New bees chit chat Come in!! 12/31/09 Happy New Year!!

The pellet stoves are extremely popular here with tons of people! They use them everywhere, to heat their homes, shops, garages, greenhouses, you name it. My Mom had one for a few years in replace of her fireplace, but switched it out a few years back for a gas fireplace insert instead. The problem she had with hers was the auger didn't feed her pellets into it very well and it was always getting jammed up and then wouldn't work. But hers was one of the first models (that was years ago) and I'm sure that they have improved all of that since then. Just like most things when new, it just takes them a few years to get all the kinks out and make the improvements. They are all so much nice now than hers was! The only problem that I see with them is they do take some electricity, so if you have a power outage, they aren't going to help much then. But really, how often is the power off for any length of time nowadays anyway.

Well, here in tornado alley if there is a big storm, you could be without power for a couple of weeks, sometimes up to a month. Normally it is in warmer weather, but you never know.
I haven't seen the pellet heaters, the pellet bbq grills are real popular here. They are expensive but they sure cook good.

Gotta do some research today - Enid has a farmers market that starts in the spring - sells fresh veggies, plants.... thought I would check to see if I could sell extra seedlings there this spring. I don't know if they require any kind of license or not.

You guys have a great day and stay warm! Only 13 out there and wind is blowing like crazy!

I have a friend that has a pellet stove, but she has to put the pellets in herself. She lives in a mobile home.

Yea, wind is blowing that next polar cold event into the areas. Watch out for the cold blast of freezing weather it's bringing in tonight for here.

Marti, that is what I was thinking. So if you have to do it, you couldn't sleep long or the fire would go out.

Well, good thing spring is only 71 days away! LOL Yep, time to start planning for it. Course, in our country, I think that really means spring is about 100 days away. Heeheehee ;-) Beautiful here in Wyoming today! We woke up to a nice crisp 18 below, with wind chills at about 32 below. So Kelly, want to leave the desert and come and visit today?

Uh, nope! Forecast is for close to 70° and sunny today - think I'll stay - lol.

brrrrrrrr 18 below......I know I wasnt created for cold weather like that.. I dont know how you guys take it... I cant dress warm enough to stay warm at 30 degrees rather alone 30 below... I know its beautiful there with the snow, but ill stick with my warm drab corner of Arkansas which rarely gets below freezing..Im with Seray lets go to Miami or someplace nice and warm, filled with tropical gardens..Hope you guys are all staying warm!!!Ewww I have to get out and take my son for allergy shots today, but tomorrow isnt going to be any warmer so better get it done..

ohhhhh I wanna come visit you loca....

Come on down huney - we have lotsa snowbirds here - what's one more?

Well ladies we have and or are getting our first big snow of the year. We have maybe 3 inches LOL but it is still snowing too. Talk about going to Miami, don't think so. beckygardener lives in Sebastian Fl and her water fountain had frozen water in it LOL and was only 54 in Miami so it isn't alot warmer down there!

LOL Loca don't you know snowbirds don't leave the snowy areas? Migrating birds is what you have not snowbirds who happen to love snow.
Been snowing off and on all day here looks like about 2 inches supposed to end up with 4 inches before it stops Friday night.or Saturday.
Dogs just came in from playing in it sure not having any trouble getting Little Smokey to get his rump in right now he likes fresh air but not the cold wind. His mom on the other hand loves this cold and snow I think she's hoping for a deep enough one to jump around in.

I have snow envy, but we are suppose to get a dusting tonight. Maybe mother nature will stump her toe and give us a bit more.hehe
So many places in Floriday is getting the cold temps just the same as we have. I had a few tell me it's killed trees and bushes that have been in ground for over 50 years-frozen. Some have lived there since the 60's and never seen the cold like they are having right now and totally UNprepared for it. AND More coming so you might want to hit Hawaii or another tropical paradise just watch for the cyclones headed their way. Personally, I think I'll hang around and bundle up and just buy more plants in the spring and plan on being better prepared for next year.
Stay warm you guys.

mekos, I'm with you. I miss Calif, but not the earthquakes or the idiots out there. I'm just bundling up and staying warm. I do have to go out and check the mail. Keep putting it off, but have to get with it and get out there, just incase I have any surprises in the mail.

Everywhere in the country is having below normal temps except Maine (where I'm from) and Arizona (where I reside) - lol... My aunt lives in Orlando and they are expecting snow!

