Ornamental Sweet Potatoes

Now that last question is a real challenge to both of us. lol. Might be fun trying. Digger would help us. Then take us fishing.

Bob made chili powder out of some red peppers my sister grew. Seems everyone had a bumper crop of peppers this year. I canned some roasted tomato sauce, and that was pretty good. So, we have been busy.

Sounds like you, Barb, and Connie could all use some warm weather for the winter.

Our weatherman just told us it was suppose to be 50 MPH winds tonight and 19 degrees low for later in the week. 28 tonight. Haven't seen any of that white stuff on the mountain tops yet, but any time now.

Jeanette

Hi; They had some of that four letter word stuff the other side of Nebraska. and the weather man is using that four letter word here for midnight Friday and Saturday. If all he can use is that four letter word, I wish he would shut up. lol
Yeah I think it would be fun to try gardening where you can wear short sleeved shirts all winter. heh heh heh
Russ

Ya'll wouldn't have any trouble gardening down here!!!
In the summer, I wear a lot less than short sleeves. Unemployment means no AC! Everyone asks how I have made it this summer with 100+ days. I have a box fan that I use out in my yard! lol
:~)

Smockette, where did you come from? First time I've seen you on here. I could take some of that 100+ in another month or 2.

Do you get some of those wonderfully ripe tomatoes in the winter?

How do you make a snowman with a carrot nose, coal eyes and mouth???

How does Santa's reindeer pull that sled on housetops with no snow?

what kind of trees to you put lights on? Bet they look funny.

Don't know what we would do without that white stuff at Christmas, do you Russ?

Jeanette

I've been on the Garden since 2001! I still have dialup & I spend a lot of my time outside 'playing' in the dirt! I'm normally over on the Texas Gardening! I'm over there in pix so much right now, I'm almost embarrased!!!! lol
I don't grow maters but a guy (Dynamite Dan) down the road grows them all winter. Anything I grow has to be in my hoop houses (80') or surrounded by chicken wire! I have a busy deer hwy going across my property!
I'm originally fr Ft Worth & yes, I've used the carrot but coal is raw so we just used rocks! We have plenty of those!
Haven't you seen some of those pix of Santa in Florida, in shorts & sandals, well, it is some yrs, the same way here!!!
Funny that you should mention Christmas trees. This yr I'm planning on using a Norfolk pine! How about them apples? lol
Speaking of snow, I have always wanted to go to a ski resort in season. I have no desire to ski! Just sit in front of a big ole fire & sip brandy, & look out those BIG windows at the snow!
If Holly hadn't put up that great pix, I probably wouldn't have stopped by this thread. But I just got 2 colors of OSP @ a swap a couple of wks ago! & need all the help I can get! lol
:~)

Why do you grow in your hoophouse? To cool the plants off? And what do you grow in there?

Ft Worth is in the north isn't it? If I remember correctly, they got snow up there last year??

I thought they put Santa on water skies down there. Don't even know how to spell that.

You just want to be a snow bunny!! Yup, that is what we call snow bunnies.

What OSPs did you get? You mean a tri color? Do you want me to send you some Blackies? I have some I just planted from rooted cuttings I got before the cold hit my mother plant.

Russ, I was going to offer you some starts but I know you would laugh at me. You wouldn't mess with growing them over the winter.

He gets his starts in the spring Smockette. Say Russ, maybe we should have a coop on OSPs in the spring? I don't think so. I would not wrap that many to mail.

Gotta go get my biscuits out of the oven. Biscuits and gravy for dinner.

Dial up??? Oh, you poor thing. I haven't had that for about 8 months. I'm sorry.''

J.

I can't believe it. I have tried to send this twice. Maybe 3rd time will work.

Dial up!! Oh you poor thing. I'm sorry. I was on that until about 8 months ago. I don't know how you stand it. I saw your pictures on the Texsas RU. Russ went to the Iowa RU last year. He couldn't go this year .cause he was kind of under the weather. Or under the jack handle. huh Russ?

