HuntingCountry.com

1.) DParker - 04/19/2021

Having turned 60 recently (both myself and my wife) I've been doing a lot of work on trying to get our financial ducks in a row so that we can retire as soon as is practical. While some/most/everyone here might already know all of this stuff I thought I'd pass along a few things I've learned along the way..both recently and years ago:

[LIST=1]
[*]If your company offers a 401(k) savings plan, put into it every penny you can afford to, up to the maximum allowed by the tax code, and start doing so as early as you possibly can. Also note your ability to contribute even more than the normal limit as you approach retirement age (so-called "catchup" contributions). This much I've always known, and I started doing so as soon as I worked for a company that offered one at around age 28.

[*]If you don't have access to a 401(k) plan, open a Conventional IRA and contribute to that as much as you can afford every month (or pay cycle, or whatever period works for you) up to the maximum allowed by the tax code. Unfortunately, I wasn't smart enough to do this before I had access to a 401(k) plan. Having a new family at the time I couldn't have afforded to put much in it every month, but it still would have been better than nothing, and even a small initial contribution would have grown significantly in the 30+ years since then.

[*]If you can do either #1 or #2 but aren't, you're throwing away significant amounts of money, especially if your employer matches any amount of your 401(k) contributions. And even if they don't there are still significant tax benefits to be had on top of the benefits of compounding money growth over the long term.

[*]If you're maxing out your contributions to a 401(k), Conventional IRA...or both...and still have some cash left over that you can afford to save for the long term consider opening and contributing to a Roth IRA. Although the money you put into it has already been taxed, the investments held by the plan grow tax free, meaning that any earnings will NOT be taxed so long as you don't withdraw them before age 59½.

[*]If you still have any cash available for savings, look into a Health Spending Account (HSA) and contribute whatever you can to it (up to the maximum allowed). HSAs work like a Conventional IRA, but are intended to be used as a tax-advantaged savings plan for healthcare expenses. Contributions are made pre-tax, meaning that the money you put in is not subject to federal income taxes (so they will potentially reduce your tax owed to Uncle Sam, assuming you're a net payer), and depending on who you open the account with, the funds can be held in cash or a variety of investment instruments (CDs, mutual funds, etc), just like an IRA, and the earnings grow tax-free. You can withdraw money from the account to pay for qualifying medical expenses at any time, with no penalty or taxes paid on those funds. If you withdraw money for any non-medical expenses before age 65 you'll pay your regular income taxes on the amount taken out and probably an additional 20% penalty on top of that. After age 65 you won't get hit with that penalty for non-medical withdrawals, but you will still pay income tax on it. So make sure that you can afford to keep contributions parked in the account until either needed for medical expenses or until age 65. Your company might offer an optional HSA as part of your benefits package, in which case you just sign up and they will automatically divert your contribution...pre-tax...from your pay to the account. If one isn't offered by your employer you can open one with any one of many financial services companies that offer them. In that case you just make the contributions yourself using money that's already been taxed, then claim the contribution on your income taxes as an income adjustment. The end result is the same. Unfortunately, I wasn't hip to this one until fairly recently, but I opened one and dumped everything I could into it. Since I hadn't filed my 2020 taxes yet I was even able to dump a full year's worth for my wife and I into it retroactively, which saved us nearly $2K on our 2020 taxes.
[/LIST]

Of course there are a lot of details (limits, restrictions, ramifications, etc) that I'm not diving into here, so make sure to do your research (talk to a retirement planning professional if possible) before acting on any of this...but whatever you do, don't ignore it. There is no substitute for time when it comes to saving for retirement, and the early you do the most you can the better.

2.) bluecat - 04/20/2021

Thanks for posting that. One of the smartest things I ever did was sit down with a financial advisor after I got married and create a budget and set up our Roths. We couldn't put a lot into them as we didn't have much at the time, but we put in a steady amount each month. I think it was 25.00. We still put in an amount, although larger now each month. My how they have grown.

3.) DParker - 04/20/2021

It amazes me how many people who have employers that offer 401(k) plans (usually with good employer matching contributions) refuse to make use of them...or a conventional IRA in the absence of a 401(k) option. They're one of the few things that fed.gov has done that are actually extremely beneficial to wage earners.

4.) bluecat - 04/20/2021

Agreed, free money. No brainer. My job in Nebraska did that with employer matching and I put in the maximum allowed. My Kansas job unfortunately does not offer employer matching.

5.) DParker - 04/20/2021

Which sucks, but even without the matching it's still worth maxing out if you can. I have three separate 401(k) accounts (from three different jobs I've had over the past 30 years). The one through my current employer gets 22% of my gross salary + my employer's 3% matching. We also have a family HSA that stays maxed out. Plus, my wife and I each have our own Roth IRAs that we maxed out last year and will again this year. If it weren't for the magic of compounded returns from the mutual funds they're all invested in plus the multiple tax advantages they provide we'd be looking forward to working a lot longer and still eating hot dogs and ramen noodles every day of our old age.

6.) Swamp Fox - 04/20/2021

Wait ... There's something wrong with hot dogs and ramen noodles?

7.) DParker - 04/20/2021

Only every day. It's actually odd that I used those two as examples, as the wife and I fancy ourselves to be something in the way of hot dog connoisseurs (there's no pretentiousness like frankfurter pretensiousness), and are always looking for good examples of the genre, when we're not grilling them at hone.

8.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;63570]...there's no pretentiousness like frankfurter pretensiousness...[/QUOTE]

Jawohl ...

I did a littlle survey of hot dogs a few years ago .... Never found the perfect one to match what I remember from my yute .... I'll keep looking. :wink

Here's a question:

Will you (especially you whippersnappers) be in a lower tax bracket in your successful "retirement" than you are today?

9.) DParker - 04/21/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;63571]Jawohl ...

I did a littlle survey of hot dogs a few years ago .... Never found the perfect one to match what I remember from my yute .... I'll keep looking. :wink[/QUOTE]

Surprisingly, the best raw material (OK, they're actually cooked...I'm speaking figuratively) we've found so far is Costco's store brand all-beef hot dogs.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;63571]Will you (especially you whippersnappers) be in a lower tax bracket in your successful "retirement" than you are today?[/QUOTE]

Almost certainly, unless we win the lottery, or one of us gets so bored that we sit down and write the next national best-seller book or something...or the current batch of dumbasses in DC screw things up for us.

10.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;63572]

Almost certainly, unless we win the lottery, or one of us gets so bored that we sit down and write the next national best-seller book or something...or the current batch of dumbasses in DC screw things up for us.[/QUOTE]

I will keep my fingers crossed for you... :wink

11.) DParker - 04/21/2021

Thanks. I'll take what I can get.

12.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2021

That's the proper attitude ,,,,

If one doesn't watch the whole way through, that's on him...

13.) Swamp Fox - 04/21/2021

Him, Her, It....

Them, them, them...

What difference at this point does it make?

14.) DParker - 04/21/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;63575]That's the proper attitude ,,,,

If one doesn't watch the whole way through, that's on him...

[/QUOTE]

I often forget what a good voice he had.

15.) Swamp Fox - 04/22/2021

Especially considering his speaking voice ... Where that singing voice comes from could be a surprise. :-)

[QUOTE] I didn't come to fall in .... I come to fish! :grin::laugh:[/QUOTE]

16.) DParker - 05/02/2021

So the missus and I are looking for a different home to spend our I'm-not-dead-yet years in, probably in one of the semi-rural areas on the outskirts of Ft. Worth (which would put us a little closer to where our kids are). I have the wife talked into getting a place with an acre or so of land outside any incorporated city limits so I can keep some proper flocks of fowl (chickens, ducks...maybe even a turkey or two) and a few goats. If the place is just right I might even buy the wife a hairy coo just to keep as a pet.

Talk me out of it.

17.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2021

Go well outside incorporated limits because you'll buy your chickens and goats and turkeys and other implements of destruction and be perfectly happy until some nearby burg full of Californians runs out of room for the new Ohioans, and the next thing you no they'll annex your ass, and then you'll be on Fox News describing your struggle for the right to keep critters in your yard ... On your own property, dagummit!

You might as well start the GoFundMe page for your legal defense fund right now ...

18.) DParker - 05/02/2021

I already told my wife that I'm going to refer to it as "the compound" and stockpile automatic weapons. Or at least that's the rumor I'm going to plant with the good ol' boys at the local feed store, with the hope that it'll keep the blue state refugees away.

19.) crookedeye - 05/02/2021

im hoping on the luck of the irish..

20.) Swamp Fox - 05/03/2021

Don't hope on it.... Count on it! :grin::grin::grin:

[QUOTE][I]May the road rise up to meet you, man!
[/I][/QUOTE]

[I almost typed "lad" but I'll give it to you, boyo ... :wink]

21.) DParker - 05/21/2021

Man, this insane housing market has really sucked all of the fun out of looking for a piece of property to grow old(er) and die on.

22.) Swamp Fox - 05/23/2021

Go east, young man ...

23.) Swamp Fox - 05/24/2021

Also, if you can wait one year, there will be a Biden collapse ...

Reference: Obama administration

24.) Swamp Fox - 05/25/2021

I heard of a tad-nicer-than-"modest" home around here going for $120,000 more than asking price today.

Some people have more money than sense ...

And let me tell you, they're not from around here... :shh::re:

25.) DParker - 05/25/2021

Everything here is going for more-than-asking. Fortunately that phenomenon is not as extreme with the semi-rural properties we're looking at as it is with the urban and suburban houses, but we're still prepared to have to offer around $20K or so more than the listed price...and possibly still not get it. We finally signed up with a realtor yesterday, and though we told her that right now we're planning on keeping our current house and renting it out she asked, "Are you sure? I could list it for $25K more than the current appraisal and it would sell within 4 days for more than that." That was tempting, but it would cause more problems for us than it would be worth.....probably. Damn.

26.) Swamp Fox - 05/25/2021

:pop:

27.) DParker - 05/30/2021

Covid? Never heard of it. This was at a decent Cajun joint on the way back from a property we went to look at today.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/FfbFsbS.jpg"]Full size image[/URL])

28.) DParker - 06/04/2021

Well, the owners accepted our offer on this place. Now come the inspection and appraisal, either one of which could torpedo the deal. But we're hopeful. So y'all standby, because if it goes through I'm going to be pestering the hell out of you for info/advice on stuff like maintaining a well, an aerobic septic system, 2.4 acres of land and every/anything else that comes with taking care of a place like this that you might have experience with, and whatever critters I see fit to populate it with.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/qWRNQ7J.png"]Full-Sized Image[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/zyONO86.png"]Full-Sized Image[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/GdFpVCs.png"]Full-Sized Image[/URL])

29.) Swamp Fox - 06/04/2021

Good luck!

I like more trees and fewer pneighbors/psossums ... but that's just me ....

:pray:

30.) DParker - 06/04/2021

Me too, but finding otherwise suitable properties with established trees around the house...where they do the most good...in these parts is like looking for hens teeth. This one at least has a nice mature oak by the back patio. And the rear end of the property borders a creek that is itself surrounded by nice mature stands of hardwoods, so the 'possums and other critters are a sure bet. In fact the wife is already insisting that we get a donkey or two to keep coyotes in check. I told her she just wants people to tell her what a cute ass she has.

31.) Swamp Fox - 06/04/2021

LOL ...

Let me know if you're ever short on barn cats ... :-)

(Although I will have to vet your coyote control program .... :tap:)

32.) Swamp Fox - 06/04/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;63880] In fact the wife is already insisting that we get a donkey or two to keep coyotes in check. I told her she just wants people to tell her what a cute ass she has.[/QUOTE]

I can see why you're still together after 50 hard years ...

Meanwhile, I'm focused on bringing back the 10th through the 19th centuries....

33.) DParker - 06/04/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;63882]I can see why you're still together after 50 hard years ... [/QUOTE]

Married when we were 10? C'mon, man. We're from Nevada and Wisconsin, not Arkansas.

34.) Swamp Fox - 06/04/2021

You no you wipsh you were from Arkanpsapw...

35.) Swamp Fox - 06/04/2021

Pfiddy yearps pflies by when you're havin' pfun....

36.) Swamp Fox - 06/04/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;63875]Well, the owners accepted our offer on this place. Now come the inspection and appraisal, either one of which could torpedo the deal. But we're hopeful. So y'all standby, because if it goes through I'm going to be pestering the hell out of you for info/advice on stuff like maintaining a well, an aerobic septic system, 2.4 acres of land and every/anything else that comes with taking care of a place like this that you might have experience with, and whatever critters I see fit to populate it with.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/qWRNQ7J.png"]Full-Sized Image[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

You no you're gonna have to tell Crookedeye he can't hog the pslide, right?

Repeatedly? .... :tap:

37.) DParker - 06/04/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;63886]You no you're gonna have to tell Crookedeye he can't hog the pslide, right?

Repeatedly? .... :tap:[/QUOTE]

He'll have my granddaughter to deal with. I can only wish him the best of luck.

38.) bluecat - 06/04/2021

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/zyONO86.png"]Full-Sized Image[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/GdFpVCs.png"]Full-Sized Image[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

You offered your honor,
They honoted your offer,
And all night long you were,
¥& =÷% ×÷=% (

39.) bluecat - 06/04/2021

I've got a corncob pipe around here somewhere I can send you. Good luck.

Fresh air, sunshine, the smell of manure...

40.) bluecat - 06/04/2021

Where are the servant's quarters? Dealbreaker?

41.) bluecat - 06/04/2021

Mancave?

42.) DParker - 06/04/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;63892]

Mancave?[/QUOTE]

Granddaughter territory. The mancave is the converted detached garage that's across the yard, just behind that big tree. I wish I'd taken a pic of the impressive arsenal of water gun firepower their kids have stored out there. In the corner behind the taker of that photo they had about 20+ Super Soaker-type long guns of various types hanging from the wall over a bin containing who-knows-how-many water pistols. Hopefully they can get out before the BATFE raids the place.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/4eIk4um.png"](Full-Sized Image)[/URL]

43.) bluecat - 06/04/2021

Probably need to limit the water capacity of those long guns.

Looks like heaven buddy!

44.) DParker - 06/04/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;63896]Probably need to limit the water capacity of those long guns.[/quote]

At least for we lowly civilians.

[QUOTE=bluecat;63896]Looks like heaven buddy![/QUOTE]

I think so. BTW, this is about 15 minutes from that house. It convinced my wife that she didn't really want a lakeside property after all: :grin:

[URL="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/gators-spotted-sunbathing-at-fort-worth-nature-preserve/2645306/?fbclid=IwAR1PFWshFYERaoYpjY8AQ2HWdpZFnk4wFpQPEMXy-9FneLjvcfxQOSWhQys"]Gators Spotted Sunbathing at Fort Worth Nature Preserve[/URL]

45.) bluecat - 06/04/2021

Can you pee off your front stoop? That's kind of a big deal to country dwellers. I bet Swampy pokes around his sheds buck naked most of the time.

46.) DParker - 06/04/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;63899]Can you pee off your front stoop?[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but the well head is in the front yard, so I'll probably try to keep that to a minimum...especially after a night out at one of the local taprooms.

47.) Swamp Fox - 06/05/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;63895]Granddaughter territory. The mancave is the converted detached garage that's across the yard, just behind that big tree.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/4eIk4um.png"](Full-Sized Image)[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

You're gonna need a bigger air conditioner ...

48.) Swamp Fox - 06/05/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;63897]At least for we lowly civilians.

I think so. BTW, this is about 15 minutes from that house. It convinced my wife that she didn't really want a lakeside property after all: :grin:

[URL="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/gators-spotted-sunbathing-at-fort-worth-nature-preserve/2645306/?fbclid=IwAR1PFWshFYERaoYpjY8AQ2HWdpZFnk4wFpQPEMXy-9FneLjvcfxQOSWhQys"]Gators Spotted Sunbathing at Fort Worth Nature Preserve[/URL][/QUOTE]

I thought everything was bigger in Texas ...

When I was a boy at the local swimming hole, we used to DREAM of 8-10 foot alligators ....

LOL ... :grin:

49.) Swamp Fox - 06/05/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;63899]Can you pee off your front stoop? That's kind of a big deal to country dwellers. I bet Swampy pokes around his sheds buck naked most of the time.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;63901]Yeah, but the well head is in the front yard, so I'll probably try to keep that to a minimum...especially after a night out at one of the local taprooms.[/QUOTE]

Call it pwaterin' the petunias ... yer pwife will luv ya pfer it ...

Bepsides,, that's what the psoil is pfor, I alwayps psay: Pfilterin' pstuff ...

50.) DParker - 06/05/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;63906]I thought everything was bigger in Texas ...[/QUOTE]

Even here the 'gators aren't hatched already fully grown. Patience, man...patience. They'll be BBQ size soon enough.

51.) DParker - 06/20/2021

Well, the appraisal was finally completed Friday night and we received a copy yesterday. It looks ike we're buying a house and 2.39 acres.

52.) bluecat - 06/21/2021

Can we get a picture of you and the wife holding pitchforks in front of your homestead?

Congrats!

53.) DParker - 06/21/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64031]Can we get a picture of you and the wife holding pitchforks in front of your homestead?

Congrats![/QUOTE]

My wife is aging better than I am.

54.) DParker - 06/24/2021

I just got back from having a cashier's check made for tomorrow morning's closing. Ow...ow...ow...

55.) bluecat - 06/24/2021

Your wife is hot, just sayin.

56.) bluecat - 06/24/2021

Do you need a pink flamingo as a house warming gift?

57.) DParker - 06/24/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64053]Your wife is hot, just sayin.[/QUOTE]

Yeah. The only problem is that she gets allergic smelling hay.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64054]Do you need a pink flamingo as a house warming gift?[/QUOTE]

Sure. I'll put it right next to the official greeter garden gnome.

58.) Swamp Fox - 06/25/2021

:grin:

Corngrats ... Don't forget what I said about the air conditioner ... LOL ....

59.) Swamp Fox - 06/25/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64055]

Sure. I'll put it right next to the official greeter garden gnome.

[/QUOTE]

LOL ...

Must have ... :clap::clap:

Also:

60.) DParker - 06/28/2021

It's amazing how much crap you can accumulate if you stay in one place for long enough. This past weekend we started the attempt to thin out (ie, throw away) as much of our unneeded junk as we can so we don't have so much to pack or otherwise deal with when we move to the new house. My wife started on just her closet and I started with just my office. That alone took several hours just to go through old paperwork and electronics to decide what could go and what couldn't. Between my wife and I we must have put well over 150 lbs of stuff in the trash and recycle cans. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. The garage is going to be a nightmare.

61.) Swamp Fox - 06/29/2021

I do not envy you...

Liberty tip:

Take advantage that without an HOA, you can fly whatever you want from your new flagpole ...

:grin:

62.) bluecat - 06/29/2021

Just don't say, "remember the Alamo". It never really happened.

63.) DParker - 06/29/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64103]Just don't say, "remember the Alamo". It never really happened.[/QUOTE]

That's a DAMNED lie!

[video=youtube;9cHLoHou8uY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cHLoHou8uY[/video]

64.) Swamp Fox - 06/30/2021

A classic ... :grin:

I remember the John Wayne Alamo and the Billy Bob Thornton Alamo, and vaguely recall one or two other Alamos, possibly, plus renting cars from the Alamo ...

But my favorite Alamo is the PeeWee Herman Alamo, and that's a fact, Jack!

65.) DParker - 06/30/2021

My favorite part of that flick was Jan Hooks' character. She absolutely nailed the perky tour guide stereotype.

66.) bluecat - 06/30/2021

You just said 'perky'.

67.) DParker - 06/30/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64108]You just said 'perky'.[/QUOTE]

And I [B][I]meant[/I][/B] it!

BTW, I'm looking into (among other things) small water pumps as part of a possible solar powered irrigation system and ran across this confidence-inspiring marketing photo:

68.) bluecat - 06/30/2021

löl...

69.) Swamp Fox - 07/02/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64111]And I [B][I]meant[/I][/B] it!

BTW, I'm looking into (among other things) small water pumps as part of a possible solar powered irrigation system and ran across this confidence-inspiring marketing photo:

[/QUOTE]

it shouldn't work that way if the tour guides ae perky enough ...

Ask me how I no ...

:wink

70.) Swamp Fox - 07/02/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64105]A classic ... :grin:

I remember the John Wayne Alamo and the Billy Bob Thornton Alamo, and vaguely recall one or two other Alamos, possibly, plus renting cars from the Alamo ...

But my favorite Alamo is the PeeWee Herman Alamo, and that's a fact, Jack![/QUOTE]

BillyB nos what I mean ...

71.) DParker - 07/21/2021

Well, here's a detail I somehow missed when we were looking over the new place. When they added the detached garage, which is only about 20' or so from the back porch of the house, they ran a separate power line with its own meter to the garage rather than extending the service from the house. So now I have 2 accounts with the power company, and will be paying 2 separate bills every month. That's not a big deal in and of itself...it's a co-op and the per-account costs are pretty minimal, and I'm setting it up for automatic payment...but I thought it was an odd way to do it. Plus, if I decide to add any solar and/or battery backup hardware to the house (which I'm seriously considering after our snowpocalypse power debacle this past February) the garage-turned-man-cave won't benefit from it.

Oh well. At least I can have chickens and goats.

72.) bluecat - 07/21/2021

Why do you think that happened? Do you get to meet the previous owners?

73.) DParker - 07/21/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64245]Why do you think that happened?[/QUOTE]

No clue. It was added before the previous owners bought it, and they don't know why it was done that way either.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64245]Do you get to meet the previous owners?[/QUOTE]

Yep. We finally got to meet up with them this past Sunday after we arranged to have them take a break from their moving activities and give us a walk-through of the property and all of the stuff inside the house they needed to pass along to us (operation of the home security system, tips on maintaining the water treatment equipment, etc). A nice younger couple with two very high-energy little boys (nice kids, but that poor woman has her hands full). I felt bad for them as we learned that their new place is so far behind schedule due to material and manpower shortages that the builder hasn't even broken ground on it yet, and they're probably going to be living with his parents in a neighboring county for as long as a year before they get settled into their new home. On the bright side, at least material costs are finally starting to come down so they should save a substantial amount of construction money in the long run. That also explains why they're leaving so much stuff behind for us (the 2 outdoor play sets, a couple tons of hay, a side-by-side refrigerator, the wine fridge in the pantry, the full-sized freezer in the pantry, et al). They just don't want to move and have to store that stuff. I figure if we still have all that after they finally get their new house completed we'll offer most of it back to them if they want it...except for the wine fridge. The wife ain't parting with that, and I figure we'll call that compensation for letting them live there rent-free for the first 30 days that we've owned the place.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/V2vypVt.jpg"]Full-sized image[/URL])

74.) bluecat - 07/21/2021

You're gonna love all that freedom and space.

When we moved I wanted to give the new owners a walk through and id all the flowers, garden plants, trees and shrubs so they would know how to take care of them. They apparently weren't interested.

Tip, don't drive by your old house anymore after you move. You'll be dissappointed by all the stupid crap they do to your residence.

75.) DParker - 07/21/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64247]Tip, don't drive by your old house anymore after you move. You'll be dissappointed by all the stupid crap they do to your residence.[/QUOTE]

Well, right now we're leaning toward renting the place rather than selling right away (it makes more financial sense in the long run), so I'm going to be VERY disappointed if they do any stupid crap to it. And I mean that in a very real and legally binding sense.

Oh, and another bit of fun is that...for some reason that the company rep couldn't seem to explain...switching over the internet service to us requires a physical visit by a tech (even though all of the current equipment is staying in place), and the earliest they were able to schedule that for is Aug. 27, unless they have a cancellation and can squeeze us in earlier. And this is the best option available in the area.

I'm starting to sympathize a little with Lisa Douglas.

76.) bluecat - 07/21/2021

You'll need to get a sign to hang on the wall that says "No cussin', No fussin', No backtalkin'.

You know, like what's in your parent's house.

Apparently, the character playing "Dr Rick" was in Second City TV. That was back when you could watch comedy.

77.) DParker - 07/21/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64249]You'll need to get a sign to hang on the wall that says "No cussin', No fussin', No backtalkin'.[/QUOTE]

I could, but I do all those things in abundance, and I don't want to be a hypocrite.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64249]Apparently, the character playing "Dr Rick" was in Second City TV. That was back when you could watch comedy.[/QUOTE]

Are you referring to the old [I]Second City TV[/I] Canadian skit comedy show from the 1970s? The one with Dave Thomas, Harold Ramis, et al? "Dr. Rick" in those Progressive spots is played by a guy named Bill Glass who has a little over 20 years of credits listed on IMDB, but I don't think he was a part of the cast of SCTV.

That was a great show...funny buncha' hosers, eh?

78.) Swamp Fox - 07/22/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64246]

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/V2vypVt.jpg"]Full-sized image[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Is there another barn door on the other side of that opening, functioning as a bypass system to close the whole space when needed? Otherwise, I don't get what's going on there...

Also, for bonus points: Is that door any larger than 42 inches?

79.) Swamp Fox - 07/22/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64246]

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/V2vypVt.jpg"]Full-sized image[/URL])

80.) DParker - 07/22/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64252]Is there another barn door on the other side of that opening, functioning as a bypass system to close the whole space when needed? Otherwise, I don't get what's going on there...[/QUOTE]

If I understand what you're asking...and even if'n I don't...what's going on there is just a currently trendy door style being used for the entrance to a large walk-in pantry. It's not terribly deep, but it is quite wide, running the full length of that wall on both sides of the doorway.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64252]Also, for bonus points: Is that door any wider than 42 inches?[/QUOTE]

I haven't measured it, 42" is probably close to being its width, if not spot-on.

81.) Swamp Fox - 07/22/2021

OK ... LOL ...

So the door sliding from left to right or right to left is just to direct traffic into the pantry through one side of the opening or the other, if I'm reading you right?

I'm guessing whoever designed that opening was not the same person who --probably-- wanted to close it off completely and then found it was not easily possible or at minimal expense.

But anyway and regardless: Don't get rid of that door without gouging your buyer ... That is quite the slab right there.

[If money were no object, I'd think a two-barn-door bypass system would be my solution, one slab on either side of the opening. That (probable) opening width is hard to solve for if you want to close it completely on occasion.... ]

82.) DParker - 07/22/2021

Ah, OK...I see what you're asking now. What you can't see from that photo is that what's behind the door in it is wall, not more doorway. When the door is slid to the left the doorway is completely covered and the pantry entry closed off.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/77IZv3d.jpg"]Full-sized image[/URL])

83.) bluecat - 07/22/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64250]I could, but I do all those things in abundance, and I don't want to be a hypocrite.

