ORVG COFFEEHOUSE # 153 - Time to Battle the Varmints !!

Marcy,

Oprah told me to tell you she will volunteer to be your seeing eye dog, now that she may be laid off from chipmunk hunting duties :) Feel better and thanks for the heads up about castor beans. I knew something was wrong with them when Momma made us drink castor oil when we were little. That is some DISGUSTING stuff.

Take it easy, Friend.

Nooooo, You don't owe me....That's what Family is for....


I have a favor.....Anyone who knows how to reach Michele...Badseed... Please ask her to check her Dmail.... Bernie, has been trying to contact her...He Dmailed me, of all people, to try to reach her.....

I am off to my rack....I hope more than 4 hrs worth tonight....

((((((((((((((((((((((((TONI))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

((((((((((Sis)))))))))))) See ya in a week or so!

Bonnie,
I had no idea that the state of ky had only one rheumatologist--August 4th?!?--sheesh. Maybe you should ask for a referral to a physiatrist-- they're MD's who work with patients with rehabilitation & disorders of muscles & nerves--- but they're mostly really practical docs. Keep it in mind even if you do end up seing the rheumatologist first.

My neighbor Richard, with the spectacular yard & gardens & ponds, came over to viisit this evening. He gave me the white iris and the white plume poppy last summer. He was amazed at all the white poppy babies I've got-- said it took him 3 years before his really took off. His plant sale is this Saturday 10-2. I know he's got more iris so I'm going over to check it out.

BTW, I'll post this on the round up thread, too, but I would happily accept any veggie plant donations for the halfway house where I volunteer. In addition to everything else the men learn there, we're happy to teach them how to grow their own food, too!
Pat

Hello....out there.
Anybody miss me? ^_^

I haven't checked in for a while and I just got caught up. Been having the blues. I sent you a d-mail, Defoecat but if it's too late, I understand.

Interesting about the Castors. I think hubby is planting some this year. I don't know. I haven't been outside much. Hmmm...gonna go back to hibernating now but waving hello to everyone.

Good Morning, Everyone!

Bonnie, unbelievable that it takes so long to get an appointment to see a specialist! Hang in there until you get an answer and some relief.

Marcy, today's the day!

Velnita, hope you start to feeling better soon. I get like that sometimes, too. Don't know what brings it on and it usually leaves as quickly as it comes on.

GW, that will probably work with your tomatoes if you keep pinching off the new growth when they get to the length you want.

Sue, I see where I didn't finish what I was telling you about the plastic. I like to use the plastic for a couple of weeks to warm up the soil, then I remove it completely to plant. I use mulch of grass clippings a few inches thick once the plants start growing. At the end of the season or in the spring before planting, I'll mix in the old mulch with the soil. Sure has helped my garden a lot.

Hey, Toni! Good to see you popping in!

Pat, that's a wonderful idea for your halfway house!

Have lots of work to do outside today. The yard was mowed yesterday and with the grass being so high, it definitely needs to be raked up. Don't mind doing it though, as it's lots of mulch for the garden. I bought a few more pots to plant a few more cuttings. It will sure be nice when things start filling out. All the plants are still so little, that they look kind of pitiful. About ready to go buy a big $10 tomato plant at Walmart, just to have something of any size. LOL!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Dusty, velnita sent me her address, so will mail the plants directly to her. Thanks a bunch for offering, you are a sweetie. I have an address for chele, but no phone number. sorry.

Talked to Craig and he'll pass the message on to Michelle.
Off to Dayton.
Ric

Bonnie, Hope you can help. My grandson planted a few tobacco seeds and has them in my greenhouse. They are taking forever to grow. they are only 1/4 inch high. Any hints getting them to grow? Mike, my GS rolls his cigarettes and wanted to try growing the tobacco. He just graduated from Appalachian State University and this fall is going back to get his masters.

Am I the only "old person". to receive the( one time only) $ 250.00 from SS. Haven't heard any one mention that. I think every one should get theirs sometime this month.

liz sounds like the seed hasn't been planted too long. With a green house you should be okay. The seeds are usually started in February, and they are planting them out this week. They are about 5" high. When they get about that size, they need to be planted outside. Throughout the year, if you need more information about what to do with them, just ask. We grew tobacco for years.

goshsmom, lol, there are plenty of specialists in Ky. My Dr wants me to see this particular one. I am on a cancellation list, so if they get a cancellation, I will be moved up. They say the initial appointment is 2 1/2 hours long, so maybe that is why they don't see as many patients a day.

