"R" We ready

pheasant hunting!!! i always went pheasant hunting in oct
im still cleaning up a bit but for the most part im done
all the orders are in the ground!!'
man i hate fall/winter!!!!

is it spring yet?

LOL Dori. It is not spring yet. :) I don't think I've seen too many pheasants around here in my woods. I know the neighbor had chicks he released and asked me if I have seen any but I only saw a few one time and that's it. I did see a bunch of turkeys come out of the woods a week or two ago. I had no idea they were in the woods. :)

Deann, I got the seeds planted. I put them in a pot and sunk the pot in the ground. We'll see what comes up next spring.

This morning while hubby and I were eating breakfast we looked out the window and right by the driveway were three does grazing on grass. Suddenly, a big buck with a big rack came out of the woods towards them. He sniffed them up and then they ran into my woods and he ran across the road into the neghbor's woods. I guess he didn't like how they smelled. :) It was an awesome site though. Reminds me I need to spray those roses along the driveway with Liquid Fence so they aren't chewing on them. I'll cover them up in a few more weeks with rose cones.

It's another cold windy dreary wet day here. How depressing. I hope the weatherman doesn't change his mind about next Friday being 60 degrees. I'm counting on that to finish up the last of my chores and hope it's a nice night for the little ones to trick or treat.

I think I'll thaw out some chicken and make chicken and dumplings. It's that kind of day.

Brenda

Brenda,

I made some chicken and dumplings last week...
How do you make your dumplings? And does anyone have a recipe for
collard greens? I've never had them but my husband grew up on them
and asked me to make some...he misses them ;o)
Oh the comforts of our youthful days!!

Thanks,
Delane

Good Afternoon Everyone....Very windy, bright sunshine and a heat wave of 53* here so far...

I spent a part of yesterday trying to find a house to rent/lease etc. over there...Not much luck so far...I did find quite a few beauties, that are in or about to go in foreclosure...What a shame...I'm just trying to find something in the event this move gets held up longer because of the tennants...They have small children, and I told my son not to dump them out until they are able to find another place to live...Times are hard enough over there without me adding to someones misery...

No Ronna...When I get home to MI, I will be officially Retired at long last...I am coming home to retire, just like my Gram & Poppa did when he turned 65...Grams Aunt & Uncle willed their little house and 5 acres to Gram & Pop since they had no children...I remember it like it was yesterday...No running water and an outhouse for the first 2 years they were there...My Daddy dug out the cellar some more, put in a well pump, and water heater, added a bedroom on the back of the house, turned the 3rd old porch into a bathroom, minus a flushing toilet until the 3rd summer when he dug the hole for the septic tank...They had a fuel oil stove in the living room, and a 2 burner wood stove in the kitchen...It was a beauty...White porcelin jacket...Gram loved that thing...
I went to school in the 1 room schoolhouse behind the house for the first 3 years and then to Kazoo when they shut down the Schoolhouse... I got richer than Crosceus every summer picking strawberries for 50 cents a basket! That was my money for school clothes, and a Saturday movie or to go bowling or iceskating in the winter, or rollerskating in Three Rivers with the Chimp they had there...
I remember when Sears was still downtown Kazoo, and they built the new one at Crosstown...The Ice rink was right behind it...My Mother was the receiving manager for Sears for over 30 years and my Dad owned the shell oil station there on 131 in Three Rivers...Yikes!! That was over 55 years ago!!! Now THAT is skeeeery!! LOL

I am off to town for a few grocerys, then home to the laundry room...

Have a terrific day!!

