Coffee and........Sat. May 5

Good morning! Have a seat, sit and chat a while. Tell us how you're doing and how your garden grows.

We came from over here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/598874/#new

Edited to say: I always say 2 out of 3 ain't bad on any day. It's May and it's Saturday. I can't change the heading so rest assured, I really was tired last night and this is the 6th.

:^)))) Molly

This message was edited May 6, 2006 6:55 AM

This is actually May 6th, lol. I spent yesterday working at the cemetery in the morning and in the afternoon, packed up the last of the archives to move to the new library. The Boy Scout going for his Eagle badge by moving the archives over to the new library came by to make sure everything was coordinated and asked intelligent questions about materials handling. Then we all went over to the new library where we oohed and ahhed for awhile and then learned what we were going to put where.
It was a race to finish indexing and making finding aids and labeling all the boxes; a project we worked on for 3 years. We finished just the day before we packed everything up!
The big move is Tuesday afternoon. I am a bit apprehensive about letting these scouts do the work; I will be cautioning constantly, I'm sure, to handle everything delicately.
I am going back to my house today. I want to clean some things before they are put back in place. This is a great time to clean the back of furniture and kill down dust and spider webs. There are several things I'd like to clean more thoroughly, too, like the shelving that will go back up and the sides and back of the cookstove.
But mostly I need to attend to some plants..........

Morning every one,been up for an hour, cloudy today but still nice. Yesteday the temp. reached 82' in the afternoon, stopped planting it was even warm in the house, decided to turn on the AC for about an hour, felt so much better.
Planted 60 annuals in the boxes for the rails on the porch , still have that many to go for other places, Did not count the perennials but I think there are about a hundrend of them. I aslo dug up some ground covers that got killed through the winter, what a job that was, another ground cover is half brown and half green, don't quite know what todo about that one, it is at least 80 feet long and 3 feet wide , am upset about that one it was always very nice to look at, do not know the name of it , some kind of juniper.

Waving to all of you, hope yoi have a good day

Thought you like to se a new England swamp maple down at the pond that is about to open, they are red before turning green and in the fall the will be fiery red again.

Hi Everyone,

Maria, you make me feel tired. All those plants. How do you do it all?

Grey and dreary in the Nation's capital (Canada) today. Showers this morning. Of course it will end this afternoon. That's when I start orchestra rehearsal. 3 - 6 today. Tomorrow 1-4 and 6-9. Monday 12 - 2:30 unless we are stupendous tomorrow and it gets cancelled. Concert Monday evening. It's never a fully dreary weekend when I have that many rehearsals.

Just heard on the radio "overnight low of zero (Celsius). I'll also have to bring the seedlings into the porch overnight.

Better get going. Hope you all have a good day.

Ann

Maria-I love the swamp maples! And arent' they spectacular in the fall. Yesterday someone was talking about their mom's potato salad (carat?) which sounded like a German potato salad with bacon and onions. Do you have a good potato salad recipe? I know the other foods I thought were German weren't exactly!!

Wanted to share something. Darius left many many plants here at my place until she gets settled. We put in so many plants and trees while she was here, I have trouble remembering some of the names of them.

This is one Darius brought. And it's blooming. Very pretty little delicate flowers.

I need to take my morning coffee walk in the gardens to see who's awake. Then I am off to Amaryllisgals for a visit. Haven't seen her in a long while. I'm looking forward to it.

BBL
Molly
:^)))

I always make my mother's potato salad, never liked it with mayo., neither did my family. She always used 'fingerlings' potatoes they are about 5" long and 1" wiede and are very firm. They are difficult to find in the market, insrtead I now use small red potatoes about 2lbs, boiled , peeled and sliced very thin, a small finely chopped red onion , fresh dill or dried, salt and pepper, aTBL spoon of suger added to an ordinary vinigrette with olive oil. Add this to the still warm potatoes and keep them in room temperature stirring occasional for a few hours. After, if prefered cold than put salad in refridge.

