Hello fellow Californians....let's introduce ourselves! #2

Could we have a first name please? It's too much typing for this old lady's fingers to address you as Deepwater805 all the time. Thanks! Jo

My name's Mark. Nice to meet you.

Thanks, Mark...now that is easy to type....LOL Jo

Despite my reluctance to visit Mexico, you have a beautiful home and I'd be glad to visit you some time. : - )
DH and I are traveling to Malaysia in 2011, to visit his BFF, in KL. You got any advice on where to get information about my medicine and whether I can bring it with me? I've heard you have to be really nimble to get through some of the airports, and I can't move fast. I worry about us missing our connecting flight to KL from Hong Kong. DH says I worry too much.
I guess I'll do some research and find out. Then again it never hurts to ask! LOL!
I'm glad you joined too.
Mark if you go for the safflower plant at the fenceline or perimeter of your place. Nothing like go through it, but rabbits can hop over it, so you have to make it at least as wide as they can jump. No idea how far that is. DH says at least 3 or 4 feet wide, I'm going for 5 feet wide. I've seen them jump my five foot tall fence to ravage my Pumpkin Patch. It even worse when the gophers come in from underneath and eat your pumpkin then fill it full of dirt. Rotten Rodents!
Sherman99, have not noticed any gopher holes around the jimson weed, but I'll take a look when I get home.
Nice seeing you're still running the roads, Jo!
We are glad you found DG too, Mark!
Safe Journey on your travels Jo and Mark!
WIB!
SW

SW-went out and looked all around the jimson weed, you are right, dont see any gopher holes. maybe will alternate that with the nightshade all around my garden areas. i am just so frustrated by the loss of plants to gophers. i did not wire where i put the pumpkins, did not even think of it. hopefully there will be some vines left so the grandkids will have their pumpkins for oct 31.

Wow, a trip to KL. that will be a wonderful experience.

well, off to water and feed the animals.

Thanks for the advice about the rabbits. Although my yard has no fence, so any critter has complete access. I'm forever finding critter sign all around the house. My only solace is that by inadvertently feeding the rabbits, I also feed the coyotes, hawks, and vultures. I guess that I'm just an integral part of the food chain. The only safe haven for plants is my deck, and the rabbits can't get in there, but the squirrel's have no problem, so there's a fair amount of destruction there too.

I too leave on my monthly trip in a few days. I work 12 time zones from PST, and have to make this journey once a month. It usually takes me two days to make the trip, and two days to straighten up the yard once I get home. This time however, I have six self watering pots waiting for me, and a whole slew of fall planting bulbs, including Hosta's. I'm just glad that the rabbits can't climb.

Mark...I am such a curious person...OK I'm nosey!! What do you do on these trips...sound like a job I would love as you can see by my usesrname. LOL

"Have Passport, will Travel" JO

No problem Jo, I'm a drilling engineer, and work on the Caspian Sea out of Baku, Azerbaijan. This is why I can live anywhere I want. And yes, "have passport will travel." Without it I'm dead in the water. However, when I'm home, traveling is the last thing I like to do, which may explain why I spend so much time planting, watering, weeding, and cleaning dirt from under my fingernails. It keeps me off the streets.

Also, I have a deal with my gardener: when I'm home he doesn't have to do anything, but when I leave for work he waters. That's it. No pruning, no pulling weeds, (sometimes non-weeds get pulled), just water once a week, or twice if it's hot.

WOW! What a life. Jo

Okay, now your user name makes sense! : - )
My Dad used to work on those deep water oil rigs. Said it scared him stupid. He was an electronics engineer. Helicopter rides and heights were hard for him.
I think I like your gardener. Mine seems to like the bare earth policy, after wiping out my native sunflowers which are winter food for the birds, he is banned for life from my yard. Have you tried bottom watering? Or drip irrigation? Best to have the gardener, to keep an eye on them 2 & 4 legged varmints.
I'd loan you my squirrel hating dog, but Daisy has gotten old and deaf, and now we have squirrels again. Sigh! At least their antics can be amusing.
Looked on the map, but couldn't find Bajamar. Will try google.
If you were to throw in some chocolate, I betcha RR, Jo would find a way to visit! : - )
(Ya know I love ya Jo, and am just teasing!)
Safe journey! Write if you can.
WIB!
SW

Mark, isn't Bajamar a community name as opposed to a town name? Down near/north of Ensenada? Nice homes. If my memory serves me right, wasn't there a real estate problem there several years back about legality being challenged by the locals? I tried to find it by memory on Google Earth and could not, BUT oddly, did find a restaurant I have eaten breakfast at 18 years ago north of Ensenada. I have driven down Baja as far as Loreto, camping in the Catavinia Desert, Mulege, Guerro Negro (sp), etc. Have also driven as far as Puerto Vallarta on the mainland side and flown to various other locations, had my teeth done inTJ with multiple appts, but I do have to say that I would think twice about going down there these days (driving).

