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Post by stratcat on Sept 18, 2011 12:00:15 GMT -5
Me-I've been tending ~19O tomatoes, 6O peppers, loads of flowers and more stuff at two places. I also have tomatoes at my Friend-girl's garden I had to pick when we had the Freeze Warning the other night. I'm still waiting for certain tomatoes to ripen so I can see what they look like and get a taste. I've sure carried tons of water to my plants and they're not done. In the middle of seed saving for tomatoes, peppers and some flowers. Mom's lawn and mine sorely need mowing, so I think I'll be pushing that thing this week. Running late starting projects on Mom's house and mine. We're slated to put in flooring in Mom's foyer, dining room, kitchen and hall while she's on vacation. Then install a new dishwasher. We're really late on this. Time to cut my nails and practice more than usual on electric guitar. Thursday morning, our group, Blue Coyote, is playing at a Senior High-Rise 30 minutes to the west. Instead of Meals On Wheels, they get Guitars On Wheels. Then they eat. My brother and I play mostly guitar and we're using our drummer playing with brushes. My brother sings and we also play instrumentals. Last October, we had a couple over 90-year olds dressed up for the Halloween Party when we played at this site! We have three meal sites we play in his county. It's 1p, and I've to get outside in this sunny, warm weather. Time to carry loads of containers with tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and the strawberry planter back out in the sun. Have containers in Mom's porch and up on my outdoor porch. My back is older than my front... I haven't been laying around working on my bed sores. What's been keeping you active?
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Post by w8in4dave on Sept 18, 2011 21:14:18 GMT -5
Ohhh I just had my Daughters wedding last weekend, then during the week I have been canning everything (It seems) and then I had 2 of my grand kids lastnight, went to my other grandsons birthday today.. whew!! I am so tired and I have a ton of dishes to do and I just don't feel like doing them tonight!!
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Post by w8in4dave on Sept 19, 2011 18:09:57 GMT -5
What am I up to?? Well my dog is bugging me because he want's his treat!! He wants it now!! It is 7 pm darn it and he is slapping my arm ... he is tettering on the arm of the chair hitting me. I tell him no and he stops but he is not getting off the chair.. even if I push him off he jumps back on. I know I can be mean and make him stay off, but as soon as he stops hitting me I may decide to get up and get his treat!! Any hoo thats what I am doing!! Teaching my dog a lesson!!
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Post by coppice on Oct 5, 2011 23:35:17 GMT -5
The last two apple pies will just have'ta wait for tomorrow. In the freezer are five apple pies, an apple tart, a peach pie, a concord grape pie, and an key lime.
The baker has left the building...
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Post by nofeargardener on Oct 7, 2011 13:28:41 GMT -5
making a green tomato salsa this afternoon. Lot's of hot peppers. Hoping to can a bunch! yum
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desertrat
Pro Member
Posts: 143
Joined: October 2011
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Post by desertrat on Oct 14, 2011 14:39:01 GMT -5
Fighting whiteflys and cabbage loopers and 100 deg heat. Got a mess of okra needs pickling, maybe get that done today after I finish some much needed repotting. If it ever cools off I'm going to plant my fall garden!
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Post by stratcat on Oct 14, 2011 19:53:15 GMT -5
Hi there, Desertrat. Welcome to NJT! Where are you growing with 1OO degree temps? Yikes!!!
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Post by stratcat on Nov 5, 2011 23:56:49 GMT -5
It's after midnight and I'm seeding another tomato! My seed saving should be almost done for this year. Crossing my fingers...
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2011 9:50:25 GMT -5
Picked off half of the tomatoes that aren't ripe yet, covered the plant for 2 nites in a row. Eggplant and beans are done, pulling them up, along with spent zinnias. Gonna treat the soil in one garden bed for 'bugs', and put the cover on until Feb!
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Post by stratcat on Nov 30, 2011 23:40:16 GMT -5
Today we warmed up to around 41F(5C). Last night's 1st snow that stuck was melting a bit so I got outside. In my cottage garden out front, I heeled in 24 Alpine strawberries that I started from seed. Five of those stayed in their pots and the rest came out of their cups and the 3-tier strawberry planter for the winter. I also heeled in 12 pots that have various herbs and prairie grasses. Got some good walking in today; a little over three miles (5km). Heard Canadian geese over the neighborhood around dark. I still have to pull a few tomato plants/stakes/cages and put away my 1OO' (30.48m) garden hose for the winter. And more outdoor work at Mom's, too.
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Post by stratcat on Dec 1, 2011 1:18:10 GMT -5
At 12:30a, I found one of my interesting tomatoes ripe, so I seeded it for fermenting. I'm hoping I'm done seeding for 2011. Now, on to taking the dried seeds off the plates and putting into their envelopes. Soon...