Marcy good luck, waiting to hear from you.

Robin,sounds like you have a lot started plant wise, I know the feeling about them looking so small in the pots!!

Just finished capping 2 gallon of strawberries, and will be putting them in the freezer. Off to get busy again.

Sorry to be MIA. I've been working 40-45 hours a week. I'm still going round and round with the mortgage company too. I think Countrywide (now disguised as Bank of America) has their goal set at being the largest realty company in America! They sure aren't trying to implement the Home Affordable plan! There are several nice 4 bedroom double wides near me for $70,000 or less and I'm seriously thinking that may be a better plan!

Soccer x 5 just ended for spring but we have a couple of parties to go to. Carly is still playing softball. School ends May 29th. Nolan is doing great.

I haven't been able to get outside to do much and the yard looks awful and the gardens are full of weeds. It's depressing but I'm doing what I need to do.

Pat, can you please dmail me your address?

If anyone needs my phone number, just dmail me. You can also contact me through my website if all else fails. I think I put our phone number on there....

I pop in and read when I can but it takes a long time to post with one hand! LOL

Marcy, prayers for your eyes continue.

Bonnie, I hope the rheumatologist can help you. I see how Craig suffers. He is finally back on his meds.

I guess I better clock in and get to work.

Good morning all!
Bonnie, I neglected to tell you last night that I dmailed Velnita. I see she got in touch with you...so that's good! Hi Velnita...I missed you!!! Come on back and talk to us!!!
Thanks everyone for the well wishes on my eye. I am sure it will go just fine. After 3 days...I see well out of the first one...and expect to do the same with this one.
Toni...dang! I could have used that seein eye dog earlier!!! LOL...hopefully won't need her now! But give her a kiss for me anyway! Looking forward to 'seeing' you at the roundup!!
lizh...nope..you not the only old person here...lol! Waiting on my ss check too! Don't think it's gonna help much...but..whatever!
Chele girl...good to 'see' you too! I just told Dave last night...hadn't seen you in a while...but I bet she's really busy!!! LOL. Can't imagine why that is??????
Well..my appt is at 12:40 today...so guess I better get things done here, so I can make it on time! Woohooooo...I'm gonna SEE!!!!! LOL..later all!!

Edna, I got my $250 about a week ago, paid bills and it's gone! I guess they expect that "bonus" to make up for the fact there will be NO social security cost-of-living increase for the next 2 years.

Today is the first morning in a while that it's warm enough I could sit outside in a tank top...And I have to work! LOL Rather, I should say, I get to work. I'm not working a lot the first few weeks, but it will be so nice to have some pocket money again. I sense I may be making some stops at Baker's Acres on my way home when tips are plentiful. ;)

Chele, I promise I won't butt dial you anymore. I called her the other day when I was at Lowe's getting stuff for the HIB's (homemade Earthboxes), then later accidentally sent her a text message from my pocket since she was first in the call-log. All she got was a cryptic :::: - that was it. LOL

Good Morning all...78* and SUNSHINE!!!

I had the errand day from hades yesterday as usual....I got 2 spinach salads from Krogers, came home put everything away, cooked 2 chicken breasts, sliced them up, put them on the salads, served them up and collapsed in my chair...That was my whole day, so I have to make up for it today...LOL

Good to see you back Michele...Bernie was looking for you...I feel for you fighting BofA...I had them in CA and hated them with a passion...

Glad to see you back too Velnita...It's funny that I can drive straight to your house, but have no clue what the address is...LOL
I was gonna snag Cookie for a road trip and make a visit to Habitat while we were up there...I haven't been north of Hwy 73 since I got my $10 chairs for the dining room back in February...

Marcy....hope all is going good on your eye...$$ Gen.store has great reading glasses for $5, but I would wait till both eyes are clear before you try them...Can't wait for you to get home and hear the news!!! LOL

Liz...Hubby got his a week after his regular one on the 3rd, but I haven't got mine yet, and I still have not got the back check that they owe me....
The only explaination I'm getting is **they are checking on it**
According to SS, that $250 can come anytime between now and June 14th...If you don't get it by then, you need to call them...

