Coffee and ..lots of chat, for Friday April 28, 2006 :-)

Continued from http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/596100/





This message was edited Apr 27, 2006 9:18 PM

;-D

I do better checking it after the fact, using edit. I keep asking to be fired but they won't do it.

Sheila

Nope, ain't gonna do it! LOL Thanks Sheila ... we love ya, girl! :)
Nighty night!
~Elaine~

Okay, I'm back. Defoe ... yes I do collect coffee mugs. One day I'll have to post a picture. You *won't* believe it! LOL I don't know why, but I just love them. It all started innocent enough. They were a cheap souvenir, so I'd always buy one when we'd go places. That way it would sort of highlight our trips. I'd try to buy things that were what I call "touchy feely" LOL That way I can tell them apart. You can't always do that, though. So now I just Braille the name and put the label inside around the lip. That way I can slip my finger in and read where it's from. :)

Okay, off to see if anything else is going on ... then off to bed. Here's a picture of some of my tomatoes. :) Y'all are the first ones to see!

Now here's a pic of my romas. I don't think you can see any tomatoes on this one, but look how big they are!

Morning- couldn't sleep, so got up and updated my plant list. I just love it. I take it with me plant shopping- then I know if I have the plant or not. Best thing I've done in years!!

Garden question: Everyone says - don't water in the evening, BUT it rains in the evening - what's the dif?

9kit- I am going to Indiana too!! Small world. I leave on Sat and come back on Monday. Hate that drive, but will have a rider, so it won't be so bad. Note to myself - find the directions to my sis's house!

Darius - get that girl graduated - no matter what it takes!!! Bribery or a kick in the hinney. Then she can move out and be on her own to sink or swim!

Sheesh, what a lot of medical problems we're having.... I opened the eye drops the eye doc prescribed for me (30 bucks!) and it is the smallest vial I've ever seen. I'll tell ya, I'm not gonna get more- I'll use over the counter stuff.

M5- you must tell us about your DD - love stories...makes me feel like my family is 'almost' normal! LOL

When DS/DIL came over last night, I raced to the little gas station down the road. Had to pick up some brew, buns and chips. Would you believe it cost me 28 bucks for just that. Buns were 2.79 and I can get the same thing at the store for 99cents!! Yikes, talk about highway robbery!

Vi- gorgeous bead work and what a keepsake. I've never seen a human do anything like that!! Impressive and so thoughtful.

Mary, we have a small bedroom upstairs all done in knotty pine. I just love it and refuse to change it. When I had my first baby, we got a white jennie lynn bed and I painted a dresser white and decoupaged (remember that!!) red and white fabric on the drawers - which matched the bumper pads and a quilt I made. It looked precious...In fact the dresser is out in the barn yet- probably an antique by now!

I'm ordering myself one of the DG mugs too - sure hope there are leftovers! Don't collect them, just want one for good memories of all the friends I've made on DG (awww- sentimental....)

Well, I can hear the birds a chirping and the sun is just below the horizon - time to eat something, watch the news and get going!! I have a ton of stuff to get done before I leave tomorrow....

Everyone - take care and get over all the aches/pains/illness crap!!

HI! Sunny and 42 here....may be 20's tonight, I guess I'll be tucking the plants into quilts!

Elaine- wow your tomatoes are beautiful! They'll be ready in no time!

darius-Well your niece is doing exactly what my nephew is - failing the last course he needs to get out...he's all accepted at college (hope they didn't put a deposit on) and now he may not graduate....who needs this stuff for heaven's sakes? The last thing I would have wanted in my final semester, was not to graduate and be done with it....

Sorry for all the aches and pains, kidneys and backs and allergies....I wish everyone could just feel great and enjoy spring!

Ann-The beadwork is just lovely! What a nice gift!

woodspirit-Try to keep your mind on the finished product...it's so awful watching the demolition, I remember losing faith shortly after beginning. When we did our kitchen I left, and had my husband oversee it. It was so horrid, I thought I had made a mistake, but the finished product was spectacular!! It takes a lot of vision and patience. There is a huge spike in divorces in people who are remodeling!

BBL ~~~~~waving to all~~~~~

Good morning all,

I'm killing time, trying not to eat breakfast before I go get my blood tests done. that's the hardest - not eating. They said that it should be close to 12 hours or more for cholesterol testing. Well, I'ts only gonna be about 11 1/2 ,cause I'm not gonna wait that long. I guess if I write a nice long reply here and they start taming the laundry monster that the time will work out OK. It's a lovely day and I need to get out into the garden a bit.

Yesterday, in between setting up for bells and grocery shopping, and the bell rehearsal I managged to print off a check list of my hostas and get out into the garden looking for them. Of 46, I've got about 30 poking up and one beginning to unfurl - Invincible. And one I can't find, though after studying pictures from last year I have a pretty good idea where it should be.