Lynda

BTW, I did not welcome you to the fold. I have been absent for awhile!

There is my friend "GUILTYGIRL"...LOL Where have you been hiding? Jo

Jo,
QG's probably been really busy with school starting up, and the fall season upon us. The rain was unexpected this early in the year and may have caused our GF to have extra chores. That one fire did burn the slopes above her place.
Say Jo, I guess you are missing a RU this weekend near or in Dallas/FW. : - (
Did you experience any tornado action? You are due for some rain, too. A nice gentle female rain.
About Mexico, it's a beautiful and warm country. I like it very much, except for all the violence.
And all them women on the beach who see my long hair and want to braid it like Bo Derek's in the movie "10".
I am not a resort person, but we've traded resort time to visit Alcupulco, and Ixtapa/Xihuatenejo (sp)? I've been to TJ, and Ensenada too.
I'm a beach comber not a resort type. I don't drink alcohol except for the token toast, and I am not a glutten, so those package deals and the fact that they pressure you to buy a timeshare down there are both downers. You can't own land along the coast unless you are Bill Gates or a Mexican National. Inland may be a different story.
We own specific units, on specific weeks at the time share we like. We have to pay property taxes, and we can pass it down to our kids. In Mexico, you can only lease the unit/land for a specified time. So I refuse to buy.
None the less, I do love the people, the food, and the countryside. Just don't like tourist traps. It also scares me stupid to see Federales riding horseback along the beach with their rifles at the ready. : - 0
Will I ever go back? Hard to say, driving is painful, and so are long flights. Would I like to go back? You bet, just as soon as it feels safe. : - )
So Jo, where will you be traveling next?
QG, what have you been up to? Been missing you guys.
WIB,
SW

My next trip will entail moving...across the road from where I am now. I'm going through all the stuff that one has to do to get new service to raw land...septic, water, electric...I may be able to move by Thanksgiving. Jo

Well I don't envy you, Jo. I dislike dealing with the county or city for the permits to make those improvements. Let's hope you aren't being too optimistic about that Thankgiving move in date. Sending positive thoughts your way! :- )
WIB~
SW

LOL No...not packing my undies just yet! Jo

Hi Everyone. I just got back home from work. It takes me three days to make the trip from the time I leave the rig, so I've been away from the forum for a few days. I attached a photo of what all my hanging pots are: The self watering type. They each have a gallon reservoir, and it makes those really hot days not so destructive if they don't get watered faithfully when I'm at work.

SingingWolf: Yes that's pretty much it. Unfortunately though we crew change via boat, not choppers, and on the Caspian that means seasick pills don't work for everybody. Yuck. Unfortunately I can't have pets, since I live alone, and am gone for five weeks at a time. My only solace about the squirrel's is that the coyotes here are pretty fat.

Quiltygirl: Yes, Bajamar is both a golf resort, but also a community too. Probably 300 full time residents, a pack of fat coyotes, and me. It's not a traditional village, but in Mexico villages are any place that has permanent, or semi-permanent residents. Me...I'm the part time permanent type. Every Saturday the residents have a famers market/flea market/book fair. One resident does this thing with olive oil, and fresh herbs, for 50 pesos a bottle, or four bucks. They go great with fresh bread, or sauteed mushrooms. Last night I did the latter with a bottle of Chianti, and a Ribeye.

This message was edited Oct 10, 2010 3:25 AM

Here's another shot of a self watering pots. This one has California Calla's hybrid's, and some tuberous begonia's. I planted both the calla's,and begonia's from bulbs/tuberous roots in mid August, and they just exploded out of the ground.

Very nice...is the blue in the background a "waterfall"? Jo

Hi Jo, Yes, the blue is the ceramic solar fountain on the blue tile sink area. I've attached a photo from yesterday. Please excuse the dirty tile. I haven't cleaned it yet since I've been home from work.