Hubbys went to pay bills too Darius...so I know the feeling...I've been a month behind since I lost my job, on the cable bill which is also our phone, so I finally got that caught up with it to the tune of $268 for the two months....I tried to cut back to basic cable to reduce the monthly bill, and they told me because of the plan we are on, it will cost me more per month without the cable box than it will if I keep it...I can't get a cell phone for $20 a month, so I can't even drop the phone part...

Bons..where on earth did you get 2 gallons of strawberries?? YUMMY!!!
I sure hope somebody cancels on that Docs list...That's 2 long months to wait when you are in pain, and as crazy as you are in the summer, it can sure put a crimp in things...Oh, I forgot to tell you the other day, that metal pie pans work alot better than a scarecrow unless you hang a couple off of the *arms*...If it looks like a human waving things in the air it works pretty good....Poppa used to laugh at the birds perching on the straw hat of his scarecrow...Once he hung the pans, they didn't do it anymore...Something else that works, is those pinwheels and other things that move with the wind...

Toni....I may not be here when you come down...Depending on how things go, I may be in TN with Paulie...He really wanted to come up here for the RU, but unless he gets his money so I can get a vehicle, that's not gonna happen...

Break time is over...again...Back to work...

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine....

Whoooeeee!! I FINALLY have my spring hooked up to water my Garden! The story of HOW is a hoot, though. I put an ad in the local TradeTimes for someone who knows about springs. So, this old guy comes today, puts a meter on the lines to the 15+ year old submersible pump in the spring box and says the electric lines appear intact and wanted to know if I had tried to run it. I said the power appears to be cut off to the root cellar where the diaphragm tank and panel box live. Well, he popped in the old fuse thingy (I don't know what it's called, but not the screw-in fuse type) and the pump came on! The #$%^&* thing was "working" all along!

We hooked up a hose to the hose bibb on the outside of the root cellar. Man, there's a LOT of water from the spring... and it's cccCOLD! So, half an hour of flushing the spring box of lots of sediment, and now I'm watering my garden with non-chlorinated, "free" water!

The other good news is that the power runs straight from the pole, bypassing the new panel box inside the house. I don't know how much amperage yet... haven't really looked. I'll want/need to put in a new(er) panel box if I want to run new electrical outlets and a light later on... (I saved the old breaker-box from when I had the new one installed 2 years ago.) Too bad it's not a larger room I could live in!

WhooHoo, Darius!

Well...let's see if I can type good enough. Good thing I can touch type!
It was a long day! We just got home a little while ago. Everything was hurry up and wait at the drs...(isn't it always?) He had to check my first eye...then had to wait until my eye dialated. All that good stuff. The girl got the IV in the first time...yayy. Man does that hurt. She went further up on my wrist...hurt even worse I thihk!
Then after the surgery...had to wait some more, so he could do my post op check today ...instead of running me back over there tomorrow. That was nice of him.
Things are starting to clear up some...but still not real good. Too soon.
We went to Wally and got me some neat sunglasses...lol....and cheaters. Then ate at Bob Evans...then on toward home. Stopped at SIL's house...hard to get away from her...and I didn't even get out of the car!!!
Finally......home!
I think I will have to get glasses for the computer. HMmm....these aren't working very well....but like Dusty said...best wait a few days. I Have to wait at least two wks before going back to the optometrist anyway.
But hey! I can tell I am going to SEE!!!! LOL! The eye done today is already clearing up nicely!! He did tell me the left eye...first eye done....had about reached max in sight.
Since I have that ERM Epi Retinal Membrane...in it...it won't get much..if any...better he said. So I am hoping the right eye will compensate for it.
Next is my ears......LOLOL!!!

If you're getting reading glasses, Zenni Optical is terrific, Marcy. Howie and I bought ours from there, as did my dad. Now Horseshoe bought some there, too! http://zennioptical.com They take about 3 weeks to arrive, but the savings are substantial. I have two different strengths, so can't buy off the rack unless they're the type in which you can easily swap lenses.

