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Garden Gate:  OMG, What Have I Just Gone & Done: Part 2  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 29 2009 : 12:13:39 PM
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I am tempted to plant the rest of my tomatoes in raised beds. Man, that's too much work. I only got 18 little tiny plants in the ground and I was practically standing on my head. Good grief! So I did all I wanted to anyway. I'm done for the day out there. It's HOT, too. So it can rain here now, not in Odenville, Al. though. Not til Cherry gets her air workin'.I did feel a few drops awhile ago.
That is a cute story, Cherry. Isn't it funny how when we're young we believe anything?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 07:27:45 AM
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AC is up and running!! Amazing what a little freon will do for ya! Besides, when it's hot and muggy outside, you're supposed to be able to go inside to cool off and it kinda defeats the purpose of taking a break when inside's hotter than outside. But I'm a happy girl now! No rain yet, but there're more clouds than sun. Did you get a good shower?
I know that "standing on your head" feeling! Especially when weeding. If you decide not to plant the rest of your tomato plants, you could gift them. Sometimes, well quite often, I bite off more than I can chew and end up passing along my good intentions. I once bought 6 flats of annuals to plant in my deck and porch containers. Half-way through the 5th flat I ran out of containers and just did not have the energy to plant them in the ground, so off to my friends house they went. Made us both very, very happy!
Cayenne pepper on the green beans worked! No baby grasshoppers on them. Nope! Now they're feasting on my radishes! I'm gonna need more cayenne!
~~Cherry~~
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 09:25:19 AM
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Yay! Cherry! I know that you have got to be SOOOO relieved to have the air running! It doesn't seem right that the temps have been up in the low 90's already. I expected a little period of temperate weather before we got blasted by summer, but I am so thankful for the sunny days. Winter really gets me down. I NEED light!
Y'all, my marigolds have been attacked and one tomato plant was bitten off at the ground. Here is a photo of one not hit yet.
And here is one that, as of this morning, doesn't even have the flower on it anymore.
I thought that rabbits got them, but Lovin' Man says that it is squirrels. What do y'all think? Would cayenne pepper sprinkled directly on the plants deter other animals from eating them?
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 09:38:47 AM
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Cherry, that is a funny story about the frog! Oh, adults just love to tease little kids. They're so wide-eyed and innocent. How did they explain it when Jeremy showed back up? Had he been forgiven? LOL!
I LOVE going to Pepper Place. Oakley loves it just because so many people bring their well-behaved dogs and she likes to pet them. There are some really pretty ones that we have been seeing for years. I like it because of all the tasty things that you can buy. Of course, there are vegetables, but we buy honey and cheese and bread and herbs and flowers. And there's live music and cooking demos and beautiful art and other handmade items. I love the whole scene, but for me, I have to get there early, which means I like to leave the house by 7:30. And sometimes, I just don't want to do that on a Saturday morning. Ha!
Maybe we could go together sometime, if you are game to go early in the morning.
I have never been to Petals from the Past, though I think that I have seen ads for it in local mags. I just checked out the website and it definitely looks like a place that I will want to visit! I like their style, sacrificing for future butterflies!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 4:58:10 PM
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Yeah!!! I am so happy for you! Isn't that so fun to see things pop up? I love it. Good for you. I have never grown peas. Are they the sugar snaps? How long til they produce peas now? I am growing field peas this year for the first time. I would think as hot as it is here, they will do well. I can't wait to have fresh field peas with rice. Oh, so good! And they sell real good at the farmer's market here, too.
Everything in mine is coming up except the okra. But there is still time for that. What else do you have planted, Alee?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 4:59:19 PM
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Nikki, have you seen slugs in the garden? They will flat eat a plant in no time.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Miss2Missus
True Blue Farmgirl
407 Posts
Karen
Asheville
NC
USA
407 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 5:07:16 PM
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i have the tiniest little sprouts coming up from my peas and lettuce. here's hoping!!
cherry, i had orignally planned on doing just herbs for this project since its my first time. but like always i got a little bit carried away. oops. now i have no herbs in my garden.
