Yeahh and they dont offer any help either. :)
Nasty nasty person
Good Morning all of you fine people from Texas and PA;
My name is Melissa, and I am usually on the Farm Forum; however, as I was contemplating the heat this morning and checking the forums, I noticed this one. What a pure delight to read about getting dirty and farm fashion wear.
I live in Monaville, TX where we have not had any rain in almost a month and the temps are high ninetys with an unmentionably high heat index.
My attire is much the same as everyone elses. Straw hats, long sleeves, boots, etc. Before going back to the house, I remove everything, hang it on my deck furniture, wash off with the hose, air dry, and change into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. When I return to work, I change back into my dungarees, etc which have been dried by the sun. It actually feels good. (I would love to have a swimming pool!!!. My neighbors have a beautiful pond for swimming but there is just too much wildlife in it!!)
After working many years in the business world and then teaching in higher ed, I revel in the freedoms farm life has given me.
I loved reading the stories and viewing the images.
Regards,
Melissa
Hi Melissa...remember me...I used to live in Hempstead...LOL ...
This is a great forum...happy to welcome you...
I've been living here in the woods between Blanco & Wimberley for 15 yrs. I felt like I had so much freedom after SO many yrs in San Antonio. Almost exactly 14 yrs ago, I was pregnant w/ my 2nd (who was born here in the woods!,but in a house, on July 17th). I had tons of energy, in spite of my 31/2 yr old. I began mowing the yard that afternoon, in my PG bathing suit. I used a tank of gas, but finished the yard. I came inside, took off the PG suit, rinsed off , and since the little one was napping, decided to mow some more. This time I just threw a sun dress over my soulder... it was SO hot out. As I said, we live in the woods and back then, there were even less people. Our driveway needed mowing so I thought since the mailman had already come, I'd mow that. Well, I mowed up one side and started down the other, off in my own little world, when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I'd forgotten all about our neighbor up the hill w/ a teenage son w/ a dirt bike, which just happened to die ( the dirt bike) at the top of our driveway. There I was, 9 mos pg, half naked, pushing a lawn mower. He waved, I just turned and pushed the lawn mower as fast as I could back to the house! I was very embarassed!! I thought about calling his mom to tell her what he'd seen, in case he mite need psychological help or something... but apparently he was ok. He invited us to his wedding several yrs ago, so thankfully the view of me wasn't devasting! I don't mow naked anymore!!
Melissa, so glad you joined us! Hempstead isn't too far from here. I'm hoping to go check out the huge cement art place there (Frazier's?) sometime soon. A friend and I went last yr before they moved to their huge new facility. I'm not in the market to buy anything, just found it interesting - from the sublime to the ridiculus!
I'm with you about jumping into water that's full of wildlife, it's not for me!
Mary Lee, did you find that picture of your DH's shorts standing up by themselves yet?
Cynthia, sounds like you fit right in with the rest of us ... gosh, I forgot to put on deodorant today ... whew, I can't stand myself.
Ruby, join in any time. I don't think I want my photo taken all scroungy ... I look bad enough dressed up. :o)
Melissa, welcome to the Texas Gardening Forum and telling us a bit about yourself. I hope you visit again.
Sylvia, you are so right about most men not helping out. After watching TV for hours as I labor for hours, my DH will ask me why I look so tired. After I have already carried in all of the groceries, he will ask me if there are any bags left to bring in knowing that I have already brought them all in. He has only taken the garbage out a few times in the past 22 years because he can't seem to remember when it's garbage day. He says he can't get the mail from the community mailbox which is across the street because he doesn't know how. He constantly asked me to retrieve things for him as he sits in the recliner because he says he doesn't know where they are even though they have been in the same place for over 20 years. I could go on, but I don't want to seem like a man hater.