What do you grow in your hoophouse? Why do you grow in it, to keep the plants cool? Well, I figure the deer gotta eat too. Fortunately I have 2 dogs so they don't come around.

That's right. I think I saw that Ft Worth got snow last year didn't they? Aren't they in north Tx? No kiddin? Norfolk Pines are pretty. You aren't going to cut it are you? Do you have a place planned to plant it?

Going to a ski resort without skiing, is called a snow bunny. Yup, that is what you would be, a snow bunny.

Do you mean you got a tri color OSP, or 2 plants of different colors? Do you want me to send you some Blackies? I rescued some cuttings that I have rooted from the mother plant before the cold weather hit. I would offer you some Russ, but you would laugh at me. There is no way you would babysit plants over the winter. Let me know Smock.

J.

I'm still on dial up b/c of my location. The Woodlands is across the hwy & they have everything. I am limited on internet, cable, & even phone service. Grrrrrrrrr!!!
I think Russ is who City Sylvia is sending my air potatoes to! She also went to that RU in IA if I don't have them mixed up.
I grow any & everything in the hoop houses. Remember my deer hwy? They eat everything so nothing is safe fr them, not even deer resistant plants!
I've been saying that I am going to sell my Krispy Kremes & SW Airlines stock & invest in chicken wire! Can't tell you how many feet of that I have around 10+ raised beds. Most of them are 4'x8' & one is 4'x16'. The big one was a rose garden until Ike turned off my electricity for 27 days last yr. I think I may have 1 or 2 left. I lost close to 50, 1g & 3g roses. That is enough to make you cry but with no electricity, I couldn't get water out of my well & we had NO rain after he left!
I cover 2 HHs in our winter with plastic b/c I have a lot of subtropicals & tropicals & it does get below 50-60s alot! The 3rd one has silver leaf maples, golden rain trees, & soon, red Jap Maples. This will be my supplemental to my SS in a couple of yrs, if I protect them fr the deer. They have already consumed my first 300 SLM! That was 2yrs of work down the drain! I also have redbuds, Drummond maples & some more trees I can't think of right now.
I found out the my next door neighbors have deer feeders on their property. So now I know! The deer have regular meals next door & come to my house for desert!!!
Can't afford to fence 2 acres to keep a dog! & there are too many already running loose now! Someone would think we are out in the country! lol
Yea, FtW is considered N Tx & it does snow a couple times a yr. Nothing compared to yours but some. They actually have more ice than snow!
I have done taxes for friends for over 10 yrs. Well, one family has 2 Norfolk pines that they bought several yrs ago. Now, they are about 6' tall & don't fit in the spaces where they were intended. So, give it to Smockette. She's got plenty of room for trees. No, I would never cut one. They don't grow here normally & I would never cut one of those beautiful things. They also have two Sagos that have out grown their small front porch. Guess they are coming to my house also.
I am so cold natured that if I lived up north, I would have to work fr home! lol I said if I ever had to go back to the Philippines, I was taking my electric blanket! & that is tropics! lol
Well, I had never heard the definition of snow bunnies. We just have snow birds down here! lol
I got the lime green & a burgundy OSPs. Sure, I'll take any blackies. I can send you postage or send you something you would like in the spring.
LMK

The blackies are oak leaf shaped. Not sure what the burgundy is that you are talking about. Is it the same as the blackies, or are the leaves heart or spade shaped? No postage needed. Heaven knows people have sent me plenty. I will need your address.

Have you tried the plastic netting? Even the birds and squirrels are afraid of it. They don't want to get their feet tangled in it. That is what my sister uses and it works. But she doesn't try to fence out the amount you are talking about. I don't know if it would cost more than the chicken wire or not. Hers is at least 6 feet tall but probably more.

What are air potatoes? And why is she sending them to someone else?

What are your hoophouses made of? I used cattle panels and sure like them. I just put strawbales in them and plant my tomatoes in them. I cover them in the spring so I can get the tomatoes going early.