This is one winter that I don't know of anyone that will escape the cold. The almanac said we would have above normal in water, cold and ice for this winter. I believe it called it blustery winter or something to that effect. It's here! We got high winds today and temps are dropping FAST! Suppose to start snowing soon.

Mekos, I'm getting snow. Now!!!

Well you be sure to keep My Charlie and the fuzzy ears, ears warm. keep yours warm too. You be careful in that mess and bundle up.

It's been snowing all day here. Temp was up to 30 now 28 and going down.

We getting a little sleet right now but suppose to turn to snow shortly.

everything is white here and cold. I've cleaned the kitchen, did the dishes and replanted a plant I go in trade (have no idea what it is) but it is growing just fine. It came as a piece of root and started to sprout so I planted it and put it in the bathroom. It is now up to 5 inches tall and has nice looking leaves on it. I guess when it blooms I'll find out what it is. I've also been sorting my seeds out and working on my graft for where to plant things. I decided to sort my seeds as to those to keep and those I can use in trade. Some things I received lots of seeds and its more than I need so I figure I can trade a few.

This is near my house. Apparently there is water that runs down these areas so when it freezes here we get these gorgeous ice flows. Theres some down by Lake Cumberland that I wish I could get pictures of but wouls need a zoom lens on a good camera, Which I don't have.

hi all,

hey RRM how much snow are you getting my DH is talking about driving up to see snow this weekend wondering how far we have to go. my son has not seen it yet. how close are you to the florida border?
blondie

We are not getting much now, It was sort of sleeting, the night is not over. Blondie, I think you would have to go to North Ga. We live about 40 mi. n.w. of Macon. So we probably aren't going to get much. The first snow was pretty good coming down. 180mi. from our house to the state line. You could go to Stone Mountain, they are making their own. The kids would love Stone Mountain, you too! It is pretty up around there. But they do have Snow machines.

Ours finally turned to snow and sure is pretty coming down but only suppose to get 1/2 inch or so. It's not sticking yet.

Just think, we can say we got snow, it was just slow getting here...☺
They'll get more up north than we do.

OH definately. Ours is only suppose to be a dusting to 1/2 now. They keep changing the forecast, we're lucky to see any at all. Oh well, there is always NEXT time.

well according to the weatherman we got about 4 inches and will have at least another inch before morning so this will probably be our biggest snow for the winter, or at least I hope it is.

Mekos, I got the begonia seeds today, what a wonderful gift. thank you so much. It lifted my spirits greatly to think about spring and planting........I lost my lovely Jazzy this morning. The neighbor puts out poisoning to keep rats out of his barns....we have cats that do that for us...haven't had a rat or mouse around here for four years now....we think she got into his poison and it was too late by the time we found her to help....she was my baby, had her since she was 4 weeks old..momma abandoned her and so I adopted her....she will be missed horribly. So the seeds were a wonderful distraction.

I was looking at some of the new seed catalogs after checking the mail and found some really great deals from burgess? has anyone ordered from them before? I was thinking about trying some of their trees, they have a special for 99 cents for ornamental and shade. It would be great for me because the front yard has only a pine tree and an apple tree...the front yard is a rectangular acre of bare land.......but just wait until spring!

Ok, going to write some more.

Stay warm and safe please.....I know I don't really know any of you but you all make be feel so welcome here it is impossible not to care about you all.......take care
julie

Glad you got em. I'm so sorry about your baby. That stuff happens. I keep my cat and chihuahua inside and my 2 outside dogs are in a fenced yard so no running to a neighbors area or it would probably happen around here too. Some weird people around. (especially here). I'm really sorry.

thank you :)

So sorry to hear about your pet jar. I have bought from Burgess and they aren't bad people . Just watch the size of tree you get though. If they are to small they have a hard time getting settled after they have been shipped. I have even bought from more reputable than Burgess and they have died on me cause of being so small, the shock of the transport is just to much for them.

You are right FF, You can buy from anyone and have loses.
I had to rush my Chihuahua to vet earlier this year. He got one of those little blue blocks that I put down for the mice. I picked him up and the poison he had and away we wet to the vet. Radar is not a "social " animal at all. I had to put a little muzzle on him for them, he is that bad. But to make a long story short, They gave him peroxide to make him "throw up" It didn't take long for it to work and they only gave him about a Tbsp. But the onery little brat is o.k. now. I am sorry for your lose jar, it is always hard to lose a Furbaby.

Jar - heart breaking for you - I feel your pain!

