Practical Matters for Physically Challenged Gardeners

Hey Jim, you could direct the cleaning patrol up here for a few days ... this house hasn't been "broom clean" since we moved in.

I think SOME people do not adapt to change and transition very well. SOME people, in fact, put up resistance to it every year. We suspect SOME people have control issues.

The magic words that will put an end to all of SOME people’s woes are, “Yes, Ladies. You are right. Amargia should get another greenhouse.”

Carrie, I would be happy to take my cleaning crew on the road, but SOME people have declared dust bunnies are on the endangered species list. Their rights must be protected. Maybe you can start a dust bunny preserve? *Kay*

My daughter and her family moved in with us recently. There are no dust bunnies in my house any more. She has clean issues, and she didn't get them from me.

Jim, You need a sign in your office that says "Genius is found in this disorganization" Which is always my motto..... ALWAYS!!!

Kay, every gardener always needs another greenhouse. Just ask one.

I've used an old envelope, cut half into longwise, than one side cut off and using a nailfile i scoot tiny seeds one at a time into little pots. Except i use 2 or3 seeds in case one does'nt come up. Works for me.

I could always use a cleaning team should you decide to clean America.

I'm doing fall house clean up too, except i had to take time off to go to town and get my monthly supply of grocerys, medicines etc yesterday. I went to Freds,used a manual wheelchair. Went to General Dollar and walked around, same at Dollar tree, Than electric wheels at Walmarts. Left home at 10 AM got back at 10:30 PM. I hurt all over and was exhausted but things are done for another month.
Just heard on tv that we may have a frost in a couple of days and i still have half my houseplants outside. I need help carrying a couple of them in. (Gonna have to bake a pie for some victem.) Have some other outside clean ups to do also. But i want to work on crafts, I'm so-o-o-o slow at doing anything it's maddening, frustrating and downright irritating! Grrrrrr Actually another word is forming in my mind but it's not repeatable!

Perfect timing with your latest article, Carrie. I was looking for new ideas on what else to do with the newest crop of tomatoes.

The planter made from a child’s pool sitting on the wrought iron table produced well but we won’t be doing it next year. Not with tomatoes, anyway. It isn’t TOO bad as a standing garden for those who are tall and long- armed, but not everyone here fits that description. Some could not reach the center. And, even those of us who are tall have to be careful not to break the vines hanging over the edge when harvesting in the middle.

We are going to try topsy-turvy planters on a pulley system for tomatoes next year. Everyone should be able to work with that since it can be raised or lowered to suit an individual’s needs. I have some commercial versions of the topsy-turvy planters, but one of the women here tells me she has had good results with the home-made version. It is made from an inexpensive, 5-gallon, plastic bucket. Amargia’s budget can handle lots of those.

An agreement has been reached with the “invading hordes” who insisted on cleaning the office (a.k,a. Jim’s lair) Only the high places that he can’t reach from his chair will be cleaned by others. Grumpy old dragons need a private lair so we leave the rest to his discretion. The tropicals spend one more winter in there. He solemnly swears he will remember to water them. New greenhouse by next winter.
You are all witnesses to this agreement. Make sure to file the “new greenhouse by next winter” part away in your heads. A good morning to all! *Kay*

Sounds like a fair agreement to me. I, Carrie, hereby stand sit as witness to this lovely arrangement. Chinese food for breakfast - yum yum.

Vicki, tiny seeds are the bane of a V.I. gardeners existence. I chicken out and find a L.D. who can be presuaded (coursed, SOME might say) when the seeds are few and difficult to come by. I will be brave and try your method next time. Practice with some common seeds first. Have you recovered from your shopping trip? That IS a case of "shop til you drop." Loved to shop when I could still see. On-line stores with good descriptions of their merchandise get my business these days. I don't think anyone in a wheelchair could even squeeze into our local Dollar Tree. The store is small and they pack things so tight.

Now you've done it, Carrie. I've got to have sesame chicken. Is that allowed on a low-carb diet? Don't care. Everything in moderation, including moderation.