Dogmanis, thanks for sharing your story. It reminded me of one day I decided to go outside topless:
There are no neighbors in back of me or any that are close to the right of me. The neighbors to the left were at work. I took off my sweaty, filthy T-shirt to change into another one and then remembered I needed to move the hose in the backyard. So, rather than putting on another T-shirt, I decided it was safe to slip outside topless to move the hose. When I reached the back part of my yard ... oooops ... there were 3 guys fixing the electronic controlled gate. The spaces between the slats of my "privacy fence" are fairly wide apart. I was afraid that if I could see them that they could see me; but, they looked very intent on fixing gate mechanisim. Then, my big old dog started yapping at them and they looked my way. I heard no gasps or oh, my God, what is thats. But, they did look back down very quickly. Hopefully, I did not scare them. I haven't ventured outside topless again. I did have to remove my shorts one time when I sat down on a fire ant bed as I was weeding a flowerbed outside of my fence. I really didn't care if anyone saw me in my panties cuz those fire ant bites are nasty, nasty, nasty.
That's the truth! Ants start biting on me with a vengeance, it's all coming off, and I don't care who might see!
;->
Yikes...me tooon the fire ants ...you can tell those of us who have had experience with them...My daughter was here when we were first buidling and she thought a bee was stinging her...I told her...take your shirt off and she ripped it off in no time flat...
Oh my htop you have me in stitches and I can just visualize the whole thing...Oh and I think our husbands are identical twins. Since he retired he is much better but when he was working 7 to 7 he was not much help around the house...When we were designing the house, he wanted his office in the room closest to the dining room and kitchen and I told him that should be my office cause I can keep an eye on your dinner while I work and he said...no I want my office close to the kitchen so you wont have far to walk when you bring me a beer...
Ouch! htop, that's no fun! I would have been out of my shorts in a hurry too! You know, when I lived in the city (Houston), noone ever just "dropped by" without calling. Now that I'm out in the boondocks, people are ALWAYS stopping in. Oh well, can't say I don't love it!
While we're on the subject of our DHs, I must brag on mine. Although he wouldn't know a snapdragon from a weed and doesn't help with the flowers, he does (at least) mow and weedeat. I HATE to weedeat, that's the absolute worst job ever! Another plus...he'll get on the tractor and mow along our 1/4 mile driveway and all the way around the fences. Yeah, I think I'll keep him!
Oh, my gosh, you guys have me laughing so hard at work (not a good thing when I am supposed to have my nose to the grindstone)! I've done the naked thing once because of fire ants and I agree with Htop, those bites are nasty! Fortunately it was in the backyeard and no one was around but my husband. He thought I had lost my mind until he realized what was happening. :-)
Ya'll are way toooooo funny.
Reminds me of the day DH and I were clearing out old bales of straw from the shed. Their were mice nesting in the straw - DH had on long pants and one of the mice spotted a long dark tunnel and made a dive for safety. You have never seen a man drop his pants so fast in all your life!!!! He then tore across the front of the house to the back door - in full vies of the road. Its a wonder there wasn't a pile up outside our drive!!
We still laugh about it from time to time - but now he always gardens with his long pants tucked into the top of his socks!
Ya'll are way toooooo funny.
No, htop I haven't had a chance to look for it yet. If it's still in the envelope it came in it should be easy to find. My DD is looking for it right now. BTW htop you have mail.
LOL now I am laughing out loud...my husband is always complaining about the chiggars, maybe I should tell him to tuck his pants into his socks...
That is hilarious, Carol and you are not helping me look seriously at work! But please tell us why he was running to the road? :-)
This was one of my most embarrassing moments and has nothing to do with gardening so I am way off topic. When I was much, much younger, I was living in an apartment with my 5 year old daughter. I didn't know from where it was coming. I jumped out of the shower, checked the apartment and then went to the window in my bedroom to look outside to see if the grass in the alley was on fire. I pulled the curtains back with no thought that anyone might be outside my window and with no thought that I was totally without clothes. To my great shock, there were 3 firemen within 2 feet of my window. They turned toward the window drawn by my pulling the curtains back ... then they had big smiles on their faces. I had to throw something on, gather up my daughter and leave the apartment. One of the fireman said, "You don't have to worry and it is safe for you to go back into your apartment. The apartment's patio fence behind you was on fire, but it's out now. Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot ... we won't tell anybody about the peep show."
