If the above slideshow doesn’t work for you (mom), these same pictures can be found on our flickr site – click on our flickr photos at the right.

I especially like the effects of the dry mullein stalks, which were planted by the birds. The large trees in the background (likely also planted by birds) aren’t bad either.
One of this year’s goals is to work some winter interest into one of my newer beds. Good candidates that I have or am acquiring: Japanese pussy willow, Japanese fantail willow, yellow curly willow, Harry Lauder’s walking stick, red and yellow-twig dogwood, red curly willow, black pussy willow.

SMALL SUGAR PUMPKIN (95 days heirloom)
KIWANO HORNED MELON (90 days)
RED BURGUNDY OKRA (55 days)
BEER FRIEND SOY BEAN
ROSE ORACH (heirloom)
TABASCO PEPPER (85 days)
MINNESOTA MIDGET MELON (60 days)
KENTUCKY WONDER BEAN (66 day heirloom)
CYLINDRA BEET (58 days heirloom)
GERMAN GIANT RADISH (37 days heirloom)
CHERRY BRANDY RUDBECKIA
TENDER SWEET (heirloom)
LEMON CUCUMBER (65 days heirloom)
HOMEMADE PICKLES CUCUMBER (54 days)
TURKISH ORANGE EGGPLANT (heirloom)
LAVENDER TOUCH (F1 hybrid 66 days)
PENGUIN GOURD
PEPINO (95 days)
BANANA MELON (80 days heirloom)
FRECKLES LETTUCE (70 days)
SUHYO TK CUCUMBER (65 days)
ORANGE SUN PEPPER (81 days)
PAPRIKA PEPPER (80 days)
CAYENNE-LONG PEPPER (70 days heirloom)
EIGHTBALL ZUCCHINI (F1 hybrid 35 days)
PAPAYA PEAR SQUASH (F1 hybrid 40 days)
CARNIVAL SQUASH (F1 hybrid 85 days)
DELICATA SQUASH (heirloom)
OREGON SPRING TOMATO (68 days)
KELLOGGS BREAKFAST TOMATO (79 days)
WHITE SWAN ECHINACEA
CHIOGGIA BEET (55 days heirloom)
VIRGINIA GOLD TOBACCO
MOULIN ROUGE SUNFLOWER
FANTASIA MIXTURE SUNFLOWER(F1)
STATE FAIR MIX ZINNIA

We moved the suet feeder closer to the window for close-up views of some of the more interesting suet-eating birds. Please help ID this one, Ann and Jim.

I finally got around to making an artisan bread recipe featured a while back in Mother Earth News:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx

You mix up a big batch of dough, let it rise, then store in the fridge- no kneading required! Pull out a hunk of dough when you’re ready to bake, shape and let stand before baking at 450F with a pan of boiling water in the oven to produce steam. This bread has become the JOY of our existence around here. Just look at the crust on this thing!

Excellent design and meticulous craftsmanship by Al. It is fully insulated and has a fleece-covered goose down pillow on the inside. Al will build a fancy roof for it later, temps were plunging and there simply wasn’t time to complete that part as I was in a hurry to get Doppel into it.  And it’s a good thing we finished it last night as it was -11F this morning!

When we brought it into the barn last night, we put dry cat food inside it as a way to force Doppel in. We wanted to make sure he understood how to go in and out the little opening, which turned out to be in the shape of a piece of toast. He did it but seemed confused since that’s not where we usually put the food. Not knowing anything about cat house design, we were a bit concerned that the opening might be too small and that perhaps he might feel trapped if a predator were to approach. But when I came in the barn this morning, there he was all curled up inside, snug and fairly warm given outside temps.

And speaking of snug cats, Peaches does not appear to miss his barncat days. Just about a year ago he, too,  lived in the loft of the barn and spent many a -10F day.