Cathy, my daughters labeled me a "clean freak" long ago but say I've gotten better in recent years. I still clean their houses when I visit. They appreciate it, but it drives my SIL's up the wall. Can't think of a better reason to keep doing it.

The lime and Clementine orange trees outgrew the greenhouse frame this summer. Topped and pruned those today. I look like I've done battle with a swamp cat. Made me think of that recent article in the newsletter about the masochistic tendencies of gardeners. Got that straight! *Kay*

I had to scroll up to see what you were talking about, Kay. Most people, in my opinion, eat little breakfasts (or none) and giant suppers before bed. I had to switch that around because of pills that were take in the morning with food. So now I eat a tiny supper and a huge breakfast. Leftovers are great for breakfast. Today I had beef stew.

I think you could put sesame seeds on anything -- in moderation!

90 degrees with 70% humidity today, but there was still an upside to working outside. A plant folks here call horsetails are blooming. They aren’t much to look at. Scruffy, in fact. But, the smell is like an expensive perfume. They grow wild. I wondered why the VI’s didn’t want me mowing down these particular “weeds” Now, I know. Not the same plant we called horsetails in PA. I’m curious enough to do the research and try to find out what they really are. I may not be able to pronounce botanical names, but beginning to see their value.

The sign you recommend would work, Cando. The ladies would be laughing so hard about the genius part, they wouldn't be able to clean. (Jim)

Photo: Horsetail in bloom.

Put 'em on the ID forum; you'll get a name in hours or less.

I'm recouped from my shopping trip. NOW if only i could get my house back together. Still house cleaning, Did say i was slow. I'm making the southeast room a craft room so i can sit in front of the sunny window this winter. It was in my tiny computer room. For now both rooms have paths only thru them.
My kitchen is about to be rearrainged too. For three months now i have been eyeing this TV cabinet at(would you beleive) Walmarts. It's about 5' long with 4 doors and shelves inside. The perfect height for me to sit and cook. And would hold my cooking ware perfectly. with my slow cookers and electric frypan and toaster on top. Don't think i'm going to wait any longer. One thing i did was move my kitchen table into the craft room.(with help of course)
Goodness, I'm running over with good news tonight. A friend of my SIL wants to hunt on my land. I've got a tiny cabin that i could'nt keep up, on the backside of our land,next to the national forest.He wants to fix it up for the use of it this deer season. I feel like i'm getting the best of the deal, but he said that is what he wants to do. I could camp out in it some. Both DD,s says not without walkie talkies. I can handle that. I can always keep it turned off.LOL
Kay, i get all my clothes online when Woman Within has big sales. Just bought all my next summers clothes.Except for a robe,top,and pants i found on sale today. This will be the last for this year.
Let us know if you find out the name of those horse tails.
We've had a good cool off in the 60,s with 40 for a low tonight. Think it's headed on your way if it gets that far south.
Jim, bless your heart! You simply get no respect.
Carrie, i'm one of the guilty big supper eaters. Except i start midday and don't stop till bed time. Since you owned up to beef stew for breakfast, i'll admit to Piezza occasionally.
Kay my new mtto may be "everything in moderation specially moderation."
Goodnight all
Vickie

Like your deal with the hunter. I make a deal with a deer hunter too when the herds get large and destructive. But, all I get is a few venison steaks. Not to mention, I’ve found myself hostess at an obscenely early hour because Mr. Hunter wants a cup of coffee and to warm up. *Kay*

Thanks for the suggestion to use the Plant ID forum, Carrie. As it happened, there was someone there trying to ID the same plant. Probably caught by its scent as I was. It is a type of dog fennel. Kay dreams of Amargia someday becoming more of an educational resource for V.I.'s. A way to make it easier to learn about their natural surroundings. With nice Braille labels and Braille information available for all the trees and perennials. One more plant positively identified gets us a step closer. Dog fennel is a native perennial all the V.I.'s love, even if they haven't been calling it by its correct name.

