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Post by Mumsey on Jul 23, 2024 18:33:58 GMT -5
Started off the day with our walk. Came home and cleaned up the kitchen. Then decided to get the skins off the few plums on the counter. Put them in the instant pot, intending to not let them even get to 0. One thing led to another and before I knew it, it was 22 minutes slow release. OOPPS. Mushy plums. So decided they would become plum syrup. Cooked it down slow most of the day. Will jar it up tomorrow, not much, maybe 3 half pints.
Went for another walk later in the afternoon after our mid day downpour which cooled things off a bit, then the sun came out and the temps shot back up. The sun was bright RED this morning. Kinda eerie. Probably due to wildfire smoke. Temps and dew points will be rising through the weekend. Sauna time again.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jul 23, 2024 20:16:38 GMT -5
Decided to tempt Mother Nature by filling one rain barrel and half of another one Sunday. It didn't work. So up yesterday and decided to water the new garden and give everything some comfrey tea. Well it started raining but in the entire ten minutes it rained my hair or shirt didn't get soaking wet. Around 4:00 I decided to weave another layer of twine around the paste tomatoes and it started raining halfway through and I got soaked! 1/2" and the plants sure appreciated it and I appreciated not having to water this morning. I did however plant more cut-short beans as mom is worried that theirs aren't going to produce much. Debated about where to plant them and decided on the concrete blocks where I planned to move the trellis I built two years ago. Did things a little differently this time as I ran a piece of wire the length of the bottom and decided on fishing line for the actual trellising. Figured it only has to last a few months but did make a makeshift needle to thread the line through the holes (trellis is built out of old sign post sections) and oh my what a timesaver that was. Also made a temporary spool holder for the line while I was working and wondered why I hadn't thought of it before. Sharing some pictures as it might help someone else. Cleaned up and kiddo and I were all Mom's by 11:00 to accompany her to optometrist appointment. Had lunch and spent the day together. Tomorrow it's hubby's turn for a doctor's appointment and we'll once again spend the day with Mom as her birthday is tomorrow. ![](https://i.ibb.co/Kr0mbqs/IMG-20240723-091124.jpg) ![](https://i.ibb.co/1f1RwbD/IMG-20240723-091533.jpg) ![](https://i.ibb.co/PZKcGkX/IMG-20240723-091030.jpg)
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 23, 2024 21:52:49 GMT -5
Today was a fast day so only out for an hour in the morning. Planted out the just sprouted cucumbers, then went in and in front of the fan most of the day. In the evening collected the eggs and fed and watered the chickens, then back inside. Received the two nice, raised beds that were on sale. I ordered them with this year's seed sale money. Need to get some bales of sunshine mix (similar to pro-mix but a lot cheaper) at Lowes and mix with chicken compost. Will set out front and fill with the flowers languishing on the front porch.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 24, 2024 15:55:57 GMT -5
Sprayed myself up and went out to pull weeds. The rain yesterday loosened them up pretty good. Pulled 4 bucketful so far. Mostly Purslane. I know it's edible, but to me it's a weed. The chickens like it though. Pulled more onions and a couple of tomatoes, by that time I was done with the mosquito's. Even with bug spray they were horrible. Came in to wash hubby's white shirt for this wedding and made sure his black slacks are clean too.
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Post by Latitude33 on Jul 24, 2024 19:29:16 GMT -5
Watered everything despite additional monsoon activity that's predicted. Swept up the victims of the latest Great Bug Light Massacre, relocated a couple of Sonoran toads (attracted to the bugs) into landscape beds, and did a Happy Dance as all the recent veggie seeds I started have sprouted. ![happy-times-smiley-emoticon](//storage.proboards.com/6160292/images/Gx7s5LC7ZiufbJMbm3iL.gif) Taking no chances and protecting them from multi-critters this time. Found another interesting local non-profit, Tucson Organic Gardeners. They have a web presence in case you care to have Mr. Google take you there. According to their planting guide I can sow seeds of beans, corn, cow-pea, cucumber, cantaloupe, pumpkin, summer and winter squash and transplant seedlings of tomato and tomatillo through the end of August. Wohoo!
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Post by desertwoman on Jul 24, 2024 20:28:08 GMT -5
Turned my car over to the collision repair shop early this AM. Finally. That guy side swiped me 2 months ago!! It's a busy shop and the one recommended by my insurance company, so I chose to wait to get in. His insurance company agreed to cover all the expenses.
Then spent too much time on the phone this morning working through insurance bureaucracy, to get my car rental. The other insurance company waited until yesterday to put in the order for the rental, who couldn't rent me a car until Saturday! I let the other insurance co know that that wasn't acceptable and how I didn't understand why the order was put in at the last minute, seeing as they have had 6 weeks to do that (I'm thinking doing things last minute could be a way to cut some days off the rental period). I suggested they might find another car rental company in town, to get me set up. Then I left a voicemail with his supervisor- a half hour later I got a text that I was set up at a different rental company and so I will pick up the rental tomorrow. Just in time, seeing as hubby is leaving town on Friday for a long weekend memorial service gathering. Whew! Thanks for letting me vent....
