Anyone want to join u s after the Memorial Service on Saturday. We will probably do bring your own lunch and go to park. I noticed several fast food and local restaurants in Marietta

I am so sad we won't be there. Give yourselves a hug from us.

I’m still trying to work out the logistics.

Nancy, Habanero Gold jelly is made with dried apricots. I have the recipe Dawn and I used...which all originates here in Garden Web! I'll send you the recipe and my photo tutorial.

I'd love to go but can't swing it. Give Tim & the rest my regards.

Nancy, if you have extras I would like some milkweeds. Ad do you have paypal? I can't contribute much but I'd like to send something for the flowers.

I have SO many extra! Perfect day for fishing. N-1. G-0. We just started 15 min ago.

Hi everyone. I just caught up here.

Looks like we have a good group representin' on Saturday.

Megan, thanks for the reminder about it being OU/Texas week. We live just outside of Norman and have been caught in that traffic before--in town, though.

When I was working outside a bit yesterday, there was a little bird. I have no idea what kind. It was very small and a brownish/grayish color with a reddish neck. It sat on the ground next to me while I watered. Not typical wild bird behavior. I like to think the little bird was Dawn saying hello and looking at my garden. Have any of you had any similar experiences?

Our gardens continue to be a busy place. They're just full of stuff really. Without any rain in the forecast, we'll be forced to water often.

Some exciting things:

We've torn out the back garden and are building the new beds. They look great so far. They're "beefier". I'll fill one in a couple of weeks, probably after the wedding, and get the garlic planted there. They other beds will be used as compost piles and we'll top them with soil in the spring.

Next: The area behind the shop is cleared now. Tom cleaned it up and HU tilled it and will till it again. I'll rake the grass and then start dropping compost items there as well. The plan is to have wildflowers and such back there eventually, but we might use it for food this coming year.

Next. HU is going to build a hoop house behind the shop. There is an electrical outlet behind the shop, that that could be useful in case we need to power lights, heaters, etc.

Next. I got to use my new Weston Tomato Press last weekend. Some of you saw my FB post. Great purchase and I wanted to tell Dawn about it as well as Nancy, Kim, and Amy.

I picked a gallon or so of pole beans last night. The Three Sisters garden is paying off. We're jokingly referring to it as the Two Sisters garden because the squash gave up. We took that from Jessica at Roots and Refuge. Her Three Sisters is also a Two Sister now. haha.

There's still a lot of food coming from the gardens. I won't list it all now. It will be difficult to keep up with next week because the wedding is just 9 days away now. And we'll be quite busy with that.

I think I'm getting an ulcer. Has anyone had one? I need to make some changes to my diet, I think. Eat real yogurt instead of the coconut milk one, bring back kombucha, make some fermented foods. In good news, that bottle of old homemade kombucha that I found in the shop refrigerator IS making a SCOBY. It has a ways to go, though. I brought it to the house and put it in a jar in a cabinet with a cloth on top.

I'm stopping at NG to buy some kombucha on my way home. Maybe some kefir too.

That's all for now. Back to work.

Please, friends, let me send you some native seeds! Yes, Jen--tons of milkweed seeds.

We were on the lake fishing today. . . perfect weather, as I said. Fishing wasn't great, though. N-2, G-1. (Catfish.). We stopped on the way home to say hi to friends at the marina. I've no idea why, but I was SO sad the entire time, thinking about Dawn. I thought to myself that this made no sense, since she didn't go boating or fishing. But I guess I spend a lot of time thinking of her whenever we're out there. As I do about all my OKGW friends. Heart is heavy, all week. Hugs to you all.

dbarron, I got my plants from the Jasper AR nursery today. Nice shipping job, seemed very efficient. The plants are in good shape. I'm thrilled to have them. They will relax on our shaded deck table for a few days before I plant them. . . baby steps, little plantlings.

Do you take any meds, HJ , prescription or OTC? I've never had an ulcer.

I'm glad your gardens are doing well. I'm totally burned out. If I can get some weeding done, my garlic planted, and native seeds sown for stratification this winter (here and at Lincoln), that'll be all she wrote. I may turn to painting and/or quilting this fall.