Next Sunday we dress in old-timey clothes and have our church service on the river bank. I suspect it is just a way to enjoy the nice weather. It is always fun. One of the hymns is always "We Shall Gather at the River, of course. (Jim)

Kay, tell me you don't get up before daylight for hunters. I seldom did that for DH. I got everything together night before and told him he was on his own. I did cook big suppers for everyone.

Jim, I've got a nephew that has a masters in Plant biology. Offer him a trip to the beach and i bet he'd come identify your whole place.

Even as a teen i always got more out of an outside church service than inside. Am determined God lives outdoors. The old fashioned clothes sounds like fun too. Wish i were there.
I really hope Kay and (i suspect) you get your wish for a teaching garden.

Its so quiet here, I need to go to town for to see people. Probably wont tho. Will talk to you all instead.

Watched a football game for the first time in several years. Need to get back into that. It was fun. Have to find a team to support. Wont be the Cowboys, Can't stand the owner.
Think I've been rambling so i'll go for now.
Vickie

DW is the sports fan in our house. College football, international soccer and baseball. She’s a dedicated fan of the Florida Seminoles. And we have an orange and blue flower bed whose main purpose, I suspect, is to aggravate Alabama fans. Those are Auburn University’s colors. Alabama/Auburn is the big rivalry within this state.

I get a kick out of watching the strange transformations some people undergo at games. My BIL, another Seminole devotee, goes through a truly dramatic one at their games. He is a refined, soft-spoken Bostonian pharmacist but turns into a raving maniac at games. Things like taking his shirt off and throwing it at people. He often seems to end up in the “fan penalty box.” His wife refuses to go to games with him anymore. Kay does conduct herself a little better than her BIL. She keeps all her clothes on anyway. But, she does hurl creative insults at the players even when she is “watching” a televised game. I’ve noticed it is the ones who normally keep themselves under rigid control who go through the most dramatic transformations.


Kay is back on concrete surfacing today. And, identifying and re-labeling plants in pots. Fenny, the dog thought the labels made nice chew sticks and pulled many out for that use. Poor baby is currently hiding under my desk to avoid the Wrath of Kay. I could definitely use your nephew’s services. We have a lot of “pass along’ plants. Not to mention, the wild plants that Melinda or Jenny liked and decided to “civilize.” ID-ing is time consuming. Cool weather coming in this week, though. Local beaches won’t be much fun until spring. (Jim)

What can I say! The two siblings closest to me in age were brothers. Both played football. I’m ALMOST as bad as Jim when he’s playing computer games. Definitely, watch more football, Vickie. If you keep throwing your balls of yarn at the television when you are upset by something on the news, you will get a reputation as a crotchety old woman. But, you can throw your balls of yarn at the TV when a football player does something dumb to your heart’s content. No damage to your rep. It is acceptable, “normal” behavior when watching a game. Doesn’t make logical sense, I know. But, then, not a whole lot about life does. .

Another day of mundane, but necessary work like earth moving and concrete. It is made more bearable because we have a wireless sound system. Can listen to audio books and magazines with headphones while doing mind numbing task outside. It can be fun when we are all listening to the same thing. Yesterday, it was a science fiction magazine. There was a funny story about intelligent, wolf-like aliens we all liked. We ran around all day talking to each other like the pack- minded alien characters in the story. Like, growling and saying “Bite-bite.” when someone did something you didn’t like. Or, “I belly to you.” When you agreed with them. It is a good thing Amargia is off the beaten path and there were no strangers around. We all might have ended up confined in padded rooms. But, laughter and a little weirdness seem to help when the job is boring, dirty and sweaty. The RF headsets have their practical use too. Jim doesn’t have to hunt anyone down on the property. He can cut in and talk to us through the headsets. Doesn’t even have to go outside. He likes it because the communication is one-way. We can’t talk back. He finally gets the last word. *Kay*

