Weather Watching #4 Winter 2013/14

year, decade…

Well, over here, the roads are still just wet. This snow is wetter and heavier than the last. Snow is steady. the old hobbies might have to wait while I take rare pictures of snowy things in the yard. LOL
The radio guy just said the snow is tapering off out west -Frederick- and will end in a couple hours around here, no more than couple inches.

Snow coming down steady and pretty hard here (White Marsh Area).
I would not want to go out in this. Don't really have to. I am off all week--
so no worries about getting to work.

My Subaru does pretty well. Love that car! Would buy another one if needed.

Gita

Glad you don't have to go out in this Gita.

Been hearing some things in the weather report that are new to me. The first is that this snow is being termed replenishment snow. Seems we have been in a 'snow drought' for several years now.

And just now, "This is the kind of weather that will slap you around and pick ypur pockets before it's over." Yikes!

Concern is that any moisture and melting will refreeze as temps fall dramatically.

On the bright side, my house and yard actually are pretty with a little snow cover!!

Not looking forward to a refreeze, but 'replenishment' sounds good.

Gita, glad you are home safe and sound!

Yehudith: southern States has a 44 pound bag of Azomite for $34.99. http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/search.aspx?searchterm=azomite

You'd have to call to see if a store near you carries it.

But what do you use it for? The instructions (from the website) are a little odd: "When preparing soil, customers have reported an average of 30% improvement with AZOMITE® treatment at the rate of 1/4 cup per plant. For larger areas, we recommend two 44 lb bags per acre (based on rows approximately 18" apart with plants 12" apart). If the bed is established, sprinkle around each plant. AZOMITE® should be applied with compost, humus, manures, or other fertilizers to provide additional levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. AZOMITE® will not burn plants. For houseplants, mix 1 teaspoon per 2 inch pot diameter with potting soil before planting. Give 1 teaspoon quarterly thereafter. For roses, start with 1/4 lb. to the soil around each plant and lightly till into soil."

How can it BOTH be true that you should apply 1/4 cup per plant -- or 88 pounds per acre? At 1/4 cup per plant, I'd think I'd need many more than 2 bags for my 1/2 acre lot (and of course my house and driveway take up a good bit of that 1/2 acre). I didn't run the math, though. I don't know how much a cup of Aconite weighs, either, or the volume of a 44 pound bag. Now there's an applied math challenge for you, speedie!

I am sure if you Googled it--all your questions will be answered...

I am not sure--but I think Azomite is used much the same as Perlite or Vermiculite.
Don't know any more.....G.

Well--I guess i can Google it too....



This message was edited Dec 10, 2013 1:16 PM

Go here http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1163707/ this is a whole thread on the stuff. I haven't used it yet, but everyone that's used it sings its praises.

Happy

Yes its less expensive if you live close enough to make it worth the drive. For me with gas the price it is factored against what I make per hour I really come out better ordering it from Amazon. I find that with a lot of things. Even though the major grocery store in our area is just a mile from our house I often come out better loading my grocery list on line and having it delivered from them because I can make a lot more per hour than I can save by doing my own shopping.

Azomite is for micronutrients, the minor minerals that may be lacking. See more on that thread from yehudith.
Last time I asked my SS store, they looked at me funny.But they should be able to get it. Also used as a mineral supplement for farm animals, I believe.

We got enough snow, maybe 4-5"s before compacting to plow, With colder temps coming I wanted it out of the way so the areas may dry and have less to refreeze. It is fairly light, but Holly says, she likes snow better when I shovel it. LOL

yehudith: Where are you (vaguely) in Silver Spring? If I get some, maybe I can buy some for you and drop it off.

Happy

Do you know where the Giant at Colesville Road and New Hampshire are where they're building the new police station? You could walk to my house from there. Yeah of course I'll share. I only got a 2lb bag to try it out first. When I get the big bag I'll let you know.

Yehudith, I didn't mean to ask you to share -- I just meant that if I buy some from a Southern States store for less than Amazon is charging, I'd be happy to share some of that with you. But I still haven't asked Southern States if they really do carry it..... I don't know your Giant -- sounds as if you are at the northern tip of Silver Spring, whereas I'm close to the southern tip. But periodically I make forays into your neck of the woods.... I'll probably be heading in that direction soon because I need to pick up some pine roping from Meadows Farms.

You'll go right past my house I think. Good L-rd !!!! I went back and read your post again. I'm in bad shape! Yeah, if you want to split a bag or work out a pick-up that would be wonderful.

Brrrr it is cold. Even the temperature inside the house is colder than usual. I think one of the heat pumps has stopped working, and it is too cold and too dark to go out and check. Didn't keep the wood stove going since I was at work and don't feel like getting that going now either. I think I'll just stay under the covers and throw an extra blanket on for good measure.

lol I'm wearing a hat!

