Coffee and...Part 21...! :-D

Hi and WELCOME (and/or Welcome BACK!) This is session #21.

Here's my usual message...
"Our door is *always* open to anyone who cares to drop in and sit a spell, If you have any special goodies to share, just put 'em on the counter with the rest of our absolutely, positively, NO-cal supply! We'd Love to taste them! :-)"

Here's the link to our last session:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/523849/

The last of the 'ground' plants are in place now. The only things left are those that will be needed to fill the empty spots in containers later in the year. You'd think that there would be time to relax and enjoy the fruits of *my* labor, right? No such luck. Now that summer has officially arrived and we're about two weeks into the season...and the fact that rainfall has not been as abundant as in years past, I'm finding that I *must* install some kind of practical irrigation system.

For me, 'practical' means worth the time and trouble...AND *cheap*. LOL

SOoooo...that means I'm using a makeshift drip system originally intended for a vegetable garden with 'rows.' Well...I got 4 systems when they were on clearance at the end of last season ($3.00 ea!) and 2 of them are now sitting in one large bed happily 'weeping' all over everything. My plants are in heaven. At least those in *that* bed. The rest of them are dying a slow water 'starvation' death.

Anyone here ever set up a drip/soaker system? I'd like to hear how *you* did it.

~julie~

Julie, I have just the system for you....the only problem is that "I have"....got it at HD.....when in Chicago with my DD a couple of weeks ago, went to 3HD and none had it....it must be a thing like us having sno-blowers....LOL

Anywho, I came home and got her the get-up for the system, (100' of tubing, faucet connector, little sprayers, etc for $100. and you know the size of her gargen...and this should do it just fine.

Now I never checked on-line to see if you can mailorder...It's under the name of Rainbird or Digs and Zoro,,, no...what the name of the lawn mower...not Zoro.....LOLLOLOLL Toro....close...hehehe WHATEVER..... try that....it really works well.

Hap

http://www.hydro-gardens.com/mistingnozzles.htm

Check this out too....

I googled, "garden mist system"

Thanks Hap! LOL (I loved the ZORO bit! Still chuckling as I think about it.)

I googled "mini soaker systems" and picked up one site that I need to go back and study. I think it was Mrdrip-dot-com. It's not an easy site to find things and the prices are listed with the products. SO it's really hard for me to get "it all together" there. I was thinking of trying Walmart-dot-com and HD and Lowes. I got the systems I'm using at Walmart at the end of last year. I just love the way they set up...and the way the work is "WOW"!

Now I'd like to customize the set up in my other beds and try to make them so they're flexible in layout from year to year.

Has anyone in the cold climates ever used the Orbit soaker systems and left them in the garden over winter? That's my biggest concern right now. All this work just might go 'poof' when the temps fall well below zero.

~julie~

Up early - 5am - couldn't sleep as I still have a ton of stuff to do before we leave. DH decided he HAD to go to work for half a day - grrrr. He will get home just in time to shower and hop in the truck!! DGS is coming at 7am and I still need to make a run to the grocery store (he will belly ache about going with me too!!)

Man, I'd love a drip system. I spent the whole day lugging around hoses. It is supposed to be in the 90's while we are gone, so I needed to give everything a good soaking. And wouldn't you know I saw another woodchuck...I'm sure he will have a nice home dug under the barn while we are gone! I gave everything a miracle grow bath too.(only my annuals...) I sure will miss my morning garden walk and how will I manage without checking in here. I plan on seeing if there is a library up where we are and making a visit. This place is addicting.

Well, gotta get my fanny in motion!! Long day ahead. See everyone!!

Enjoy your camping vacation Sarv!! But be sure to check in if you can, you know how it goes here. Couple of days away and you spend an hour catching up on threads!! I got called to sub in the Thursday league ..in fact they called me twice. The first time the tee time was so late I didn't want to take out the whole middle of the day so I turned them down, the second time they gave me an early tee slot, so I'm going.

DGS came over for dinner and brought two half siblings with him. His father, with whom he has NO contact, has "donated" to two other women besides my DD, one while he was married to DD,and the kids finally decided they needed to meet each other. So, one is here visiting DGS from Missouri, the other from central Wisconsin, and they are all absolutely delightful! We had a great time meeting them, and hope to keep in touch even though the two half-siblings aren't really related to us.

