SPRING IS COMING!!!

Welcome back to the Ozarks!

I am so ready to get out and do stuff. I have a list of places I want to visit, to learn more about and share with you.

I'm anxious to get in the garden. The critters have all nested in my garden shed and the wood storage trailer over the winter. I fear we'll lose a good portion of the wood there thanks to a rat or two.

After potential thunder storms tonight, rain on and off through Tuesday I should have a stretch of at least four sunny, relatively warm days to dig out the garden shed and the green house. I want to prep the green house for seed trays and I'll be starting seeds in the house in the next couple of weeks while we wait for consistent warm temperatures in the green house to move everything out there.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Last October I got in 28 straw bales and I've been conditioning them throughout the winter.  Once a month when they've called for rain, I've gone out and fed the bales with lawn fertilizer. I figure this will give them a head start on the 21-day conditioning process, allowing me to put plants in them a bit earlier than I have in the past.

I still need eight more bales but my local MFA hasn't had any. I'd be happy with just two more or I'll be moving my cucumber trellis - where I plan to plant squah but I'm pretty sure Bob wouldn't be happy with that idea considering he's the one who pounded the 8' T-posts in.

I'm letting this blog slide through the month of March. I have a book to finish writing and one to get off to a potential publisher. The 'day job' has to take presidence. Then I'll be back more regular with travel posts as well as prepping for the lovely weather spring brings.

In the mean time, take stock of your pantry, check the dates on things in your Emergency First Aid pack and I'll see you back here end of the month or first of April. 

ON HIATUS

I had hoped to continue the blog on a regular basis this week but I've had a couple of issues I can't get past.

I'd decided to go on hiatus this week as I'm busy prepping for a writer's conference. I leave tomorrow. So much to do, so little time.

This morning, I received news that my oldest sister has passed on unexpectedly. Has been a soul-shattering time for me today. Thankfully, I have Bob here to process my thoughts into coherency while I try to pack. I still have to leave tomorrow.

Bob. He leaves on the 22nd. When I get back next week I'll be spending every minute possible with him. I'm not going to even think about blogging. Just spending time with him.

You just never know.

Hug the ones you love, tell them you love them, call them - not a text or a facebook message but call and talk. I promise you'll make their day.

Blessings
Kelly

PREPPING - Let's Be Squirrels!

According to the weather folks, our temps are finally supposed to start cooling down. I am so ready. I mean, seriously, today (as I type this) is October 1 and I'm still running the AC!) I am so ready for a REAL fall.

I do know 'winter' will be here eventually so I'm beginning to think about Prepping for winter.

I shop a lot at Dollar General. They carry the brand of toilet paper we prefer and price comparative to the other box stores. Periodically, they offer a $5 off $25 coupon to be used on the Saturday of that week. I stop in during the week and pick up one item from my list then go back on Saturday to stock up on a specific item.
Some of the items I purchase:

Charmin Mega Rolls
semi-generic paper towels
napkins
Bob's drink addatives (He likes the root beer, Orange and grape)
cans of Queso cheese
Personal hygiene products...

I pick up enough of the pricier items like the TP and Paper Towels one week. Next time the coupon comes around, I'll go to the next item on my list.
I'm spending $20 plus tax and gettting the necessities of the house

I will add that they do offer an app (of course there's an app for that!) where some weeks the coupon is only good on 'app' items.  I don't use the app. I don't need any more of my information being tracked than there is already. Some things you can avoid... others, not so much. Be selective.

What I'm going to suggest is that we take this room by room each week in October. By the end of the month, you should have a nice supply.

Week 1 - Bathroom
This one is pretty easy, that's why I started here.
Designate $20 (or as much as you can apply)
Go through your bathroom and make a list of the things you need to get through the winter
     toilet tissue
     personal items
     dental hygiene
     Vitamins
     hair care
     make-up 
            Note: I list this one if you use make-up on a regular basis. Anytihng other than 6 months                                should be tossed.
     cold/ flu over the counter items you use regularly like Nyquil, Ibuprophen, etc.