Thanks for the recipe, Lisa. Mine will be more jammy than jelly, I think, but will compare the two recipes I now have.

I am glad there is a group from OKGW going down to honor Dawn, I would like to go, but, Madge and I have grounded ourselves because we have been exposed to Covid-1.

I planted some carrots and tender greens today. I really don't need to plant any more stuff, I think we will have enough greens to feed the county. I will be thinning them and using them for mulch later.

I looks like I will have one less deer to feed this winter. It looks like a doe was eating the sweet potato vines along the driveway, and then ran out in front of truck. I took the body to the back side of the place for other critters to eat. All of Gods critters have got to eat.

It’s making me sick that it’s not working out for me to go to Dawns service. Partly financial. I’ll just have to spend the time in the garden.

Nancy, I don't take medications other than the occasional Advil. My stomach has given me issues off and on for the last month or so. I'm very, very stressed. It's hard to explain it, but I can't be enough for most people. And some of them show that in passive aggressive ways. Others just criticize. There's so many "hurt" people and I can't care for them all in the way they need it...and let me know in mostly passive aggressive ways.

And then the ones in my normal life sometimes criticize and don't realize that it hurts me. I don't say the right things or talk about the right things/talk about the wrong things. Things they don't care about/aren't interested in. It's just too much sometimes. Luckily Tom is mostly good with all of this.

And then there's the people I'm neglecting who have lost loved ones and I haven't cooked them a meal, etc. It's so overwhelming sometimes.

My jobs are different. It's just a lot...I don't need to give details about all of it because that would be boring.

My garden posts on FB are honest....but it's just a small part of what I'm doing in my life. I wish I had time to really spend on the garden/preserving. The garden is very good right now and is helping me keep my sanity. As long as I'm not pressured to be better in the garden (by myself and others.)

In good news, HU came over and started Day 1 of more hominy while I made blackberry jelly/jam tonight. We watered.

That's about it.

I had to visit the GI doc many years ago for ulcer like issues. It started ( I think) with taking too many Tums for reflux, which lowered the acid in my stomach. I took antibiotics to deal with the h. pylori bacteria. That went away, but I still had trouble with burning in my tummy region. GI doc asked three questions, do you smoke? do you drink? do you drink caffeine? Hard no on first two, hard yes on the last :( He told me I needed to give up caffeine or take Zantac. I took Zantac for a while, but the cost was off the charts. Insurance covered it, but I felt really guilty. I finally decided giving up caffeine was free. I did that for six months or so and it all cleared up. My GI doc was absolutely astounded. He told me I was the only patient who ever opted to do that! I was able to get back on caffeine later after everything healed up. He also told me that most "ulcers" are really just inflammation in the stomach.

Batch of tomato sauce

HU ( In memory of "Dawn")

Dawn was a saint in the gardening world.

Please keep canning and gardening.

HU

Only thing coming from my garden is the lone volunteer tomato. It's covered with cherry tomatoes. Fennel & cilantro seeds are finishing,a few flowers, & that's it. 2020 was a bust.

Wish I could make the funeral but we're finally starting to pick up on rover & have a houseful this weekend. Glad a delegation is going to represent us.

Nancy, you know I'll take any seeds you want to send. If anything, I'll pass them along in the swap I'm hosting & spread them all across Oklahoma for you lol.

Dawn was a saint in the gardening world.

Life goes on . Another new garden is born.

HU

Whom so ever goes today, please express ALL our condolences. It's not feasible for me to go, but I will be there in spirit today.

Jen—I had a similar experience to Lisa. Pain in my stomach that I thought was an ulcer. I went off caffeine/avoided acidic foods for several months and also stopped taking turmeric, which can cause stomach irritation in some people. (I was taking it for pain in my joints, which I thought was arthritis and turned out to be a severe vitamin D deficiency.)

