I watched old Alabama Gardner several times and he planted his in September or October. Outdoors. I missed my window of planting. When I lost my job, I forgot about quite a few things, but I am trying to get a schedule going. I got lettuce to come up pretty quick, go round.. I put down fresh soil and then used fresh potting soil to across the top. I’m not always had the best luck with aluiums so we will see.

I think your stories and posts are interesting, Larry. I'm glad you share so often.

Rebecca, yikes! $400! That is a lot. I'm so glad we have a well, although it is electric, so that costs too.

When I look at properties, wells are at the top of my list.

I'll probably try to do lemongrass as an annual and not try to overwinter it.

Today, I had a couple of hours to spend outdoors. I got a handy panel trellis put away. Watered a few things. Harvested the first head of cabbage and my first carrot. It's so cute.

An aloe vera and another houseplant needed up-potted, so did that too. The aloe had 3 pups, so I got them into little pots. Maybe they'll be Thanksgiving party favors for the ladies at our TG lunch. They're very cute.

Rick started covering his hoops for the winter.

That's about it.

Winter's coming...

Rick

Rick, if it was as windy there as it was here, I am surprised you did not wind up in Kansas trying to put the cover on that hoop house.

I have never had a water bill over the $150.00 range, but that was too high. I have always said that I could buy my food cheaper than I could grow it, but I always enjoyed growing plants. The best set up that I have ever has was an artesian well with a 1/2 hp pump to pressurize the water to run the 3 sprinklers I had. To water my large garden all I had to do was flip a switch and use less than a dimes worth of electricity. I ran an under line to the 3 sprinklers, and the pump was for the garden only.

About watering even when I had my market garden half acre I only spent $100 a month. I had in place rain barrels. It worked so well. I had dripline in the garden and the barrels were uphill so I didn’t need a pump or anything. I’m going to try to get something set up here. I’ll have to build a couple sturdy stands to hold the barrels. I have the dripline already. Where do you get plastic from?

Well, I just looked up all of my onion varieties six different types and one is a short day. All of the rest are long day. so it looks like I will need to buy onion plants anyway

Kim, I have been thinking the same thing, I already have some barrels and 275 and 330 gallon tanks, and most of the fitting I would need, but the only drip line I have is 1/2 pvc that I now use. The pvc has a 1/16 hole at approx 6" centers. I can't run them very long without over watering, plus I need the pressure at the hole to be less than 1 psi.. Pressure that low I have to measure with water column.

I would like to get a drip line with 2 gph emitters to bury along the row, but I am a little concerned about starting a project like that this late in life, when I already have something that works, but seldom used.

I am in the process of having gutters installed on the front of the house, I could go ahead and put gutters on the back of the house and hide the barrels, or tanks behind the house. This is just a dream for now, because my health is going down too fast to really consider this for now.

I totally understand Larry. When I was considering putting a much larger garden outback, I had the water figured out, but then realized I would have to have soil dumped in my driveway and would have to card it to the back of the property. Well, that is never going to happen at this stage in the game. what I can do is maybe get a load of soil and instead of containers along the one side of my fence build a raised bed with lots of cardboard in the bottom to deter the grass and maybe even put in hardware cloth to deter potential moles or whatever is coming up way out in the yard. I don’t want to invest too much time and money into this property, but I’m also tired of living as if it’s temporary and I’ve been here 5 1/2 years already.

If I were starting over, hardware cloth would be high on my list.

Rick might even need this hat;

Rick

I actually own something like that Rick.

I got this one for the Siberian blast last January.

Rick

I might need one of these. I don’t like being cold

I have a bunch of ball style caps, and 4 or 5 or the boggin knit style sock cap that I use, they are no good in the rain, but I try to stay out of the rain anyway. I have some Carhartt work clothes that I were if the weather is really bad. The Carhartt stuff is great but by the time I fill all the pockets I weigh 20 pounds more.

My son gave me a Carhart style jacket. I had a beautiful red one but misplaced it somewhere when I lived in Quitaque. I keep it hanging in the shed because it is so big it does not fit in my tiny house. I need to get longjohns, but they are hard to find 100% cotton.

