Apropos of Nothing v.13

*snort* Good luck with that. ;p

Pony, I agree with Summer.... closing your eyes while reading the forums is kind of tough! She also said it perfectly. Happy and healthy.... the rest will come in good time.

I look at my garden and see chaos everywhere, but I REFUSE to let it stress me out any more. I sat myself down and gave myself a good long lecture.....What gets done, gets done. What perishes can ultimately be replaced. Peace of mind is far healthier than stress, and since I have thrown up my hands and said "it is what it is, and I will do what I can do", I have been far more relaxed and have stopped having the annoying anxiety attacks that have been plaguing me for the last year and a half.

Since we are on the subject of rants, however... I have one that I was meaning to post earlier, which might make Lynn a little happier with her mouse problem. Sunday, I took my convertible out of storage for the summer. I love my little car, and always look forward to driving it again. As I headed off to work, I turned on the defrost and was accosted by the smell of mouse pee. One of those little buggers had gotten into my car! I searched under the hood when I got to work, and finally found that the little b@s%a$# had made a nest under my wiper cowl and had been using the fresh air filter that goes directly into the car interior in that area as his personal potty. I ordered a new filter, but couldn't get it until today, so got to enjoy the wonderful and VERY strong aroma of mouse for the last two days. I got the filter today, took the area apart and scrubbed the best I could... put deoderizer/disinfectant over everything, and added a touch of perfume to the new filter to mask any lingering scent. Now my car smells like the proverbial french whorehouse, but at least it doesn't reek of mouse. Add that to the fact that one ate half of my daylily seedlings, all of my cosmos seedlings, and over three flats of corn seed that Mom just planted yesterday. Not a big mouse fan right this minute!

Oh uuuugh. I had the same thing happen to my old car- and as an added bonus, the mice chewed up some wires so the car wouldn't start. Stupid critters.

I discovered a trail of carpenter ants marching in and out of a crack in our eaves... I think they may have a nest in our attic, but I'm afraid to go up there and look... anybody have a recommendation for an exterminator? Cheap?

But on a positive note; I thought my Halloween Hocus Pocus and Bittersweet Holiday crosses had all perished, but there are two of each poking up now. :)

Thanks for taking care of my rant for me, Julie. .........That reminds me, I had better go out and move the flats of replanted corn seeds to a safer place (if there is one.)

I have replaced the flats with four mouse traps and one live trap. Look out little creatures!

I have refilled the pond in hopes that frogs will show up, but since there are still 3 raccoons left I have covered it with these crib rails I was going to use to make a flower bed for climbers. Looks horrible, no? I've got to come up with something better. Fishing line didn't work, I couldn't get it anchored well enough to stay taut.

I've only heard one lonely little frog calling in the back yard. He's inside the brush pile. I wish he would move to the planter around the pond so I could keep chipping away at the pile- I don't want to accidentally run him through with the pitchfork or toss him in the yard waste can! Eep!

Where do you folks get hornwort or anacharis? I never did find any locally, and I really need some. All the stores around here have either surface floaters or potted stuff. I want to get the goldfish out of the rec room (they're in a plastic tub) but they need some cover in the pond. I'm not even gonna waste money on water lilies or hyacinths this time around- the coons just love shredding them too much. I will pick up some fairy moss and frogbit though- it helps shade the surface and it's nice and cheap. ;)

I always bought anacharis at pet stores.

The crib rails look kind of cool for a short-term solution.

None of the pet stores around here had it last year- they didn't even know what the heck it was. How lame is that?

I know the coons are going to walk out on those rails and fish around in the water, but it was the best I could come up with at the moment. At least they can't go wading now...

You could use rolls of barbed wire and an electrified fence along the perimeter and hire a guard with an uzi. I actually like the crib rails.