Those two changes cleared everything up, though I will point out that quitting coffee AND tea is lame. But I really love coffee. 😉

Edited to add: safe travels to all of you attending the memorial. 🙏🏻

I have found chicory is great sub for coffee No caffeine no joint pain

I just managed to loose a post.

Dawn would not be offended by anyone not attending the funeral. She was so careful about group gatherings. If you go, add my regards. I realized today that this forum has become a very important part of my life. I read it every day. I'm disappointed if no one posts. I used to go to the Y pool 3 times a week and became very close to a group there. This has become my alternative pool group. I miss seeing Nancy, Rebecca and Eileen. You are my FRIENDS.

H/J, Dawn visiting as a bird, I can see it. They say cardinals are visiting loved ones. That said, a small brown bird sounds like a Wren. Probably a house Wren or a Carolina. They are curious little birds, too.

My daughter gave herself an ulcer taking too much ibuprofen. My understanding is some are caused by the bacteria and some are caused by things too much ibuprofen (NSAIDS). I'm sure there are other causes. I have a lot of reflux. Having had gastric sleeve, my stomach is touchy and I've gone back to taking pepcid daily as I did right after surgery. The thing that soothes my stomach the most is chicken broth. Probiotics should help. If you've been eating a lot of tomatoes, give them a rest.

Ron put some broccoli and kale in the ground yesterday. I let the cabbage worms pretty much strip a couple of six packs. Does any one else think we'll have a warm winter? The sweet potatoes get harvested tomorrow when grand kids are here. The pots are ready for the pansies. That is planned for this afternoon.

Have a good weekend my friends.

The long range forecast I read (who knows how accurate) was for drier and slightly warmer than average. Though I'm not sure it's any more accurate than looking at spoons/forks/knives in persimmon seeds or possibly how wooly the wooly bear caterpillars are.

Did you all see Bruce's new thread about Dawn's Memorial Service? My GW is acting up, so I only saw it because I knew it had to be here (after Bruce told us he posted it). But even though it is going to be live-streamed through Chris's FB and Dawn's FB, don't know if you all can see it if you're not on FB.

It has been a very emotional day for me. First cried when viewing Dawn's photos in the funeral home's video--though it was wonderful to view them. Next, when Bruce said he'd talked with Tim, who told Bruce how much she loved her garden community. (Yes, cancer, and Tim said she was not in pain.). Then again when I read Amy's comments. Yes, indeed, Amy--this forum had become a very important part of my life, too, and like you, I am disappointed if people aren't posting. I miss our lunches together so much! AGGHH. And I also miss trying out new restaurants in the Tulsa area with you all. Yes, my best friends in OK are in the gardening groups. I noticed that Larry began posting pretty regularly, and have enjoyed your posts, Larry. It seems as though there have been lots and lots of folks who have come and gone, but Dawn was always here. I cannot begin to imagine the impact she has had on so many of us--and so many of your gardens. I was thinking, after seeing Kim's lovely post on finding Dawn's garden, that I expect many of us can find Dawn's garden in our own. Isn't that the best!? (Mine not as much--conditions at our place are nothing like conditions at Dawn's! LOL). Looking out over the deck, there are so many plants I see that make me think of you all--and Dawn. Many--if not, MOST.

While I was mowing today (our neighbors are having their granddaughter's wedding in their back yard tomorrow, so I thought I'd spiff up our back yard since they can see our yard clearly from theirs), I was trying to think of what gardening news I could share, and decided I didn't have much. But then I was thinking of so very many of Dawn's monthly or weekly introductory posts and how informative--things like seasonal gardening tasks we could work on; weather forecasting and patterns; fire warnings, seeds or plants we could be planting, and so much more. And I thought, NO one could do this except Dawn. So I suppose this will be another unpleasant "new normal." Change is difficult, but nothing ever. stays the same.