Longjohns are nice, but it really has to be cold for me to want them, I sweat too much. All my Carhartts are worn and dirty, but they are still hanging together. The overalls have the buckle missing on one side. I have been growing and the overalls have been shrinking, I cant get the buttons on the sides to fasten, and I have let the gulluses out so far that I had to sew the buckle on the suspender on the right side before I lost it, I had already lost the left one. The overalls I am talking about now are Round house, I think they are made in Oklahoma, but anyway, I don't think you can wear them out. I also think my Carhartt are just as good. I expect them all to last longer than I will.

It got down to 28 last night, and all the summer stuff has been damaged too much to go on.

I felt well enough today to drive around the place to check on how well the folks that cut up the downed trees had done. They did a better job at cleaning up than I expected, but it was a lot of free wood for them, and a lot of free labor for me. There is a lot more clean-up that needs to be done, but I don't feel that well.

It was cold this morning, but not bad this afternoon. I took Josi for a walk after cleaning house. She hadn't been walked in a couple of days. As long as I can keep my hands warm enough and it's not super windy, I can do a little cold.

The peppers, tomatoes and a few other things are goners now.

I'm happy to get the house cleaned. It is mostly cleaned anyways. The utility room is dirty, but I'm not going to mess with that right now.

Cleaning is such a job. Tomorrow will be cooking and preparing for Thursday.

I'm a little stressed by the garden. Because we didn't get our first real frost until this morning, it didn't get cleaned out and up before the holidays. But here we are. I just need to let it go and stop worrying about the mess I'll have to deal with in the spring.

Remember when I shopped the day after Christmas to buy gifts for all the "Dirty Santa" and "bring a wrapped gift that's under $20" parties. I even wrapped them so they're ready to go? I'm SO glad I did that. They are in Ethan's closet and all I have to do is grab them and go.

Every year is different in where Christmas falls during the week. This year is great in some ways. Ethan will be here from the 20th to 28th, so that is great. It works nicely with his job. What is not great is I work until the 20th and would like to have a week before to prepare a little. Not just for his arrival, but for all the parties in the couple of days afterwards. I know that I'm fortunate because a lot of folks have to work clear up to the 24th. I'm not complaining, just making plans.

Another good thing is school doesn't start back until Jan. 7, so I'm going to light a fire under myself to get the painting done from Dec. 29 to Jan. 5. It will be so nice to get it done so I'll have January and February to relax a little before spring planting.

I had some thoughts about starting seed a little differently, but can't remember what those thoughts were. LOL. Maybe they'll come back to me. I have a list of things that still need to be purchased, other than onions, but have most seed already.

I haven't planned where each variety will go yet. I do know that the five heirlooms will each be on handy panel trellis and I'm only doing 2 of each of them. And only 2 cherry tomatoes total.

I've thought about moving the Kajari melon from the cattle panel arch trellis that it's always been on. Anyway, rambling.

I've gotta focus on other things now.

Herbs, tho. Want to expand there.

Jennifer, we always have so much going on don’t we? Green stock is having a sale $99 for the leaf one and if you go through Holler Homestead, you get an extra 10 off no shipping so I told my kids I’m turning 60 this year and I want one in the raspberry hopefullythey all got the message. I was clear as I could be. I would love to have that for my herbs next year. We will see. It was kind of cool today. I think it got up to 55. I got out and made a few videos garden tour and tidied up a few things in the yard and then I picked all my tomatoes. It was dark 30 and I had a flashlight and I thought isn’t this dumb I don’t even eat the dang things, but here I am getting them all picked course. Most of them are large, red, cherry or porters, but I had a few big tomatoes. The ones that are hard green. I think I will make chowchow or green tomato salsa. I really look forward to the days when I have a house that people can come for holidays, I used to love to entertain. Gotta go get applesauce in the canner y’all have a great evening.

Apparently, my tomato haul picture did not show up. it’s not much but it’s more than I know what to do with. So I think chowchow salsa, some kind of relish.

Looks good, Kim! Chow Chow sounds delish.

I sure hope you get the Greenstalk! I should get another one, but can't think on it right now. I have a stone colored one, but sorta wish I would have gotten the terracotta. If I get another one, I want it to match so I'll get another stone one.