Are you referring to the old [I]Second City TV[/I] Canadian skit comedy show from the 1970s? The one with Dave Thomas, Harold Ramis, et al? "Dr. Rick" in those Progressive spots is played by a guy named Bill Glass who has a little over 20 years of credits listed on IMDB, but I don't think he was a part of the cast of SCTV.

That was a great show...funny buncha' hosers, eh?[/QUOTE]

No, he wasn't part of the TV cast but he did some work at the Second City Improv that I believe is still in business.

84.) DParker - 07/22/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64256]No, he wasn't part of the TV cast but he did some work at the Second City Improv that I believe is still in business.[/QUOTE]

Oh, you're talking about the comedy venue in Chicago?

[Emily Litella]
That's very different. Never mind.
[/Emily Litella]

My wife and I went to a performance there when we went to visit her parents back in the late '80s. It was a hoot.

85.) DParker - 07/22/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64256]No, he wasn't part of the TV cast but he did some work at the Second City Improv that I believe is still in business.[/QUOTE]

Oh, you're talking about the comedy outfit based in Chicago?

[Emily Litella]
That's very different. Never mind.
[/Emily Litella]

My wife and I went to a performance at their Chicago venue when we went to visit her parents back in the late '80s. It was a hoot.

86.) bluecat - 07/22/2021

This is the best!

87.) bluecat - 07/22/2021

"He blowed up real good"

88.) DParker - 07/22/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64259]

This is the best![/QUOTE]

It's funny 'cuz it's true.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64260]

"He blowed up real good"[/QUOTE]

LOL! I remember that one. I handed that expression down to my son, and to this day he uses it without really even knowing why.

89.) bluecat - 07/22/2021

Do you remember the fishin' musician? Hilarious.

90.) DParker - 07/22/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64262]Do you remember the fishin' musician?[/QUOTE]

I do now. :grin:

[video=youtube;5LAZWhFsuWM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LAZWhFsuWM[/video]

91.) Swamp Fox - 07/23/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64255]Ah, OK...I see what you're asking now. What you can't see from that photo is that what's behind the door in it is wall, not more doorway. When the door is slid to the left the doorway is completely covered and the pantry entry closed off.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/77IZv3d.jpg"]Full-sized image[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

LOL ... That makes a lot more sense... The angle/perspective of the photo led me to believe you had a big-ass opening that somebody wanted to close off as an afterthought and then got stuck, LOL...

From the first pic, I thought I was standing in a living area (based on all the open space and the furnishings), looking at a big pantry.

The second picture clarifies.

I was hatin' losing all the wall space in a living area... But in a kitchen it's not that bad.

Looks good.

:tu:

92.) bluecat - 07/23/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64261]It's funny 'cuz it's true.

[/QUOTE]

"I call everyone Chief".

I lost it on that one. I do all that stuff and am damned proud too.

93.) bluecat - 07/23/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64264]LOL ... That makes a lot more sense... The angle/perspective of the photo led me to believe you had a big-ass opening that somebody wanted to close off as an afterthought and then got stuck, LOL...

From the first pic, I thought I was standing in a living area (based on all the open space and the furnishings), looking at a big pantry.

:tu:[/QUOTE]

I thought the same thing.

DP, you could switch out the 'M' for a big 'T' so it reads FART. It would be a good conversation piece.

94.) bluecat - 07/23/2021

Gil Fisher...lol

He took Bob Marley and his band fishing once. When the car door opened, it was just a cloud of green smoke. I looked forward to that show every week.

95.) DParker - 07/23/2021

I was a big Count Floyd fan myself.

[video=youtube;ekqiSUjNURo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekqiSUjNURo[/video]

96.) bluecat - 07/23/2021

Man, those clips are so funny because they are so unpretentious.

Martin Short – lead vocals
Eugene Levy – lead guitar
Joe Flaherty – bass guitar
Andrea Martin – rhythm guitar
John Candy – drums

Every time I see John Candy I start to laugh.

97.) bluecat - 07/23/2021

:-):-)

98.) bluecat - 07/23/2021

fyi, 960 guests on line.

99.) Swamp Fox - 07/23/2021

"ComedyCountry.com" ....

Just sayin' ....

100.) Swamp Fox - 07/23/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64265]"I call everyone Chief".

I lost it on that one. I do all that stuff and am damned proud too.[/QUOTE]

One of my best friends from college used to call people "Chief" at 18 years-old ...

One of my favorite memories of him.

101.) DParker - 07/26/2021

My son, daughter, her husband, our granddaughter and my SIL met us at the new house yesterday to look the place over. I let the chickens we inherited (7 hens in all) out to free range while we were there. One of them is a White Leghorn that spent the whole time clucking at us and the other hens, as though she was incessantly bitching about something. The entire family agreed that she should be the first one to be named, and dubbed her "Karen".

102.) Swamp Fox - 07/26/2021

She's also the first one in the pot, if I'm not wildly mistaken about the way of the world ...

:wink

103.) DParker - 07/26/2021

Lucky for her, she was easily mollified with a handful of dried black soldier fly larvae that I picked up from a Tractor Supply on the way there. She liked them so much she ended up following me everywhere I went in the yard, without uttering any more complaints.

BTW...herding chickens back into a run when they don't think it's time yet (before impending sundown) is one of the best cardio workouts I've had in a long time.

104.) bluecat - 07/26/2021

You said mollified.

105.) bluecat - 07/26/2021

We used to dream of eating dried black soldier fly larvae.

106.) DParker - 07/27/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64288]We used to dream of eating dried black soldier fly larvae.[/QUOTE]

The best we could manage was to suck on some damp slugs.

107.) bluecat - 07/27/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64289]The best we could manage was to suck on some damp slugs.[/QUOTE]

Damp slugs? You were lucky.

108.) bluecat - 07/27/2021

109.) Swamp Fox - 07/27/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64286]Lucky for her, she was easily mollified with a handful of dried black soldier fly larvae that I picked up from a Tractor Supply on the way there. She liked them so much she ended up following me everywhere I went in the yard, without uttering any more complaints.
[/QUOTE]

Let's not bring race into this. Or daddy issues, either ...

The intersectionality thing is right out!

:tap:

110.) Swamp Fox - 07/27/2021

.....

111.) Swamp Fox - 07/27/2021

.....

112.) Swamp Fox - 07/27/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64286]BTW...herding chickens back into a run when they don't think it's time yet (before impending sundown) is one of the best cardio workouts I've had in a long time.[/QUOTE]

This is nothing compared to the beneficial brain stimulation you get when the new and unexpected neighbor comes walking down your property line looking for the crowing rooster that got loose --and you claim no knowledge-- while the once-noisy phucker is taking an ice nap (a nice nap?) in your chest freezer at that very moment ...

Ask me how I no ... :wink

I believe this could be the solution to preventing Alzheimer's ...

113.) bluecat - 07/27/2021

Do you eat roosters?

114.) DParker - 07/27/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64296]Do you eat roosters?[/QUOTE]

115.) DParker - 07/27/2021

Karen and the girls on bug patrol...plus my dog and a panoramic view from the back porch.

[video=youtube;qkOIe56iJQc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkOIe56iJQc[/video]

And fresh omelet makin's!!!

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/xxiYV4E.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

116.) bluecat - 07/27/2021

That looks awesome! There's something kind of peaceful about chickens. I don't think they would last long around my place with the coyotes.

117.) bluecat - 07/27/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64297]

[/QUOTE]

No, but I could have asked "What's a henway?"

118.) DParker - 07/27/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64299]That looks awesome! There's something kind of peaceful about chickens.[/QUOTE]

I'm hoping they'll be part of my blood pressure-lowering regimen. Even my wife is starting to thing they're pretty cool to have around...though that's probably going to throw a monkey wrench into my plans to raise some for meat.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64299]I don't think they would last long around my place with the coyotes.[/QUOTE]

We might end up with the same problem if I don't get around to putting a donkey or llama in the pasture.

119.) bluecat - 07/27/2021

Tell her not to name the damn things. That's a slippery slope. When we moved to the country, my wife said I could hunt all the deer I wanted. Then she started naming them...

You and I both know she wasn't seeing the same deer but there was no convincing. Now I just feed them, I don't want any trouble.

120.) Swamp Fox - 07/28/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64296]Do you eat roosters?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;64297]

[/QUOTE]

LOL .... +9, or 10 ... It depends on how you measure these things ...

121.) Swamp Fox - 07/28/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64298]

[video=youtube;qkOIe56iJQc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkOIe56iJQc[/video]

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/xxiYV4E.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;64299]That looks awesome! There's something kind of peaceful about chickens. I don't think they would last long around my place with the coyotes.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;64301]I'm hoping they'll be part of my blood pressure-lowering regimen. Even my wife is starting to thing they're pretty cool to have around...though that's probably going to throw a monkey wrench into my plans to raise some for meat.

We might end up with the same problem if I don't get around to putting a donkey or llama in the pasture.[/QUOTE]

Looks like a nice place to "hang out"! ....:grin:

I don't know how goats do against coyotes. All I know is that I think they're nasty but hippie chicks think they're dairy, so I can probably be talked into thinking things a different way ...

At least if they're very cute hippie chicks...

I admit to a soft spot for coyotes.

Coyotes gotta eat, same as chickens ...

Unless we're talkin' beloved cats and small puppies -- And I've had chickens and a bunch of other critters --- Unless we're talkin' beloved cats and small puppies, I'm rootin' for the coyote ....

:wink

122.) bluecat - 07/28/2021

Only 40 guests, I'm thinking it might be a chicken thing.

123.) Swamp Fox - 07/29/2021

If mothercluckin' chicken luvers have a prollem wit me, dey can cash me ousside, otay?

124.) DParker - 07/30/2021

We took a drive out to the new place this evening to check on the chickens' feed and water, and to bring a few boxes of our stuff (we're in the process of gradually moving in). Good thing, too. We knew from watching the news that some storms moved through the area late Tuesday, but we had no idea how strong the winds had been. When we pulled into the driveway we saw that one of the gates (each about 10 ft long) to the back yard had been blown down right off its hinges, and the chickens had somehow gotten loose and were roaming the yard (as well as one of the neighbor's). When I started rounding them up I found that the wind had gotten under the hinged roof on one of the coops, lifted it up and then tore it off *its* hinges, which was how they'd escaped. Fortunately they're homebodies, and didn't stray far (that we know of). Even more fortunate, Karen and one of the other mature hens have already learned that I can be counted on for treats, so they came running to me and they were easy to get back into their run. The other 5 required a more Keystone Cops approach, but we eventually got them in.

Also fortunate was the fact that I had brought along some cut-up over-ripe cucumbers I found on the volunteer plants that sprang up from last year's crop, and I shared that bounty in an attempt to get them over their traumatic experience. The 3 older girls dug 'em.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/nULgcM4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

125.) bluecat - 07/30/2021

I"m guessing those things will take a lot of kitchen scraps. Glad you got'em rounded up.

fyi, Martha Stewart feeds her chickens lemon peel so the eggs have a nice lemony flavor.

126.) DParker - 07/30/2021

I wonder if that's one of the little tips that Martha picked up from her cellmate.

127.) DParker - 07/30/2021

I'm putting together an automatic watering system for the hens. It's been a long time since I've had to work with PVC primer and cement, and I'd forgotten what truly nasty crap they are to work with. Thank goodness I remembered to put down a sheet of plastic on the garage floor to work over.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/kJBHgCq.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

128.) Swamp Fox - 07/30/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64313]
([URL="https://i.imgur.com/nULgcM4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

That white one looks delicious!

Oh. I'm sorry .... Did I say that out loud?

LOL .... :wave:

129.) DParker - 07/30/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64319]That white one looks delicious![/QUOTE]

Racist.

130.) Swamp Fox - 07/30/2021

I mentioned something about a white chicken and readership jumped 20% ... We're around 600 souls now ....

I think [I]A River Runs Through It[/I] might have started it but other arguments can be made ...

131.) Swamp Fox - 07/30/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64320]Racist.[/QUOTE]

It's because I'm white, isn't it? ... LOL

132.) Swamp Fox - 07/30/2021

I could ask you to capitalize the W if I wanted to be really obnoxious, and point out that it's really more of a light pinkish brown right now ...

133.) DParker - 08/02/2021

The automatic chicken waterer I cobbled together works. Now if the girls will just figure out how to use it I can replace that temporary 5 gal bucket with a 30 gal rain barrel and then rig up something similar for their feed. Then...replace those crappy cheap coops with something better. These eggs are getting really expensive.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/1UJf76B.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

134.) bluecat - 08/02/2021

That's really cool. Is that an on-demand kind of thing?

My honey is about $500.00 per oz...lol

135.) DParker - 08/02/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64344]That's really cool. Is that an on-demand kind of thing?[/QUOTE]

Yeah. It's gravity-fed (the bucket spigot is just slightly higher than the PVC rig) and uses these [URL="https://rentacoop.com/collections/all-products/products/automatic-water-cup-pack-2-pack?variant=32707107586093"]self-filling cups[/URL] and [URL="https://rentacoop.com/products/6-pack-of-tee-fittings-for-1-2-schedule-40-pvc-piping-with-1-8-ftp-threads?pr_prod_strat=copurchase&pr_rec_pid=5320727527590&pr_ref_pid=4664842846253&pr_seq=uniform"]pre-tapped T connectors[/URL] from RentACoop. I just cut up a 10' length of 1/2" PVC for the segments between the T-connectors and other parts (elbows and crosses), added a threaded cap at one end to act as a drain and a garden hose adapter at the other end that sticks out through the chain link. Then drilled a hole in a 5 gal bucket for the ball valve spigot (w/bulkhead) and connected the 2 with a 6' leader water hose.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64344]My honey is about $500.00 per oz...lol[/QUOTE]

I just know there's a marriage-ending joke to be made there, but I think I'll refrain from looking for it this one time.

136.) bluecat - 08/02/2021

Probably the wrong thread for this but Saturday was harvest day for this year's honey. Normally you put in what's called a bee escape below the honey frames so when bees exit the frames to go about their business they can't re-enter. After a day or so, the honey frames have very few bees in there and you can safely take those frames away to be extracted. I bought bee escapes for my hives and didn't think about testing them until Thursday when the bee escapes were to be put in place. They didn't fit as in the tolerances weren't right. The company that made the bee escapes had different tolerances than the company that made the accepting hole in their cover. Anywho.

So that left me with several hives where I was going to have to go in and take the frames and shake off a full compliment of bees. All I had to do was take the cover off and grab a frame, shake it, then brush the bees off as I walked to my wife who was at the other end of the yard waiting for me. A process that works really well with a few bees on the frames.

When I cracked open the top it was like hell opened up. Bees don't appreciate someone or something messing with their honey. I was covered in bees. I took one to the chin and one to the throat immediately and my hands were covered. Before you ask, I had a full bee suit on and leather gloves. These were light leather goatskin gloves that extended up to the elbows. I couldn't take the pain and ran to my wife and told her to get the hose and spray me down. After several minutes of complete dowsing I was able to get inside and strip down.

That left a huge problem. I still needed to get those frames as I wasn't going to extend this over a period of time. I put on carhart pants and a long sleeve shirt then another long sleeve shirt, a bee suit and another bee suit on top of all that. Full boots and velcro around the ankles of the rubber boots. I had this, right?

I wouldn't let my wife come with me this time as I knew it could go bad. When I got to the hive again, they were ready. They were on my hand so thick and stinging. Once their barb is in, they can't be brushed off. The alarm pheromone was fully employed and all the bees knew to go to my hands. I ran back to the house and yelled at my wife to get my work gloves. I put my work gloves over my goat skin gloves and went back in.

I got all the frames. When I was done I looked at my gloves and this is what I saw. Each dot is a stinger.

137.) DParker - 08/02/2021

Damn, man! I don't think I'd do that without full Hurt Locker gear. And even then I wouldn't do it.

138.) bluecat - 08/02/2021

Now that's a bee suit!!

My hands are still swollen. Those little bastards.

139.) DParker - 08/02/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64348]Now that's a bee suit!!

My hands are still swollen. Those little bastards.[/QUOTE]

They can be pretty ruthless.

[video=youtube;APUWOoUqQho]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APUWOoUqQho[/video]

140.) bluecat - 08/02/2021

"We don't have any pollen, we are ordinary people."

141.) DParker - 08/03/2021

Imagine how heartbroken I was to learn that I'm nothing special, and that anyone who wields the bag o' delicious larvae commands their rapt attention.

142.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

Cute picture.

If you have Japanese beetles down there you can set up a trap and have lots of chicken food. That's what people do up here.

143.) DParker - 08/04/2021

Apparently we do. I'm going to look into that. One of the funnier moments while I was finishing the watering gizmo was watching Karen grab a cicada from the trunk of a tree only to have one of the pullets steal it right out of her beak and swallow it in front of her. I've never seen a bird look and sound so pissed off.

144.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

There's some pretty good youtube videos that show how people hooked up their traps to feed fish or chickens.

145.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

Mine just go into the compost.

146.) DParker - 08/04/2021

Either way they get turned into food.

147.) Swamp Fox - 08/04/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64357]

If you have Japanese beetles down there you can set up a trap and have lots of chicken food. That's what people do up here.[/QUOTE]

Don't mention the war!

148.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

It's the circle of death.

149.) Swamp Fox - 08/04/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64363]It's the circle of death.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;64344]That's really cool. Is that an on-demand kind of thing?

My honey is about $500.00 per oz...lol[/QUOTE]

Does that include a factor for the pain and/or a present value for the loss of future earnings due to your demise prior to the end of your usefulness as an income-producer?

If not, I would have a serious conversation with your accountant ...

[Casual readers and Luv2: See [I]bee venom[/I], above.]

150.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64359]There's some pretty good youtube videos that show how people hooked up their traps to feed fish or chickens.[/QUOTE]

Here's one I found. Wait for the chickens to show up.

151.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

One thing I noticed that when you smell the bait it smells exactly like cloves. So I did a little research and saw that the active ingredient was Eugenol which is the chemical in cloves. So I took some ground up cloves and put them in some cotton and duct taped it to an old trap without bait (bait lasts one year or two years if covered after the season). I'm catching Japanese beetles with the cloves. I'm not catching as many as the store bought bait that supposedly has pheromones in it but it is still working.

I want to try it again in a little better delivery system.

152.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

Here's kind of neat idea involving June bugs. Can I say 'June'?

153.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

Now you are going to need to build a bluegill pond.

154.) DParker - 08/04/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64369]Here's one I found. Wait for the chickens to show up.

[URL="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u-dleNRVTyI"]https://www.youtube.com/embed/u-dleNRVTyI[/URL][/QUOTE]

Yeah, that's the same one that popped up first when I did a YT search last night right after I saw your suggestion. Pretty cool. Thanks for that. I especially like that expandable Tanglefoot trap. Unfortunately, so does everyone else, apparently, and they're out of stock everywhere.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64370]One thing I noticed that when you smell the bait it smells exactly like cloves. So I did a little research and saw that the active ingredient was Eugenol which is the chemical in cloves. So I took some ground up cloves and put them in some cotton and duct taped it to an old trap without bait (bait lasts one year or two years if covered after the season). I'm catching Japanese beetles with the cloves. I'm not catching as many as the store bought bait that supposedly has pheromones in it but it is still working.

I want to try it again in a little better delivery system.[/QUOTE]

Science!

[QUOTE=bluecat;64371]Here's kind of neat idea involving June bugs. Can I say 'June'?

[URL="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_K6Fwjc-D2w"]https://www.youtube.com/embed/_K6Fwjc-D2w[/URL][/QUOTE]

We see boatloads of those at the current house, so I'm wondering if we'll have them at the new one too. Now I hope so.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64372][URL="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DAWTn8_ejqI"]https://www.youtube.com/embed/DAWTn8_ejqI[/URL]

Now you are going to need to build a bluegill pond.[/QUOTE]

Honestly, I would if the layout of the lot wasn't so long and narrow.

155.) bluecat - 08/04/2021

The tanglefoots look pretty nice. They are a little spendy too. They are sold out partly because it's getting close to the end of japanese beetle season. The june bug option would be great all summer long I think so that' s why I included them.

Having them fall in a bag gets kinda stinky if you don't empty every few days. The pvc option that puts them in a water-filled bucket for easy removal or eating is the way to go. I'm going to rig something up for next year. As it is now, I have three traps out and have to empty every week. I believe it's provided some relief for my trees and shrubs. Plus I feel really good killing things that are harming my homestead.

156.) Swamp Fox - 08/04/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64373]Yeah, that's the same one that popped up first when I did a YT search last night right after I saw your suggestion. Pretty cool. Thanks for that. I especially like that expandable Tanglefoot trap. Unfortunately, so does everyone else, apparently, and they're out of stock everywhere.

Science!

We see boatloads of those at the current house, so I'm wondering if we'll have them at the new one too. Now I hope so.

Honestly, I would if the layout of the lot wasn't so long and narrow.[/QUOTE]

You said long and narrow ...

Pointing this out for a friend ...

157.) Swamp Fox - 08/04/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64369]Here's one I found. Wait for the chickens to show up.

[/QUOTE]

You're not going to kill those little bunnies, are you?

158.) Swamp Fox - 08/05/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64371]Here's kind of neat idea involving June bugs. Can I say 'June'?

[/QUOTE]

Well, you've already said "Japanese" so I guess anything goes, now ...

159.) bluecat - 08/05/2021

I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.

160.) Swamp Fox - 08/05/2021

Have you seen the eye doctor lately?

What happened?

161.) bluecat - 08/05/2021

If I could see my eye doctor why would I need to see my eye doctor?

162.) bluecat - 08/05/2021

Where's your Olympic spirit?

163.) Swamp Fox - 08/06/2021

Lol ... also for the post before that ...I can't see it ... LOL ... Freaking smartphone....LOL for the people who think they're chickens ...

164.) bluecat - 08/06/2021

Damn, I'll repost the clip tomorrow.

165.) Swamp Fox - 08/06/2021

Lol ... I hope my vision improves by then ...

166.) bluecat - 08/06/2021

I can see the clip fine.

167.) bluecat - 08/06/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64385]Where's your Olympic spirit? [/QUOTE]

When most people think of the Olympics they are thinking about pole vault, 100 meter dash, javelin, etc.

But this what I think of. Go Team!

168.) Swamp Fox - 08/06/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64394]When most people think of the Olympics they are thinking about pole vault, 100 meter dash, javelin, etc.

But this what I think of. Go Team![/QUOTE]

I'd like to see her do that with swords.

But at least it wasn't American women's soccer.

169.) bluecat - 08/06/2021

I think you'd like to see her do that with your sword.

170.) DParker - 08/08/2021

Totally worth every penny.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/WBYSpLA.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

171.) bluecat - 08/09/2021

Yeah, hackberries are nice trees.

172.) DParker - 08/09/2021

I meant my shoes.

But seriously...

This is actually my first hammock, and I've got to tell you...when the temps finally start dropping I might be getting most of my sleep in that spot.

173.) bluecat - 08/09/2021

....

174.) DParker - 08/09/2021

I'm gonna' need a bigger freezer.

175.) DParker - 08/18/2021

It took me 2 months of searching and waiting to find one of these available at a local dealership, so when I came across this used (very lightly at only 120 hours) LS MT125 on a lot near the new place I was there when they opened their gates at 8am this morning. I had to step back a few feet when I put my CC in the chip reader for fear that it would explode...but we lucked out and no shrapnel was produced. Isn't she cute? Even came with a 2" ball hitch adapter as a nice little bonus. Now if it will just stop raining long enough for me to try it out...

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/QVmtVY1.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

176.) bluecat - 08/18/2021

That looks really nice. You will undoubtably use the heck out of that thing. I need one.

Can you put different attachments on it?

177.) DParker - 08/18/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64487]That looks really nice. You will undoubtably use the heck out of that thing.[/QUOTE]

I'd better, after selling the wife on the idea that I had to have one to maintain the property. Otherwise I'll be sleeping in that loader bucket.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64487]I need one.[/QUOTE]

Every man does.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64487]Can you put different attachments on it?[/QUOTE]

Oh, yeah. That's a category 1 3-point hitch on the back with a 540 RPM PTO, and it will accept boat-loads of different attachments, including the backhoe it commonly comes configured with (I had to really search to find one without it). I'm already planning on getting a 4' PTO roto-tiller for it. And although the loader bucket isn't on a skid-steer QA (that's the dominant quick attach/detach standard) you can attach clamp-on forks to it, or take out the pins and mount other stuff in place of the bucket (like pallet forks and the like). It really is a little Swiss army knife of a machine.

Etc, etc.

178.) bluecat - 08/18/2021

Man, I've been pulling saplings with a chain and my blazer. That would make things so much easier. Then I'd be able to plow snow in winter and the backhoe for digging holes through the rocky soil for trees.

I'm jelly

179.) bluecat - 08/18/2021

I guess this is a dumb question but it also cuts grass I'm assuming.

180.) DParker - 08/18/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64490]I guess this is a dumb question but it also cuts grass I'm assuming.[/QUOTE]

Only if I get my fat, lazy ass out there and use it for that. But seriously folks...yeah, the black plastic thing just off the ground in the middle foreground is the side-discharge on the 60" (cutting width) mid-mounted mower deck attachment that's powered by the mid-PTO.

181.) Swamp Fox - 08/19/2021

When I skimmed the blurb in the sidebar, I thought Texas must have gotten a hell of a lot of rain, or you were taking this tank thing to heart and investing in some memorabilia ...

[QUOTE][I]"No one needs an LST ..."[/I] [/QUOTE]

Think of all the things you could do with one of these bad boys at the lake, or just up on blocks behind the house ...

182.) DParker - 08/19/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64493]When I skimmed the blurb in the sidebar...[/QUOTE]

The what?

183.) Swamp Fox - 08/19/2021

You know, the doo-hickey abbreviated mumbling on the side of the page that runs vertically, not horizontally ...

Wait... I'll come in again ...

184.) DParker - 08/19/2021

Oh. I thought you were referring to something in this thread.

Carry on.

185.) Swamp Fox - 08/19/2021

What exactly in my history made you think so? ----:wink

186.) bluecat - 08/19/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64488]

Every man does.

[/QUOTE]

You said man.

187.) bluecat - 08/19/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64493]
Think of all the things you could do with one of these bad boys at the lake, [B]or just up on blocks behind the house[/B] ...[/QUOTE]

You made a funny.

188.) bluecat - 08/19/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64495]You know, the doo-hickey abbreviated mumbling on the side of the page that runs vertically, not horizontally ...

Wait... I'll come in again ...[/QUOTE]

All dinosaurs are thin at one end, much much larger in the middle and then thin again at the other end. That is my theory.