Darius, do whatever it takes to get that girl through school. My DD#2 missed graduating by one course. She was taking a "stupid" course and had a good grade a mid-term. Then she stopped attending class. It probably was a stupid class because at the end the teacher was giving credits just for showing up. but she failed by 1 point and didn't graduate. (she DID go to the dance with BF though). OTOH, maybe it was one of life's hard lessons. That particular kid had a few along the way, but is now doing well in Vancouver, having already owned and sold a couple of properties in a city where real estate is wild.

Bonnie, I haven't yet decided where to put the beadwork. I want to put it in a visable place rather than a private one and I may have to shuffle some things already on walls.

I'm hoping to order one of the mugs, but Dave hasn't yet answered my question on sending one to Canada. I know shipping will cost more; so he should charge a bit more.

Sarv - you've never brought home the same plant again have you? LOL Good idea to take the list with you.

Well, I'm getting too hungry to sit here. Better go do something before I attack the kitchen and have to do this again.

Ann

Sure took a while to catch up on yesterday's posts, but I finally made it.

Boy, Kelly, I sure hope they find out what's wrong before you run out of blood and urine. They sure can think of a lot of tests to run, can't they. Wonder how many they would do if insurance didn't cover them. At any rate, if they find out what's going on, it will be worth it.

WS, your temporary quarters sound very stressful. Let's hope they can do the job in the promised two weeks. I'd be checking on it everyday, too and trust me, I WOULD be their worst nightmare.

Sarv, I usually record Earl, it's a hoot. His list is getting longer instead of shorter, though! Last night was a repeat so I skipped it. And, yes, those gas station minimarts have a huge profit margin on the food products they stock. I can usually feed any number of people on short notice, but it requires a lot of thawing....LOL

Lauri, Salsa must be feeling pretty chipper now. Bet he's happy to get out and get fresh grass, and a good roll on the ground. I miss seeing our neighbor's two come out in the morning. I thought he was going to get another after he sold the two but not so far.

Souky is still trying to suck up to me, and I'm ignoring her. I hope her little brain has enough storage to remember why she's getting the cold shoulder.

I've read many times that you should water at night, to lessen evaporation from the sun and wind. There's rain and dew at night anyway, so why would it matter? We use soaker hoses a lot now. Some of them are just old leaky hoses that I punctured with my trusty icepick to make more holes, but they work the same as the pricey ones.

Ann, the beadwork is lovely, and what a nice memento for your years of dedication to the food cupboard. Glad to hear your speech went well, and I hope the woman who left early got a better idea of what it takes to run one successfully. It would be a shame if they drained off the contributions from that area without providing a balanced amount of service.

9kitty, eight more weeks of therapy, how do they expect you to garden? Enjoy your trip and keep in touch so we can remind you to do your exercises....LOL...! And pick up some Sluggo for those snails, I hate those creepy things. A couple years back they invaded my tomatos, and some times there would be one still curled up ewww ewww ewww, but the Sluggo took care of them all.

Elaine, those 'maters are beautiful, we won't see that for months up here in the tundra! Good job!!

Pati, thanks for the note about the cup. Now I am watching that thread so I can order one when Dave puts them up after the roundup.

Who was talking about paneling? WS and.....? My birth mom had real knotty pine in her living room, and it was beautiful. And what's hotter than cayenne? Well, scotch bonnets are the absolute hottest pepper but it doesn't come in a powder as far as I know. Maybe you could put it in a blender and chop it up and add it to the bird seed. Wearing latex gloves and a face mask.

Maria, keep your new glasses way up high. That Samson, he's big enough to reach a lot of surfaces, so now he has to train you to put things up out of his reach. Sometimes the cats swipe small objects but you can usually catch them batting them around before they destroy them entirely.

Darius, that sounds like a good plan to get the kid to finish school. My older DD's last year of H.S., she came up short on a math credit. They offered her a summer school class to pick it up, and then she could graduate with another class in August. (They used to have mid -year class starters, so there were two graduations.) and she got stubborn and said she wasn't going to do it, and there was no point in going to school any more. Followed by her exiting the kitchen and stomping up the stairs to her room, and a door slamming. When she finally reappeared, I said calmly, " That's fine, if that what you want to do. But, starting next week, you will need to get a full time job and start paying room and board, because if you aren't finishing school, you have to be prepared to support yourself." There was a long stunned silence. And another exit from the kitchen.

The next morning, she came downstairs and said, "I'd better get that math credit." And she did. This is the same kid who later studied for the State Veterinary Technician exams, on her own, at home, with two small children, while working full time nights at an emergency vet clinic, and passed with flying colors!! It's all in the motivation.