Then we made our bi monthly trip to Albuquerque. Felt good to take a day off from physical labor.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jul 24, 2024 20:44:43 GMT -5
Mostly Purslane.ย I know it's edible, but to me it's a weed.ย Hmmm... should I admit I brought a large purslane plant home from mom's garden this evening? ![(rofl)](//storage.proboards.com/6160292/images/ME8dXZmcAFURModTzFH5.gif)
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Post by binnylou on Jul 24, 2024 20:47:50 GMT -5
emmsmommy, thanks, but no thanks. Iโll pass.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jul 24, 2024 20:58:16 GMT -5
Felt good to take a day off from physical labor. Other than empty the rain water containers into the barrels, I took a day off from physical labor too and it does feel so good.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jul 24, 2024 21:24:12 GMT -5
Hubby's cardiology appointment went well and we ended up making a few stops before going to my parent's house. Mom requested I make broccoli salad, so picked up ingredients for that and scored a cartload of cardboard at Kroger. Two clearance ornamental sweet potatoes and one coleus plant from Walmart and took cuttings of all of them for mom and I to share. I ended up bringing the coleus home but left her several cuttings. Usually I supply her with comfrey tea but she's the one with an abundance this year and I brought another gallon home. Hubby forgot what I told him it was and took the lid off for a sniff before putting it on the car. ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) Kiddo sang Happy Birthday to mom in it's entirety which was a first for her and a moment we are so proud of. When we got home I put the plants in the greenhouse and brought the cuttings inside and collapsed. I may actually sleep in tomorrow as I shouldn't have to water, but knowing me I'll be outside at the crack of dawn doing something.
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Post by Mumsey on Jul 25, 2024 4:47:23 GMT -5
Over an inch of rain early yesterday so no walk til later, by then humidity was increasing. Cleaned up kitchen including the stove. The ice maker on fridge is acting up again. Noticed water leaking from the ice bin. Great. Emptied it, it's like it isn't staying cold enough in the bin. Started over, it's making ice again so later today will know if it's going to melt again. Went to the garden, cut a ton of kale and froze it. Packed it in the instant pot and steam for 1 minute, then to cold water. It's an easy way to "blanch" it. Then put 8 more broccoli in the ground. Decided not to plant cukes this year, don't need to make pickles, so 6 broccoli fit where the cukes would have been, slowly finding space for them all, there are 8 remaining. 49 in the ground so far. The Patterson onions and shallots are slow at maturing this year, the tops are barely beginning to fall over, usually they are all out of the ground by now. Need to pick beans this morning before heading to Dad's. He is to be at the hospital at 12:15 for surgery. Step mom is going along, brother will meet us there when he gets off work, and he's taking Friday off to have 3 day weekend to help with Dad. I have neighbor lined up to let Princess out and feed her later today. Lots of things to get done at home this morning since the weekend is up in the air re: taking care of Dad. Sis is on speed dial in case we need her. Nice to have all ducks in row in case of need to mobilize!! ![Zshrug](https://mayophoto.net/misc/shrug.gif)
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Post by emmsmommy on Jul 25, 2024 8:14:58 GMT -5
Mumsey. Sending hugs for all of you and praying that your Dad makes a quick recovery.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 25, 2024 9:33:45 GMT -5
Mumsey,Yes, sending good thoughts and a prayer for your dad and family.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jul 26, 2024 6:18:25 GMT -5
Not much gardening yesterday as I'm trying to give my ankle a break. Unloaded cardboard from car and sat and took off all tape and labels and then carried them to the shed. When I was in town a few days ago I took the faucet from the laundry sink to Lowes and thankfully I found someone to help me as I would have never found the right fitting in the aisle I was in. After reattaching the faucet I realized that the fitting would indeed attach to a water hose, but to the opposite end of what I was needing. Scanned Lowes site and Amazon and decided to attach a washer hose and voila, problem solved. Now just need to find one more washer hose as my plans are to have one faucet providing water from storage barrels and the other providing water from the hose. Did have to remove and clean the screen in the faucet but everything works great! I'll probably not worry about plumbing for the drain until next year when it's in the greenhouse.
Hubby is working today and my plans are to harvest the few heads of cabbage that are ready and possibly dehydrate some. I really need to start sorting and pricing for sale next week too.
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Post by Mumsey on Jul 26, 2024 6:36:28 GMT -5
It was a long day yesterday but we got through it. Dad did well through surgery and recovery and was able to go home. Told him he just used one of hs 9 lives. He laughed. Now to wait for lab results. The dr was optimistic that it was low grade. Now the challenge is the catheter and step mom. He will have that for a week. I'm going there this morning to guide step mom through the process. Another challenge is getting him to drink lots of water, not an easy task.
Picked a bucket of beans when I got home last night. More garden puttering later when I home.
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