Coffee and ... for Saturday, August 12

Coffee and ... for Saturday, August 12 - We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/638072/

1877 - Thomas Edison invents the Edisonphone, a sound recording device;
1908 - First Model T Ford built.
1955 - Pres Eisenhower raised minimum wage from $0.75 to $1 an hour;
1977 - Space shuttle Enterprise made 1st atmospheric flight.
Cecil B. DeMille, American director (d. 1959) was born in 1881.
Jane Wyatt, American actress was born in 1911.

Grab a cup of coffee and let us know what your plans are for the weekend.

Well, I dallied too long to post in Friday''s thread. So officially I am the first Saturday poster.

Got busy, after a wasted morning, did some weeding, and some laundry, never got to the bank, but will tomorrow.

DGD is counting down the days she has left here. She will go home on Monday, attend an orientation for school on Tuesday, and school starts on Wednesday. She is sorry to go, and I am sorry to see her leave. But she will be back on weekends, and we still have many "pool friendly" weekends left.

Babs, so sorry to hear about your mum. Please tell her that all here are praying for her. I know it is a hard decision to make, but rest assured that you have made the right decision for her and for you. You can not be a 1 person parade. It takes 3 shifts, and you were trying to do it all, just can't work for long. I know that I have this in front of me, and am dreading when that time comes. I have DM and DMIL, and will do all I can to keep them home as long as possible. My hear breaks for you, as I know what you must be going through.

Sarv, I take the 24 hour kind, and have trouble sleeping, and grumpy, gosh, just thought it my usual nature. So has DH revealed the reason for the silence? They never think to apologize for their "snit" and sometimes it happens, they get over it, and we don't know the cause. Just wish DH would say, "you over salted the fish" or whatever, and get it over with.


M5, glad you had a good game today, and enjoyed it. You forget that I have paid dearly for delivery people to cross that moat, and complete the task. Mamma dog is getting fatter and fatter!! I will ship you a box of "good tomatoes" the first of the week, please don't shoot the delivery person, he is only doing his job.

Mary, had the daughter of DH's co-worker come tonight. She couldn't get over how "mellow" Mr. B. was. Her experience with Jack Russells has been with the hyper kind, and Mr. B isn't. She fell madly and completely in love with him. I gave her 2 bushels of tomatoes, as she is making salsa and has been paying $8.00 a half bushel for them at market.

Darius, you may have to evict the worker, if you help him make jam. Don't you know that teenage boys are hollow pits, and you are just enabeling him? Got a laugh out of the peach melba saga.

Well tomorrow will be spent at DM's house, as we are having the summer "get together" of immediate family on Sunday. About 30 or so. I will help with the preparations and cleaning, as she is unable to do it by herself. My contribution is fresh green beans, corn and tomatoes.

Well, I need to begin the trip to the bedroom. DH is having back troubles, and he has been in bed for about an hour. Hope that he sleeps well, and we don't do an early morning "i am in pain" thing.

Good night all. Where is McCool? I usually have been following her in posting.

Greetings to the Parking Lot. I have been so busy the past two weeks I am going bonkers. No rain and a lot of the plants--flowers here in the park are not on the irrigation system so u know we have been watering w/ buckets--fun job. Most of the stuff is planted by the pond so we dip water out w/ buckets and just slosh as we go but very time consuming and so to hot. Maybe if we get the rain promised tomorrow? I can slack up some. Kudos to all and stay cool. Corky and tribe.

Good Morning Everyone!

Raining and foggy here, and a bit cooler, enough for jeans rather than shorts this early. I've been up an hour just sitting on the porch and enjoying the peacefulness. I think I slept a bit better for my first night back on oxygen.

I started another round of apple butter last night, with a different kind of apples. These are Wolf River apples which I have used before. Lovely tart apple that cooks to mush easily. Looks much better than my last batch! I still have to cook in spices and sugar and then process them. I probably only used a peck out of the bushel I have on hand. I may try to store the rest in the spring house until I can get back to canning because next week is all about building in the barn.

Corky, glad to see you peeking in again.

Where's Robert (Balvenie)? Haven't seen him post for a while.

Corky, jump in the pond to dip those buckets. That will cool ya off.

But I bet those plants just love you for pond water. I know mine do whenever I do the fish poo dipping from the bottom.

Wow, I slept late today, almost 8:30. I don't remember the last time I did that, and no particular reason. I just watched tv last night.

I got a newsletter from another gardening club for Fla and they said it was time to put in the fall crop. Beans and such. So I stopped into the hardware store (they sell seed) and the farm supply. I got peas, corn, lima beans. But no one had any pole beans. So I will still look. Last spring all my bush beans and snap pease failed or got critter ate.