I was a pretty tough mom, but I had all I could handle to keep my tribe going from day to day, with an alky husband, and me paying all the bills. I think our family would have made anyone's look normal. So, there's another episode from my past, that I can now smile at and feel like I did the right thing.

~~~ at everone else after this long post, and hoping for a better pain free day from those who need it.

Check in later, it's going to be a nice day if not a warm one, maybe I can get those lilies in the ground.

Morning GOB's and 'Ettes!

I didn't sleep well, have been up almost 2 hours but haven't felt like talking. Probably too tired from moving boxes all day yesterday.

We must have put out GOOD BAIT for the kid after all! Last night was the first time I have seen her do homework in the several months I spent here last year and this year. It was an overdue paper for her Math class (and quite well done), which is not the class she's failing... but today she will see her History teacher and start make-up reports, we hope!

I was a pretty good student although better in Jr. High. I cannot imagine anyone cared but me if I did well or not, but it WAS important to me to do better than average. Can't see how the kid can have any self respect for her actions this senior year.

V Ann, I must have missed the beadwork picture.

Waving to everyone else~~~

Good morning, been up awhile, but had to have the coffee, and some quiet time before I could even think about reading today's posts. Still a little groggy, but it will wear off. Today, so far the back is behaving, and I hope that it will continue to do so.

M5, I don't think cats have the brain capacity to know that they are being shunned.

Sarv, where in Indiana are you going?

Viann, hope that the "vampires" go easy with the blood withdrawal.

Darius, maybe the "kid" got the point after all. Sometimes it takes a swift kick to get them moving.

dmc, just bundle up when you go out, pretending sometimes makes it so.

101 beautiful maters. The hostas look healthy too.

~~scooterbug

Well, I am going to shower and dress, and head out to that heirloom plant sale in Louisville. Anxious to see what kind of unusual plants they have. Anybody want anything? Not gonna take much money with me, that way I know that I won't spend much. DGD comes this afternoon, so can't be gone too long.

Hope everybody has a good warm gardening day today. Wish me a level head.

Good morning. Another sunny morning, shining at just the right angle to make my kitchen window look really streaky. We are talking about replacing some windows this year. Several in the original part of the house (that's most of it) have "storm windows" that were added later. Some of them are several inches outside the windows, and they have weep holes so they aren't that effective. Bugs and dust come in through the weep holes resulting in dirty windows that can't be washed without taking them apart, from the outside! The ones in the living room are big plate glass windows with the same kind of storm window things on the outside, fastened to the house with many, many hex screws, it takes two people to remove one. The miniblinds help camoflauge the dirty film. I can wash the outside of the outside pane and the inside of the inside and still have dirty windows. Our son can get us real gas filled double pane windows without frames and they will fit without making major adjustments, and he can get them at contractor prices and will help install them! Woopeee. Maybe this year!

Woodspirit, believe me when I say that not living in the remodeling job while it is being done is a blessing, despite the conditions of the temporary place. When we remodeled this house we put all the kitchen things in boxes in a bedroom, keeping a bit of silverware and a few dishes and pots and pans handy near the door where they could be reached. The stove was still connected but when we tore the ceeling out it got a lot of stuff all over and down into it because none of the men thought about covering it. The kitchen sink had been torn out so we washed dishes in the bathroom. Meals were soup, canned spaghetti, chili, etc. Granola and a banana for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch. We did still have a referigerator but had to move it a couple of times. We also had to disconnect the stove a few times, (we should have put it on wheels). The job seemed to take forever, and after the dirty work was done there was sheetrocking, taping, sanding, painting, and after that we turned the kitchen and dining room into a temporary cabinet shop where we built and finished our kitchen and bathroom cupboards. For a while we were washing dishes in the shower when we had neither kitchen or bathroom sinks. We started the remodel in August and finished it in February. Now, does the way you are living temporarily sound better?

My back feels good this morning, just a small ache. Last evening I did my exercises and went to bed, leaving the dinner dishes to do this morning. The house was chilly so I had the electric blanket on, layed on my stomach and didn't move for several hours. I think the electric blanket over my back really helped the muscles relax. The chiropractor said that often when a person gets those muscles really relaxed that things that were a bit out of place will go back where they belong. Now, if I can just behave myself today.........

Darius, I think the difference in the kid's behavior is because she sees that diploma as something she wants now, not just something her mom wants her to do. Same with M5's daughter. Hopefully this kid will see that she can succeed and make herself proud of that.

Nice tomatoes, Elaine! Mine should be poking up out of their little cell packs today. Some of the cukes and squash are up already, being watered with chamomile tea to keep them from damping off. One teabag makes a quart, very cheap and effective. I think it was Julie who used that last year and was pleased with the results on her many, many plants. Since I started doing this a few years ago there has been no more damping off.

Time for me to get moving, back later. ~~~~ to those I missed this time around.

Hi all
Just wanted to drop by. Can't stay and comment. The bro just called and he's coming for the week-end. Gotta get up from here and do a quick once over on the house ... then figure out what I'm going to feed him. LOL thanks for the compliments on my tomatoes. viAnn, got the DH to tell me about your pic. That's a beautiful gift. I *know* you're extremely proud of it. :)

Y'all please forgive me. Will just wave to everyone else.
~~~Elaine

Just wanted to pop in and say HI to all.