I made them all sit on the couch for a "family" portait. Ages, respectively, Kyle, 18, Mindy, 14, and my sweet Alex , 23. For having had minimal contact with each other, they've got the brother-sister thing down pat, teasing and horsing around....!

I'd better get myself moving...have a great day everyone, and I'll catch up later!! Darius, I ordered some of the Pomona's Pectin for the Blackberry Jam.

Here's the Somewhat Related Siblings!

Hi all. Dripworks is another company that specializes in drip irrigation systems. A google search would have them I'm sure.

M5, those kids might get along better having not grown up together! It's cool that they got to meet and spend time with the other semi-siblings.

Sarv, I hope your vacation is restfull once you get going. We'll miss you.

I'm on the fast track today, getting ready to leave here about 8am for a ride in central Washington. Watering all the vegie and flower beds, cleaning the trailer and packing, doing all the last minute stuff. I need to go for about an hour ride to check out my horse while the sprinkler runs in the vegie garden and before the day gets any hotter. Why didn't I go this morning while it was cool? See you next week.

Well, I placed edging on annual bed late yesterday. I got it on sale at walmart, it is very good looking. Today was grocery shopping day. So I didn't get much accomplished in garden today. Have a church picnic tonight, so will be after dark when I get in. I will have to water then, but that's about all I will do. Sarv enjoy your vacation. Once you are on the road, you will enjoy it, I'm sure. Check in if you can, we will miss you.

OHhhhhhh my aching back! My poor aching thumbs...and most everything from the toes to the hair roots.

I spent the ENTIRE day in one bed pulling, yanking, digging, (swearing) and throwing sand in my face and my DGD's (LOL) but by the end of the day (3:00 p.m.) that corner of the bed looks *great*! (I can actually see how big the cannas ARE! WoW! :-D)

When the weeding was done the 'little one' (Angel) came over and we got to play in the wading pool. I put a little kids bath gel in it and she got a bath and a cool down all at the same time...AND grandma got the same. LOL

M5...That's a pretty good looking family portrait you have there. I'm glad they got together...and really glad that you feel (and *they* feel) like you're part of their family. (Great looking grandkid *you* got there, too!)

Mary, you probably won't see this now...but I hope you have a good trip and GOOD ride! Don't let those 'bad riders' catch you unawares this time. Stay safe!

Sarv...my heart is with you while you get all those last minute things done before you leave on vacation, too. I've been there and done that...and as they say...I've thrown away the tee shirt! LOL Now that I'm into gardening, I doubt there'll ever be another real vacation for me...and that's fine.

I'm hunting down more supplies for my drip irrigation system now. I absolutely LOVE the one I have laid down. And my plants are loving the fact that all I have to do is hook up the hose and let 'er drip! No more waiting for my to get time enough to stand there with the soaker hose for a couple of hours before they get a drink.

Well...I'm off to the shower, then DH will make some pizzas for supper and I plan on crashing on the chair immediately after the last bite.

Hope everyone is having a good day...and that the evening will be cool and relaxing for all!

See y'all tomorrow!

~julie~

Hi, Everyone... Back from my heartberaking trip to see my mother... 4 times in a row now that she was too asleep to recognize me... and she's on NO drugs except to prevent strokes and control blood pressure. She's lost 30 pounds in a few months, refuses to eat a lot of the time when she's awake. I guess she's winding down and preparing to exit.

Rained like the Devil all the way home, thanks to TS Cindy. Hurricane Dennis will be upon us with rain in a few days, no doubt.

Darius, that's exactly what your mother is doing. My mother was at home with Hospice and I felt just like you do until they explaned it is a natural thing for the body to prepare this way. It really doesn't make it any easier for you, but it is an explanation. (((hugs)))
Pati

No, it is not easy, Pati. I sometimes just want to smack her, of course. In reality, I know that's what's going on, and nothing I can do to alter the pathway. I just HATE to see her in such a pitiful condition.

Thanks for your kind words.