This is the dogwood tree my husband planted for his mother around 1950 it is almost in full bloom

Off to do some more planting

Morning! We had a little frost last night, but it's fading fast in the bright sunshine and doesn't seem to have harmed anything. I'm going to get those lilies and iris in the ground today, as DH is off to LaCrosse to help his buddy pick up some car crap he bought. When he told me he was going, I just looked at him and said "No wonder you don't have any *time*...." Who's got that 2X4? Lacrosse is clear across the state. It will be an all day trip even if he says he will be home early afternoon. Who commented about the cobbler's children? Ain't that the truth.

I'll be back later to comment more, need to get moving. Carat and Dmcd, you have Dmail. Maybe I'll be in a better mood then.

Sheila

Maria (again) I grow fingerlings. I have 50 lbs of Russian Banana potatoes to put in. They make about 5x the amount for harvest! So that will be great for "German" potato salad. They're also great in soups and stews since they hold together. And great roasted on the grill.

I'm starting to see them in stores sometimes but they're expensive. They're VERY easy to grow.

Molly - whatever that is it's gorgeous

m5-I bet your frost will move East for us!! I like hearing the weather just west since that's what we get next!!

Sheila, some times things just do not work they way we think they should, just count to ten and you may feel better, I usally throw something when I feel like that not really at anyone just pretending it is to some one who upset me, :-)

now I am dressed for garden work, see you later

oops, dmc, missed you but do I ever wish I lived near you I'd be there in a minute to get some of those fingerlings and yes if I find them they are very costly but I get them anyway.

Molly, that plant is a Scotch Broom. I forget which cultivar.

I love warm German potato salad. :)

Bruce and the bus got here about 9 pm last night and with the help of several of the kid's friends, we had it loaded by 10. He's been busy working already this morning although it now looks like we need a new front door. Guess we'll be off to Lowe's soon.

darius-YAY progress!! hope it keeps up!!

Morning!! Been up for hours, just doing nothing!! I snuck out to the gardens for my walk, looked to the right and my garden neighbor was sneaking out in her jammies with her camera- we laughed at that one!! She is such a wonderful neighbor!!

I need to make up some more alphafa tea - I can never wait for it to brew- usually use it after a couple of hours of steeping.

Maria, you certainly did a lot of work!! Next week I am going to get my 20 flats of annuals to put around my beds. It will be an experimental year as I usually put in impatients,but the pines have been cut down and we have tons more sun. It may not be the best choice this year, but they flower so nicely, that I just can't give them up.

I have some clematis that are growing just huge and others that are just a couple of wispy vines. Wish I knew the secret for getting them all lush.

Darius- glad to hear the Bruce showed up and the kids pitched in to get things loaded..phew...I like the stones in your pic...

Well, time to open the greenhouse and do some more walk and look stuff....plus I have dishes left from last night to finish up. I loaded the sink with hot sudsy water, put the dishes in, left the room and when I returned the water was down the sink! M5- when I am ticked, I curse a blue steak (I make sure no one is in hearing distance) If I throw things, I just have more work for myself, as I have to pick them up!

Off to my garden of eden!!

Maria do you know it is against the law to peel the skin from little red potatoes I am calling the potatoe police lol. We hardly ever have big potatoes because we rob them small and so do our friends who raid our garden, by seasons end we may get two five gallon pails of mature potatoes out of 120 feet of row.

Molly most of the time when asked whats this plant I say pretty or Lindas lol I just don't take the time to learn their names and they seem to continue to grow lol. We had a yard tour for the womans cancer cause a couple of years ago and some lady asked me the name of something and I said I think Astilbe lol she gave me a funny look. About a week later I figured out why at a nursery I saw a Spriea sorry about the spelling that looked just like my wifes Astilbe ha ha the nerve of that nursery trying to sell miss marked plants.

Sarv LOL I have been known to go to my gh in a lot less than my jammies oh well thats why I live in the country. I hate it when I have had my shower and realize the gh lights are on I do not tarry.