I gardened all my adult life, but with flowers, not veggies. When I moved to OK, Garry and I decided we'd grow some vegetables. The first year, before we got our raised beds built in 2016, we grew potatoes and one tomato plant. The tomato was a great success. It had the whole fenced in area to itself, and I planted it in a place where I'd dumped a 20 lb bag of potting soil. The plant grew in every direction, about 10 feet in diameter, and we had tomatoes. I have no idea what kind it was. And the next year, I found out there are nearly endless varieties of them, thanks to Dawn and the rest you you. I finally worked up the courage to post in GW because I wanted/NEEDED advice and help in getting our raised beds going. Dawn and Bon were both a lot of help. I think HJ (and maybe HU, too, from reading past threads about that time), began posting to this group about then. I'm pretty sure HJ and I started our current gardens about the same time (you had just moved to your current home, too, I'm thinking, Jennifer, right?)--as well as showing up on this forum.

HJ, I think you expect so much of yourself! Would you agree? I tell you, passive aggressive behavior drives me nuts--dishonest efforts to manipulate. I hope you can find some time to relax with the wedding coming right up.

I had much fun a. year or two ago, going back as far as I could on OKGW and reading all the posts. I found the threads for when Amy joined the group,, and Kim, for example. And always, Dawn's great advice.

Okay, Lisa--this Habanero Gold--THAT'S not gonna work! I have three DOZEN habaneros! LOLOL. What else can I do with the habaneros, you all? All ideas are welcome.

I counted six Monarchs stopping by for treats on the lantanas. That's the most I've seen coming through here at one time. And, seriously, people--besides Jen, who can I send seeds to? Good time to plant them--fall.

Blessings to you all!

You'd think I'd learn to proof before posting.

Nancy if we have one plant that reminds us of Dawn it is enough

Two things: 1) Amy, Garry just asked me where all the birds are. ? Perhaps dbarron would like to weight in on this, too?

And, for HJ, farmgardener, Jen. . . other robot vacuum owners. We were having a Bible study Zoom class Wednesday. I. had the Roomba going in our bedroom. I suddenly got a message on my cell. It said, "Roomba fell off a cliff." Cracked me up. So I had to go rescue Roomba, who had not fallen off a cliff. Just got up on a fat throw rug.

Nancy, I like to post, but I feel that I have nothing of interest to say. I don't grow many flowers, and haven't for 25 or 30 years. I also don't grow many kinds of vegetables. At this point in my life I get a charge out of my wildlife garden, it has veggies and flowers in it, but it is not tended to like my two food gardens. I do have about 3 dozen Old time cornfield pumpkins over there, and about 2 dozen Seminole pumpkins. The wildlife wiped out most of what I planted, even though there was plenty for them, even if they left my stuff alone.

I will miss Dawn very badly, nobody could encourage like Dawn, and nobody else that I know of had the knowledge that she had.

I think that one of my tractors has been repaired well enough that I can make it through fall season. My neighbor is a heavy equipment mechanic

in the winter time and a gold miner in the summer. He has a gold mine in Alaska and spends about 4 months up there most summers. Now that his wife has died and his son has joined the military, plus he has retired I think he will spend more time digging gold.

I know a lot of this is not about gardening, but , I don't have a lot going on in the garden. I have a ton of greens, the carrots and beets are terrible. The wildlife garden has an acre or two of fresh, un-fenced critter food, and more than that of clover and native food.

Larry

you have no idea how much I look forward to your posts. You are funny and I love hearing all your stories. My parents and grandparents are all gone and I cherish stores from everyone older than me.

i went to the visitation. The kids are just as lovely as we imagine. i did not meet the grandchildren.

Tim insists everyone coming tomorrow must join the lunch at the fire department.

Kim

It would make me so happy to go, but I know it’s not the best decision for me. Please, those of you who go, take a few pictures and pass along everything. I’m worried for Tim, how he will do without her.

Cancer. Isn’t it just like Dawn to keep that part of her life quiet? She never mentioned it. I had thought that maybe the cold she had had turned into pneumonia. Maybe it did. I wonder if she was in treatment, etc. I don’t think it was expected that she’d go when she did.

I can see that Dawn would come visit as a simple, plain little brown bird. She didn’t like a lot of attention on herself. Even a cardinal would be too flashy for her.

I don’t have a lot of garden news. Still picking tomatoes and okra. Digging more daffodil bulbs this weekend.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the death in my circle lately.

