Your Neck of the Woods Chat Fall 2012

Did you know the mail was once delivered by missle? Yep, and by camel? Postal service is in the Constitution . NPR had an interesting segment on the history of the postal service on Sat, Check it out here. You can listen to it while you bake cookies!

http://backstoryradio.org/

A couple of Charles Goodyear's attempts of inventing were stories I always enjoyed , The rubber coated mail bag was one of Charlie's first fails because the bags were to heavy when coated,kept the mail dry in the wagon deliveries area's though.
Failed at rubber tires for wagons and their suspensions also,His family did all right with his failures later ,Let us all hope the postal service "fares?" better for the new year.... poor Charlie,

Can't do cookies ,I am plain too fat already!!! goodness me and food!!

Enjoyed the links thank you!

Funny thing about baking cookies (for me anyway), Juhur. I get so sick of tasting the first ones and smelling all the rest for all the days that I'm baking, that I really don't feel like eating them. If I had gotten them by purchasing at the bakery, I'd have a difficult time staying away from them at all!!

Definitively a mind over waist line matter type of thing!!!!^_^

Alright everybody I need some help.

I'm planning on buying some amaryllis bulbs for Christmas presents. Other than benkes in Beltsville are there better local resources? Online favorites?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
P

I was in Wallgreens today--and they had big Amaryllis bulbs in a glass "vase" of sorts.
Reminded me of something you would put over a candle--about 4"-5" across.
I believe they were $12.95 (??). Looked very classy!

Please do not buy the boxed gift sets--they are c--p!

I just tried looking up Wallgreens--no luck with the Amaryllis. G.

Terp- Try this: http://www.johnscheepers.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Category&_category=Amaryllis
same selection, cheaper prices if you want quantity: http://vanengelen.com/catview.cgi?_KEYWORDS=amaryllis&_COLORS=&_SUN=&submit=Search&_fn=Search

Thanks for the suggestions!

Paul---

The kind of a "vase" I saw at Walgreens is actually a "Hurricane Chimney" type.
Of course, the bottom is closed and the bulb sits in there with some marbles--if I remember. Very pretty....

Similar to these.... http://candlesbyconnie.com/hurricane_globes_shades.html

If you like--I can go pick one up for you. Then--when you come by, you will have it. Problem solved...
I don't mind--it is only a couple miles from my house, right next to the Safeway I go to all the time.
Not sure on the price--I know II said-$12.95--but it may be $14.95.

If you don't like it--I can return it tomorrow. LMK---Gita

Have you been watching the news. We had the TV/Radio off most of the day listening to Christmas music while we cleaned. Got a call from my older daughter about an hour ago asking if we had heard what had happened. All I can think about right now are my Grands and DD (teacher). I see the school bus going by in the development next to us. What a sad, sad thing, I keep thinking back to Columbine and wondering what is wrong with our society.

Yes I was

This message was edited Dec 15, 2012 12:42 AM

my prayers to all , and hope to remember during this time of year how dear and precious each and everyone is ....
Now I am .....



This message was edited Dec 15, 2012 12:41 AM

THis is certainly a huge tragedy.

We have our GS JR for the weekend. Just came back from getting our Christmas Tree. While Ric and I get the tree up and lighted we sent him back to the neighbors behind us to play with their children. So I am not sure if I will have a couple of hours of peace while they all play in their woods or if he will come back with a gang to build with the marble maze in our living room. Either way it will be nice having him to help decorate the tree later. Holly


And bake cookies, I hope! LOL Ric

This message was edited Dec 15, 2012 3:45 PM

Absolutely NOTHING going on, Holiday, gardening, or otherwise around this house. I've caught the creeping crud that's been going around and I've been flat on my face for what feels like aeons.. but HollyAnn, DH came home from work the other day crying, and told me about what had happened. He had the hardest time getting the words out, we were both just utterly speechless. What an unspeakable tragedy. We have cried and prayed, and prayed some more for those families and that community, our hearts just absolutely break for them. So so so sad.

I hear you! It is unfathomable. Lots of prayers being said and lots of hugging of children. Hit my DIL especially hard when labels are being bantered about since our grandy is on the autism spectrum.

Praying you get to feeling better, speedie!!! Our company has been sick. Their flight here from TX was not very pleasant. Praying their return flight tomorrow is better. Grandy is feeling better, but her parents aren't.

Our Christmas choral presentation was last night. The kid's choir, adult choir and some kids on instruments shared. Methinks I will need to be a listener next year, cuz it was very difficult to sing after and with my grandies. Hard to see through teary eyes. And the words of another song teared me up and made my chin quiver. I'm sure it is distracting when my tissue comes out and I'm wiping my eyes. Several friends came and hugged me afterward, cuz they saw my emotions.

I'm not watching any of the news programs.
Well here is a little something to brighten up your days. My Hellebores are starting to put out blooms. I also have about 3 clumps of Italian Arum that are really looking good.
UMD_Terp, Do you have Hellebore in your woodland garden? If not they would be a great addition.

I need to go out and look at mine, Holly. Never occurred to me to look for buds now. I did notice that some of my hostas are starting to peek out of the ground!!

That tragedy in Sandy Hook took place while we had gotten together with another couple to bake cookies. Needless to say, our festive mood changed and we put it off for another day. Donna and I cried and the guys were speechless for a LONG time. I'm sure that it has found a permanent place in everyone's conscious and subconscious. The only slight relief comes when a prayer is raised up.