Coleup, did they ever fix your furnace??

Aren't you sweet to ask! Yes, burner chamber has been replaced and am crossing fingers that oil pump lasts thru the winter. Ordered in 100 gals of fuel oil but with these colder than average temps, not sure it will last until my finances catch up so I can get some 'replenishment' oil!

Guess this must seem strange to some reading this, but my income and outgo are on the margins and not near the average life style for this area so $300 plus expenditures are something I save for when I can and borrow for if I can't.

Wearing a hat as in "I in my kerchief and Ma in her cap" is not new bedtime attire and is an old winter camping trick. If my head is warm my feet don't get cold!

Ric, glad you got that plowing done. Quite a foray for your first 'back to driving'!!!

All the roads I have to travel on are dry. Hoping whatever this weekend storm brings stays liquid while I deliver yet another stuffed with ads newspaper.

Coleup, I always cover my head at night, too--definitely works to stay warm.

Well this is off topic but I'll update anyway- quote myself

where were we talking Azomite? The southern states in glen burnie has it i their inventory at 34.95 for the 44 pound bag like happy saw. But they couldn't locate a bag in the warehouse, so call first or wait till spring.


Read more: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1344125/#ixzz2nIzfIpMb

I have read that wearing socks to bed can help you sleep better, so I think --cover both ends!

Fingers crossed for you Saturday night X X

I took Josh to buy coal for his house today. He said at the rate he was going through wood he'd be out by the end of the month. I think he said last year he burned 9 cords. That would be a 10'x12' stack 9.6' high. That's a pile of wood. We usually only burn a little wood to start and end the season when heat needs are lower, probably 1-2 cords.

We have enough white for Christmas, it can stop anytime for me.

The Burtonsville Southern States doesn't carry Azomite. (I just called, and they clearly thought I was nuts.) I'm heading out to Southern States for pine roping (plus a million other errands).

Well, every self respecting gardener has to make somebody think she is nuts sometimes.

making pea soup and watching the clouds roll in

> Well, every self respecting gardener has to make somebody think she is nuts sometimes.


LOL! Back when I was looking for chicken grit and Turface (have a good source for them now), I talked to quite a few people who thought I was nuts!

Sally, I made split pea soup with ham last weekend and enjoyed it all week. Great cold weather soup! Enjoy!

I buy 44 lbs. of Azomite for $22. I pick up orders for several people, so no shipping, and I DO get all my amendments from him.
http://www.7springsfarm.com/azomite-for-plants-micronized-powder-44lb/

The snow has started here, fine, fast, and furious. This one will last since the temps were so low. There is very little heat left in the ground.

great price, but shipping adds 24.40 for me. = 46.40

love split pea soup

it's snowing here again too... sticking to the roads now as well. glad to be in for the night

supposed to volunteer at a Camden soup kitchen early. hope the roads aren't too icy

It started snowing here around 2PM. beautiful, big. white snowflakes.
I almost wanted to run out and take a picture...

Then, in no time at all--it changed to small flurries.
Then--it was a;ll gone. That was it fore today. maybe some rain later.....

Amazing how different the weather is for each of us!
G.

We probably got up to 6"s. Temps are up so we have compaction and melting already. I'll go ride my tractor to clean up the large areas, driveway and parking. Holly has already cleared most of the decks and paths. It is a winter wonderland and delightful to see, just a lot more work than I can even think about.

Our beautiful sunny morning just went to a grey overcast.

This message was edited Dec 15, 2013 10:44 AM

Sunny, breezy, no accumulation.


Does anyone else think the caterpillars at the first post look like mustaches? That thought came to me; now I can't think otherwise.

I had a professor friend in Boone (Appalachian State Univ.) who was the wooly worm expert. Many years of study proved no veracity to the length of the markings. Fun, though!

Yep Sally, they DO look like mustaches in the first post!

I'm just glad my mustache doesn't look like that! LOL

Hit 38*F areas cleaned off are drying.

Me too Ric. Although maybe mustaches could be weather predictors or mood indicators?

You mean they WEREN'T mustaches? I didn't even think about it or wonder why this post had started with that particular photo LOL. How oblivious I am sometimes.

We had quite a bit of snow here yesterday and it just added to the inches still left over from Tuesday's storm.

hahaha

you guys are all too funny

Sally, you had to say that! now I'll always think of a mustache when I see one!

We already have somewhat of a mess out there, and it's snowing again. It's coming down pretty hard, with predicted temps of near 60 coming by weeks end anything cleared will be nearly dry.


The snow has left up to a very fine dust, the overcast however remains foreboding.

The snow has stopped and the sky has cleared, the sun is even trying to peek at us.Still below freezing.

This message was edited Dec 17, 2013 3:15 PM

hi, all. Winter Solstice is tomorrow, Saturday Dec 21! I posted a topic in its honor. ;-)
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1344837/