Karen ^_^
http://apple-and-eve.blogspot.com/ |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 5:28:44 PM
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Hey, Kris! Thanks for the tip. I didn't see any slugs, but I sure would like to try to fight them off rather than sit out in the yard with a pellet gun trying to defend the poor plants from bigger marauders.
I hope that you can post some photos of your garden soon! It sounds like it's going to be yummy!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 5:47:59 PM
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I just e-mailed Jessie to see if she can help me with pics. I think she has dial-up, too, but she can post pics. So maybe she can tell me how she does it. I've tried with photobucket and did get a few to come up on the sourdough bread thread once. But it takes forever to get them on there. We have gotten fiber optic lines out here and they were working on the pole up the road today! So it's coming. I just have to be patient. My DD, Abby, says it will be very easy to put pics on here then.
I am taking tons of pictures. I probably have over half my camera full of goat pics, then grandkids, then gardens. I just got ink, too, so I printed some up today. I have Russell Crowe's pic right here in front of me now.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 8:31:58 PM
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I feel your pain, Kris, about the dial-up. Can you believe that it's only been a year since we even had a land-line at our house? We've lived here since '99 and fought for nearly 10 years to get it. But they did us up right when they finally ran it 'cause all they offered was DSL. And, hmmmmm, Russell Crowe.....niiiice! I'm pretty infatuated with Hugh Jackman and Jason Statham myself. Seen Australia, yet? When you do, you'll understand why?  And I've looked for field peas to no avail. Did you order yours?
Nikki, from your pics, it looks like your plants are in a raised bed? Would rabbits be able to get to your plants? It sure looks like rabbit damage from your pics, and I didn't think squirrels ate plants, but I've thunk wrong before. You could try the cayenne 'cause it won't hurt anything, but when I tried it, the baby grasshoppers moved on to cayenne-free plants. A ring of salt around the base of the plants will kill the slugs, just make sure it's a fairly big ring of salt. I'm with Kris on that one; they can definitely do quick damage!
LOL! You're right about Jeremy! He apologized and promised to never back-talk Grandmother again, so she turned him back into a boy even though Lauren was skeptical about his promise. She asked Grandmother why'd she change him back and G'mother explained and Lauren said, "We'll see 'bout that!" She was sooo bossy when she was little. But she was surrounded by adults and thought she was one, too!
And I would LOVE to meet you one Saturday at Pepper Place! I am so going this summer! You should sign-up for the newsletter from Petals from the Past. They're always having stuff going on down there. One week-end soon, they're doing Antiques in the Garden. And May 9th, they're having a Mother's Day Tea. And they have great gardening tips in the newsletter, too.
Alee, I'm so proud of your little baby plants! Don't you just love gardening for that very thing? Am I the only one who talks to them? I get made fun of for it, but I believe a little encouragement never hurt anyone or anything!
Karen, I think that's getting carried away in a good way! Do you plan on planting some rosemary? Ya'll aren't going to believe this, but this past week-end I saw a rosemary plant that was over 6' tall! Had to be 'cause I'm 5'8" and standing beside it I had to look up to see the top of it! And it had the prettiest purple flowers on it! I've never seen one bloom. Well, mine never has, but I do clip at it all the time for cooking.
I'm really enjoying chatting with you girls!
~~Cherry~~
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 04:25:20 AM
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Oh, man, Kris! You were right! It was slugs! I just went out there and their nasty, shiny trails were all over everything. I looked up what organic remedies I could use and opted for a liberal sprinkling of Epsom salts since I had that on hand. Take that you, little brown devils! Oh, yes, and I know how frustrated you must be with dial-up! We just recently got DSL and the whole family marvels at its speed like we are a clan of cavemen admiring a spaceship. Can't wait til you can post photos of your babies!