So sorry to hear about your mother, Darius, my step-mom, the dearest person I ever knew, went the same way. She slugged a nurse for trying to force her to eat....they didn't try that again. She never ever raised a hand to anyone in her lifetime, but she wasn't about to be made to do something she had no interest in doing. When they asked permission to forcefeed her, I said no, as hard as it was. The poor dear was 84, my dad was gone, and she was just flat out quitting. I shed more tears for her than for my birth mother, and I have constant reminders of her around my house. She will always be in your heart, and any bad feelings will fade away.

Julie you deserve a lengthy sitdown (and a couple of Oreos, have you seen the peanut butter or milk chocolate ones yet?? LOL)for the day you put in! Doesn't it feel good to see the results, though? I'm about done in myself, came home and finally did that ironing I've been putting off, cleaned up the guest bedroom for my brother in law, who I hope makes his visit very short.

Now I have to run the vac over the rest of the house, because I'll be out again tomorrow and it looks like somebody lost a cat fight! How can they possibly lose that much fur and not be bald? Good thing there's nothing on tv because I'm easily diverted from chores.

DH goes back to work on Monday, and I'll have my day to myself again...!!

I have some new visitors to the garden. Caught them smooching!

Darius,

Having been where you are with my Dad, I can only offer my support and thoughts. It is terribly hard to go through, but be glad she's sleeping so much - she's probably having pleasant dreams of wonderful memories - and she's not feeling much. That is a blessing. I'll be thinking of you and her.

I only worked 1/2 day today because my work laptop went KABOOM! Couldn't even get it to boot in safe mode - so they've got to "TRY" to recover everything (OMG - they better!) - and reimage it (i.e. rebuild it!). I'd been having hints of problems - but it went in one fell swoop - so - not having a pc pretty much ends your work day for a systems analyst. Boss said - go home - enjoy the afternoon. Hopefully I'll have it back tomorrow. Then I'll have to spend the weekend catching up - but not too much.

Nothing much else going on - just catching up on forums and saying hi!

Later!

m.

Darius, so sorry to hear about your mother. Hugs, thoughts and prayers are with you both. (I don't like that feeling of not being able to 'do' something about a situation either...so I know how you're feeling.)

M5, it *does* feel like a major accomplishment to look out the kitchen window this morning and see that nice clean flower bed. Maybe today I'll get DH to actually go and haul home that load of wood chips to *keep* it that way. LOL (He'd BETTER!)

BBug...sorry about your laptop. Been there and done that too...my only problem was that when it happened to me I was the only one at work to either fix the problem OR requisition a NEW one. (Guess which option I generally took. hehehe) Glad you got the afternoon off.

Nothing much to report (it's only 6 a.m.). All I've done so far this morning was get out of bed and sit down here. DH even brought me the first cuppa when it was finished brewing.

M5...that's a cute pic of your chippies. Do they do much damage in your garden? I've got *one* resident chipmunk. He/She has been here for two years and I don't remember ever seeing more. This one does do anything more than that sit with the birds and rabbits under the bird feeder and fill its cheeks then quickly run away to hide the seeds. (Thank goodness!)

I'll try to drop back later in the day to see what everyone else is doing. See ya then.

~julie~

Darius, sorry to hear about your mom. Never experienced it with any of my family, but DH has with grandparents. I now have a dear aunt in the nursing home, in terrible condition. Most of the time doesn't know me when I visit. It is frustrating, as I am a "take charge" person, and I understand your urge to slap and try to knock some sense into her. Just be glad that she is sleeping alot and not combative and disruptive.

I am going to tackle household chores today. House looks like a tornado went through it. Of course DGD contributed to mess!! Have to take her to ear specialist this afternoon, just a follow-up from last week's horrible ear infection.

It is still dry here. They are predicting some rain for the first of next week. Sure hope we get some, although don't want folks to suffer the effects of Dennis.

Will check in later to see what you have been up to.

Yeah, this house is worse than a disaster. Hardly have sat down the 5 days I was off! Friday night we left for northern IL, DH bought a mower on ebay (I'm threatening to change the password so he quits buying stuff - too many days running after stuff, gas is high and time is short). Got there mid afternoon on Sat. , picked it up, went north, towards home on I-90. All the MN rest stops were closed - didn't pass a budget so closed everything!