189.) bluecat - 08/19/2021

Bloody Vikings

190.) DParker - 08/19/2021

Speaking of bloody....have you ever wondered what might have happened if taking up painting hadn't mellowed Bob Ross out so much?

191.) bluecat - 08/19/2021

I see a little terrorist right over here. And he is just looking around for someone to terrorize. Maybe we'll give him an angry face. Oh, and here might be a little tank..

192.) bluecat - 08/20/2021

I'll put a women throwing her baby over the razor-wire fence to freedom as a nice little touch.

193.) DParker - 08/21/2021

I think this is the first time I've ever giggled like a little girl the whole time I was using a mower.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/3wXFvtt.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

194.) bluecat - 08/21/2021

Did you sign the strict no-giggle clause before your purchase?

195.) DParker - 08/21/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64507]Did you sign the strict no-giggle clause before your purchase?[/QUOTE]

No, as my attorney strongly advised against it, knowing me as well as he does.

196.) bluecat - 08/21/2021

You know you'll be expected to actually work rather than just ride around checking fences.

197.) DParker - 08/21/2021

The funny thing is that I was planning to just start it up and make sure everything was functioning before the delivery guy left, then drive back to the old house. Then I just sort of got carried away with it and two-and-half acres later....I was done.

198.) bluecat - 08/21/2021

You're setting a very dangerous precedent.

199.) bluecat - 08/21/2021

951 guests, people love giggling and mowers.

200.) crookedeye - 08/21/2021

....

201.) Swamp Fox - 08/22/2021

[url]https://www.instagram.com/p/CS1KUPKrMYj/[/url]

202.) Swamp Fox - 08/22/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64507]Did you sign the strict no-giggle clause before your purchase?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;64508]No, as my attorney strongly advised against it, knowing me as well as he does.[/QUOTE]

My experience has been that attorneys are strongly anti-giggle personally, and thank gawd I found that out early or I might have become one ...

203.) Swamp Fox - 08/22/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64504]I see a little terrorist right over here. And he is just looking around for someone to terrorize. Maybe we'll give him an angry face. Oh, and here might be a little tank..[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;64505]I'll put a women throwing her baby over the razor-wire fence to freedom as a nice little touch.[/QUOTE]

This is *off* the paint chart ... :beer::hb::grin:

204.) DParker - 08/23/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64511]You're setting a very dangerous precedent.[/QUOTE]

I know. I even made the rookie mistake of telling my wife how easy it was. You'd think we were newlyweds.

205.) DParker - 08/23/2021

BTW, apparently we're too far from civilization to get pizza delivered to the new house, but on the way there yesterday there was a guy on the side of the highway selling tamales from the back of his pickup truck, so I think that more than makes up for it.

206.) bluecat - 08/23/2021

207.) bluecat - 08/23/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64521]You'd think we were newlyweds.[/QUOTE]

You're not foolin' anyone.

208.) DParker - 08/23/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64524]You're not foolin' anyone.[/QUOTE]

Not even myself.

209.) Swamp Fox - 08/24/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64522]BTW, apparently we're too far from civilization to get pizza delivered to the new house, but on the way there yestzerday there was a guy on the side of the highway selling tamales from the back of his pickup truck, so I think that more than makes up for it.[/QUOTE]

If you're not far enough out to not have pizza delivery, you're not far enough out to have your chickens disappear under mysterious circumstances ...

So count yer blessings ....buk buk bacccaw ...

210.) DParker - 08/24/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64527]If you're not far enough out to not have pizza delivery[/QUOTE]

But I am. Or are you saying that I am my own Grandpa?

211.) DParker - 08/24/2021

BTW, after burning my face and scalp (damn you thinning hair) when mowing the property I realized that I need to jettison my aversion to hat-wearing, at least for that activity. So I just got back from hitting up the local Academy Sports + Outdoors where I got myself a good boonie hat. It makes me look like Paddington Bear after a 3-day drunk, but it should keep the sun off my pasty-white face and head.

212.) bluecat - 08/25/2021

Hats are your friends. I've been enjoying a straw hat, which is light weight and cool, for years while doing homestead chores.

213.) bluecat - 08/25/2021

Just don't get carried away.

214.) DParker - 08/25/2021

{Laughs in Minnie Pearl}

215.) bluecat - 08/25/2021

I bet CrookedEye thinks she's hot.

216.) DParker - 08/26/2021

Grandpa Jones

217.) DParker - 08/26/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64533]I bet CrookedEye thinks she's hot.[/QUOTE]

"You sayin' she ain't?" :tap:

218.) Swamp Fox - 08/26/2021

[QUOTE][B][I]Smokey From Muskogee[/I][/B]
---by Swamp Fox

[I]Big-ass hats are still in style for gendered headgear.
Tats and body piercings are the dream.
Dope and mental illness rule the school board
But even Okie kids can post a meme.[/I][/QUOTE] ,,,,,,,

219.) Swamp Fox - 08/26/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64528]But I am. Or are you saying that I am my own Grandpa?[/QUOTE]

LOL...

Wait... Are you saying you DON'T want the chickens to disappear? Because I can check back in a year or so ... LOL ....

Otherwise, Wait, and I'll come in again ... :wink

220.) Swamp Fox - 08/26/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64530]Hats are your friends. I've been enjoying a straw hat, which is light weight and cool, for years while doing homestead chores.[/QUOTE]

I believe in Texas almost everyone should be able to find a suitable hat. (I hope this is not just a belief, but it *is*based on the last time I was there, which was a while ago, so ...)

As far as I could tell at the time, the ability to find a good hat is/was probably the main thing the state has/had going for it at this point in history ...

(Well, to be fair, you can sometimes also find good saddles and holsters and decent music there, too ...
Or at least you could ... )

:poke::p:wink

221.) bluecat - 08/26/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64535]"You sayin' she ain't?" :tap:

[/QUOTE]

Let's put it this way Gramps, if I was fishin' and that came up, I'd throw it back.

She's got everything CrookedEye wants in a woman - she can't run fast and she is relatively inexpensive.

222.) DParker - 08/26/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64539]Let's put it this way Gramps, if I was fishin' and that came up, I'd throw it back.[/QUOTE]

Damn, I need to stop posting links to photos while surfing on my phone...where I don't get a real idea of the size of the image. I don't think Grandpa Jones was that big in person.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64539]She's got everything CrookedEye wants in a woman - she can't run fast and she is relatively inexpensive.[/QUOTE]

Not unreasonably criteria from a practical point of view.

223.) bluecat - 08/26/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64536],,,,,,,[/QUOTE]

You really have a gift.

224.) Swamp Fox - 08/27/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64541]You really have a gift.[/QUOTE]

Don't tell the whippersnappers my secret ... :shh:

225.) DParker - 08/27/2021

Apparently one of my girls is self-identifying as a pigeon.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/HoOXqv6.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

226.) Swamp Fox - 08/27/2021

It's all yellow on the inside ...

227.) bluecat - 08/28/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64546]Apparently one of my girls is self-identifying as a pigeon.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/HoOXqv6.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

I bet she's tasty.

228.) Swamp Fox - 08/29/2021

We talkin' the chicken or the egg?

229.) bluecat - 08/29/2021

The underperforming pigeon-like creature.

230.) Swamp Fox - 08/29/2021

Feed both of them to the cats?

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it ...

231.) bluecat - 08/30/2021

Well you don't have to be stuck up about it. Jeez.

232.) DParker - 08/30/2021

It's moving day, and even though I'm paying someone a boat-load of money to do the hauling...it still sucks.

Now I remember why, those 27 years ago, we swore we'd never move again. Well...we really mean it this time. No, seriously, stop laughing.

233.) Swamp Fox - 08/30/2021

Next stop: The nursing home.

They don't let you bring all your stuff with you, though, so you have that going for you, which is nice ...

234.) DParker - 08/30/2021

Can I be President then?

235.) Swamp Fox - 08/31/2021

LOL ... +11

Some of us saw this coming.

Biden Beat: "Bug Out Better"

[QUOTE][B]
From Saigon to Kabul: Biden’s response to Vietnam echoes in his views of Afghanistan withdrawal[/B]

[url]https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-vietnam-afghanistan/2021/08/15/fd155518-fdd5-11eb-ba7e-2cf966e88e93_story.html[/url]

[B]Joe Biden opposed helping refugees from South Vietnam get U.S. asylum[/B]

[url]https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jul/4/joe-biden-opposed-helping-refugees-from-south-viet/[/url]

[/QUOTE]

[B]Meghan McCain [offstage]:[/B] [I]I did not know that ...[/I]

236.) bluecat - 08/31/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64573]Can I be President then?[/QUOTE]

You would have to prove that you've lost all cognitive faculties.

237.) bluecat - 08/31/2021

So, yes.

238.) DParker - 09/01/2021

It's like they're daring me.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/XcBUdyl.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

239.) bluecat - 09/01/2021

Lol, yeah that's pretty brazen.

240.) DParker - 09/01/2021

Not only that, they're crapping on the patio as they walk past the cooking gear. I think it's time to sit out there with a big bucket of KFC and have a chat.

241.) bluecat - 09/01/2021

I'm guessing that smoker and grill got set up before any furniture got moved in.

242.) DParker - 09/02/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64586]I'm guessing that smoker and grill got set up before any furniture got moved in.[/QUOTE]

If not, it should have been.

243.) Swamp Fox - 09/02/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64584]Not only that, they're crapping on the patio as they walk past the cooking gear. I think it's time to sit out there with a big bucket of KFC and have a chat.[/QUOTE]

LOL ...

So my one-year timeline was optimistic, I see ... :pop:

244.) DParker - 09/03/2021

I can't stay too mad at them though. In the 3 days that we've been here my blood pressure has dropped to it's lowest levels in years...and rightly or wrongly I'm chalking that up to numerous calming effects of my new environment, one of which is my daily routine with the feathered girls.

245.) Swamp Fox - 09/04/2021

So to me, this means you can enjoy more beer and 'baccy now ... :grin:

246.) Swamp Fox - 09/04/2021

Who knew chickens were so useful?

247.) Swamp Fox - 09/04/2021

Also, there's nothing like a Reverse Viking Invasion :grin::

248.) Swamp Fox - 09/04/2021

Seriously ..... No one expects that ...

249.) bluecat - 09/10/2021

Saw this on Craig's list this morning. Are you interested DP? I could send him to you.

250.) DParker - 09/10/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64654]

Saw this on Craig's list this morning. Are you interested DP? I could send him to you.[/QUOTE]

My White Leghorn (Karen) might be. I keep finding her hanging out along one of the neighbor's runs where they have a rooster. Tramp.

251.) bluecat - 09/10/2021

Does she wear black stockings and stilettos?

252.) DParker - 09/10/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64656]Does she wear black stockings and stilettos?[/QUOTE]

Not yet, but I might have to start pimping her out to make up for her recent lack of egg production.

253.) bluecat - 09/10/2021

One of my all-time favorite scenes from King of Queens.

254.) bluecat - 09/10/2021

Bonus scene Friday!

255.) DParker - 09/10/2021

I never did see any episodes of that where they covered the backstory on how they met and got hitched. How drunk/stoned/under duress was she when he proposed to her?

256.) bluecat - 09/10/2021

There are episodes of them when they first met. Doug is a bouncer at a bar and Carrie has big hair and is one of the patrons.

Another episode has Doug coming over to Carrie's house for Thanksgiving dinner.

Another episode intertwines how Doug got his job with IPS when he was dating Carrie. Basically he told her he had a job so she'd sleep with him. When she went to go see him at work Doug basically barged into the IPS office and got on a forklift even though he hadn't been hired.

257.) DParker - 09/10/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64661]...Carrie has big hair...[/QUOTE]

Ah, that explains it. It was the '80s, so coke and quaaludes were involved.

258.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2021

LOL ...

Girls only want chickens with large talons ....

259.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64661]There are episodes of them when they first met. Doug is a bouncer at a bar and Carrie has big hair and is one of the patrons.

Another episode has Doug coming over to Carrie's house for Thanksgiving dinner.

Another episode intertwines how Doug got his job with IPS when he was dating Carrie. Basically he told her he had a job so she'd sleep with him. When she went to go see him at work Doug basically barged into the IPS office and got on a forklift even though he hadn't been hired.[/QUOTE]

There are multiple references, so I'm not sure anyone knows, really. One episode has Carrie so nervous before marrying Doug that she is constantly vomiting... LOL ... The priest recalls that the couple met at camp when they were kids, but Danny insists that Doug was away at Fat Camp that year ... LOL

I know Raymond met Debra while helping move a couch into her apartment, if that helps ...

260.) Swamp Fox - 09/11/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64656]Does she wear black stockings and stilettos?[/QUOTE]

That's perverse!

261.) DParker - 09/12/2021

Our daughter and granddaughter stopped by the new place today, and when the latter was giving one of the play sets a tryout we discovered these little hasenpfeffers-in-training nested in the grass under the bottom of the slide. We've had an adult living under the red storage shed for a while, so assuming that's the mother we relocated them there. This just further cemented in our granddaughter's mind that we have the coolest yard on Earth.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/lKb8Sn4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

262.) Swamp Fox - 09/12/2021

Keep an eye on them. Mama Rabbit only visits the nest; she tends to live apart. Prolly a predator thing. Not sure if it's in her favor or the bunnies'.

Also, rabbits are famous for being scared to death. Their hearts beat so fast under stress they basically explode. Be careful being kind to wild rabbits.

Those are big enough that they don't need their mama, though, if my understanding of how rabbits work is correct.

Looking forward to the Bunnies vs. Cluckers thread to come ...

263.) DParker - 09/12/2021

Well, they needed to be relocated even given those risks due to the dogs in the yard. They're lucky we found them before the hounds did.

264.) DParker - 09/13/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64676]Looking forward to the Bunnies vs. Cluckers thread to come ...[/QUOTE]

She already had the ladies eaiting out of her hand.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/0iTvH71.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

265.) bluecat - 09/13/2021

Grandad is so cool! Awesome DP!

266.) DParker - 09/13/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64679]Grandad is so cool![/QUOTE]

That's what I keep telling my kids, but they're not buyin' it.

267.) bluecat - 09/13/2021

It skips a generation.

268.) bluecat - 09/13/2021

Fathers blow, Granddads rock.

269.) DParker - 09/13/2021

I was trying to find a cool t-shirt expressing similar sentiments, but stopped when I ran across [URL="https://www.walmart.com/ip/This-Is-What-A-50-Year-Old-Hot-Wife-Looks-Like-Men-s-Long-Sleeve-Grey-T-Shirt/167042193?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=518&&adid=22222222227057784145&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=161665917724&wl4=pla-461292896392&wl5=9027204&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112354397&wl11=online&wl12=167042193&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAjw7fuJBhBdEiwA2lLMYSMLjVmaJGqLD33V-MmiJA8lMhxD8oBWZ_Pa1aTwoIz0yzr0-S08VBoCmCwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds"]this one[/URL]. Someone at WalMart is working while stoned again.

270.) bluecat - 09/13/2021

Is it available in manatee gray?

[url]http://forums.huntingcountry.com/forums/showthread.php?555-If-you-need-a-chuckle&highlight=manatee[/url]

271.) DParker - 09/13/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64684]Is it available in [B][COLOR="#FF0000"]man[/COLOR][/B]atee gray?[/QUOTE]

Are you trying to pigeon-hole someone by gender? :tap:

And...nice blast from the distant past.

272.) Swamp Fox - 09/15/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64685]Are you trying to pigeon-hole someone by gender? :tap:

And...nice blast from the distant past.[/QUOTE]

It *was* an excellent clap back ...

But very history-of-mankind-from-the-beginning ...

tsk, tsk ...

[url]https://nypost.com/2021/09/11/transgender-fighter-alana-mclaughlin-wins-mma-debut/[/url]

273.) Swamp Fox - 09/15/2021

You know CE had money on that fight ...

274.) bluecat - 09/15/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64686]

[url]https://nypost.com/2021/09/11/transgender-fighter-alana-mclaughlin-wins-mma-debut/[/url][/QUOTE]

275.) bluecat - 09/15/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64687]You know CE had money on that fight ...[/QUOTE]

Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if CE was in that fight.

276.) DParker - 09/15/2021

My latest toy. 500,000 BTUs of "Screw these weeds...and ants." This is running at about 1/3 throttle. Full-out it brings about 3,000°F of pyromania to the party.

[video=youtube;oZpQD9efNp4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZpQD9efNp4[/video]

277.) DParker - 09/16/2021

Dusk at Chéz DP. The camera on my Galaxy S21 makes it look brighter out than it actually was, UT you can still see the fireflies.

[video=youtube;xP7p2ftB9gA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP7p2ftB9gA[/video]

278.) bluecat - 09/16/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64690]My latest toy. 500,000 BTUs of "Screw these weeds...and ants." This is running at about 1/3 throttle. Full-out it brings about 3,000°F of pyromania to the party.

[video=youtube;oZpQD9efNp4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZpQD9efNp4[/video][/QUOTE]

What you said, "Honey, I really think this might help with the weeds and ants."

What you meant. "Honey, I really want to have a flame thrower so I can look like I'm doing chores but actually just lighting stuff on fire."

279.) bluecat - 09/16/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64691]Dusk at Chéz DP. The camera on my Galaxy S21 makes it look brighter out than it actually was, UT you can still see the fireflies.

[video=youtube;xP7p2ftB9gA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP7p2ftB9gA[/video][/QUOTE]

Those things are amazing. Someone brought one to our campfire a few weeks back - almost dark and yet very clear visible pictures.

"We used to dream of having a Galaxy S21."

280.) bluecat - 09/16/2021

I mounted mine on a dolly and now I just tow it around torching stuff.

Note the super clear picture of a Galaxy S5, lol.

281.) bluecat - 09/16/2021

What's funny is each species of weed offers different pyrotechnics - some will just smoke, others will have multiple reports as each leaf sounds like ladyfinger firecracker. Knotweed will have a terrific glow where each leaf and stem is a brilliant orange for just about a second before it is turned into charcoal.

I have issues.

282.) DParker - 09/16/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64692]What you meant. "Honey, I really want to have a flame thrower so I can look like I'm doing chores but actually just lighting stuff on fire."[/QUOTE]

Get out of my head!

[QUOTE=bluecat;64694]

I mounted mine on a dolly and now I just tow it around torching stuff.[/QUOTE]

Now that I've verified that the thing works and I'm going to keep it, a dolly is my next purchase. You really don't want to be lugging that tank in one hand while trying to control where the fires-of-hell business end of that torch is pointing. When I was researching this thing (aka, drinking scotch and watching YouTube videos) I cringed at the number of people who had the flame going full-blast within a foot or so of the tank, the hose...or both. I kept waiting for a "He blowed up [I]real[/I] good!" moment. Of course I have my idiot moments too, so on my way out the back door I told my wife, "If you hear a BOOM or me screaming, dial 911 to report a fully-engulfed old guy".

[QUOTE=bluecat;64694]Note the super clear picture of a Galaxy S5, lol.[/QUOTE]

Even though I'm a tech guy by profession and hobby, I actually hate upgrading phones when the one I have already does everything I want it to do. If the battery hadn't finally bulged enough to open the case I'd still be using my S7. Hell, if it hadn't finally crapped out completely and AT&T wasn't shutting down their 3G network I'd still be using my S4.

283.) bluecat - 09/16/2021

You were so excited to see that thing working you didn't even bother to remove the tags. Now that's a true man.

Do be careful. I did start a small fire as I was adjusting something the wand ended up where it shouldn't have and I was rushing around trying to put it out.

They are awesome! Make those weeds your bitch!

284.) DParker - 09/16/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64697]You were so excited to see that thing working you didn't even bother to remove the tags. Now that's a true man.[/QUOTE]

I was trying to figure out how to use the flame it put out to burn it's own tag off. I failed to come up with a way...fortunately.

[QUOTE=bluecat;64697]Do be careful. I did start a small fire as I was adjusting something the wand ended up where it shouldn't have and I was rushing around trying to put it out.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, the first thing I did was to make sure the garden hose was pressurized and close at hand. In fact after I was done I doused the whole area with water just to make sure there weren't any hot remnants laying around waiting to flare up after I went inside.

The best part was watching the chickens run like hell back to the coop when I fired that thing up. I imagined their squawking to mean, "Oh crap! We really pissed him off when we jumped the fence to the neighbors yard this time!"

285.) DParker - 09/16/2021

Oh, and there's a crow that has recently taken up residence in the trees along the creek, so when I let the chickens out of their run in the morning it sounds exactly like sunrise in the deer woods.

286.) bluecat - 09/16/2021

I kinda feel like I'm in the movie [I]Apocalypse Now[/I] whenever I'm using it, which will be in the next few days.

287.) bluecat - 09/16/2021

288.) DParker - 09/16/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64700]I kinda feel like I'm in the movie [I]Apocalypse Now[/I] whenever I'm using it, which will be in the next few days.[/QUOTE]

The horror, the horror....

I mean, it smells like victory.

289.) bluecat - 09/16/2021

Although you will get some complete kills, the root system for 'already established' weeds will regenerate some shoots. That doesn't mean the system doesn't work. If you stay with it, you will exhaust all of the root stores and eventually you will win the war.

The best scenario is setting up a routine and as new seedlings show themselves you can torch them. Torching new seedlings will result in a complete kill.

Good luck and be safe out there.

290.) DParker - 09/16/2021

Yeah, that's what I told my wife when she asked if they'll just grow back from the roots.

"Some will, but then I'll get to...I mean...have to fire up the torch a few more times to finish them off. It's pretty...so pretty...."

291.) bluecat - 09/17/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64699]Oh, and there's a crow that has recently taken up residence in the trees along the creek, so when I let the chickens out of their run in the morning it sounds exactly like sunrise in the deer woods.[/QUOTE]

If that's too much they sell "Sounds of Chicago" CDs now. You can hear sirens, cars honking, people screaming, sounds of protesting and gunfire to remind you of good ol' city life.

292.) bluecat - 09/17/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64704]Yeah, that's what I told my wife when she asked if they'll just grow back from the roots.

"Some will, but then I'll get to...I mean...have to fire up the torch a few more times to finish them off. It's pretty...so pretty...."[/QUOTE]

I might not sleep too good tonight.

293.) bluecat - 09/17/2021

This is the guy your parents warned you about when trick-or-treating.

294.) DParker - 09/17/2021

I'm just impressed that he can still move like that at 74.

295.) Swamp Fox - 09/18/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64699]Oh, and there's a crow that has recently taken up residence in the trees along the creek, so when I let the chickens out of their run in the morning it sounds exactly like sunrise in the deer woods.[/QUOTE]

He'll stay there, too, if you keep throwing under-sized eggs and under-performing chicken bits to him ...

296.) DParker - 09/19/2021

Teaching a 7 year-old how to drive a 25 hp SCUT with a front-end loader. What could go wrong?

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/91oaylI.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

(Yes, I need a grass-catcher attachment...but those damned things are pricey so I'm doing a lot of research on them first.)

297.) bluecat - 09/20/2021

Mom, can we go to grandpa's house next weekend too?

298.) DParker - 09/20/2021

She actually did all of the steering from that point until we put it away in the hay barn. I even let her dump the bucket of cut limbs. Then we practiced going home to Dad (he wasn't present) and saying, "Yeah, I'm an [i]excellent[/i] driver" in her best Dustin Hoffman.

299.) Swamp Fox - 09/20/2021

:tu:

Every kid should have good tractor story ... Ask me how I know .... LOL

300.) bluecat - 09/20/2021

You cut those limbs just so you'd have something to pick up and move. I'm on to you DP.

301.) DParker - 09/20/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64736]You cut those limbs just so you'd have something to pick up and move. I'm on to you DP.[/QUOTE]

Guilty. But then again, I'm not all that complex and difficult to figure out.

302.) DParker - 09/20/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64735]:tu:

Every kid should have good tractor story ... Ask me how I know .... LOL[/QUOTE]

You mean..."If you must know..."

I must, I must.

303.) bluecat - 09/20/2021

Because Swampy probably won't tell us the tractor story, here is one I thought you'd like.

304.) DParker - 09/20/2021

LOL! One of the best. Those are the risks you take when you work as a model for [I]Farm Femmes Quarterly[/I].

305.) Swamp Fox - 09/21/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64739]

Because Swampy probably won't tell us the tractor story, here is one I thought you'd like.[/QUOTE]

Oh, ye of little faith ...

306.) DParker - 09/21/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64741]Oh, ye of little faith ...[/QUOTE]

Well, while we're waiting...Casa de DP has a new addition. For a little while now my daughter's household has been overburdened with an abundance of dogs, including their own two as well as a couple (one each male and female beagle and who-knows-what mix, about 11 years old) that they inherited when our SIL's mother passed away a few months ago. They managed to get one of his brothers to take the male, and we've been promising to take the female as soon as we could. Since our old male is gone now and we've finally gotten more-or-less settled in we had our daughter bring "Sadie" along when she brought our granddaughter for her sleepover this past weekend, and she's here permanently now. To our relief, she gets along fine with our other dog (also female) and has almost instantly taken to the place...which is good since our other dog needed a friend, and every "farm" needs an old hound dog. She's decided that she needs to spend the day in my office with me while I work, supervising and making sure I'm not goofing off playing Missile Command and whatnot.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/CyLpscK.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

307.) bluecat - 09/21/2021

Nice addition. I'm sure she'll be a little trooper. What does she think of the girls?

308.) DParker - 09/21/2021

So far she pays them no mind...or that's just what she wants me to think. She's more focused on the rabbit that lives under the gray storage shed in the backyard (not to be confused with the ones that live under the red shed on the other side of the pasture fence...we're up to our armpits in cotton tails here).

309.) Swamp Fox - 09/22/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64743]Well, while we're waiting... female beagle and who-knows-what mix, about 11 years old
([URL="https://i.imgur.com/CyLpscK.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

I'd say beagle and deer hound, which makes her a beer hound ...

Tell her to leave that bunny alone! ... LOL

:wave:

310.) DParker - 09/29/2021

I went out to the hay barn a bit before the rain rolled in yesterday afternoon and found the fragments of at least 4 white eggs that had been broken open and eaten by something. Guess who lays white eggs but who I thought had stopped laying because I haven't gotten any from her for over 2 weeks? Guess who got her flight feathers clipped right after that so she can't leave the yard anymore? She definitely wanted to talk to a manager after that.

I felt bad at first because when I picked her up, rolled her over on her back and stretched out a wing to start the clipping she gave me a look of abject terror, like she was certain I was about to murder her. The, 2 minutes after it was over, I went back outside with the bag of larvae treats and she came running full-speed like nothing had ever happened. Chickens are so easily bought.