This time the veggie are going into the back yard. I know I have been trying to grow grass for the dogs, but this will be the best thing for now. I will keep the growing area small, am amending the soil with composted mulch stinky dirt and milorganite.

This way, it's inside the fence with the dog scent and easier to monitor critter invasion. Next spring I will have the bigger area tilled and amended for a bigger veggie garden. I just can't stand having all this land and not being able to eat something from it.

I think I will check into chickens. They make good fertilizer and they lay eggs. Still have a lot more thinking to do on that.

More coffee, bbl.
Molly
:^))))

Molly, you are using milorganite? I sure wouldn't use it on a food crop... it's composted human waste mostly from sewage treatment plants.

Morning.. I think. Coffee isn't done making yet.

Progress on the pond is slow. DH hasn't even started it yet. Told me to keep my hands off his shovel and his project. The pond is to be a birthday present for me and he's having a field day with mind games. This morning he says maybe I'll dig the pond when I get home from work. I don't know if I' staying to 11,12 1'oclock. Maybe I'll wait til next week or the week after since my birthday isn't officially til the 28th. I promptly told him to start sleeping with one open. lol BIL (thats bother) was here last night and telling want a stupid mistake I was making putting it where I am. The tree roots are going to make digging a nightmare. DH spoke up and said whocares you doing? Shut him up.
Our backyard and neighboring yards are filled with tall mature rees. 20" down is sand. The tree roots are every where. and purt near the surface as well. I told him to mind his ouwn business and stop minding mine
Babs, I know its hard but you can only be one person. You deserve to live your life as well. When DH's father hot sick his sister took him in to take care of him and became a full time nursemaid. With no medical training she second guessed herself and called his doc 15 20 times a day. It would have much easier on him and on her if she would have made a different choice. I believe its the right thing, proper care with resources not available to you. I know its hard. You are in every ones thoughts and prayers.

HEE HEE, I been sneakin pond mud into compost. Awesome stuff. Cork

Good morning everybody, been up since 6:30, got this arm pain back again, and it has woke me the last 3 mornings.

I have errands to run today, and then some cooking at DM's for the family get-together on Sunday. Don't know what the rest of the day will hold.

It is sunny but cooler here, the heat returns first of the week so the forecasters say.

Got a letter from the store where we bought the pool, and they are having a "pool school" the first weekend in September. This is teaching how to close the pool for the winter. Have it on my calendar, since this is the first time doing that. Seems like a very short time it has been open.

cc, stand your ground, don't listen to the bother in law, and if you encounter problems with tree roots, just keep it quiet, and he may never know. Would hate for him to be right.

Well gotta go get the day started. BBL

I use my pond water to water but never thought of getting the muck off the bottom. Have to water today will try it.

Darius I love wolf river apples. They are hard to find up here. Years ago my DD brought me a couple of crates. I like to dry them . Good winter munching.

Wakeup cherie!!!!!!!

defoe have a good day at moms tomorrwo

Good Morning- man oh man I slept late - 8am!! Half the day is gone!!! Then I had to call my sis and chat for an hour (our Sat ritual) DH just fried up a pound of bacon, so that and fresh bread was breakfast...

I'm thinking I may call my garden/friend neighbor and suggest that we visit the store with the $2 perennials today. I don't need a thing, but do love just to look LOL She is continually digging and moving things - I tend to just plop and let live. Hence I have a helter skelter looking garden (s) - hers are more controlled and do look better.

53 deg out this morning - brrrr- put my sweat shirt on over my nighty again!!

Darius - glad you got a better nights sleep. What do you do with all the stuff you put up? I've got a hankering for some cranberry/choco chip biscotti - maybe I'll whip up a batch. The only bad thing is DH doesn't like it (too hard for him) and I scarf every morsel down myself..

Defoe - you do more entertaining than anyone I know!! Guess I will have to enjoy life thru you!! So you take the 24 hr allegra huh...I am going without allegra for one week and see if there is any difference in my fiestiness...LOL (last nights long sleep was a nice bonus), but I was awake for a couple of hours mid-night still.

~~ to everyone else- BBL:

I'm awake. Walked around outside. DH hid the shovel I can't find it anywhere! I'll bet you he took it to work with him. He thinks I'll mess it up........ Lot he knows. Been going through some books that I purchansed yesterday on water gardens. Since koi ends up growing 2 feet long and that would mean only one fish I'm comtemplating just common gold fish and a couple red comets and a couple of other gold fish that I can't remember how to spell. These particulars ones come in many colors including blu and I think I'd like a couple blue fish. Six fish....... a couple pond plants I want a lotus and a couple hardy pond lilies and a foxtail I'm getting ahead of myself again. What can I say? Next year I can use pond water to water aliitle. Hopefully if this day ever gets going faster than it is. I'll keep myself busy weeding and deadheading and cutting back a few plants.
Defoe have a good day tomorrow and lots of fun!