Cherry, I just signed up for the newsletter from Petals from the Past. I saw that they serve lunch on Saturdays for $10! I'm going to have to take my mom down there. I know she would love it! That would be great to meet down at Pepper Place! I am planning on hosting a lunch here for my in-laws and parents using only locally grown food like Barbara Kingsolver from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and I am would like to do my one-stop shopping there. LOL! The first day that it is open is May 16, so I'm serving lunch on the 17th. HA!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 05:51:29 AM
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Cherry, Russell Crowe was my rooster that was taken away by some awful horrible predator a few days ago. I am just at a loss without him. He was the best roo ever. I miss him bad already. Just didn't want you to think I'm sitting here with a picture of another man in front of me!!
No, I did not order the peas. He had them at the feed store. But I did get a 5# bag. It could last a few years!
Nikki, I'm glad you found the culprit. They really are big eaters. When I saw all the mulch, that was my first guess. They like wood chips and leaves. Anything wet and moist. I just use old hay to mulch around my plants. It is thin enuf to keep things like that out but also keeps the soil from drying out too much.
Where is this Pepper Place? How from from Chattanooga? Also, I saw an article in Southern Living a few years back about Ala. being the best place to pick your own peaches. I would love to go and do that, but can't remember where they were. Just that they were in Alabama. And where is Petals from the Past, too?
It's finally raining but just had a big boom, too. So buy. ya'll!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 06:32:23 AM
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Russell Crowe! What a wonderful name for a rooster! I am so sorry that he was taken. It hurts and is maddening to have the animals that we care about disappear like that. Some people at our church keep a pet rooster and chickens, and the rooster went missing. He was beautiful. They happened to have a very good photo of him and an artist from our church did a watercolor portrait of him in remembrance. It was very sweet. Do you think that it was a coyote? I have seen quite a few dead on the road lately.
You were dead-on about the mulch. I didn't actually put that stuff out. It was already there and I just plunked the plants down into it. Now I know better. I CAN learn to garden!
Pepper Place is in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. I am just guessing that it would be about three hours from where you live. Petals from the Past is in Jemison, Alabama and that is about an hour's drive from my house, so about 4 hours from you. Chilton County would probably be the place they were talking about picking your own peaches, and that is just a little past Jemison. We actually pass by that way when we go to our farm in Selma.
They are so into peaches there that even the water tower looks like one! I have never stopped at that produce stand at the exit. Lovin' Man barely slows down so that I can get a descent photo of the tower. Every one I take has got those dang powerlines in it.
Glad that y'all are getting rain! It is looking that way here, too!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 06:40:52 AM
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Yuck, slugs! Table salt will work as well. When I was little, my mimmie (great-great aunt who raised my mama) would let me walk around behind her while she gardened and it was my job to poor salt on any slugs she found! You know, now that I think of it, I remember Mimmie wearing aprons! I wonder if my mama has any of them packed away somewhere.
Just noticed I seem to have a story attached to whatever little item happens to be mentioned! Goodness!
Aw, Kris, I now know who Russell is. I saw your other post. I'm so sorry I made light of him. And I did think you had a picture of another man (Sorry!) 'cause I have my Hollywood picks! But I do hurt for you! A good man, or rooster, is definitely hard to find!
Pepper Place is in downtown Birmingham, so probably a little over two hours from Chattanooga? It takes me about an hour 45 to get to Chattanooga from my house and about 30 to get to downtown. Their hours are just from 7-12 and Saturday only from mid-May until around mid-October. And for the best peaches you have to go to Chilton county! YUM! They grow 'em as big as softballs down there! Petals from the Past is off I-65 at the Jemison exit, about an hour out of Birmingham. BUT on your way to Chilton county! Petals is absolutely beautiful! It's a working garden/nursery. And they specialize in heirloom and hard to find plants. They have a little gift store and they put on seminars and have special events through-out the year. I wonder if they have any MJF books/mags in their gift store? It'd be a good fit!