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Post by stratcat on Dec 4, 2011 20:00:20 GMT -5
Just spent hours cleaning dried seeds from 76 paper plates and putting them in their coin envelopes. Two plates were peppers with the rest being tomatoes. I listened to the first five Beatle albums to get me going. ;D
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Post by stratcat on Dec 6, 2011 2:04:09 GMT -5
Tonight at 1.30a, I've just finished cleaning two lines of fermented tomato seeds. They're on their labeled paper plates drying. I hope I'm done seed saving for the year, tho' tonight when I was going through my tomatoes I saw one I think I need to seed. The fruit fly farm arrived late this year. December instead of September or later. They're swarming! ;D Late this afternoon, I went out to mow at Mom's and the starter cord broke on the push mower. That took me over an hour to get the mower fixed. Since it gets dark so early, I was out a bit after dark pushing that thing. Now, it's time for some guitar before I hit the sack.
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Post by paulf on Dec 6, 2011 9:41:41 GMT -5
Today I am putting the finishing touches on a presentation scheduled for Feb. on seed starting. A local community college has asked me for several years to do this and I finally gave in. This is part of the adult education programs many CCs provide for local areas. It will be hands-on for vegetables and flowers, both annuals and perennials. The focus will be on tomatoes and peppers since those are easier to use and demonstrate. There will be seedlings in all stages of growth, so I need to get started growing things now to be ready in mid-Feb.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2011 13:45:00 GMT -5
I'm trying to decide what to plant next year. We're going small next year because we've got to get our dirt in shape so we're going to just grow a few things in pots. So I have to figure out what's most important to me so I can figure out how many pots I need to find. :/ I'm also trying to get a new book started. I finally typed 'The End' on the last one I was working on so now I need to start a new one. All that in between being a wife, mom, and secretary. A woman's work is never done...
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Post by stratcat on Dec 7, 2011 0:27:37 GMT -5
Tuesday was more of the same working at Mom's. I pushed the mower blowing the leaves around and I emptied and turned over one rain barrel. I still have one rain barrel to bail out by hand.
I climbed on her roof and cleaned the oak leaves from the gutters. They were overflowing!
In town, I managed to get a couple miles of walking in. Got to keep movin'...
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Post by stratcat on Dec 8, 2011 21:47:52 GMT -5
Today I put my 1OO foot garden hose in the garage and cleaned in front of the garage door.
At Mom's I broke the ice in the rain barrel and dipped all the water out. Briefly climbed on the roof and adjusted the gutter over the bay window.
Walked two miles today. Great to be outside even for short periods.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2011 10:06:22 GMT -5
This past week I have pulled every dead zinnia, pulled up the peppers, eggplant, and working on getting the tomatoes out of their pot. Fertilized the cabbage and broccoli, and pulled up the dead beans. Waiting on Feb so I can start all over!
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krikit
Pro Member
Posts: 163
Joined: December 2011
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Post by krikit on Dec 15, 2011 15:23:19 GMT -5
This past year I got into my boxes & pulled out all the loose recipes I had. I got binders & put the recipes onto the lined paper with scotch tape & now when I want a recipe for soups or chicken or salads then I can just go to the appropriate binders. I've printed off many recipes online & even tore up old recipe books (the small ones) & pasted the recipes I was interested to keep in these binders. I now have 4 binders & use them regularly. This was a great project I got into & it's ongoing - still go there before any of my cookbooks for recipe ideas & wow - some great meals!
Right now I just wrapped up a novel, have a chapter towards a new story & who knows where it'll take me. I'm a 'hobby' writer - I write to tell a story & because there's something deep inside that calls me to create - I'm not a commercial writer & find some of the pitfalls with publishing to be a deterrent, plus I've been so busy writing I haven't had time to do much else but write. Should I come across some funds then I may self publish so I don't have to play the publishing game ... but until then, like doing pottery & painting - I just let fly with the fingers over the keyboard & create.
Oh yeh, it's a great way to go through your day - having adventures & experiencing so much through the world of the imagination - without having to leave that computer desk!
Thanks to DayLily for the invite - a nice forum!
Wishing everyone a wonderful & joy-filled, safe holiday season (esp. if travelling). May 2012 be a great year for you all!
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Post by stratcat on Dec 16, 2011 23:42:23 GMT -5
I'm still moving around. Monday night I was out for a walk after 7p and we had a blackout. When I got back to my crib it was time for a shower. I got out the Ryobi light from my battery-powered tools to shower by. Then I bopped out to Mom's and practiced guitar in the dark. Power came on after 9p. Lots of guitar work for the last six weeks. Thursday morning our three-piece group played at another Senior Citizen meal site a half-hour to the west. Mom came along and tapped her foot. Nelson, the 91 1/2 year-old, was there with his girlfriend. There's hope! He has a beard, too. We played well and the meal was good. Next Thursday morning we have another gig for the Seniors at another site out there. Christmas songs are not my forte!