Most kids that have a change in their grades starting the second semester of 12th grade do it to sabotage themselves. They are both excited about the future but it has scared them so much that they have decided not to move forward. Everyone threatens that if they dont do well they will have to repeat a grade the following year or do summer school to make it up. It feeds their thoughts of wishing they had more time. The fear of being an adult and being responsible is overwhelming to most kids, some just dont handle the stress and purposely fail classes to buy themselves the extra few months. The good news is that 80% of the kids that do this and manage to obtain their diploma during the summer go on to attend college and graduate.

Well I am off to the doctors. I was home yesterday and again today with a stomach issue. Hopefully he can help me figure out what the problem is and get me back up and running soon.

I hope you all have a wonderfully beautiful sun filled day.

Casey

Casey, great insight! I'm pretty sure the kid is scared of being on her own.

Hi All,

Just waiting on my first customers so I thought I'd pop in quickly.

Sheila,
No getting fired around here, you have to,,ummm, no, you don't,,,lol

Elaine,
Great maters. Are those your babies we just saw about a month ago? Wow, they're getting really nice.

Watering in the day,,,,have read that in a lot of books. However, I am in agreement, the plants get dew on them or rain, so what makes the difference. I've not had any problems with mine, that I know of by watering in the evening.

sarv,
Those convenience stores will really get you on the prices. But, I guess in a pinch, we pay them. I take my hosta list with me also. Otherwise I forget what I have.

dmc,
Yes, we do have a lot of icky stuff going around coffee,,,grrrr

Ann,
Invincible is the one that I have that has really started leafing out quite well. Very hard to Not eat before tests are done. Hope all goes well.

Well, did a few customers so I'm back. On lunch now trying to finish this post,,LOL

M5,
Thanks, I hope so too,,,I'm sick of tree stumps. Yes they sure can order a lot of expensive tests. I'm glad my Insurance pays for them. If they didn't I wouldn't be having them period. I have decided that a Dr. can order any test they want. If they find what they are concerned about in that test, the Insurance or personl should pay for it. If they Don't find what they're concerned abvout, the Dr. should pay for it. I think that would bring the number of unnecessay tests way down! Would also keep our insurance premiums lower,,,LOL Yeah, in a perfect world,,,LOL Aw,,,poor Souky

darius,
Yep, sounds like the Perfect tactic that you both used. That's great. Glad to hear she's taking a more active approach to school now. Also getting some papers caught up so hopefully she Will graduate.

dcat,
Have fun at the plant sale! Hope you can find some great new lovelies.

Mary,
Know what you mean about the sun shinning in the windows. The bay window in the living room faces West. So, every evening I get to see how streaky my windows are again with the smoke. Time to get he window cleaner out. Would be Great to be able to get your windows that way,,,what a money saver.

Well, gonna go check some more threads during my lunch.

Hi to all who have checked in during the last 1 1/2 hours it took me to post in between customres,,,,,They sure do get in the way of my internet time,,,,LOL

See you all later,
Kelly

Hello everybody, I'm back from the heirloom tomato plant sale. Met VGMKY, from Louisville, he posts on the tomato forum. Very personable fellow, and quite knowledgeable too. Only bought 9 varieties of tomatoes, which brings my total of varieties to 45 this year. A hot pepper, can't remember the name, and a Salvia May night. I am patting myself on the back, for not buying more. Oh, I am not done, haven't even given much thought to flowers yet hehehe,

Mary, sounds like you have a good day, put it to use, but go easy also, don't want the back flaring up again so soon.

Carat, hadn't thought of your train of thought on the kids not doing well and graduating. Hey, if I had known what was in store, I would have been plenty scared!!

101, is DB's visist an unplanned one? Well, I am sure that you will enjoy him being there.

Mary, I have lived through many remodeling jobs. We never had enough money to do more than one room at a time, so it was very piece mill, and a continuous mess. Have washed dishes, in the bathroom, sink and tub both. Not a lot of fun. As I recall, always had a stove, DH wasn't going to be without hot food too often.

Well, gotta get in the kitchen to get some things done. DGD, has requested lasagna for tonight, so that's easy enough, just one casserole. Thoughtful kid, not really, she just likes it.

Will be back later.

Hi folks,

Been running around all morning. After they drew my blood (short and sweet compared to the family Dr. nearly 40 years ago who gave up on one arm and had to try the other), I came home and ate and then swung by the pool for coffee with the ladies. We had a good chat - a bit longer than usual.