You going to Homestead Hollow, Nikki?
Well, gotta run. Taking the big dog (Emma) to the vet for her annual. Very gloomy here today. There're storms rolling through just north of me, but no rain here. Yet!
~~Cherry~~
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 06:42:55 AM
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Goodness, Nikki, we were typing at the same time!
~~Cherry~~
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 07:21:22 AM
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Ok, I am going to have to plan a day trip to these places soon. And thanks for the picture. That is so neat. I love peaches and can hardly wait for good fresh ones. When's the best time to go pick???
Cherry, I've had some pretty funny comments about my boy. So that's ok. If I get a roo from his offspring, he will be called RC, Jr. I just love that name for a roo.
Hope ya'll get some of this rain. But we usually get Alabama rain. So ya might not get this. And Alabama weather is usually fierce, too. Kind of like the drivers there!!! Just a joke, girls.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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LisaLu
True Blue Farmgirl
126 Posts
Lisa
Wildomar
Ca
USA
126 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 08:50:29 AM
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Kristin:
How is your garden doing? I haven't been online for awhile, my computer got a virus, and I need to download all of my pictures before the experts can fix it....I will have to wait for a rainy day, there is sooooo much to do outside right now. (I'm using my son's laptop!)
I have been picking about 8 lbs of strawberries everyday, and putting them in the freezer, I'll make jam when that rainy day comes!
Yesterday I picked about 40 artichokes, and got them blanched...but I still need to remove the leaves and clean up the hearts so they can join the strawberries in the freezer! I made a wonderful artichoke/spinach dip last weekend...it was delish!
My carrots are popping up all over, last years seeds desided to sprout, I pulled one out, it was 2" in diameter and 8" long! I made 24 little carrot cakes out of that bad boy! ( I only ate one, and packed the rest in the freezer!...I'll eat more if the rain ever comes!)
My tomatoes are starting to take off, I've planted basil inbetween the plants, as well as marigolds. The lettuce and spinach is going crazy and my corn is about a foot high. This year I'm having problems with my cucumbers, I can't seem to get them to take...the first planting didn't sprout, the second planting looks sad, the plants are about 1-2" high, but haven't grown in awhile. I may have to go buy some plants....I finally found the perfect pickle recipe and now I can't grow the darn cucs!
A few weeks ago I got together with a fellow MJFarmgirl, she came to visit my garden...I just got the sweetest "Thank you" card from her, she was so inspired, she planted a garden herself! I was so touched.
Got to go....today is perfect garden weather, so I must attack the weeds, it's forcasted to rain on Saturday...you know what I'll be doin'....
LisaLu
Happiness is homemade... |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 09:13:44 AM
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Hey Lisa, good to hear from you! Hope you get the ole computer fixed. The garden is just starting here. I planted 2 weeks ago Sat. and it's all coming up now! I'm going to plant cucumbers in my corn and see if they'll climb up the stalks. It will be easier to see them there. Sounds like you are getting lots of stuff from yours. I have never grown artichokes. Are they easy to grow? I bet they like it dry. They might work here. I have grown Jeruselem artichokes. They are so good and crunchy. I wish I had gotten some to bring here when we moved. I did get a few strawberries the other day. I need to go check them again.
See ya, Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 2:31:32 PM
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Cherry, that is funny that we were replying at the same time! I don't think that I am going to go to Homestead Hollow. At least not on Saturday. I might feel up to it on Sunday afternoon when I feel that the crowds have died down. We went last year just to drop Selena off to help her grandmother with her booth and the traffic was insane! Lovin' Man couldn't be paid enough to ever go back! Are you going to go?
Lisa, wow, you've got it goin' on in the gardening department. Everything that you talked about made my mouth water. Sounds like your family is not gonna starve whatever happens!