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Post by stratcat on Dec 17, 2011 0:42:46 GMT -5
Hi there, Krikit! Welcome to NJT!
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krikit
Pro Member
Posts: 163
Joined: December 2011
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Post by krikit on Dec 17, 2011 15:15:04 GMT -5
Thanks Stratcat!
Just beginning to save seeds - which it's still legal to do so - & hope to get a plot of land where I can finally have something more than a balcony garden. I grow my own sprouts by the window. I've so much to learn & figure that there's a couple good forums that I can learn a great deal from (or ask questions) with respect to gardening.
Topic is: What are you up to?
Did some volunteer work this morning & after lunch will likely tackle working on the novel I just begun. I'm done with decorating & cards are mailed & now it's just a matter of waiting for Christmas to come then be behind me for another year. Really cut back on decorating this year & being in a new apt. has offered me a chance to do a different kind of decorating. No family & friends are all busy so it'll be a quiet time for me & Jess - that's good - quiet is good & it's a No Stress holiday time - works for me! What about everyone else? Is everyone ready for the holidays??
Wishing you a fun weekend & good week ahead - not too many more sleeps before the big HO HO HO happens.
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Post by stratcat on May 21, 2013 1:05:08 GMT -5
Got the phone line fixed today after two weeks of barely internet service. It's still slow as usual, but it connects and stays connected!
I've been playing tons of guitar and my hands are sore. They'll be even more sore as I get them into the soil...
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2013 11:01:25 GMT -5
After a cool spring, it has turned into summer. 93 degree days-tomatoes & hot peppers being picked-bell pepper ready soon and the durn cucumbers are s l o w w w . flowers are blooming!
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Post by stratcat on Nov 26, 2013 16:30:39 GMT -5
Running a little behind, as usual. Last month, I spent many days over four weeks helping my friend hang vinyl siding on the 32' x 42' pole barn we built in Oct-Dec, 2011. It was my bright idea to build the thing instead of just adding another lean-to to the shed. You know, while we're still young... Here's what the pole barn looks like sided w/a shutter in front. From 3O October, 2013, when we finished. If you look closely on the right, you can see a urinator near the corn field.
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Post by izitmidnight on Nov 26, 2013 22:11:19 GMT -5
Ooh! I'd love to have that she'd! It looks fantastic.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Nov 27, 2013 11:20:02 GMT -5
I'd love to have the space for that shed! And the shed, too. Great job, Strat!
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Post by stratcat on Nov 27, 2013 13:41:37 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm sure I could give it my best to fill a barn like that! The original shed in that location had the lean-to taken off, the shingles removed carefully to reuse and the shed skidded over way behind the house and everything re-assembled. Used the old shingles and nails, too. Waste not! Also from this October-the south gable end as finished. Man, did I get high on the ladder. Higher than I ever did; I'm scared of heights. We should have gotten a picture of that. I wouldn't want to recreate that scene now! A shot of the finished east side. Phragmites are moving in the yard. Saginaw Bay is one mile away. And here's the finished north end that is nearest the house. The second 1/2 of the concrete floor was poured on November 6, but I didn't get involved in that. October tired me out and concrete work is really hard, heheh.
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Post by stratcat on Feb 14, 2014 15:53:05 GMT -5
This morning, Blue Coyote, our group, played an hour for the Senior Citizen's Valentines Day shindig. When I pulled into the parking lot at the township hall, I thought I heard the noise of a generator. Sure enough, the electricity was off in the community. Luckily, we had power so we could play. Afterwards, my brother and our drummer both ate, while I had a cookie, milk and a pączki. "I didn't know it was Lent" I quipped, as pączki are traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday. Got back to town and carried my junk in. Unpacked my guitar and did some more picking. I'm ready for a nap.
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Post by stratcat on Mar 17, 2014 22:36:15 GMT -5
Well, this morning, Green Coyote played an hour for the Senior Citizen's St. Patrick's Day celebration at a different meal site. Besides guitar, my brother brought his banjer for one song. He surprised the drummer and I when he pulled out a pennywhistle for an Irish song-Key of G on gtr if you're playing along. There wasn't any green beer. For in between numbers, I carry my own water in a stainless steel bottle, or is that Grey Goose? Even though I broke a fingernail before we started, I got lucky on bottleneck during Bring It On Home. Made it all worthwhile... Per usual, my brother and our drummer both ate when we were done playing. I hung out and drank a milk at the table with them. After I got home and unloaded the car, I got my guitar right back out. Been picking that thing off-and-on since, and I'm not done for the day.
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