Gardening in the winter

We have been under the weather for the past several days with bad colds. I have spent lots of time on the couch feeling pretty yuck, so I have been planning my garden. Do you think it looks like it is about ready?

No? How about the back yard garden?

I know it is the middle of winter, and we have loads of snow, but I have been thinking about spring and gardening! I do love the snow, but look forward to spring too. I have had my seed catalog out.

I also got a few books for Christmas. I am really interested in trying to grow things upward, so that I can fit more garden in a smaller space. I am also really interested in preserving things with a root cellar. We had one when we lived in the country, but don't have one here. I didn't know much about them then. You can store things like apples, pumpkins, squash, potatoes, parsnips, carrots, turnips, cabbage, and other things all winter long in a root cellar without having to can or freeze them. I first started reading about it when I was reading Evie a "Little House on the Prairie" book. I was amazed at all they kept fresh through the winter! Also, we have been watching this show on Discovery channel called Alaska : The Last Frontier. LOVE that show! They showed the root cellar's of the familes on there, and talk about how they are able to have fresh food in the winter because of it. Jeff and I are looking into different ways to do a root cellar. The one book I bought has some great ideas.

Daisy has been making the rounds, laying on all of our laps since we have all been laying down so much! She is loving it. Right now as I type this, she is laying on the couch between my feet :).

I took this picture earlier this week, and was bummed that it was a little blurry. We have nicknamed Daisy many nicknames, and "acrobatic kitty" is one of them. See if you can figure out where her head is :). If you need a hint, look for white whiskers!