Pony, Glad that you have at least a couple of daylily seeds coming. The mouse in my greenhouse ate probably at least half of mine, but still have quite a few happy babies. I have seen wire damage on cars from mice too, so I felt very fortunate that he had just piddled and built a nest rather than rewiring. As a matter of fact, at work we just replaced the entire windshield washer line system on a Volvo (had headlamp washers too, so lots of lines running everywhere) because it had been chewed into little bits. And believe it or not, DH just replaced an entire wiring harness on his folks car (in Phoenix, AZ) because a rabbit of all things got up under the hood and shredded it. I would not have believed it if we hadn't popped the hood the last time we were down there and the culprit was still sitting there on top of the engine!

As for your pond, I kind of like the crib rails too... and fishing racooons standing on crib rails make good targets!

A rabbit? Weird! Wouldn't it have been ironic if the car had been a VW Rabbit?

I like the idea of guards with uzis around the pond- too bad about that pesky 'no gunfire in the city' law... hmph.

When I lived in Hyde Park, near the University of Chicago, my house was on the list of architectural treasures because of its builder & style. It was one of 8 townhouses arranged in 2 lines, all of which had their own atrium. M y atrium had a 30-year-old Japanese garden complete with pond & waterfall & 2 trees, which the raccoons used to climb down INTO the atrium & destroy my fledgling attempts at water gardening.

I was so distraught & furious that I vented to my father over the phone and he was nonplussed. "Just shoot them," he said. Like, Dad? I've never touched a gun, wouldn't know where to buy them, couldn't do that legally in Chicago anyway and DAD, I literally LIVE IN A GLASS HOUSE.

Ooh yeah... people in glass houses shouldn't shoot guns.

I am loving catching up on what everyone is doing - what a variety!!!

Pony: warning! I'm going to pull a "Mom" on you.

Listen - each one of us has a unique space in which to play, different ideas to implement, different incomes, some have help - some are Staff of One, some work full time - others part time or retired.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd venture to guess that many of us have been chipping away at projects for a long time. I have lived at my place 25 years - you think I would be totally finished. Not so.

Cutting to the chase - you will provide yourself nothing more than an unyielding amount of angst if you compare where you're at to anyone else. You have so much of whatever - spend it wisely, be it time, $, effort, physical & mental strength.
I can wholly relate to wanting to be at point X, but I'm still spinning my brain on point Q. I truly need to be able to dial up the weather the plants need as well as extra hours in the day. I am goal-driven so not being able to finish drives extreme frustration, and injuries don't help. Example: rocks have dominated my life since last summer, and here it is mid-May: still not done, with an permanently injured wrist as a trophy. I know several that can recite this verbatim, and we are over 50, running out of time!

All this to say that I agree with Julie - it is what it is.
BUT - there is a silver lining in all this for you: you have the luxury of a ready source of others that have walked this path (& weeded it, too). Pay close attention to the errors we speak about & learn from the mistakes spoken of. Valuable - very very valuable.

Never forget that "good enough is never done". Figure it out, do the research - then implement the plan & get it right the first time. Don't half-*ss it. if you have to wait - so be it.
If you find yourself rushing to attain closure, I can guarantee you will revisit & re-do what you were in such a hurry to finish. In other words, take your time & get it right, particularly since you have issues with your back. I wish someone had smacked my peabrain on this one - I would have saved time in the long run, money on Chiropractic care, had more plants & been happier that I worked at a pace that was best for ME.

Now I could sincerely apologize for doing what you asked us not to do. OK - so sorry, but I am a contrarian & a curmudgeon & A MOM, & all Moms have eyes in the back of their heads as well as the special Golden Pass for dispensing advice/observations/chocolate. so there. Thhhhbbbbbbt!

Wow, Pony! You got a Kayte lecture! You really rate! Ditto on the comparisons, though. Everyone is in gardening because we love to play in the dirt and play with plants. We all pretty much like the same thing, we just go about it differently. I think of gardening the same way I think of housework, in a way. It never exists in a straight line, it always just circles around and around. No real beginning or end, just eternal process. I think the rails are a creative solution to the racoon problem.
I have ordered oxygenating plants from Bonnie's Plants. I think she might be on ebay, but she definitely has a web presence. She sends decent sized plants for reasonable prices. I've also bought from Texas Water Lilies. Their bunches are smaller, but the price is good.