I have the same problem you do with the power company covering the rest of the county with the dsl computer lines except my area. Bet they are on my bill tho. I solved the problem
somewhat by getting Wild Blue from Direct TV. Satellite. It is much faster than dial up and according to my sister who has dsl, it sounds like my Wild Blue is faster than her dsl.

Let me know if the Burgundy ans Blackie OSPs are not the same and I will send you some.

Jeanette;
The air potatoes definitely won't grow where you are.
They are a large heart shaped leaf on a vine that climbs trees, and probably choke them out. They don't even like to grow here. lol
I did get a longer vine, from this years attempt, by putting them in a container.
I tried some in the sun. their leaves were smaller and the vines were shorter.

When Sylvia came to the IA RU, she told Barb and I what they were and I thought I would try to see what they would do here.

Smockette; I wouldn't mind being called a snow bird, as I would like to be where it is not as cold as is here in winter. However SS don't go far enough, so I only get as far as , like a puppy dog on a chain, as far as it will let me. lol
I dug up the rest of my sweet potatoes and the OSPs last night. I did get some small tubers from the OSPs. If I'm careful they should store OK.
I am going to try growing one osp, inside this winter, I think. Those darn fungus gnats seem to like sweet potato vines though and I haven't been able to control them.
I do set a trap for them, that seems to work" a small dish of cider vinegar with a couple drops of Dawn dish detergent. The vinegar attracts them the detergent don't let them float on the surface. They sink and swim like a rock. I haven't tried to treat the plants and or potting soil with any kind of spray, so I'm open for suggestion there.

Jeanette; biscuits and gravy is what we made last night " COMFORT FOOD".

Well we got a skiff of snow last night. just enough to make the car white. The temp dropped to 26 this morning but I'm still looking for a little more fairly warm days yet.

Well my coffee is ready, so time for breakfast, LOL
Russ

No Russ, Smockette wants to be a snow BUNNY. Sit around a ski resort looking out at the stuff but not ski.

The biggest problem with OSPs in the house is mites. The spider kind. Have you tried Al Tapia's concoction Russ? It works pretty good. I will send it. Also, if you want to try to hold them over, I will send you a couple starts of the Blackies.

It was 21 when I got up this morning. No snow yet, but it has never reached this low this early since we have been here. 14 years.

Smock, you know fightin' those deer will make an old person of you real fast. There are more of them than there are of you. When do you retire? Sounds like you either better do that and take care of your trees, nursery stock, or hold off growin' until you do.

Gotta go get another cup of coffee. B&G sure are comforting Russ.

There is a lady in Cedar Rapids Iowa, who had to put up a deer fence. " A tall chain link fence".
Right in town, they had eaten all the lower branches of some of her trees.
Of course the flowers were fair game too. Her lot is fairly large too, so I know it was quite an expense. But then it also helped to keep some people from lifting some of her concrete statues. I would guess in a case like that it was a worthy expenditure.
Jeanette; I did bring in one vine, the leaves all blackened by the frost. The vine it's self will probably survive, if I get it in some potting soil today yet.
But I wouldn't turn down a good start. I don't think it will be too good for sending tender plants for a while now though. Another week and it may be ok. I will look up Al Tapia's concoction, see if I can duplicate it.

Smockette; You will have to learn to fight back. especially if Jeanette & I both get to ribbing you. lol

Our little skiff snow has all disappeared now and you know I ain't complaining one bit.
Russ

Yes, wouldn't you know that the temp out there is up to 38 now. Up from 21. I had Bob go start the wood furnace. The electric just can't seem to warm this place up. But, once the wood gets it there it can hold it. Especially once it starts warming up outside. Bob was laid up several months with a bad hip so didn't get any extra wood in this summer. He went in and the radiologist gave him a shot of cortisone and I have never seen anything work so fast. He came out dancing and hasn't stopped.

Hopefully our coldsnaps will come to an end here pretty soon and I will try to get some of those Blackies out. Right now they would freeze. I don't trust those postal trucks etc.

Also, I brought in the planter with the mother plant in it and yes, it got hit too, but still might be able to get a few more plants off of it. Might even find some taters in there????