Sunday had to take MIL to church again as BIL amd SIL went to her mom's in IL. Got everything lined up for the parade except one announcer. Called a few people for that and got no takers.

Mon. morn. called another guy and he said he'd do it. Whew! That's what u get for leaving it till the last minute. Registration went smoothly. DD lead the Kids' Parade at 10:45. The big parade starts at 11:00. Biggest turnout we had in years - over 100 entries!

We had 3 large extended families competing to win first in the family division. One has won the past 5 years so the goal is to beat them. I got the judges' score sheets back and tallied everything up and they won again. They received two 10s and a 9. The other two floats received two 9s and a 10! What a hoot...can't wait to see what they come up with for next year!

We relaxed a few hours, went to the flea market, took DGD to the mini-train and mini-ferris wheel rides and then worked the gate at the Demolition Derby from 6 till 10. And ended the day with a fantastic fireworks show! Another great 4th!!!!!!

Tuesday I had to pickup DH's aunt and uncle, plus MIL and take them to an aunt's visitation. Got to the home, uncle wasn't ready, got to the assisted living apt., aunt wasn't ready, got the MIL's apt, had to do her hair. Don't look forward to getting old! Visitation was 2-4 and 6-8 so the cousins served supper to about 100 at 4:30. Didn't have to take aunt and uncle home again as their son came after work to get them.

Wednesday, had to pick up the aunt and uncle again for the funeral, but uncle refused to go so after 15 mins of cajoling, left him there. MIL went with BIL so didn't have to take her either. Visited with cousins we hadn't seen in years - that's always nice, too bad it's always at funerals! There were 15 in FIL's family and all had spouses, two remarried after they lost the first one, so that totals 30 aunts and uncles, plus the in-laws, only 13 are left now. Wow!

Finally went back to work yesterday - it rained so hard, I waited 10 mins before leaving. We got about 4 inches of rain in about ONE hour - think that hurricane is up here? Best part is, both pumps are working fine, my basement is DRY!!!! HURRAH! And if i don't get moving, I 'll be late for work. lol

Laura, you must own stock in running shoes, LOL!

and, Hey... GREAT that the pumps work and the basement stayed DRY!!

What a schedule!!! I know what you mean about DH's getting stuff on Ebay....we've made trips to pick up motors and tires and other "great buys". I think he's slowing down some though, because the last trip he took was out to OK, and it was, to say the least, a waste of time. He wrote it up and put it on his website. It's pretty funny. http://www.sewimustangs.com Worst of all, he paid the guy up front on Ebay, and has yet to see a a refund.

And a DRY basement, dcat!! That made it Independence Day for sure!!

And, when I got back from golfing this afternoon, DH had vacuumed, and made the bed!! So I took a nap! Brother in law expected late tonight.

think I'll go out and MiracleGro some flower beds, since I don't have to catch up on housework.

Well spent all morning cleaning house and doing laundry. Took DGD to ear specialist, and he pronounced her good as new!!. Came home, fixed supper, and now trying to catch up on the threads I missed today. Going to finish putting mulch on new annual bed that I edged this week. Other than watering, and starting some things for the KYRU swaps, not much going on in my garden. DGD has gone with friends to the County Fair tonight. So can sit and gaze at the computer all I want.

I won't be here much until Hurricane Dennis has passed all the inland US.

stay safe, darius! ...be thinking and praying for u and all the others in the path!

Thanks, Laura. Mother Nature is somewhat indescriminate!

I hope all our FL friends can be SAFE!

Mollymac, are you in the path of the hurricane? Keep us informed, as I worry so, even about people I know. My prayers will be with you FLA people until this passes. Glad we went to the Caribbean early this year, wouldn't want to be there now.

Altough Dennis has not been predicted to come this way, we are experienceing some strong breezes. It's rather nice since it has been so hot. The rains finally ended on the 3 July, sun hat been very high and hot.

We sat out on the patio tonight talking, had a bite to eat. It was quite nice, and very comfortable.