I am loving reading about everyone's gardening adventures. You all make it sound so doable! I am encouraged!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 6:02:38 PM
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Hey, Kris! You should plan a day trip to hit Pepper Place, Petals from the Past and peach picking. Wow! Try to say that five times fast! I'll meet up with you. I would love to have a friend to go to these places with. I just ordered a canning book and I want to pick lots of things and preserve lots of things if I can manage to read the directions and follow them accordingly. Ha!
Here is some information that I copied and pasted from a u-pick farm list
McCraw Farms - nectarines, peaches, plums, Honey from hives on the farm, and prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, school tours
7299 County Road 15, Maplesville, AL 36750. Phone: 334-366-4263. Email: mccraw27@bellsouth.net. Directions: From Clanton Alabama take hwy. 22 west about 9 miles to McCraw Peach sign on left of hwy. turn left here onto county road 15, continue about 3 miles we are on the right at the McCraw Peach sign. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in May, June, July, August. Open: 7 days a week from 7am to 6pm. Early peaches: May 15th. Plums: May 15th through June, Nectarines, June 10th through July 10th, Peaches: other varieties of peaches ready June 1st through August 15th,we have a different variety ready about every week or 10 days during this time. Payment: Cash, Check. We have Free recipes, Free canning and freezing information available here from our local Extension office, Also seasonal vegetables available. 2008 prices: U-Pick peaches $7, Nectarines $8, Plums $10, all per 8 quart basket. We supply the picking containers, then empty into bags or your containers after picking. If you wish to take the picking basket you may for $1 more per basket.
We also pass by this place on our way to the farm. Just told Lovin' Man about it and he is afraid that we will never reach the farm again! This is the man who barely slows down so that I can photo the water tower. LOL! He said that he may relent in honor of Mother's Day. Ha!
Are driver's from Alabama notoriously bad? I don't know because I have nothing to compare it to. LOL!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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Miss2Missus
True Blue Farmgirl
407 Posts
Karen
Asheville
NC
USA
407 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 6:03:47 PM
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Nikki, I've been told that beer works well to keep the slugs away too. I'm not quite sure how you use it, ill find out. that's how my dad's always done it.
Kris, I'm sorry about your rooster. I love that if you can you'll have a JR to let him live on.
Karen ^_^
http://apple-and-eve.blogspot.com/ |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 6:38:48 PM
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Thanks Nikki. And that's not a bad price for peaches. Is that this years prices? I will definitely have to go then. And I would love to meet you and hang out. Sounds like fun. When are the peaches ready to pick there?
We have a feed store here in Lafayette now that has a kitchen with all stainless steel appliances and they are going to have classes on canning and cooking. Sounds like fun. They also started selling anything to do with bees and hives. They have the best honey from right over the hill from us on Pigeon Mt. Maybe you could find a place like that near you. I have been canning for 30 years now, but I'm sure there is always more to learn. Like last year I learned that I should not can squash now because of botulism. Huh. So when did that happen? I did it anyway. And we're still alive. I don't know if I trust these county extension agent people. Just like doctors. They must all go to the same schools.
Your hubby sounds like he likes to drive fast! It reminds me of the movie with Chevy Chase and his wife when they move to the country so he can write a book. The mailman was so fast they hardly ever even saw him coming, just a trail of dust. But that picture comes to mind when you say he won't slow down for anything. Too funny! I should not have said anything about Ala. drivers. They're ok. We just get out of their way and everything's fine! LOL!!
It has rained here all day and looks like it's settled in for the night, too. We really did need it here. The ducks will have their little pond again. They love this rain.
Thanks. Karen. He was a good ole boy. He will be missed here. And beer is great to kill slugs. Just nasty messy. So is salt. Have you ever seen one when they get in the salt? Like one big slime ball. So gross and very disgusting. But why are snails so darn cute? I love snails.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Garden Gate: OMG, What Have I Just Gone & Done: Part 2 |
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OMG, What Have I Just Gone & Done: Part 2