Dusty

Funny weather today. Sunny and bright one minute and raining the other. We even had a bit of hail! Still lots of beautifully colored leaves but they are coming down like crazy. I cleaned out the vegetable garden beds yesterday and made a batch of green tomato pickles today with the leftovers, since they aren't going to ripen at this stage. Planted lots of bulbs, including three pots of daffodils that I buried in our compost pile for the winter (used slender stakes to mark where they're at so I can find them in the spring). I've been using motion detector sprayers hooked up to hoses to keep the deer out of the garden. We had to unhook them now that the nights have been freezing. Just three nights without the sprayers and the darn deer were back in the garden. We're putting up temporary mesh deer fences for the winter so they don't get used to coming into the garden on a regular basis. I prefer to prune my own roses, thank you very much! I pulled up and composed all my annual plants, cut back the perennials' spent foliage, and spread compost over the gardens. September is busy like April - just the opposite jobs. The apples are all harvested except for one Ida Red tree. We've been giving apples to friends and neighbors and I've been busy making pies for the freezer. My husband has been mulching leaves as they come down - the leaf mold is really wonderful for the garden and it breaks down so much faster if mulched. The wood is stacked for the woodstove (although we use the gas fireplace much more often now!), I've got a big pile of shredded bark ready to mound on the roses next month, and the netting is over the pond. We're just about ready for Old Man Winter - I just have to work on my attitude!

I came home from the grocery, put everything away and started a big pot of Chili...Got the sheets off the beds and in the wash and hit the porch to finish up out there...I got the last of my plants including my 4 roses potted up, just in the nick of time...They are calling for a severe cold front here tonight, and maybe even the *s* word north of us...I have a big Rosemary bush in a pot that needed to be brought in as well...

I had to go to Wally World for some more soil, and they had all of the orchids at 50% off, so needless to say, I snagged another one... LOL

I meant to say earlier that I have always put pork, or pork fat in with deer meat, never beef...I use bacon to wrap around roasts as well...Deer has virtually no fat at all...The whole idea of eating venison, unless you just adore it, is to save money, and adding expensive beef is defeating the purpose to me...(Unless of course you raise your own)...I need to find that recipe for Deer Haunch which is equal to a whole ham on a pig...It is wet down and packed with rock salt and sits on a bed of it in a shallow pan, and roasted slow...The salt forms a thick crust on it and makes it like a shell...The meat falls apart, and Noooo it is not the least bit salty inside...I hope you save all that tallow, and render it down... Makes wonderful candles!!!
When I get there, I will pay for any hides that someone is willing to salt down, roll up and send to me...I'll even buy the salt...They can also be folded into a plastic bag and frozen until ready to be sent... I guess I forgot to mention that I am Native American, and we find many uses for hides, hair on or off...Hair off, I send to NC to my tribe to make items to sell, drum skins or Native clothing...Many of my tribe are spread all over the country, and are grateful to get hides, as Deer are not always available to them...I also collect cow hides to use for the soles on moccasins...as well as to make pouches for some of my Vets to put on their wheelchairs to keep personal items in...I punch them and give them hide lacings to make nice bags for them...If they are crafty, I have leather tools to allow them to make designs on their bags...It keeps them busy, and their minds off of their ailments...They also make a few bucks for their handiwork if they tool bags for others, or to sell to buy more hides for them to use...Good way to use otherwise wasted products...So keep me in mind...

Have a good evenin!!!

Dusty

Well Dusty I didn't relize you were from Kazoo? I grew up in Kazoo. I know where everything you mention is! Are you moving back to Kazoo? I live in Plainwell now. But not to far from there. I also made chili today!!! I had to go to an 18th b-day party for my nephew. That was fun too. We had some sloppy joes there. Pretty yummy. Brenda your chicken and dumplings sounds really good also!!! Man I am not hungry but reading this thread latly sure is making me that way. I made some of the best peanut butter cookies today! I smashed a whole peanut butter cup in the middle when they were hot! Man were they good. My brother just loved them. Kinda melt in your mouth. I made a platter and they were gone in a snap. My SIL does not cook or bake. I love too. This is the good weather for the comfort foods. Did anyone get blown a way today? Really windy here for most of the day. Sure wish we weren't fenced in all of the leaves would be gone!!! But when the sun came out it was fairly nice. The dog got two walks he is happy. Have a great week everyone. Ronna