You get the idea.
This is also a good time to pitch things you've not used.

CYA next Friday for another Prepper/ Stock-up!
NOTE: I'm going to re-run this series.. IN COMPLETION.... beginning as soon as the SIP is lifted.

Country Blessings from the Ozarks.

BARTLETT - A Ghost of a Community

While my address says Birch Tree, MO I am 1/4 mile shy of the Birch Tree/ Winona line. My mail comes from Birch Tree but when we had a land line, we had a Winona extension. You have to wonder who does the platting. LOL

According to Wikipedia, Bartlett is an 'unincorporated' community in Shannon County. A post office was established in 1888 and operated until 1941. 

Information from The State of Missouri Historical Society website tells us Bartlett was a railroad flag station named after W. R. Bartlett, a stock holder/ promoter for the Frisco Railroad

FRISCO ROUTE MAP

If you click on the link above, you can enlarge the map to show where the line begins in Birch Tree but not in Bartlett. Bartlett does not even appear so I'm not sure of the age of the map.  I do know the railroad no longer runs in this area at all.

I live south of 'Old 60'. My county road shows places where there was once concrete  as opposed to the dirt/rock logging road most people think I live on.

I'll be doing more research to find out what I can about Bartlett. Why did the post office shut down in 1941? Did the closing have something to do with the newer Hwy 60? Hopefully, I can do some digging soon.

In the mean time, do you have an 'unincorporated' community where you live? Do you know it's history?  Please share.

~Country Blessings from the Ozarks

SILVER DOLLAR CITY- Pumpkin Nights!

I don't get to Silver Dollar City very often but I have to say, this new event they have going on may have to be a trip to take:

CLICK HERE

for your chance to win 4 tickets to:

Silver Dollar City Pumpkin Nights
1 Meal Voucher for 4 at Silver Dollar City

Showboat Branson Belle

2 nights at Silver Dollar City Campground

Once you enter, you'll receive a link to share with YOUR friends for more chances to win!

PEACHY LIFE!

When Bob and I moved in here almost fifteen years ago, one of the first things I wanted was a small orchard. I chose dwarf trees that were supposed to produce full-sized fruit. Yeah.

We've since lost all three of the cherry trees and two apple trees. The existing apple trees don't look any too healthy.

But the peach trees have done AWESOME... growth wise. Producing.. not so much.

A couple of years ago one of the trees was loaded with peaches but not quite ready to pick. We took a 4-day weekend to his younger brother's in Oklahoma and came home to find every single peach had been stripped.

We suspect this guy's relations were the culprits.

This year we had 3 peaches. 2 on one tree and 1 on another.

Of course, Bob was gone when the lone peach got ripe. I split this one three ways with the grandgirls.

The fruit was juicy and sweet.

Next year, being an even year, I'm hoping for a good production. We shall see. 

In the mean time, Bob keeps discussing not putting in any more trees. I keep telling him they will be an investment in our retirement. I'm not sure he's buying it. :-)

GLADIOLAS!

I love GLADS. I think they are so pretty.

When I was about nine or ten, there was a man that lived down the road from us that grew either glads or iris'... commercially. I loved riding my bike up to his place just to look at the massive field of flowers.

If you've never been to a flower show, check one out next summer. The criteria for a Gladiola show in particular is stringent but the results the growers are capable of producing is spectacular.

I'm a gardener in the lightest respect of the word. I just like flowers. Before we moved here, Bob wasn't keen on my putting money into flowers because the places weren't our forever home. Here, he has given me cart blanche to spend what I feel comfortable with. He even built me new flower beds on either side of the front walk just before going back out on the boat this time.

This summer I planted gladiolas on the south end of my office. I want to plant a bunch more here next spring.

These were two of my favorites. I want to find some really dark ones, too. I'd love a couple of black ones.