Hi Terry.
The shed was on one side of the house the back door (really a side door) was on the other - he was in such a stew he didn't think to go the long way, round the back - he just went the usual way - across the front of the house.
Okay, both of you are keeping me in stitches. lol
I lived in TX 83-89 and mowed over all the fire ant hills all the time. Don't even get me started, he mowed once in YEARS, then took the mower when we split up...
One time the ants got revenge when I weeded, by hand afterwards. Kneeled here and there, then oops, in that same fire ant hill. They were sneaky about getting all over my right leg; I didn't feel a thing! I got a wake-up call when I got couple hundred bites all at the same instant! Jumped up, ran over to the hose, turned it on and hosed them off, in maybe 15 seconds flat! I was already in shorts and lucky I thought of the water cuz I didn't feel like wiping them off with my hands and getting those bit too!! ~ Suzi :)
You all are a hoot, and kin to me!!!! Unfortunately I have not been able to just "shed all of my clothes" even for fireants, I live in a stuffy ole suburban neighborhood outside of Houston, that hates me for my wildflowers and native plants. My yard has a very little grass, because I plant for nature and myself and family. I had my yard certified by the National Wildlife Federation. Anyway my hubby is like yours, watches TV, but he does weedeat around the yard, and acts like it is such an ordeal, and there is hardly any grass left in the front yard, and none in the back!! If I was to go naked in my yard, the cops would be called and we would get a fine. So we can't have any fun in our yard, unless we do it at 3am---and believe me, if it was cool enough, I would!!!! LOL!
I cannot wait to meet you Maggiepoo, and anyone else that comes to Houston or the area. You all sound like my sisters, we would all get along!!! Or maybe not!!!LOL!!!!
Keep those stories coming, I love them, and I am laughing so hard, my bladder is ready to splatter---------over and out!!! :)
Hey MellisahL, never been to Monaville, but I know it is not too far from me, what is your little town like, or is it big??? Any good garden centers or antique stores around there or junk stores, or thrift stores? Yeah, I am a big spender----about 25 cents for a T-shirt, or so. LOL, love T-shirts and overshirts for the garden!!!!
Later;
Ruby
Hey Ruby -
Well, Monaville is not a town - we do not have a post office and we are unincorporated. I read somewhere that there are between 80 and 100 people who live here in M'ville.
There is an interesting place in Hempstead on 13th street called Bluebonnet Herbs. They have a small but nice variety of outdoor plants that are not what you generally see in the large garden centers. The shop also carries some antiques, baskets, and little thises and thats.
Maggiemoo - I have gone to the old Fraziers a couple of times and only found myself getting anxious by all the concrete things. Then I drove over to the new one with Gary (significant other) and would not even stop. It looks like the concrete things are growing out of the ground and have taken over. It is a little scary.
Speaking of Fraziers and scary things - on FM 1887 which goes from Monaville to Hempstead (and no where elese) there is a place called Bomber Field. Inside the gates and near the road there stands this huge concrete guerilla. I must take a picture and send.
Htop - Hello. A little about me. I grew up in Dallas; college at SHSU '74; worked in the oil patch; 1984 - 2002 lived in and around NYC; taught at Iona College and Fordham University; had a private practice; Gary worked in Middle East until last June; he got a job in Houston; we bought a place here in M'Ville; as I have not been able to find a teaching position in higher ed., I have turned to farming/ranching on a small scale - i.e., my 3 potted tomato plants died and one of my goats thinks she is a dog.
I have enjoyed following this thread.
