Jessica R. Veldman
@jrveldman.bsky.social
A 7a coastal gardener, book devourer, crafter of all sorts, workout fiend, who loves the seasons, and all the things that grow.
Day off, woke up with a pounding headache so no beach run today. A delayed start on a trip to the dump with a stop at the station to check on the seed tray. Afterwards got a soup going for this week’s lunch. I finally got outside and got the grape on the arbor pruned. Next day off roses and pears.
February 11, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Day off, woke up with a pounding headache so no beach run today. A delayed start on a trip to the dump with a stop at the station to check on the seed tray. Afterwards got a soup going for this week’s lunch. I finally got outside and got the grape on the arbor pruned. Next day off roses and pears.
Hum drum day at work the past few days. I livened things up by getting some paeonia mlokoaewischii seeds soaking overnight. This morning I put them in some moist soil for warm stratification. No onions up yet which is dissatisfying. At least another amaryllis is showing some color.
February 10, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Hum drum day at work the past few days. I livened things up by getting some paeonia mlokoaewischii seeds soaking overnight. This morning I put them in some moist soil for warm stratification. No onions up yet which is dissatisfying. At least another amaryllis is showing some color.
The day off. With the -16 windchill I decided today was a good day to run the oven. 6 cookie sheets of chopped potatoes par baked and then bagged for the freezer. I only planted 8 potatoes and a 5 gallon pail was my reward in French Fingerlings. Maybe only 4 plants next year.
February 8, 2026 at 11:26 PM
The day off. With the -16 windchill I decided today was a good day to run the oven. 6 cookie sheets of chopped potatoes par baked and then bagged for the freezer. I only planted 8 potatoes and a 5 gallon pail was my reward in French Fingerlings. Maybe only 4 plants next year.
What a picture perfect snowfall this morning. It was a 4wd exit to work with the roads unplowed. It wasn’t too busy but it really started drifting around noon as the wind started gusting up to 30-40mph. Home after locking the buns in their houses for the night. The husband made dinner, great!
February 7, 2026 at 9:34 PM
What a picture perfect snowfall this morning. It was a 4wd exit to work with the roads unplowed. It wasn’t too busy but it really started drifting around noon as the wind started gusting up to 30-40mph. Home after locking the buns in their houses for the night. The husband made dinner, great!
In a funk today but soldiered on. It was planting day and I got the soil mixed up first. You want the soil to be moist enough to ball when squeezed and dry enough to brake upon dropping. I planted 250 Frontier yellow onion seeds and put them under the grow lights. Weights should perk me up.
February 6, 2026 at 5:58 PM
In a funk today but soldiered on. It was planting day and I got the soil mixed up first. You want the soil to be moist enough to ball when squeezed and dry enough to brake upon dropping. I planted 250 Frontier yellow onion seeds and put them under the grow lights. Weights should perk me up.
After getting a good workout in yesterday, dragging the delivery hose through the snow today, and then a short beach run this evening I decided a hearty dinner was in order. Onions and garlic from the garden, turkey kielbasa, spinach, gravy packet, bag of tortellini, and a dash of spices, simmered.
February 4, 2026 at 11:54 PM
After getting a good workout in yesterday, dragging the delivery hose through the snow today, and then a short beach run this evening I decided a hearty dinner was in order. Onions and garlic from the garden, turkey kielbasa, spinach, gravy packet, bag of tortellini, and a dash of spices, simmered.
Afternoon, it’s my day off and unfortunately, I’m still delivering fuel. I got roped into helping my husband go out and make deliveries. So I guess no fruit tree pruning for me today, maybe tomorrow. At least the views are really nice from some of the properties, even if I’m not doing what I want.
February 4, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Afternoon, it’s my day off and unfortunately, I’m still delivering fuel. I got roped into helping my husband go out and make deliveries. So I guess no fruit tree pruning for me today, maybe tomorrow. At least the views are really nice from some of the properties, even if I’m not doing what I want.
It was the laziest of days. Seth and I slept in and then had a leisurely breakfast at Ellens Diner. I spent the morning cleaning and tidying while a few flakes fell. The afternoon and evening was movie time. I will never watch Wyatt Earp again, Tombstone is my preferred version. Bedtime it is.
February 2, 2026 at 2:39 AM
It was the laziest of days. Seth and I slept in and then had a leisurely breakfast at Ellens Diner. I spent the morning cleaning and tidying while a few flakes fell. The afternoon and evening was movie time. I will never watch Wyatt Earp again, Tombstone is my preferred version. Bedtime it is.