Well, I fired myself from that sign painting job, took the signs back this morning to let them finish them and the boss confirmed I WAS being too critical of my own work. He said they produce the same quality as I was able to do. So I brought them back and I should be finished in the morning. Whew, made me feel so much better. I was so frustrated yesterday when I was working on spraying on the final coat, I spilled a quart of paint on the gym floor. But I feel better now.

I painted 3 offices today, came home, collected some coconuts from a neighbors house. Will be draining them, sawing them in half and drying them out for shipping to one of our members. We'll be using them for orchid planters. Got my son to help do that.

I put in some plants I received in the mail this week, and the ones I got from a local nursery yesterday. Took cuttings and potted them. I hope they will root for trades in the fall. I bought some rooting hormone powder for the first time. I hope this increases my percentage of successes.

I have some of our members coming to visit tomorrow. My son has promised he will help get the patio into some semblance of respectiblility. I started some with that today and will just have a bit to do tomorrow. It's really embarrassing to having a bunch of flats with dead sticks in them to show your fellow gardeners.

Have a good night!
Molly
:^)))

Keep safe all, hope Dennis gives you a pass....we'll be thinking of you.

Dreadful news....Bother-in-Law (that's not a typo) has postponed arriving until Monday, and DH is still on vacation all next week which means the pest might be here all week. If he had let DH know sooner I could have made escape plans, but as it is, got the Vet appt. on Monday and agreed to golf on Thursday, which means if I went to my sister's I'd have to leave Tuesday, spend all day driving, and leave the next morning to get home. Grrrrrrr. think I'll go sit in Barnes and Noble and read ...

M5, good idea (B&N). They have nice coffee shops too.

In fact, you could almost live there...heheh

Hap

Molly, Hap, Pati, and whomever else is on the FL east coast... SO glad Dennis isn't headed your way even though you might get some spin-off. I just worry about our friends in the Panhandle.

Nothing much going on here...

Hi y'all, I been gone. I back now. Missed the entire #20 thread. Trying to catch up on lots of threads. Locked onto Dennis too. My sister has minimal TV and internet... keeps farmers hours... life was different there.

We were so busy with our own travels and adventures when not actually planting or watering or dealing with the prep and sales and Saturday Farmer's Market in Troy, NY.

The humidity back there is so very much more than here that I had quite a time dealing with the difference - at her house 80% Here, in the afternoons the past three days our humidity has been at 4% /yes, four/ It's why swamp coolers not ac are the smart persons answer to cooling in the desert.

My server keeps cutting me off so I'll post this now. more soon, ~Blooms

Went yard saleing today. Got a few things. Great buy on an area rug to use under my dining table. Wool, 6x9 $20. A food chopper (mini) GE only $1.00. Going to Co. Fair tonight to horse show. So hot now, hope it cools off for that. Started some cuttings last night for the KyRu. Molly, thought I was the only one who used beer for rehydration!! I am an equal opportunity person though, so don't just stick with one drink, try soda, water, fruit juice, beer, whatever is handy. Gotta hit the shower, will check in later.

Here's me and my Sis in our red hats.

Blooms. Y'all will do the Red Hat Society proud!!

Red and Purple are my favorite colors!!!!!

Molly
:^)))

Actually mine is pink, any shade of pink except pale. LOL

I was hoping someone else would ask....which 'un is you?

Hap

Why Nancy....Blooms is on the left, of course.

Good Morning!!!!

Molly
:^)))

Beautiful picture!! Is ur hair still getting longer? Looks longer than the last pic I saw of u - fantastic! mine will only grow a few inches past my shoulders and I wanted long hair so badly when I was little. lol

Sorry not to spend much time here right now... I'm hanging out on the "Dennis" threads (Weather Forum) and saying Prayers for my friends in the Path of Destruction.

Doesn't seeem to get longer, Kooger, and breaks readily from the barrette that holds it all back when I'm gardening. and yep that's me on the left. But when I'm back east the humidity makes it ''larger'' and mu_ch harder to get a brush through it.

Morning all, lovely semi-cloudy morning we got going here. Just little white guys that will evaporate as the sun climbs higher. no hope of cooling rains here. humidity drops to 4% [four] by mid afternoon while the temps touch a hundred. Wonderful to get home. LOL