Delane,

I just use Bisquick recipe on box to make my dumplings. I drop them onto the boiling chicken broth with cut up chicken in it along with diced celery and carrots. I wish I could say I was good enough to make them from scratch but I've never really tried. I always like the taste of the Bisquick and it's easy. :)

I come from a family from the south and married a man from Alabama so I had to learn how to cook collard greens and make cornbread etc. First you have to wash each leaf separately to get all the grit off of it. I then like to cut out the big vein in the middle as that can be tough. I slice them up and add them to boiling water. Salt and add butter or bacon grease. If you want the real southern way of cooking them buy a ham hock or some neck bones and put them in boiling water and boil till they're tender and falling apart. Then add the chopped up and washed collard greens to them and boil them till they wilt good. Add salt. Greens are very good for you and so is the liquid or liquor. Lots of vitamins in there. Sometimes I get lazy and just buy the collards already cooked in a can. :) They are easy to grow in your garden too.

Karen, we had the same weather you had. It was weird. The sun would come out and it would be nice then this big dark cloud would come in and it would rain with high winds and hail,.............then the sun would come back out then another cloud would come in and it would rain with hail and high winds. Very strange weather day.

Dusty, I bet if you contact a local butcher who processes deer for the hunters they'd be happy to give you all the hides you want after skinning the deer for free. We're friends with our local butcher. She's one tough lady.

I'm glad I checked in her tonight. I just ran out and grabbed my two pots of hens and chicks. I don't want them to croak over winter. I forgot to take one pot in last winter and they died. I bought two more this year to replace them with. I guess I'll just put them in the basement or something till spring. It is cold and windy outside. There is a layer of ice blown up next to the house from where the hail hit the house and it hasn't melted yet. Hubby helped me run out and put my milk can in the garage and we carried a glider and put it on the pole barn porch for winter. Just when I keep thinking I'm done I think of something else. :)

Our dogs would go out to potty in between storms. :) Juliet will NOT pee in the rain. :)

Brenda

Dusty...the talk of deer hides brought back something I thought was funny. A friend (and deer hunter) always takes the leg of the deer to the local chinese restaurant. The owner is tickled pink with them....

Do you have to salt the hides before you put them in the freezer?

Loon, I've always left my hen and chicks outside in pots. Plus I have a huge patch in one of my flower gardens....hmmmm do I have different ones than you?

This message was edited Oct 26, 2008 7:26 PM

WOW the winds are howling tonight here and they are very cold
we had pellets hitting today here also! My dh put my fountain away and
wrapped up my hoses and then blew out all the garden water lines.
Suppose to be warmer for Halloween weekend :)

I dont like venison and dont eat any pork-so no sausage for me
unless its all beef! :)

did everyone see that seed co-op that is on right now 35%off your order!
and there are a few other ones happening now too! garden gloves is one

there are also lots of great deals in the market place!

Im so glad to be done planting outside for this season
I have gotten a few plants off the market place, and will be potting those up
as they arrive.

stay warm tomorrow-i have cable guy coming and taking
care of my lil zander!

windy as all get out right now Traveler and I just came in His little ears were standing sraight out he lved it I on the other hand about froze ;0)

Dorie I don't eat venison eaither can't stand the stuff I guess cuz I have to work with it so much this time of year grosses me out big time
Gloria

Thanks Brenda, I use the bisquick too I just wondered if you did something else? I will try your recipe for the collard greens too.

Dori, we don't do pork either...the last time I made it my DH was so sick pleading..."please no more pork please" I wasn't a big fan of it either, same goes with venison way to wild for me. Just does not agree with any of us here.

Try and stay warm everyone ;o)

Delane

Gosh...I eat everything!! I don't have a real sensitive taster and everything tastes good. I'm not sure that is a good thing or a bad thing.

Just put a pot of pea soup in the crock pot. Now I'm getting on my grubs and going out and digging up a couple of dahlias...wish me luck!!

Brrrrr. It's cold!!!! We have had frost several times and I still have daylilies blooming. Grace Stamile's TWO TO TANGO, Matthew Kaskel's TANGERING HORSES, and STELLA DE ORO. Garnted they don't look great, but they are trying.