Then to Loblaws (supermarket) garden centre which is open but doesn't have much. I got a bag of dirt for my planters.

Then to Home Depot which doesn't sell Panasonic Microwaves. But I picked up some rollers for outside plants, some parsley and some mint. My pot of mint didn't get buried last winter and is dead.

Then to Sears Home Store which is next to Home Depot. They have the Panasonic Microwave I want, but it's back-ordered to early June. The trim kit is $50 less than the applicance place down the road.

A quick stop in the next store - Home Sense but didn't buy anything. Just walked around and looked.

Then down the road a bit to Ritchie's Feed and Seed a very long-time Ottawa business which is largely a garden centre now but still has pet feed and even livestock feed. Got their last bag of corn gluten fertilizer for my lawn and a large bag of alfalfa pellets for my hostas. Better get that in the garage before the squirrels find it.

One last stop before coming home for lunch was to a local furniture store, also in the same row of businesses. they were able to get the same Microwave and trim kit for the same price but not till the END of June. Too bad!. I like dealing with them because they are a local business and I've gotten several of my applicances from them over the years, but I don't think I want to wait that long. I'll telephone one other local store from which I've bought applicances and see if they have the Microwave I want.

All-in-all, a good morning - quite productive.

Now, I've got laundry in the washer and ready to go in the washer. Need to hang the sheets out.

Dariuis - the picture of the beadwork is near the bottom of yesterday's thread.

Maria - I should have commented on Samson's "art work". Hope you are successful with new ones. Keep them up high if he's determined to alter their shape.

Elaine - nice tomatoes. Will be two months or maybe three before mine reach that stage.

dmc - we posted at the same time. Hi! Hope your day is as nice as ours is here.

Sheila - your older DD and my younger one sound as though they might have come from the same mold. Sometimes not graduating is a real wake-up call. My DD#2 was devastated. She started to take a correspondence art class over the summer and was quite enthusiastic at first, but they were so slow with the feedback on her completed assignments that she gave up.

But she DID get a job with a local sports store. When they closed the store in the suburban mall where she was working, they moved her to one of their downtown locations. When they closed one of those downtown locations, she didn't get laid off like many of her co-workers. She was a manipulator (good salesperson) from the day she was born. Along the way she managed to get the missing credit and an advanced level course too. Eventually she entered a marketing coure at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and for the first time in her life learned to work in school. She was eventually hired by BCIT and is working as a marketing assistant in a related program. She had a few other hard times along the way, but is solid in finances and other ways too now.

Gotta go. DH dropped in. I'll be back.

Ann

I'm back. Will try to finish. DH only came home to change clothes - he managed to go out for lunch and spill salad dressing all over himself. Good thing the laundry isn't done yet.

Mary - sign of the season - streaky windows. I've got some of them too. And some that just feel dusty.

Elaine - have a good visit with DB.

Hi Casey - good to have you pop in occasionally. Hope the stomach issue isn't too problematic.

Kelly - maybe we should start a data base of when plants show in the spring. Sounds like Invincible is an early one in more than one location. Revolution, apparently slow. I know that Francee is always slow in my garden as is Masquerade. Oh sorry folks, we should move to the Hosta forum. LOL

Bonnie, the vintage tomato sale sounds interesting. Re renovations, we had a big one in 1991 when we added onto the house for a kitchen, demolished the old kitchen, added to the dining room. My fridge was in the central hall. We used the room I normally teach in for 6 weeks as a kitchen. Washed dishes in the bathroom sink and regularly tripped the circuit breaker. Vacuumed every night to control the dust. I had two young cats who were never quite the same after having their territory invaded by workmen. Very stressful indeed.

Well, I appear to be caught up unless a bunch of you posted while I was writing.

Hope to drop by later, but I've got that awful feeling that I'm supposed to do something this evening and I have NO IDEA what.

Ann

Okay, I'm back but I can tell this is going to be one of those days I'll never catch up! LOL I've been reminiscing on one of the threads I started that seems to have gone crazy and now must get up but first wanted to comment on a couple of things.

Defoe~ I'm so jealous although I don't see how your back is going to hold out to do all that gardening. That's great getting to meet another DG'er! Isn't it fun to get plants from each other. When I first joined DG I wondered what all the fuss was about. I mean ... some of them I could buy right here at home. Now I know ... as I go outside and look with wonder at my beautiful babies that have come from all over the country. Isn't that just wonderful when we share a part of our gardens like that? It really makes it so so special. If ever I have anything that anyone wants, just please let me know and I'd be honored. :)

Woodspirit~ yuck ... I know this must be a truly trying time for you right now ... but oh how worth it it will be!! I am so excited for you. Can't imagine how you must feel. :) Just hang in there, and remember when you need to let off some steam ... just come in and we'll all lend you an ear.

