Plant Propagation part XXIX based on my own experience

It looks like a grown-up version of the rosettes mystery plant that Dave posted the other day.

Tony is cleaning my van so I can start putting in what I need for my trip to Ca. I will be leaving Friday, I think, so if anyone wants anything from me let me knwo with your address, via D-mail.

Sahron, I will be in Chula Vista, Ca next week and can received any plants you can send me there. I think I sen you my address there. If not, let me know and let me know what I owe you for postage.

kb

Good Morning to every one:

wow a good cat fight...lolbut seriously I know I could open a store for the market place but I do see any reason to do so. lets face it I am cheap or is it frugal?

Dawn I still need an address for dianthus seeds. I have some of the fringed pinks as well as some otheres I am not sure of the origin but my guess is the ones out front plantes as annuals but seem to be perrienial for me.

I have had the rion greenhouse for about 4 years. Kim bought it for me as a BDay present. I found it on ebay in june and as a little haha I told her I wanted it for my Bday and she said buy it. we had to go to hot springs AR to get it but it was a short hop from little rock to pick it up. being modular helps as it disassembled easialy. the toughest part was getting extra platic pins (they hold it together). the seller had snapped off a bunch of them as he did not know how to disassemble it correctly.
Its starting to sag and some of the poly pannels are starting to come loose but I am sure its good for another few years. I will most likely replace it in a few years. I am hopeing to build a new one out of pressure treated lumber and use the greenhouse fiberglass pannels HD sells. By doing that i can do one or 2 sides in poly and remove it in the summer for ventilation. I will also put screen on it to help keep the bugs out.
in the winter I have to use a big blue tarp over the door to help seal it up or it would be frozen inside. If I did not have cats I would set out poison for any mice or rats that might try to set up house there. mice can do a lot of damage to sprouting seedlings as well as cuttings you might be trying to root. (hint hint RJ)....

we are getting a bit cooler this week as its only in the 50's and lows in the 30's.... the ole back does not like it when it changes like that. I had started getting outside and doing stuffbut now its down time.

I am going to try to do 150 flats of seedlings this year and wholesale them out at $25.00 per flat of 50 cells. I realize i could charge more but by doing this I should be able to get them all sold.

the stuff I use to soak my dl seeds in is Piranha
http://www.discountadvancednutrients.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=9

here is a site that might help explain it all. better than I can.
http://www.indoor-gardening-guide.com/articles/plant-care/Plant-supplement-Humus-seaweed-extract-fulvic-acid-mycorrhizal.html

a lttle exert from the sales site. I really like it and it really helps with the seeds growth. I am planning to use it on my seed production this year as I know it works with dl's and other seeds I use
TARANTULA ~ "Beneficial bacteria provide a number of other benefits to both the soil and the plant. Specifically, the microbes will minimize nutrient leaching, aid in nutrient cycling and absorption, improve soil structure, solubilize minerals (including phosphorous) for plant availability, enhance seed germination, stimulate root growth and produce natural plant growth hormones. Research has shown that beneficial bacteria are most effective when used in combination with beneficial mycorrhizal fungi. The mycorrhizal fungi are keystone species that support and protect the activities of the beneficial bacteria." ~Advanced Epedia 2006
the only problem I have with the web sites I use is there promotion target as to only illeagle product. to me it seems aimed at marijuana or canibus growers and the fact is it can all be used as a tool for all floral crops.steping down off my soap box

and tarantula
http://www.discountadvancednutrients.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=8
plus some fulvic acid and kelp
http://www.super-grow.biz/KelpFulvic.jsp this site is on hiateis for an asia trip so it migth be awhile b4 they are open again. so try this site
as a substitute you might try the voodo juice from the above seller

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kelp-Fulvic-Humic-Amino-Acid-Water-Soluble-Powder-1-lb-/350273069436?pt=Fertilizer_Soil_Amendments

(soo sorry about the caps)
THE EBAY WAS THE ONLY COMBINATION i FOUND AND THEY DO LIST A WEBSITE BUT HAVE YET TO LIST AND COMBO OF THE KELP/FULVIC ACID.

well there you have it my wisdom on the use of michorhiza materials. I also use a foliar fertilizer in the summer with a hose end injector that mixes 16 to 1. they are great for using in the auto matic sprinklers I have set up in the nursery. One word of warning tho.... INJECTED MATERIALS CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH BURNING BY PUTTING TOO MUCH FERTILZER ON THE PLANT AT ONE TIME...
in other words if you mix the wrong amounts of fertilizer and use it with an injector you can burn or even wipe out the entire area that was treated. if you so choose to use this do so with caution. here is the website to buy one.