LOL

I find I miss the red/orange leaf colors of fall I remember from the north. The autumn color scheme here leans to yellow/purple. Didn’t think of trying to change that before. I thought you had to have maples for the reds and oranges. When I said something about it to Kay, she mumbled the names of about 15 trees and shrubs that grow in our zone that have red fall color. (I wonder how many she can come up with when she’s fully awake. LOL.) Some, like black cherry and sassafras I would never have thought of. I guess I will be planting some trees and shrubs for fall color in the new area. For this year I’ll take a page out of Cando’s book and webcam for my autumn color. The purples of the sweet gums here will be amazing alongside the reds and oranges. Amargia might even rate its own webcam.

Judging from the e-mail I just received from Nadine in CT, it sounds like all of this is a season behind for those in your area, Carrie. She was watching it SNOW! I don’t think she was putting me on. It was in the upper 80’s today so it’s hard for me to imagine. (Jim)

Yup, it snowed. I don't count it if it doesn't stick and cause a nuisance. What they technically call "mixed precipitation," I believe. Check my article from yesterday, Jim, plus there is no doubt a thread in the photography forum with fabulous pictures of fall foliage.

Sorry I haven't been around; this tendonitis is hurting something fierce.

Carrie, I just hope your pain eases up soon. Well, I learned something from your article. I thought that was just a phrase Vermonters used. My SIL in St. Johnsbury says she will believe I care about her when I show up there in Spring. She has noticed that my trips to see her always seem to coincide with the leaf change on Mt. Washington.

I had to cut a deal to keep myself out of the doghouse today. I went out to get my hair cut and came home with a 42”, flat-screen plasma I saw on sale. Great deal, but was not in Amargia’s budget plan for the year. Could not think of a way to convince my dearly beloved I did it for her or the good of the group. So, somehow I ended up agreeing to remodel the living room to atone for my selfish, hedonistic ways. The LR is a nightmare where furniture arrangement is concerned. Four doorways and two windows make it difficult. We will sacrifice the window that looks out into a parking area and one of the two doorways into the kitchen to get more usable space. The deal works for me. I spend money when I’m depressed to try and cheer myself up. I was depressed because I felt like I wasn’t pulling my weight. Can’t help with the heavy labor that is being done outside at this time. Makes me feel like a bum sitting around while ladies lift and carry. Remodeling the LR is something I can still handle with only occasional help. Feeling better about things. (Jim)

Jim, one of the lessons I learned was that even the smallest jobs are important. It was a hard thing to accept, but please know that just because you can't do heavy stuff anymore doesn't mean your aren't extremely valuable to the bigger picture.

When I was so super sick, a friend taught me how to knit children's hats on a loom. It seemed like such a small thing. But then I taught a few other disabled ladies at church, and they taught a few of their friends. It has grown so big that 2 other churches now have groups knitting hats, too, and last year we produced almost 2000 hats that were sent all around the country for children who needed them. Sure, they could get the 99 cent knit caps at the store, but these are made with love, prayers and they are so much nicer. We've even had families come to our church after receiving a hat. So that little knitted hat has made a difference for the knitters and the children who receive them.

Value the small things you can do; they are important, too.

Jim, I can see you're totally inexperienced in coming up with excuses for buying something on sale and it was so easy. The only reason you got it was so Kay and others could watch tv easier. You were only thinking of them.Right?
The prettiest red tree we've got is Sour Gum. a brilliant scarlet. I think the hickorys have the brightest yellow.

Had a lot of fun yesterday with a SIL,s friend from town. They went down to work on the cabin and he went on ahead. He came running back hollering there.s a bear down there!!!! Seems like our bear has been hanging around down towards the cabin. I'm not sure if Carl's coming back. LOL I know, I know. I'm a ugly woman. lol

Jim, Sometimes what you see as a small thing is as big as all outdoors. When my SIL died, her son gave me a card from me to her, she'd saved for years. It only said she was my role model for what a mom should be, and i kept to that vow to the best of my ability. You just never know!
What i miss the most about my husband is the morning coffee we shared and talked about everything and nothing.

