We begin again in 2025

The first begonia cutting has been set. If it lives, in five to seven days I'll do about half the tray. If not, I'll wait a week to ten days and try again. 

Here's the thing. The planting guide for my location says I can start pepper seeds indoors now. Yeah, okay. But I trust a wax plant cutting more than the planting guide. I think these tender cuttings know more than the almanac. 

Besides, it's cold outside. I don't have my seed starting trays and soil inside warming up yet. I really need to get that done before I even think about starting seeds. I guess I'll have to go outside in below freezing temperatures with the wind whipping around and bring them in. 

Maybe tomorrow.

The Lady of Holly Tree Manor/The Hideaway

Holly Tree Manor, The Hideaway, wax plants, begonias, seed starts, cuttings, gardening, rural living, country lifestyle, weather watcher, green peppers 

January weather in December

Baby, it's cold outside! 

It was 35F at 6:00 AM, and the temp has dropped to 30F at 9:30 AM. It's windy as hell outside which means I'm going to burn a lot of firewood today. Burning more wood isn't a complaint. That's why me and the cousin split a lot each year - just in case. 

Living rural as I do, I watch and track our microclimate. Our recent temperatures are much colder than our usual Decembers. In fact, the temps are more in line with January. I know this is fact because I track the weather on my desk calendar, and carry that info forward each year. It's especially valuable as gardening season approaches. Yes, it's time to think about the 2025 garden and what it will look like for a single me.

Things outside are at a standstill here at the manor. Weather this cold means me and Deuce are limiting our time outdoors. Yes, he has a thick coat, but his paws can get very cold. He's just weeks short of nine years old and the last thing I want is for the cold to seep into his joints. I'll give him an aspirin if necessary, but why purposefully cause him a problem? I've noticed he likes sleeping on the soft bed more than on the floor beside my desk these days. 

Ron has been gone for eight months now, and some days I wonder why and how it is I can get up each morning and look forward to the day. How is it I'm suddenly wanting to map out and plan future activities? The days are shorter and give us less sunshine, and cold weather should have me hibernating but I'm not. I'm staying home, but I'm active inside (as much as possible) and ideas that will prevent me from becoming one with my recliner fill my head. 

I think this is a good thing. Living in the past isn't healthy. That doesn't mean I'll forget the past - oh, no. I hope I never forget the thirty years I spent with Ron at my side. But I've been taking baby steps forward lately. 

I think this is a good thing.

The Lady of Holly Tree Manor/The Hideaway

Holly Tree Manor, The Hideaway, rural living, country lifestyle, homestead, weather watcher, single living, widows, organization, planning, map for the future, a writer's life