Winter is almost upon us

That dark blue patch over Minnesota is a winter storm watch.

Winter Storm Watch
Dakota (Minnesota)URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
506 AM CST FRI NOV 30 2007
...WINTER STORM WATCHES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE GOPHER
STATE AND WESTERN WISCONSIN FOR THIS WEEKEND...
.THE FIRST WINTER STORM OF THE SEASON REMAINS POISED TO AFFECT
MUCH OF MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN THIS WEEKEND. A STRONG
AREA OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES WILL LIFT
NORTH INTO NEBRASKA BY SATURDAY EVENING. A BROAD BAND OF SNOW IS
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WELL AHEAD OF THE LOW ON SATURDAY SPREADING
ACROSS MUCH OF MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN. THE LOW WILL CROSS
IOWA SATURDAY NIGHT REACHING WISCONSIN SUNDAY MORNING. ENOUGH WARM
AIR IS EXPECTED TO BE PULLED NORTH AHEAD OF THE LOW TO BRING A
PERIOD OF SLEET OR EVEN FREEZING RAIN INTO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND
INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...ESPECIALLY SATURDAY EVENING. SLEET
COULD REACH AS FAR NORTH AS THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA AND
CHIPPEWA FALLS...WISCONSIN. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL OF
PRODUCING SNOW TOTALS IN EXCESS OF SIX INCHES ACROSS MUCH OF
SOUTHERN...CENTRAL...AND NORTHEAST MINNESOTA...AS WELL AS WESTERN
WISCONSIN. OF COURSE...ANY AREAS WHICH EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT
FREEZING RAIN OR SLEET WILL SEE DIMINISHED SNOW TOTALS. GUSTY
NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO DEVELOP LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND
SUNDAY WHICH COULD CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITY IN BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW.
TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE RAPIDLY ON SATURDAY
AS BANDS OF HEAVY SNOW MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA
AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

I am so not ready for this. I never cut back my fall raspberries. I have piles of dead tomatoes in the center of my back yard. I still have Brussels Sprouts and other things (dead) standing in my garden. I haven't even brought in all of my garden hoses.

I know I have been busy, but how did all of this creep up on me? After all tomorrow it will be December and this is Minnesota!

My Garden will continue to sustain me throughout the winter

I belong to a bargain hunting board on the internet and the ladies love to post pictures of their stashes that they got for next to nothing. Well, this is along the same lines - but this is my gardening stash. But it wasn't free - it cost me a lot of labor and love - but I know that every bite of it is 100% pure and natural and exactly where it came from. Is it enough to keep me from having to buy fruits and veggies all winter long? No - but it all helps.


Here are 11 dozen jars of jelly and jam. They are not full dozens as we have taken some out to enjoy and share with friends - but they were all full. And we won't eat all of this - much of this will make it's way into gift baskets this holiday season.


This section contains stewed tomatoes, salsa, green chilis, applesauce and catsup.


Here are dried apples, more applesauce, tomato sauce and apple pie filling.


A look inside my freezer.


A glance into the bottom of my freezer.


And my dried herbs.

Gardening is so good for the soul

I know I have mentioned it before but I think it is worth mentioning again - gardening is so good for the soul. I was feeling very betrayed and angry this morning and now after an hour in the garden I feel so much better. I am able to put it all in perspective and realize that just because people on the internet are not always who they seem - it doesn't matter - it isn't real life. And it was good motivation to get out there and get the tomato plants pulled up and the cages put away for the winter. Even though we have only had a couple of light frosts - it is November and time to put the garden to bed for the winter. It is incredible to me that the tomato plants were still alive and I never even covered them. I still have hot peppers alive too. The hot peppers are next on my list and then the only things still growing are brussells sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower - which all love the cool weather.