I still have several DAVID AUSTIN ROSES blooming too.

Detheo...I have an actual dumpling recipe that is like a very fat square noodle from my OH MIL if you want it...very easy to make...

Thanks Dusty I would love it!

;o)

Butchers sell the hides, beef or deer they won't be giving them away.

Oh man I haven't made homemade noodles in years!!! I love them. Dumplings? It way to early to be getting hungry for these things! Good ole comfort foods. The windchill here is under the 20's :( Max of course had to potty. Its cold outside. I didn's see any snow here though. Looks like it kinda stayed around South Haven. Not really "spreading the wealth". HEhe. Have a great day, Ronna

Hi everyone, Been a while since I've been here.

Dori, I ordered a few seeds from the seed co-op. Pretty excited about them.

dorothian, I still have a couple (2) rose bloom on my New Dawn climbing rose. I put the chicken wire around the base of my roses today to keep those bad bunnies from them.
But I've already cut back all of the daylilies. I'm amazed you have some still blooming.

No snow here.

Does anyone own any Clivia plants? Do they ever bloom for you? I started some from seeds years ago and have several large ones, but have never had any blooms. I've read that they need to go through a cold /dry period. Some northerners had said they left their plants outside for Oct. I tried that last year. No blooms. This year I'm trying it again after reading that they need a full month of cold weather, between 55 and 35 degrees. But last night I had to cover the plants ... here's to hoping!!!! Would love any suggestions!
sharon

I just came in the house with the dog close your eyes and plug your ears cuz I'm going to say ITS SNOWING OUT THERE not much but just a little YUUUUCK have a great day ;0)
Gloria

I sure am glad that it skipped us. We didn't see even one flake here. Well except for those crazy drivers on the roads!!!

we have snow on tops the truck and picnic table, thats all i can really see right now!pretty dark out!
coffee is on and im awake!!!

Omgoodness that rotten stuff found it's way here too...brrr it's cold...I miss summer :o(
I had to finally put my comforter on the bed a few nights ago...I guess I was in denial LOL...on the bright side I'm not waking up freezing and getting a comfy nights sleep to boot! YAY.....Get your long johns on ladies were gonna need em ;o) I must say the colors are still fabulous down here...If I can't have sunshine and warmth I'll take the beautiful colors! YAY for color...but I miss my flowers...

Delane

Delane,I have a can't miss way to put a smile on your face but you'll need to wait a few more weeks. Visit one of the greenhouses in your area that grows poinsettias. They'll be in pretty good color by the end of November and nothing compares to seeing a solid sea of red (with some pink, white and marble) and that greenhouse smell!

well put me in the DVR and fast forward me to spring!!!

Gloomy, overcast and ugly here....but no white stuff. I have the woodstove roaring and we could almost get our shorts on it is so warm inside! I'm hungry and the only thing that will make me happy is some chocolate...

No snow here. It's windy and cold though. Had to go to the dentist. Thought I needed a root canal but he said no. He's sending me to the gum specialist in Bay City on Tuesday. We haven't been to the big city in I don't know when. Hubby is going to try to get his Honda serviced while we're there. I have to have my gum cut back by this one tooth to get rid of a pesky pocket that's infected. Sun is shining outside. I hope the weatherman doesn't change his mind about it going up to near 60 tomorrow. I am planning on getting those roses cut back and under cones.

A big ten point buck keeps coming up in the yard. He stands right near my roses and grazes on the grass then takes off. I'm surprised someone hasn't shot him with a bow and arrow yet. We don't get many bucks around here. Mostly does.

We put our warming blanket on the bed last night too. It's electric but we haven't hooked that part up yet. We snuggled down and into the flannel sheets with the two dogs between us and we were all nice and warm. We're dialing back on our heat and getting used to 65 degrees in the house.

Hubby and I have been indulging in some sugar free cocoa at night while watching TV. It is so good. Maybe that's why we're sleeping so good. :)

Stay warm everyone!