Afternoon, it warmed up slightly out there to a balmy 19F! I took advantage of the milder temps to get a beach run in at low tide. There was a lobster pot just encrusted in ice out there. I also got the buns freshened up for this next batch of negative temps and 40mph winds tomorrow. Tired now.
January 31, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Afternoon, it warmed up slightly out there to a balmy 19F! I took advantage of the milder temps to get a beach run in at low tide. There was a lobster pot just encrusted in ice out there. I also got the buns freshened up for this next batch of negative temps and 40mph winds tomorrow. Tired now.
A day off island to the dermatologist. There was a large crane dredging the harbor as I got on the ferry. Appointment went well except for a small baby cancer spot on my lip they froze. I had noticed it wasn’t healing there so glad I told the Doctor. Annual visits are so important if possible.
January 30, 2026 at 1:59 AM
A day off island to the dermatologist. There was a large crane dredging the harbor as I got on the ferry. Appointment went well except for a small baby cancer spot on my lip they froze. I had noticed it wasn’t healing there so glad I told the Doctor. Annual visits are so important if possible.
Apparently the shoveling took it out of me because the workout crushed me today. It was my easier workout too but my legs are burning from all the lifting with my legs yesterday. The inner salt pond was a slush and ice mix in the biting cold. Might give it another go tomorrow.
January 27, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Apparently the shoveling took it out of me because the workout crushed me today. It was my easier workout too but my legs are burning from all the lifting with my legs yesterday. The inner salt pond was a slush and ice mix in the biting cold. Might give it another go tomorrow.
It snowed and the wind screamed. I had locked Celestine in her house because the wind was coming right at her door. She was nice and toasty in her insulated hutch. So toasty her water wasn’t even icy this morning when I went out and freshened her bedding. Exhausted from all the shoveling at work.
January 26, 2026 at 8:44 PM
It snowed and the wind screamed. I had locked Celestine in her house because the wind was coming right at her door. She was nice and toasty in her insulated hutch. So toasty her water wasn’t even icy this morning when I went out and freshened her bedding. Exhausted from all the shoveling at work.
It was a brutal morning with -15 F (-26 C) windchills. I bundled up and had another busy day at work. The outlet my heat tape was plugged into died so I had to run a cord out the bathroom window until the electrician arrived. Got home tired and hungry, too busy for lunch. Seth made cheesesteaks!
January 24, 2026 at 10:16 PM
It was a brutal morning with -15 F (-26 C) windchills. I bundled up and had another busy day at work. The outlet my heat tape was plugged into died so I had to run a cord out the bathroom window until the electrician arrived. Got home tired and hungry, too busy for lunch. Seth made cheesesteaks!
What a day, ran around at the gas station as customer storm panic set in. After it was me panicking trying to get everything put away for the greenhouse. I got Celestine’s house walls fully insulated and the last outer layer on. Then a weight workout with my new 30lb dumbbells. I’m bushed.
January 23, 2026 at 11:47 PM
What a day, ran around at the gas station as customer storm panic set in. After it was me panicking trying to get everything put away for the greenhouse. I got Celestine’s house walls fully insulated and the last outer layer on. Then a weight workout with my new 30lb dumbbells. I’m bushed.
I went off island today and did a big shop to load the fridge and freezer. The dentist was fine, just a cleaning and my teeth and gums healthier than last time. Ready for the storm, no worries of an outage as we have a direct underground link to the power plant. Just need to get Celestine ready.
January 23, 2026 at 12:01 AM
I went off island today and did a big shop to load the fridge and freezer. The dentist was fine, just a cleaning and my teeth and gums healthier than last time. Ready for the storm, no worries of an outage as we have a direct underground link to the power plant. Just need to get Celestine ready.
A day at the gas station spent disinfecting the reusable bee boxes. I still have to do the bottom board but I forgot to scrub it before I tossed in the bleach. I’ll get it done when I bleach the trays for planting onions next week. Finished the day with a pathetic low tide beach run. Pretty view
January 21, 2026 at 9:56 PM
A day at the gas station spent disinfecting the reusable bee boxes. I still have to do the bottom board but I forgot to scrub it before I tossed in the bleach. I’ll get it done when I bleach the trays for planting onions next week. Finished the day with a pathetic low tide beach run. Pretty view
It’s a cold day out there. I waited until after work to get my shorts on and work out. Slogged through it with leaden limbs as I was still recovering from yesterday’s HIIT workout. Gave the rabbits a carrot nub to help keep their energy up. The bird feeder is very popular today.