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/hozon-siphon-mixer/fertilizer-injectors

well I believe we covered a bit of ground in the little chat we have just had.... any questions?

This message was edited Feb 21, 2011 2:59 PM

Yes, Dave, please repeat that, my hearing is going!

I am back from my day of cooking boiled chicken pot pie (Amish Style) and finishing the floral designs I had orders for. I also mentioned you, Dave, on another thread in Propagation Forum to some poor soul that had all their plants die in the greenhouse due to heater failure and they froze and they want to start seeds and were asking questions. i said if they want info YOU are the man for them. I also warned them about this crazy group of gardeners and said if it does not look like a garden forum it really is, we are all just waiting for Spring and our plants to get bigger, etc. What else was I going to say. Any new person that sees the comments on these posts may just turn and run and miss all the good information. So there.

I think I told you years ago I have a Rion Greenhouse and I am so pleased with it. The company could not be better when it comes to sending new parts if one breaks and the people in customer service are just wonderful. I would never have any other kind I swear. Mine is holding up very well , and you know the weather we have had. It is my life saver believe me. Without it I would be in a straight Jacket. Yes, Jen, I hear you.......
just hush your mouth girl.

It is very quiet today, Dave so I think I will dash out and put some more heat in the GH. We are to get snow again tonight and the sun has not been out today. I need to check the temps. I hope you all in the midwest, is you are getting the bad weather that you are o.k. I guess you are mostly in the West. There is some nasty weather out there today but where it is I am not sure, I do know it is coming my way. It is South and we are to get at least 3 inches tonight and tomorrow. The snow we got last night melted already. Thank you Lord.

Hi Jb yes I love my greenhouse and the fact i got it at a fraction of the price well what else could one ask for??? How big is yours? I think we have the same one....lol I think being closer to the sun has done a number on mine but hey i also moved it twice.
I just ordered seed from hazzards spent over $100.00 ... but cant sell from an empty cart can we.

I would be glad to answer any questions I can. I have learned a lot just from my trial and error. and the 4 or 5 books I added to the liabrary.
Dave

Dave, Hi, I think it is just the 8 x 10 or is it 10 x 12...I am not sure, I only have the first part. If I were younger I would add another section to it, but I think I had better just stay how I am until I see how my health is. I love the fact the window in the back opens and the two on top open. The sell a great shade cloth that I put on very early because the sun really beats the heck out of everything with that top off. Most of my cuttings do not take too much sun. They like the indirect rays from the sides and the moist. I have problems keeping the humidity up that is the only problem. When it is cooler, the humidity goes up. The sun just dries out everything. The side sun is perfect. When it is overhead. Look out.

It is very quiet. I wonder where the wild ones are today. Maybe they are sick. You sound like you are doing well, at least you are spending money, but you can do that from your bed. with a laptop. LOL. I know that from experience. I have one that I take to bed with me some nights just so I do not miss anything on Facebook. Most of the time I fall asleep. Take care Sweet Dave. Love ya. JB

Guess I didn't miss much today from you guys. I know I am being snotty, but I feel just gross. Between Bob getting up every hour on the hour to go to the bathroom, and me every hour on the half hour, and then the dogs had to go out.

I got up at 4 o'clock and called the BCBS nurse and told her how rotten I felt and she told me it normally took 5 or 6 days to get over it. My throat was so swollen I can't eat or drink anything. Just sips. Can't take any of my meds either. Don't mean to be such a whiner but I am so tired.

It was 10 degrees at 4 o'clock. Suppose to be 0 on Saturday.

Besides all of the above, the librarian in town sent me home 3 books to read and the one I am reading is just awful. Creepy. Problem is, once you start it can't hardly not finish it.

Bob is taking the big dog to the vet tomorrow to get her ears cleaned. She is having a real problem with them. He did them not that long ago. The cat cost us $203 Friday for teeth cleaning, and all the stuff that goes with. $99.99 of it for anesthesia.

Good thing we don't have horses. ttyl,

OK, just waving my arm at you. We crossposted so you probably went to bed already and won't get mine until tomorrow.

Too tired to think of anything to call you.

I am so sorry you are sick. Get better Sweetie. I lub ya even if you are a s***! No you got rid of that, now you are a PITA. Yaha! Living up to your name. Take care of yourself. You are no fun when you are sick. Grease up that throat with vicks. Don't you keep some meds on hand in case this pops up like it does? I will send happy thoughts and health your way. Look out the window. Here it comes. Hugs. JB

Jen, it does take a week to ten days to get over this thing.