Susan, I do hope you're not having to have *extra* PT because you overdid. LOL I mean ... not *you* right? I didn't think so. LOL

Well, to those who are having tests ... hope you get it over with soon and have good reports. To those who have allergies ... maybe some rain would help settle the dust? To those that have naughty kids ... both 2 legged and 4 ... well I'll just send up prayers! LOL And to everyone else ... TGIF!! (sorry Genni) LOL
Y'all have a good rest of the day.
~Elaine~

Tis a wonderfully bright and sunny day today. Currently the job is to set, drill and nail 20 poles over the Arbor. Clipped Immy's toenails this morning and Tinker is next this afternoon. DW is off to the golf course with her pals to wreak havoc on that poor little ball, then the granddaughter has some sort of baseball game she must attend so I have a quiet day to work on stuff. Hope all are well and happy.

Well, I was excited about the tomato plants I bought earlier but this has just been a blockbuster for surprises. I had placed an order with SpringHill, and it all came this afternoon. I have planted some, have some still to go. This is what I got, dahlia, hardy geranium, poppy, cornflower, Lily of the valley, Petunia, hibiscus, phlox,a tall variety, Autumn red daylily, carnation, astilbe, monarda, scabiosa, 2 or 3 other things I can't think of right now. Most of this is red/pink, will have a spot of purple, so this is my new periennial bed. Gotta get supper out of the way, then out to plant some more.

I will comment later.

Oh my, Bonnie - you've got a lot of stuff!

I spent the afternoon in the garden. Never did get back inside for the second load of laundry; so it will have to go in the dryer.

I dug up those crocuses that need moving. Gave some to a neighbour and replanted about 200. Some bulblets are so small it will take a few years for them to bloom. But I think I've moved enough and will pull up the markers I had on other clumps to be divided. Or at least not dig and divide them now.

Then I worked a bit in one of my front gardens where we took down a Mountain Ash tree a couple of years ago. I'm trying to get rid of the run-of-the-mill daylilies that are entwined with the tree roots. We dug out a lot last fall, but all it takes is one little tuber and pretty soon we've got more. I don't plan to plant any perenniels there for a few years If I fill it full of annuals, I can dig it easily every time I see more daylilies. And some of them are still entwined with roots.

And in the process, I located the two 'missing' hostas, both of wthich have started to come up. I now have only 11 of my 46 varieties which have not yet shown growth.

Getting hungry. Need to go make dinner. Might get some corn-gluten on the lawn before I pack it in. Need to practice viola too. Tomorrow morning I have an extra practice of my handbell choir before we participate in a massed concert on Sunday evening (as well as playing in church on Sunday morning).

BFN

Ann

Just a quick check -in here, it's too pretty to spend much time in the house. AmandaPanda had a big day, she has been outside with me, sneaking around cautiously in the flower beds while I weed, and playing with a few bugs. Newt kitty strolled around, sniffed at her while she hissed defensively, and strolled away. I just love that big mellow guy! We are just about to go out again. Eventually she will be enough of an outside dweller that I will eliminate the litter box in the bathroom, soon I hope! maybe I won't have to buy any more kitty litter.

I have been spying on the owl nest with the binocculars today, and I see momma owl is on the edge of the nest because the 2 (at least 2) owllets are getting large enough that they don't all fit anymore. They look so fuzzy with their downy feathers blowing in the breeze. And oh, those big eyes! Cute little guys for sure. Soon the little ones will be venturing down the branches into the larger world. At the same time the leaves will be popping out on the trees and so they will be hard to see. Owl watching can be a challenge.

Out I (we) go again. Weeds are growing! I have a sprinkler going, it's drier than I thought out there.

Oh, Oh, I am back in after 2 hours of planting. Got all of the Springhill order in the ground. Total of 45 plants. While we were outside, DH tilled another perinneal bed (made a new one). Since I didn't have plants to put there, had plenty of seeds, so scattered them. And replenished the wildflower bed. Stuff still coming up there.

Viann, looked at all you did, the stores you went to, and realized that it was all in the course of the morning. Do you have wings or something? Your schedule would do me in after a couple of days. The tomato sale was interesting. In addition to this "special event" this weekend, this nursery is noted for herbs and perennials. I didn't even venture into that area. (1) did not have time, (2) didn't take much money (on purpose) (3) and didn't want to beg and whimper, and ask if I could work there in exchange for plants!! I probably will go back again and have a good look around.

Mary, those owlets sound so cute. I don't think I have had the pleasure of seeing babies. Was AP hesitant to wander too far from mama? Went into a spare bedroom awhile ago, and Miss Boots, had pulled some shredded newspaper out of a shipping box, I had left in there, and made her a nice nest of it on the bed. I moved some of it a little, looking for a packet of seeds, and she thought I was taking it away from her, and she batted a paw at my hand. Just as if to say, "you just leave this alone."