Good news my camera is found get the 2x4 out for the housecleaner Grrrrrrr leave my stuff alone. Even the smallest pile of screws nails parts and the like that comes from my pockets and are stored on my bathroom sink is special to me. She is some kind of neat freak. Ok sometimes I leave it there to long but then I know where it is LOL.

ok off to the gh it is a crummy day outside so I will go to my room and putter have a good day all. Ernie

lol, Ernie no Austrian eats the skin on a potato!! I think our neighbors do in the north, lol
Back later have still lots of work to do

Okay, we did the "town trip" to Lowe's, a 3 hour trip. Returned some things, like a busted bifold door that Bruce didn't notice when he bought it yesterday. Got a new pre-hung front door and a few other needed repair items.

Less than 2 miles after leaving Lowe's, Bruce called to say he had accidentally broken the sliding glass doors while installing a pin bolt. So, back to Lowe's and spend another $300 for new sliders. Sigh. At least, they lock which the old ones didn't, and NO chance of breaking with installing the now-unnecessary pin bolt.

Hey Ernie, I LOVE potato skins if home grown and/or organic. YUM.

Hi Darius!! Popping in for a sec!! Go look at my thread in this forum - it has a picture of the Maple you gave me in it!! It's gorgeous!!!!! :) Thanks again!!

Hi again
am done for the day planted 36 annuals and some herbs, i was tired and sweaty took a nice shower and I must say my back is holding out very well, thought I might be in trouble with it, especially when I fell on my backside a couple of times trying to get one of those stubborn rock out of the ground but I am just as stubborn and if it kills me lol.
All this took most of the day fortunately it was not as hot as yesterday.
.Right now I am having my saturday night single malted scotch, guess I will have some cheese and crackers also, but am not hungry in the least, you would think I should be after all this work.

Where is Elaine? did I miss something? Is she away?

I think the skin is the best part of the potato. Especially if it's tender and young or baked and crispy.

Maria, take it easy on those rocks. We know you are stubborn, but we want you to stay with us. LOL

What is your favourtie Scotch? Interesting how very different the various varieties are. Enjoy. But have some dinner too.

Gotta get dinner. Just came in from rehearsal. True to form, it rained all morning when I had time to do something. Looks pretty good now, though it also looked like I might have just missed a shower. I could work outside a bit, but it's pretty wet. Have all my seedlings in the porch overnight. Might leave them there until Monday.

Glad to see the pic of the bus Darius. Sounds like you've had an expensive day.

Sarv - have you ever grown Impatiens in the sun? I've found it grows even better than in the shade.

Everyone else must be out gardening still with only 18 messages before this (unless I've been typing too long). I'll check back later as people come in.

Ann

Maria,

I believe Elaine is away for the weekend with her husband.

I too just finished working outside. I moved some astilbe over to the shade garden. Ha!, They were in the shade when we planted them last winter, but not any more. Spent time watering the beds. I am trying to rotate the watering so every zone doesn't get watered every day.

These plants have to learn to be more drought tolerant. And more of them are, but not all. I hope it rains tomorrow..........Uh after Darius and her sister stop by of course.

Well, speaking of which, I need to move my Mustang into the new parking place we made for it. It will keep it away from other cars that are backing up to get out. Then my shoes come off and I'm up for a shower.

TTYL
Molly
:^)))

Defoe, yes I will be returning to the same school for the new school year but only till the Christmas holidays beginning and then I will be officially retired from the district as of January 1, 2007.

Sheila just wanted to tell you again what a wonderful person you are....


DMC, I can only buy the fingerlings in a few more upperclass grocery stores here and they cost a pretty penny also. I cant wait until I can grow them myself. How many pounds will you harvest from the 50# you plant?

Molly, Great picture. Darius thanks for the name. Its a beauty to both of you.

Maria, the dogwood is gorgeous. I transplants a few from the back of my property to the front when I was down in SC over spring break. I hope they all make it. They will help bring some early spring life to an area that was quite plain without them.