311.) bluecat - 09/29/2021

Be honest. You've tried the larvae treats haven't you?

312.) bluecat - 09/29/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64794]

I felt bad at first because when I picked her up, rolled her over on her back and stretched out a wing to start the clipping she gave me a look of abject terror, like she was certain I was about to murder her. The, 2 minutes after it was over, I went back outside with the bag of larvae treats and she came running full-speed like nothing had ever happened. [/QUOTE]

Sadly this is very similar to the Juanita Broaddrick testimony.

313.) DParker - 09/29/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64797]Sadly this is very similar to the Juanita Broaddrick testimony.[/QUOTE]

314.) DParker - 09/29/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;64795]Be honest. You've tried the larvae treats haven't you?[/QUOTE]

Not yet. I'm waiting until I open that 15 year-old Scotch I got for my birthday.

315.) bluecat - 09/29/2021

An under age Scotch? You realize that's illegal right?

316.) DParker - 09/29/2021

You're saying I've reached dirty-old-man status? It's about time.

317.) Swamp Fox - 09/30/2021

Most Scots deserve a good spanking, regardless of age, but that's not important right now ....

318.) Swamp Fox - 09/30/2021

Just want to point out that we have built up the readership from under 200 to over 1000 in less than two hours .... :bad::bad::bad:

319.) Swamp Fox - 09/30/2021

Also: I logged out momentarily just know, and the reader count immediately fell to 800 ... Which either means 20% of our readership doesn't no WTF is going on or they are strapped to a very sick algorithm ...

If I did the math wright ...

320.) bluecat - 09/30/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64805]Just want to point out that we have built up the readeship from under 200 to over 1000 in less than two hours .... :bad::bad::bad:[/QUOTE]

Scot spanking like dwarf tossing is really a crowd pleaser.

321.) Swamp Fox - 09/30/2021

If the world is to make any sense, yes.

322.) DParker - 09/30/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64809]If the world is to make any sense[/QUOTE]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but...

323.) Swamp Fox - 09/30/2021

LOL ...

Good point ....

324.) DParker - 10/12/2021

Being too old to do any real chasing, the new kid has lulled the pullets into a state of complacency. Clever girl.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/S9kmPCr.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

325.) Swamp Fox - 10/12/2021

I can't imagine this is sitting well with the older chickens ... I fully expect someone is emerging from the hen-house tomorrow with a shaved head for collaborating ...

326.) DParker - 10/12/2021

I'm just waiting for the Buff Orpingtons (the light brown ones) to realize that they've grown larger than the older girls and start taking over the cell block.

327.) bluecat - 10/12/2021

Watch out for secret meetings and suspicious behavior. It could be Animal Farm before you know it.

328.) Swamp Fox - 10/12/2021

Lord of the ̶f̶l̶i̶e̶s̶ chickens ....

329.) Swamp Fox - 10/12/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;64940]I can't imagine this is sitting well with the older chickens ... I fully expect someone is emerging from the hen-house tomorrow with a shaved head for collaborating ...[/QUOTE]

I sure hope it's not DP himself, or even worse, Mrs. DP ...

330.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2021

Sure, I'm imagining the chickens taking over... But it could happen ....

331.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2021

These days ...

332.) DParker - 10/18/2021

I caught this foul, cruel and bad-tempered rodent trying to steal my tractor (piles of bones not visible in photo). I barely escaped with my life.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/klh8uFT.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

333.) bluecat - 10/19/2021

One rabbit stew, coming up!

334.) DParker - 10/19/2021

I nearly soiled my armor.

335.) Swamp Fox - 10/20/2021

It'll do you a treat, mate...!

336.) Swamp Fox - 10/20/2021

It's at times like these that I look back on the Short Magnum craze and wonder ....

337.) DParker - 10/21/2021

So I used my newly acquired $500 worth of DeWalt 20v power tools to slap together <$20 worth 2x4s and deck screws into an elevated stand for my diesel fuel tank+pump. For bonus redneck points I used zip-ties to secure it to the steel post. I probably saved myself $10, so just 49 more projects like that and I'm breaking even!

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/cCZHFIF.jpg"]Original image #1[/URL], [URL="https://i.imgur.com/lySNTmJ.jpg"]Original image #2[/URL])

338.) bluecat - 10/21/2021

Atta boy, now to convince your wife that you need that tractor jack so you can get under it to take blades off to sharpen.

Think of the savings.

339.) Swamp Fox - 10/21/2021

I'd've let the weeds grow up ...

340.) DParker - 10/21/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;65017]Think of the savings.[/QUOTE]

By Grabthar's hammer....

341.) Swamp Fox - 10/21/2021

LOL ... I had to look that up.

I'll give it a +12 for obscurity ... :wink

342.) DParker - 10/21/2021

You've never seen [I]Galaxy Quest[/I]? Great movie. It's one of those things that's both dumb and brilliant at the same time. Gather the cats and a big bowl of popcorn one evening and have yourself a watch.

343.) Swamp Fox - 10/21/2021

You'd be surprised at the movies I haven't seen ... 'specially those set in outer space ... LOL ...

It is a silly place ...

344.) Swamp Fox - 10/21/2021

Not that there's anything wrong with that ... :-)

345.) DParker - 10/22/2021

It's a parody of the whole Trekkie phenomenon...with a twist. As goofy as that sounds it really was brilliantly executed, and is probably one of the most entertaining comedies made in a long time...both before and since.

346.) Swamp Fox - 10/22/2021

I know you wouldn't steer me wrong ...

Although I said the same thing of the girl who broke my heart, who --for some reason-- really liked [I]Spaceballs [/I]....

347.) Swamp Fox - 10/22/2021

Maybe if I watch that movie one more time, it will be funnier ...

348.) Swamp Fox - 10/22/2021

The movie, I mean, not the whole relationship ...

349.) DParker - 10/22/2021

You've got Hans Gruber in a comedy...playing an actor who plays an alien. How can you go wrong?

Oh, and...Mel Brooks forgive me...I never liked [I]Spaceballs[/i] either.

350.) Swamp Fox - 10/22/2021

Oh, if I[I] can[/I] go wrong, I WILL go wrong ...

LOL ... :bad::dig:

351.) DParker - 10/23/2021

Meet Todd, our new flock member. One of our neighbors from 2-doors down decided they didn't want a rooster anymore but wanted to know that he'd go to a good home. So I walked down there to check him out, and after deciding that he was a healthy-looking and not-too-aggressive bird (I can't have a belligerent rooster with my granddaughter visiting because she likes to spend time with the hens) I took him off their hands.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/wLNVoi4.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

352.) bluecat - 10/24/2021

Sorry, he looks more like a Brad.

353.) DParker - 10/24/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;65038]Sorry, he looks more like a Brad.[/QUOTE]

I'm not seeing it.

354.) bluecat - 10/25/2021

if he still identifying as a rooster then Chester would be appropriate.

Can you make a reference to chicken breasts?

355.) DParker - 10/25/2021

Todd was generally well-received by the ladies, save for the first 5 minutes when he tried to wander into the coop that Karen was taking some personal time in. She's in the middle of molting, which has made her a bit irritable, so she promptly kicked his ass out of the coop...rather forcefully. Two hours later all was forgiven and they looked like an old married couple.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/2CLhD3z.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

356.) bluecat - 10/25/2021

So what time does his alarm clock go off in the morning?

357.) DParker - 10/25/2021

Not until ~8am so far, which...to be honest...has been a bit of a disappointment. In fact he just went on a crowing tear a few minutes ago, and I went out back to find him surrounded by the younger hens. Now I'm wondering if I need to start candling eggs.

358.) bluecat - 10/25/2021

I bet if his name was Chester he'd be wearing you out.

359.) Swamp Fox - 10/28/2021

Damn rooster by me goes off in the dark ... About 5:30 in the morning the other day ... Half moon, but still ... I guess I'm lucky the dumb thing wasn't crowing all night ...

360.) Swamp Fox - 10/28/2021

It wouldn't be so horrible, except they're new neighbors "from off" where I never used to have any, and they have two very annoying yappy little fiests that bark at all hours at every movement in the woods, which could end very badly for them ...

[url]https://taylor.getyarn.io/yarn-clip/2ee566e8-ebbb-4c39-9de3-d0f01cb58889[/url]

361.) DParker - 10/29/2021

So far the earliest our new feathered alarm clock has gone off was 7:30am, and he's not as loud as most that I've heard. Hopefully he'll keep close to that schedule.

362.) bluecat - 11/03/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;64990]I caught this foul, cruel and bad-tempered rodent trying to steal my tractor (piles of bones not visible in photo). I barely escaped with my life.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/klh8uFT.jpg"]Original full-sized image[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Q: What do you call a row of rabbits hopping away?
A: A receding hare line!

363.) Swamp Fox - 11/03/2021

Haredy har hare!

:groan:

LOL ....

364.) DParker - 11/08/2021

It's time to set up a blind in the pasture by the creek.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/fHuOpPo.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL]

365.) bluecat - 11/09/2021

Are you sure that's not a chicken that is identifying as a deer or vice versa?

366.) DParker - 11/09/2021

Nothing would surprise me from those sneaky little crap machines.

367.) bluecat - 11/10/2021

Do you think Swampy's parents are cutting down his screen time? I miss the li'l feller.

368.) DParker - 11/27/2021

Our son and his girlfriend are spending the weekend at a B&B in Fredericksburg (TX, not VA) so we're hosting his dog at our place while they're away. Yesterday I took her for a walk out to the back pasture by the creek, and while there we climbed up on the zipline platform built by the previous owners, had a seat and just took in the sights, smells and sounds of our tiny patch of woods. Almost immediately I started hearing gobbling sounds coming from the trees about 30 yds the other side of the fence with our neighbors to the north. It took me a minute to fumble for my phone and grab a brief snippet of truly bad vertical video, but if you turn the volume up and listen closely you can hear the gobble I finally managed to capture at about the 12-13 second mark.

[video=youtube;tV2vhXgQfc8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV2vhXgQfc8[/video]

I like this place more and more as time passes.

Oh, and I suspect Brookie (my son's dog's name...she's rescue and had that name already when he adopted her) will make a fair-to-good hunting dog if he starts training her now.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/xLQoiWs.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

369.) bluecat - 11/27/2021

I heard either a gobble or you just goosed your wife. Glad you are liking your home. It's so nice to be able to experience that sort of freedom.

370.) DParker - 11/27/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;65121]or you just goosed your wife.[/QUOTE]

That sounded nothing at all like, "Knock it the hell off!"

371.) DParker - 11/28/2021

Getting to know the neighbors.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/QY6Xrc4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

372.) Swamp Fox - 11/29/2021

I heard a gobble but it sounded a mile off ... Maybe a mile and a half .... To the northeast... He's travelling with two wagons, and one horse trailing behind, unsaddled. One wagoneer is a crusty old white guy with a mustache and a scar above his left eye. The other is younger, possibly with some Injun in him, maybe in his 30s, smoking a cheap cigar. The first wagon is carrying a number of crates, some china and a grand piano. The second wagon has some wardrobe trunks and two young girls aboard, one blonde and the other a brunette, about 24 years old. The brunette has green eyes and boobs like pillows. The blonde is jealous.

Ask me how I no ...

373.) bluecat - 11/29/2021

+6, Swampy

374.) DParker - 12/03/2021

Christmas decorations are up.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/E0z13sB.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

(Yeah, that coop ought to be condemned. I'm in the process of working on its replacement.)

375.) bluecat - 12/03/2021

What's wrong with it?

376.) Swamp Fox - 12/04/2021

Sketchy neighborhood ...

:wink

377.) DParker - 12/09/2021

"You sick bastard!"

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/DCibNlE.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

378.) bluecat - 12/09/2021

+ 6

That is not right.

379.) DParker - 12/09/2021

Hand feeding them treats regularly isn't gaining me the respect from the flock that I think I'm due, so now I'm switching to rule by fear and intimidation.

380.) bluecat - 12/09/2021

Like the Pirranha brothers?

381.) Swamp Fox - 12/10/2021

LOL ...

382.) DParker - 12/21/2021

It's always nice when one of the neighbors drops by for a late lunch. We had a few laughs and a nice little chat about fence repairs.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/hue6xtB.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/Xwqd6FT.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

383.) bluecat - 12/21/2021

He looks tasty, er.. I mean friendly.

384.) DParker - 12/21/2021

Notice that I've gained his trust....the fool.

385.) bluecat - 12/22/2021

What happens in the barn, stays in the barn.

386.) Swamp Fox - 12/22/2021

LOL ...

And I was just gonna ask if DP had shown him the Sue V machine ... :shocked: .... LOL

387.) DParker - 12/27/2021

Timing is everything. I got the firepit put together just in time for some 80°F weather.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/DJL2Otk.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

388.) DParker - 12/27/2021

And in spite of me eating 2 eggs damned near every day I still had to get a 2nd, larger egg rack for the kitchen counter. And this is after giving 4 1/2 dozen to family and neighbors. The girls are earning their larva treats.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/Gw1QTcE.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL]

389.) bluecat - 12/27/2021

Looks nice!

More poultry pics please. I've really become attached to the girls.

390.) bluecat - 12/27/2021

If you want my super duper pickled egg recipe, just holler.

391.) DParker - 12/27/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;65343]Looks nice![/QUOTE]

Thanks. I still have these two accessories coming sometime this week, and I still have to drill some holes around the upper perimeter of the steel insert (to make it more-or-less "smokeless).

[QUOTE=bluecat;65343]More poultry pics please. I've really become attached to the girls.[/QUOTE]

You'll have to fight this guy. He's becoming really protective of them. I went out to air up my truck tires while it was parked in the backyard and he ran out and wanted to fight my electric air pump. And I'm reasonably sure he was sober.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/T5Vioua.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[QUOTE=bluecat;65344]If you want my super duper pickled egg recipe, just holler.[/QUOTE]
Actually, I was just talking to a coworker about doing that. So. please...by all means...share.

392.) bluecat - 12/27/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;65345]

[/QUOTE]

He's purdy!

393.) bluecat - 12/27/2021

Does the rooster have to be present for the hens to lay or will they do that regardless?

394.) DParker - 12/27/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;65347]Does the rooster have to be present for the hens to lay or will they do that regardless?[/QUOTE]

The hens produce eggs all on their own. You only need a rooster for fertilization. They're also good to have as flock protectors and to keep the girls in line (he'll usually break up squabbles between the hens).

ETA: I also got an incubator for Christmas, so I'm going to see whether or not Todd (the pictured rooster) is shooting blanks.

395.) bluecat - 12/27/2021

I'm pretty sure your rooster could take Swampy.

396.) DParker - 12/27/2021

Now we find out whether or not Todd has "the right stuff".

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/efFNvno.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

397.) bluecat - 12/28/2021

Just remember, his name is Todd, so how virile could he be?

398.) Swamp Fox - 12/28/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;65345]... and I still have to drill some holes around the upper perimeter of the steel insert (to make it more-or-less "smokeless).
[/QUOTE]

Wait ... What?

399.) Swamp Fox - 12/28/2021

It's very possible that the rise in demand for "smokeless fire pits" coincides with the rise in the American Indian population, especially in the suburbs ...

"The surprising reason why..." ...(LOL ...work the rest of that mess of a headline out for yourselves) ...

[url]https://redstate.com/jeffc/2021/12/26/the-surprising-reason-why-the-native-american-population-has-skyrocketed-n497478[/url]

400.) bluecat - 12/28/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65352]Wait ... What?

[/QUOTE]

Who is this man who can summon fire without flint or tinder?

401.) bluecat - 12/28/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65353]It's very possible that the rise in demand for "smokeless fire pits" coincides with the rise in the American Indian population, especially in the suburbs ...

"The surprising reason why..." ...(LOL ...work the rest of that mess of a headline out for yourselves) ...

[url]https://redstate.com/jeffc/2021/12/26/the-surprising-reason-why-the-native-american-population-has-skyrocketed-n497478[/url][/QUOTE]

omg :-)

402.) bluecat - 12/28/2021

I remember the good 'ol days when everyone was turning Japanese.

403.) bluecat - 12/28/2021

and walked like Egyptians

404.) DParker - 12/29/2021

And listened to a Mexican radio.

405.) bluecat - 12/29/2021

and told Polish jokes

406.) bluecat - 12/29/2021

while eating french fries

407.) bluecat - 12/29/2021

and drinking Irish Whisky.

408.) Swamp Fox - 12/30/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;65358]And listened to a Mexican radio.[/QUOTE]

I have to be sensitive to charges of social promotion here, but ...

I am giving this a +14 for obscurity and left-fieldedness.

I think this is perhaps Wall of Voodoo's worst song, but it is -- I think-- their most popular one.

Who can get this line out of his (or her) head?:

[COLOR="#FF0000"][B]
[QUOTE][I]I wish I was in Tijuana
Eating barbequed iguana
[/I][/QUOTE]
[/B][/COLOR]

Continuing on:

[I][QUOTE]I'd take requests on the telephone
I'm on a wavelength far from home
I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
I dial it in from south of the border
I hear the talking of the DJ
Can't understand just what does he say?

I'm on a mexican radio
I'm on a mexican radio
I'm on a mexican radio
I'm on a mexican radio

Radio radio...
What does he say?

[/QUOTE][/I]

[I]In retrospectivo[/I], I award this whole mess many cervezas ...

409.) Swamp Fox - 12/30/2021

Speaking of ... that time in our lives, among other things ...

You can thank me later:

410.) DParker - 12/30/2021

She certainly pulled off that whole "in black" thing better than Johnny ever did.

Sorry, I was distracted by having to pick up and unload a new toy.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/2YR92hh.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/RfPI9av.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

411.) Swamp Fox - 12/31/2021

Friction-calibrated whole-house popcorn popper?

412.) DParker - 12/31/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65374]Friction-calibrated whole-house popcorn popper?[/QUOTE]

Close. Gear-driven 4 ft rototiller. I'm planning on a big-ass garden this Spring.

413.) Swamp Fox - 12/31/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;65371]She certainly pulled off that whole "in black" thing better than Johnny ever did.

Sorry, I was distracted by having to pick up and unload a new toy.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/2YR92hh.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/RfPI9av.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65374]Friction-calibrated whole-house popcorn popper?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;65375]Close. Gear-driven 4 ft rototiller. I'm planning on a big-ass garden this Spring.[/QUOTE]

I feel ya.

You can't always get what you want.

But if you try sometime, you get what you need.

414.) Swamp Fox - 12/31/2021

[QUOTE=bluecat;65356]I remember the good 'ol days when everyone was turning Japanese.[/QUOTE]

Under-rated post ...

:wink

415.) Swamp Fox - 12/31/2021

[QUOTE=DParker;65350]Now we find out whether or not Todd has "the right stuff".

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/efFNvno.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Three days ago ... (Just sayin')

Looking forward to the results from the spermometer (sp?)... smerm-o-meter??? ... ???

(What the hell are we doing here?...)

416.) DParker - 12/31/2021

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65379]Three days ago ... (Just sayin')[/QUOTE]

Nearly 4, actually. The forum software only counts full 24 hours days, and I posted that later in the afternoon this past Monday.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65379]Looking forward to the results from the spermometer (sp?)... smerm-o-meter??? ... ???[/QUOTE]

Luckily for me, nothing that icky. After 7 days of incubation, which will be this Sunday afternoon, I'll candle them (shine a bright light through them ) to see if I can tell whether or not they're viable and developing.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65379](What the hell are we doing here?...)[/QUOTE]

That depends. Are you an existentialist, or are you more partial to nihilism?

417.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

I'm more of an existentialist, but what the hell...

418.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

:wink

419.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

If somebody could think up a Lite Brite, there's gotta be an incubator out there with an integrated Baby Chicken Detection Beam (BCDB)...

[If things don't pick up around here, I may be forced to play some regular CDB ... Fair warning.]

420.) bluecat - 01/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65375]Close. Gear-driven 4 ft rototiller. I'm planning on a big-ass garden this Spring.[/QUOTE]

Oh, hell yes!

421.) bluecat - 01/01/2022

Michelle Obama has a book out about gardening. You should buy it.

422.) bluecat - 01/01/2022

It really stops arrows.

423.) bluecat - 01/01/2022

Georgia making Michigan look silly.

424.) bluecat - 01/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65350]Now we find out whether or not Todd has "the right stuff".

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/efFNvno.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Looks like you could be making yogurt while waiting on Todd.

425.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65389]Michelle Obama has a book out about gardening. You should buy it.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;65390]It really stops arrows.[/QUOTE]

LOL ...

426.) DParker - 01/01/2022

BTW, this is the first time I've ever had a use for 20 ft of 5/16" grade 70 chain...and I've been married for 33 years.

427.) bluecat - 01/01/2022

How did you get it off your ankle?

428.) bluecat - 01/01/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65374]Friction-calibrated whole-house popcorn popper?[/QUOTE]

+ 4, lol

429.) DParker - 01/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65399]How did you get it off your ankle?[/QUOTE]

A little butter and it just slipped right off.

430.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65398]BTW, this is the first time I've ever had a use for 20 ft of 5/16" grade 70 chain...and I've been married for 33 years.[/QUOTE]

Not everyone is into overhead lifting early on in the relationship ...

431.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

Just to clarify, so no one gets hurt based on any HuntingCountry Podunk post of mine:

Most of y'all will need at least Grade 80 chain to pull off overhead lifting, especially early on in the relationship ...

Really, it's the lowest grade recommended for that, no matter how skinny/low-energy you are ... I will not discuss my own personal experiences with Grade 70 for liability reasons ...

Joe Biden might be able to get away with swing-set chain, but nobody wants to think about that.

432.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

Have your lawyer contact my lawyer if there are any questions ...

433.) DParker - 01/01/2022

Which was why I used it to just lift the tiller about 6" off the bed while my wife drove the truck forward and out from under. So worst case the tiller would fall back into the truck bed or onto the ground...neither of which was likely given that the tiller only weighs a little over 400 lbs and the chain has a safe working load limit of 4,700 lbs.

434.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

I wasn't worried about you .. More about bluecat ... :wink

435.) Swamp Fox - 01/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65391]Georgia making Michigan look silly.[/QUOTE]

Bring on 'Bama ...

436.) bluecat - 01/02/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65407]I wasn't worried about you .. More about bluecat ... :wink[/QUOTE]

Grade 70, 71, whatever it takes.

437.) bluecat - 01/02/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65408]Bring on 'Bama ...

[/QUOTE]

Haven't they endured enough pain already?

438.) DParker - 01/02/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65388]Oh, hell yes![/QUOTE]

I had a hunch you'd approve. :grin:

439.) DParker - 01/02/2022

At 7am this morning when I got up to let the chickens out.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/civx481.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

440.) bluecat - 01/02/2022

I know what you mean. We've been getting some balmy weather too.

441.) DParker - 01/03/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65410]Grade 70, 71, whatever it takes.[/QUOTE]

+3.1415926

442.) Swamp Fox - 01/03/2022

Oh, I see how it is ... He gets pi and I have to be happy with a +4 ...

But then again, I am a cake guy ...

443.) Swamp Fox - 01/03/2022

If Georgia weren't such a raft of ballerinas, I might be happy if they won over the most obnoxious team in SEC football ... :wink

444.) Swamp Fox - 01/03/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65414]At 7am this morning when I got up to let the chickens out.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/civx481.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Don't get me started that you "got up to let the chickens out" ...

You just opened up a whole can of problematic hoo-ha... :wink

445.) bluecat - 01/03/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65420]Oh, I see how it is ... He gets pi and I have to be happy with a +4 ... .[/QUOTE]

I'm just glad it wasn't omicron.

446.) bluecat - 01/03/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65421]If Georgia weren't such a raft of ballerinas, I might be happy if they won over the most obnoxious team in SEC football ... :wink[/QUOTE]

How many times do they need to be beat by Bama to make it official?

447.) bluecat - 01/03/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65423]I'm just glad it wasn't omicron.[/QUOTE]

You know, that deadly disease worldwide that's killed tens of people.

448.) DParker - 01/03/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65422]Don't get me started that you "got up to let the chickens out" ...

You just opened up a can of problematic hoo-ha... :wink[/QUOTE]

And before opening the gate to the run I always declare, "Release the hens!" in my best Mr. Burns voice.

449.) Swamp Fox - 01/03/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65425]You know, that deadly disease worldwide that's killed tens of people.[/QUOTE]

Be happy they skipped naming it nu or xi .... Scary!

450.) Swamp Fox - 01/03/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65427]And before opening the gate to the run I always declare, "Release the hens!" in my best Mr. Burns voice.[/QUOTE]

LOL ...

You need a cat now ... :wink

451.) DParker - 01/03/2022

Hey, I'm not as bad as the YouTube homesteading guy who yells, "Release the quacken!" when he lets his ducks out in the morning.

452.) Swamp Fox - 01/03/2022

LOL...

I'll have to look that up.

Perhaps Alex nos him ... :wink

453.) Swamp Fox - 01/04/2022

This is where we could use Luv2's photoshop skill... (singular) ...

I kinda miss the little feller ... (My girlfriend from Canadia seems jealous.)

454.) bluecat - 01/04/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65432]Hey, I'm not as bad as the YouTube homesteading guy who yells, "Release the quacken!" when he lets his ducks out in the morning.[/QUOTE]

"Who let the ducks out?" Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack

455.) DParker - 01/08/2022

Well, after 11 days in the incubator candling the eggs revealed zero development in any of the eggs. Now I need to figure out if the temp and/or humidity controls aren't calibrated or if Todd is shooting blanks. In the meantime, protein doesn't go to waste.

"Hey, these are delicious. I wonder what they are."

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/H1NkytA.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

456.) DParker - 01/09/2022

OK, bluecat...in ~30 days we find out whether or not the wife and/or I like pickled eggs. I had to call a couple of audibles on things like halving the recipe, adding beet juice and substituting stevia for the sugar, but for the most part I stuck to the plan.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/eZ8Qvqv.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

As long as I had the pots, pans, vinegar and spices out I pickled a large red onion too.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/wxghIUc.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

457.) Swamp Fox - 01/09/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65447]OK, bluecat...in ~30 days we find out whether or note the wife and/or I like pickled eggs. [/QUOTE]

Usually the way it works is if there are two people in the room, one really likes pickled eggs and the other one hates them.

It's worse if it's a small room, and/or a guy and a girl....

When you think about it, that's the problem with all relationships, in an eggshell ...

:beer:

458.) DParker - 01/09/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65448]Usually the way it works is if there are two people in the room, one really likes pickled eggs and the other one hates them. [/QUOTE]

So they're like coconuts...not that I'm suggesting they migrate.