Regards,
Melissa
p.s. Gary and I returned this afternoon from the mecca of hunting and fishing stores - Cabela's in Buda, Texas!
tee hee hee ...well Melissa I have been waiting to see how you described Monaville cause I just about died laughing when she asked about the antique stores......the traffic light kept popping into my mind.........Mind you I loved the area and I loved living there but you gotta admit it's not a mall lovers dream place...Do you ever get to DiIorio Farms & Roadside Market. I used to love to buy goodies there...I agree about the Fraziers...It's like being in a very crowded graveyard...spooky...
Ruby;
Any good garden centers or antique stores around there or junk stores, or thrift stores? Yeah, I am a big spender----about 25 cents for a T-shirt, or so. LOL, love T-shirts and overshirts for the garden!!!!
Me too..me too! And I look for the good stuff! ...found an antique Duncan Phyfe sideboard for 85 bucks ...cost me 75.00 to get it home. lol but what a find!
Sylvia
Melissa..you coming on the trip? ...we can talk about NYC! ;) I dont have your credentials..but I did a stint at CCNY and UCONN about ten years before your time. lol yeah! yeah! I am a Greenwich Villiage gal!
I guess this sort of looks like a homeless person.
When It gets hot as now its shorts & t-shirt.
-
Lots of sun screen and bug spray.
People see me from the highway and our produce stand but always look tha other way.
I don't even want to know what they think!
LMAO! Hey Charlie ...you are too funny! What wrong with the way you look? what do you want to look like...an Enron executive? lol
Sylvia
Hey Charlie,
I think you look pretty happy and comfy, while you are cooking on the grill in the country! ~ Suzi :)
Charlie! Hadn't seen you in a while, was just wondering about you yesterday. Glad to see you, in all your splendor! You look just great to me!!
What a great thread. To garden you just can't keep clean. This is my first year starting a garden center that I run from the backyard. I always try to dress fairly decent for the days I am open. But if business is slow I just can't help my self and start doing things and end up, looking like---well just how you all described. Hair dripping, pasted to your head, with the nice dirt ring right at the hairline, wet, smelly and forget any handshakes, the dirt and whatever else might me under those fingernails.
I also suffer from chiggars, I swear they seek me out. I have discovered if I put a heavy ring of vaseline about 4 inches wide above my ankles it helps to keep them from crawling up my legs.... and I mean a thick heavy ring, plus does't hurt to smear it up the rest of the leg. Well can you just imagine me in my capri pants, shirt that is wet all below your chest because you have to wear a bra and then how much grass, dirt everything sticks to that vaseline. Let alone when you squat down then the vaseline gets all over the back of your pants. Almost looks like you peed your pants.
Last week I decided to weed eat, so I not only did my vaseline trick, I add a little masking tape to the bottom of my shorts to hold them closed and then some more below that with the sticky side up. So here I am capri pants on with about 5" of tape on the bottoms, slick shiny legs, covered with grass, dirt and dust. Oh and the shoes (no socks)that have been sprayed with OFF and look like something a homeless person dug out of the trash. Sure enough, I got a customer even though I was closed. I was surprised she didn't leave.
I have gotton more compliments than ever from my DH this year of "how nice I look" That's because most of the time when he gets home from work, I look so bad, all I have to do is be clean, have my hair combed and some clean clothes on and he is impressed. LOL
I always tell my friend who likes to garden we are "The dirtest old ladies on the block"
Isn't it great!
LOL, Dee! Remind me to wear my vaseline when I come visit your nursery. I don't like them chiggars! LOL
OMG! I'm LOL again! Yesterday DH & I went to Shreveport for a day trip. Of course the minute I got home, I changed into shorts & began moving plants around to other beds. DH comes outside to clean out the garden shed (whew, glad HE did that!) and asks me "What in the world are you doing in that shirt?" In my haste to get outside, I'd forgotten to change shirts & there I was, covered in dirt with a new dry-clean only blouse on. Hmmm....hope they can get the dirt out!
