Hey Sandy, can't tell if that is shawl or a jacket, whichever just my style.
We have been celebrating with the same friends for over 40 years. Most of the time it included from 10-30 more in a party. This year, just the 4 of us. When we watched NYC ball fall we all decided we just couldn't stay up until Texas midnight. Still enjoyed each others company. Just wouldn't be right without them.
There will be graveside services tomorrow for one of my husband's business associates. I was 2 months to the day older than he. Makes you kind of take stock.
Everyday is a gift and I plan to make the very most out of 2009.
Love you all,
Christi
Fireside chat - Part 2 - pull up a chair and sit a spell...
Sorry to hear about the pain and operation for your DH, Sheila. My DH also lives with pain. Has had 5 operations since 2002...but one was a repeat when the first one didn't work. Good health is something mostly appreciated when you lose it. They can't cure everything that goes wrong. My daughter would be the first to admit that...I know she gets frustrated sometimes, because sometimes she has to tell her patients that there is only so much even the best modern medicine can do. That's not the "good news" that she really enjoys giving people.
HELP!!!!!
Sorry to bust in on this thread but I need an answer FAST! I just cut my collard and mustard greens down to cook for dinner. Expecting COMPANY! The collards look great, but the mustard greens have these little white aphid looking things on the undersides of the leaves -- I suspect it's whitefly larvae. Is there any way to safely clean these leaves so I can cook them for dinner? PLEASE HURRY YOUR ANSWER. I left all the leaves outside in the grass.
I was thinking to wash them in a bucket of soapy water BEFORE I even bring them inside to finish cleaning them.
HURRY! HURRY! HURRY! ANYBODY WHO CAN HELP!
Christi....It's a very old sweater, too hot for most nights. I too think that I'll try to squeeze every bit of 2009's joy this year. I found myself packing the decorations and labeling them....just in case someone else was going to unpack 'em next Christmas......weird feeling. Must be age!
gymgirl.....Now that you've told us all that there's bugs on the greens, don'tcha think it'd be better to go buy some more instead? It'll only take ONE lil bug to ruin dinner party! Surely, you can find a couple of bags of frozen greens as an emergency substitute. Bubbles
Gymgirl ~ please don't ever feel like you are interrupting. Jump in ~ I just wish someone could have assisted you. That is not an good start to the new year. I hope you have worked it out. I am old enough that I ascribe to Bubbles theory on keeping back up supplies around. I have always felt that "anything that CAN go wrong WILL, and I'll add ~ at the worst possible moment! Later, it will seem less important. Good luck!
I would have been out banging the pots with you but DH was sleeping with the window opened. We too have become old folks and quickly it seems. A bit maudlin here but the thought of getting affairs in order is on my mind. Need to dispose of some excess baggage and who will take care of my plants and pets and... I guess I could have banged the pots at 8-9 while all the neighbors were shooting. Just didn't want to be a target. LOL
We still haven't made wills. Guess that should be a priority item in '09. Never thought about who'd get plants until Gymgirl brought it up. Guess that should be an item on to-do list also. Something I've already started is identifying photos. After seeeing how many people lost their photos in Katrina, and had no way of identifying 'em, I thought I'd do this for daughter. I have many old photos of my family and I have no idea who the people are....and anyone who could have ID'd 'em is gone. She'd probably appreciate knowing who the relatives are...one of these days! Need to keep better records too. And have agarage sale......
Okaaay...now I'm getting sad. Will have to take a nap...and eat a cookie...maybe two!
Well, wouldn't you know it!!! Everything says Mockingbird won't go near a feeder. Ha! Last week around 150 gold finch, black capped chickadee, cardinals and tufted titmouse at the feeders near my window. Two mockingbirds have taken over the entire backyard. I moved the feeders they could get into and they still run off the little birds. Apparently, they even ran off the bluejays as they were also abundant. Strangely no one seemed unnerved by the bluejay. DH is threatening to get his bb gun. Of course he won't really but it sure is a disappointment.
Watch it!!! Thet thar Mockingbird is a Texas state treasure ~ LOL The local game wardens teased us as our hurricane refuge cat at work had killed an immature Mockingbird.
Bubbles ~ don't be sad about it. My Mom has been doing that for years and she is now soon to be 92. I prefer to think of it as being organized. But have that cookie anyway. My Mom keeps a cookie jar handy too.
MIL will be 91 on the 4th. Going to church with her and then help her with somethings on her computer. Don't know which of us is the smarter, purchased a PC for her 5 years ago and taught her how to use it. Keeps her going.
I love it! Wish my Mom would do the computer and probably would if someone were nearby to show her the ins and outs. You and she are blessed to have each other.