I spent few hours combing through some old Spring Fling threads. We have some wonderful memories together! I'm not sure how many of you remember Jo. She is no longer with us either. She passed away a few years ago. Those of us who go tomorrow will take all of you with us in spirit!

At the visitation tonight I signed for all the GW friends as well.

We have the grandkids today. I won't be able to watch the service. We plan to plant the pansies and harvest sweet potatoes with the kids, so I think Dawn would approve.

I'm not sure what birds Garry is missing, but fall is a transition time. Some birds migrate south. Some gather together in flocks for the winter. New ones will arrive to winter here. The solitary robins will move to flocks and change their habitat from urban yards to wooded areas. You'll see large flocks of blackbirds and starlings. Soon, Juncos will arrive. As you transition to more native plants, I think you will see interesting birds in winter coming to eat the seed heads. Do you have a field guide? We see an influx of eagles, who winter here, usually around the lakes. Different sparrows will be plentiful. Put out some suet when it cools off and or a log with peanut butter pushed into the bark. You will attract wood peckers, sapsuckers, flickers.

I got an email that Missouri wildflower has rusty blackhaws, need to go order one...or two.

I do love my Rusty blackhaws..but have tried to do more eastern species in this yard (kinda regret that..the rusty was indestructible even with drought and I struggle to keep the arrowwood viburnum alive).

Amy, you’ll be able to watch it later today when it’s posted.

I can't get Missouri Wildflower Nursery website to work. I found a Rusty Blackhaw on TN Wholesale Nursery. Also got a red bud. I've not used them before. I also "watched" a few things on eBay from dbarron's seller. I really have to pull out seeds and see what's old and what I'm out of. I would love to go seed shopping.

We got the sweet potatoes pulled up and the pansies in pots. Poppop is tired. 3 yo fell asleep eating lunch.

Amy, to your comment about why I can't go back any further. . . It says at the bottom, "Only the top 5010 items are presented." (That's out of 12,780 posts.). I wonder if it's possible to get some of the older ones, if one asked. Hmm.

That's cute about the 3 yr old falling asleep. We'll probably pull sweet potatoes at Lincoln next week.

My garlic came yesterday.

Thank you, Kim, for signing us up.

Lisa, had no idea about. the Habanero Gold and its ties to Dawn. I had no idea about Habanero Gold, period. I'd been trying to gather up the ingredients and jelly jars for 2 wks. Finally got it all corralled day before yesterday, knowing I had to get it done before the habaneros went bad. And so, fittingly, I guess, today was the day. Thought about Dawn and you.

It's to bad that Dawn is not with us anymore, Nancy, Today I would have to ask her how to make turnip green jelly. No matter what kind of bull I would toss out there, Dawn always saw right through it and would come back with something, often more off the wall than what I would toss out. But I did go over to the wildlife garden to check things, I have turnip greens running out my ears. I also noticed the skid marks of where the deer was hit the other night, and it looked like she may have coming out of the turnip green, collard, radish, pea, and rye grass mixture. She may have thought that, that area was a buffet I made just for her. I hate it when the animals get hit on the highway, but it happens often in this area because there is so much cover and food. The fact that the traffic on this highway is very heavy make it worse.

Dawn did have a pretty service today. I know her family will really miss her.

Don’t know if this was mentioned but at the last part of the service I noticed a monarch Fluttering about in the field behind the platform. It was lovely to see

That Monarch certainly means Dawn approved of everything.

I am having a BLT with tomatoes and lettuce out of the garden tonight in Dawn’s memory. Her favorite meal.

When I went out this morning to harvest, I had a surprise morning glory blooming. Had no idea there was a plant in that part of the yard. But it was right there and beautiful. I’ll come back and post the picture from my phone. Also had a cucumber on a vine I thought was dead. You can’t say she’s not around anymore. I just have one more guardian angel. We all do.

We might get fairly cold about 10 days from now. I’ll go out tomorrow and try some of her tricks to stress the plants into ripening what’s left. Otherwise there will be fried green tomatoes.

