Spring?

It's 66 degrees right now. 66!!!! And, it's the end of January. WOW!  I walked out this morning to feed animals and I smelled Spring.  All we need now is to hear the peeps a peeping.  I don't know if I should be happy or scared of what's coming this Summer.  Well, for right now, I'll just enjoy.

I'm starting out this time of year just like all the other years that I've been homesteading.  I'm looking at the seed porn magazines and wanting a big garden.  The problem with that is I promised myself that I would downsize the garden this year.  I want something that won't overwhelm us.  I'm just going to have a few different things and not the gigantic garden we normally have.  I plan on having my normal tomatoes and beans and corn.  I'm just not going to plant as much.  I also want to try different types of veggies.  We need to mix up the things we eat. Do you have anything that you just HAVE to have in your garden?

As I type this though, I begin to think of the possibility of Hubby losing his job.  The "War on Coal" has really put a hurtin to the Appalachia region.  Not just with the coal mines themselves, but with the steel mills and the rail roads also.  So many people I know are going to, or have already lost their jobs.  Many have had to move away from this beautiful area just because of jobs.

I would be lying if I say we won't be hurting if Hubby loses his job.  We will.  But, we don't owe anything on our house.  At least they can't come for that.  Our vehicles and hay roller may be another story.  Yes, Hubby will get unemployment, but the railroad has it's own unemployment and it's a VERY small amount.  It's getting real around here folks.  The garden may be more of a life saver than just something for fun.

Right now, I'm trying not to worry to much about it.  It hasn't happened just yet.  Only thing we can do is plan for the worst and hope for the best.

So until next time,

Small Farm Girl, 66 degrees!!!!!  Woooo  Hoooo!