Brenda

I wish I could say I'm ready for winter but I'm not. I still have annuals blooming their little hearts out and an iris that thought it was Spring and produced a dozen blooms. My burning bush refuses to burn and you would think it was still mid-Sept. in my enclosed garden. The mums are putting on a show as are the sedum and everything is green, green, green.
While I love looking out at all the pretties this means that the garden will look disgusting over the winter and I will have a big job come Spring. Yes we've had some frosts but here in the city the houses protect the gardens so they don't get it bad like in the country. I just may have to get ruthless and pull everything up and cut back regardless.

Talk about ruthless!!! I decided I'm tired of spending four hours hand cutting back my perennials. I had my husband weed whack them all down and I raked them out. Cut the time by tons. Dumped the cuttings in the back of the RTV and drove it out into the woods to dump. We then sprayed all the wild grass in the bed with grass killer and put a blanket of chopped up leaves over the whole thing. I'll let you know next spring how it worked out. ha ha ha The older I get the less I feel like doing grunt work in the garden. Come spring I'll broadcast my Preen in March and put Milorganite down to deter the animals. As the perennials come up I'll put my mulch down then before they get too big to get in there. That's the plan anyway.

It got down to 22 here last night. That's cold but it was warm in the bed. All the chores are done except for planting my three new pots of mums and pruning the roses and getting them under the cones. Stupid things are still blooming. Can't beat those Knockout roses. That's all I'll grow from now on. Easy Peezy.

Have a great day everyone.

Brenda

Loon- do you put cones on your KO's? I just put in 7 - let me know!!!!

I never cut down a thing in the fall - leave them up to catch the leave for insulation. Have a mess in the spring, but then I have more energy. Love the weed wacker idea...good going

Well, my garden is going to have to make do without cutting things back. I usually do it in the spring too as I want them to collect leaves and snow for insulation in the winter. Running out of time to do more as I still have daylilies and roses blooming and am leaving for the south on Monday for the winter.

we'll think of you during our first snowstorm...will send you pics too!!

I would like to receive them.

Delane.. I apologize for not getting that recipe to you, but I can find it at the moment... I promise I will find it this weekend...


Dusty

Wow weeeee cold here also. 22 degrees overnight everything was glistening!!! Took the dog for an early morning stroll. Still very cold! But he got to run. This evening when I got out of work it was really quit nice outside. Wish it wasn't so dark wouldv'e really liked to go for another walk. Well have a great evening. Ronna

Brenda, you are ruthless! Weedwacker! But I love the idea!

We had a Walk through Halloween for the neighborhood kids at the hospital last night. Lots of little cuties and devils got lots of candy. I get to do it all again here at the house tomorrow. :o)

I managed to remember to bring in the Clivias last night ... thank goodness ... burrrrr!

Don't worry Dusty I know your busy with packing and moving, when things settle down for you I'm sure you'll find it...no hurry ;o)

just came in from doggie duty kind of nice out I leave for Sterling Hights in the a.m. for the annual mother daughter shopping trip going to the Lakeside Mall this year
Gloria

Have a good shopping trip Gloria. I bet there are lots of good sales and bargains out there. The economy needs your boost. :)

Looks to be a beautiful day here in Au Gres. The sun is shining bright and it's supposed to be in the low 60's today. Yahoo!! Today's the day to finish all the last minute whatevers in the garden.

Today is also Fred's 100'th birthday. He's our local daylily king. They did a nice writeup about him on the front page of our local paper. THey are having a party for him on Sunday at the hall behind H&H Bakery restaurant. Everyone is invited. His son told a story in the article how Fred bought himself a new tractor to work on the daylily farm with. He insisted on having the extended warrantry. :) He's a real inspiration I think. Maybe it is gardening that keeps one fit and secret to long life.

Happy Halloween everyone! We only got two trick or treaters last year. I wasn't prepared. I gave them each a buck. :) This year I bought a bag of candy just in case. I just have to stay out of it or there won't be any left for tonight. :)

Have a great day everyone.

Brenda