459.) Swamp Fox - 01/09/2022

LOL ... +9

I did not know that coconuts and coconut accessories were so farty ...

Good to know. Good to know ...

Thanks, Alex, for providing this forum ... LOL

:grin:

460.) Swamp Fox - 01/09/2022

BTW, DP: You are a sick, sick man ... LOL

[I]
+ One Dozen Large[/I]

[QUOTE=DParker;65446]
"Hey, these are delicious. I wonder what they are."

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/H1NkytA.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

461.) bluecat - 01/09/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65447]OK, bluecat...in ~30 days we find out whether or not the wife and/or I like pickled eggs. I had to call a couple of audibles on things like halving the recipe, adding beet juice and substituting stevia for the sugar, but for the most part I stuck to the plan.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/eZ8Qvqv.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

As long as I had the pots, pans, vinegar and spices out I pickled a large red onion too.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/wxghIUc.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Not sure about the stevia substitute. I'll put an asterisk by your evaluation when it comes.

That brine will work for okra and asparagus or even green beans. I know you'll be getting a lot of those coming up.

I've done onions with cucumbers - excellent.

462.) bluecat - 01/10/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65448]Usually the way it works is if there are two people in the room, one really likes pickled eggs and the other one hates them has not tried them.

[/QUOTE]

fify

463.) bluecat - 01/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65446]

"Hey, these are delicious. I wonder what they are."

[/QUOTE]

"Mmm, tastes like chicken."

464.) bluecat - 01/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65449]So they're like coconuts...not that I'm suggesting they migrate.[/QUOTE]

Too funny!

465.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65448]Usually the way it works is if there are two people in the room, one really likes pickled eggs and the other one hates them.

It's worse if it's a small room, and/or a guy and a girl....

When you think about it, that's the problem with all relationships, in an eggshell ...

:beer:[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;65453]fify[/QUOTE]

Okay, how 'bout this: one guy really likes them and the other---whether familiar with them or not---suffers the mephitic vapors [Great band name!] ...

466.) bluecat - 01/11/2022

How 'bout this, one guy likes them the other guy is on his phone looking at chubbies.

467.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

LOL ...

Do you take money from Big Farty?

Why do you hate the planet?

468.) DParker - 01/11/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65452]Not sure about the stevia substitute. [/QUOTE]

Yeah, I know. But carbs...especially sugar...are on my "keep to a minimum" list these days, so I find myself having to make substitutions like that whenever I can. It actually works quite well in most cases, though I realize that I'm sacrificing sugar's preservative qualities in this one.

469.) bluecat - 01/11/2022

Whatever Lee Corso bets, bet the opposite. Lol

470.) DParker - 01/11/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65459]Why do you hate the planet?[/QUOTE]

Who wouldn't? Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsumnamis...I mean, the planet can be a real asshole.

471.) bluecat - 01/11/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65460]Yeah, I know. But carbs...especially sugar...are on my "keep to a minimum" list these days, so I find myself having to make substitutions like that whenever I can. It actually works quite well in most cases, though I realize that I'm sacrificing sugar's preservative qualities in this one.[/QUOTE]

As long as you aren't drinking the brine, I think you would be fine. Just giving you a hard time. :)

472.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

Lee Corso thinks beef is BBQ ...

And that's all I have to say about that.

473.) bluecat - 01/11/2022

Yeah, what has the planet ever done for us?

474.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65462]Who wouldn't? Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsumnamis...I mean, the planet can be a real asshole.[/QUOTE]

The planet is your mother ...

(ancient hippie saying)

:-)

475.) bluecat - 01/11/2022

Sometimes she can be a bitch.

476.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

Wait til your father gets home!

:shocked::bad::shocked:

LOL ...

Good times ... Good times ... :wink

477.) DParker - 01/11/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65466]The planet is your mother ...[/QUOTE]

That's what I'm on about. Gaia can kiss my...well...you know.

478.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

LOL ...

It's not helpful to have missed the 70s ...

:grin:

479.) bluecat - 01/11/2022

More football, less Katy Perry.

480.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

She's everywhere! She's everywhere!

481.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

Ordinarily, CE would be here to promote Katy Perry.... But these are not ordinary times.....

482.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

So yer tellin' me y'all roll up the rug at 10 PM out there ...

No wonder we can't get anything going ...

LOL,,,,

483.) bluecat - 01/11/2022

Early to bed early to rise.

484.) Swamp Fox - 01/11/2022

How much sleep do you need? --- LOL

485.) Swamp Fox - 01/12/2022

Don't make me start a pop music thread ....

:wink

486.) DParker - 01/12/2022

A couple more neighbors dropped by today. They were found getting into the shop construction project going on across the street, so we herded them into our backyard to be our guests until the owners can be found. Bailey thinks they're the weirdest dogs she's ever seen, but otherwise thinks they're OK. This is the kind of stuff we moved here for.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/aOhHXhs.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

487.) Swamp Fox - 01/13/2022

You know they came out of an El Camino from the other end of the county and that you're their daddy now, right?

488.) DParker - 01/13/2022

I don't know about that, but their owner took them home in the back of a Jeep Wrangler. I'm gonna' miss those little fellers.

489.) Swamp Fox - 01/13/2022

LOL ...

I'm glad it worked out.

It could be bad if your house becomes a goat-dumping destination.

490.) Swamp Fox - 01/13/2022

Or, it could lead to new content for the Recipes forum ....

491.) DParker - 01/13/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65484]Or, it could lead to new content for the Recipes forum ....[/QUOTE]

I was tempted to name one of them "Cabrito".

492.) bluecat - 01/13/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65480]A couple more neighbors dropped by today. They were found getting into the shop construction project going on across the street, so we herded them into our backyard to be our guests until the owners can be found. Bailey thinks they're the weirdest dogs she's ever seen, but otherwise thinks they're OK. This is the kind of stuff we moved here for.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/aOhHXhs.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

So what's really the difference between your back yard and those exotic game ranches that charge thousands of dollars?

493.) bluecat - 01/13/2022

The stench aroma of pickled eggs?

494.) Swamp Fox - 01/13/2022

LOL ...

495.) Swamp Fox - 01/13/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65485]I was tempted to name one of them "Cabrito".[/QUOTE]

I've never had goat (that I know of). I had a friend from Nigeria (but raised mostly in the U.S.) a long time ago who was always after me to find him some goat meat. I think he thought that because I didn't live in town, I knew all the goat ranchers ... LOL

496.) DParker - 01/13/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65486]So what's really the difference between your back yard and those exotic game ranches that charge thousands of dollars?[/QUOTE]

The direction of the cash flow, mostly.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65489]I've never had goat (that I know of).[/QUOTE]

You're missing out. Well-prepared goat is some of the most delicious meat you'll ever have.

497.) bluecat - 01/13/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65489]I've never had goat (that I know of). [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;65491]

You're missing out. Well-prepared goat is some of the most delicious meat you'll ever have.[/QUOTE]

I don't think Swampy was referring to eating goat as much as 'having' a goat.

498.) DParker - 01/13/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65492]I don't think Swampy was referring to eating goat as much as 'having' a goat.[/QUOTE]

Hey, I'm not judging.

(Yes I am.)

499.) bluecat - 01/13/2022

The summer he went off to that ranch for wayward boys, he got into a little bit of trouble if I recall. I don't know the particulars but I know they changed their protocol after he left where all farm animals are locked up at night.

500.) DParker - 01/13/2022

"I was just helping that sheep get over the fence!"

501.) Swamp Fox - 01/13/2022

LOL ... You two ...

502.) Swamp Fox - 01/13/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65489]I've never had goat (that I know of). I had a friend from Nigeria (but raised mostly in the U.S.) a long time ago who was always after me to find him some goat meat. I think he thought that because I didn't live in town, I knew all the goat ranchers ... LOL

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;65492]I don't think Swampy was referring to eating goat as much as 'having' a goat.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65489]I've never had goat (that I know of). I [COLOR="#EE82EE"]h̶a̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶N̶i̶g̶e̶r̶i̶a̶ [/COLOR] knew a guy from Nigeria ...

[/QUOTE]

No, wait ...

503.) DParker - 01/15/2022

BTW, home-pickled red onions rock They're not only tastey in their own right, they're also an unexpectedly nice addition to a variety of dishes. The one that surprised me the most was when I put some into my standard weekend breakfast: Bacon, scrambled eggs, cheeses and mashed avocado on a spinach tortilla. All that fatty, creamy richness really benefits from the acidity and mild crunch of the pickled onions.

I'm going to make a point of always keeping a jar of them on hand.

504.) DParker - 01/15/2022

Well, after the first utter failure in the incubator I tried again with 3 fresh eggs. We're on day 7 of that exercise now and finally have 1 chicken in progress (the other 2 don't seem to be fertile). This probably needs to be full-screen on a computer monitor to see anything, but the embryo is visible moving in the lower-right part of the egg.

[video=youtube;7h5kk1RGN9M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h5kk1RGN9M[/video]

505.) bluecat - 01/16/2022

Go Todd, go!

506.) DParker - 01/16/2022

Any tips on where you can buy a box of tiny cigars?

507.) Swamp Fox - 01/16/2022

Chicken Little's Little Chicken Smoke Shop and BBQ Coop?

I was gonna suggest this place because there's always a line out the door, but I see it is smoke-free ...

508.) Swamp Fox - 01/16/2022

Sure it is ... until the junior grill man clocks in ...

509.) DParker - 01/17/2022

"Raised beds are for quitters who feel compelled to admit defeat and cede victory to the ground."

~Me, Jan. 17, 2022

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/BKNMWh6.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/vestgId.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Now, onto the irrigation system. THAT is going to be a project...

510.) Swamp Fox - 01/18/2022

I'm not sure you can fit enough stuff in there ...

511.) bluecat - 01/18/2022

Holy broccoli batman!

512.) DParker - 01/18/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65516]I'm not sure you can fit enough stuff in there ...[/QUOTE]

I know, right? If I find that I've forgotten something, and my irrigation setup can produce enough flow/pressure I might still need to add room for another row.

[QUOTE=bluecat;65517]Holy broccoli batman![/QUOTE]

Yeah, like that.

513.) Swamp Fox - 01/18/2022

If the gardening thing doesn't work out, you can always build a rifle range.

514.) bluecat - 01/18/2022

or a cemetary

515.) Swamp Fox - 01/18/2022

Mobile home park ...

516.) bluecat - 01/18/2022

or an airfield

517.) Swamp Fox - 01/18/2022

LOL .... I was gonna say county airport ...

DP's gonna need a hangar for his cropduster anyway ...

518.) DParker - 01/19/2022

Most (not all) of my seeds showed up today. I can't water them (because I'm having a hell of a time locating reconditioned food-grade IBC totes locally from someone who will actually answer their phone/email/whatever), but they're here.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/pzwyGk1.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

I still have 7 packets coming from Park Seed, and a bunch of seed potatoes coming form The Maine Potato Lady. I might have to declare my pasture to be an independent nation.

519.) bluecat - 01/19/2022

Are you setting up a mini water tower with the tote and then extend hoses from that?

This is going to be fun following all of this.

520.) Swamp Fox - 01/19/2022

Scalia was not big on secession, but that was neither a formal legal opinion nor the last word ...

I say, "Go ahead on... "

521.) DParker - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65554]Are you setting up a mini water tower with the tote and then extend hoses from that?

This is going to be fun following all of this.[/QUOTE]

Not a tower. I can't hoist them up high enough to get any real beneficial increase in water pressure, so a gravity system is out. My plan is to use a solar-powered DC pump between the totes and a drip system (10x90' lengths of 8 mil drip tape). Hopefully the pump will provide enough pressure that I won't need more than 2 zones (5 lengths of drip tape each) that I can switch between with a DC motorized ball valve...also solar powered (with a 12v battery for storage), and all controlled via an Arduino microcontroller.

522.) DParker - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65555]Scalia was not big on secession, but that was neither a formal legal opinion nor the last word ... [/QUOTE]

It was the last word for him. (Too soon?)

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65555]I say, "Go ahead on... "[/QUOTE]

Of course I'll still need to enter into a no-tariff trade agreement with my neighbors, but I can be quite the diplomat when I need to be. (Ha! I couldn't even keep a straight face as I typed that.)

523.) Swamp Fox - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65556]Not a tower. I can't hoist them up high enough to get any real beneficial increase in water pressure, so a gravity system is out. My plan is to use a solar-powered DC pump between the totes and a drip system (10x90' lengths of 8 mil drip tape). Hopefully the pump will provide enough pressure that I won't need more than 2 zones (5 lengths of drip tape each) that I can switch between with a DC motorized ball valve...also solar powered (with a 12v battery for storage), and all controlled via an Arduino microcontroller.[/QUOTE]

That's what the Comanches used, I believe ...

524.) DParker - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65558]That's what the Comanches used, I believe ...[/QUOTE]

Naaaah. [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanche_Peak_Nuclear_Power_Plant"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanche_Peak_Nuclear_Power_Plant[/URL]

525.) Swamp Fox - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65557]It was the last word for him. (Too soon?)

Of course I'll still need to enter into a no-tariff trade agreement with my neighbors, but I can be quite the diplomat when I need to be. (Ha! I couldn't even keep a straight face as I typed that.)[/QUOTE]

LOL ...

526.) Swamp Fox - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65559]Naaaah. [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanche_Peak_Nuclear_Power_Plant"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanche_Peak_Nuclear_Power_Plant[/URL][/QUOTE]

LMAO ... + 7

Mexican banditos?

527.) bluecat - 01/19/2022

528.) DParker - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65562]Of course an Arduino microcontroller, duh! That goes without saying.[/QUOTE]

And an enormous schwanzstucker.

529.) DParker - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65561]LMAO ... + 7

Mexican banditos?[/QUOTE]

Soon to be renamed, "The Texas Nuclear Power Plant".

530.) bluecat - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65563]And an enormous [B]schwanzstücker[/B].[/QUOTE]

fify

When you said you had an Arduino microcontroller, I though maybe your wife's name was Arduino. My bad.

531.) Swamp Fox - 01/19/2022

532.) Swamp Fox - 01/19/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65564]Soon to be renamed, "The Texas Nuclear Power Plant".[/QUOTE]

That will help raise awareness ...

:bang:

533.) Swamp Fox - 01/19/2022

Nothing like erasing American Indians to respect American Indians...

I'm looking at you, [B]L[/B]and [B]o[/B]' [B]L[/B]akes and [B]W[/B]ashington [B]T[/B]eam [B]F[/B]ootball

534.) bluecat - 01/19/2022

+8, I see what you did there. :wink

535.) DParker - 01/20/2022

Now, on to the irrigation portion of our program.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/Ug7OpqL.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

536.) bluecat - 01/21/2022

Please jump ahead to this portion of the program. Your portion is boring.

537.) DParker - 01/21/2022

I know what you're looking for in an irrigation system.

538.) bluecat - 01/21/2022

+ 5 lbs

539.) bluecat - 01/21/2022

Maybe we should just agree not to post pics of our wives.

540.) DParker - 01/21/2022

You mean...of each other's wives?

541.) Swamp Fox - 01/22/2022

LOL ... Tooshay!

542.) bluecat - 01/22/2022

I've been bested by a turnip farmer with a hot wife. :bang:

543.) Swamp Fox - 01/22/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65581]I've been bested by a turnip farmer.:bang:[/QUOTE]

who is also a goat-roper! ...

You'll never live this down.

544.) DParker - 01/22/2022

I'm also a chicken-chaser, for the trifecta.

545.) Swamp Fox - 01/22/2022

It's difficult to pick up extra points after goat-roper, but you've managed to do it ...

:wink

546.) DParker - 01/27/2022

Some idiot forgot to turn off the trail cam before I went out to play with my tractor toys yesterday afternoon, and now I have 2.86 GB worth of still images and videos of some old fat guy playing farmer.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/4MJ8vG1.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/B2ihVos.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

547.) bluecat - 01/27/2022

You're living the dream my friend. Are you completely retired at this point or is that down the road?

548.) bluecat - 01/27/2022

And I definately don't want any inquiry of mine to sound critical cause it's not. Do you have critters you need to worry about (rabbits, deer).

549.) DParker - 01/27/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65644]You're living the dream my friend. Are you completely retired at this point or is that down the road?[/QUOTE]

Nope, I'm still a full-timer. I just take longer and better breaks than I used to when I was in an office building every day.

[QUOTE=bluecat;65645]And I definately don't want any inquiry of mine to sound critical cause it's not. Do you have critters you need to worry about (rabbits, deer).[/QUOTE]

Yep...though the trail cam has been absolutely useless when it comes to catching them. I found these and a bunch more just like them near the back of the pasture a couple of months ago right after a little rain.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/fHuOpPo.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

I also had several of these for quite a while, though haven't seen any of them lately.
([URL="https://i.imgur.com/lKb8Sn4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Plus who-knows what else is hanging around with that creek back there. I've found tracks of some sort all through my freshly-tilled garden dirt, but the soil is too dry and course for them to leave any recognizable impressions. They're just lines of regularly-spaced craters. I'll almost certainly be surrounding the garden with some of that portable electric fencing.

550.) DParker - 01/27/2022

Also, I can't for the life of my figure out what you've said here that I could possibly interpret as critical...but if you'll give me a hint I'll try to work up some outrage. :p

551.) bluecat - 01/27/2022

Well, I'm glad I don't come off as critical. We all know someone that when you show them something you've created or some project you are working on they immediately point out all the weaknesses they perceive.

I think it makes them feel superior.

552.) bluecat - 01/27/2022

But I did come here for a good argument and all you do is till your garden.

553.) bluecat - 01/27/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65646]

[/QUOTE]

They look familiar although I can't place what they'd be. I have a few books around here I'll look at.

The angle and closeness, I'm guessing some sort of vicious beast.

You might have to build a little blind next fall and sit in the early mornings or evenings to make sure it doesn't get too close to the house.

554.) DParker - 01/27/2022

I was actually going to do that late last month...until I located a county prohibition on using even archery gear on plots less than 10 acres in size. Dammit.

555.) Swamp Fox - 01/29/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65648]Well, I'm glad I don't come off as critical. We all know someone that when you show them something you've created or some project you are working on they immediately point out all the weaknesses they perceive.

I think it makes them feel superior.[/QUOTE]

The solution is to create an internet forum where everyone nos your handle ....

:beer:

556.) bluecat - 01/29/2022

Even the 400 guests?

557.) DParker - 01/29/2022

It's a....well...it's a chicken.

[video=youtube;djws4oBFTmg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djws4oBFTmg[/video]

558.) Swamp Fox - 01/29/2022

If you slow-roast "them" alive in that incubator, I'll never forgive you ...

559.) DParker - 01/29/2022

Yeah, I already had someone ask if that was a dehydrator. I said, "Well, if I leave it in there long enough...".

Fear not, s/he is already in his/her new condo. It's where I take all my chicks.

Having a little post-hatch snack.

Meeting Dad through the maternity ward glass.

The hens couldn't have been less interested, and appear to not have a maternal bone in their collective bodies...including the mother, whoever she is (one of the Buff Orpingtons, I believe, based on the color of the egg.)

560.) Swamp Fox - 01/29/2022

It's chicken anarchy!

561.) Swamp Fox - 01/29/2022

Another question:

Are we really gonna have to talk about a chicken as if it is two people?

562.) DParker - 01/29/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65661]Another question:

Are we really gonna have to talk about a chicken as if it is two people?[/QUOTE]

Only until I'm able to confidently assume its gender...which could be a while. It turns out they're not like mammals where you can just flip them over and draw a definite conclusion.

563.) Swamp Fox - 01/29/2022

That's perverse!

564.) bluecat - 01/29/2022

Lol, +6

565.) DParker - 01/29/2022

The funny thing about that one is that a "Cornish Game Hen" is in fact just a small breed of domestic chicken that is butchered before reaching maturity. You [I]could[/I] hunt them...but you're liable to get shot by the farmer while doing so.

566.) DParker - 01/29/2022

Oh, by the way BC...FedEx is scheduled to be dropping one of these off at my door sometime tomorrow, at which point my gardening-goodie tractor attachment set will be complete, and I can turn the tilled ground into planting bed rows.

567.) Swamp Fox - 01/29/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65665]The funny thing about that one is that a "Cornish Game Hen" is in fact just a small breed of domestic chicken that is butchered before reaching maturity. You [I]could[/I] hunt them...but you're liable to get shot by the farmer while doing so.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE][I]"He said we couldn't hunt here ..."

[B]Boom! [/B]

"I got the cow!"[/I]

[/QUOTE] ....

568.) DParker - 01/29/2022

"Wait a minute...that's not a deer. That's a propane tank. That's [I]OUR[/I] propane tank!"

~ Jeff Foxworthy

569.) Swamp Fox - 01/29/2022

There's a guy going skydiving, and he pulls the ripcord, but it breaks...

"Okay," he thinks. "That's why there's a back-up."

He pulls the back-up ripcord, and... It breaks as well.

At this point, he's shittin' his pants. But then he sees a guy flying up right at him, as though shot out of a cannon...

"HEY!?!" he shouts. "DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PARACHUTES?"

"NO!" yells the upward man, passing quickly. "DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GAS GRILLS?"

570.) DParker - 01/29/2022

Way, way back when [I]The Simpsons[/I] was still funny.

[video=youtube;fFIm356dXGc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFIm356dXGc[/video]

571.) DParker - 01/29/2022

As a bonus, it's always nice to be reminded that the average Brit is every bit as dumb as the average American.

[video=youtube;t1d3lIcuEMU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1d3lIcuEMU[/video]

572.) Swamp Fox - 01/29/2022

The problem is that the English do stupidity in a much more entertaining way than anyone else ... And it both graces and curses their former colonies.

573.) Swamp Fox - 01/30/2022

574.) DParker - 01/30/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65644]You're living the dream my friend.[/QUOTE]

No...NOW I'm living the dream. Taking the new firepit I built a for a test drive, because backyard fire hot dog is best hot dog. Once it gets heated up, the smokeless functionality works pretty well.

[video=youtube;0fv8mdG5dIA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fv8mdG5dIA[/video]

Wrapped in spinach tortillas, because I blew my carb budget on the beer.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/fBajEEQ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

And because our granddaughter is spending the night, s'mores (I abstained, though I might or might not have been naughty and snuck a toasted marshmallow).

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/XLALDqS.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

575.) DParker - 01/30/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65673]

[/QUOTE]

576.) Swamp Fox - 01/30/2022

Yer freakin' rooster needs a Google watch ... Or at least a Timex...

And are "spinach tortillas" really a thing?

You're not foolin' anyone .... :wink

577.) DParker - 01/30/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65676]Yer freakin' rooster needs a Google watch ... Or at least a Timex...[/QUOTE]

He's still bragging about not shooting blanks.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65676]And are "spinach tortillas" really a thing?[/QUOTE]

Yes, and they're a sanity-saver when you have to keep carbs to a minimum but still want to indulge in Iuxuries like, oh...I don't know...eating.

578.) Swamp Fox - 01/30/2022

I guess I just don't understand how if one mixes a few spinach flakes into a dough, one is all of a sudden a carb-master, and everything is under control ... LOL ... :wave:

I'll make a note to ask my doctor the next time I call to put off the next appointment ...

579.) Swamp Fox - 01/30/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65677]He's still bragging about not shooting blanks.

Yes, and they're a sanity-saver when you have to keep carbs to a minimum but still want to indulge in Iuxuries like, oh...I don't know...eating.

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]You know what this means, Vern... No size restrictions, and screw the limit! [/QUOTE] .....

580.) DParker - 01/30/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65678]I guess I just don't understand how if one mixes a few spinach flakes into a dough, one is all of a sudden a carb-master, and everything is under control ... LOL ... :wave:[/QUOTE]

Well, yeah..."a few spinach flakes" isn't going to do much. But a significant amount of spinach displaces enough flour and increases the amount to dietary fiber enough to result in an equally significant reduction in net carbs. For instance, the regular flour version of the Mission taco-sized tortillas contain 26 g total carbs, and only 1 g dietary fiber, for 25 net grams of carbohydrates that can be converted to sugar. But the spinach version not only has the total carb count reduced to 18 g, 15 of those grams are dietary fiber, which is not digested and cannot convert to sugar, for a net of 3 grams of digestible carbs. Big difference. Ditto with spinach pasta, although most commercially made versions of that use only a token amount of spinach, and their carb counts aren't reduced enough. No problem, I just make my own, and use whole wheat flour in place of bleached flour.

581.) Swamp Fox - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65680]... For instance, the regular flour version of the Mission taco-sized tortillas contain 26 g total carbs, and only 1 g dietary fiber, for 25 net grams of carbohydrates that can be converted to sugar. [/QUOTE]

You're [I][COLOR="#008000"][B]lucky[/COLOR][/I][/B]!

We used to *DREAM* of 26 g total carbs!

:wink:wave::wink

582.) bluecat - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65666]Oh, by the way BC...FedEx is scheduled to be dropping one of these off at my door sometime tomorrow, at which point my gardening-goodie tractor attachment set will be complete, and I can turn the tilled ground into planting bed rows.

[/QUOTE]

Cool,

It looks like it just takes the loosened soil and mounds it up?

You have the best toys.

583.) bluecat - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65684]You're [I][COLOR="#008000"][B]lucky[/COLOR][/I][/B]!

We used to *DREAM* of 26 g total carbs!

:wink:wave::wink[/QUOTE]

I'm willing to bet that the creature will load into a blue rock thrower just fine.

584.) bluecat - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65677]

Yes, and they're a sanity-saver when you have to keep carbs to a minimum but still want to indulge in Iuxuries like, oh...I don't know...eating.

[/QUOTE]

+4.3

585.) DParker - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65686]Cool, show me a picture of how that thing works when you are using it.

[B]It looks like it just takes the loosened soil and mounds it up?[/B]

You have the best toys.[/QUOTE]

Correct. They also sometimes come with add-ons to simultaneously break up the soil behind your tires, and/or a furrower to make a V-shaped furrow down the middle of the bed as it's built, but I couldn't find a 4' version with those that wasn't either stupid expensive or needing another attachment to adapt to the 3-point hitch. But that's OK because I don't really care about the compaction from tractor tire tracks between rows, and I can do the furrowing with another attachment I have in a 2nd pass.

586.) Swamp Fox - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65687]I'm willing to bet that the creature will load into a blue rock thrower just fine.[/QUOTE]

[SIZE=2][I][B]"Wheeee!"[/B][/I][/SIZE]

587.) DParker - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65684]You're [I][COLOR="#008000"][B]lucky[/COLOR][/I][/B]!

