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Post by Mumsey on Oct 20, 2021 16:33:16 GMT -5
Went to the big city today. On list was to stop at Auto Zone for lift supports for rear tailgate of our vehicle. None. Can’t even order. Said we have go to a dealership. Called them when we got home. They can get them alright. $303 for 2, just for the parts. Didn’t ask about installation because it’s a pretty easy 10 minute job. Not happening. Went on Amazon to find compatible lift support. Found them. Less than $40 for 2. Says they fit and all reviews were 5 star. If they last 2-3 yrs I’m happy. The original equipment ones lasted only 6 yrs.
Walked after all that. It was rainy early. Noticed Hibiscus blooming again! Third time this year. Totally odd.
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Post by martywny on Oct 20, 2021 18:10:31 GMT -5
I ordered the lumber for my eight new raised beds, ouch! I also had an opportunity to use my favorite piece of exercise equipment today, the clamshell post hole digger. I can feel pain but the bourbon seems to be helping. The post holes were for the 4x4 corner posts that support my new compost bin. It is 8x8 and 4’ high. The sides are the boards from the old raised beds. I have three sides in place up to about 32” so I can begin filling it next cutting. Seven of the old beds are empty but one is my asparagus bed so I have to come up with a plan for that one. I should be able to build two compost bins side-by-side out of the old bed lumber when all is said and done. I am going to order the soil mix tomorrow so the beds will be ready to plant this spring.
The only pickins’ from the garden today were some cayenne peppers, about 20 or so. Two more paprika peppers are ready to pick, but a few more days may yield a few more peppers. I think we’ll call it quits in about two more weeks.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Oct 20, 2021 18:31:57 GMT -5
desertwoman , the design is really intriguing, and based on the symmetry and designs, I'm guessing there's a lot of symbolism in that basket. Curious, how were you able to get an Afghani basket? At a craft show, or were either you or your husband travelers to that area? pepperhead212, your tree is sooo healthy!
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Oct 20, 2021 18:35:44 GMT -5
Noticed Hibiscus blooming again! I was surprised to see a few purple violets blooming over the last month or so. The lemon balm are still healthy and cheery; I usually snip one or two when I walk by just to inhale their fragrance. The leaves in this area are slow to turn color; the magnificent maple across the street is finally sharing some of its rosy pink/red colors, but many others are still green.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Oct 20, 2021 19:47:10 GMT -5
Today I trimmed my two makrut/kaffir lime leaf trees. I wish I had a place to give them away, like I do with my curry leaves, and the Mexican things, but nothing like that around here. I also took two of the stems, and those ten from the curry tree, and am attempting to root those, not that I need any more! Those ten curry cuttings I'm starting, four are in turmeric, four in rooting powder, and four in gel. The two lime tree cuttings are in gel. Those lime trees were almost as tall as me (78"!). As I was trimming them was when I thought of trying to root some, next to those curry cuttings. Two makrut/kaffir lime trees, ready to be trimmed WAY back, to get ready to go indoors. by pepperhead212, on Flickr Here are the lime trees trimmed back - still need trimmed a little better, but I got 95 percent of it off. by pepperhead212, on Flickr Some of those leaves on one of the lime trees got huge: These lime leaves look huge next to my hand, and I have large hands! by pepperhead212, on Flickr The cuttings I just peeled the ends of with a vegetable peeler. Curry tree stem, peeled, ready to be rooted. by pepperhead212, on Flickr Curry tree stem for rooting, coated with turmeric, to compare to the powder and gel compounds. by pepperhead212, on Flickr Ten curry tree cuttings, and two kaffir lime tree cuttings, put in the soil mix on 10-20, attempting to root. by pepperhead212, on Flickr
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Post by binnylou on Oct 20, 2021 19:49:05 GMT -5
martywny, how many raised beds do you hope to have when you are done building?
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Post by desertwoman on Oct 20, 2021 21:22:19 GMT -5
Curious, how were you able to get an Afghani basket? At a craft show, or were either you or your husband travelers to that area? I actually was traveling in Afghanistam in 1979. I was doing an overland journey '78-'79 from Europe to India and Nepal, through the Middle East. However, I didn't get this basket then. We bought an Afghani rug from a vendor at our incredible flea market, years ago (it's was so much more than your typical flea market) We got to talking with the man, whose stall it was, and when he found out I had spent some time in Afghanistan he gave me this basket as a gift.