I have been trying to find this stinking order in my car for three days... yesterday I made my discovery..... I dont believe I had been riding around with TWO 2cubic ft bags of MG garden soil in the trunk of the car in all this Heat! I dont think I am ever going to get the stench out of this car! Thank God I dont carpool! its just too embarrising!
Sylvia
Sylvia, I know that smell after the bags have been in the heat in the car for a long time. I used to use MG potting soil and it used to love riding around with me for days.
BTW, I quit using MG potting soil because it developed a fungus that actually killed my plants. I had used it in some areas of my flowerbeds too (now I know you aren't supposed to do this) and the fungus appeared there as well. I had not read on the bag that it states that the potting soil should be removed form the containers each year and be replaced with new potting soil or if I did read it, I thought that just wanted to sell more of their potting soil. This occurred when my Mother and my brother used it too even though they had purchased the MG potting soil at different places than I had. This stuff was awful. When I watered, big clouds came up from the potting soil. In some areas of my flowerbeds where I obviously didn't remove all of the MG potting soil, plants will not grow. Has anyone else had this happen?
Bareroots, we had chiggers pretty bad too. They like burmuda grass which mostly what we have in the back yard. We called Gardenville and they told us to use orange oil in a sprayer. I forgot how much exactly. It actually kills them. You may have to do it several times to get them all, but it does work. We haven't sprayed in weeks and I've had no bites.
Hmmm.... Hazel, I thought the MG people just wanted to sell more of their soil too.... I'd better think what containers have some of their soil from last year. Maybe that can explain some of the things that have died.
Sylvia, I once (only once, mind you!) forgot to remove a 40lb bag of chicken manure from my trunk. It was hot. I was traveling a lot that day. It was awful!!
OK Ladys, I usually use a good sunscreen and have one of my daughters cloth diapers as a headband. Loose baggy shorts that my DW gave me of hers and barefooted. I can not stand to wear anything on my feet while working in the yard. I love the feel even if I have greenish feet with an undertone of brown. Cooling off is easy for me since I have only one neighbor next door and a 6.5' fence. Strip down, if not already, and turn the mister on me. After that light rinsing off, throw the shorts back on and go soak in my neighbors pool. My neighbors wife and I both garden sooo they let me enjoy the pool when they are not home. Yes, my daughter will lean out the back door at times to yell at me that her friend is on her way over saying "GET DRESSED, DAD !!!"
Maggie, I have lost plants when I used potting soil with time release fertilizer like MG has. Once when it rained incessantly one spring (lost both inground plants that I had put time release fertilizer in the soil and containered plants) and once when it was hot like this and I had to water very frequently. The fertilizer was released to often and they burned. I quit using time release fertilizer altogether.
Kip, I am glad that I don't live next door to you. Oh, my. I migh accidentally see you in your birthday suit and have to go to the emergency room. :o)
Mary Lee, I heard somewhere to spray diluted orange oil in flowerbeds to keep cats out of it. Have you ever heard this?
Mydaisy, did your blouse come back clean?
Bareroots, I really like that you call yourselves "the dirtiest old ladies on the block". You should tie with Sylvia for the "Nasty, Nasty Person Award".
What is orange oil?
I hear lots of thunder outside so I am praying for rain tonight...please everyone ...cross your fingers and do a rain dance...no rain here for sooooooooo long...
Someone was doing a pretty good rain dance for the houston area, because I actually got some RAIN this evening!! Thunder, too! It isn't raining now, and it wasn't enough to actually water the garden, but it did cool the temps down to tolerable and the cloud cover kept the scorch out of the air today. I know the plants have enjoyed a day off!
Didn't get much here either but anything is a blessing...I was so in hopes for a good rain and am feeling lots of disappointment but my DH says there is a possibility of more later...He is in KY but he checked for me..