We used to *DREAM* of 26 g total carbs![/QUOTE]

I have a chicken in my pocket. Your argument is invalid.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/xOkZhr4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

588.) bluecat - 01/31/2022

Is that a chicken in your pocket or are you glad to see me.

589.) DParker - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65693]Is that a chicken in your pocket or are you glad to see me.[/QUOTE]

{Insert rooster joke here}

Sorry...that was a cheep shot.

590.) Swamp Fox - 01/31/2022

I see what you did there ... + 12 Extra Large Grade A

(BTW, How come you can never find any Grade B eggs? --- I wanna see what all the USDA fuss is all about ...)

591.) DParker - 01/31/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65695]I see what you did there ... + 12 Extra Large Grade A

(BTW, How come you can never find any Grade B eggs? --- I wanna see what all the USDA fuss is all about ...)[/QUOTE]

From [URL="https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Shell_Egg_Standard%5B1%5D.pdf"]USDA United States Standards, Grades, and Weight Classes for Shell Eggs[/URL]:

"[B]§56.203 B Quality.[/B]

The shell must be unbroken, may be abnormal, and may have slightly stained areas.
Moderately stained areas are permitted if they do not cover more than 1/32 of the shell surface if
localized, or 1/16 of the shell surface if scattered. Eggs having shells with prominent stains or
adhering dirt are not permitted. The air cell may be over 3/16 inch in depth, may show unlimited
movement, and may be free or bubbly. The white may be weak and watery so that the yolk
outline is plainly visible when the egg is twirled before the candling light. The yolk may appear
dark, enlarged, and flattened, and may show clearly visible germ development but no blood due
to such development. It may show other serious defects that do not render the egg inedible.
Small blood spots or meat spots (aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter) may be
present."

Contemporary consumers would never tolerate such visual imperfection in their groceries. Never mind the crap that's added to food...just make it look pretty.

592.) Swamp Fox - 01/31/2022

This is so true ... If you watch people finger through the egg cooler and then look at the cartons that they reject you'll no what I'm talkin' about ... God forbid there are any imperfections.

Don't ask me how I no ... LOL ...

593.) DParker - 02/01/2022

Well, for the 2nd day in a row FedEx has delayed delivery of my new tractor toy, even though the status showed it out for delivery both days. I never get to have any fun (kicks a rock).

594.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65697]From [URL="https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Shell_Egg_Standard%5B1%5D.pdf"]USDA United States Standards, Grades, and Weight Classes for Shell Eggs[/URL]:

"[B]§56.203 B Quality.[/B]

The shell must be unbroken, may be abnormal, and may have slightly stained areas.
Moderately stained areas are permitted if they do not cover more than 1/32 of the shell surface if
localized, or 1/16 of the shell surface if scattered. Eggs having shells with prominent stains or
adhering dirt are not permitted. The air cell may be over 3/16 inch in depth, may show unlimited
movement, and may be free or bubbly. The white may be weak and watery so that the yolk
outline is plainly visible when the egg is twirled before the candling light. The yolk may appear
dark, enlarged, and flattened, and may show clearly visible germ development but no blood due
to such development. It may show other serious defects that do not render the egg inedible.
Small blood spots or meat spots (aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter) may be
present."

Contemporary consumers would never tolerate such visual imperfection in their groceries. Never mind the crap that's added to food...just make it look pretty.[/QUOTE]

Your chicken jokes are nothing you crow about.

595.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

Damn, that driver.

596.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65694]{Insert rooster joke here}

Sorry...that was a cheep shot.[/QUOTE]

Your chicken jokes are nothing to crow about.

597.) DParker - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65706]Your chicken jokes are nothing to crow about.[/QUOTE]

Well, I am just winging it.

598.) DParker - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65705]Damn, that driver.[/QUOTE]

And now the status has changed to "Pending -No estimated delivery date currently available".

FedEx sucks.

599.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65708]And now the status has changed to "Pending -No estimated delivery date currently available".

FedEx sucks.[/QUOTE]

You might go out to your curb to check. We had a FedEx delivery where they were too lazy to bring it up to the house so they launched it in our ditch by the side of the road. Nice.

They heard about it later.

600.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65708]And now the status has changed to "Pending -No estimated delivery date currently available".

FedEx sucks.[/QUOTE]

Something is a-fowl.

601.) DParker - 02/01/2022

At this point it's starting to look to me like FedEx either lost or destroyed it...though I'd be curious to learn how one goes about losing a 118 lb package once it's on a truck. The tracking status has twice gone from being out for delivery to "delayed", and now to "Pending" with no estimated delivery date. And on the vendor's website, where the status was previously "Shipped" with a tracking number and link to FedEx tracking, it's now back to "Awaiting Carrier Pickup", and there is no longer any tracking number.

I have calls into both companies' Cust Supp #s, so we'll see....maybe.

602.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

Es it Klusterfuchen glaubt.

The good news is Ace hardware still sells good quality hoes.

(Waiting on picture of buxom vixen standing outside Ace Hardware)

603.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65691]I have a chicken in my pocket. Your argument is invalid.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/xOkZhr4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Watching Foghorn Leghorn reruns?

604.) DParker - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65713]Watching Foghorn Leghorn reruns?[/QUOTE]

Dad!

We did just take a field trip out to the pasture, found a spot of mixed grass, weeds and dirt, plopped her down (I've decided on "her" unless/until I learn otherwise) and watched her have a hell of a fun time nipping at blades of grass and then chasing and eating the little bugs running around on the dirt. Even at this age you can see the latent velociraptor in them. Clever girl.

605.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

There is a YouTube clip of a couple that was adopted by a rooster. It just showed up and walked in. Then it perched on their headboard every morning and let them know it was time.

606.) bluecat - 02/01/2022

Found it. [url]https://youtu.be/B19hM-JPWUs[/url]

607.) DParker - 02/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65716]Found it. [url]https://youtu.be/B19hM-JPWUs[/url][/QUOTE]

Wow...that's a good-looking rooster. My first thought was a Golden Laced Wyandotte, but with those blue legs I'm thinking maybe a cross between that and an Ameraucana. But I'm still too new at this to be good at discerning exotic breeds.

608.) bluecat - 02/02/2022

All I know about chickens is if it crows, it probably identifies as a rooster.

Almost looked like a ringneck pheasant.

609.) DParker - 02/03/2022

February at "the ranch" (what my wife and kids jokingly call the place). It's 20°F right now and headed to 11°F for tomorrow's low. Yeah, this is nothing to much of the country, but for this part of it this is cold. The chickens want no part of it, and won't come out of their coops. At least the lights are staying on...so far.

[video=youtube;5LfPFHaSOq0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LfPFHaSOq0[/video]

610.) Swamp Fox - 02/03/2022

Pro Tip For The Uninitiated:

Don't eat yellow snow.

:co:

611.) Swamp Fox - 02/04/2022

Thought I'd throw that in there for our new members ...

612.) Swamp Fox - 02/09/2022

Don't make me start a pop music thread!

613.) DParker - 02/09/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65744]Don't make me start a pop music thread![/QUOTE]

Like we could stop you. On a related note, check out Frank Zappa's [I]Bobby Brown[/I] if you've never heard it. It's an example of the sort of pop culture exercise that would get the artist cancelled into oblivion today.

614.) Swamp Fox - 02/09/2022

LOL ... I'm dashing over there right now ... LOL

:hb:

615.) Swamp Fox - 02/09/2022

Can you say spastic?

616.) DParker - 02/15/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65711]At this point it's starting to look to me like FedEx either lost or destroyed it...though I'd be curious to learn how one goes about losing a 118 lb package once it's on a truck. The tracking status has twice gone from being out for delivery to "delayed", and now to "Pending" with no estimated delivery date. And on the vendor's website, where the status was previously "Shipped" with a tracking number and link to FedEx tracking, it's now back to "Awaiting Carrier Pickup", and there is no longer any tracking number.

I have calls into both companies' Cust Supp #s, so we'll see....maybe.[/QUOTE]

So I finally got Titan (the vendor) to work with FedEx to declare the disc bedder as lost so Titan could ship me another one, which they did and which FedEx picked up at 5:50pm last Thursday. It shipped from a location that is a 7.5 hour drive from my house and had a scheduled delivery date of this past Saturday. As you might expect, Saturday came and went with no delivery. Sunday morning the shipment delivery estimate changed from "On time" to "Pending" with no estimated delivery date...exactly like the last one. But the last shipping status update was made on Friday night indicating it was "In transit" to Hutchins, TX (which is a 7 hour drive from where they picked it up from). And apparently that's the last time anyone saw it. I just got off the phone with a FedEx customer service rep who recited the usual scripted spiel about how sorry they are for the inconvenience, will start an immediate investigation to see where it is, blah, blah, blah. I have zero hopes for ever receiving it.

I repeat: FedEx sucks. If it weren't for the cost of gas right now I'd just take a road trip to northern Mississippi and pick one up directly from the vendor. Wouldn't even mind the drive, but it would add over $200 to the cost of the attachment.

617.) bluecat - 02/15/2022

I can understand some small little item but a disc? Keep us posted.

Had a USPS delivery that showed it was to be delivered on a certain day last week. Didn't arrive. When I looked at the tracking information it said it was undeliverable due to obstruction of the mailbox or driveway. I happen to know that there wasn't anything blocking either. They delivered it the following day. They make up stuff when they are running late and don't want to deliver.

618.) Swamp Fox - 02/16/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65776]
I repeat: FedEx sucks. If it weren't for the cost of gas right now I'd just take a road trip to northern Mississippi and pick one up directly from the vendor. Wouldn't even mind the drive, but it would add over $200 to the cost of the attachment.[/QUOTE]

FedEx is the best thing since sliced bread. I've had very few problems with them, other than the cost. Of course, I haven't used them much in a while, after leaning on them heavily for years.

Way, way back, I met one of Fred Smith's sons, who was living in a basement apartment, or just visiting. I'll have to figure out exactly where that was. Summer of '81. Kind of a blur ...

But anyhoo, never discount the possibility that your disc grew legs and walked away. I'm still tacking flyers on telephone poles looking for a camp cot UPS swears they delivered to my front porch in 2009 ...

619.) Swamp Fox - 02/16/2022

Also, a road trip to North Mississippi is the opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime blues tour ...

Let me no if you can pick me up in Durham, say, on your way out. :wink

[I]Meet Me In The City[/I] ---Junior Kimbrough

[I]Meet Me In The City[/I] --North Mississippi Allstars

620.) DParker - 02/17/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65778]FedEx is the best thing since sliced bread.[/QUOTE]

That bread used to be delicious, but that was years ago. Now it's moldy and maggot-ridden.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65778]Of course, I haven't used them much in a while[/QUOTE]

Just out of curiosity, could you define "a while"?

621.) Swamp Fox - 02/17/2022

Years ... I look back on the 90's with great fondness for the efficiency, service ethic, and common sense of well-run large American corporations ... That was probably the high-water mark ... Or at least the point right before you could smell low tide ...

622.) DParker - 02/17/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65782]Years ... I look back on the 90's with great fondness for the efficiency, service ethic, and common sense of well-run large American corporations ... That was probably the high-water mark ... Or at least the point right before you could smell low tide ...[/QUOTE]

Yeah, that explains it. Yes, in those days FedEx was the gold standard for gettin'-stuff-where-it-needs-to-go-when-it-needs-to-be-there. But I think that went down with the plane Tom Hanks and Wilson were on.

Update: After my bitch session with the FedEx cust svc rep an entry was added to the shipment tracking log stating that, as of 3:05 AM yesterday the package was "At local FedEx facility" somewhere in Ft. Worth. So it took about 5.5 DAYS to make a 7.5 HOUR journey. Interestingly, it never completed its previous "in transit" status to Hutchins (a SE Dallas 'burb), and still has no estimated delivery date. Having no faith in their ability to get it another inch closer to my home in what's left of my lifetime, and assuming its alleged presence in Ft. Worth isn't a bald-faced lie, I have exercised the option they offer to request that it be left at one of their many customer-facing facilities in the area so I can just go pick it up myself. That request was submitted several hours ago with no progress made on it so far. So now we'll see if their claim of snail-pace progress isn't made of the stuff I'm using to enrich my garden soil.

623.) Swamp Fox - 02/17/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65783]... So now we'll see if their claim of snail-pace progress isn't made of the stuff I'm using to enrich my garden soil.[/QUOTE]

Carp? Are they full of carp?

624.) DParker - 02/18/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65784]Carp? Are they full of carp?[/QUOTE]

That always reminds me of the old story about Bess Truman in which someone supposedly cornered her at a party about Harry's constant use of the then-objectionable word "manure", asking, "Mrs. Truman, isn't there anything you can do to get the President to stop using the word 'manure'?" To which she allegedly replied, "Are you kidding? It took me forty years to get him to use that word!"

625.) Swamp Fox - 02/18/2022

LOL ... Never knew that story ...

626.) bluecat - 02/18/2022

....

627.) DParker - 02/18/2022

My little McNugget has been eating and growing so much she now has falconry ambitions.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/7rzSQJL.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

628.) bluecat - 02/19/2022

She's got you under her wing.

629.) Swamp Fox - 02/19/2022

Your chicken has large talons...

630.) DParker - 02/21/2022

BTW, we (the wife and I) finally got around to trying one of the pickled eggs I made using bluecat's recipe. While we weren't quite ready for the texture at first (the white becomes very dense and almost rubbery) the wife and I both very much liked the flavor...and the texture is just something we'll get used to. I'll almost certainly be making more when we're done with this batch, which is good because...well...we have eggs. We eat eggs pretty frequently in a lot of things and give them to our kids by the dozen...and we'll be getting a couple more by the afternoon. And still, all this surplus with only 4 regularly-laying hens and 2 others who lay every 3-4 days. I believe I'm going to table my egg-laying-flock expansion plans for the time being.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/S0BOwGP.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/0kxA28F.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

631.) bluecat - 02/22/2022

Yum!

632.) bluecat - 02/22/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65796]My little McNugget has been eating and growing so much she now has falconry ambitions.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/7rzSQJL.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Oh, the places she'll go.

633.) Swamp Fox - 02/23/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65804]

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/S0BOwGP.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

On my monitor, that pickled egg looks like it would be a hot seller at the JayCees concession stand if you could find a gay Midwestern high school football team whose colors are magenta and marigold ...

634.) Swamp Fox - 02/23/2022

As for the excess raw eggs, people pay stupid money for homegrown eggs if you print up some business cards and stick them in little straw baskets on business counters all over town ... LOL

635.) bluecat - 02/23/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65808]On my monitor, that pickled egg looks like it would be a hot seller at the JayCees concession stand if you could find a gay Midwestern high school football team whose colors are magenta and marigold ...[/QUOTE]

You're cutting pretty hard on those eggs, son.

636.) DParker - 02/23/2022

637.) bluecat - 02/23/2022

I've heard Swampy also say "Garnet and Saffron" when describing Florida State colors so...

638.) bluecat - 02/23/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65815]Back in the day, one of the symptoms of that was referring to things that were red and yellow as being "magenta and marigold".[/QUOTE]

+ a lot, btw

639.) bluecat - 02/23/2022

It's embarassing when Swampy orders a steak. He tells the waiter that he wants a little crimson in the center and then unfurls his napkin, which he has fastidiously crafted into a swan, with a grand flapping motion.

640.) bluecat - 02/23/2022

plus he's a bad tipper

641.) DParker - 02/23/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65816]I've heard Swampy also say "Garnet and Saffron" when describing Florida State colors so...[/QUOTE]

Well, to be fair, everyone's just mad about Saffron.

642.) DParker - 02/23/2022

Apparently the roads around here are at least somewhat passable. FedEx just delivered the cocooned Mason Bees I ordered. (The Leafcutter Bees won't be shipped until the beginning of May as they emerge much later than the Masons). They look like rabbit droppings. And my wife is just thrilled to no end that I'm now keeping a box of bees in the fridge.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/RDxFGXh.jpg"]Full-size original[/URL])

643.) bluecat - 02/24/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65820]Well, to be fair, everyone's just mad about Saffron.[/QUOTE]

+ 3, nice

644.) bluecat - 02/24/2022

Chicken food? Pollinators?

645.) DParker - 02/24/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65823]Chicken food? Pollinators?[/QUOTE]

Pollinators. I haven't seen any in the area, and I'm going to need them for the garden and other edibles I'm planting on the property. I became huge fans of native solitary bee species when some made themselves at home in my garden at the old place and I read up on them. They're far more effective pollinators than are honeybees and don't stray more than about 100 yds from wherever they emerge from their cocoons. You can build a nesting house for them nearby and the females will use it to lay their eggs in, which gives you a self-renewing supply of bees that will mostly stay in the area.
They're also very docile. The males don't have stingers, and while the females do they're not aggressive and you almost have to try to get one to sting you.

The Leafcutter bees are similar in nature, but with a slightly later pollinating season.

646.) Swamp Fox - 02/24/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65815]Back in the day, one of the symptoms of that was referring to things that were red and yellow as being "magenta and marigold".[/QUOTE]

You simple, simple man ... :omg: LOL :ban:

[QUOTE=bluecat;65816]I've heard Swampy also say "Garnet and Saffron" when describing Florida State colors so...[/QUOTE]

Saffron ... :ek: .... I did not think of that. Thank you, Mr. Blackwell ... :wink

[QUOTE=bluecat;65818]It's embarassing when Swampy orders a steak. He tells the waiter that he wants a little crimson in the center and then unfurls his napkin, which he has fastidiously crafted into a swan, with a grand flapping motion.[/QUOTE]

Ta-da! ---:grin:

[QUOTE=DParker;65820]Well, to be fair, everyone's just mad about Saffron.[/QUOTE]

:-) :applause:

I'm just glad I could contribute to this thread ... LOL ... :wave:

647.) DParker - 02/24/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65825]You simple, simple man ... :omg: LOL :ban:[/QUOTE]

Guilty.

[video=youtube;sHQ_aTjXObs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHQ_aTjXObs[/video]

648.) bluecat - 02/24/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65825]You simple, simple man ... :omg: LOL :ban:

Saffron ... :ek: .... I did not think of that. Thank you, Mr. Blackwell ... :wink

Ta-da! ---:grin:

:-) :applause:

I'm just glad I could contribute to this thread ... LOL ... :wave:[/QUOTE]

Read, it's always nice to be able to defend oneself.

649.) bluecat - 02/24/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65824]Pollinators. They're far more effective pollinators than are honeybees~ [/QUOTE]

So you think you're better than me?

650.) DParker - 02/24/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65828]So you think you're better than me?[/QUOTE]

651.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2022

Always thought [I]Simple Man[/I] was a bit under-rated in the Skynyrd collection.

I dug this up for y'all... My memory is that the original music wasn't a cover version but I'm prolly wrong.

Ask me about the first two bucks (the "third" buck trotting along the fence line is the second buck, but much closer, LOL) ... Or maybe don't :tap:... LOL

652.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65827]Read, it's always nice to be able to defend oneself.[/QUOTE]

I know kung fu ... And some other Chinese words ...

[Editor's Note: "I know kung fu ..." seems like it might be some kind of [I]Matrix[/I] thing, based on a google search for the origin ... But it's been around since I was a young punk on the school bus ... So suck it, Millennials ...]

653.) DParker - 02/25/2022

When searing a steak on the cooktop sets off the smoke alarm and it's too damned cold outside to try getting the grill hot enough, there's always 500,000 BTUs of Maillard by-gawd reaction weed torch action to turn to.

[video=youtube;c2ohGfj6Mng]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2ohGfj6Mng[/video]

654.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2022

That went on way too long...

This is how you tell who's an Aggie ...

655.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2022

Can I get anyone some ketchup?

656.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2022

We used to have a lot of Texans on here...

My goal has always been to offend them all at one point or another.

657.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2022

But the Aggies especially ...

658.) bluecat - 02/25/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65832]When searing a steak on the cooktop sets off the smoke alarm and it's too damned cold outside to try getting the grill hot enough, there's always 500,000 BTUs of Maillard by-gawd reaction weed torch action to turn to.

[video=youtube;c2ohGfj6Mng]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2ohGfj6Mng[/video][/QUOTE]

Show off.

659.) DParker - 02/25/2022

I Tim Allen grunted the whole time.

BTW, it turns out that a 3,000°F flame is kinda' rough on your wife's bakeware. You can see parts of that baking rack glowing red at the end, and a couple of them ended up warped. It's a good thing it was my birthday and I was enjoying temporary immunity from wife wrath.

660.) DParker - 02/25/2022

I better news, FedEx tells me that my tractor attachment is now (allegedly) on a truck and headed to a facility not far from me where I can pick it up from. And to think, it only took just 3 days shy of a month to get here from 7.5 hours away. Amazing times.

661.) bluecat - 02/25/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65841]I Tim Allen grunted the whole time.

BTW, it turns out that a 3,000°F flame is kinda' rough on your wife's bakeware. You can see parts of that baking rack glowing red at the end, and a couple of them ended up warped. It's a good thing it was my birthday and I was enjoying temporary immunity from wife wrath.[/QUOTE]

I saw that and chuckled. Happy Birthday by the way!

662.) bluecat - 02/25/2022

Glad to hear that.

Happy Birthday Belated!

663.) DParker - 02/25/2022

Thanks. One more year on the right side of the dirt...and one more closer to the other side of it.

664.) bluecat - 02/25/2022

I'm really interested in your bee project. I was pretty shocked to learn how efficient they are compared to honeybees a few years ago. Keep me posted on your progress.

665.) bluecat - 02/25/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65835]We used to have a lot of Texans on here...

My goal has always been to offend them all at one point or another.[/QUOTE]

Mission Accomplished

666.) DParker - 02/25/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65849]I'm really interested in your bee project. I was pretty shocked to learn how efficient they are compared to honeybees a few years ago.[/QUOTE]

I didn't really know anything about them myself until I found them in my garden 2 seasons ago and decided to see what they were all about.

[QUOTE=bluecat;65849]Keep me posted on your progress.[/QUOTE]

Will do. I already have a bunch of 5/8" cardboard tubes for use as nesting holes and just need to slap together a "house" for them out of some scrap plywood and 1/2" hardware cloth over the front (to allow the bees in but keep birds and other larvae-stealing predators out) that I'll mount on the barn near the garden. Then when it warms up a little in March I'll put the Mason cocoons on an open ledge in the "house" behind the hardware cloth where the bees can safely emerge...then do the same thing with the Leafcutters when they arrive in May.

667.) DParker - 02/25/2022

HOLY CRAP!!!!! So my tractor attachment allegedly went onto a truck at ~8:00am this morning somewhere in Ft. Worth for transport to a FedEx drop-off/pick-up location that's about 30 minutes from my house so I can go there and pick it up, rather than risk another "lost" package trusting them to bring it all the way to my house. After 7 hours I get a notification from them that the package "Can't be delivered" and that it's heading back to the Ft. Worth warehouse, with no other explanation. WTF??!!! So I call the pick-up location and ask them if they know what the problem was and they tell me, "Yes, the issue is that the package was over the limit for size/weight of items that we can handle." So I ask, "Doesn't FedEx know which offices have such restrictions so they know to not schlep big-assed items onto trucks and haul them around only to find out that they it was all a waste of everyone's time, effort and therefor money (including theirs)?" The reply, "No, they don't know that about each location because we're contracted with FedEx, not a part of the company".

So let me get this straight...they're able to store your address, phone number and whole host of other information about your location that's required in order to conduct business with you....but one more piece of data on max package size/weight is beyond their abilities?

So I call FedEx Cust. Support (for the 4th or 5th time, IIRC) and, in addition to the usual "Oh, we're so sorry" B.S., "OK, I can put in a request to have that delivered to your home address. That request will take approximately 24 hours to be processed." And then...what...another week before it actually gets put on a truck again and brought this way? Maybe?!!

I've never encountered this level of incompetence at any other major company I've ever dealt with. In fact I'd be hard pressed to recall this much stupidity and inability to carry out a basic service on the part of any mom-and-pop/fly-by-night outfit I've ever dealt with. How in the hell are they still in business?

668.) bluecat - 02/26/2022

Cool, take pics please. I may do the same thing.

669.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65852]HOLY CRAP!!!!! So my tractor attachment allegedly went onto a truck at ~8:00am this morning somewhere in Ft. Worth for transport to a FedEx drop-off/pick-up location that's about 30 minutes from my house so I can go there and pick it up, rather than risk another "lost" package trusting them to bring it all the way to my house. After 7 hours I get a notification from them that the package "Can't be delivered" and that it's heading back to the Ft. Worth warehouse, with no other explanation. WTF??!!! So I call the pick-up location and ask them if they know what the problem was and they tell me, "Yes, the issue is that the package was over the limit for size/weight of items that we can handle." So I ask, "Doesn't FedEx know which offices have such restrictions so they know to not schlep big-assed items onto trucks and haul them around only to find out that they it was all a waste of everyone's time, effort and therefor money (including theirs)?" The reply, "No, they don't know that about each location because we're contracted with FedEx, not a part of the company".

So let me get this straight...they're able to store your address, phone number and whole host of other information about your location that's required in order to conduct business with you....but one more piece of data on max package size/weight is beyond their abilities?

So I call FedEx Cust. Support (for the 4th or 5th time, IIRC) and, in addition to the usual "Oh, we're so sorry" B.S., "OK, I can put in a request to have that delivered to your home address. That request will take approximately 24 hours to be processed." And then...what...another week before it actually gets put on a truck again and brought this way? Maybe?!!

I've never encountered this level of incompetence at any other major company I've ever dealt with. In fact I'd be hard pressed to recall this much stupidity and inability to carry out a basic service on the part of any mom-and-pop/fly-by-night outfit I've ever dealt with. How in the hell are they still in business?[/QUOTE]

.....

670.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65848]Thanks. One more year on the right side of the dirt...and one more closer to the other side of it.[/QUOTE]

Try to enjoy it! ---LOL :beer:

671.) Swamp Fox - 02/27/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65835]We used to have a lot of Texans on here...

My goal has always been to offend them all at one point or another.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65836]But the Aggies especially ...[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;65850]Mission Accomplished[/QUOTE]

:wink ... You know it. .... :grin::grin::grin:

672.) DParker - 03/02/2022

Well, due to my routine monitoring of the FedEx "tracking" status for my tractor attachment (because they never send me updates like they're supposed to) I was lucky enough to catch the change from "On a truck for delivery" to "Ready to be picked up from FedEx Home Delivery", with no further information other than it'll be available there...wherever "there" is...for 10 business days. After that? Who knows. So I call FedEx Cust. Supp. to ask where the hell the package is exactly so I can go an pick it up (even though it was supposed to be shipped to my house, but...whatever). The useless oxygen thief who answers tells me that it's at the same pickup location that refused it last week because it was too big/heavy for them to handle. I explain to him why it isn't and can't be there, but he's not having it and assures that's where it was delivered and is waiting for me. Realizing the futility of the conversation I hang up and call that pickup location, whereupon a very nice and helpful lady confirms what I told Sandeep (or whatever the hell his name was), and that they most certainly do not have it...still. In spite of sounding extremely busy she none the less takes a couple extra moments to listen to my description of the nonsense that appears on the tracking status and tells me, "They almost certainly have it at their hub at Alliance Airport in Ft. Worth." I thank her most profusely, telling her that she's given me more helpful assistance in that 30 seconds of phone call than all 7 or 8 FedEx Cust. Svc. rep combined have over the past month.