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Post by centralilrookie on Oct 20, 2021 21:58:33 GMT -5
Yesterday’s beautiful weather finally allowed me the opportunity to catch up on my lawn mowing. The grass got terribly long so I raised the mower deck as high as it would go and lowered it a little with each of the last three mowings to avoid having a lawn that looked like fresh mowed hay. Sweetheart had the day off and worked her butt off in the house and tidying up the barn. Mr. Farmer called and asked if I could help with bean harvest at noon and of course I’ll make time to help. Getting to operate some really nice tractors and an auger wagon puts me in my happy place. It was a good day…..
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Post by emmsmommy on Oct 21, 2021 1:48:27 GMT -5
So internet suddenly working again. Still keeping the service appointment as the equipment needs to be checked out.
After many calls and lots of aggravation, the building frame I'm going to use as my greenhouse has arrived! I think we've decided on a 8' x 14' layout though if we space the sections farther apart we could possibility extend it to 21'. All will depend on where we decide to place it, cost of greenhouse film, etc... Still lots to do before we start assembling and hoping to make a trip to visit the school's high tunnel soon to take some notes. Right now the plan is to have a planting bed or two inside and still have an area for starting seeds.
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Post by martywny on Oct 21, 2021 5:54:20 GMT -5
how many raised beds do you hope to have when you are done building? I have twenty beds right now and I am replacing eight of the existing ones. The eight that are being replaced are made with 1" lumber, are 16" deep (two, 8" boards), and do not have the hardware cloth bottoms. Voles get into the beds, and the 1" boards bow out in the middle. The new beds are 2" x 12" boards with hardware cloth bottoms, much heavier and vole-proof. I may even try to sell some of the new style beds.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Oct 21, 2021 17:51:16 GMT -5
desertwoman , how fascinating! Do you have any observations of Afghanistan then and now that you'd like to share? I've been studying the pattern and balance of objects in your basket, and suspect that the animals have meaning, as well as the star, circular and other patterns. And I'm guessing you have insights into this? My NP niece will be working with the refugees on a medical assignment through an agency that places medical people on a locum (tenens?) basis. She'll be working at a base, with military personnel and other medical people who are also working on a temporary contract basis, providing medical care for the Afghani refugees. We're both very, very excited that she's been given this opportunity, and she'll certainly get some NP experience that's far different from hospital work..both of which can complement each other. I'm really, really excited for her! Since she also knits and crochets, sometimes selling her work, I suspect she'll find some way to discuss these and other craft issues with Afghani women in their off time.
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Post by gianna on Oct 21, 2021 22:52:40 GMT -5
Today I got ready for the onslaught of persimmons to be peeled, cored, sliced, and dehydrated. Boxes, clippers, peelers, cutting boards, and dehydrator all primed and ready to go.. This is about a month earlier than most years. We might get a first of season rain Sunday, so I'll probably go pick tomorrow so they can be mostly dehydrated before humidity gets high. My own Hachiya tree is ready for some picking, but I'll hold those for back-up to fill the dehydrator if necessary. I'll process my friend's fruit first. They also have a Fuyu tree that is absolutely loaded. I might try making some fruit leather with those. Most years I just stick with the Hachiyas. Think lovely thick slice of flavorful, sweet, orange fruit, with a layer of chocolate, and topped with some chopped walnuts. Truly wonderful!
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Post by desertwoman on Oct 21, 2021 23:37:08 GMT -5
Think lovely thick slice of flavorful, sweet, orange fruit, with a layer of chocolate, and topped with some chopped walnuts. omg that sounds so good!!!
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Post by gardendmpls on Oct 22, 2021 0:10:53 GMT -5
Ripped out most of the tomato plants in three beds. Left a few that have some tomatoes still on them. Picked more beans. Waiting for those limas to dry. Daughter came and took a cauliflower, some snow peas, juliet tomatoes and chard. Also took chocolate mint which she collects regularly. Have a big container full of dried mint already, so this saves me some work.
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Post by emmsmommy on Oct 22, 2021 10:31:14 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️, what an exciting opportunity for your niece! gianna, I never thought of dehydrating persimmons but sounds delicious! gardendmpls, what does your daughter do with the chocolate mint? I still have some left and time to harvest it.
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