I went to town this morning, mostly to get fresh orange juice. Didn't do much else. I must have still looked pretty punk because Tony was starting to do the dishes as I left. I was only gone about an hour but by 2pm I was exhausted and sent to bed - slept for four hours solid. I think it was just what I needed.

Luckily, I had enough food left from yesterday for the dogs' dinner. I think I'm going back to bed -- maybe finally shake the last of this thing.

Jen, the bug has to run its course on its own time. The more you try to fight it, the harder it will be. Really. Go to bed. Whine. Snivel. Throw the crappy book on the floor. Whatever. Any really bad TV you could watch? Jerry Springer might be just the thing.

Both my TV's have died, also one vhs player and my microwave - all in about ten days. I have some serious karma in the area of electrical stuff.

Back to bed before something else quits.

hugs, katie

Jen, it just hit me to remind you ,specifically of the following: 1) You are sick; 2) You are not sleeping well; and 3) With 1 and 2 both going on you are going to feel crummy until you feel better. Don't beat yourself up; when your are less sick you will be able to get some good sleep and then, and only then, you will start to feel better. A lot better. Until then, just survive. If you haven't read any Jonh Sanford, ask if your library has some of his "Prey" books. They are good reads.

kb

Well I had a good day.

I am so sorry you are ill jnette. My brother had something like you described and it lasted 2 weeks. He said he had never felt that bad. He also lost 15 pounds.

The workers showed up at 7am. I was up and ready to go but with no sleep. Bad night for sleeping. Have no idea why but it did not seem to stop me.

I had everything removed from the garage garden and the workers had that one is about 30 minutes. It would have taken me 3 hours. Then I cleaned up the floor after one of them had swept it. Had 5 yards of gro mix delivered today and they have about 1/2 moved in different areas of the landscape. I had a medium size garbage container i had been throwing scraps from cuttings and leaves in for over a month. And rain had drained off the roof into the can which was by the back side door. It was also in the sun so I had them dump this compost soup into one of the vacant beds before they installed the new dirt. I thought the one worker was going to lose it. It was pretty ripe but the worms will love it.

Anyway, while they were moving dirt, I was putting the garage back in order. Got pots packed and ready to be mailed, got rid of a bunch of wood scraps and "things" I was saving for some reason.

Katie, I have no way I can get the plants ready to be mailed and to California in the next week. I do not move that fast.

I still have the day lilies, cannas and irises to clean and separate and then I have to dig some plants because I do not want them mixed up like these are. I am so sorry.

I got all the materials today, very early this am, to build a hoop weather protection system over my vegetable garden area. You cannot see that area from the park or front street, so it should be no problem. They are going to double dig the bed, and then install the new dirt and then double dig again. It will take them about an hour and it would take me all day. Then all three of us are going to install the hoops. Just PVC pipe bent in 180 degrees and held in place with 2 inch rebar at each end. Then you cover and attach plastic painter drop. I usually wrap each tomato cage and I think this will be easier. I will take photos tomorrow on a before and after. I need to get some clips. I forgot to get them. I will also take a photo of the garage garden area. I was just to tired today when I got done.

Have a great evening. I will be going to bed early. JB, hope you had a good nite sleep.

Dave, you were full of all kind of information today.

Hope everyone is well tomorrow. Later, Sharon.

I'm patient and appreciative.

That sickness just seems to need the antibiotics to kick it. It was not leaving without them. The body aches were unreal.

This is no good. I am never the first one on here.

The un is out and I was checking some stocks on line and thouht I would stop by and say hello.

I will be gardening all day. n Workers are here and getting ready to start on vegetable bed.

And THEN FINALLY, we will dig the hardy hibiscus and black bamboo. I will be so glad when that is done, they are in the mail and off my list. It has been on "The List" way to long.

Later and wish me luck. One of my workers is catching something. I sure hope I do not catch it.

Jnette, I hope you are better. JB, make a big pot of soup. You are going to need it. Love you all, Sharon.

Sharon, one way to be sure not to get your workers illness is STOP KISSING HIM.

Hello everyone, I thought I checked in the morning before I went for my bloodtest results but I guess I didn't. I am back and the doc said I am going to live to be 100. The bloodwork was perfect in every way. I am only sick in the head. My cholesterol is 180, LOL is 42, Trigl. 97 and LDL is 116.6. So, I guess I will stop worrying about my physical condition. Now to get the heart tests done and put that mess to bed. I have until March 10th until I see the Cardiologist and after that I will schedule the last test. Nuff of that.

