She is ready to ship!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
2011 Garden Review
2011 started off with a snowy and icy winter. Out of nowhere we had a week of non-stop below freezing temps and a thick sheet of ice everywhere. Snow is a rare treat in Fort Worth, and a week of it is just bizarre!
Although not long after Ice Week things began to look up and grow warmer. The Lasagna Garden I had created last fall was ready to be planted.
I planted my usual favorites: Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Bell Peppers, Yellow Squash and Watermelon. I also tried Eggplant and Okra this year for the first time.
We had a successful year...in comparison to the 2010 season when nothing grew.
Close to memorial day we had tomatoes growing, peppers coming in and the okra plant appeared to be growing without producing any okra. Then the 100+ temps hit North Texas and things changed quickly!
The tomatoes that were on the vine ripened, but stop producing more fruit. The peppers appeared stunted as well, however the Okra really began to take off in the new heat.
Then there was the accidental Potato Harvest....
Apparently using thinly diced potato scraps in your compost can create a potato harvest the following year !?! I do need to mention that my husband did warn me of this, but I insisted that was not possible (He was right).
There was also the watermelon I had given up on. Early in the spring I attempted to grow watermelon from seed. After about ten peat pods refused to produce watermelon plants I through them out into a unused garden bed. I ended up purchasing a watermelon plant that did not produce fruit, but sure enough one of the seeds I gave up on grew a large watermelon.
The tomatoes barely survived the summer and drought, barely. I kept them watered and covered to protect them from the melting sun.
I had read about other gardeners pruning and fertilizer their tomatoes late in the season to produce a fall harvest. I waited until the temps dropped down to 95 degrees consistently (mid September) and began applying a mixture of Johns Recipe and Liquid Seaweed. It took several applications and another month before I began to see results. By Thanksgiving day I had 35 tomatoes growing, a nice late season harvest.
I learned a lot this year and look forward to applying this new found knowledge to 2012's Garden. I'm already planning!
What are you planning for your 2012 Garden?
Although not long after Ice Week things began to look up and grow warmer. The Lasagna Garden I had created last fall was ready to be planted.
I planted my usual favorites: Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Bell Peppers, Yellow Squash and Watermelon. I also tried Eggplant and Okra this year for the first time.
We had a successful year...in comparison to the 2010 season when nothing grew.
Close to memorial day we had tomatoes growing, peppers coming in and the okra plant appeared to be growing without producing any okra. Then the 100+ temps hit North Texas and things changed quickly!
The tomatoes that were on the vine ripened, but stop producing more fruit. The peppers appeared stunted as well, however the Okra really began to take off in the new heat.
Then there was the accidental Potato Harvest....
Apparently using thinly diced potato scraps in your compost can create a potato harvest the following year !?! I do need to mention that my husband did warn me of this, but I insisted that was not possible (He was right).
There was also the watermelon I had given up on. Early in the spring I attempted to grow watermelon from seed. After about ten peat pods refused to produce watermelon plants I through them out into a unused garden bed. I ended up purchasing a watermelon plant that did not produce fruit, but sure enough one of the seeds I gave up on grew a large watermelon.
The tomatoes barely survived the summer and drought, barely. I kept them watered and covered to protect them from the melting sun.
I had read about other gardeners pruning and fertilizer their tomatoes late in the season to produce a fall harvest. I waited until the temps dropped down to 95 degrees consistently (mid September) and began applying a mixture of Johns Recipe and Liquid Seaweed. It took several applications and another month before I began to see results. By Thanksgiving day I had 35 tomatoes growing, a nice late season harvest.
I learned a lot this year and look forward to applying this new found knowledge to 2012's Garden. I'm already planning!
What are you planning for your 2012 Garden?
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Sunday, December 6, 2009
December Snow Flakes
I live in Texas, so rarely do I get to see snow. However, growing up in South Carolina we were practically guaranteed 1 to 2 snow days a year. At one point we got three days of snow IN A ROW! My very creative little brother soon realized that a recycling bin was the true key in building a “Southern Igloo” and so our roofless Igloo was built. It reached 10 feet tall (no I’m not exaggerating) and someone even called the local news to come out and film the experience. It made the rolling credits at the end of the 6 O’clock WIS news that day.
Ever since those three days of winter wonderland I’ve been OBESSED with the idea of getting snow. Each year I pray for snow and then each time its get super chilly I check the local weather report for ANY possibility of snow. I’m serious when I say ANY, even if the only mention of snow is 10% precipitation and a possible low of 32 degrees…Its enough for me!
So imagine my surprise on December 2nd when I just happened to be checking the local weather report for the 5th time that day and I noticed……the possibility of snow! Now keep in mind that the possibility for snow wasn’t actually for my town, or city, or county…..nope somewhere many miles away. That was still close enough for me. I spent the evening updating my excitement on Facebook and later dreaming of my winter wonderland.