Ernie, I loved the picture. I copied it and sent it to my daughter. She loves frogs. She use to have a couple red eyed green tree frogs but they died of old age a few months ago and she is waiting until she moves out before getting any new ones.

Well I managed to get the house vacuumed and dusted. Finally was able to use the new carpet cleaner and boy did it make a difference in the livingroom and on my rug under the diningroom table. Planted the hyicenth (sp?) seeds from MG. DH is painting the neighbors house. He did the body today and will knock out the trim tomorrow. Looks wonderful, sure do wish mine would get painted. Guess we all have the same problem with the DH's lately. LOL

Well I think I am going to go get me a glass of wine, my book and go sit outside for a bit. Have a spectacular evening.....

Man am I bushed....worked outside all afternoon - well after making two trips to Loews, Home Depot, and Menards...Finally got the door I wanted - they had one left - am I lucky or what!! DH was very nice about it, altho he had to tell every clerk that he like the nickel color better and didn't see why I didn't. I just smiled....

Loews had all they bulbs 50% off, so I got a pkg of anemone,cannas liatris, some kind of glads and one more pkg I can't think of. Good haul!

DH is working with DS on fixing DS trailer. DH is the supervisor and doesn't do any of the work = just tells DS what to do.

Maria - careful with those rocks!! They may decide to kick back at you. I have some kalua and cream - I may have a glass tonight - then again, I may opt for some ice cream. Haven't had dinner yet and it is 7:40pm. I'm not hungry either- you'd think I'd be after working outside all day in the fresh air. I want to do an herb pot this year. I finally got my pansies planted - they look pretty. But the warm weather really does a number on them here.

VI, I've always edged my shade beds with impatients. They get dappled sun, but now they will get tons more sun. But I'll try it anyhow.

Carat- what kind of carpet cleaner did you get - a vaccuum cleaner or shampooer? Bet you can't wait for the first part of next school year to be over!!! It will go fast.

I need to think of something to get my mom for mother's day. I've always gotten her a big pot of flowers, but my brother and two of her step kids get her flowers too. She told me not to get her anything. I think I am going to go to the beauty parlor she goes to and get her either a perm or a couple of weeks of hair washing/doing. She can't do her own anymore. When I mentioned this to my sister, she got kinda pi**y - said that was what SHE got for mom. Oh well, I remember when she got her flowers too. Too bad. What do you get someone who is 82??

I told one of my DS that I want a load of mushroom compost - hope he follows thru and gets it for mother's day...

Well, time to think about getting something to eat....

Ann, right now I have "the Balvenie" 15 years old, very smooth had it before and liked it so I ordered it again. I did have Dinner, a tomato sandwich, was avery good one for a store kind but it was almost $3.oo for one but worth it
I have kalua too, Sarv, but never drink it. We always had a full stacked bar when we entertained but that stuff just sits on the shelf only use it when a recipe calls for one of it, have been thinking to take all of it down cellar can use the space for things I use more often, such as dishes or glasses. I am really not much for drinking , except an occassional scotch about once a week. My children drink mostly wine with their meals and sherry before or after the meal.
I must have used some muscle that hardly ever get used in my legs and my knees from kneeling on them and my hands feel numb now too much gripping the shovel lol

Carat, I am going to take another picture when it is in full bloom of the dogwood, I think it is the most beautiful and largest in town.. Hope your will be ok

Take it easy Maria, we aren't as young as we used to be. Just a few hours of yardwork and I'm ready for a rest, and I try to find someone else to do the haevy work.

The Balvenie 15 year is one of my very favorites too. The 21 year Port wood is one I'd like to try too but not at the $ 96.00 retail price at the State Liquor store.

Sarv, a load of mushroom compost for Mother's Day ! Now that's MY kinda Mom.

Ernie, glad you found the camera. Funny how DW thinks flat surfaces should be free of piles of stuff. If flat surfaces weren't meant to be covered with stuff then they would be slanted and everything would fall off. Your potato patch sounds great.