Kathy. I volunteer for Salvation Army and have seen the reaction to some of the things they get and the small ones specially love the hats and gloves and coats. Not all do but enough that it is important. Some cannot afford even (now $2.00) mittens. I'll thank you for others for the hats.

It's cold here tonight. Maybe i ought to put out a christmas decoration or two.LOL
Vickie

Jim, grin and bear it, we all know that feeling. We also serve who only sit and wait. None of us thought that would apply to us, right?

I think SOMEONE is still a bit brainwashed by old sexist piggy social attitudes. He thinks because he is a large statured male he should automatically be the one doing the brute labor. This is the year 2009, not 1959. Check your calendar, Sugar.

SOMEONE is upset because a home improvement store employee rolled his eyes when I lifted a bag of Portland onto the cart while my darling husband very intelligently stood aside. A bag of Portland can weigh anywhere from 80 to 100 lbs. By doctor’s orders, SOMEONE is allowed to lift 20 lbs. at max. It was my purchase and I can lift that much with relative ease. That little store clerk was a pompous piggy. He was a small statured man and, I suspect, very insecure about that. He wasn’t comfortable in his own skin. He projected his personal psychological demon onto someone else. HE has the problem. Carrie is right. You just have to learn not to let people like that affect you. When someone tosses their personal demons on you, just swat them on their scaly noses and toss them back to their owners.

No one really gives up their independence. What you must give up when you become physically disabled is the ILLUSION of independence. No one is fully independent of others. No mentally healthy person anyway.

And, that concludes this week’s sermon. Let us pray.

*Kay* .

Amen and Hallelujah!

LOL!

(praying)

Okay, here’s the important question. If I agree with all the above. And, with all the other psycho-babble about how purchasing an expensive, unnecessary item for my own selfish pleasure was a way of re-ascerting my self-worth. Do I still get to keep the 42” plasma? (Jim)

We better pray on that some more.... :D

Better beleive you can keep it. I've got one and i'd fight tooth and nail to keep it!

My prayers have been answered! I even get to keep it in the bedroom all to myself. Blind folks just aren't impressed by a high resolution. They're happy with the old one. Don't have to learn new controls.

Should I come and chase that bear away for you, Vickie. Or,would that spoil your fun.

Decided to sponsor a child through World Vision. It turned out to be a little boy in India. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday. He said he wanted chickens. LOL. This is going to be interesting. We can help each other. I'll help him get his chickens and he'll help me remember what is really important. (Jim)

That is so wonderful it made me cry.

The water meter reader received a shock this morning. He opened the in-ground meter box and had a snake jump out at him. Based on the description the meter reader gave and the way the snake behaved, I would say it was a Black Racer. A scary, but relatively harmless snake. You can just about tell how long someone has lived in the south, by how they react to snakes. The field mice have started looking for a warm place to stay and the snakes follow their food source. Unfortunately, the warm places the mice find are close to people. Seeing snakes is very common when the weather warms again after our first cool spell.

Jim loaded his target pistol with snake shot and re-engineered his Gopher reaching tool for snake catching. He took Fennydog and went on a snake hunt. I am keeping a straight face. It is hard, but I am. As long as he doesn’t destroy any King Snakes I will keep my mouth shut. The King Snakes are what really keeps snake populations under control. King Snakes feed on other snakes. Most rural southern children learn the rhyme, “Red and black. Friend of Jack.” Very early on.

Everyone is always so concerned when they learn a visually impaired person is also an outdoor gardener. Actually, I think V.I.’s are less likely to get bit than other gardeners. We tend to be a little slower moving in the garden. That gives any snake present time to get out of the way. Snakes rarely bite unless they are startled or trapped. They will avoid humans, if they can. That is even true of Black Racers (or Blue Runners, as some people call them. They are a glossy blue-black.) They will lunge at people. Reportedly, even chase people. But, that is a ruse. They protect themselves by trying to scare people. Water snakes are the only ones blind people really have to worry about. They are aggressive and have the venom to back it up. I would not go down to the stream without one of the dogs to be my eyes. Even Fearless Fenny, who seems to have a personal vendetta to settle with snakes, runs from Cotton-mouth Water Moccasins.