I started cooking around 6:30 or so this morning. I did have to run into work for an hour to do something, and to Hobby Lobby to get some prizes for the games tomorrow. Don't expect to find anything fallish. Which makes sense.

Anyway, I have most of the things that can be done ahead of time, done.

It's been a nice day, tho. I had Portlandia on TV and sorta watched that while cooking.

It's a stupid show but makes me laugh. I watched it way before Ethan ever met Stella or moved to Portland. But now, because I've been there a few times, I know the areas in the skits. Ethan lives in one of the trendy areas, so it's often "featured".

Many years ago, people would send me the "Is the chicken local" skit. It's funny. Look it up on YouTube. The AC Repairman at the Feminist Bookstore one is good too. And the No Grocery bag one.

Anyway....again rambling.

It was pretty nice earlier today, but it looks windy and cloudy now. I might go out and walk around the garden a bit just to think and plan a little.

What are y'all up to today?

I like rambling. I think if we didn’t ramble at all, we would never really get to know each other. I went into Denton today and got groceries and things I need for Market had lunch with my daughter and grandkids. I feel like I never see them enough. We had a nice lunch and visit. I actually need to water today because I’m trying to get seeds up. That’s frustrating. I picked all those tomatoes last night and we did not get a freeze. We didn’t even get below 40 but better safe than sorry. Better get going. I got very little daylight left y’all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We were near the 40 degree mark also. I did not pay much attention because all my summer stuff is gone anyway.

We have been trying to work on the house some, it sure needs it. I have a lot of tools, supplies and junk stacked on the covered parts, so the place looks like a hobo camp. I think that Madge maybe be embarrassed about the way it looks, but if all the folk are coming to look at the house, they are coming for the wrong reason. I lived in a pretty nice at one time, but I am much happier now, and besides, I am not able to do the up-keep on a home like I once did.

I tilled a couple of areas in the garden today, and moved some of my junk off the back deck, I will move more in the morning, but the supplies I need to finish the deck I don't want to move, and I don't have a protected spot to place them.

We had a feral cat fixed, and it is now in our quest bathroom. That stray cat Madge felt sorry for has already caused more trouble than 10 cats are worth. I think that I have a much cheaper way of fixing them, but it almost makes me sick to think about it. That one feral cat has already turned into 9 in one summers time, and it looks like she is ready to drop another litter.

Jennifer, I think your rambling is fine, it is a fine way to get to know someone.

Hey Larry . Happy Thanksgiving and stay warm.

I'm about to try those Covington sweet potatoes.

let you know later.

Rick

I just cooked a small Covington for my little grandson. And pureed it. We're not having sweet potatoes with our meal this year. I'm doing something different and am beginning to think it was a mistake.

I've had issues with my cooking and baking. Mistakes made. And I'm clumsy and dropping stuff and tripping. It happens when I get really tired. lol Hopefully it will all turn out okay.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nothing much going on here. Our car had a cracked oil pan, so it needed replace. One of my former kids is a mechanic, so he made a housecall and replaced it for us. Considering Google says average cost to replace one is $500, it pays to be a kids minister lol. Currently working on my advent lessons, our parents day out/kids day activities, and trying to get a little better organized for next year.

Garden...it's dead. I went out tonight and pulled a handful of cherry sized tomatoes of the last plant. Everything else is gone. Well, I do have some collards growing. Last year they survived the entire winter, and it was nice to pick a few leaves every couple days to add to my salad.

Only Cliff & me for tomorrow, so I'm not doing much. I'll fix a ham and potatoes, got some bread baking right now, but that's about it. I've looked at black friday ads but about the only thing I need to go out for is craft stuff, and I can probably get most of that online. So for a rareity I may not venture out this year.

Happy Thanksgiving Jennifer !!!

And everybody else too!!!

Rick

Madge backed 5 Covington to use is some like of dish for tomorrow. I have no idea how many people we will have tomorrow, but I expect a bunch.

Madge's daughter and grand daughter are 7 to 10 days with us, so Madge is not doing all the cooking. My folks are having dinner tomorrow also, I may try ti hit both places.