DMc, those fingerlings are probably my favorite potato.The only time I can seem to find them is at the Sunday Farmer's Market.

Darius, hope things start to go better for you. This has been a long series of setbacks. Will be holding good thoughts and hope for you.

Finally got one gateway finished. If it doesn't rain tomorrow I can get the coat of sealer on everything and get to work on another project. May even have the place presentable by mid Jujy. Time now for something cold to drink and a rest.

Wish I could say I accomplished a tenth of what you busybees have done today...I did some laundry, made a couple of kitten search phone calls....one breeder wanted $400 for an 8 week old female chocolae point....needless to say that is one kitten who will not find a home here! One party said all hers were sold but she will have anotther litter in the near future so I'm keeping her number.

Nice work Bal! I'm going to show that arbor to DH and maybe he'll get inspired. Eventually, he will think it was his idea. Mwahahhahaa

Anybodly want our stock of leftover wedding libations? We have a rack in the basement that has an assortment of liquor, cordials, and another of wine, all untouched for many years, as neither of us drink enough to warrant opening a bottle. I'm sure some is no longer potable due to improper storage. If I open a bottle of wine for cooking, I bag the unused portion and freeze it, which is semi-criminal, but it is still fit for cooking, if not for drinking. If we get wine as a gift, it usually gets regifted rather than sit and go bad..

Isn't it glorious to see thngs starting to bloom and bud? Tomorrow is supposed to be nice too. I wasted most of my day, driving a long way to visit one of my dearest friends. She went to school with my older DD, and is one of my favorite people.. She's the one that got the sickly cat from the rescue people. He's doing well but still spends most of his time hiding! We were trying to get Thai food for lunch and found two places with closed until 4 pm signs on their doors, so we finally settled for food at local diner and had a nice long chat. Got home at 4, and DH wasn't home yet. He rolled in about 6. The car stuff his buddy bought was still attached to the vehicle, so they spent hours disassembling it. Color me not surprised.

When he says a road trip will be X many hours, I just smile and nod and forget what ever time he said because it never happens.

I would like mushroom compost for M. day too. Or dirt. Or manure. LOL Sarv, your mom might like a pedicure, my DD and my DIL have birthdays next weekend too, and I'm getting them both spa packages, at different locations. Wondering if I'll hear from the other DD....but probably not until her older kid has a birthday coming up. But that won't be why she'll call then....she'll linvent some other reason. Like she forgot my name, or uhhhhhhhh, she called lots of times, but I wasn't home. LOL

I'm brain dead, and unable to respond to individual posts, CRS, Ennui, pizza overload, all combined to stop my neurons from firing....so I'm good nighting at this point and see you all tomorrow. Maybe I'll be coherent by then...

Sheila

Hello everyone. It was a busy day here and this is my first and probably last check in for today.

Ernie, that looks great. Do you want to come down here and build me one like it? Where do you get these great design ideas?

Daruis, I see that fear of loosing the bus has motivated Bruce, and the kid and friends came though to help with the boxes. You're back on track now I think. Sorry ythe glass door got broken, ugh. The broom that is blooming at Molly's is pretty, but having lived in western Washington where the yellow Scotch Broom is seriously invasive, I have not wanted to ever have one growing in my yard. I do think that the domestic types are not so invasive, but wouldn't take a chance.

Today hubby and I went out to breakfast (cheaper than dinner!) , and then we watched horse racing for most of the day, it was Kentucky Derby day but Espn was covering all the races at Churchill Downs, except, they went to covering bowling when it was almost time for the Derby and I had to go fishing around for another channel that had it. Horse racing is seldom on tv, and so I put everything on hold and watched it, then went out and planted my potatoes. I have never grown the fingerling type, these are some kind of russet, Yukon Gold and Norland reds. Tomorrow I will get some seeds planted.

Dinner is ready, salmon casserole, green salad and a glass of wine (liquid muscle relaxer). See you tomorrow.