Sheila glad you had fun golfing. That is one thing I never learned to do. DH took me miniature golfing once and realized why I don't golf. lol He golfs or did. He's got the clubs the bag but hasn't been in a few years now. When we first got toggether there was this friend that was constatly buggung him to go finally once he did. Friend hasn't asked him again. DH beat the pants off this guy and he golfs every weekend in summer. DH said that was the game he did in 5 years sooooooooo Rex was upset that he could beat him.
Oh well.............

Gonna go outside and stare at the liner not yet in the ground. Phooey.

A couple of the beds need weeding and since its nice and cool outside. Thats where I'll be. bbl maybe with a pic of dh digging???????

Good morning folks.

Still laying catch-up. Babs, you have D-mail. But I didn't comment on your tomatoes. You will truly enjoy having them in your yard. I think 80% of my cherry tomoatoes get eaten right in the garden. LOL

Where is Whidbey Island, exactly? We'll be out that way next week, but I think we'll be taking a straight line from Vancouver to Portland, OR and back again. However, if it's close enough to I5...

Tomato horn worms I've seen, but strangely enough, never on my tomatoes. They are huge. But I suspect maybe they like other climates better than ours because we don't see them often.

Ripe tomatoes - I now have two golden cherry tomatoe plants producing and I saw some color in a few Sweet Millions yesterday. I have a streaked italian type I've never grown before and I picked one of those yesterday as well. The others - Bonnie Best and a large yellow tomato (forget which variety), are not yet ripe.

I'm gonna have to finish catch-up later. Just looked at the clock. I'm expecting Erynne (from Toronto) and Sandy (from White lake about an hour west of here - both are regulars on the Hosta Forum) to show up about 10:30. Gotta get dressed. BBL

Ann

I also slept late this morning. Now we have a gentle rain that looks like it will hang in here all day. No thunder, lightning or strong winds so far.
I have a friend coming tomorrow afternoon to dig some plants. She can afford new plants but it is so much fun to get plants from friends. She has to be careful of deer; her development is full of them. The population of the deer needs to be thinned down a bit, but I don't see how in a gated community.
Do deer eat the ordinary blue flag iris? What about other iris? Spiderwort?

Good morning. 43 degrees here, the winter bathrobe feels good this morning. I closed the windows and door early since the house was cool enough.

Here's something to make you smile. Last evening hubby was packing for his trip to Colorado and said he needed some dark socks, they were all in the dirty clothes. I quickly washed a load of dark things and then wondered how I was going to have dry socks for him to pack for leaving here at 1am since I don't have a dryer. The soluition was the microwave. Nuke 'em 2 minutes, open door, let steam out, wave socks around in the air to remove the moisture, repeat, and after about 6 minutes they were dry! They are 100% cotton, this would probably melt anything with elastic or any synthetic material. Hubby thought it was funny having his socks nuked and I was giggling when I told him. A few minutes ago I was instant messaging a friend about this and she almost spit her coffee all over the computer laughing!

Defoe, sorry you woke up hurting. Maybe it was just from sleeping in a wrong position? Maybe too much canning recently has upset something.

Darius, the peach melba jam and the blackberry both sound good. Can you get figs there? I have a friend who has a fig tree and she makes fig/strawberry jam using just the figs and strawberry jello. The figs have the same seeds as the berries so nobody knew the difference. I doubt that you would go the jello route though and I don't think I would either. I bet your house smells like apples. Ummmm, apple butter!

I keep a 200 gallon watering trough in the corner of my greenhouse with some goldfish in it. The purpose was for adding moisture to the air as well as moderating the temperature somewhat. I take water out of it now and then to use on the plants and then add some fresh water. It is so full of algae that I can hardly see the fish, so I need to use more of the plant water more often. When I feed the fish I can see them near the surface, otherwise it just looks like a tank full of green water. I bet there is a layer of sludge on the bottom, maybe I can siphon it off but you can believe that I won't suck on the hose to get it started! YUK! PHOOEY! They are just 10 cent goldfish from Walmart a couple of years ago, I started with a dozen and I have only counted 5 recently, but clean water might reveal more. I know that 4 of them became fertilizer in the flower bed, dead fish float at least for a day or so. Others might have fed the other fish, they have no qualms about having a friend for dinner.

Cece, funny about the shovel disappearing. Good for you and your DH telling the BIL to mind his own business.

Molly, chickens would help with bug control besides providing some fertilizer. A portable pen could be moved around, maybe just a playpen turned upside down with the bottom providing some shade. Chickens can be tamed so that a few maybe 2 or 3 could be hand carried from secure night quarters to the playpen. That way you could put the pen where you want it that day, add chickens and let them work for you. Another option is to make a chicken house and yard, then use that yard for your vegie garden the next year and put a new chicken yard on the other side of the chicken house. That's an idea I read about several years ago but haven't had chickens in recent years. I'm gone too much and eggs need to be gathered daily, plus there's the feed and water, but maybe when I quit running all over to endurance rides....

