Sounds like everyone had a ball in the Jungle! Sorry I missed it but the hip came first. I'm now home and moving about nicely after being in the rehab hospital for so long. Wish I could have been there but I enjoyed it all second-hand.
Ann
Houston Swap n Social Attendance list
Well Ann, seems like you might have next year! I may even have a spring and summer one..we'll see.
Save me a place. I'm sure I will be able to not only walk, but run by next Spring. YAY!!!!!!!
Christi
Ann, glad you are recooperating nicely.
I'm glad you are on the mend Ann. And hope to see you all there at Randy's next time.
I'm really surprised that no one else has posted any photos, unless I missed a thread some place. I know I saw other cameras in attendance besides just mine and Connie's.
Janet
I would love to do a swap in the spring. I usually have so much more to bring. (NOT SNAKES)! Still can't believe I brought a snake. And I was driving in my car with it? Ewwwwww!
Ann, I'm glad the surgery went well and you're recovering.
This message was edited Aug 1, 2008 9:48 PM
It was such a cute snake, though, Kristi! ;-)
Thank you everyone for such a wonderful time. I have been busy trying to get everything in the ground before school starts. A spring get together would be great! I was disappointed this morning as I was watering & planting to discover that somehow my 2 papaya seedlings hopped out of my boxes before I got home. Maybe Randy will start some new seedlings for the spring RU (wink wink).
Tabitha
Oh my....I have a whole tray left...Humble is not far...
I meant to get one of those papayas too Randy and I totally forgot to get it before we left. Will you save me one for the Spring? I don't know that we'll be back in Houston before then so you'll have to water it for me. (hopeful look here)
Janet
Sure will.!
Thanks Randy! I really do appreciate it. I'm excited that my banana trees have a bloom and little bananas on them.
We've had these trees for quite some time. Started out with one (isn't that the story of my life) and this is the first time we've had any bananas. Are they edible?
I don't know...I've not graduated to Banana 102 yet...LOL.....I haven't been lucky enough to have bananas yet...
It was quite a fluke that I spotted them at all. They are behind one of the trunks. None of these Banana Trees are the original that we bought. They are in another section of the yard. I did see a blossom last year on one of those, but like an idiot, when the blossom started looking ugly, I pulled it off, before the bananas had a chance to form.
I figure if I just leave them alone they'll probably do something...
Randy I would still love 2 papayas and 1 loquat tree if you have them.
I hate I missed the trades I had going. I was diagnosised with high blood pressure and my head hurt too bad to get there any earlier than I did.
I did have a wonderful time and can't wait till the next one.
Thanks Randy,
Blessings,
Sandy ^8^
Randy, I might have to come and visit the next time I'm in your area.
Tabitha
Okay, no problem...I'm usually always home in the mornings.
Uniquetreasures,
Had a banana tree like that. Got a HUGE bunch of bananas from it, and actually ATE one. I think they're more like plantains than bananas and need to be allowed to turn almost black (or at least spotted) before they're ripe to fry in a little oil and sprinkled with sugar. Or, cut paper thin, and fried to make a plantain chip. Sprinkle with salt! Either way, pull up your lawn chair every day to watch the plant's progress -- totally fascinating the way it blooms and turns into a banana. My two neighbors sat underneath it every day with a six-pak and the whole neighbord gathered around to hear and view the day's unfolding. We thought sure some of the kids would pull that huge bunch down, and they never did.
It sounds as if I missed a really good party but the next one, WATCH OUT. This old gal is ready to roll. It has been just a tad over 2 wks and I can walk like I did 3 years ago - up right and at a decent pace rather than like the old woman I am and all 5'2" of me up there. I am really glad I had the surgery and I would urge anyone who needs a new hip to get it done. In a month or less you are up and running. I feel like a filly again. Thanks to all of you who have asked about my health and have had concerns. Love you all!
Ann
Yes, I couldn't believe the difference in the surgery technology from the time I had my left hip replaced, to 3 years later having the right one replaced..was like night and day. The recovery time was so much quicker, less pain, and was feeling guilty about not working after the second week.
When our bananas produced we were told to let them get to a decent size (they were a little bigger than finger bananas) then cut off the whole limb and put it in the garage or such - just someplace out of the sun, in the shade and indoors..Hang it if you can so that no 'nanas get squashed. They ripen better this way. We had a screened porch so put them out there and hung them from the ceiling hook. Fascinating! They all got ripe one after one.
Ann
Thanks so much for the info about the bananas Linda and Ann. This afternoon, things hadn't changed too much.
Hopefully with Edouard blowing through this way, they'll still be there at the end of the week. Last year when Humberto blew through during the night, the banana trees and cannas took the brunt of the storm and had to be cut way back.