I am so sorry everyone is sick. Hope I do not get anything. They were walking around the doctors office with masks on today. That makes you fee really insecure when you do not know what the heck they are trying not to spread. TB is active in our County now. Years ago they did the scratch test for TB....now they send you right for the chest xray. That way someone makes more money from the insurance companies.

I do not have much time to do anything today. I have a pedicure at 2:30 and that about blows the rest of the day. The world news is horrible. Those poor people who were sailing around the world now are dead. The Pirates got them and killed them. Why don't we stay out of those waters if it is so dangerous. People do not think it will happen to them. These people were ministers I think. The pirates hate men of the cloth. There were two men and two women. Now there are none.

Want to grab some lunch. Later,JB

Good afternoon? yea thats it.

jb you know why the pirates hate thepeople in cloth? they have nothing worth stealing, that is unless you count the boat and now a days that does not count because the boats have registrations to track them. so unless they are able to change the numbers they have wasted all that time and energy.

Sharon: one hint would be to put a single light bulb on each end of the row. It will help keep the freeze off even more.

ok lets chat about soils:
I am going off the top of my head so please bear with me.
soils are composed of many things. soil itself, inorganic and organic matter in different stages of decomp., water space and air space. A good soil mix is made up of 45% of the soil is minerals, 5% organic matter, 25% water & 25% air space.
inorganic matter (minerals) is rocks and things that don't break down very easily. It can range from rocks to different forms of soil (clay, loam, peat) & nutrients. It can take thosands of years to form soil. soils consist of topsoil (sand, silt & clay), below that is a combination of the materials as the top soil but contain less humis. and below that the layer is rock and more solid forms of the components of topsoil.
organic matter is made up of different minerals, plant and animal matter in different stages of decomp. organic matter parts of soil is a living changing material.
Ok now air space is very impotant. without it the exchange of decomp gases and old air is not possible.it also makes for cation exchange. Air space is the difference between how much water the soil will absorb and how much of that water will drain off. This is important because without the air space there is no oxygen for the roots to use and can/will cause rot.
In our situation especially in containers it is important to fill the pot up allow it to drain and then kepp repeating this untill you see the bubbles of the airspace escaping to the top. this is when the air exchange happens. Proper air exchange allows for optimum growth. This process also allows leaching of minerals (movement of minerals) from layers where the minerals are less available than those broken down to a more basic form allowing the roots to properly absorb the minerals needed by the plant.
In the garden as we till turn and double dig the area speeds up the break down of the materials. It also changes the airspace by moving the bigger materials up into the silty loam thus freeing up the nutrients below just sitting there waiting for their chance to release and become usefull.
proper soil make up is important because it allows for nutrients to be used as they are required. an improper mix will tie up nutrients and can cause nutient deficientcies.

now hopefully I have this all straight and understandable. If you really want to see the differences in the layers. go out and dig some soil from the yard and put some in a jar. fill it 1/2 way with soil then fill the rest with water. leave some space at the top so that it can be mixed. Once you are done put the cap on the jar and shake well. when the mix settles... usually takes some time. you will see the different layers of your soil.

well thats soils 101. Questions?
Dave

Good lesson Dave.

Thanks for all your advice and well wishes everyone. Bob insisted on taking off for the ER at 7 o'clock last night. Can you believe it? Well, he didn't want to have me in the hospital for another 30 days like before, so, we didn't get home until 4 o'clock this a.m. First went to the closest one, 40 miles away, rural, and no drs, I don't even think a nurse. Kept going another 40 or so miles to Spokane and pulled up in front to see people lying all over the waiting area in all stages of triage.

On the way home it was a raging snowstorm. Terrible along the river (big river) and a lake with the roads and weather so scary.

It was really nice at least to go to a hospital where they didn't insist on you staying for a week at minimum. They actually had 2 drs etc. I think those are the hospitalists Sharon. Anyway, we got 3 hrs sleep when the phone started ringing one after the other.

I had the appt. for the dog's ears but had to cancel that one. 9:30 this morning and I knew neither of us was going to feel like going another 40 miles to a vet at that time of day after only 3 hrs. sleep. Then, had to cancel my appt. for tomorrow for a stomach scope in Spokane. Was not going to drive down there again so soon and it is suppose to be -6 tomorrow.