The hub location in question has no phone # associated with it other than the same 800# that gets you to Cust. Supp., and it's a 70-minute round-trip drive from my house, but...what the hell, I'm feeling lucky. I slip on out the back door and down the streets I go. She a-howlin' about the front rent, she'll be lucky to get any back rent. She ain't gonna get none of it.

Wait....where was I? Oh, yeah...

So I drive to the hub in question and locate the "Customer Pickup" entrance, which takes you into a mostly bare room about the size of our walk-in closet (no, I don't have a millionaire's closet...it's a small room) with a sliding frosted window on the far wall, which you'd assume is for someone who works there to open and help you out. But, no. There's a phone and a piece of paper telling you to dial a number and someone will answer it and take your information. There's one dejected-looking guy there ahead of me who is already on using the phone and is clearly waiting for someone to get back to him. So I sit down in one of the two graciously supplied chairs and strike up a conversation with him so we can exchange our tales of woe. After a good 15 minutes of both of us wishing all manner of evil to befall the entire FedEx Board of Directors, some disembodied voice comes on the phone (he has it on speaker) and lets the guy know that contrary to what the status for his item shows it is not yet there and available for pickup and won't be until tomorrow, so he'll just have to go home and make the same 40-minute drive (one way) again tomorrow. The poor bastard.

So I wish him the best as he leaves, and I take my turn at the speaker phone. After another 15 minutes or so of checking back with me a few times to gather more information about the contents of the shipment I'm finally told, "Yeah, we found. We have 2 guys bringing out to you now." Eureka! So I go out to my truck and lower the bed and wait for them to bring me out...well.....something.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/sym2ZGm.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

That's some quality repackaging on FedEx's part after they managed to destroy the original box, eh? Luckily it appears that Titan (the manufacturer) had the foresight to wire all of the nuts, bolts and other parts to the frame, presumably in anticipation of this sort of thing. But I won't know for certain until I open it up tomorrow and try to assemble it, because I'm too damned tired and aggravated to deal with that with what remains of the day, and there's not a damn thing FedEx would have done for me on the spot anyway. So if I do find any issues tomorrow I'll be calling Titan and making it very much THEIR problem to deal with and correct...because I sure as hell am not dealing with FedEx again.

TL;DR version: They never delivered my disc bedder, but I was was able to drive 60 miles round-trip to pickup what remained of the shipment. Film at 11:00.

673.) bluecat - 03/02/2022

Dayum. That is some crazy stuff. Glad you have it now though.

Good story btw.

674.) DParker - 03/03/2022

A dump truck with 9 cu yds of compost makes quite an impression...in your yard.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/9ARyIyJ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

It really doesn't look like much next to all that dirt, but I only needed a 1" layer of organic matter that I could till in so as to help break up the clay, and 9 cu yds gave me just a hair over that much.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/SWmPuyv.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

All tilled in. Now I just need to hammer in some stakes, stretch about 1,000 ft of string to mark the beds, put my disc hiller together, mount it on the tractor and go make me some crop rows.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/4mipFFh.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

This surprised the hell out of me, in a good way. This is at the end of 200 ft of 3/4" garden hose running from the garage spigot, over a 5 ft fence, through the stables, behind the barn and to the edge of the garden where I'll be hooking it up to my drip irrigation system. I haven't tested the pressure at the spigot yet, but I really expected to have a lot less than 48 psi after that much distance and a 5 ft climb over a fence.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/VRKEBTZ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

675.) bluecat - 03/04/2022

Dude, you are all in. Love it.

676.) DParker - 03/04/2022

I only know one way to do things: Ridiculously overboard.

677.) bluecat - 03/04/2022

Your mulch over time will help your soil also - wood chips, compost from kitchen scraps/food preparation all help. All of that is gold.

678.) bluecat - 03/04/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65883]I only know one way to do things: Ridiculously overboard.[/QUOTE]

Go big or go home.

679.) DParker - 03/04/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65884]Your mulch over time will help your soil also - wood chips, compost from kitchen scraps/food preparation all help. All of that is gold.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I have a compost pile started in the back pasture near the trees. I put all of our compostable kitchen scraps, chicken crap and old bedding cleaned out of the coops on it. I'm also going to offer to take my tractor and clean the cow patties out of my neighbor's pasture if he doesn't want them back there and toss those on the pile too.

680.) bluecat - 03/04/2022

Perfect, I have a cousin who has horses and I frequently clean out their stalls for them. They think I'm crazy. But hey, I'm crazy with lots of healthy vegetables.

It's amazing how little trash one really has once you remove the recyclables and compost.

681.) DParker - 03/04/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65887]It's amazing how little trash one really has once you remove the recyclables and compost.[/QUOTE]

That's the truth. And composting as much kitchen stuff as you can really helps when you have a septic system, because there are so many things you can't (or at least shouldn't) put down the sink, most of which are compostable. The chickens occasionally help with that as well.

682.) DParker - 03/05/2022

It's time to rock-n-roll. Well...rock, anyway. Rolling would be bad. I won't roll.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/c9zLVBZ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

All done. It turns out that when you till really deeply and thoroughly it's very difficult to drive a straight line through the soft dirt while dragging an implement through it. You really get tossed around. Oh well. Close enough. Now we just need to get next weekend's forecasted freezes behind us.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/6tan4BO.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

683.) Swamp Fox - 03/06/2022

Y'all know they sell veggies at the Piggly Wiggly, right?

684.) DParker - 03/06/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65891]Y'all know they sell veggies at the Piggly Wiggly, right?[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but they won't let me drive my tractor through the produce section.

685.) Swamp Fox - 03/06/2022

Good answer.

Instead of points -- just for a change -- I'd say that's another feather in your lap.

[QUOTE]
[B][SIZE=2]Wheel of Fortune Contestants Have Another Feather, Don’t Know Where to Put It[/SIZE][/B]

The wheel of fortune is an ancient motif, recurring in many cultures over many centuries. Once known to the Romans as Rota Fortunae, the symbol represents the capricious nature of man’s lot in life, all of us helpless subjects strapped to a wheel spun by the goddess Fate, herself blindfolded and dumb.

It's also a reality show where you can win a Jet Ski for knowing how to read. And last night’s episode of Wheel of Fortune was giving extreme “blindfolded and powerless to intervene in the chaotic ebbs of the universe” vibes. In a clip that has since gone viral, three contestants faced with the letters “ANOTHER FEATHER _N YO_R _A_” cannot for the life of them puzzle out which common phrase they could possibly spell. The main players are confident Laura, hopeless Christopher, and unlucky Thomas. For those who can’t bear to watch, here’s the play-by-play:

— Laura comes in hot with “another feather in your HAT.” This is by far the closest she will get to the answer. It’s a tease.

— Christopher shouts out “G!” What did he think the final word was? Gag? Bag? Gal? … Vag?

— Thomas is bankrupted by the pagan goddess Fate, depicted here as a colorful wheel with numbers and lights.

— Laura, ever the showboater, goes for the whole phrase again, guessing “another feather in your LAP.” Pat Sajak says, “The feather is moving around,” joking through invisible tears.

— Christopher sticks to his single-letter strategy: a D. Oh how we wish there could have been another feather in his dad and left it at that.

[...]

[url]https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/recaps/wheel-of-fortune-contestants-have-another-feather-don-t-know-where-to-put-it/ar-AAUwX7r?ocid=uxbndlbing[/url][/QUOTE]

686.) DParker - 03/06/2022

My wife watches WoF and was doing so when that particular incident aired. With the obvious exception of Jeopardy!, I think getting to be a contestant on most game shows is akin to being selected for jury duty in that they tend to screen out those with IQs that are too high...with "too high" being above that of the average turnip.

687.) Swamp Fox - 03/06/2022

Was she yelling at the television, and/or did she jump out of her seat?

....'cause that's what I would have done ...

:groan: :omg:

688.) Swamp Fox - 03/06/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65894]My wife watches WoF and was doing so when that particular incident aired. With the obvious exception of Jeopardy!, I think getting to be a contestant on most game shows is akin to being selected for jury duty in that they tend to screen out those with IQs that are too high...with "too high" being above that of the average turnip.[/QUOTE]

I didn't see it when it aired and am afraid to watch the clip, but I get the impression that these folks are too old to have wasted a lot of time in public school putting condoms on a cucumber ...

So there must have been something else that went wrong with their education ...

I wonder what it was.

689.) Swamp Fox - 03/06/2022

Okay, I take that back. I just watched the clip and any of them could have spent time in school in state-sponsored supervised condom exercises ...

Millennials ruin everything.

690.) DParker - 03/07/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65896]Was she yelling at the television, and/or did she jump out of her seat?

....'cause that's what I would have done ...

:groan: :omg:[/QUOTE]

Actually that was me, except for the
jumping out of a seat part. I was watching from the other side of the kitchen island, and was tempted to start throwing utensils at the TV.

691.) bluecat - 03/07/2022

Five feathers all around...

692.) DParker - 03/09/2022

Help! My hens' evil plan for world domination is in full swing!!

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/hyNw3r7.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

693.) bluecat - 03/09/2022

Eggs, eggs, eggs, spam, eggs, sausage and eggs.

694.) bluecat - 03/09/2022

By the way, are you planning on becoming a worm farmer?

695.) bluecat - 03/09/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65889]It's time to rock-n-roll. Well...rock, anyway. Rolling would be bad. I won't roll.

All done. It turns out that when you till really deeply and thoroughly it's very difficult to drive a straight line through the soft dirt while dragging an implement through it. You really get tossed around. Oh well. Close enough. Now we just need to get next weekend's forecasted freezes behind us.

[/QUOTE]

Did the cupholder contain a single-malt beverage?

696.) bluecat - 03/09/2022

Nice looking airstrip.

697.) DParker - 03/09/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65936]By the way, are you planning on becoming a worm farmer?[/QUOTE]

Not unless I piss off a gypsy woman and she puts a hex on me. That would be bad though. Worms don't have shoulders, which makes it impossible to wear bib overalls.

[QUOTE=bluecat;65937]Did the cupholder contain a single-malt beverage?[/QUOTE]

I wish.

698.) bluecat - 03/09/2022

Worms also don't have opposable thumbs which makes operating the remote a little more tricky for them.

Do you plan on raising worms for your garden? You can set up a little station by your compost pile.

699.) bluecat - 03/09/2022

btw, scorpions are not considered worms.

700.) Swamp Fox - 03/09/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65934]Help! My hens' evil plan for world domination is in full swing!!

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/hyNw3r7.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

You're gonna have to have a talk with the chick that laid the white one ...

(:ek:)

701.) Swamp Fox - 03/09/2022

What's in the jars? .... LOL

702.) Swamp Fox - 03/09/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65939]Not unless I piss off a gypsy woman and she puts a hex on me. That would be bad though. Worms don't have shoulders, which makes it impossible to wear bib overalls.

[/QUOTE]

You heard about the gypsy moth?

That's messed up, right? ...

703.) DParker - 03/09/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65942]You're gonna have to have a talk with the chick that laid the white one ...

(:ek:)[/QUOTE]

Oh, hell no. That'd be Karen. Nobody wants to talk to Karen.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65943]What's in the jars? .... LOL[/QUOTE]

Oh, you know, the usual kitchen counter staples. Eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat...that sort of thing.

704.) bluecat - 03/09/2022

I have to confess, I'm lost on the whole gypsy thing.

705.) DParker - 03/09/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65946]I have to confess, I'm lost on the whole gypsy thing.[/QUOTE]

Me too. Maybe this will help.

[video=youtube;mwgg1Pu6cNg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwgg1Pu6cNg[/video]

706.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

[url]https://www.npr.org/2022/03/03/1083980493/new-name-same-destructive-habits-meet-the-spongy-moth[/url]

[url]https://www.npr.org/2021/07/10/1014787096/insect-experts-will-change-the-name-of-the-gypsy-moth-and-gypsy-ant[/url]

:re:

I never even knew they were thinking about this. I would have contributed some of my thoughts.

Now I just feel gypped ...

707.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65947]Me too. Maybe this will help.

[video=youtube;mwgg1Pu6cNg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwgg1Pu6cNg[/video][/QUOTE]

That's a great video, and not just because I am a big Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks fan.

But that's the first time I've ever seen it. ---Weird.

Thanks!

708.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

[QUOTE][B][SIZE=2]Psych: Gus' Pluto Obsession (& Origin Story) Explained[/SIZE][/B]

[url]https://screenrant.com/psych-gus-pluto-obsession-origin-explained/[/url]

Gus' Pluto pick-up line and his obsession with the ninth planet is one of the oldest running jokes on USA's Psych. Here's how it got started.

Psych Gus and Pluto
Gus’ Pluto pick-up line has given Psych one of its most popular running jokes. When talking to women, Burton “Gus” Guster (Dule Hill) has a tendency to use what is formerly known as the ninth planet in the solar system as a conversation starter.

The USA series focused on the two main characters solving murders for the Santa Barbara Police Department and was loaded with pop culture references. Often, a comedic line or moment in the show would be so well-received by fans that it would evolve into a joke that the series would continuously fall back on. The most notable example of this is Psych's emphasis on pineapples, which have a presence in almost every episode. There’s also the numerous times that characters have told Gus that he looks like Bud from The Cosby Show, and the long list of fake nicknames that Shawn has given Gus over the years. Another fan-favorite gag is Gus’ appreciation of Pluto.

Gus’ obsession with Pluto originated with an ad-libbed line in the season 1 episode, “From The Earth to Starbucks”. In the episode, it was revealed that Gus was frequenting a local observatory because of his interest in a woman who worked there, Jessica (Nicole Lyn). At a certain point in the episode, Gus tried to start a conversation with her by using her love for astronomy. Gus said, “You heard about Pluto? That’s messed up, right?” Gus was, of course, referring to the scientific community no longer acknowledging Pluto as a planet. According to Dulé Hill, this line wasn’t in the script; it was something that they decided to add on the day that the scene was shot [via Lena Lamoray].

After Psych season 1, it evolved into a recurring joke, with Gus using it again to break an awkward silence in season 2, and on other occasions when he’s seen speaking to female characters. At another point in the series, Shawn (James Roday Rodriguez) mentioned it when mocking Gus for his pick-up lines, which suggested that Gus has made use of it offscreen as well. Later episodes expanded on this by showing that the character always felt strongly about Pluto’s treatment from scientists. It’s Gus' opinion that it doesn’t make sense for Pluto not to be counted as the ninth planet anymore.

In Psych: The Movie, Gus’ Pluto obsession played an important role in the scene that introduced Gus’ new love interest, Selene (Jazmyn Simon). A heated argument started between them when Selene disregarded Pluto as a planet, much to Gus' annoyance. When Selene proposed to Gus in Psych 2: Lassie Come Home, she asked him to make her the “happiest woman on this planet. On Earth...and Pluto”. Gus humorously responded, “And Pluto?” It was a fun way to utilize an old running joke that has managed to remain relevant throughout Psych’s eight-season run and both reunion movies.[/QUOTE]

709.) DParker - 03/10/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65950]That's a great video, and not just because I am a big Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks fan.

But that's the first time I've ever seen it. ---Weird.

Thanks![/QUOTE]

In my young bachelor days in Vegas my favorite haunt was a relatively upscale lounge+billiards joint. They had a big screen TV that played the then-new MTV...back when that meant music videos...24/7. I think I saw every video ever aired during that era. In fact I watched MTV's launch from a table in that lounge. My parachute pants were bitchin'.

Damn, I'm old.

[video=youtube;6jcdwiV6dXw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jcdwiV6dXw[/video]

710.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

At that time I was a bartender at a beer dive called [B]The Cockney Pride [/B]....Ask me about the time I vaulted the four-foot bar over a chili dog and a couple of Budweisers...

We had MTV on a fairly small screen (by today's standards) as I recall, but maybe we didn't. It wasn't really a very tech-up place, LOL ... Regardless, those were the days ...There was MTV in the background somewhere in my life almost 24/7 at that time ... Pure MTV ...

[QUOTE]
There are two points of inspiration behind "Gypsy", as stated by Stevie Nicks, the first of which is a nostalgia for her life before Fleetwood Mac. Before joining the group, Nicks lived with Lindsey Buckingham, who would also join Fleetwood Mac. Nicks and Buckingham were musical and romantic partners; however, only their musical partnership has survived. Nicks met Buckingham at a high school party, where he was singing "California Dreaming" by the Mamas and the Papas. Nicks joined in with perfect harmony, then they introduced themselves. They did not see each other again until college, where they started a relationship and a musical a duo called Buckingham Nicks. Though, they barely got by with the income from Nicks' work as a waitress and cleaning lady.[3]

They could not afford a bed frame, so they slept on a mattress directly on the floor. Nicks says the mattress was decorated in lace, with a vase and a flower at its side. Whenever she feels her famous life getting to her, she goes "back to her roots," and takes her mattress off the frame and puts it "back to the floor" and decorates it with "some lace, and paper flowers."[4] It takes her back to the days when she had no wealth—back to herself as a poor gypsy. Some speculate the rest of this song is directed at Buckingham, assuming the lyrics depict her leaving him. On March 31, 2009, Nicks gave an interview to Entertainment Weekly discussing the inspiration for the song:

In the old days, before Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey [Buckingham] and I had no money, so we had a king-size mattress, but we just had it on the floor. I had old vintage coverlets on it, and even though we had no money it was still really pretty... Just that and a lamp on the floor, and that was it—there was a certain calmness about it. To this day, when I'm feeling cluttered, I will take my mattress off of my beautiful bed, wherever that may be, and put it outside my bedroom, with a table and a little lamp.

On March 25, 2009, during a show in Montreal, Quebec on Fleetwood Mac's Unleashed Tour, Nicks gave a short history of the inspiration behind "Gypsy". She explained it was written sometime in 1978–1979, when the band had become "very famous, very fast". It was a song that brought her back to an earlier time, to an apartment in San Francisco where she had taken the mattress off her bed and put it on the floor. To contextualize, Nicks voiced the lyrics: "So I'm back, to the velvet underground. Back to the floor, that I love. To a room with some lace and paper flowers. Back to the gypsy that I was." Those are the words: 'So I'm back to the velvet underground'—which is a clothing store in downtown San Francisco, where Janis Joplin got her clothes, and Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane. It was this little hole in the wall, amazing, beautiful stuff—'back to the floor that I love, to a room with some lace and paper flowers, back to the gypsy that I was.'"[citation needed]

The second point of inspiration for the song is the message as a tribute to someone's passing. On October 5, 1982, Robin Snyder Anderson, Nicks' best friend, died of leukemia.

Stevie Nicks and Robin Snyder Anderson
Nicks met and befriended Robin Snyder at Arcadia High School in Los Angeles when they were either 14 or 15. Snyder, who had theatrical interests, became Nicks' speech therapist.[5] Videos of the two preparing for concerts are easily accessible over the internet, for instance, one video in particular where Snyder helps Nicks prepare for a concert during the Rumours Tour.[6] Not only did she help her with her singing, but she was also her confidante, and the person who knew her best. According to Carol Ann Harris' book Storms, Snyder could calm her down within just a fraction of a second.[7]

The night before Bella Donna was released, Nicks received a terrifying call from Snyder saying she had leukemia, and the doctors thought she would only live for three months. Even more horrifying to Nicks was the news that Snyder had gotten pregnant, as to leave her husband, Kim Anderson, with something after she left. If Snyder chose to have an abortion, she could have possibly lived for another year. However, the baby was born (three months-premature), and Snyder died three days later. At the time, Nicks was on tour.[8] The only person Nicks felt could understand her grief was Kim Anderson. He felt the same way, and out of grief, as well as a duty towards providing the baby (named Matthew) a good home, the two married.

However, three months later, Nicks filed for divorce after she "received a sign" from Snyder telling her to get out of there. Nicks has stated that she has put Matthew through college and told him about what had happened many times. As Snyder was dying, Nicks dedicated "Gypsy" to her. Nicks found it extremely difficult to sing the song in concert.[9]

Music video
The video for the song, directed by Russell Mulcahy, was the highest-budget music video ever produced at the time.[10] The video locations included a highly detailed portrayal of a forest and required many costumes and dancers. It was the very first "World Premiere Video" on MTV in 1982.

Interpersonal strife amongst the band members complicated the shoot, much as they had with the earlier video for "Hold Me". When he was pairing them during blocking, Mulcahy recalls, "people were pulling me aside saying, 'No, no. Those two were ****ing and then they split up and now he's sleeping with her.' I got very confused, who was sleeping with whom."[11]

Nicks especially remembers the experience as unpleasant. Two weeks before the shoot, she had gone into drug rehabilitation to try to overcome her cocaine addiction. However, the video shoot could not be rescheduled, and she had to take a break for it. Near the end of the first of three days of the shoot, Nicks was exhausted and said she needed cocaine. A small bottle was discreetly given to her, though it was thrown out before she could use any. Nicks later said, "I think we would probably have gone on to make many more great videos like 'Gypsy' had we not been so into drugs."[11]

The aforementioned issues Nicks was having were further strained by having to work closely with her former boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham. "We weren't getting along well then. I didn't want to be anywhere near him; I certainly didn't want to be in his arms," Nicks said of the scene where the two are dancing. "If you watch the video, you'll see I wasn't happy. And he wasn't a very good dancer."[11]

Wiki ---

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy_(Fleetwood_Mac_song)[/url][/QUOTE]

711.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

It's also possible that [I]Gypsy [/I]was played so much that I just don't remember it because I tuned it out.

Weirdly,,, though,, I did not do the same to ZZ Top or Dire Straits...

712.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

If I were in charge, this would have been the MTV foil for [I]Gypsy[/I]....

This video was inter-galactic back in the day:

713.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65952]In my young bachelor days in Vegas ... I think I saw every video ever aired during that era. In fact I watched MTV's launch from a table in that lounge. My parachute pants were bitchin'.

Damn, I'm old.

[video=youtube;6jcdwiV6dXw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jcdwiV6dXw[/video][/QUOTE]

LOL :tu:

Well, except for YOUR parachute pants ....

714.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

Wow ... if that was the first song they played, they were right on it.

Lots has changed with the advent of music video, and not always for the better.

715.) DParker - 03/10/2022

My little McNugget will be 6 weeks old this Saturday, and is looking like an actual chicken. She's been spending the nicer days in the backyard gradually getting to know the yard and the rest of the flock from the safety of a cage so as to prevent excess pecking abuse from the bitchier hens.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/s8a39MU.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

It seems like only yesterday we were taking field trips to the pasture learning to do important chicken stuff, like chasing and eating bugs. Good times.

[video=youtube;TaJRfQpF8HE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaJRfQpF8HE[/video]

716.) Swamp Fox - 03/10/2022

LOL ...

How many bazillion views do you have for that video so far?

Do you have to protect chicks hatched in an incubator? I guess it makes sense. No one knows who the hen is that is supposed to be protecting them. Total chaos on Mother's Day ... (Where it's usually on Father's Day in the rest of the kingdom...) ...

717.) bluecat - 03/11/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65968]My little McNugget will be 6 weeks old this Saturday, and is looking like an actual chicken. She's been spending the nicer days in the backyard gradually getting to know the yard and the rest of the flock from the safety of a cage so as to prevent excess pecking abuse from the bitchier hens.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/s8a39MU.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

718.) Swamp Fox - 03/11/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65975]Do you have a little growth chart on the kitchen wall?[/QUOTE]

[Whispers: I'm actually a little worried about him at this point...]

719.) DParker - 03/11/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65971]How many bazillion views do you have for that video so far?[/QUOTE]

Counting you, bluecat, my wife, my daughter, my granddaughter and our office admin I'd guesstimate....6, or 0.000000000000006 bazillion. It's not publicly visible unless you have the direct link.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65971]Do you have to protect chicks hatched in an incubator? I guess it makes sense. No one knows who the hen is that is supposed to be protecting them. Total chaos on Mother's Day ... (Where it's usually on Father's Day in the rest of the kingdom...) ...[/QUOTE]

Yeah, the hens are pretty strict about pecking order, and will mete out punishment to those who violate it. Chicks, being small and relatively fragile, are more subject to possible injury should the retaliation become particularly heated. She'll be able to handle it in a couple more weeks though, I suspect.

[QUOTE=bluecat;65975]They grow up so fast. Do you have a little growth chart on the kitchen wall?[/QUOTE]

My wife says to not give me any ideas.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65976][Whispers: I'm actually a little worried about him at this point...][/QUOTE]

What took you so long?

720.) Swamp Fox - 03/11/2022

You know you're gonna have to mention that chicken in your will now, don't you?

721.) bluecat - 03/11/2022

Or you could have her be the leader in a brand new flock. Then you have two rival flocks - the breeders and the feeders. They would constantly war and ...um on second thought don't do that.

722.) DParker - 03/11/2022

I don't know, it might be kind of entertaining to have a bunch of chickens that periodically break out into elaborately choreographed dancing knife-fight scenes.

723.) bluecat - 03/11/2022

I'd be okay with that. It's the show tunes and leaping about in leotards that I don't like.

724.) DParker - 03/11/2022

Now I need to get another hen and name her "Maria".

725.) bluecat - 03/12/2022

It's a good name.

What do you think about naming a cat 'Ed'?

726.) DParker - 03/12/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65986]It's a good name.

What do you think about naming a cat 'Ed'?[/QUOTE]

That depends. Is he special?

[video=youtube;pfFRv_1XdDM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfFRv_1XdDM[/video]

727.) bluecat - 03/12/2022

10 feathers say, video good.

I figure if the whole mouse catching thing doesn't work out he could rebuild my transmission.

728.) DParker - 03/14/2022

My 275,000 BTUs of "Boil NOW, water!" have arrived. Now I need to find a good 80 qt stockpot and a [I]LOT[/I] of crawfish.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/3JOnOxZ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

729.) bluecat - 03/15/2022

Flame on!

730.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

What --- Your flame-thrower in the shop?