Yeah, it might be difficult lifting concrete statues over TALL chainlink fence Russ. Does she sell them, or just buy them and show them off?

Well, got vegetables cut up in the frige to pickle.

She don't sell them, they were some she had bought.
I just sit down for a minute, to rest my back. Then Connie called, " Dad how did you can those pears"? lol I had given her some canning pears, they stay rock hard until they are cooked during canning.
So I explained that and set back to my resting. Which is where I am now.
I'm Making pear butter as well as some pear jelly. As I had picked some eating pears, like Bartlet or one of those that are soft when ripe. and of course, we aren't eating them fast enough. So turn them into jelly, lol

Yeah I have 2 large zip lock bags of watermelon rind all cut up and soaking in salt water. They will be ready to cook up tonight, but I think I will let them soak another day. It won't hurt them.
After I get this batch of jelly done, I think I will be ready for a nap. Yesterday I run another wire for Gary as he was forever popping circuit breakers. Whoever wired it for him just didn't know his wire capacities for carrying current.

I'll just say I slept good last night. lol

Speaking of Gary Russ, did he do his share of the weeding this summer What about tending the goats? How are they doing? Do they have to be milked? Did you have enough tomatoes to share with the old people?

How is your minister? What was the deal with him? Can't remember.

Jeanette

Our minister had surgery on his right arm, shoulder area. A day after surgery, he felt better. He has no more pain, so that is great, especially since he drives truck for a foundry and farms besides.
Now since I'm not sure which minister we are thinking of for sure, I am also friends with another minister. He gave a sermon " fire & brimstone type".
Several of the congregation got up and walked out. The church board had a meeting. There were more members attended the meeting than ever show up in church.
He was a wee bit nervous the night of the meeting, which was also a night that he was teaching a conformation class, 1 or two of the boys like to get off the subject and cause a disruption. He thought perhaps it might be best to have some moral support as he might not keep his " cool " as the outcome of the the meeting, was weighing on his mind. Barb and I set in on the class, They behaved just like their parents were there.
Well, The board thinks he needs to go to counseling. " I figure he must have stepped on some toes that needed stepping on." Oh well ! This World of Liberalism.

Gary was very lax, however he does have to take care of their, now 3 year old daughter. It would be a little difficult to get her strapped in for a two or three block drive but that don't get the weeds pulled. But I will be in better shape by next spring an should be able to lay down news paper and weed barrier, to control the weeds. I also have a few bales already, so I can at least have tomatoes and maybe cucumbers in bales. But sweet potatoes need to be in the ground. lol

We sold all the goats except my three little ones. We will make room in the freezer for the one and keep the 2 little females for keeping the back yard free of weeds and so I don't have to mow as much.
I could have milked them but I just let them go natural and do their own weening. I really wasn't in good enough shape to tackle another chore.
The adults are still here as the guy who bought them was hoping to get more use of the grass from the pasture next to our property. We were running the goats in there as he was his sheep. He took the triplets home and put two billies in with the 4 nannies. I am fairly sure that the first born of the females, will be a mommy next spring as well. It may have been a little early, but Oh Well.

Next spring I will only plan on gardening for two and maybe a few extra tomatoes, for the lady down at the corner but that will be about it. I will however put in some watermelons where we had all that corn. I had pretty good luck with the one kind of W/M And they are really good tasting. They were the Moon & Stars, they were bigger than I would like and make several servings but they do keep well in the fridge in the garage until we eat it all. plus the rind is nice and thick and makes great watermelon rind pickles, so they are also going to make great Christmas gifts of W/M pickles for our girls families. I am also canning other things for them as well. And that will be our Christmas shopping.
Russ