Oh well, I am on the mend. I think. Could actually swallow my meds this morning. They ground them in applesauce at the hospital.

JB, my sister is picking up the plants at the p.o. and dropping them off. If they look good I will send you a pic. If not, you won't hear it from me.

Jen, Good for Bob for taking you to the ER. Glad both of you survived all the travel and weather. It seems to take an extra few days to shake the last of this thing so please continue to go slowly.

Today I went to town, got money for Tony and my trip and got the van gassed up. Ran into my friend Jon and we had a nice talk. I do find that having contact with friends cheers me up.

Things are very quiet here. I'm not going to be up much longer, I can tell. The dogs are keeping my bed warm for me. I have started some pea soup and I have some fresh peas to add to it. I'll probably have some for breakfast.

I'm already half-asleep.

hugs, katie

Wow, Dave great soil 101. What am I suppose to see when I have shaken the bottle and let the soil sink? I paid bucks for this three different contents but not what I would pay if I came into the company just off the street. It does pay to have friends in high places in a very large landscape company. I also went to a regular nursery to get the PCV for my hoops. I used their wholesale code, with their permission and saved about 30%. They have offered it for over two years but I did not realize the savings were that large.

Jnette, did you go into the ER where everyone was laying on the floor? So what were you doing that Bob thought you needed a doctor?

Yes, they are called hospitalists. For all the group, they are doctors that are hired to cover several doctors. Usually a very large group of doctors. And then you have doctors that only do ER and then the hospital assigned you to a doctor who they have on call. The better you treat the hospital personnel in the ER, the more calls you get. Hospitalists are suppose to give both sides a family life. Todd did it for a while but when he got married his new wife said, no way Jose'. Hospitalists usually work in the morning for rounds, and then nights for rounds and new arrivals. That would give Todd many days to play golf. And he would get called many nights several different times. And she had to go to work the next morning.

Katie, how much is gasoline where you are? Here in Las Vegas it is $3.19 a gallon. My sister says in Santa Barbara, it is $3.50.

If I was in charge of rescuing the individuals on the sailboat, and I found the hostages dead, there would not be any captured pirates, just dead pirates.

The workers are not coming tomorrow. I told them I needed a day off. When I went to bed last night I could barely walk. I had pain in every muscle and joint. I hit the pillow and I do not think I moved all night. When I woke up I had absolutely no pain. But today I did see I had less energy so I decided to take a day off.

The first photo is the vegetable with the hoops installed. I will cover about every three hoops instead of a continuous line. It is PCV held in place by a 2' piece of rebar. 1/2 underground.

Photo of garage garden from side view.

Garage garden from driveway toward garage. Jnette, see your plant to send. It has been out most winter but pout it in the garage when we started rehab of the bed it was in. A couple of cousins next to it.

Last but not least is Vern's new toy. I have driven it the last two days. Fun to drive. I also cleaned out the inside today because it was full of crumbs. I will probably be back later but you all will be asleep.

I want to be rich like you Sharon. I like your hoops, neat idea.
I want to grow peas for the first time. I never have, Do I start now or what? I am not a veggie person, but the state of the world makes me think I better be one.

The pirate thing is sickening. I was listening to it on this political Christian radio program , Jay Sokalow live. It was the first I heard of it until Sharon's comment. I had forgotten it. That says how sick the world is, that I could forget.

Mornin... Dawn now is the time to startpreping the soil for your plants. if you plan to do beans they make a soil prep you sptinkle on and water in.
here is the link to tell when you are suposed to beworry free about frost. It looks like march 20 is the safe day for you.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/index.php?q=Rosamond%2C+CA&submit=Go

Sharon nice hoops. so what are planting????

Jeanette: please be sure to reschedule the scope. I am behind on when I should get it done but with all my other ailments I don't think I want to go looking for other problems. I am however going to get my dr to telt for cobalt on my next test. my orthoped told me to keep an eye on it so I am doing that. I am guessing I am allright though. Its just all those stupid comercialsfor the hip replacements. I think if I really wanted to get nasty I could as I had to have mine redone about 6 months after it was put in. dr didn't get all the badbone (I am guessing) because I snaped the top off the bone. He was amazed that I was walking on the broken hip.

well today i hope to get the cold frame compled and water the propagation cart. I don't know why I am not getting the germination like I should. I will check out the progressof my seeds from last week and check back in
its time to go back to bed...ttfn
Dave

Afternoon my friends, had errands this morning and am working on my Market place and ,journal, etc. this afternoon. Computer Tech is due at 3 so I thought I had better check in and show you what the black pussy willows look like in the field since it snowed again.
These bushes are three years old. The next photo is of the cuttings, one week after they have been in water.