My lettuce is tasting bitter, I suppose it is getting too old.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. I am up and busy making Madge’s rice recipe. I hope there’s leftovers. My nephew is smoking a bunch of meats that he recently acquired like turkey and ham. He thought it was so nice that a wild hog showed up just in time for Thanksgiving. He told me to bring my Tupperware for leftovers and I told him the only thing I could find was a 5 gallon bucket.

Kim, Madge is making the rice dish also, that is something we have often, and it seems as though everyone enjoys it. Madge's son is smoking a brisket. Last year Ed smoked several dishes, I am not sure what all he will bring. Madge is hoping that all 6 of her kids will be here today, but one daughter is sick and may not come.

Madge has a lot of covered plastic containers that she bought just to send food home with the kids, they take a bunch home with them, then bring them back for refills the next time they come. It seems as though all women like to feed their kids. My daughter and grand daughter have their own collapsible containers that they bring when they come ever other Sunday to load with produce from the garden. We use Walmart bags to hold different items.

I am trying to clean a little outside, and its 40 degrees, I should have worked harder and finished that yesterday, but I am always behind. I had a 100 things that I wanted to repair, or strip for the parts, which means that I have a 100 more things to drag to the shop, never to be seen again. If I live long enough to catch up on all the repair work that I want to do, I will never die.

Now I am rambling, so I should hush and get to work.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

It’s just the coolest thing ever to serve your family food that you grew yourself. I am thankful I can do that, and will probably be extra thankful next year. We are having my sweet potatoes (thanks Larry!), tomatoes, onions, leeks, green beans, parsley, and pesto made from my basil. I’ve also made broccoli and brussels sprouts from the store, homemade yeast rolls, a no bake cheesecake, and pumpkin macarons.

Rebecca, the food looks great. I enjoy home grown food also, and I am thankful that I was able to give so many plants and produce away this year, it was a good growing year overall this year. I am so proud to see my kids and grand kids taking produce home and preserving it, and the interest they show is trying to grow plants. I tell the kids that is is a shame to have plenty of land and not use it.

I have ask my grand daughter to help me grow slips and plant sweet potatoes, she says that she will. I hope her willingness is because she wants to learn, rather than just to shut an old man up. It is so easy to make slips and grow a good harvest. I think that I still have sweet potatoes that I harvested over a year ago.

Larry ,I got some Covington (and a few others) in the oven now.

Let ya know about it after a while.

Rick

Those Covington are good . I baked them with the skins on and slit them along the side and melted butter on them. The problem now is , I'm stuffed , have to wait a while before having any pie.

Rick

Larry, tell Madge that one of the six-year-old great nephews really enjoyed that casserole

Madge baked some Covington for Thanksgiving diner today, they seemed to be a hit. The rice casserole is for every holiday, and many days in between, it is always a hit. There were 3 families that took raw sweet potatoes home from here. I then went to my daughters for another Thanksgiving diner, and 2 families took raw sweet potatoes home from her house. I was blesses with a lot of produce this year and was able to share a lot. It makes me feel good to share with others.

Two of Madge's grand daughters showed pictures of some of the produce that they grew from some of the plants I started. They did not remember what the plants were, but I was able to tell from the pictures, and told them that I would start plants for them next year. It seems as though the Ashe County pimento pepper is always a hit also. I was also surprised at how many people wanted the Habanero peppers.

Oh Jennifer, you have that so proud grandma smile and what a doll he is. I am still trying to get ready for Market tomorrow and feel totally unprepared for the magnitude of stuff that I have to take.

20% off Pintree seeds code 20FORYOU this weekend

Same at Park Seed code SEEDSALE

That was a fast week, but I'm so grateful I had a lot of time off work.

Yesterday, Tom and I did our usual BF tradition of breakfast out (the past 5 years or so it's been Neighborhood Jam) and then going to the mall to walk around. We like to be to the restaurant before 8. That place is usually packed, but if we get there early, we get right in. And that puts us at the mall early too. It was not busy at all at first. That sorta made me sad. I know that buying online is so easy for everyone, but at the same time people complain that stores are closing and aren't like the "good ol days". Well, you have to get out and shop to keep the stores from closing. We did our part, but didn't buy much. When the kids were young, there were certain stores we shopped at for specific items.

