We are sitting at 9F with a little wind about 4mph. no snow

Mary - your post does make many of us so thankful for our 50's, 60's, etc., even if it comes with rain.

Happy to serve....

pirl said:Mary - your post does make many of us so thankful for our 50's, 60's, etc., even if it comes with rain.

It was 19F last night, still only 31F, cloudy and we may get more snow tonight and tomorrow.

Right now it is 36 with high humidity and heavy clouds so not so nice outside.
This is an above average temp. but not uncommon around here.
Normal temps are supposed to come next week,
After working outside yesterday in a T-shirt and blue jeans, no jacket, today feels worse than it is due to humidity.
We have had few days with normal humidity all year much less low humidity.
I was hoping it might dry out and I could do some mowing but that is not going to happen.

Mary -- brrrrrrrr!!

After a rainy, windy night, we had a pretty decent day, with temps again in the mid 40s; right now we're still at 42, and tomorrow looks like more of the same except with more sunshine. I think I'm finally done working in the veggie garden... I moved my potted blueberry plants into the hoop house for the winter, and filled 5 buckets with finished compost and put them in the hoop house as well, to use early in the spring. Then I turned over the newer part of the compost pile and tidied it up, and put all the shovels, rakes and hoes away in the storage shed. Anything else that I get the opportunity to do outside will involve cleaning up the perennial flower bed (which has been pretty neglected this year ).

The seed catalogs are really rolling in now; I was looking at tomatoes in one yesterday and DH asked if I had a pretty good idea of what tomatoes I'm growing next year -- I said "yep, and I probably already have all the seeds I need for them but that isn't going to stop me from getting more!"

I get my seeds from Denali Seeds. They are a local state seed company and their seeds and recommendations reflect our environment. I was going to order for next year and even had my shopping cart full then wondered if I would be getting 2016 seed or older. So I emailed them. They said until January 1, I could be getting seeds packaged for 2016. They were still receiving new seeds and that as of January 1 they provide only seeds packaged for 2017. So I am waiting until January to order my seeds. I don't know that it makes a big difference. The seeds are pretty tough to begin with but I figure I need all the edge I can get being a rather haphazard gardener.

I have most of my seeds for next season, but waiting for seeds from swaps and one order yet to come. In the new year I will order some more--
I should make do with what I have , but there always seems to be one more attraction!

I shouldn't get any more seeds but of course I will get more seeds!!

Yesterday my Seeds N Such Catalog came and I usually get something from them.

Actually did some Winter sowing of rock garden candidates!
We are heading to very cold weather so did it.

Oh Caroline. What kind of rock garden seeds? I am reading the best book called the Pleasures and Problems of Rock Gardens published in 1928. Not sure if I mentioned it here or not. Great information and suggestions for plants with the best narrative full of humor and dry witt. Love it.

I will need to see if that book is available here.
For next season ( and hopefully later seasons) I am trying to focus on Lewisia. They need a few weeks of cold in order to germinate. I already have four plants in my rock garden. They like hot and dry and good drainage. This is a grandparenting weekend,--- so I don't have my Garden Journal handy. Other seeds that I remember starting were several gentians, veronicas and omphalodes.

I have some Lewisia. They aren't in a particularly dry spot but not soggy either near some succulents. If they do okay, all of them, then I will expand the area a little. There is a bed of short aquilegia to the north a few inches but there is room to the south (if I dig up a couple of day lilies, a lily, and some more aquilegia.

Ah, seed catalogs.
I used to get a pile but if you do not order from them the naturally cut you off eventually.
I think I will go through the net again and order a bunch.

Only 13 days till the start of winter, are you ready for cold weather

Cold weather is already here!!

Very funny RpR, we have been in the deep freeze for days, got about 6 or 7 inches of snow on the ground and more expected over the next couple of days.

RpR!! It was in the below zero teens here. I am looking forward to the 21st when we start gaining daylight.

Yes, longer daylight will begin then!
We are already frozen in here.
Car won't start---had to find block heater etc.
Charging battery booster!
I would rather be starting seeds or doing winter sowing.

I'm looking forward to the shortest day of the year... so the days can start to get longer again! Cold and snow are bad enough, short days and gloom are even worse!