These cuttings have been on an East window in a clear container and should root in another week or so. Notice how the catkins have developed in a weeks time. I just love these bushes. They also grow very well in containers on decks.

Those are mighty cute little itsy bitsy teeny weeny bushes

Like you Sharon, had a night of constant pain and little to no sleep at all. Beat down today, going to run to the store, then come home and crash for awhile.

Gas here is 3.23 Gallon

We do not have snow yet but they say tonight and most of tomorrow we will.

No roots yet on anything in the cloner but it has only been 10 days...impatient, me ask Sharon she will tell you I am NOT. ROTFLOL

Got to take daughters dog to vet and met her there then pick up roasted chicken from Safeway for dinner.

Ok, Sharon as you clean out the garden you will need to tell your old sis what you got and what you want.

D

well boy I am going to really catch hell gas is $2.89

You meany LOL

I think at times OR and WA are higher than CA and that is hard to believe.

D

Gas here is sold by the liter. It's comparable to the US but I haven't done the math. I usually look the other way and j ust pay them.

I just took my first ride on the ATV that I'm buying form my neighbors. It is not automatic so I'm having to learn to shift gears. Takes some getting used to but I think it will be fine. I'm training my dog Jenny to jump into a crate that I can attach to the back. With a couple of bungee cords I think she'll be able to ride with me and we can go to the beach. She is the youngest and still has the most puppy energy so it would be for her.

First, I have to learn to drive it well enough that I''m not in constant fear of disaster. So far, so good.

My pea soup came out quite good. I'm going to freeze most of it.

Trying to remember all my prep work for the trip.

hugs, katie

$2.89!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you not in this country Dave????

Sharon, my throat was swollen so I couldn't swallow any of my meds. The dr gave me some liquid hydrocodone and then used applesauce etc to get my bp meds down. The first was for my arthritis, I was getting so bad I couldn't even turn my head without the bones in my neck cracking.

Once my bp 170/104 (which is really high for me) started down then he let me go. BTW, the liquid really was wonderful when I hurt as bad as I did. They didn't have the bp meds in liquid. Would have been nice.

I slept 10 hours last night. I think the last time I did that was in my mother's womb.

Well, Bob got the plowman to clean the driveway this morning, so that is good except for that we are expecting another 10 inches and sub zero temps this week.

Gotta go get a shower then I might feel more like a human being. ttyal.

Dave, you have got to watch that Dee. Her brain probably has moss growing on it because it so wet in her area.

Jnette, that sounds terrible. It is so bizarre but I used to have terrible neck problems. I could not turn my head to look sideways and I would be sitting at my desk and my neck would go "clunk". People could actually hear it go "clunk". Then I started having sciatic nerve problems on my left side. I went to a physical therapist right next door to my office. I would go over there everyday for an hour and she would massage and manipulate my hip and leg and that make my neck hurt. Or working on the neck would make the leg hurt. She had a couple of doctors come over and look and they just thought I was crazy.

As soon as the sciatic pain went away, so did the stiffness and clunking of my next. Neither have ever came back. Thank you God.

We are going out tonight for our anniversary dinner to Via Brazilian. I took the day off. Housekeepers came and my home is spotless and I have the two workers Thursday and Friday. I ordered two more yards of soil for delivery tomorrow and 2 yards of medium size river bottom rock to fine tune a few areas. Hopefully by the end of Friday, I will be able to do everything left by myself because there should not be that much left.

We are going to dig the black bamboo and hardy hibiscus on Friday. They will dig under my watchful eye. The landscape company came today and filled the automatic fertilizing system. March 1st we go to watering 3 days a week.

A big difference in the cost of gasoline is the taxes the states add.

The Lexus dealer called the other day and said I should get a new car and get rid of my SUV because I would get better mileage. I drive out of the neighborhood about once a week. It takes me close to a month to get to 1/2 a tank. I never let it get below 1/2 tank. Something my father drilled into my head.

I will continue to take photos and keep you posted. All take care. Sharon.

Dave I did the exact same thing with my hip. They wanted me to leave it for 6 months on crutches and see if it wouldn't mend itself. But, I had to go to work every day and I was deciding that the crutches had to go so I made them do a replacement. That was many years ago.