Bal, 20 posts, all in one day? Will you need help out of bed in the morning? BTW, I saw a post on Garden Art, I think of a box lid that you had carved for Drdon, it was gorgeous, what a talented guy you are. Just how many talents do you have, lets, see carving, stained glass, building, landscaping, photography, and....and....and.... I am jealous.

101, my back is doing fine. It was all a kidney problem, tied to side effects of some medicine I had been taking. Had already started down the path to that h--- that I was in 2 years ago. I just shudder to think, that had I not been vigilent, I would have soon been back where I was just last spring. And that was not a pleasant time. I'll tell you more next week when we talk.

M5, so did you get the lilies in the ground? Bet you put in a good day.

dmc, have you covered your plants for tonight? Do you have much planted that will need to be watched?

DH planted out the heirloom tomatoes, so if we have a frost warning, will have to cover them. Our frost free date is May 10, so still have a couple of weeks to go. He has gone as wild in the veggie garden as I have in the flower beds. He has onions, peas, broccoli, cabbage, brocoflower, beets, corn, lima bean, green beans, cucumbers, cantaloupe, squash,okra, blackeyed peas, and lettuce. Can anyone say sagging table, and full freezer?

Tomorrow, in an adjoining county, they are having a Dogwood festival. There will be arts and crafts, and the main attraction the Garden Club annual plant sale!! DGD and I are planning on getting there early. Last year it was really cold and miserable, but still had fun.

Well, gonna go hop in the shower, and get this dirt out of the pores, and from under the fingernails. I will check back later.

This is a package of "doughnut" seeds, I found at the plant sale last year!

This is a picture of one of my azaleas, just blooming it's head off.

Bonnie,

LOL about the donut seeds.

Except for Loblaws, which I had to go by to get to the others, all those stores were in close proximity. All within a two kilometre stretch of road.Made sense to stop at all while I was there.

Got to one more garden centre tonight at a Canadian Tire store. DH has a VW golf and he has the two kiddie seats; so he couldn't fold his seats down easily. So we put two summer tires in his car and two in my car when he took it in the have them put on. While there, I peaked into the Garden Centre. Got a few pansies and he got some garden/work gloves. It's open but doesn't have much stuff in yet. We're still getting too much cold at night.

Ann

Wow! that's gorgeous. More Zone envy here.

This is a picture I took on Wednesday of one of my hostas. Big isn't it?

That is big for new Hosta, Defoe. Mine are 4 years old and not half as big.
Been busy with some more plantings and put up window boxes not for windows but the railings on my front porch, next I will plant annuals in them.

I took a couple of pictures this morning of my neighbors weeping cherry tree, the tree was planted in 1900. This is how I se it as I drive into my driveway.

one more close up

Wow, Maria, that is beautiful. How long will it stay in bloom? My grandfather planted one in his yard but I don't remember seeing it in bloom.

Defoe, wow on the azalea! I used to live where we could grow them but they don't do well here at all. I bought 4 of them and they're history now. They struggled just to live. I suspect the same thing would happen if I tried hostas. LOL on the doughnut seeds.

Dinner is smelling good. Pork chops with saurekraut, plus baked potatoes and green salad. What did you all have? We need to share ideas so we can get out of our ruts.

Weeping cherry is another thing we won't get growing up this way. It's lovely.

Ann

What a beautiful sight! That and the azalea really make a stunning display. Will catch up tomorrow! http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/596649/

Hi everybody,

Bonnie, if you grow doughnuts from seeds does that mean that they're veggies and therefore good for you? Yeah, sure. I'm sure DH would be enthusiastic about that idea. Glad you caught the adverse effects of the medication before it went any further. Hope everything gets better from here on out for you. By the way, did your visiting goldfinch return? We've found that niger (thistle) seed acts as a very powerful magnet for goldfinches. They don't come round for the regular seed mixes, but put out the niger seed or a finch mix and ZOOM -- there they are!

For all who mentioned increasing the cayenne pepper (or substituting Scotch Bonnet peppers) in the peanut butter suet, I guess I can try increasing the hotness factor. The only problem is that though I've read that the birds can't taste the red pepper, I'm wondering what too much of it might do to their lttle digestive tracts. Really, I don't even want to think about a yard full of birds with the trots! That's bad on SOOO many levels!

We've tried azaleas a few times and have given up on them. The last one was one we gave my mother as a gift for some occasion. It seemed to be doing a little better than the first batch that had died out because we planted it in an area with more sunlight (hard to find in our yard). I'm convinced that the neighbor killed it with his darn herbicides since it was in a spot near where the two yards merge.