Jan, Yes just what I was thinking. There will be a lot of talk about gun control (not taking this conservation in that direction) but what we really need is some talk about how we treat those with mental illnesses. Good help is hard to find and paying for it is next to impossible. Insurance companies pay very little toward that type of care and those with the illnesses are quite often cash strapped. Not to mention the environmental questions on why are these type of illness on the rise? Or the social issues that makes violence a form of entertainment for our children. Really so many issues contribute to this type of incident.

Amen, HollyAnn, Amen. I guess before any of that gets started, it wouldn't hurt for more prayer to be started. LOTS more prayers. We gotta start somewhere, and in my mind, God's the best place to start, including (especially?) for those policy-makers.

Paul---

I have about 6 hellebores....These pictures are all from march--different years...
They are a welcome sight early in the spring.
You are right--the blooms all hang down--so it is hard to take a picture.

Here are some of them--the pictures being what they are......
Get some anywhere you can. It is worth it.
Gita

Yes mostly face down some have a more upright growth but mostly they face down. I still have a ton of seedlings so next spring I can share plenty of my little ones. They are pretty pricey to buy full size, they take about 3 years to flower so if you have the time or patience to grow them from seedlings you will save a good bit. They are really nice for a woodland garden and look good pretty much all year round. I get a bit of snow damage on the older bigger leaves but quite often the younger leaves and blooms are sticking out of the snow looking so pretty. They bloom for a very long time. I had flowers for half of last summer, too.
I have been thinking of dividing some of the bigger plants next spring so I might have some of those to share, also. I'll post some pics for you when I can.

Nice pics Gita. You have a nice collection of colors.

Holly---I have never seen any seedlings....maybe i just don't know where to look?

My oldest one is the pale, pale green/white. That is next to my bird bath. Pic. #2

My newest one (going on 4-5 years now) is the double pink (pic. #4) It is so pretty! Very dainty...
Someone on DG traded me that--from somewhere --not from the Mid Atlantic....Have no record..

Don't remember where i got the rest.....

Have you ever divided one, Holly? What do you do--just dig away a small section of one?

They grow pretty fast, and are not picky about the soil. They do like a bit of shade, though.
G.

1--nicer picture of the mauve-purple one
2--better one of the pink one
3--This one shows the nice fresh leaves that grow each spring. Cute! it had the one bloom on it....

I get tons of seedlings growing under the older ones. Gave quite a few away this past year. Haven't tried dividing the big ones yet. Did dig up a couple of the big ones and transplanted them at my DD house. They did very well.

Welp. I buckled in the amaryllis and just got two kits at lowes. It was easy and I had a $15 merchandise card to use up, oh well. I'm sure they will turn out fine.

Quick question about the Hellebores (pardon me Paul, please forgive my interruption): Have any of you started them from seed? How do you collect the seeds? Is there a link here one of you could direct me to, please? I'm PLENTY patient to do it, and if they're relatively easily collectible, I can nab some from the plants at work! Thank you! =)

Sorry Paul, tip-toe'ing back out again. < =/ Oh, but please let me say, I'm sure your amaryllis' will be fine. We've sold the "inexpensive" kits at work and they grow like mad, really really nicely! I think you'll be suprisingly pleased with your outcome... just don't plant them too deeply. =)

I haven't tried collecting seed or starting them by seed. My first ones were very small plants bought thru a co-op. But my plants drop seeds and new young seedlings are growing under the older plants. I should have plenty to share again this spring at the plant swap.
I have 8 amaryllis to give away as gifts this year. I ordered mine earlier this fall but I have bought the cheap ones at stores and they always do well.

Thanks for the reassurance. I am sure they will turn out great. The kits are easy and a great start for people with not a lot of experience.

Another bit of bright news, "Comfort Dogs" from all over the country have been arriving to Newtown to help in their very special way. And a quote from Mr Rogers:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world." -- Mister Rogers

Happy Birthday UMD Terp!

Paul, are you starting a new tradition of planting garlic on your Birthday? Certainly will help with remembering the date planted!

Have a very good rest of your special day and thanks for your enthusiasm and sharing/caring in the MAF.

Coleup, Love that quote from Mr Rodgers. You are such a fountain of information and wisdom. I always love your posts.

Mr Rogers was wonderful.
Thread for Paul- thanks Judy for the alert!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1291433/

Thanks Holly, and a belated Happy Birthday to you, too.

I had the incredible priviledge of being a Day Care Center teacher, a large center for 2 1/2 thru Kindergarden. One Fall, as new groups and attendees were forming, one little boy seemed particularly "lost". I watched as he wandered from one area to another in the large room, He began to sing softly, the Mr Rogers "Won't You Be My Neighbor" song.

From way across the room another little boy began to sing it too. And, they worked their way towards each other, untill by the final chorus they were at the same table and sat down and played together. They became fast friends and are still close after 27 years!

May we all keep singing out (Jan) and finding our neighbors and fast friends!

"It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?...

It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?...

I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?
Won't you please,
Won't you please?
Please won't you be my neighbor"

Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL!!!!!! < =D

Judy, you've made me cry; Mr. Rogers was always one of my all-time FAVOURITES. God Bless his beautiful soul forever.

Yes, I'd be honored to be your neighbor.

Happy birthday, Paul. My 50 year old son just loved Mr. Rogers. That program would calm and sooth him if he was upset about anything. It was a rare find on tv that was filled with mostly Astro Boy and all the other fast past programs.

Love that quote fro Mister Rogers

I am happy to be a neighbor to al of you sweet people.

All you sweet neighbors, lets continue chatting over here
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1291667/