I love the sound tinkling water...very calming...Jo

DW,
Glad you are back on line. We missed ya!
I totally missed that waterfall, but now that I've seen it I'm jealous of your out door kitchen too. I've been wanting one since my last trip to Mexico where I saw how the native women do it out in the villages. You just might tempt me to cross the border again, DW. LOL!
Your self watering pots have the reservoir at the bottom of the container? I have a couple of those and they do work well in our heat. Sounds like and your photos show a very nice garden area. : - )
I love the enclosed courtyard.
I know I should post some photos, but have been sick and it's Pumpkin Patch time. Luckily, my kids are running the patch this year.
DH is still taking honey off them bee hives and then he'll have to put them to bed for the winter (move them to locations in the Bakersfield area). I might not see much of him for a while.
Temps are warming up, which helps.
Hope everyone has a great day. : - )
WIB,
SW

Deepwater805, Your home is beautiful, and those self watering pots are sure prettier, and have a bigger resevoir, than what I find at HD or Lowes! LOL

Thanks OCCAROL! I'm not really sure what the rules are here for providing web sites, but this is where I got all my self watering pots. They seem to be more attractive then most, but the real selling point for me is the one gallon reservoir. They're a bit pricey, so I only get a couple at a time. There are three sizes, but I get only the 16" ones, so that I can hang them without too much weight on the hook.

http://www.gardeners.com/Ravello-Self-Watering-Planter

Ha ha! That link took me to Gardeners Supply outlet. You're right, they are more attractive than most...and pricey! I might hve to try a couple though. I think those are new since last time I checked gardeners supply. Thanks for the info!

Ho-ho, Jo, were your ears burning as you wrote 'guiltygirl'? Almost the time you wrote that, I was writing about you and how you were voted on to be the one to ask me what I was guilty of, back about 1.5 years ago! That was to faywray, in OH, a former DG'r who used to post on Trash to Treasure and Sewing & Quilting.

I can't say there has been anything in particular keeping me from posting, just life. DD Got her driver's license last week and Tony has been fixing up our old 1994 Chevy Cheyenne truck for her. Anyone in the area who needs a great mobile mechanic, ask me about the guy that has come here to do work. We buy the parts and he installs them and he is EXTREMELY reasonable.

Have found hornworms for thne first time on my maters. &***^^%%!!! Do you know they bleed green blood and need to be sliced several times before giving up. They look horrible, rearing up and looking at me like they are challenging me to a fight. Creeped me out the first time pulling it off the vine (with a leaf) and having to work hard at squishing it into the dirt. Tonight I just pulled them off while they were squished between the blades of my clippers. As if that was not bad enough, some bird (bat? at dusk) pooped on my neck before I came in.

Forgot I was going to go to the Wickerd Farm Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch Grand Opening today. Instead we installed/put up a couple cabinets from HD to use for the TV base/entertainment unit.

It sounds like LA got a lot of rain, us - not so much. In fact, very little. Ground did not even get wet under the trees. With the burn area behind us, I am glad for not getting pouring rain, but we could have tolerated more than we got.

Now, Jo, are you moving a manufactured home to land across the street? I can't imagine any other way to even consider getting utilities in and moved in in that amount of time. Took us, even WITH a manufactured home, 5 months to get in here. That did include stick building a 5 car size garage, but concrete came later.

Miss you guys. Sure has been quiet on all the sites I have visited in the past.

Yes...burning ears...LOL it still LOOKS like guilty...qg see? You are bound to be quilty of SOMETHING...LOL Hugs Jo

Yes, but there is just so much dirty laundry that can be aired on DG!

LOL I'm guilty of lots of things...and over eating is my main one. Jo

mine too ! also wanting every plant i see on DG

I resemble those remarks! I think you all are great people. So are we going to have a Pumpkin Patch Seed/Plant exchange? Should I post a thread? Maybe I should give weegy a call, 'cause she wanted to bring Emma out, and then we could set a date?
I've been sick all week, but am starting to feel better now, should be fine in a day or so.
Don't feel bad QG, remember I wanted you even when everyone else was thinking you were Guilty of something! LOL! Besides, yesterday was opening day, and you know that glitches always pop up. The credit card machine went bonkers and the hay ride had a flat tire, and DH forgot to put some hay in it. I did manage to get out there and take a few photos. It was this young fella's first pumpkin, and first Halloween. See photo.
Jo, you are one special lady, with a weakness for chocolates. LOL!
Don't ever change, 'cause I like ya just the way you are!
GTGM.
WIB~
SW

What a handsome family. DD's first Halloween was the day I brought her home from the hospital at 2 days old. She had her pumpkin bib on and I had my skeleton earrings on in the video of us coming home. It was a pretty funny video as it showed us trying to get the car seat installed in my GF's car (mine was too small and DH has cleverly taken our larger car to the shop). We did not have a dry run with that thing and there stood the 4 adults (GF has no children and they had a candy striper wheel me down to the car) looking clueless. You would think such an 'old' first time mom could figure it out.