Also, have you gone to the aquarium store on Pacific Hwy South in Lakewood? It's close to the corner of Bridgeport and Pacific Hwy. They may have plants. I was in there today and bought a cute little fancy goldfish for the tub water garden. I'm going back on Friday to look at their new fish. I'll check out the plants and let you know. Also, Linda's on Canyon Road, across the street from McClendons, has very good plants. Last year I bought many huge water lettuce from her.

Okay, here is the little baby bird. It's a bit out of focus because I didn't want to linger over the nest and upset mama.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww - how cute is that???!!!

Wow. Nice picture. I saw how high that nest was; now I'm wondering how you got up high enough to get a picture . . .

Katye: *shuffles feet and looks at ground* Yes, Ma'am. ;p

Pixy: Last year the Aquarium store on Bridgeport had no plants whatsoever. I got a bunch of plants at Lindas, but she had no underwater free-floaters. I don't want water lettuce or any other large surface floaters- they'll just get plucked out and shredded. I think I can get fairy moss and/or duckweed at Waterfall Pond Supply over next to 512.

I'll look up Bonnie's plants and see if she has anything that might work for me. I want to get this taken care of as soon as I can. I'm quite tired of this big plastic tub of goldfish in my house. My kitties will miss them though... ;)

Love the baby bird... so sweet! :)

Huh. I looked up Bonnie's plants, and when I clicked through to order some anacharis, it says it can't be shipped to WA because it's illegal here. I guess that explains why I couldn't ever find any in the local stores... o.0

Woah. Same thing with Parrot's Feather! Auuugh! :(

Ooookay fine- I guess it's hornwort or nothing. How lame.

This message was edited May 19, 2010 12:44 AM

What a cute baby bird! Nice photo!

Leaf miners are attacking my chard - what to do?

Pony, I have this plant in my pond and it has survivied all comers and re-grown. I can probably get a start for you. It has made it into the upper pond also just by the water circulating. It is rooted but not in a pot that I know of.

Thanks Pony for breaking the ice for complaining. I am so dissapointed with last falls temp drop from 60 to -20 in 12 hours. It has killed most of my Jap Maples, many of my established trees and bushes (at least the tops of most), Many Many of my perenials, and most of all my dogwoods are dead! I am soo mad at the weather in Montana. Also all of my difficult tree peonys euuch! Well it gives me lots and lots of room for new plants. All of the seeds you guys gave me have a place next year when they get started.
I shall miss my Wigelia.

Steve. I'm so sorry. That must be awful . . . we had an early cold snap that killed a bunch of stuff here. But not quite as bad as yours . . .

Willow, what a cool plant in your pond! Lovely.

Sofer - beware, the snow level here has dropped and we have nasty weather that is moving your way. I hope you don't lose any more plants. It's so distressing.

Before I tell a story about the pit bull that attacked my dog, is anyone here a wicken or a practicer of witchcraft?

Steve, how absolutely horrible! It certainly makes our losses in the same time frame minor in comparison.

Willow, that plant is pretty- I've never seen it before. If it isn't a hassle I would love just a little piece for my pond. :)

Steve, that's a major bummer. I'm sorry you lost so much stuff. :(

I have that one, too, Willow, but yours is certainly growing bigger than mine!
Steve, that is completely depressing! A lot of us lost many, many things in that early freeze in November. It would be hard to lose japanese maples.
So Anacharis is illegal to ship to WA? Huh. who would have thought. Guess I better guard mine well. I don't plan to let it go free into any streams or lakes, or leave it hanging from the bottom of my boat motor.

Portland, I, personally, do not practice witchcraft, but I can't speak for anyone else...:)

I'm a negative on that one, too, Portland. Nope, no witchcraft.