How in the H*** are we suppose to know what the brand of prosthesis is that they put in there? Are they crazy? What did you mean about them

They shaved a piece off of the neck of my femur and put it on the ball of the femur because it was eaten away by the arthritis. Well, they shaved it too thin and as soon as I got off the crutches and put some weight on it it broke.

How are you suppose to "watch it"?

Sciatic is the worst. Especially when you feel it down to your feet. My sympathies Sharon.

Thanks Dave. Good to know this. I will have to figure out where I am doing this garden too because I have no area to put it that has a present watering systmem and with my crappy pressure adding is always a huge deal.

We paid $3. 23 cents today, for gas, it is the cheap stuff too. California is the worst in the country because they add all this stuff for emitions that makes it go way up.

I had such bad sciatic for months that I could barely sit on the toilet. The pain was so bad. From the top to the bottom. It started at my butt and went down my legs. The chiropractor started to work on it and now it is gone. Love that man.
Hope you are all feeling well today and the weather is getting warmer. Now we are to have rain for several days coming East from Oklahoma. Thanks Dave. Love you too.
Gasoline was $2.97 last week and now is $3.05 for regular. More to come I am sure.
Oil is $3.50 a gal delivered. This is only the beginning as long as the are willing so sell us out to the Libyans and the rest of those countries over there who are taking all our money. I am for stopping all foreign aid and using our own natural resources. Of course what do I know.
Later gang, I have a busy day. JB

Thanks for the sympathy Dawn but it is gone. Same as JB. When the physical therapist fixed my neck, my sciatic pain went away. Or maybe they fixed my sciatic and the neck pain went away. All I remember was she would work on my neck and my legs would hurt.

Dinner last night was fabulous. I will give more details later. I am going to do some banking on line and then get up and get busy. Later, Sharon.

MORNIN:
well first things first... I learned a long long time ago that sciatic is a junk term a lot of dr's use to lable things they can't pin point.

I agree with JB we have enough of our own oil and natural resources that we should tell them all to stick it. between the oil field under oklahoma and texas and the oil out of alaska we can run for centuries. I truely think the change is very near and once we all embrace the newer technology the middle east will have their own econ issues to deal with.or will they as one person makes all the money as the rest of the phesants scrape by on so little. thats why we have all the drugs coming from their. the little guy has to grow/harvest the opium just to make ends meet.

Its a rainy day and I had such awfull problems yesterday that I took a sleeping pill and managed to sleep till noon so I must have slept 14 hours.

Jeanette: have you thought about an under the driveway heater to keep the snow off? I realize it would mean a new driveway but just think of all the money you spend on plow boy. I have several catalogs that have the stuff ready to install a complete system.

not much going today as its rainy (yes I repeated myself)I guess its a good day to curl up and watch a movie or 3. the problem I have is I need a new one. I have watched everyone of the 300 plus dvd/blue rays I have several times. and yes I am one of those people that can walk through a room and just by the part on the tv id the movie. and yes I have the anoying quotes dow to a science too....

I guess I made my mind up to save my pennies and buy some land and put up an actual greenhouse on it to really stop playing and get down to it. its still in the planning stages because I have to acumulate the money to buy the land and greenhouse so it might take a couple of years or 3 to get to the point of being able to look for the land and have the GH put up. This year should tell the tail. as to what I can sell. I know I can grow the stuff and I have enough sources to sell what I grow. so time will tell.ask me in october how the experiment went.
of course this is subject to change if my health goes south. but so far we are good to go. normally I would seek financing but i need to do this where its self suficient and be able to hire one or 2 people to run it most of the time and for me to go out and crack the whip because I dont like what I see. Its easier to knit pick when its not you that your holding to the fire.
I can usually work out the issue with a massage but its becoming more frequet and getting a lot worse. she feels it into her hands. she thought it was carpell tunnel which they fixed but it never went away. Luckily I am able to feel the locked up muscles and work out the tension and make it go away. she has started doing the shots again so lets pray it helps.

