Maybe throw some straw on top of them for over-wintering? Might keep them from freezing so hard when the snow comes. I assume global warming has not progressed to the point you are frost-free. I've only seen it snow here for a few minutes twice in my life, but I did spend a year in West Lafayette, Indiana. And I've skied some of the best Eastern Sierra slopes when I was young.
I've decided to try and duplicate Popeye's Red Beans & Rice. Found some recipes to try. One interesting factoid is they don't use ANY ham, sausage, or any other meat at all. They use bacon grease and liquid smoke! One experiment I used Great Northern beans, roast pork fat, and liquid smoke. Okay, but no cigar. I want to try authentic small red beans, but with olive oil and liquid smoke. That would make for a healthier version, but if doesn't pass my test I will get some bacon to render.
Biscuits and ham gravy tonight, with little sausage cubes in the gravy.