Darius, it's great you have your spring water! That is significant for a gardener. Yahoo is right!

Today felt pretty long for my only being there five hours. I ended up taking a single pain med, but then needing two more throughout the day. I think I would have been okay had I taken two originally. Not bad.

Bonnie, you are right. The tobacco seeds were planted in April. We have a short growing season. They may not get big enough to plant. I'll tell him to start the seeds in Feb next year.

Darius, great news about your spring.
Hello to all.

Marcy yeah on the eyes . ! :)
Velnita good to see you posting
Chelle we have missed you :( glad things are going well with Nolan. You sure are busy with all the girls and there sports .
darius yeah on the spring water !!! that is awesome
Gw fun fun sitting on a porch in the morning with a tank, Yeah . love it. How was your first day back at work ? good i hope and not to strenuous. 5 hrs can be a alot in a day . Glad you hac meds
Well my day was emotional
woke up
got to get kids to school , locked us out of the house. purse in basement ! no phone. back door was unlocked by shere luck. But not after a mental break down LOL
built more raised beds, planted more peppers and tomatos. Tilled some beds . watered plants
had a nice phone conversation with Geo :)
ran got kids
started home and big crash with a school bus ! oh my it was horrible. We got there just min after it happend. Uhg. The same spot where the last fatal crash was with the two brothers ! that is one hairy and scary bend in the road on 36. Many have died on the bend too over the years. T&P for the familys .
long drive home on detour, got home , went to farmers Mikes and traded eggs for okra plants. Got goose eggs too !
came home and the crash site was still there blocked i thought it would be gone (3 hrs ) so long drive home on detour. Not a problem .
came home
made dinner
cleaned house and folded 5 loads of laundry
watered more plants
whew i m pooped
good night
love you all
stay safe and drive careful
sue

I heard about that bus accident on the radio this evening, Sue. That's rough.

Soon as mom and dad stop by to pick up the handicap placard from their Blazer, we'll set up our air mattresses in the gazebo. They're borrowing the Jetta when they have to make long drives since it is way better on gas than their Blazer. Our air mattresses are in the Jetta's trunk, though, so we can't set up our beds until they get back from Columbus. LOL

Darius that's AWESOME!
Will you get it tested for personal use also?

Chele good to hear from you.
We were headed out the door when I talked to Craig or I'd have chatted a bit more.

Marcy! Glad it's over. The news sounds VERY good.

Sue SLOW DOWN!

HEY Liz!
I LOVE that area!

Well we just got back about two hours ago.
Car's unloaded... Hot Tub cooking! LOL!
My and Robyn's punch lists are about done.
She painted and moved stuff all day.
I finished the bathroom window.... caulking, reattaching metal flashing, etc and finished the utility door jam.
Then got it painted.
Hung a set of sliders in the closet and then we laid a bit of carpet.
At Wendy's in B'Creek by 6:50......
Amazing how much you can get done w/o the Family Drama!

Off till Sunday when we have a Memorial Day Picnic to attend w/ The Family.....LOL!

Ric

Boy, I had a busy day. Planted the planters on the deck, made several hanging baskets, weeded one flower bed, and will be able to get plants in it maybe tomorrow. Watered everything, did some laundry, had some company, washed, capped and froze 12 quarts of strawberries, and then cooked supper.

It has been a good day.only 1 pain pill today, and it seems like I have more energy. Will probably be good as new before I get to see the rheumatologist.

LizH, yep that is the problem, didn't start them early enough. Folks around here who raise tobacco commercially start them in Feb, in order to be big enough to plant out about the middle of May. Since the weather cleared up, there are tractors working the fields here till midnight, trying to get the crop in. Next year, if you need some guidance, let me know and I will share my knowledge of tobacco growing with you. Certain things have to be done to it during the season. We grew it for about 30 years. None of it is easy, but with only a few plants it will not be too big of a job.

Darius, wahoo, indeed. Now that you got the spring water, your plants will surely thank you.

Kimberly, it is nice enough to sleep outside here tonight, but I prefer the comforts of my bedroom. Not a camper person. You will soon get used to the routine of working again, and hopefully can graduate to tylenol, or some other pain reliever.