But, we did get the baby some pants for their family pictures this week and our keepsake ornaments.

I was a mall girl in the 80's and 90's, so it feels traditional for me to go at Christmas time.

And I was happy to see the crowds come in around 10. People of all ages enjoying shopping and hanging out. I like to see the generations of families--great grandma down to baby.

And we had to get a pretzel, of course, even tho we had just eaten a big breakfast.

The Cleveland County extension office is getting remodeled. There's usually a craft show there the Friday and Saturday after TG. I did see that they moved it to another building but it's only today. We were sorta sad that we didn't get to do that tradition on BF, and we're not going today.

Didn't do any gardening other than opening the hoop house. It was toasty in there--nearly 90 yesterday afternoon but cooled off once opened.

Got the tree up last night. It's a new one and really pretty. I didn't put all the ornaments on it this year. Ran out of steam. I like to have it all done by December 1. Those years where December is only a couple of days after TG are tough. lol.

Anyway, it's okay. I just downsize a bit on these years. I'm going to get the rest of the house done today. Speaking of downsizing, I've really cut back over the past few years.

We're not going to do outside lights. I'm going to vent a bit here. What's the deal with lights--both outdoor and lights on prelit trees?! You're lucky to get a year out of them. My mom has a tree that she bought at an estate sale. It's probably over 25 years old and the lights still work every year. Not on newer trees. Same with outdoor lights. We got rid of our old lights (used them for years!) and bought new (energy efficient) ones maybe 4 years ago. There were dead spots the following year and you can't fix it. Got online and read reviews. Other people were saying the same thing. Then, 2 years ago we bought new ones again. Last year, dead spots. Same thing. Balsam Hill, which has ridiculously expensive trees, is having the same type of reviews over the past few years. They were the best trees for years. I never had one, but considered buying. Nope, same issues with lights.

(Part of me wants to put a small tree in Ethan's room, but I'll just display his collection of nutcrackers instead. Someday he'll take them to Oregon with him.)

Remember how much Dawn enjoyed decorating for the holidays?

Today, I'm just gonna water the house plants and finish the decorating. Maybe start making a list of things to do for Christmas.

How's y'all's weekend going?

We still have daughter and grand daughter from Texas here, they have been here over a week now. Madge is happy her other 5 children live in northeast Oklahoma, or northwest Arkansas, and she sees them more often. This Daughter and grand daughter comes at least once a year and spends time with us.

I never did care much for Christmas decorations, especially the tree and the lights on the house. I do like to celebrate to what I believe is the more traditional meaning of Christmas. I am not high on the fat man and flying deer, nor the bunny and the colored eggs. I can't say it is wrong to help children have a happy time at special times of the year, but I like to teach them why the events are so special to me.

I was ask to teach a special class about Christmas many years ago. I thought that I was going to be tared and feathered after class. I thought that maybe I should leave that church, but felt that I had done nothing wrong, and that I was sincere in what I said. I stayed in that church, but was very uneasy, about 3 weeks after my lesson the man that I thought I had offended the most came up to me, and said, " that lesson you taught, taught me one thing, and that is that I need to study a lot harder".

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, because it is hard to mess up being thankful.

I am rambling, so maybe I should shut up before I make someone mad.

By the way it got down to 24 last night, and 23 the night before, so my garden may go on vacation any time now.

We ended up going to the craft show. It was rather small. But, I was able to get a hand crafted box for Ethan and an Oklahoma magnet for his refrigerator there in Oregon. Also, found the most eccentric person there. This always happens to me. Ended up buying a book of his poetry and a feather charm he made out of deer bones.

Decorating took way less time because I have cut back so much. I do things like put seasonal items in apothecary jars that stay on the coffee table. During this time of year, it's pinecones. Easy peasy.

I have a lot of battery candles and small trees that light up. It's just bright and cheerful this time of year when it's so dark. And cozy. I change out throw pillow colors and throws/blankets for the seasons too. Keeps it simple and sweet.

Although, I love all the styles and like to see people's homes who decorate loud and bold too.