Sarv, did you skip the Allegra yesterday? Good to try it if you sleep better and maybe take some OTC during the day. You fiesty? Naw, I wouldn't believe that! Have fun at the nursery. If you don't buy plants for yourself you can get them for us but I'm afraid you'd have to plant them at your place for a while.

Gotta go. See you later. Have a great day. ~~~ bye.

I'm in a race to vacuum before DH gets up. He sleeps in late because he's such a nightowl. I frittered time away and now just finishing breakfast and starting the vaccum. Most of the time i hav learned to live around his late-night hours but sometimes it's a pain.

Mary, no need to suck on the hose or tubing to get a siphon started...just lay the length of tubing or hose all the way under water until it is filled. Put your finger or thumb over the end you lift out, (or pinch it) and lower it to the bucket or container. As long as that end is lower than the tank, flow will begin immediately. Keep the end in the tank at the bottom to get all the gucky good stuff out. I figured this out after getting a mouthful of gasoline. ..Had to be a better way!!! Good job on nuking the socks! Several eons ago I tried drying my then DH's white shirt in the oven, in a pyrex dish. It took a little while but it worked. Had to keep taking it out and shaking it, and ironing took out the last of the moisture.
Some time later on, after I had gotten a clothes dryer, we were moving out of state. After packing the trailer we rented, he said there was only room for one more appliance, either the range or the dryer. I sacrificed the range. I knew he would never give up food!

Way to go Cece!! Doubt that it will shut up you BIL permanently but it sure feels good, doesn't it? LOL about the disappearing shovel!

Yes, Molly, Darius is right. Milorganite actually comes from Milwaukee sewage treatment plants. It also may contain a lot of lead leached from old lead plumbing fixtures and I wouldn't use it on veggies either. But chicken poo is fabulous!

Bonnie, enjoy your family outing. Your contributions sound delicious What are you doing to that arm that it's been giving you so much trouble? Lifting too many heavy pots? Full canning jars out of the kettle?

Just got a call from Visa...I filed a fraud complaint for an item that appeared on my bill for some kind of software. It was dated about the time I got my laptop, but all the software on my laptop either came with it or was shown on the receipt. I didn't order anything separately. Whoever called and left the message gave a phone number and an extension but babbled them so fast I had to listen to it a half dozen times and enlist DH's ears to get it down. Then, when I called back, I had to leave a message so they can call again. Sheeeesh!! What a pain in the patooty.

Nice here today. ~~~ at everyone, I'm going outside to play.

Sheila

Well, the first batch of apple butter is sweetened (but not as much as the recipe calls for) and spiced. Since I scorched the bottom of my big pot yesterday even on low heat, I'm trying the oven to cook it down. Any tips? I'd do it in my crock pot if I knew where the crock pot is packed.

Since the rain has stopped, I need to get my boots on and plant the housewarming raspberry plants I got yesterday from Kooger. It will take 2 years to get enough raspberries for my peach melba jam even though I still have more raspberry plants coming from GrannyLois soon.

I got 3 different varieties of garlic from the farmer's market and hope to get a few cloves in the ground soon. I'm just planting the larger outside cloves, and saving the insides for cooking. So far, my newly planted leeks look okay, I'm not so positive about the parsnips.

Gracie showed up late for breakfast. I think a male cat is hanging around, and eating her food. Smells like a male cat outside but not as bad as it could be. I have to find out when I can take Gracie's stitches out, assuming she will let me. Today she let me pet her, and pick her up for a moment. Bazha seems to be on a semi-hunger strike, maybe because of Gracie although Gracie doesn't come in the house.

Molly, google chicken tractors!

darius how fun! I had to google. A person can't pass up Chicken TRactor and not look. Nice designs.
Good for Gracie!

Meezer great tip on the hose.I'll have to try that.

MaryE I thought about putting some of the fish in the greenhouse but haven't found room for them yet. I knew I needed a bigger greenhouse. Don't think DH will go for that. We went to petco and bought feeder fish.12/1.00
Had babies a couple of years later. None since unless I can't see them this year. They are hard to see at first.
Lost a couple of my really nice ones this last winter. Kind of hoping there would be babies this year. Some of my fish are 6yrs. old.

V anne You have a nice trip.

sarv48 nobody does plant sales around here like that or else I miss them. Non of my friends garden so they don't watch for any sales. I'll have to try looking more next year.

Isn't this cooler weather marvelous!! I was out working on the bombsite and didn't need the sweatband. Got 2 hours in this morning. Went faster not as many rocks and roots. But lots more glass . It's going to be so nice there next year. I can hardly wait.