Kim talked about really concentrating on the garden this year. expecially when she went to the grocery and green beans were 67 cents a can for the off off brand. I told her I would help but she knows more on gardening than I do. she did tell me that my failure las year was due to the bro in laws misguided installation of the beds. he packed the dirt in filled it a little bit then compacted it put more in then compacted it. that may be the way you do things for side walks and parking lots but its knot the way to do it for a veggie garden.
I had my step son remove like 3" of soil from the beds. my resoning was to have the added protection for flats of flowers, but with the new found interest in gardeningits got to be double dug or just simply turned. personally I vote for double dug but I am not the one operating the latin american back hoe (shovel). I guess it could be worse and have nothing but rock below ground.
Kim has started having a tougher time with her nexk issues so it migh be that she joins me as the walking wounded really soon. she had my pain dr tell her had she listened to the dr when I had my back surgery that she would be right next to me on the disabled line.

here is a link to our gas story as told on the news. our gas prices are run by one company as they have tousands of stores tulsa wide. if gas does go over 3.05 they do feel it as tulsa stops doing the whim driving on the weekends and evenings out. I ish I knew of a way for tulsans to break their hold on the cost of gas. we don't seem to care as long as its below $3.00
http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/money/business_news/Survey-shows-gas-prices-up-over-9-cents-a-gallon

o well enough bantering on. thats about the sum of my news.
Dave the rain soaked one

Wow, Jeanette! That sounds truly awful! I can't imagine going through such an ordeal. I am sorry that you had such an inept surgeon. Lawsuits are painfully expensive as well, but did you consider taking that course?

Sharon ~ I am glad that you no longer suffer sciatic pain. That happens when I go for walks. I don't go to the chiropractor in winter so I will continue along that to see if it can get corrected. she is a good chiropractor. Oh, the reason not to go in winter? Well, unless I am in excruciating pain, I do not like to travel over 20 mountain miles into Placerville or make appointments that I would most likely cancel. so I don't waste my time or theirs by doing this. I think if you have a good chiropractor that if you continue the treatments on a regular basis that the areas that are connected with back pain or any corresponding nerves like sciatic will be corrected in the long term. I will continue back in spring as I will have a whole other set of pain issues dealing with gardening as well as what is ongoing. Other than mopping or vaccuuming, I do not do hard physical work until spring. This winter I have been exercizing, but need to do more.

Are you going to be hit with this latest storm coming in? I have been without power for over 3 days, so we are prepared with supplies if it happens again. I have been trying to keep in touch with everyone but sometimes I don't get around to everyone when I have my computer battery going out any minute. I won't try and send any pictures this time, as it takes to long and probably takes more power as well.

Jeanette ~ Are you still buried in snow or just freezing cold? This next one is supposed to be even colder. We got spoiled by a warm January here, and then WHAM! Well, I knew spring does not arrive in January so it was the Feb thaw just coming early.

It's a bit chilly here and I've got the propane heater turned on for a few minutes. I don't want to complain because in a coupleof months I'll be drowning in sweat. I'm hoping it doesn't rain while I'm in Ca as my van leaks real bad.

I am about ready for my trip. I can several days if I need to. It's usually very nice at least for the first half. The farther north I get the more traffic, people, and junky scenery there is. As long as I take my time and am careful about where I stop it's usually a pleasant trip.

I have to take my computer tower up with my and have Larry my mail person check it out. It's very slow and obstinate. Like me, maybe.

Another in the long list of electronic problems.

Mexican gas is a monopoly and it used to be cheaper than in the USA. But about the time the US prices started to climb, Mexican prices did too. Rumors are that everyone who has been in charge of Mexican gas has retired very rich - and the prices keep going up.

Now that my cold is almost gone, the bone spur on the bottom of the heel of my right foot is making itself known again. It does completely overshadow the arthritis in my left knee but it's hard to be overwhelmed with gratitude for that. One of the packages waiting for me in Ca. has some shoe inserts that are supposed to relieve a lot of the pain from the bone spur. I sure hope they work.

I've got a third arhat plant growing. It will be interesting to see how they do here as I continue my quest to increase the number of food plants that are grown here. Several of the citruses are blooming and one mango. The brugs seem happy in their new homes and are putting out lots of new growth. I have seen lots of new seeds that I'd like to try but have restrained myself, mostly. I've got new adenium seeds coming and some seeds for a small mango with edible skin. Being online is a mixed blessing. Lots of information and ideas but I have to limit the number of new things I try each year or nothing makes it. At least I will probably never run out of new seeds/plants to try. A lot of my little goldenberry plants are still alive. They are very delicate looking and I've lost a bunch of them. I'm hoping that some of them become the "noxcious weeds" that the plant files warns abou

Enough nattering, will catch you all later.

hugs, katie

o.k. you people who have palm trees in your yards. My friend brought me some little seeds of a palm that looks like tiny cocoanuts. Where can I find out how to plant them. As usual, she forgot the name of the tree they came from. Her Mom lives in Florida. I hate when she does this. LOL Thanks.JB