Ann, you did miss a wonderfully good time, but I'm so glad to hear you are up and running again. Modern technology is wonderful! There will be next year to look forward to!
Janet
Yep, I took down all the Umbrellas, dangly things and lights today. Made sure the water drains were clear of debris..all set to go!
Ditto,,,,, except for a few,,, I am waiting to hear tomorrow that there is no need to.
jana
LOL..no kidding...we were just joking about not getting any rain either.
We are getting the rain and some pretty strong winds. I was outside and heard a huge snap. I had to investigate of course. It was my neighbors pine tree a huge limb snapped and is just hanging there. Now even some thunder starting...just enough to make the dogs bark and then they drive me crazy..I only have one nerve anyway and they are on it. haha
Ann so glad to here you are doing so well. I look forward to seeing you next time Randy has one.
The rain is steady and watering everything really well. Sure needed that.
Take care everyone,
Blessings,
Sandy ^8^
Pouring here too.
WOOEEE,,, glad that's over... So nice to have the rain though. I didn't get any damage and as far as I can tell, neither did any neighbors. My plants are all smiling. I had a brain storm just as it started to rain--- I ran out and got all those 5 gal. buckets that have not found a home,, set them in open spaces to collect as much rain as I could. I now have about 50 gal. rain water.I had been wanting to get a rain barrel set up and never got around to it,,,etc. Hope everyone is safe and well watered !
jana
LOL...I did the same thing Jana...I filled up 40 gal tub in a minute. I have that cattle watering trough in the back...that filled up...that's a great rain collector. I put mosquito fish in it.
Really ..we couldn't have fared better..we got the rain we needed without the huffnpuffin
Randy, it looks like everybody had a blast! What a fun day it must have been. I bet a spring RU will be a big hit too!
Janet, that group photo is great!
Cathy
You'se guys have all the luck! My water bill is $320. and still my plants are wilting.
Thanks Cathy! We did have a blast. Randy is the perfect host. He's such a party animal! HAHAHAHA Just funnin' ya Randy!
Christy, My water bill has never been over $100. I hand water with a hose for over an hour almost every evening. My electric is a little over $300 though.
WEll,,,,, my water bill is usually $8.00 ( that is because I am on 'OLD FOLKS' billing,,, but my electric is $445. this mo.
Randy, I saw that trough in the back. Great idea. My little ponds almost ran over with all the rain,,, I watched to be sure my little goldfish didn"t swim away and die. I bought them last year at Petsmart as tiny babies and now most are at least 5" long.
I was just thinking the same thing...my water bill is amazingly low compared to Christies...but my electric bill was also 445.00...I turn it up to 80 or above when I leave...and most of the garden lights are low voltage LED...I have gas appliances...I think they get ya one way or the other
I imagine we contributed $25-50 for the party with all the door opening and the number of 98.6 heaters inside, Randy.
And to think, I was upset with $250-275 at our house. I need to add about $200 in insulation to the attic.
Yes..but ..still that's one day...I do that every day. That's the kicker...when we remodled the house..we put in double insulation. Problem is ...those are original windows....aaaayyyyyeeee
We've discontinued the hot tub, discontinued the outside fridge...and it did go down... I refuse to not have garden lights...but I did consent to turn them off instead of timers.... it's this way every summer...The air conditioners old too..and it's against the fence...We were just talking about cuting the area around it...but..ya know...it's working it's way to the top of the list of replacements....windows, roof, siding, paint.....
Now are you ready? Electric bill: $724xx. We average so we will pay $334.xx
We were on a plan with TXU tied to the gas prices. It had been .11 kwh when we signed up. Last month it was .20 kwh.
Have now switched to a plan that is .154 kwh for 2 years. don't know which way to run.
Guess that makes me the "winner"!
Christi
We put new insulation in the attic 2 yrs. ago but haven't seen any benefit because the cost of utilities went up then also. I set the ther. for 79 and try to keep it there, but confess I sometimes can't take it, and gently move it down some during the day depending on the temp. outside.
ooo Christi, at the end of the year it will catch up with you and that averaging billing won't feel so good !!!!! when they hit you with what's left over !!!! I did that before and can't say I liked it so much. I guess you have to weigh knowing the exact amount against just paying as you go deal.
"some deal". Over $700. electric,,,, I would faint..
do you have a really big home , or older house with lots of leaky places ?
I'm fainting...that and the waterbill...
I would check on some of that...I know for a fact that during busy times they take high estimates and charge you ..using your money...In fact my friend and co worker Ron, just received a check monday for 300.00 because they did that...he has a tiny apartment...so he called and said...what are you smoking there?