What a glorius day we have! Was 52 when I got up at 7 now its' only up to 76. Have maimed the laundry monster and hope he will be dead by the end of the day. No one is home so I am thoroughly enjoying it while it lasts. Just had a mater sandwich with MW, lettuce and onion. Yum.

Molly I loved having chickens. We used to let them run loose, but they will really tear up a garden. They are fun to watch. We also had a couple of guinea hens. They arn't the brightest critters, but again very fun to watch. They do eat tons of bugs though.

CeCe - Don't let BIL get to you. Just think how satisfied you will be when the project is done and looking good in spite of him.

MaryE - too funny about your "dryer".

Should comment more, but I want to get outside! ~~~~~~to everyone. Hope you are having a great weekend!

Back from the garden store AGAIN!!

I went out for a garden walk this morning in my pepto pink sack nighty with an orange sweat shirt on top and my hair stuck straight up = was I a sight. Just as I got out in the gardens, DH decides to fire up the chain saw to begin cutting down trees. All the neighbors came over to watch him fell them - I decided to join them and told them if they didn't like my outfit, they could leave- it was MY yard!! We all laughed at that! DH felled the trees one on top of another - just like he wanted. Now he is busy cutting them up - he barked for me to come and help...I'm taking my own sweet time!!

At the garden center I managed to pick up 5 more plants - oh woe is me!! I also looked at some nice trees - I think I may go back and pick up a couple- they were very tall red oaks (anyone have those??) for 30 some bucks (40% off!!)

Mary LOL at the drying of the socks...I probably would have packed the dirty ones!!

Sucking up fish water- yuck....can't you just dip in a bucket?

cece - go buy another shovel and keep it under the bed - DH would never think to look there!!

Well, chainsaw has stopped buzzing- probably brew time!!

Here's a pic of the mess....

I love the shovel story ... and the microwaved socks!!

Sarv, I can just envision your morning outfit, LOL.

Isn't this cool front grand? It's only up to 64º here now just past lunch time. Lows tonight in the mid-to-low 50's.

Wow there y'all go again ... being so chatty in the morning. How do y'all do that? I'm brain dead when I get up, and can't possibly respond till I'm much friendlier. LOL

sarv, when you get the cranberry/choco chip biscotti made just toss some down here and then you won't have to eat the entire batch yourself. :-) My but that does sound good.

Ann, hope you have a fun day today. :-) Oh, don't remember when your Japan trip is for sure, but know it's coming up so will wish you a good one in case it slips up on me.

Defoe, Yum ... you sure can cook. Hope y'all have a good day tomorrow and the weather cooperates. Bet DGD is sure gonna miss being there, but she's probably excited about seeing her schoolmates also. At least you have the week-ends to look forward to. I hope your arm feels better.

Mary, I've never heard of drying clothes in the microwave before. Had to LOL at that. I don't think I'd have thought to do it. Now I must admit to giving them a good blow drying, though. :-)

Cece, drat on the shovel. Maybe you could go purchase one? hehehe Now wouldn't that give him a surprise? Oh, I think those gold fish sound awesome. I remember seeing some gold fish ponds with gorgeous goldfish in them. I've read somewhere where they grow to the size of the container they're placed in?? Anyway, they really have some pretty ones. We had an aquairium once and had a rainbow and albino. They were very pretty. I'm afraid I wasn't a very good fish Mommy, though. :-(

I'm very jealous of all y'all who have those lower temps today. We have a little breeze and okay ... it's a *little cooler maybe ... but jeans and sweatshirt? I don't think so!! LOL
Well, gotta get up from here so I'll just wave to everyone else for now. We're having French dip roast sandwiches and I need to get them on the table. The DH is working outside. I'm suppose to be supervising and getting lunch on the table. ;)

Well, I am back from the grocery, as usual had to pick up stuff for DM and DMIL and DH, plus mine. This was a "I forgot to get it" trip. Always have a regular grocery/errand day, then I forot to get it trip later in the week. Also stopped by the library, didn't have anything to read, and the tv remote was broken last night, well it is more than the remote, couldn't get regular tv or dish either, so was pretty bored.

Sarv, you have probably started a new fashion craze in your neighborhood! Love your description.

Mary, never thought about using the microwave to dry clothes. May do that in a pinch.

cc, good idea about an extra shovel, Around here I could hide it in plain sight, as DH usually doesn't notice much out of place.

Molly, chickens are a good idea for soil enrichment. Please don't get any peacocks. When we lived "in town" that is a stretch of imagination, a berg with about 75 people, someone had peacocks, and they wandered all over leaving nice presents on front porches!

Darius, apple butter sounds good. Is this some you will sell?

susieq, isn't it nice to have the house all to yourself once in a while.

ves the cooler weather is a nice change, however our forecaster are saying hot again next week.

