous scene outside our windows. We've been somewhat spoiled this November with so little to remind us that winter was indeed on its way.

This being our first winter in our country home there was many things we needed to do in order to get ready. The old adage is true; 

"You're never really ready for winter, you just run out of time." 

With all the equipment and tools we have been accumulating for our market garden venture it became clear to us that our garage was going to be a very tight squeeze in the winter months with all our lawn equipment, the BCS walk behind tractor, the patio furniture, the lawn tractor and my husband's tools that are very much needed twelve months of the year. Two weeks ago I turned to Kijiji where I discovered a lovely couple in a nearby town were looking to re-gift a temporary garage shelter. It's really just metal pipes with a tarp overtop. All we needed to do was bring our tools and haul it away. My husband and I were so grateful to have this set up on our property. It currently houses all the overflow of things we won't need until spring, which is mostly my garden equipment. 

Last week we put our snow tires on the car. This past weekend we assembled our snow thrower attachment for the John Deere. We are almost ready for the worst that winter can throw at us. Now that the snow is here to stay I'm going to be able to focus on my to-do list inside the house with includes much needed room painting and certain upgrades planned.

TUTORIAL: Making Bows

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... well actually no. We've been enjoying lovely temperatures and only had one little snow last week. BUT...the calendar does move forward whether winter weather blows in or not. Knowing that my Christmas decorating is right around the corner I'm starting to put together some things for the outside, namely my urns.

This is the time, while there is no snow and a good walk in the woods is still possible, when I start gathering dead fall; pine branches, birch limbs, pine cones, and maybe some dogwood (red sticks). I have some lovely red stars I use year after year and this year I wanted some swanky new bows.

The local go-to place for all upscale Christmas decor is selling bows for $5 and up, the price climbing higher and higher the bigger the bows, so I set out to make my own. And they turned out lovely.

Here's how you do it:


Materials

Burlap or Ribbon
Floral wire (pipe cleaners work, if you ribbon is not too heavy)
scissors









Step one: Cut your wire about the length of your arm. You want a lot because you'll need a bit sticking out the back to tie on to your tree or branch or whatever.





Step two: Unravel your ribbon a bit, decide how long you want the tail to be and the fold the ribbon over itself. You can adjust how big the loops are.





Step three: Now, fold the ribbon back and forth like an according, making sure your next loop is slightly smaller than the last.





Step four: Gather the ribbon at the centre back, adjusting loops to make sure they are all the right size and arranged nicely.





Step five: Use your wire to fasten this centre bunch. Wrap the wire around a few times, keeping it taut and then twist at the back. Make sure you twist a number of times (maybe ten) before letting go.





Step six: Now you can cut off the ribbon end making sure its the same or similar length as your first tail.

Voila!





My roll of burlap made 3 BIG bows, and one smaller bow with no tails.

Burlap $10 (at Michael's)
Wire $3.99 (Michael's again)

I figure these bows would cost me $8-$10 if I bought them at that swanky store, so I am quite pleased.

Raspberries or Something Else Entirely

One of the things I first noticed when we came to view this house for the first time was the five apple trees along the southern fence. After we had made an offer and returned for a home inspection, I noticed a jungle of a mess hiding behind the apple tree foliage. They looked to be raspberry canes that had been allowed to run a muck. No worries. I knew what needed to be done.

I haven't had much of an opportunity to deal with the overgrowth until now. I'm thankful for the warm spell we are experiencing in central Ontario because yesterday I was able to get out there with some hedge trimmers and a rake.

 This is "before". See how it's all tangled in the tree? That's Watson, the cocker spaniel. He's very excited to be outside. 


Oh boy! What a task. The vines had been allowed to grow into the closest apple tree. This may have been the reason why this particular tree gave no fruit this year. The canes have sprouted new roots and have sprawled over the fence and toward the house. A jungle is putting it lightly.

I decided a complete clean sweep was necessary so I cut them back to about a foot tall. And I found two berry bushes intermingled. I think they are blue berries but I'm not sure.

This is the "after". One huge pile of vines and an imagined sigh of relief from the apple tree. 

They were planted like this. Raspberry. Blueberry. Raspberry, Blueberry. Raspberry. In a row like that. I have never know anyone to plant these in such a way. It's just not conducive to good growth and production. In addition to that, they are too close to the apple trees. I'm sure it looked lovely or sounded like a great idea at the time of planting when the apple trees were narrow and the berry bushes small but over 10 years they have taken over the back corner.

At first I wasn't sure if they were indeed raspberries. I've only ever know raspberry canes to have thorns and these ones do not. Thanks to the internet I now know they do come thornless as well. And I wasn't sure if raspberry canes grew so long and sprouted new roots as it sprawled out. My friend tells me that yes, raspberries do, indeed, do that as well. So I think it's safe to say they are raspberries. Yay!

The berries will have to be moved away from the apples but that is a project for next year. I am worried if I do anything to the roots now they won't survive the winter.