Robert my body may not be young but my brain tells me otherwise
:-) just realized you ARE Balvenie lolThat is quite a job you did, beaitiful!!


good night now see you all in the morning

Sarv, I had a Hoover steam. Actually I have had two. Both of them spent more time at Sears then at home. Finally a couple weeks ago when getting back from the service tech with a smart alick reply as the reason for the problem being mine I lost it. The woman at the desk that has gone through the past year of my returns was very leary of giving DH the receipt from the service tech knowing I was going to scream. So when I walked in the door she automatically called the manager and they replaced this unit with a Bissel Heat Steam Vac straight across no questions asked. I used it for the first time on my rugs and it did a wonderful job. Better then I thought.
As far as work goes, I can not wait for it to be over. When I was taking care of my parents I kept really busy and didn't miss it at all, but when they passed away I was bored sitting at home with to much time on my hands. I dont think I will have that problem in SC.
As for the present for mom have you thought about manicure/pedicure. Your sister can still do the hair thing but I remember my mom loved it when she got a pedicure. It served a dual purpose for me. Elderly who get pedicures and take care of their feet have less medical issues concerning them. I didn't need more medical issues then what was already there.
For Mothers day I have requested gift cards from Lowe's or Home Depot. I am going to need all the help I can get to start all the beds in SC and figured if I get gift cards starting now hopefully it wont hurt to much in the beginning.

Bal, the gate and arbor are a work of art. Did you follow a pattern or just go on a whim. Either way it is beautiful. I want a gate similiar to that between my property and the neighbors. We have already worn a path and I dont even live there yet. LOL

Well I am stuffed to the gills, had a glass and a half of wine and finished off my most recent book. Think I will go sit in the jacuzzi for a while and then head to bed. Best of all to everyone.

carat, the gate is "off the shelf" from Lowe's. All else is whimsey

Hi everyone,

It's late enough that I'll probably end up talking to myself again here ---- actually I would have preferred to go to bed some time ago. I've got myself into a "use it or lose it" situation with some chicken that I should have frozen, but didn't, so now I have to wait until the Cacciatore has finished simmering and I can put it in the refrigerator.

DH worked until 2 AM yesterday morning, came home, had a snack, watched a little TV, took two antihistamines, came to bed and couldn't manage to get to sleep until about an hour before the alarm went off. I haven't heard a sound from up there for the last couple of hours so I guess he managed to nod off tonight. (Good thing too since he has to be at work at 6 AM).

I have been keeping up with everyones' posts, but am seriously lacking the energy to respond to them all right now. Thanks to everyone who posted lovely pictures and cheers to all the busy people who are out there accomplishing tons of garden work!

Carat, glad you've managed to check back in lately.

Hopefully the cooking is nearly done as I'm about to nod off in this chair and I have plenty of work waiting for me tomorrow.

Goodnight all!

Good morning, May 7th, It is 4:14 a m and I have not been to bed. Went to the Ohio Rivier Round Up yesterday, had a great time, got a call on the way home that DM had fallen, and was taken to the hospital. So instead of going home, went straight to the hospital, where we waited in the emergency room for 5 hours before they decided that she needed to be admitted. Got home around 2:00 am, but too keyed up to go to bed. DM had no damage from the fall, but blood pressure, and oxygen levels out of whack so they decided she needed to be there.

Had a great time at the RU, will post pictures, when I can get my eyes open this pm.

Elaine went to her neice's graduation and family reunion, and will not return until late tomorrow afternoon, so she is
okay, but will probably be tired from her trip.

If I wasn't so dumb, I would post a link for today, but alas, dumb doesn't cure itself!!

D(twin) S and DS won tons of money on the derby. I have 3 tickets suitable for framing if anyone is interested, but loosing tickets probably aren't that frame worthy!!!

See you after I have a snooze. Eyes are getting heavy.

We are moving over here now. I forgot to do it last night, sorry Bonnie.

Now, the race for first after me: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/599501/

Molly
:^)))