Viann, enjoy your first tomatoes, they are the best tasting ones of the season.

M5, I think just using it much more and doing lifting etc has sort of gotten it irritated. It is a feeling of like a sleeping limb, waking up, and it doesn't go away. Sounds like a pinched nerve to me.

woodspirit, so what plants are your sharing with the friend?

Well, this has been a lunch break, so it is over, and I need to head to DM's to help her. So everybody have a good afternoon, and I will check in later.

Hi I01, we posted at the same time. DGD will be here until Monday, so that she can be the social butterfly tomorrow. Gotta run.

defoe/Bonnie... this first batch of apple butter looks grand but not very dark, so probably won't be on the Sell table. Next batch I will use dark brown sugar instead of white and maybe cook more on the stove. The oven did a good job of reducing it.

I hope to start zucchini chunks in roasted tomato sauce as soon as my apple butter is out of the canner.

Lunch time. Leftover Chinese dinner, not quite as good the 2nd day because the vegies overcook a bit when I reheat it, but it beats a cheese sandwich. Come to think of it, I could have had a BLT, that might be dinner.

Darius, I seem to remember that you checked into the requirements for cooking/baking things to sell and learned that a commercial kitchen was not required. Is that right or do I have you confused with somebody else who wanted to sell homemade food items? Are you planning roadside sales, farmer's market, in-store sales somewhere, or an online store?

Elaine, I did think of using the blow dryer, but it is noisy and my hubby had already gone to bed to get whatever sleep he could before getting up shortly after midnight. Anyhow, microwaving his socks was more fun. The hair dryer would probably be better for synthetics, less chance of having a meltdown. I can just emagine saying Oops honey, I melted your socks! At one house (more like a shack) where we lived long ago we had a built in referigerator, only the door was visable from the kitchen side, but the rest of it was in the bedroom! The top of it became a shelf since space was very limited, and the metal frame thing around the coily things was always warm from the motor, so was an excellent place to dry small things like socks.

Fritz and I went for a longer than usual walk, and now the poor dog with his short legs is crashed in his chair by the living room window. We went one way down the road and when we came back to our driveway he just kept going down the road in the other direction, so we went another 3/4 of a mile. THEN he was tired. Before we left he had been watching a fox hunting mice in the field down that way so maybe that was still on his mind. Of course the fox was long gone.

Defoe, I can't believe you have time to be bored! With your level of activity I think if you sat down to read you would be asleep unless you keep yourself going with caffene and sugar. The pool closing class is a good idea, keep it healthy, it is an investment. Sad tho, are you going to have a memorial for it? Could be an excuse for a fish fry or a party... not that you need one. And then a celebration for the opening next spring. Just some wild ideas going through my warped mind. You might be right about the pinched nerve, I get numbness in my hands and arms when my back is a bit out of place, and I also get a tight muscle between the spine and shoulder blade on one side. Yesterday when I had my adjustment I was slightly out in a whole lot of places all the way up to my neck. Out of place vertabre can also be the cause of headaches, my chiro was a bit surprised at my lack of them because my neck is always out. I'm just thankful. Anyhow, what I had thought for years was probably carpal tunnel turned out to be easily and painlessly fixed by the first treatment, and when it returns I know that something is not lined up like it should be.

Got to relocate a sprinkler now and get after those weeds again.

MaryE, I hope to do Farmer's Markets next year after I am legal. Too much to do this year!

Grrrrrr... I HATE electric stoves, more so when canning. It's SO hard to adjust the temps. With a gas stove, when you turn it down, the temp immediately goes down.

To add insult to injury, I just broke a quart jar, splattering it all over the kitchen floor so there are shards everywhere I can't even see. I guess my feet will find them.

Anyway, have some apple butter canned, and a batch of zucchini in roasted tomato sauce. Have a bit more roasted tomato sauce that I shall can next. Maybe I might start more apple butter tonight although I'm running out of energy.

Crap, just went to check the canner and found one of the glass shards. I callede Brent's mother, she will come and try to extract it.

BBL

Well, went to DM and did some prep work for tomorrow, mopped the bathroom and kitchen, and then came home to putter around.Dressed now to go out to dinner/supper, and to stop by a friends house to pick up some day lilies that I bought from her. Then when we get home, I need to do my cooking for tomorrow.

Mary, actually that sounds like a good idea having a "pool closing party". then another when we open it again in the spring. Always trying to find ways to use this freezer full of fish before fishing season starts again. I guess Fritz got his work out, and if he is like Mr B, has now crashed. I go to the chiropractor once a month, and that is 2 weeks away, so may have to do an "in between" visit.

Darius,do you mean you "found" that shard of glass with a bare foot? Yikes woman, you may need to be like that cartoon character with the cloud over his head.