We made it home tonight, It was already dark outside so I haven't had a good look around to see how things did while I was gone. What I could see looked good but there are "a lot" of house plants to bring inside.
To take cuttings or not seems to be my big issue right now. I have so many house plants that bringing in coleus and OSP cuttings seems to be too much. Especially after last year I just had too many plants to over winter, too crowded and a lot of insect issues. Spidermites, aphids and scale, Oh My!
I am hoping to get a better handle on treating them on a more regular basis all winter long and maybe that will work. I didn't do well with my cuttings or potatoes last year but I did manage to save enough for my yard and a few for the swap, not anything near what I usually have. Hopefully I will have a nice crop of potatoes to save and cuttings to share next spring.
Russ, I hope you are doing better. Ric and I use to raise goats years ago they were a lot of fun to watch play in the pasture and I didn't even mind the milking. Sometimes I just wonder at all the things I did when I was younger and I think "How did you do that all?" Now my children are all grown most of the animals are gone and we are retired and I don't do half as much as I use too. LOL
We are pretty lucky as we live out in the country with woodland behind our house and plenty of deer but they don't seem to bother the garden much. A couple of winters ago they were cleaning out my bird feeders so I broke down and put out a feeder for them but as soon as the woods greened up they were gone. We had a small heard of 8-12 that came in most nights. A few summers before that they were coming in to drink at the watering tub I still had at the edge of the yard. It was a pretty dry year and even then they didn't bother the gardens.

Sorry about getting so far off subject Holly. Sometimes we all get a little carried away and I'm guilty of that.
I left my coleus outside last year. They evidently re-seeded themselves as they came back and filled the pot.
Right now I have a mess in the kitchen. That's where I just dumped all of what I brought in. The osps, begonias & all. Plus I'm canning and making jellies and jams.
Barb hasn't said anything but I'm doing 90% of the cooking. I'm afraid it won't take long though, so I have that mess to clean up and put the roots and such up stairs in our storage room. lol
We have had nearly a week of temps dropping down to or just below freezing, so all tender plants are done being outside.
Russ

14 when I got up this morning Russ. LOL, Russ, you've been peeking in my kitchen haven't you? I have a long planter on a short stool in here getting shoved back and forth depending on what drawer I need to get into. Then I have a cart on wheels that I have all my osps etc. on. In the middle of that are my jars of canned pickled vegetables looking prettier than the plants right now. However, Bob does a lot of the cooking and canning, just not the plants.

Any day now I am going to have to move the planter with the geraniums., mother osps, and that other thing that is still blooming even tho it got hit too. Very pretty tho, wish I had a place to put it before Bob puts his size 12 foot down. (or in the middle of it).

Wandering subjects don't bother me in the least Russ. One comment leads to another and sometimes into a different and interesting discussion. My OSP are looking a bit worst for wear not sure if they didn't get watered as well as they should or if it is the colder weather. I have been babysitting my Grands today so I haven't had much of a chance to do much outside today. Hope the weather holds so I can dig in tomorrow. I have plants to plant and plants to un-plant. LOL

I'm sorry HollyAnn, Russ and I do seem to get off topic. More often than not. LOL

Jeanette

Well I put the osp tubers upstairs. Stuck some of the not too good looking vines in pots. I don't hold much hope for those vines but gonna give them a chance.
Then I guess I probably done one of your tricks. Yup pealed quartered cored and so on and put up 15 jars of pears. They are on the stair steps waiting till I feel like going upstairs. They sure look better in jars than in the buckets on the kitchen floor. Then I picked all the apples left on the tree. They have taken the spot where the pears were. Can't start on them yet as I have another step to do on my watermelon pickles. even though I'm short the clove oil, I can put that in in the last step before putting them in jars.
Got 2 bushels of apples, so you know tomorrow I will make an apple crisp. Mmmm
Mmmmm. Not too good for our blood sugar but a nice reward.
Oh the begonias started blooming just before the 2nd frost. They got nipped a bit but I brought them in, to watch the blooms for a day or two. Then I think I'll put them to rest.
I'm getting tired just thinking of what I got done. Ha.
Russ

Lol, but don't you feel better having done it Russ? Cut thoses aapples in quarters, throw them in a roaster in the oven and let them cook down. Put them thru a food mill and season them and then back into the oven to reduce down to apple butter. Makes wonderful bread for French toast. Butter and syrup on it on a cold winter morning can't be beat. A little orange flavoring in the egg mix you dip it in really finishes it off. But that will get rid of those apples.

