Pea Green Soup

Colder weather is always good for a big pot of split pea soup. Made a pot tonight. Unfortunately, not with peas from the garden, as things are growing but rather slowly. However, it's inexpensive to make and really good. Lots of onions, potatoes, bacon and, in my bowl, lots of freshly ground black pepper. Daughter hasn't tried it yet but I'll force at least one spoon down her tomorrow and hope she likes it enough to want more. 

Finally got the plastic to finish the roof on the greenhouse. Won't be working on it for a few days, since my daughter is here and I don't want to leave her feeling neglected on her two days a week with me. 

The sunroofs are working well over the raised bed, especially with blankets on top for subfreezing nights. Things are still growing, though slowly, as stated above. Had hoped to harvest some lettuce and green beans for Thanksgiving but it just wasn't to be. Should have better luck by Christmas, though. The sunroofs also offer the advantage of keeping the dog out of the raised bed. Though the disadvantage of not being tall enough for a trellis for green beans and peas. That's okay, if the dog tore them out or they froze then they would never get tall enough to need a trellis. 

Been doing some light reading on solar heating. Need to do some heavier reading on the subject before taking any action. Decided to use the greenhouse and maybe even the shed as test platforms for different trials on solar heating, maybe even solar water heating before attempting anything with the house, itself. The greenhouse and shed can be altered more readily and less expensively, plus I can isolate the results more without interference from the heat sources inside the house. 

Still in debt but made enough money to buy the stuff for Thanksgiving tonight. I am thankful for that, as last year I was broke before TG and had to race around TG morning, looking for one place that was open and still had a turkey left. Found one but at a premium price. This time, got it at the pre-TG special price and have all the stuff on hand, ready to cook, including homemade pumpkin puree in the freezer. 

Gotta get to bed. Daughter will wake me early. We have plans for the day, with no work involved. Brownies to make and walks and the playground to burn them off.