Sarv, you got more plants, perennials? So where will these go? I have started 3 new beds this year, a perennial, an iris bed, and a daylily bed. Then I have the dahlias and glads together, and the hostas and lilies, and in the front of the house is a mixture of annuals and perennials. I have nowhere else to put anything, unless of course I make another bed. That's and idea.

Last night I concocted a new dish. I grated potato, summer squash, onion, added salt and pepper, and an egg, rolled it in a mixture of flour and corn meal and fried it. Pretty good. DGD took the left overs to a neighbor and made them guess what it was made of. They did pretty good guessing, said it was tasty.

Well DH is finally ready to go, so will check in later. I think it will be Chinese tonight, DGD and I vote that way, we just have to sway DH.

defoecat, That sounds really good. I need to try that, I have soooo much squash, I have been giving it away and throwing it away, or composting it I mean.

It gets kinda old to have squash EVERY night, I have okra every night too. Not tired of it yet, but sometimes you need a change. LOL

Susan
=^..^=

defoe, yes the neighbor came and dug around in my heel until she found the shard and extracted it. I had already tried but only managed to break it off.

Hey, what are neighbors for, anyway!

There is a product called Black Hen, made by the same folks as Black Kow. I really like that as a fertilizer but haven't found it lately.
Cece, I have a koi that is now about 16 inches long. Most of the others are 6-8 inches long. I have a total of seven which is really a bit much for my small pond, but I really like them all, quite different in coloraztion and habit, so I'm sticking with them.
darius, who is Bazha?
defoecat. I will be sharing blue flags and some bearded iris, some day lilies, some ground covers, maybe a nandina, maybe a hydrangea, depends on what the deer will leave alone, spiderwort, crocosmia. I don't know, whatever grabs her.

Woodspirit, Bazha is my fat cat, and I'm sure you must have met her when you came overnight to my apartment in Hayesville.

Oh yes, I forgot her. I didn't see much of her and you kind of kept her away from me because I am allergic to cats.

hi everyone ,i never liked electric stove ever.. squash sounfds so good.. i went bought small bag of okra to cook me some.. Socks in microwave very neat new dryer...

Since this is in Texas, it’s probably real.













WE GROW 'EM BIG IN TEXAS!!!

This snake was recently found at the old Turkey Creek gas plant
located just south of the Alibates Turnoff on Highway 136 south
of Fritch Texas.

A reminder that these creatures are actually out there and no matter
what you believe, sometimes they should get not only prescriptive
rights to be there but the full right of way!

9 feet, 1 inch - 97 lbs.

No matter what anybody else tells you, kill the snake before you try to do anything else to it!
It's the safest way for you and the snake doesn't care anymore.

DEEP-FRIED RATTLESNAKE

1 medium-sized rattlesnake (3-4 lbs.), cut into steaks
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup cracker crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1 teaspoon salt
dash pepper

Mix dry ingredients. Whisk milk into beaten egg and use to dip snake steaks.
Then coat them with dry ingredients. Fry, uncovered, in 400 degree oil until brown.

Now i would never eat snake, rabbit deer or frogs or? ..when we was in nvo laredo my husband was talking to this guy(trying to) and he wanted us to have tacos' i took one bite started to woof woof gave it too my husband to eat.. later i told him think was dog...kidding.. i think i was...
Have great Sunday all..

Evening- just hopped out of the shower, so I'm fresh!!

Needy neice and her two kids stopped over this afternoon. I had forgotten she might come and my house was a disaster!! Phew, having a 4 and 2 yr old is soooo tiresome- she doesn't watch them real well and my house is not kid proof anymore. Kids swam in the pool. I almost fell in the pool with my new camera around my neck- the 2 yr old went in with a life jacket, but still had his face in the water. About gave me a heart attack!!
Later we took her/kids over to my DS house as she had never been there. On the way back she said the kids were hungry...it was 7pm - but she only had $1 with her. Hmmmm, we stopped at Wendy's and got food for everyone. She finally left, and DS called and wanted me to come back over for a burger fry. Now they NEVER have us over, so I went, but didn't eat anything but dessert!! Now I'm home and ready to crash.

FYI - only half the tree got cut up - what a mess in the yard. I decided I was not going to lift a finger to help. The tree had poison ivy around it and I break out if I am near it - besides DH is getting some of my return silent treatment... LOL

Stinko wrestling is on, DH is slumped in his chair snoring -I'm gonna turn out the light and hit the hay....
Hope, that's one mother of a snake!! You do grow them big!! I scream and run like a weinnie when I see a little 2 footer!

Ouch Darius- why weren't your shoes on your pigs if you broke glass??? Do we need to use the 2x4 on you? LOL Glad the neighbor was handy for ya.