Had a lot of lessons that lasted up to 4 hours ON THE PHONE. Very difficult but eventually she caught on. Was afraid of the PC. I had to convince her it was a tool just as were all of her other appliances. She loves the internet. Sunday I am going to set up her utilities to pay on line. She is having a harder time with arthritis and writing is difficult. We are some 75 miles away. Refuses to move. Has lived right on the water on Lake Tawakoni for 42 years. Thank goodness she has good neighbors.
Christi
Arthritis is the main reason I'd love my Mom to have one. She has difficulty writing too. Lives in an old house with an upstairs and basement and says that is how she gets her winter excercise. In summer she still mows with a push mower, a section at a time. Hope I have inherited her genes!
Just an update on dinner: IT WAS A TOTAL HIT, Thanks to Farmerdill who saved the day!!! Here's what he told me to do:
Saltwater brine. I used two 18 gallon rubbermaid tubs: one for the brine, one for the rinse bath. I used SIX BOXES of salt to about 3 gallons of water. Enough salt in the water to float an egg (that I had to borrow from my neighbor since I had already boiled my last 4 eggs for breakfast!) I cut the leaves and dunked them down under the water. ANYTHING that was EVER alive became immediately DEAD as soon as it hit that salt water and floated to the top! I did all the collards first as they were hardly bothered by any pests -- it was my mustards that had the aphids. Mustards went in for a dunk and those aphids came right up! Also, three cutworms I had missed -- dead -- immediately!
One important thing I learned about the brine and the mustards -- that much salt will actually begin to "cook" the mustards so the brine bath was a much quicker process for them -- no soaking whatsoever -- mashe 'em down under the water, a quick swish, out, and rinse with a good blast from the garden hose on the undersides of the leaves to knock off the salt and the aphids.
Finally, all leaves dunked into the fresh water bath in the other tub. I mashed all the leaves down to the bottom of the tub and examined the water. Nothing was floating! Tah Dah!
Dinner was a success, and a good time was had by all!
Super news glad ya got help and it turned out great!!!!
Good for you! Glad to hear it worked out and good to share the info. Did you have to run to the store for the 6 boxes of salt?
Wow! that is a lot of salt, but whatever works is the right approach, Congratulations !!!
I would say you worked for your New Year's luck! Of course in the end we all have to work for our money one way or another!
Thus we have the Dead Sea, all salt. Glad it worked for you.
Podster, good for your mom, mowing her own yard. Exercise is the best thing for arthritis. Keeps the joints moving. I have early arthritis in some fingers on both hands. On the cold mornings I wake up, they are stiff and painful. I lay in bed moving them until they loosen a little. Then I go on with my day. Taking care of Maddie makes them warm up quickly. They are still sore and swollen but they are working.
I tried to get mom to use a comp and she would have none of it. She was a career secretary, for the Federal Gov no less. My dad was in on the early development of comps with the Gov. Thats when they took up whole rooms. She still has his second generation comp that has a screen thats about 5 in.
Maddie's lower GI infection is much better and she's drinking from her bottle now. Her pneumonia is still there and she is wheezing. I told the kids to not let the wheezing get much worse. I have had pneumonia twice, 2 yrs of age, and 17 yrs of age. It can go bad fast whether one is on antibiotics or not. But on the whole she is stronger and I thank God for answered prayer.
Mom seems to be doing better. She actually ate a real meal last night and had breakfast this morning. She wants to go home. So I told her when she is stronger and can feed herself she can go home. I have to have motivation to get her to eat and drink.
I'm thinking the little white flowers might be Narcissus too. It's opened to a cluster very pretty white flowers just like the pic above. They look just like Tazetta Narcissus Minor Monarque in the plant Files. They may not be that, but the pic looks just like mine. They are only 8 in tall. In the spring we have tiny little bulbs that put out hundreds of minis that look just like this. I know it's a wildflower. Anybody know what I'm talking about? It puts out one flower. It's probably no more than 5 in tall. My big daffs have many buds coming up.
Wow! What a miserable cold day we are having here in Arlington, 33 degrees and the rain is freezing on the trees, cloudy cold and boring, hurry up Spring!!!
Yes Ma'am! Lower 40°s here and drizzling rain. After Pod and I got back from walking, I built a fire and pulled up a rocker. Started with my cold toes on the hearth and as it got toasty, moved back a bit. It was ideal... I could see both bird feeders from my perch so watched birds, squirrels, read, dozed and tended the flames. The fire is still going but figured I bet get up and do something constructive. I also got to read my new issue of TX Gardener. It had the article about Aggiegirl and the Daves Gardeners to the rescue. Wonderfully written and worth the read bringing tears to my eyes... 8= )
The rain is wonderful but hindering my plans of uprooting a big, bad patch of honeysuckle. At least it is easier to uproot when the soil is soaked. Maybe it will stay moist till next weekend.