The begonias and osp tubers will be just fine.

Jeanette

I get out of the Garden for 3 days & ya'll just get so industriest! I'm just amazed @ all ya'll do up there to make it thru the winter with your plants.
Since I put most 'tender' plants in the HHs, I don't bring much in. I have 3 Fairy Dusters(Calliandra emarginata) that are about 4' tall that I bring in every yr. I also have 6 ponytail palms that I bring in & that is it! I also have a 20+ yr old PT that is a good 10-12' tall. Can't move that thing so if it is going to get too cold, I just threw a sheet over it & pray it makes it.
Going to try & propagate the FDs this yr since they die back in the winter even in the house. Never tried b4 but hope I can make them grow.
J, my addy in the Address Exchange. (Home, Extras, Address Exchange)
Got to go do some wash, outside. My washer started leaking so I moved it out under the carport, to leak in the yard! lol I'll get back & answer your ?? later.
:~)

Smock, what are FDs?

I pro bably asked you before but don't remember, do you heat hour hhs? The biggest problem with dragging them in and out of the house besides the darned bugs, is acclimate them to the heat. That is when I lose most of mine. Then of course, there is the spider mites. I spray with Al's mixture about once a week or 10 days. If I remember to do that, I am usually ok. But, that is on very small plants like the osps.

The brugs I move into the pantry where the temps stay pretty constant right around 50 degrees so the bugs don't proliferate too badly and the plants don't grow either. They go dormant.

Now Smock, I can't see how you think we do any more, or as much as, you do for our plants in the winter. Ours are just smaller. There is no way I would do all you are talking about. Maybe 10 or 20 years ago, but not now. Enjoy it while you can.

J

BTW, It is too cold right now to try to mail anything. 14 this a.m. So, hopefully it will warm up again before it sets in for the winter. I should know better than to make promises, but I sure will try.

Yep too d_ _ _ n cold, Don't think we need to be in a hurry to ship any tender plants. Don't need to kill half of what is shipped.
!0 to 20 years ago would be about right for getting more done. Tomorrow didn't sound too good, so went to town today got a few supplies. Went ahead and finished the W/M pickles. Just 9 pints. Didn't get to the apples but made some chicken and noodles for supper. Will tackle part of the apples tomorrow. At least the apple crisp. Yes I agree on apple butter. I think about a third, then apple sauce & the rest pealed cored and quartered, in lite syrup for pies and such and more crisps.
I didn't have enough tomatoes to can, so I have plenty of jars to finish up the apples. I am thinking I will pick some more pears, so I can have plenty for more Christmas gifts.
I tried brugs, They survived a couple years for me but the leaves kept falling off. So I offered them to a more determined and energetic gardener at the RU.
They are doing just fine for her. Must be the feminine touch, my green thumb just wasn't enough.
R

You've got to keep after the mites and aphids on brugs. I mean REALLY KEEP AFTER them. All your apple plans sound good Russ. Are you feeling better now, or just feel you have to get this done because now is when the produce is there at its prime?

I didn't have many tomatoes either Russ. Everyone says they had bumper crops of peppers, all kinds, this year so wouldn't you know I only planted 2 pepper plants. And Bob picked all the peppers when they were too small. He didn't think they were going to get any bigger. Cripes. So, needless to say this was not my year.

Wonder if my tomato problem was the hay bales I had. First time I have tried hay instead of straw and they did not do good. Well, it is suppose to warm up this week so maybe I can get outside and get things finished up.