January 20, 2026 at 9:44 PM
It’s a cold day out there. I waited until after work to get my shorts on and work out. Slogged through it with leaden limbs as I was still recovering from yesterday’s HIIT workout. Gave the rabbits a carrot nub to help keep their energy up. The bird feeder is very popular today.
A spot of color in the bee garden with winter blooming heathers and Camelia sinensis budding up. I might have to wrap it for although it tolerates the cold the wind is damaging. Got some cardio in doing six stair reps as the sun began to set. Winter sunsets are the best full of silvers and gold.
January 19, 2026 at 10:04 PM
A spot of color in the bee garden with winter blooming heathers and Camelia sinensis budding up. I might have to wrap it for although it tolerates the cold the wind is damaging. Got some cardio in doing six stair reps as the sun began to set. Winter sunsets are the best full of silvers and gold.
A lazy day off while it varied from rain to snow and back. It’s so wet out it will be a miracle if anything sticks to the ground. I cleaned the house and finished off the laundry. I made my fourth meatloaf and it came out rather lovely in my opinion. I was going to make cookies but I went feral.
January 18, 2026 at 10:40 PM
A lazy day off while it varied from rain to snow and back. It’s so wet out it will be a miracle if anything sticks to the ground. I cleaned the house and finished off the laundry. I made my fourth meatloaf and it came out rather lovely in my opinion. I was going to make cookies but I went feral.
At work today and sorted through bee boxes in between customers. I scraped down everything I was keeping to remove excess propolis and wax. Going to give it a rinse and then disinfect with a bleach solution. I took pics of the old hive before tossing the boxes in the back of the truck to be 🔥.
January 17, 2026 at 9:53 PM
At work today and sorted through bee boxes in between customers. I scraped down everything I was keeping to remove excess propolis and wax. Going to give it a rinse and then disinfect with a bleach solution. I took pics of the old hive before tossing the boxes in the back of the truck to be 🔥.
The oven is fixed!!! It’s been almost a month without a working oven and I was begin to despair that roasting season would pass me by before it was fixed. However, roasting season is back on and to celebrate the oven being fixed I made apple crisp. Baking in the oven right now 😱.
January 15, 2026 at 9:23 PM
The oven is fixed!!! It’s been almost a month without a working oven and I was begin to despair that roasting season would pass me by before it was fixed. However, roasting season is back on and to celebrate the oven being fixed I made apple crisp. Baking in the oven right now 😱.
Took advantage of the early warm temps. Took apart my dead hive, think it might have AFB so burned the frames and will disinfect the boxes. Cleaned up the back walkway and trimmed the lilac at the end. Started clip down in the grape harbor bed. Finished up as the cold front started coming in.
January 15, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Took advantage of the early warm temps. Took apart my dead hive, think it might have AFB so burned the frames and will disinfect the boxes. Cleaned up the back walkway and trimmed the lilac at the end. Started clip down in the grape harbor bed. Finished up as the cold front started coming in.
I was up early because I wasn’t sure if I was working, but no last minute text. I took advantage of the early hour to get some stair reps in and then into the garden. I got the main perennial beds clipped down and weeded out. Then installed a new feeder in Celestine’s hutch. Just made soup, done.
January 15, 2026 at 12:38 AM
I was up early because I wasn’t sure if I was working, but no last minute text. I took advantage of the early hour to get some stair reps in and then into the garden. I got the main perennial beds clipped down and weeded out. Then installed a new feeder in Celestine’s hutch. Just made soup, done.
Apparently I did rattle something loose because I woke up feeling much better. So much better I took out my weights and did a full workout without getting dizzy or wheezing! It felt so good to get a sweat on after three weeks of half arseing it. Big day gardening all day tomorrow, can’t wait.
January 13, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Apparently I did rattle something loose because I woke up feeling much better. So much better I took out my weights and did a full workout without getting dizzy or wheezing! It felt so good to get a sweat on after three weeks of half arseing it. Big day gardening all day tomorrow, can’t wait.
Work today and then I went for a wander about the greenways. I was trying to help loosen my chest as it felt heavy and hurt since awakening. Feels better now, hopefully I rattled something loose with the exercise. Saw this hawthorn tree with its thorns glinting in the winter light. Beautiful.
January 13, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Work today and then I went for a wander about the greenways. I was trying to help loosen my chest as it felt heavy and hurt since awakening. Feels better now, hopefully I rattled something loose with the exercise. Saw this hawthorn tree with its thorns glinting in the winter light. Beautiful.