Every year I'm tempted to get a fancy seeder that can seed a whole flat in under a minute and then I don't. There are multiple reasons, like they use a vacuum and vacuums are noisy, I often don't seed a flat with the same single variety (especially with the flowers), and they won't work with a lot of the more irregular shaped flower seeds, but truly it comes down to this: I like to touch the seeds. Creepy of me right? It may be 'woowoo' but I like to give them a little sense of hope, a little feeling of gratitude for their current and future self, a 'seed hug' if you will. So go forth and not only hug a tree but also hug a seed because it is just a baby tree!

If these little seedlings look a lot like carrots to you, then you have a good eye! They are baby Queen Anne's Lace and Chocolate Lace Flower, both relatives of carrots that flower in the first year (not the second like carrots do) and make larger and more numerous blooms, but not much root.

The first sowing of Cherry Tomatoes are growing well, and the second sowing got done this weekend. In another week or two, they'll each get upgraded to larger pots and smothered with as much indoor light I can give them as I don't trust putting them into the greenhouse (even with a heater) until March/April. I sleep better knowing they are safe from a sudden overnight cold snap.

I'm finally getting to winnowing and sifting the saved seeds from last year! I should have done it months ago, but that's life. Every time you save seeds you are choosing individuals that are thriving in your region and local conditions. This is the perennial Lupine that grows big and bushy, with tall spires of purple, blue, pink, and white blooms that are beloved by bees and can handle frosts! I'm working on prepping the cold hardy varieties first so they will be available for planting as the conditions are right!

As the chickens get special treatment and consideration in the wet times, the ducks don't care one bit! I'm sure this drake wishes his run was flooded instead!

The firewood shed floor has quickly become a chunky smoothie of mud and bark bits! Since it is a low spot relative to the snow outside (especially on the sides where it falls off the roof), it all flows in and even though the wood is off the ground a bit I may end up with some logs in ice!

But the water in the shed is good for one thing: to keep the axe heads on with no bucket needed!

When it's well below zero the frost starts to move inside!

It makes for great icicles too!

The seed starting area is starting to fill up, so I brought the other shelving unit up to get ready for more seed flats that need a space and some light. It is a few weeks before I feel confident in the greenhouse dome's heater so for now they get their special space in the attic!

I finally took the time for a quick jog/hike along the Kootenai and in true Montana fashion it was beautiful even in winter! Also saw an Eagle try for a Great Blue Heron. It got away but probably not without a few scratches!

Hella loves the hand soap I currently have so every time I wash my hands she wants to lick it 'clean' for me!

A few Mixed Bouquets of the last dried flowers are available for those special everlasting valentines and galentines!

The cold mean getting a lot of firewood up on the porch and ready to pop into the stove! It's a hungry beast that needs constant feeding, almost as hungry as the hens ;)

Woodshop time means I get to work on the smattering of small 'building' that will make the farm just that more functional. First was the hut for the generator. Second is a little Farm Stand that will be stocked on Saturday mornings in future. Now it just needs a floor and a roof!

(sorry if they are a little squirmy and creepy!!!) You may have forgotten about my wormies in their worm bin, but I haven't! I've been feeding them the veggie scraps that even the hens don't care for (like onion skins, moldy strawberries, and squash rinds) and they've been growing, multiplying, and turning all the ucky ickiness into beautiful black gold! These ones are taking a water cooler break from all the vermicomposting below so they can dish all the dirt and juicy gossip on their other wormy roommates!

Hella may be unintentionally impersonating a famous kitty cat clock, but the only time she is telling is that it's nap time!

A bit of fresh snow makes the Rainbow Huts look bright and cheerful amid the winter gloom!

Tiny pops of green are appearing on some of the first trays that were sown! These are Sweet Williams getting an early start to a long season of blooms!

The Delphiniums are starting to send up their first true leaves so they can soak up as much light as possible from the LEDs.

With no ponds around what is a Drake to do but rub a dub dub in the tub

Sunday mornings are spent sipping a strong cup of tea propped up under warm covers while the refueled wood stove brings the cabin to a comfortable temperature while I enter the weeks receipts, except sometimes Hella takes offense and claims all the delightfully crumple-able receipts for herself!