Question I was going to ask Dawn. :( I’m going to pull the plant because it’s empty, but the top of it doesn’t look right.

Going back a few days...Lisa and Marleigh, thanks for the ulcer advice. I'm going to work on some things in my diet and see if that helps.

Nancy, I think we started veggie gardening about the same time. I lurked here in 2014 and began posting in 2015. (I did have a veggie garden one summer way back when Tom and I were newlyweds.)

LOL at your Roomba. I really enjoy my loaner one and will buy one soon. They do get in situations at times, but so worth it for me. Normally on my work days, I'll start it in the morning and it runs for about an hour while I feed everyone and get dressed for work, etc.

Kim! The monarch showed up as the minister was finishing his part of the service and STAYED until we all left. I was obsessed with it and had to watch it...couldn't watch anything but it. It sat on the ground as the police and firefighters lined up. It was watching them. I was trying not to be a freak about it. I'm a spiritual person and things like that mean something to me. When birds or butterflies act in unnatural ways after a loss...well, it's a gift. A little sign of love and assurance. Truly a blessing. AND Dawn believed this too. She had her own stories of birds and butterflies after a loved ones passing.

Tom and I left right after the service. I sorta wanted to stay longer, but I believe Tom was looking out for me honestly. It was good that we left when we did. It allowed me some space to finish and to do a few things before our event this evening. I was even able to water the kitchen garden.

dbarron--are you up for starting up these weekly posts? I thin you'd do a fine job and appreciate you having stepped up recently.

Basically, anyone feel free to jump in. I would do it just when Dawn was later than normal and I didn't see a thread. I'm sure I'll space out and forget it's Sunday on occasion or be busy or something.

I agree with dbarron, anyone should feel free to do it. I am too insecure and introverted to feel comfortable to ever start a post, I don't even know if I know how, but I an sure there are others on here that will be fine with starting a post. Many years ago I worked at a factory, and a lot of factories were having lay-offs. We had a manager that was a lot of fun, and would say, " it you haven't heard a rumor by 10 o'clock, start one". Maybe we should work something like that. If someone gets up and has something to say, just say it. I am sure someone else will jump right in behind them and express something that is on their mind. I feel that there will be a few that feel comfortable being starters, and many of us will be mostly followers. But that is just my 2 cents worth. dbarron, I think you do a very good job, but there needs to be back ups. I think Dawn was a gift from GOD, and he may just have someone waiting to fill her shoes. I think the cream always rises to the top.

Yep Larry, I'm sure not going to feel offended if someone beats me to the punch!
Though I will say that starting the post forces me to actually post..so there's some benefit there, maybe?

Looks like the service was well attended. I'm glad everyone got to go.

Larry, I'm another one who enjoys reading your posts. Everyone's gardens are so different from what I have and I find it fascinating to read what people are doing.

Hey Larry, I don't have a turnip jelly recipe, but I have a recipe for "greens meat balls". I've never tried it. But you know, it's pretty "out there". ;)

Amy, sounds good to me, if I had the recipe I would try them. I like turnips after the cold weather hits, and I getting ready to eat turnip greens for the second time since planting them. If you noticed in the picture I posted for dbarron, I also have some Florida broadleaf mustard that needs to be picked or cut. If I eat all the greens I have planted, I will be as green as a Martian by spring.

Yes, I was sure you just planted them for the deer.

dbarron, the main purpose for the wildlife garden is to improve the soil. The land belongs to my daughter, she lives in the edge of Oklahoma, I live about 6 or 8 miles east of the OK. AR line. She lets me do anything with it that I want. I have been spending a lot of time and money on it trying to make a nice building site. I am retired and need something to do.

If you want any of the zinnia seeds, just tell me where to send them.

I just came from the wildlife garden. I took the mower over and cleaned up some. It looks pretty good. I brought a Seminole pumpkin back with me, it seems that I can't the mower or tractor within 20' of something without running over it. I did not hurt the pumpkin, but did break it from the vine.

No, I have seeds left from this year's attempt. Thank you.