Robin, I tried the black plastic some years ago, and was not satisfied with it at all. It is beneficial for warming up the ground, but not to plant in.

Sue, what a day you had. It is major panic time here, when I have my purse is in the house, and the door is locked. So sad about the bus crash, any further details on it?

Marcy, I am so glad that you are able to be posting here. I am hoping that this will help you see 100% better. Wish I could be glasses free, but not a chance. You are gonna be our own bionic woman before long,ne back, new knees, new eyes, and now new ears!!

Well, I need to go check my email, and some other threads, and hope you all have a good night.

Advil worked well for me, but I am not permitted to take it for 6 months following my surgery because anti-inflammatories can mess up the bone graft. If I could take ibuprofen, I'd probably be a happy camper. Glad to hear you had a good day, Bonnie -- really glad to hear you got to do some things you enjoy and had a good one!

Ric, you guys are back at it. You two amaze me!

Ohhhh Darius....That's hysterical!!! Nothing like ice cold spring water...
There is a place up by the caves in NC where it comes out of a rock, and I always take an extra container or two to get some...It is so cold it gives me a *brain freeze*...Daddy put me under it to give me a shower when I was about 4 yrs old...He rubbed ashes in my hair, scrubbed me down, dunked me under the fall again and up to the cave we went, beside the fire...Once I got my deer skin long shirt and legging mocs back on, I was warm as toast..but that first dip can be a shocker!!! LOL

Marcy!!! Great news!!! Can't wait til tomorrow to see how you are doing!!!

I got the mulch, but it's not down yet...I got all of the transplants and seedlings watered down...Jim got the new steps for the back end of the porch installed today....Bill was mowing and came by for a beer...He tried to start the little tiller and had no luck, so he took it back home to work on it...Again...Bless him...He and Jim and I had a nice long chat, and I got some lovely compliments on what we have done here so far...That really makes me feel good...
I have to zip to Lowes in the morning to get a tube of marine sealant so I can reinstall the liner to the filterbox....I completely forgot it yesterday...
I am hoping to get that waterfall channel finished this weekend...
Bill brought the pump, but when we tried it out, it tripped the breaker again, so it still has an issue...

I am off to the rain locker...and hopefully another night of blessedly peaceful sleep...Last night was the first in 5 nights that I wasn't awake more than I was asleep...

Creator Bless you all...Be at Peace tonight....

Bonnie,
I'm glad to hear abt the 2 1/2 hour initial appointment, that sounds like it's probably worth the wait. And it must feel great to be having some good days after all the tired & achy ones.
I've just gotten inside after putting up the back porch screen curtains I had made last year. They were probably the best idea of the year! I looked at all the catalog screen- type curtains (Screaming after I saw the prices!) & then just went to home depot & got a big roll of screening, went to the fabric store & got some canvas. Had a friend sew the canvas to the screen & put a pocket in the canvas. We ended up hanging it with some kind of plastic pipe from the plumbing section, and it worked really, really well. No more little bugs trying to join us if we wanted to eat on the porch (I like dinner guests, but I prefer them to have just 2 legs, 2 eyes, no wings, etc.

Put some more plants in earlier today-- but still have some to go.
I'm having an invasion of sticker weeds this year. They are everywhere. The kind that gets abt 2-3 feet tall, with nasty stickers covering the whole thing. The inside is hollow.
what's the wisdom: should I spray them or hoe them out?

I'm pooped & abt to sing Compline & get to sleep!
Pat

Just a quick check in...not sure if I told you that I'm heading to Texas for a fun meet with some Dave's Garden friends. Last year I went to Alabama and had a blast. There were 5 of us there. This year it's to Tyler, Texas and there should be 9 of us. I'll be back on Tuesday.

Have a great weekend all!

Pat, how about posting a pic of your screens? And, my suggestion for any weed is to pull it out rather than spray.

My jubilation over the spring water was short-lived. It soon pooped down to a bare trickle. It's either: cartridge fuses are bad (been laying on the shelf in the pump house for 15+ years), burned out the pump, or not enough water. The spring bubbles up in at least 2 more places than just the 4" pipe that feeds into the spring box so the spring box sits in a pool. A sledge can bust a hole in the side to let the rest of the water pour in and feed the pump and I'm hoping that, or fuses, is the simple solution.