Larry, we stayed above freezing last night but didn't the night before. Things are dead. I don't feel like finding time to clean them out right now.

I have one bed that has thousands of small henbit seedlings. I've decided to lay cardboard over it and empty the chicken droppings bucket on it for the next month. This bed always has an overabundance of henbit and it takes a full day to clean it out each spring. There's also chamomile and lots of dill that reseeds there, so haven't wanted to do the cardboard idea. But, I'll just start new dill plants. The bed needs topped with compost/soil anyways.

Larry, I wouldn't worry about making anyone mad here. I think we're all reasonable people. You can share your beliefs and thoughts. We all have different ways.

About Thanksgiving, it's under attack too.

It is odd to think that the TG story we were all taught wasn't exactly truth. I remember when I realized that Samoset already spoke English and that Squanto had already been to Europe and back by the time the pilgrims showed up. And other things about the story too.

But, a day of gratitude is always good. I don't see how anyone can have a problem with that, although they do.

About Christmas....the church I went to as a child didn't celebrate Jesus' BD on December 25 because the Bible doesn't give a date for his birth. They were sticklers about such things. However, my parents weren't strict about it. We had children's books about the birth of Jesus watched the yearly TV specials about it too. It was mostly a time of family, friends, and celebrating being with each other during that dark and cold time of year. I'm fortunate that I have many wonderful memories of my extended family and only felt joy and love during the season.

Now, we celebrate the birth.

And the birth of the sun too on the solstice.

December 25 is the birthday for the Roman unconquered sun god and the Persian god, Mithra.

Lots of religious/spiritual action during the month of December. Maybe because of the solstice. From how I understand it, the sun appears to stop moving south around the solstice, it pauses for a bit, then starts moving back towards the north. So, it looked like it was "reborn" around December 25. The ancient northerners were probably really relieved to see it moving again. I'm sure it was very difficult, and they were cold and hungry and ready for daylight and warmer days.

How's that for making people mad, Larry? LOL

I don't want anyone thinking that I am preaching to them, or trying to tell them what is right or wrong. I just have my view points, and some of them I studied hard to develop, but I can say that they are correct, but I am comfortable with them. So many answers that I searched for, I never found, but I did find strength and satisfaction.

Larry I believe if anyone gets mad at me for expressing my beliefs and or opinions it is no concern of mine. Personally, I don’t like to make waves. There are some people, though that cannot allow another person to express their opinion without trying to create drama or an argument. I don’t have room in my life for either, so I avoid those types of conversations at all costs. My personal beliefs are not up for discussion. I believe each person has the choice to choose for themselves. What somebody else thinks and believes for themselves is not really my business, and I support each person to choose for themselves. Jennifer, I cannot wait to have a home that I can decorate. I used to take weeks to decorate my home to the fullest only to turn around two weeks later and take it all down. But I so enjoyed it, and I started collecting Christmas decorations when I was 15 years old. It runs in my family. And I used to make lots of Christmas crafts with the kids to decorate the house. We had paper chains and popcorn, garland, and all the things. I miss all that.

It sure seems quite here now with everyone gone home.

I gave away more produce over the holidays. I gave sweet potatoes to 3 families. One of Madge's grand daughters wanted some purple sweet potatoes for next year, I told her that I had not planned on growing any purple sweet potatoes next year, and had not saved any potatoes for slips, but I would try to find some roots out in the garden that were not frozen too badly to revive.

This is probably the best one. My plan is to just put them in a flat with potting soil, and place them on the seed starting shelf,probably on a heat mat to get them started. Do any of you have any suggestions? I expect to just give her a potted plant before planting time and let her make her own slips. This is one of the grand daughters that I gave plants to this year, and she was so happy with her little garden, so maybe she should expand to sweet potatoes next year.

I sure had a lot of waste this year. I gave away a lot, but still had too much to go to waste.

Houzz is acting weird. I can’t sign in on my iPad, but I can on my phone. On my iPad it just spins without doing anything.

Houzz was screwing with me a few days ago.

Couldn't post or like unless I logged in and put in the right password.

Rick

Houzz does weird things often.

I'll start a new thread.