No - me either - no witchcraft here. The pit bull who attacked my Koka has attacked two more dogs in our neighborhood and we have been encouraged by our veterinarians to try to find out information regarding the owners' names and/or address. People have tried following them when they are out walking their dogs but they have been met with threats and who wants to mess with that when the person making threats has a nasty pit bull with them? They are hyper-vigilant about anyone walking behind them. Then one neighbor saw them entering a business on Hawthorne several times in one day, and another neighbor who has access (I don't know how) to all kinds of info found out that they own the business. That person then visited the store to see what was up, and they found out it is a witch shop, catering to the practice of witchcraft. They sell cauldrons, potions, and other paraphernalia that I know nothing about, and they also do entrail readings. So they don't live in our neighborhood, but their business is close by. On Friday those of us who have had our dogs attacked by this same pit bull are going as a group to the animal control office. My position is not that the dog needs to be put down, but that the owners need to recognize the danger the dog poses, and take action - keep the dog confined to their home and yard, maybe a muzzle, or something. I
am not a fan of these dogs, but I don't think you can insist that someone have their animal put down unless they cannot or are unwilling to control it. Now every time one of the neighbors has something go wrong, like a leaky pipe or a stalled car, we blame it on a hex. Their business is called Moonshadow - you can google Moonshadow Portland. But beware - maybe they can do a cyber-hex!

Beware the cyber-hex! *spooky music*

Portland, according to my sources (questionable at best): Ginger, rue or black cohosh will protect you from a curse or hex. Agrimony will reverse a curse or hex. Horehound will keep the dogs off. And, interestingly, oregano will keep troublesome inlaws away. Not sure if one wears it around the neck, strews it around the yard, or smokes it....in any event, take with a liberal dose of salt!

Don't forget the wolfsbane to keep the werewolves away!

And I actually had a woman tell me in all seriousness that if one dabs tea tree oil on the rump of your horse, it'll keep the cougars off 'em.

Tea Tree oil smell will keep most anything away. I wouldn't worry about witches and such. That stuff only bothers people who believe in it.

I will try to get a rooted piece for you pony. I think I still have your address.

Thanks, Willow. :) I'm in the exchange if you don't still have it. :)

Evidently the 'witchcraft' in this case refers to Pagan (Wiccan) rituals which, like all other religious rituals, can be used for good or for ill (although I'm not personally aware of any that are intended to be used for ill). As a rule I don't associate Druids or Pagans with dogs who attack other dogs, so I'm not sure why the shop is important except that it's pretty interesting (entrail readings notwithstanding. Yuck! Really??? That's really pretty disgusting and I don't even want to know what kind of entrails we're talking about here...) and offers some comic relief when things go wrong. I mean, people have been using the esoteric arts for both good and ill forever. Maybe these folks are a little off the deep end, but, hey, it makes the world an interesting place to live.

What's disturbing is the fact that these shop owners are so completely irresponsible about their dog. I think the dog should be confiscated from them. You know of two attacks on other dogs besides Koka. In my book, they have already proven that they are irresponsible owners who either cannot or will not control their dog. It's not about the breed of dog, it's about the dog's behavior and the behavior of the owners. I hope animal control intervenes. I suspect that it will take a very firm intervention to change their behavior because otherwise it would have changed already.

I wonder what kind of Tarot decks they sell? I am not Wiccan, but I love Tarot. Excellent archetypal symbolism. I am engaged in a systematic study to learn to read the cards. I do not, however, read entrails. I am hard pressed to see anything positive about entrails, and they are not nearly so attractive.

I've taken a few Tarot classes, done readings, and had my cards read many times. This is the gal who I used to go see. Haven't been there since 2003, though. She's quite talented.

http://www.meganskinner.com/megan_skinner_books.php

Judi, these people do sound scary - and I imagine that they like to hide behind the "witch" thing to put people off. There are irresponsible diots in the Wiccan world, just like in the other world. However, their demeanor and what's going on with the dog IS scary. I applaud you for getting together with the neighbors and forcing animal control to do something.

Remind them that this is a hot button issue and that if they don't help you, you'll be forced to use the media to get some attention on this. Make it clear what you expect them to do so they don't waste your time with platitudes like, "We'll look into it." Let them know that you want the dog off the street period. Save the muzzled option for negotiation if it gets to that.

And then keep the herbs handy, just in case. :-)

How about sprinkling Holy water on their doorstep? (giggle.._)

They sell cauldrons. That's pretty funny.

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Cool it with a baboon's blood
Then the charm is firm and good