I'm off to town to get new fuses (and a biscuit!). Might as well price well pumps while I'm there... sigh.

Ric, I had the water tested last year, but not for heavy metals. (Those require some expensive tests.) The water is sweet, and Buster drinks from it when he's over here. There is some bacteria but nothing harmful. I'm not sure there's enough water to supply the house without digging out the spring, and we'd have to pay the minimum town water bill anyway. ($25)

Here's the spring house... the main spring is at floor level under that concrete shelf outside the door.

I'm back... and my water is fixed! You wouldn't believe what the problem actually was... see the photo? That screen was in the sprinkler head, and clogging up from all the debris in the water from sediment build-up in the springbox!

Whew!

Oh wow Darius...how wonderful!!! Gosh...that spring house brings back memories!! We had a stone spring house...and the roof was...hmm..thinkin..cement?? Anyway...one side of the roof was almost at ground level. Must have been built into the hillside? I wasn't very observant then..lol. I used to climb up on that roof and play. Or play in the stream that fed our pond...and catch salamanders. Good memories!
Well..everyone...I can SEE...even better today. Still not perfect...but getting there! I am sitting here typing with NO glasses!! Yayyy!!
Since I'm not allowed to drive yet today...am skipping Wallyworld..yayy..and playing outside!! Such beautiful weather!!!! I LOVE IT!!!
We shall see how well I can see to do things out there!
I hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Marcy, that is ABSOLUTELY wonderful!

Darius, I am so glad you were able to get all that fixed pretty cheap!

Bonnie, great news about you having a decent day without much pain!

Pat, I'd like to see a picture of your screen curtains, too.

Marcy, great news, I am so happy for you. Now you won't have to keep taking the glasses off to wipe sweat!

Darius, a simple fix to the water problem. Wish all problems were that easy to fix.

I am outside doing some weeding and getting a bed ready to plant. Later, I might open the swimming pool, and start getting that ready to use. Today is another good day so far, and I am taking advantage of every minute of it. This is just a break to get something cold to drink. Later.

Good Afternoon All....78* and beautiful sunshine....

I am weeding and mulching the fountain bed by the porch, and then I have to scoot and get the heavy grasscloth down in the waterfall channel before the rains come and erode my edges...

Marcy ...If you can see to type without glasses, you can see to do anything you want to outside, and you are gonna get in soooo much trouble!!!! LOL....What wonderful news!!! I am so happy for you...

Bons...So glad you are having another good day...What are you planting?
It's all your fault I just capped 2 qts of strawberries, sliced them and put them in the fridge...I got Jim a can of sliced peaches at the grocery, and forgot the Coolwhip...I went to get the mulch yesterday next door to WallyWorld, and I went in to get the cream, and they had the berries for $1.50 a quart, so I splurged...LOL I'll bake the scones later on...

Hopefully lots of plants getting transplanted today...and lots of seeds going in the ground over the next few days...Now that the Kubota doesn't need to get in to the topside of the pond anymore, I can also finish the bottom 3rd of the pathway down to the arbor...That is a quick and easy job...

Darius, I had those screens in the washer hoses, and I had to clean them about every 4-6 months...especially on well water...so glad that is all that it was...

Lunch break is over, so I better get back at it...

Hope you all are having a wonderful day....

Darius LOL!
Rookie mistake.... bet you would have remembered to take that out if you sweated pipe eh?
Anyway GOOD NEWS!

Just got back from Reading Feed.... a 54' truck just finished unloading.
They have hundreds of hanging Boston Ferns and Tropical Hibiscus Trees.

Basically we went for pots.

They have these.... 13" @ 4.99, 16" @ 6.99
http://www.potterycollaborative.com/product/product-baccellato.htm

And these... 24" @ 12.99, 28" @ 24.99
http://www.potterycollaborative.com/product/product-ancona.htm

Amoung dozens of other pots.

A COOL Hummer feeder for 6.99 that I'll get a shot of later.

Ric

Dropping Strawberry shortcake crumbs here.......


Time to move on...Continued to here :

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/992223/

..

This message was edited May 22, 2009 3:58 PM