I was in the garden weeding and had on a newish white top. Came in and one whole side looked like I had been in a bloody fight. Seems like I brushed up against some daylilies- what a mess. And I threw it in the laundry and forgot to pretreat it...drat...

I'm back! Two times on a Saturday. I havn't done that in a long time. Just came in from having a little campfire in the back yard. Watched the sun finish going down. The sky was sooo clear and blue. Good night to watch the stars. Supposed to be able to see the Perseid (sp?) meteor shower after 11 tonight. Not sure witch direction to look in if I am still up then. Would be neat to see.

Darius - I know what you mean about elec. stoves. I hate them. I am still using a 1940's combination stove that my grandparents always had here. One half is a woodstove, the other half is gas. I love it! My only complaint is that the oven part is small. Roast a turkey and that all that will go in there. I'll post a picture in one of these days.

Sarv - You just can't say no to more plants can you. I would love to see your gardens. Maybe we need to start a plant-aholics-anonymous. I can't walk into HD or Lowes without at least looking over their selection. Even in winter I have to look through the houseplants.

Elaine - Mmmm French Dip, sounds so good. I might have to make them one night this week. That would be an easy supper.

Defoe - That potato/squash thing sound really good.

Hope - That is some snake! Gives me the heebee jeebees just looking at the picture.

Laundry monster did not die today, but I did beat him to a pulp. Got some weeds pulled. @&#$! crab grass! We also had our own corn tonight. First picking this year.

Time to say goodnight. Sweet dreams!

yes snake in Texas.. i do not like but my daughters ex bf had lots bigger than that ..

Suzieq i would love a stove like that and love to see picture to. bet its great one..

Take care. all..


Twyla

Hi everyone,

Was just too tired last night to post anything. I'd checked the forum from time to time during the day in order to keep up with everyone, but it got rather late and I decided to go to bed instead.

Babs, so sorry about your mother. I hope never to have to come to that crossroads, but Alzheimers runs in my mother's family and it may get to the point where I really don't have any other choices --- just as you also ran out of options. I don't think that your Mum ever had a minute's doubt about how much you cared for her. Please don't beat yourself up over having to bow to the inevitable.

It's been a long week, but at least we in New England finally had some really Good weather. It's felt like Fall for the past couple of days and I've been loving it --- only wished that I'd been able to be outside instead of stuck in the store. It's supposed to get back to the muggies on Monday, Drat!

I have to get out and pick some beans tomorrow --- believe it or not, I don't even get a chance to do that much in the garden on a regular work day. I have to leave too early in the morning and get back too late in the evening (not to mention that I also have to get supper ready when I get home at 730 to 8:30 at night).

darius, hope Bazha gets over her snit real soon and that Gracie continues to thrive with your help. I do hope you don't have one of those really nasty feral Toms on your hands. I've lived in a couple of places where one of those guys did a number on any domestic cat it could lay paws on. My "best ever" cat ended up with a half moon of white in her all black coat from a wound she got from one of those tomcats. The tomcat even threatened me once --- had to fend it off with a broom to get it off my stairs.

Mary, loved the impromptu "dryer". If I'd tried that, I probably would have set the house on fire! How are your horses doing now?

Bonnie, hope that you can enjoy your pool for a while longer. You're right, it seems that you just got it in --- can't imagine that you have to close it for the year already. Hope that the family bash and your big Labor Day event go really well. DH has actually asked for a party for his 60th birthday (9/3/06) although he keeps referring to it as a "wake"!!

Maria, you asked how DH had gotten into such a state health-wise. We don't really know for sure as the cellulitis results from an infection which can be started from all manner of things, including dry skin. A big part of the problem was that we had no health insurance and it was probably exacerbated by his being on his feet for 8 to 12 hours a day for the three months that he was working for Trader Joe's.

cece, did your husband actually take the shovel with him to work so you couldn't use it? Did you ever find out for sure? Nice of him to give you this for your birthday, on the other hand, he didn't have to be such a tease about it!

Twyla, thanks but no thanks for that recipe. I've heard that rattlesnake "tastes like chicken" (doesn't everything?), but I think I'll stick to the genuine article! I'm really glad that we don't have to worry much about venomous snakes around here. We mostly just get the little garter snakes.

Molly, I've used milorganite too. I much prefer the idea of our wastes going back into the soil instead of being dumped into the oceans where it only does harm; however, when I heard about the government upping the acceptable rate of dioxins, I decided to use this on flowers and grass only, not in my veggie garden.

Bonnie, sorry I didn't post last night --- no energy, I'm afraid. You, on the other hand, seem to have an inexhaustible supply of it!

Hi to 9kitty, I01, ves, V-ann, sarv, woodspirit, suzieq, M5, and corky. Sorry that I haven't responded to your posts --- just have run out of energy, I'm afraid. Wishing you all the best of nights!