I don't think it had anything to do with weather you used hay or straw this year.
This year there were a lot of " micro " good areas but mostly not. but my problem probably had more to do with me not being able to get out and keep the weeds down, and the fact that I didn't get any bales. I am vowing to be sure and get weed control down where it is needed for the root crops. and to try get at least a few bales, ready.
I am feeling considerably better, not 100% but enough, that if I take my time and don't try do it all in one day. I can handle it. but it is also a case of if I don't get it done, we would have to buy some of what I am putting up for winter. I can't deny though that I do enjoy making jelly for Christmas gifts.
Like you said too, the jars of canned pears, jelly, apples and watermelon pickles all setting on a shelf look just as great as all your plants in bloom.
I feel kind of bad that I didn't have any peppers survive. I do however have some still frozen from last year. Not as good as fresh like for salads and such but at least they still work for stews and flavoring meat loaf. I need to use them up too. Next year, Right????
R

Lol Russ, you had an excuse. I was maybe looking for an excuse, but I still don't have a clue. I had my first tomato, a huge one my sister gave me, on the 4th of July which was at least 2 months early for me. But that plant didn't get another tomato on it until it was too late to ripen before freezing. The rest produced so so at the time they would normally.

You did good Russ, getting as much as you did. You are lucky to be around you know. You should be counting your lucky stars. As they used to say. Yeah, next year, and don't do anything stupid.

J.

Jeanette; You know I'm smiling an it ain't the stars I'm thanking. I'm thanking the one who gave us the stars an set them in place. There is no question in my mind.
That afternoon, it just happened that there were all 3 EMTs there in town. And at Moville, there were 3 to man the ambulance. One was even off duty. Normally there is only one on duty at either place. The brain surgeon had just finished another surgery, that had been an emergency as well, otherwise he would have been off and some where else. Yes they could be coincidental incidents, maybe? But then the driver was some one that Barb had known at work a number of years earlier. He was off duty and just stopped by for whatever reason. He was able to keep her calm, which helped me to think calm and stay focused. Not quite as notable as the parting of the red sea but - - - -.
I am very thankful.
R

Well this winter when you are sitting there wishing winter would hurry up and get over, just think of it as the time set aside for you to finish healing.

The weather is finally warming up around here so I am going to try to get some Blackie starts out to you and Smockette. They aren't all that big since they are just starts, so I should be able to get just a couple in the small flat priority boxes. Or, can you think of a better way to send them?

I have sent Sweet potato slips in the brown envelopes that have the bubble type insulation in them with a piece of wet paper towel. I think Holly has used the moisture crystals, which I think worked very well. When I used a small box I used a Ziploc bag mostly to keep the kinds separated but also to hold some moisture.
S/P vines are pretty tough unless they freeze or get dried out.
I think the envelopes Were about the most economical.

Jeanette; Were you saying to make a bread from the apple butter and dip it in egg for french toast?? Or to use the apple butter on the french toast?? LOL
R

This message was edited Oct 16, 2009 5:32 PM

No, you put apple butter in the bread when you make it. Then use it to make french toast the normal way you would regular bread. Assuming you dip in egg and fry. You will find by putting apple butter in the bread that it keeps it fresh and moist. Not a preservative, but doesn't let the bread dry out.

Would you like the recipe for it? Do you use a bread maker? That is what my recipe is for.

That sounds wonderful about sending the sps in bubble envelopes. Much easier and cheaper. Now I just have to get the envelopes, no easy feat out here in the sticks, before it turns cold again. Would you believe 67 degrees tomorrow after we had 14 last week?

Sure I'm always game for another recipe.
We were given a bread maker but I still prefer mix,kneed, rise, kneed,rise again, kneed, make loaves and let rise and bake. I can use the bread maker though. The last time I used it, the crust was a little thick but edible.
I think I have a recipe for apple sauce bread. it isn't for a bread maker though.
That has to be a little different I'm sure.
I also have the friendship bread, in a Ziploc bag in it's 6Th. day, so I will need to put the rest of the ingredients in, divide it and bake a couple loaves. That isn't what I normally use but it is a nice treat too.
Connie gave it to me to try after we sent all the jars of watermelon pickles and jelly and a bunch of pears, to take up to her friend. Actually I think she had extra and was needing to pass some along. lol

I have mixed apple sauce in with the egg and milk. Even nutmeg or vanilla.
Barb don't always know what flavor to expect. lol

The weatherman says it is supposed to be a little nicer this weekend here too.
Oh I have also just used the small Manila envelopes with a little padding like 3 thickness of paper towel. I don't know if that would be enough insulation if it got cold but it has worked, like in May and June.