It is not a weakness for chocolates as they are NEEDED to keep our mental strength up. I am pretty much open, date wise, for the PPS/PE, except the 30th when DD is having a party here at the house.

What happened to weegy's iris event? Did she decide she did not want our help?

Keep getting better SW!

Not sure, but was wondering myself? Weegy emailed me that she'll be out of town for the next couple of days, so let's work on a couple of dates that work for them of us who want to come.
I probably should start a new thread. Give me a chance for the fever to go down. I am feeling better too.
They were a lovely family. : - )
How about these kids?
WIB!
SW

When I was a 4-H leader in Virginia beach, a big farm always let our clubs sponsor a Pumpkin Patch Party. It was sooo much fun watching small children picking out their pumpkin...then trying to get it back to their car.

Our first time entering into the Neptune Festival Parade we won 2nd place!! We were on a big truck with Green and White checkered square dancing costumes...hay bales and pumpkins decorated our float. We had a great time...then we would go to the State Fair and perform our dancing.

This is my youngest DD...she was 13 YO at the time. Jo

Those kid's shirts are adorable. What a clever idea. I will steal it at least to send to others.

Jo, your 4H group had a dance group? DD did 4H dog and horse groups. In San Diego the danced (not 4H) Ballet Folklorico for 3.5 years - until she got her first horse. Now she does not even do horses.

I have this big badge with a cute cow's head...it says.."4-H ain't all cow and cookin"...I just ran across it today.

We were a Community Club..then we decided to form a Square Dance Performing group on the side. We parents were so impressed with their dancing that lots of us learned to square dance with a club that sponsored lessons...What a great time we had.

4-H was originally formed so that the Universitys could teach the farmers newer techniques of farming through their sons...they were called the Corn Club...then later they started a girls group called the Tomato Club. Back to our scheduled programing...

Jo,
Don't disparage yourself. I didn't know about 4 H. I mean my kids couldn't care less, and I was working so much when they were younger to build up the business, since we live on a farm and they have me for a Mom they weren't even interested in scouting or organized sports. But we had a lot of great toad hunts (collect and release, : - D), and lizard, tarantula hunts, my kids were never bored. At least they never dared to tell me that. I'd of found something for them to do.
I'll never forget our fungus hikes. In the spring we go hunting for fairy rings and colorful toadstools. It's always been fun.
Then them little buggers went and grew up! : - O
QG, I don't know if I'm relieved I never had a girl or not after hearing about your DD. Just remember that it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind. : - )
I'm thinking it's genetically encoded. LOL! : - )
Jo, your DD looked lovely in her square dancing dress. I always enjoyed square dancing. Now, I dance Traditional Southern Style Cloth or Buckskin at local Pow Wows. I'll have to find some photos of me in a couple of different outfits. We never call them costumes. They are called Regalia or Outfits. A costume is something you wear where you are pretending to be something other than yourself. We aren't pretending, this is who we are. : - )
I love hearing about how things got started. Like the 4 H club.
WIB!
SW

Whew, DD and DH left this afternoon for Albuquerque (to pick up new pick up), his friend's ranch in mtns, west of Las Vegas NM (300 acres next door to one of Patrick Swazee's properties) and Las Cruces, NM where his friend who does car work lives and where he will work on DD's truck. They may go with DH's BF to bring the truck to Juarez, MX for paint, body and upholstery work. The BF says you only need birth certificate to get back, but everything I read on the State Dept site says Passport. Idk. DH has his passport, not DD. I made copies of everything for them, but I really do not want them to go into Juarez, particularly. They will drive home maybe Tues or Wed. DD took school work with her. They can be like oil and water, so it will be interesting to see who's will survives. Meanwhile, except for 11 animals and grandson, it will be quiet. HOORAY!!

Yes, SW, I hear boys are actually easier. One sis has one of each and the other has 3 girls and 1 son. They agree with you.

Very cool about the origins of the 4H club. Corn and Tomato club, what a hoot mentally picturing the shape of the fruit with the boys and girls. Do you suppose that is where the term for girls/ladies as a 'tomato' came from? Probably not. At least the girls were not called the one hot tomato group.

Now you are really guilty!! Of making me LAUGH! LOL Jo

Glad to be of some entertainment for you GF!