Today, 30 December 2012, I leaf mulched my snow covered raised beds.
I had a stock pile of bagged cypress mulch that I place around the sides of the boxes, too.

The soils were only thinly covered with leaf mulch prior. I wanted the cold to penetrate deeply, then put the mulch down to hold the cold in. The ground freezes much later than it used to (before climate change), and I could have (should have) done it a week or two earlier, but I'm not worried. Even Wisconsin and Iowa has been colder than here in south central Minnesota. Tomorrow night will only be our third subzero low this winter.

19 inches of snow on the ground so no gardening.
We took the tree down and watched 6 hours of the first season of ROME a HBO series. There is just nothing to do.
Monday we will watch the second season. I want to take a walk but its icy. Maybe sweep some snow off the bench and feed the birds just for excersize.

Of course there will be computer time with plant plans.

First up, from the shower, I grabbed Sooty from downstairs and we gave him his Insulin..Coffee finished, I grabbed cockys cage ,, Pulled out 2 slabs of 9 grain bread, Ripped off 2 strips for the galahs and gave Cocky the rest.Took Cocky to his 'day cage'.,Shopping- Newspaper/ lotto /lambchops / chicken kebabs/eggs- forgot cheese slices..grabbed a couple of rolls at the bakery,.,.Money from Credit Union .. Visit Flower Show VP- look at his gardens,.,., home, check Internet,,.,.Outside, care for sad looking seedlings and shift orientals/ orienpets- and a few trumpets- pull out many weeds and check a few pots for habitation..[ Its hot here],.Grab the dog food, go down and pick up Cocky[ I missed- Replaced pot of Lancifolium x Flaviflorum, with a mean looking 5 heeaded trumpet pot in the waiting room at the Vets,].Came home, fed the birds, made myself a nice Brandy..Took Sooty for a walk, fed him, then another Insulin Shot.. More weed clearing from pots [I should have cared for better] Neighbor and his interstate brother, force me to drink beer..Cook evening meal, sit back and relax to great new years music--- And here I am , In front of this computer

I checked soil temp in the seedling cage (36'F). That's down from 44'F on Nov 29th. The ground is still soft underfoot in most areas of the lily garden. Pine boughs are ready to go on, most likely this coming week. We've had less than 1 inch of snow so far. Temp this morning is 33.8'F with a slight on shore breeze off the water. It is the 306th consequtive day with highs above 32'F here. I picked up just a little over 2 inches of rain so far this month.

Jo Ann, if I had half your snow cover I would be happy! I always get up early on this day so I can watch the Sydney Fireworks marking the New Years celebration there. I think their's is the best.

Kylie Minogue'S pushing the buttons .,,Lorn-on the fireworks[or so they are portraying]..Anyway, less than 2 hrs left-I may not make it!

I would surely share snow.I am glad to see it after last year when we only had 50 inches for the season.

Snow on Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve , Jo Ann...You'd certainly cool a lot of people [ I didnt type my Initial thought, as I thought too many people would think it 'Racist']-But true...Its starting to rain here.. rotten stinkin wind all day,..I've never seen a worse summer for wind!!

I won't be awake, for sure! Contemplating lilies all day is hard work. Gave them all a drink of worm juice and marvelled that the first L. candidum hairpin has emerged! Thanks, Anthony

Yes, they are really cruising!

Anthony---Am I seeing this right? You're temps look like 38-40'C on this coming Friday? ((99'F) Windy, too. WOW!

I never can stay up for New Years around here. It's the one evening a year my wife and I spend in private seclusion. This place is closed to company; we lock the doors, unplug the phone, turn down the lights and enjoy some lobster and grilled steak and wine. And, after rewinding the year in discussion, we're both too sleepy to see the Ball drop at midnight.

Similar to here , Lorn.. phone doersnt ring at all anyway, unless its stupid Indians..%0 minutes to go mate, and my heads about to hit the pillow -All the best!!

Cheers Anthony--Here's to a 'Good 2013'

Its just another day here.We also just go to bed.There are 2 neighbors who have fireworks but I am uually asleep and barely notice.
It will be another day of movies on the first also.The news and fiscal cliff are boring me to tears.

The next six weeks or so will be our coldest here and our neighbors and us pretty much go into hibernation--we really don't see them unless we meet them on the road. Everybody kind of stays put. Very quiet. Time to watch the cardinals enjoy their sunflower seeds. Gosh, they make a mess--but I love 'um.

Wondering how one grills wine, and what it would taste like...

LOL, just kidding!

ha ha.
Its isolating here too.Houses are on large lots.Spring will find clumps of neighbors getting caught up on news.

Yep, same here. First warm day of Spring and we all come out and chuckle over our 'hibernation'. Then before long, we're all out there on our hands and knees digging in the dirt and chuckle over why we do that, too.

Its a throw-back to hunter gatherers ancestry.

I cross country skied with my family, visited my grandmother in the hospital and gave her a facial then went to work. Hard to believe another year is coming to a close.

Jan 1 and very cold so the snow isnt leaving.DD and I began the second season of the TV series ROME.We will probably finish it in the next 2 days.Hopefully by then a few degrees warmer will melt some paths so the paths are bare enough to walk on. I am terrified of falling.Just ordered myself a pair of YAKTRAKS to clip onto my sneeks so I can grip the slippry spots.