RRM - how funny - the guy that works for us has a dog named Radar - funnier yet, he is a Chihuahua! got the longest tongue you ever saw - we laughed till we cried watching him in the snow one day - he was making an "extra" track in the snow, right down the middle between his paw prints, wonder what that was? Cracked us up!!

I have been home, this is the second day - too dang cold to work. The men went, I just can't force myself out of the house in 3 degree weather! This is Oklahoma - 3 degrees is just TOO cold!!! We will have 103 in 6 months and that is just TOO hot!!! I am never happy

Enid, I would say he was draggin' his tailpipe, but what he was dragging sure wasn't a tail pipe. lol.
If we get a foot of snow my Dufass would be draggin his too, him and Radar. We have 16, so we are warmer than you are.
I don't blame you for not going out I go out just long enough to check on my chickens and to feed the Longears. They are so pretty and shaggy.

Having outside critters is the ONLY reason I would be out in this weather. The guys all make fun of me because I won't work when it is this bad out - I remind them they are stupid and greedy - nobody starves to death around here without a couple days work. I know that is not true with some folks but I make sure my one employee has enough to feed his family regardless! Nobody goes hungry if I can help it. A lesson learned when I was young - you can do without a lot of things - always stash food - that you cannot do without. We have a freezer full of beef, a hog on the way and the canned goods speak for themselves - you cant find anything in my cabinets because they are always full. We are blessed, we don't have much but we ain't gonna go hungry! If it gets really bad, I have ammo stashed too - might just have to do a little huntin'.

Mekos, I want to start my begonia "dust" today - I think I will start them in a cut off 2 liter bottle, should I use one or two? I haven't ever done this before so HELP!

Another silly question - I got some cinnamon vine in a trade the little things she sent look a little like rabbit droppings, I stuck them in potting soil, sprayed with water and nothing is happening - been only a week though. Am I doing something wrong or did I leave them sitting around too long before I started them? The little holes I made for them were probably 1/2" deep.

I am going to start some other seeds that I know need light - can I go to Lowes and buy a small fluorescent light or do I need something else for lighting??

Yes, Yes, & Yes. I started some desert rose seeds yesterday. I am going to plant the dist Begonias today in a btl. 2 litr.
Just got to go get the bottle. We got to be patient and you know we are far from being patient, aren't we girl????

I would probably just use 1 for the dust. You should get a pot full and just transplant when they are older.
The cinnamon bublets are probably just fine, they take longer to start off so just forget them for a few weeks and see what happens. I have those too.
Just give good light, it doesn't matter if it's a light bulb or floresence or grow lamp, the idea is to give light and some warmth.
Just keep your pots warm and they should start sprouting in their own time. Some stuff will sprout immediately and some takes weeks and some months. Got to be patient.

Thanks guys - you know I am an instant gratification type girl - patient is not in my vocabulary - not something I have much of!!

Off to make a mess - talk to y'all later

Jar - so sorry about your furbaby! Hope you are doing OK!!

Hey candles - here is info on the Cinnamon Vine tubers from the person I received mine from...

Caring for Cinnamon Vine seed tubers: Cinnamon vine produces a deep tuber when grown, so it is important to be able to plant this outside once it gets going. It likes heat to start. When your tubers arrive (they are about 1/4" to 1/2") remove them from the container and allow to air dry if there is any condensation present. Store in a paper bag at room temps for about a month, then move to plastic bag. Make sure that there is no condensation in the plastic bag. Once the weather outside starts to warm up, move the tubers to a warmer location or plant individually in small pots to germinate. Keep warm (70+ works for me). Plant outside once you know the weather will consistently be above 50 degrees and the plants are big enough to handle. I have stored seed tubers for 2 years in plastic bags without problems but if the tubers have enough moisture and heat, they will sprout. Once they start to sprout, plant them that year as they usually will not survive another winter. All seed tubers shipped this year are from this years harvest, which is why I am suggesting storage in paper bags to allow to cure/dry a bit.

Well thank ya ma'm - I didn't do anything wrong with the cinnamon vine then - got the dust on top of seed starter - put it on top of upright deepfreeze - gets warm up there but not much light - only filtered through north window. We'll see!
RRM - got your begonia going too - it ain't dead yet so must have done something right.
I haven't got your package off yet - cold, tired and lazy! It didn't make it for Christmas so no hurry now - would you like to request a spring fragrance (that you may not get until 2011 the way things are going) or would you still like peppermint?