V-ann, the beadwork is wonderful. Since I've done bead weaving myself, I can appreciate all the work that went into the piece. I'm sure that the person who made it would be thrilled to know that you want to put it in a prominent place on your walls. Seems like a fitting tribute for all the work and care that you have lavished on the Food Cupboard for all those years.

101, your tomato plants are gorgeous. Mine are just trying to adapt to being planted in peat pots since they've outgrown the seed starter trays. They've got a long, long way to go to catch up to yours! I can't safely plant them outside until Memorial Day.

Oh yeah, speaking of tomato plants, gee Bonnie, why didn't I know that that was just what you needed MORE of? How many does that make now between yours and your husbands? Glad to hear that your Spring Hill order came in. That might mean that mine should be due in a week or two. Happy planting!

M5, somehow I think that Souky will find a way to win out in the end. Or maybe that's just me. I tend to be an awful wimp when it comes to cats, unless they manage to do something that just puts me right over the edge. (and I have to admit that it takes a whole lot more from them than from another human) Whoever it was (Mary?) who said that they didn't think that a cat had enough brain power to realize that it was being snubbed --- well, I don't know about that. A vet once tried to tell me that cats have no long term memory. If that's the case why do they try their absolute best to disappear the minute they see a cat carrier? They sure seem to remember what THAT means!

Had fun this evening when we got home (around 9:45 PM or so) carrying everything back from the greenhouse and coldframe into the house. It may go below freezing here tonight and I've got too much work and time invested in these plants to take a chance like that.

Maria, loved the pictures of the weeping cherry tree. It's gorgeous. I've always been partial to the trees with the weeping "habit", but have never considered planting anything like that here as we have a lot of trees and very little sunlight as a result. Sounds like you've been doing an awful lot of work lately. Please don't overdo!

Woodspirit, sorry to hear about all the problems with your temporary home, but the work you're getting done on your house sounds like such a great deal that I'm sure it will be worth it in the end. I've never done major renovations, but I do remember that my parents did when I was a young child and that we all breathed, ate, and wore plaster dust for about a month. No fun at all!

darius, glad that you and your sister came up with such a creative incentive for your neice. I can't say that I blame her for being scared (whether she admits it or not). It's a mean (and expensive) old world out there. Like you, I just couldn't have imagined not being over average, although I hated the high school that I went to and had decided not to bother going to my graduation until I was informed that I had to give a speech.

Robert, so glad that you found the time to drop by again. Bonnie forgot to add cooking to the formidable list of your talents and I too am awed by all that you manage to accomplish.

Casey, glad you've been finding the time to post on this forum again. We've all missed you.

101, your young hostas look almost flourescent, they're so green! They almost make me see what attracts people to them. Unfortunately, although they are among the few plants that thrive in the shade, I can't say that I've ever really cared that much for them. At least I'm fairly neutral --- my mother absolutely HATES them and has been trying to kill one that was planted by a former homeowner for years without success. Because of that, I had to laugh at a post on another forum in which someone was bemoaning the fact that the squirrels were munching on her hostas. I wish they did that here as I'd much rather that they go for that than for the bird food and my mother would be absolutely thrilled to see something else attacking that hosta!

GG, keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed for you. I hope that the tests reveal something not at all serious AND easily treatable that has been causing all your problems.

sarv, hope you have a great time on your trip. Like you, I've wondered about that "water in the morning" business. I think it probably pertains more to houseplants, though I must confess that mine are lucky if they actually get watered by 6 PM despite how many times I remind myself from 10 AM on "remember to water the plants".

~~~~~~~~~~ to dmcd and everyone else that I might have missed. Tomorrow's another working day for me, so adios amigas, it's time for bed.

Wonderful day of rain. I can't believe it. Another 1.5 for us. They got 2.8 in town. That is the difference 10 miles makes. Oh well, I am thankful for what we got. No hail, or wind either.

Didn't do much since I couldn't go outside, but it gave me a chance to clear a path to the bed in the computer room so I could lay out my suitcases. I have to close off my suitcases to my kitties, since one time kitties at my daughter's made a bed out them and when I got home, my kitties sprayed them. OOOOhhhhh...so new suitcases, but I keep them out of the way anyway.

Not looking forward to that 12 hour drive, but am looking forward to the visit.

Someone said 8 more weeks of PT, It's 8 more treatments, so that is only 4 weeks with next week off because of the trip. I don't know if I wasn't doing as well as expected, they always tell me I am doing great. They don't have me doing the stretching much anymore, it is strengthening now. Lifting weights, pushups (which I have never been able to do) (not a real pushup, just off the table.), pulling the stretchy cords, etc. Kind of hard actually. Think I would rather stretch. LOL

Well, the rain is heading in again, we might get another inch or two. Won't that be nice? Yes, yes, yes.....

Susan
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