Jim just came home exaulsted from his hunt. Only to find an Oak snake sunning on the porch. He grunted with disgust and went to his office. He's getting the idea. We may make a southerner out of him yet. LOL. *Kay*




This message was edited Oct 20, 2009 6:17 PM

Jim, Think i'm gonna keep the bear as long as he behaves. He might come in handy during deer season.

This is one rural southener that hates snakes. We have copperheads up here and they bite our dogs and really make them sick. I use to be able to say i've never kiled anything but since living up here i've killed 2 copperheads that were a threat to my dogs.
Those blue racers were named right. I've come across a couple and they can flat move along fast.

I agree about snakes avoiding biting. I've gone by copperheads and rattle snakes and was'nt bit. But i did have a cotton mouth strike at me and miss.He was on a trail beside a creek. I had an ongoing war with a corn snake about just who owned my flower beds. Think she laid eggs as we had an abundance of corn snakes for a couple of years. Don't know what happened to them.

Jim i'm so glad you're taking on a little needy one. You'll be blessed beyond measure and so will he. Keep us updated.

Kay i learned that snake ditty a little different. Red and black, venum they lack. Red and yellow can kill a fellow.

My old dog Bear killed every snake he came across. the dog i have now gets bit by every snake that comes along.

Carrie, i know you wish you lived down south about now. LOL

Vickie, your version of the rhyme makes more sense. That's probably how it really goes.

Yes, Carrie, whenever you get depressed about the cold. You can just think of it as snake repellent. Might help. Things do have a way of balancing out. *Kay*

A-a-argh! I'll be so glad to have my own computer back. (Not Kay)


This message was edited Oct 21, 2009 10:42 PM

Okay, now I'm me.

I don’t think my DW is as nonchalant about snakes as she lets on. Fear of snakes is innate to humans. Southerners are just a little more accustom to dealing with them on a regular basis. There was an accident recently just over the Florida line in which a number of dangerous and exotic snakes escaped into the wild. Everyone here is hoping no cross-breeding with the native snakes occurs and that the winter is unusually cold. Cold enough the non-natives can’t survive.

What my dearly beloved IS terrified of is rats and mice. I think her apparent nonchalance about snakes is really a “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” sort of thing. In her mind, snakes are the lesser of the two evils.

We are talking a stand-on-a-chair-and-scream like-a-banshee fear of anything even rodent-like. Doesn’t even like squirrels. Calls them “fluffy tailed tree rats.” Afraid she was going to have cardiac arrest because a baby chipmunk got in the house. I knew I was very special to her when she agreed to keep my pet ferret while I did a tour of duty in Kuwait. And, the ferret was alive and well when I returned. Although, she did have it wearing cologne and a rhinestone harness. (Jim)

What did you expect Jim. Us wemmin are the motherin kind. We'll dress up anything. LOL
Way to go Kay!

I don't believe the rhinestone harness part! Maybe the cologne...

Smart lady! Jim IS exaggerating. It was red leather and only had a couple of studs. Marni the ferret was a small sable type. It was the only one the pet store had that would fit her. I thought it was funny that ferrets wear harnesses almost like guide dogs. I guess because their heads aren’t much larger than their necks, collars don’t work well with them. And, they are so quick and agile you need something to keep a hold of them. By putting little bells on her harness, I could keep up with where she was.

Ferrets aren’t too bad. Some are mean, but Marni was a sweetheart. They dislike rats and mice as much as I do. They are better at running them off than cats. They do have a rodent-like smell though. Hence, the cologne. Jim doesn’t have any room to talk anyway. He spoiled that animal. It had as many toys as most children. *Kay*