It is raining here in Flo (Buffalo). We have really needed the rain, so I do appreciate it. It is not freezing on the trees (yet).
DH had to go out in the weather to take hay out to the pasture for the cows and check on a couple cows due to calve. I bundled him up and sent him out alone. Too cold and wet for sissies!
I think I may have to put a heater in the greenhouse for the first time. The clouds are keeping the sun from warming it up for the colder night. So far I haven't needed to add heat because I have a big greenhouse keeping the wind and cold off of a smaller one and it holds all the most tender plants.
I keep hearing all the people in zone 9 talking about the things they have that are still blooming. I get a little jealous! Nothing blooming here except paperwhites.
Come on spring! I am dreaming of you!!
I really don't mind the cold on the milder of the cold days. I can work outside without getting overheated and I get much more done in that type of weather. I have really gotten a lot done this autumn and winter already. I do love working outside! Now if there was a maid inside doing the floors and the laundry etc. I'd be set. My daughter Shelly has taken on the duty of cooking dinner and doing dinner dishes. She says that is her "rent". It has been delightful having her do the cooking. She even fixes us a light noon meal and calls us inside when it is done. What a treat that has been.
I am thinking of getting ready to do some wintersowing. I have never done that before, but I believe it is something I want to try.
Stay warm and dry all.
Charlene
Podster, I too was thinking I should do something constructive, that is when I came in here to constructively read and post a bit with friends. That is constructive, right?
You bet! I haven't got past the computer but need to go put a load of laundry in the dryer... lol I am fascinated with your greenhouse in a greenhouse. I just think that is a useful idea. Had read you mention it earlier and forgot whose post it was. I will be interested in following your results with it!
I too have dabbled with the idea of wintersowing. Guess I'd best get with it if I'm gonna...
This message was edited Jan 5, 2009 2:26 PM
It isn't all that cold here - about 43° - but it's miserable and feels like about 25°. Cloudy and threatening to rain but hasn't yet. You should see the birds I have on my patio. We have 6 feeders out w/safflower seed in 2, a combo of safflower and sunflower chips & hearts in 2, just sunflower chips and hearts in 1 and black oil sunflower seeds in the last. Every bird in town is here from white wing doves thru Amer. Goldfinches, House Finches, chickadees, sparrows, Cardinals and the occasional squirrel trying to pretend he can get something to eat here. They surely are pretty and give me something to watch when I get the chance. We're having lamb chops and stuff and I want to get up and go in and make popovers to go w/that. I get so hungry when the weather is cold. I should be on a diet since I have gained a few over the holidays. Stay warm all!
Ann
I lucked into finding a huge greenhouse 20' X 60' for $1500 including just the frame, the plastic cover and a shade cloth. It was set up, but had never had the cover on. There had been a death in the family and the frame had set unused for four years. I was driving by on the highway and made DH turn around and go back when I spotted it. It was sitting in overgrown weeds. I knocked on the door and asked about it and the lady still had the plastic and the shade cloth in the boxes. She said she could use the money. I paid two hundred dollars to have it taken down and reset here. It was a great deal.
I already had a quonset hut with tarp that was 10 by 20 feet. It had been used for storage and I didn't need it for that anymore. So, I had it moved inside the big one. Just a crazy idea I had, that is working great. Everything inside it is growing and looking great. Even the tender things I figured would not make it like coleus.
I am thinking though that with two days without sun might be too much on another cold night. I am putting the heater in tonight. I am just going to use a small electric heater. I'll post the results so you will know how it worked out.
I forgot to mention that I removed the tarp from the small frame and just went to Wally-world and purchased the heavy duty opaque plastic to cover it with.
Charlene
This message was edited Jan 5, 2009 2:46 PM
Well, I had planned to go to the city greenhouse and release a little gulf fritillary that eclosed yesterday but with such bad driving conditions I really don't want to go, I guess I will try a little sugar water on a cotton ball and see if she will go for it.
Here she is on my finger, isn't she adorable?
It is not freezing here, but it is staying around 38. The rain off and on with a little breeze makes it seem colder. I am staying in. I put on a jacket and checked it out and ducked right back inside.
This message was edited Jan 5, 2009 2:44 PM
That is a wonderful sight on this cold day! Do you have a set up in the house for the butterflies? It seems way too cold for them to be outside.
Delightful to see a butterfly at this time of year! How fun.
Ann ~ I haven't had popovers in years, they sound wonderful. I find when it is cold I tend to eat more of the wrong foods. I think it is a hibernation instinct! LOL
Again, this thread is getting a bit slow as the cold phone lines shrink and this thread just can't squeeze thru very fast. Would y'all mind toasting your toes over here? Everyone is welcome! http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/940325/