That is nice if you have all the time. But, in the winter you probably do. You probably have the breadmaker set wrong. The recipe is for a breadmaker but I am sure you can adjust it for making it by hand.

LOL, You will run out of friends to send that friendship bread to. Pretty soon they will be running when they see you coming. I even got to the point where I tried to cut it down so it only made one loaf. Then I tried stretching the days out.

The applesauce is a little thinner than the butter but what I liked about the butter was the spices and the stronger flavor than the applesauce.

You watch out, it is winter and eating all that friendship bread you will start putting on weight
'cause you aren't working outside to work it off.

Been there done that.

So, what is your weather going to be for the next 2 weeks? The temps??

Hey guys - I use my breadmaker for all the mixing and kneading and the first rise. Then I take it out and place in a bread pan or just on a cookie sheet for the last rise and baking. I like it much better than baking in the machine.

I do that with my french bread and it does turn out better for that. Mine doesn't hold it's shape very good tho. I am wondering if I am not using enough flour. Seems to flatten out some. I bought one of those pans that are joined together, one for french bread and the other for a baggett. That seems to work better.

What do you think my problem is? I scatter corn meal on the cookie sheet first. I spray it with cooking oil and then the cm.

Jeanette

I'm off this thread for a few days & ya'll just go crazy!!! I feel like I haven't talked to ya'll in a month!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want any and all recipes. I'll send you another DGer's recipe for Sopapilla Cheesecake!!!!!!!!!!!! It is an absolute hit & fastly b/cing a Texas native!!!!!!!!!!! lol
If you send me some of your Blackies, please include a pinch or 2, of your friendship bread! Please, please, please!!!!!!!!! Back up! Rand has the Friendship bread. Hey, I'll send you Air Potatoes for a swap of your Friendship bread!!!
Jnette, can you share your French bread recipe with me? I will go buy a bread maker if I have to!!!!!!!!!!! Please?
I had a SJHR funeral in Hou, Friday. The widow insisted I come to the house after the cemetary! She wouldn't let me leave until midnite Friday nite. & yesterday I had to drive 25 miles to the new truck stop to meet up w/Smock & go to Jaxsonville, Tx, not FL!!!!! Dave & Trish, & family were there!!!
I got so many new plants!!! Didn't ask for any of them!!! We have a sidewalk leading to the pavillion & you just put what you don't want to take home with you & some one picks them up & ALL the leftovers got put in the back of Smock's truck!!!
I told Frostweed to have her DH, Frank to take them to the truck b/c if I took anymore, Smock would have told me, it was me or the plants!!! LOL
Time out to fill my holler!

A person could probably just bake the extra and give the loaf to friends and keep the friends longer. lol
That might be a recipe that one could sub pear butter too.
After last night, I have about a dozen pints of p/b.
It got late on me and I had to keep stirring it to keep it from scorching. I was doing it in a kettle on the stove top and trying to hurry it along. However the taste, tells me it was worth it. I used orange zest and the juice from one orange in this recipe.
I had almost a gallon of puree to start with.
Today was a lot of R & R!. I am going to make more, for Christmas gifts.
So far I have wild plum, prickly pear, pear jelly, pear butter, apple butter, apple jelly
and watermelon pickles for their individual gift boxes. I plan to top that off with home made fantasy fudge. That's a lot of sweets but the great grand kids won't eat it all in one day and it won't be some that gets broken two minutes after the package is opened. lol
Temp. wise, I think we are okay at least for a week and 1/2. There is a lot of rain in the forecast, which won't be appreciated by the farmers, especially those on the flat land of the old river bottom.
I think we will be safe on the s/p slips.

Azalea, That don't sound like a bad idea, especially if I don't get the settings down pat. I think I need to use it a little more often, that may help. lol
Russ

Smockette; I will see if I can get that off to you Mon or Tue.
Let me git this straight now, is this Smockette or Sylvia on Smockette's computer. ??????