I awoke in the morning to complete sadness when I noticed nothing by soggy grass and slick wet driveway. I decided to make the best of the day despite my disappointment only to look out the window thirty minutes later to discover SNOW!
I posted the pictures so you can enjoy my early winter wonderland as well. I’m planning for more this year.
Ever since those three days of winter wonderland I’ve been OBESSED with the idea of getting snow. Each year I pray for snow and then each time its get super chilly I check the local weather report for ANY possibility of snow. I’m serious when I say ANY, even if the only mention of snow is 10% precipitation and a possible low of 32 degrees…Its enough for me!
So imagine my surprise on December 2nd when I just happened to be checking the local weather report for the 5th time that day and I noticed……the possibility of snow! Now keep in mind that the possibility for snow wasn’t actually for my town, or city, or county…..nope somewhere many miles away. That was still close enough for me. I spent the evening updating my excitement on Facebook and later dreaming of my winter wonderland.
I awoke in the morning to complete sadness when I noticed nothing by soggy grass and slick wet driveway. I decided to make the best of the day despite my disappointment only to look out the window thirty minutes later to discover SNOW!
I posted the pictures so you can enjoy my early winter wonderland as well. I’m planning for more this year.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Game
This evening I watched her do it again, she was really putting forth an effort. Crying loudly, as if she was going to starve that very moment, she wove herself in between his feet flicking her tail wildly. She worked this method for a few minutes without success before dramatically throwing herself to the ground and giving him those sad, pitiful eyes.
Pitiful she is not. Weighing in at 16.91 lbs, Menya lives a VERY blessed life. With an abundance of premium cat food, toys and endless love you would never guess that she was once a scrawny, underweight kitten with a lot of attitude! She is certainly not scrawny or underweight anymore, but the attitude is still there (although she is much sweeter than she used to be).
Tonight was all about the Pizza and she wanted it! Now it’s important to note that she doesn’t actually EAT Pizza. Had Paul relented and given her some she would of have sniffed it, glance back at him and then stalked off with her tail held high in the air. You see, it’s a game and one she plays well, very well.
Unlike Paul, I have played into her little paws many times. In the past month I have given her a grape, onion, squash, apple, and bread. Each time she gave me those pleading eyes and made me believe that all she needed to be happy was a piece of whatever I was eating. And each time I got to stare in amazement at that high and mighty tail as she pranced away laughing (yes, cats laugh). Once I even gave her a cat treat as an alternative since she had so quickly lost interest in the grape. She rejected that as well.
Menya 6 – Me 0 – Paul 1
Pitiful she is not. Weighing in at 16.91 lbs, Menya lives a VERY blessed life. With an abundance of premium cat food, toys and endless love you would never guess that she was once a scrawny, underweight kitten with a lot of attitude! She is certainly not scrawny or underweight anymore, but the attitude is still there (although she is much sweeter than she used to be).
Tonight was all about the Pizza and she wanted it! Now it’s important to note that she doesn’t actually EAT Pizza. Had Paul relented and given her some she would of have sniffed it, glance back at him and then stalked off with her tail held high in the air. You see, it’s a game and one she plays well, very well.
Unlike Paul, I have played into her little paws many times. In the past month I have given her a grape, onion, squash, apple, and bread. Each time she gave me those pleading eyes and made me believe that all she needed to be happy was a piece of whatever I was eating. And each time I got to stare in amazement at that high and mighty tail as she pranced away laughing (yes, cats laugh). Once I even gave her a cat treat as an alternative since she had so quickly lost interest in the grape. She rejected that as well.
Menya 6 – Me 0 – Paul 1
Monday, November 16, 2009
Forget and Not Slow Down
My husband has been listening to his OVER AND OVER again! Its the new song from Reliant K and its pretty good!
"Is it time I befriended all the ghosts of all the things that haunt me most"
Listen here!
"Is it time I befriended all the ghosts of all the things that haunt me most"
Listen here!
Friday, November 13, 2009
I'm Still Alive!
I'm still alive and kicking! LOL
Sorry for the EXTREME delay, it was not intentional. Paul & I just moved into the new house and its been crazy busy ever since. PLUS I got my wisdom teeth removed last week so I've been recouping ever since.....
On another note, Today I became a Power Corp Member for 89.7 PowerFM, The Christian Rock Station. If you've never heard of them, jump over to their page to listen live!
I'm off for the moment, but plan to return full force!
Sorry for the EXTREME delay, it was not intentional. Paul & I just moved into the new house and its been crazy busy ever since. PLUS I got my wisdom teeth removed last week so I've been recouping ever since.....
On another note, Today I became a Power Corp Member for 89.7 PowerFM, The Christian Rock Station. If you've never heard of them, jump over to their page to listen live!
I'm off for the moment, but plan to return full force!
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