731.) DParker - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;65996]Flame on![/QUOTE]

Just as soon as the 82 qt stock pot I ordered gets here and I can get my paws on a 40 lb bag of mudbugs.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;65997]What --- Your flame-thrower in the shop?[/QUOTE]

Perish the thought. What do you think I'll be using to ignite the boiler...from 6 feet away?

732.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66001]Just as soon as the 82 qt stock pot I ordered gets here and I can get my paws on a 40 lb bag of mudbugs.

[/QUOTE]

So, when should I be there? I'm not asking you to nail it down to the minute... A range of 1-2 hours is acceptable ...

733.) bluecat - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66001]Just as soon as the 82 qt stock pot I ordered gets here and I can get my paws on a 40 lb bag of mudbugs.
[/QUOTE]

Personnally, I'd have gone with the 85 qt stock pot, but hey, you do you.

734.) DParker - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66008]Personnally, I'd have gone with the 85 qt stock pot, but hey, you do you.[/QUOTE]

I feel so inadequate now.

But seriously...I went with that specific one because I got a deal on Amazon on a damaged packaging Bayou Classic stainless steel model with basket and lid for about $120 off. So long as it doesn't leak and the basket fits I'll be happy, given how stupid expensive SS pots that size usually are.

735.) bluecat - 03/15/2022

736.) DParker - 03/15/2022

I didn't even know Hindu boils were a thing.

737.) bluecat - 03/15/2022

If you gradually heat the water, they don't even know their boiling. It's just more humane that way.

738.) DParker - 03/15/2022

I guess the bonus is that they're already curry-flavored.

739.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

LOL!

740.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

"I prepared it as I bathed ... " :laugh:

741.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;65994]My 275,000 BTUs of "Boil NOW, water!" have arrived. Now I need to find a good 80 qt stockpot and a [I]LOT[/I] of crawfish.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/3JOnOxZ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

So, walk us through your reasoning to buy that particular burner separate from the pot. Do you find the burners provided in kits inadequate in build or flame? Or did you just land on such a deal on the pot that you had to buy the burner separately?

By the way, I am angry at you ---Very, very angry in the Luv2 style :wave:---that you keep on bringing up crawfish boils this time of year when the damn main ingredient is so hard to get up here. Even my transplanted Katrina-sluiced friends in Hot 'lanta bitch about it ... And Hot 'lanta has a lot more food choices than we do here in Lizard Lick ...

742.) DParker - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66016]So, walk us through your reasoning to buy that particular burner separate from the pot. Do you find the burners provided in kits inadequate in build or flame? Or did you just land on such a deal on the pot that you had to buy the burner separately?[/QUOTE]

That's a short walk. Barely a stroll. More of a traipse, really. Anyway....yeah, the vast majority of the "kits" available are either deficient in one or more ways (underpowered/poorly-built burner, crappy stockpot, etc) or grossly overpriced for the combination...or simply don't combine what I really want into one package. By shopping around I was able to find individual items that are just what I want, but at better prices than I would have paid to get them together, assuming I was lucky enough to find both together in one kit.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66016]By the way, I am angry at you ---Very, very angry in the Luv2 style :wave:---that you keep on bringing up crawfish boils this time of year when the damn main ingredient is so hard to get up here. Even my transplanted Katrina-sluiced friends in Hot 'lanta bitch about it ... And Hot 'lanta has a lot more food choices than we do here in Lizard Lick ...[/QUOTE]

I'd suggest a road trip to this side of D/FW and I'd hold a boil in your honor, but at $4 (and up) for a gallon of liquid hydrocarbons that would make for a very expensive platter of mudbugs for you. Hell, at current prices it's a $35 roundtrip in my pickup just to our old house and back.

743.) DParker - 03/15/2022

You inspired me to go outside, hook the burner up and do a quick function check. It's alive! The 30 psi regulator (most are only 20 psi) it comes with not only puts the spurs to it at the upper end, it's also smooth and with a great deal of range, allowing me to dial it way back to just barely on with ease. So far, so good. I also bought a 2nd copy of the same regulator, but with a 12 ft hose
so I can keep the propane tank a good distance away and still have the hose stay in contact with the ground/driveway rather than stretched above it where someone is more likely to trip on it.

[video=youtube;jiWeO1AbFoc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiWeO1AbFoc[/video]

744.) bluecat - 03/15/2022

Can you melt cool stuff on it? Say a GI Joe or a Barbie.

745.) DParker - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66025]Can you melt cool stuff on it? Say a GI Joe or a Barbie.[/QUOTE]

Sure, I could channel my inner Michael Richards (aka, "Kramer"). Let's see who remembers [I]Fridays[/I].

[video=youtube;O_K8lCqvKiQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_K8lCqvKiQ[/video]

746.) bluecat - 03/15/2022

That was great!

747.) bluecat - 03/15/2022

A handful of feathers at least.

748.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

I missed that somehow ...

Apparently a lot of network affiliates wouldn't carry it because they objected to the material.

749.) DParker - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66029]A handful of feathers at least.[/QUOTE]

That was one of Clint Eastwood's best.

750.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66029]A handful of feathers at least.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;66031]That was one of Clint Eastwood's best.[/QUOTE]

LOL

How about "A Fistful of Darwin" ?

751.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

I'm blanking on the name of it right now, but there was a late-night comedy skit show in the late 90s/early 2000s that everyone seemed nuts about but I usually found unfunny...

It's when you see stuff like that that you realize something about the true classics, like some old SNL or Python or Benny Hill stuff et al. : how amazing it is that the timing is right, the laughs come so naturally, etc. when things are done right and everything is clicking...

752.) Swamp Fox - 03/15/2022

The Rise Of The Kamala Impersonators:

[video]https://twitter.com/i/status/1503210559898066954[/video]

Best impersonation ever. �� pic.twitter.com/cetEgU1puZ
— Rocket City Mindy (@sparkyandtaz) March 14, 2022

And don't miss this: [video]https://v16m-webapp.tiktokcdn-us.com/46c7cc4ddf9f03bbae3370ef138aef4a/6231722e/video/tos/useast5/tos-useast5-ve-0068c002-tx/6a2103cd1d2c4203a98d13597dc7df59/?a=1988&br=3626&bt=1813&cd=0%7C0%7C1%7C0&ch=0&cr=0&cs=0&cv=1&dr=0&ds=3&er=&ft=XY53A3E7nz7Th~EniDXq&l=202203152313230101130060381AF04A75&lr=tiktok_m&mime_type=video_mp4&net=0&pl=0&qs=0&rc=MzN4ZTs6ZnVwOzMzZzczNEApNDo8NWg1Nzs5N2RkZTQzZWc 2XzA2cjRnamlgLS1kMS9zc2JgXjRfNjAtMmFgMTUzNTQ6Yw%3D %3D&vl=&vr=[/video]

[url]https://v16m-webapp.tiktokcdn-us.com/46c7cc4ddf9f03bbae3370ef138aef4a/6231722e/video/tos/useast5/tos-useast5-ve-0068c002-tx/6a2103cd1d2c4203a98d13597dc7df59/?a=1988&br=3626&bt=1813&cd=0%7C0%7C1%7C0&ch=0&cr=0&cs=0&cv=1&dr=0&ds=3&er=&ft=XY53A3E7nz7Th~EniDXq&l=202203152313230101130060381AF04A75&lr=tiktok_m&mime_type=video_mp4&net=0&pl=0&qs=0&rc=MzN4ZTs6ZnVwOzMzZzczNEApNDo8NWg1Nzs5N2RkZTQzZWc 2XzA2cjRnamlgLS1kMS9zc2JgXjRfNjAtMmFgMTUzNTQ6Yw%3D %3D&vl=&vr=[/url]

I don't know how to embed the second video, but I'll keep at it. In the meantime, don't be skeered of the link.

753.) DParker - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66034]The Rise Of The Kamala Impersonators:

[URL="https://twitter.com/i/status/1503210559898066954"]https://twitter.com/i/status/1503210559898066954[/URL][/QUOTE]
LOL! She's really good.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66034]I don't know how to embed the second video[/QUOTE]

You track her stuff down on YouTube and try to link to that, even though it's part of a group of other videos...because as far as I know YT is the only video streaming service this software supports...and even that doesn't work. So, I don't know.

[video]https://youtube.com/shorts/AwIigw4aTKc?feature=share[/video]

754.) DParker - 03/15/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66032]LOL

How about "A Fistful of Darwin" ?

[/QUOTE]

LOL! Father Guido Sarducci and Dawn alone was worth the price of admission.

755.) Swamp Fox - 03/16/2022

You wonder if Tony Orlando was just a little slow on the draw ...

"Glass of wine, and a couple of-a diet-a colas for my background singers ..."

Classic entrance. :-) And the "I believe in music" line (reference Mac Davis) was epic, but underappreciated ... LOL

756.) Swamp Fox - 03/16/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66024]You inspired me to go outside, hook the burner up and do a quick function check. It's alive! The 30 psi regulator (most are only 20 psi) it comes with not only puts the spurs to it at the upper end, it's also smooth and with a great deal of range, allowing me to dial it way back to just barely on with ease. So far, so good. I also bought a 2nd copy of the same regulator, but with a 12 ft hose
so I can keep the propane tank a good distance away and still have the hose stay in contact with the ground/driveway rather than stretched above it where someone is more likely to trip on it.

[video=youtube;jiWeO1AbFoc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiWeO1AbFoc[/video][/QUOTE]

Now you just need a flat-bottomed carbon steel wok and you're good to go ...

757.) bluecat - 03/16/2022

Don't forget the paddles.

758.) DParker - 03/16/2022

You'd hate to be up rice creek without one.

759.) bluecat - 03/16/2022

You can 'wok like a Texican'.

760.) bluecat - 03/16/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66033]I'm blanking on the name of it right now, but there was a late-night comedy skit show in the late 90s/early 2000s that everyone seemed nuts about but I usually found unfunny...

It's when you see stuff like that that you realize something about the true classics, like some old SNL or Python or Benny Hill stuff et al. : how amazing it is that the timing is right, the laughs come so naturally, etc. when things are done right and everything is clicking...[/QUOTE]

Kids in the Hall? The was pretty funny stuff so I'm guessing that wasn't it.

761.) Swamp Fox - 03/17/2022

No, I figured out it was Mad TV...

A little bit of funny stuff, but a lot of material that missed ...

(And some that missed over and over ... and over ... :re:)

But maybe it's just me, LOL ...

762.) bluecat - 03/17/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66044]No, I figured out it was Mad TV...

A little bit of funny stuff, but a lot of material that missed ...

(And some that missed over and over ... and over ... :re:)

But maybe it's just me, LOL ...[/QUOTE]

It was definately you. I loved that show. Holly from King of Queens was on that show as well as Keegan-Michael Key, David Allen Grier, Michael McDonald, Frank Caliendo, Will Sasso, Jordon Peele, Alex Borstein, etc.

Seriously?

763.) DParker - 03/17/2022

Yeah, c'mon. Sure, some of it was pretty dumb. But Borstein's [I]Bunny Swan[/I] was a hoot.

Ditto Mo Collins' [I]Loraine[/I]...

...Aries Spears as [I]Dollar Bill Montgomery[/I] on [I]Real **********ing Talk[/I]...

...and nearly everything Stephnie Weir did.

764.) bluecat - 03/18/2022

That must have been pre- Stuart. "Look what I can do." I'll look some up tomorrow. Awesome show.

765.) bluecat - 03/18/2022

....

766.) bluecat - 03/18/2022

Kwality humor
Watch to the end for Kwality horror

767.) DParker - 03/18/2022

Well, so much for having lunch today.

768.) bluecat - 03/18/2022

I always enjoy when an actor comes out of character for a moment as they try to contain their laughter. That was a good example of "Shellie" almost losing it. 2:03

769.) DParker - 03/18/2022

My 82 qt stainless steel stockpot + basket showed up today. I'm not screwin' around this year. Bring on the bugs.

([URL="https://imgur.com/mvH0mUU"]Full-sized original[/URL])

770.) bluecat - 03/18/2022

T - ?

771.) Swamp Fox - 03/19/2022

Shiny ...:tu:

But I'd accept "shiney" too, as long as we're abandoning all standards ...

772.) Swamp Fox - 03/19/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66060]

Kwality humor
Watch to the end for Kwality horror[/QUOTE]

Okay, so that one was funny.

I'm not saying there aren't some smiles in the other stuff, but for the money these folks are making and the attention they receive, they're not humor home runs ...

773.) Swamp Fox - 03/19/2022

I do appreciate the college visit and the talk show, the former more than the latter... But in both there is still a whiff of trying too hard ...

Just takes a little bit of the buzz off.

774.) DParker - 03/21/2022

Thanks to my ability to exploit my granddaughter as child labor...er, I mean, to pass along valuable agricultural knowledge and traditions...by having her plant my asparagus crowns for me my plot of tilled dirt is now officially a vegetable garden. As a bonus, she learned to use a tape measure.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/BHTdthX.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

My seed potatoes arrived too, but I need to let them sit for a few days to let the eyes sprout a little on the ones where the eyes are a little more difficult to see. Then I'll cut them up into pieces with 1-2 sprouted eyes each, let the cuts heal over for a couple days then invite my granddaughter for another sleep-over. Starting at the upper-left and proceeding clockwise the varieties are: "Banana", "Adirondack Blue", "German Butterball", "French Fingerling" (You, in the back row...knock off the giggling!), "Amarosa" and "Magic Molly".

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/DtBwwbq.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Also, reason #4,382 why having a small tractor rocks. I used it for a little trick I picked up watching YouTube videos on installing drip irrigation tape from large rolls (1,000 ft of tape in this case). I parked it facing the end of the row I was working, stuck a length of steel conduit through the tube that connects both arms of the front-end loader, mounted the spool on the conduit like it was an axle and leaned a rake against the spool to provide just enough drag to prevent the tape from flying off the spool when I stopped pulling on it (a la your thumb on the spool of a baitcaster reel). It worked like a champ.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/kZAKW3S.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

775.) DParker - 03/21/2022

BTW, you don't really get an appreciation for how bad chicken crap smells until you keep a young hen in a cage in your den for a while. My wife is really anxious for the nighttime temperatures to stop dipping into the 40s (and even the 30s) so she can start spending nights outside with the big kids (the chicken, not my wife). She's been spending days out there for the past couple of weeks, and I clean the cage liner every day before I bring her back inside for the night, but by the morning she's already stunk it up again. Nasty-assed birds.

776.) bluecat - 03/21/2022

This whole thing is way too organized.

777.) bluecat - 03/21/2022

Interesting thing about those potato eyes. Went into a nursery about 2 weeks ago and was going through the Yukon Golds and searching for the potatoes with eyes protruding. The owner was watching me and asked what I was doing. I told him I was trying to find the potatoes with the most pronounced eyes. He said on smooth skin potatoes that you don't need to do that and that there are eyes that you can't see. I'd never heard that but took his word and we'll see what happens. This year one section of potato per grow bag instead of many as I did last year.

778.) bluecat - 03/21/2022

You said French Fingerling.

779.) bluecat - 03/21/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66067]I do appreciate the college visit and the talk show, the former more than the latter... But in both there is still a whiff of trying too hard ...

Just takes a little bit of the buzz off.[/QUOTE]

Lighten up Nancy

780.) DParker - 03/21/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66082]This whole thing is way too organized.[/QUOTE]

I'll take it. I don't get accused of being organized very often.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66083]Interesting thing about those potato eyes. Went into a nursery about 2 weeks ago and was going through the Yukon Golds and searching for the potatoes with eyes protruding. The owner was watching me and asked what I was doing. I told him I was trying to find the potatoes with the most pronounced eyes. He said on smooth skin potatoes that you don't need to do that and that there are eyes that you can't see. I'd never heard that but took his word and we'll see what happens. This year one section of potato per grow bag instead of many as I did last year.[/QUOTE]

"Eyes that you can't see" sounds way too metaphysical for me.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66084]You said French Fingerling.[/QUOTE]

I told you to stop that giggling!!

781.) Swamp Fox - 03/21/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66085]Lighten up Nancy[/QUOTE]

Perhaps I should.

Bringing you people up to my level has proven quite the challenge ...

:wink

782.) Swamp Fox - 03/21/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66080]Thanks to my ability to exploit my granddaughter as child labor...er, I mean, to pass along valuable agricultural knowledge and traditions...by having her plant my asparagus crowns for me my plot of tilled dirt is now officially a vegetable garden. As a bonus, she learned to use a tape measure.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/BHTdthX.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

I knew a girl named Magic Molly a couple of times. Met her in '77 at CBGB ...

Also,, I thought Magic Mollys (Mollies?) were always a deep purple ...

783.) Swamp Fox - 03/21/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66081]BTW, you don't really get an appreciation for how bad chicken crap smells until you keep a young hen in a cage in your den for a while. My wife is really anxious for the nighttime temperatures to stop dipping into the 40s (and even the 30s) so she can start spending nights outside with the big kids (the chicken, not my wife). She's been spending days out there for the past couple of weeks, and I clean the cage liner every day before I bring her back inside for the night, but by the morning she's already stunk it up again. Nasty-assed birds.[/QUOTE]

I tried to tell you ...

I had a "pet" chicken in the house for a while growing up ... Afterwards, for a long time I couldn't look at creamed corn or hear the word "chickenshit" without bursting into fits of hysterical laughter.

I kind of think the experience might have made me what I am today ...

Good luck to your grand-daughter, LOL ...

784.) DParker - 03/21/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66087]Perhaps I should.

Bringing you people up to my level has proven quite the challenge ...[/QUOTE]

To be fair to us, it's quite a climb from the sewer to the gutter.

785.) Swamp Fox - 03/21/2022

LOL .... :grin:

Remember, there's an expectation that we be a disgrace to the bowhunting community.

I hope everyone here takes that duty seriously ... :wave:

786.) DParker - 03/21/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66088]I knew a girl named Magic Molly a couple of times. Met her in '77 at CBGB ...

Also,, I thought Magic Mollys (Mollies?) were always a deep purple ...[/QUOTE]

They are. These all came with some sort of powdery coating on them. When I rubbed it off one of the MMs and one of the BAs you could see the blue color underneath. I don't know what it is, and I can't find any info on it. I think I'll drop them an email and ask. It's probably Anthrax though.

787.) Swamp Fox - 03/22/2022

I can prolly send you some of my mom's old Cipro to help with that ... Let me rummage around in the back room ... I've still got a lot of her stuff back there ...

788.) DParker - 03/22/2022

Great...just when I was thinking about taking a shower.

789.) Swamp Fox - 03/22/2022

Don't worry about it. Your wife will come to love the smell of a man fresh from the fields ....

790.) Swamp Fox - 03/22/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66083]I told him I was trying to find the potatoes with the most pronounced eyes.[/QUOTE]

Have you consulted the Frito Bandito?

He might know something about that.

791.) bluecat - 03/22/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66091]LOL .... :grin:

Remember, there's an expectation that we be a disgrace to the bowhunting community.

I hope everyone here takes that duty seriously ... :wave:[/QUOTE]

Doing my best.

792.) Swamp Fox - 03/22/2022

What say we all kick it up a notch?

793.) bluecat - 03/22/2022

more fatties?

794.) bluecat - 03/22/2022

795.) DParker - 03/22/2022

It looks like the FedEx virus is spreading. I've ordered several things from Home Depot and they've always been really good about getting here fast and in good shape. Maybe I'm pushing my luck.

796.) Swamp Fox - 03/23/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66105]

Here's my current shipping dilemma.

Today is the 22nd. The delivery was scheduled on the 10th. Somehow it was delivered on the 16th but I never received it. It is a generator I ordered from Home Depot.

Not only are the items in no chronological order, they make no sense.

It's like the Kamala of shipping itineraries, just random words and times with no actual meaning.[/QUOTE]

What you fail to understand is that very few people appreciate the significance of the passage of time ...

I mean, YOU might appreciate the significance of the passage of time, but think about it, right? ... The significance of the passage of time ...

Very few people are aware of it. It's significant. It's significant in the way it affects people, and that's why we should take a few moments to reflect on its significance and why people aren't aware of it ...

797.) Swamp Fox - 03/23/2022

BTW, apparently very few people appreciate the significance of my Frito Bandito joke, either ...

798.) Swamp Fox - 03/23/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66104]more fatties?[/QUOTE]

220....441 ... Whatever it takes ...

799.) Swamp Fox - 03/23/2022

[I][Whispers to the audience][/I]: I know I shouldn't encourage him ...

800.) bluecat - 03/23/2022

+7, +1, +1, +1

You'll have to help me with the Frito Bandito. :cf:

I just remeber he really loves those corn chips and if you aren't careful he'll take them from you.

801.) DParker - 03/23/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66111]+7, +1, +1, +1

You'll have to help me with the Frito Bandito. :cf:

I just remeber he really loves those corn chips and if you aren't careful he'll take them from you.[/QUOTE]

You: "I told him I was trying to find the potatoes with the most pronounced eyes."

Swampy: "Have you consulted the Frito Bandito?"

The Frito Bandito's song (to the tune of [I]Cielito Lindo[/I]): "Ay, ay, ay, ay! oh, I am dee Frito Bandito."

[video=youtube;FbYj7ZyqjYY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbYj7ZyqjYY[/video]

Yeah, yeah...get off my lawn.

802.) bluecat - 03/23/2022

Yeah, that one went right by me. I remember the commercial actually.

I'll give Swampy a +4 and you a feather for your explanation.

803.) Swamp Fox - 03/24/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66111]+7, +1, +1, +1

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;66113]

I'll give Swampy a +4 and you a feather for your explanation.[/QUOTE]

I beeeeen robbed!!!

804.) Swamp Fox - 03/24/2022

.....

805.) bluecat - 03/24/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66114]I beeeeen robbed!!![/QUOTE]

What, you think I just give it away?

806.) DParker - 03/24/2022

It's Day 1 of "How To Be A Chicken" school. Today's lesson: "Ants are tasty."

[video=youtube;zF4RGS3JcJg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF4RGS3JcJg[/video]

807.) DParker - 03/25/2022

I finally got around to cutting up my seed potatoes. If I can get these to grow I'm going to have the most colorful mashed potatoes in the county...and the ones next to it.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/wtXyNZI.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

808.) bluecat - 03/25/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66123]It's Day 1 of "How To Be A Chicken" school. Today's lesson: "Ants are tasty."

[video=youtube;zF4RGS3JcJg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF4RGS3JcJg[/video][/QUOTE]

She's a tweenager!

809.) bluecat - 03/25/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66124]I finally got around to cutting up my seed potatoes. If I can get these to grow I'm going to have the most colorful mashed potatoes in the county...and the ones next to it.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/wtXyNZI.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Thanksgiving at DP's.

810.) Swamp Fox - 03/25/2022

If you slide some red, green and blue in there, you could have some gay potato casserole ....

811.) Swamp Fox - 03/25/2022

Not that there's anything gastronomically wrong with that ...

812.) crookedeye - 03/25/2022

.....

813.) Swamp Fox - 03/26/2022

Hey, CE! :wave:

How's the centipede forecast in your basement looking this spring?

Maybe you could borrow DP's chicken and really whup up on 'em this year ...

814.) Swamp Fox - 03/26/2022

I don't think you should have your own ... Not yet ... Wouldn't be prudent ...

815.) bluecat - 03/26/2022

He's been choking his own chicken ever since the Cheryl Tiegs poster.

816.) crookedeye - 03/26/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66131]Hey, CE! :wave:

How's the centipede forecast in your basement looking this spring?

Maybe you could borrow DP's chicken and really whup up on 'em this year ...[/QUOTE]

there starting to move.. actually killed one in my upstairs bedroom.. very rairly i see them upstairs, medium size one. felt a little guilty they keep the other bugs at bay.

817.) crookedeye - 03/26/2022

he wasnt the granddaddy of all centipedes, but respectable

818.) DParker - 03/27/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66064]T - ?[/QUOTE]

How fast can you drive?

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/54hjWSS.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

819.) Swamp Fox - 03/27/2022

Looks good!

How many pounds, and where'd you get 'em?

820.) Swamp Fox - 03/27/2022

[QUOTE=crookedeye;66135]he wasnt the granddaddy of all centipedes, but respectable[/QUOTE]

That size doesn't come any bigger, as the uncle who taught me to fish would have said ...

821.) bluecat - 03/27/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66136]How fast can you drive?

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/54hjWSS.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

That looks heavenly. And the choice of beverage would be...

822.) Swamp Fox - 03/27/2022

Very expensive scotch or tap water ... :wink

823.) DParker - 03/27/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66140]Very expensive scotch or tap water ... :wink[/QUOTE]

Whatever it is that comes out of my garden hose. It's good enough for the chickens so it's good enough for us.

824.) DParker - 03/27/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66137]Looks good!

How many pounds, and where'd you get 'em?[/QUOTE]

30 lbs. I got them from a place called "Acadia Parish" in Ft. Worth. $3.99/lb. Between that and 2 lbs of shrimp, 4 lbs of Andouille, 4 lbs of new potatoes, 3 lbs of corn on the cob, 1 lb of Portobello mushrooms...well, let's just say there were leftovers.

825.) Swamp Fox - 03/27/2022

Preventing leftovers is my superpower ...

826.) Swamp Fox - 03/27/2022

Just sayin' ... :wink

827.) DParker - 03/27/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66143]Preventing leftovers is my superpower ...[/QUOTE]

We could have used the help. That much food for 6 people, 1 of whom is currently in the 3rd grade was a bit of overkill. Thankfully my son-in-law pitched in and helped me extract the tail meat from the leftover bugs so we cold freeze whatever we weren't going to use up right away. (My son took advantage of his birthday boy status by spending that time test driving my hammock.) The hound dog was offering her services, but she'd already stolen and downed one of the crawfish that fell on the ground when I was putting them into the pot so she was cut off for fear of what that plus anything else would do to her stomach...and the floors inside the house.

Now, if you'll excuse me I need to go outside and plant potatoes and onions.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/4dLsIKX.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

828.) Swamp Fox - 03/27/2022

Nice!

I'll look forward to seeing what you produce in that brick smokehouse ...LOL

829.) DParker - 03/27/2022

'Taters and onyos (stolen from this culinary goofball...

[video=youtube;5o-u7zjlShQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o-u7zjlShQ[/video]

...) are in (90 'taters and 138 onyos) and the drip irrigation for those two rows installed. That's a lot of bending over. I'm done farming for today. In fact between yesterday's activities and this morning's I'm done doing anything save for setting my fat ass in my recliner, watching some idiot tube and downing a few Crabbie's.

830.) DParker - 03/28/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66146]Nice!

I'll look forward to seeing what you produce in that brick smokehouse ...LOL[/QUOTE]

Smoked rooster, if Todd doesn't lose the attitude.

831.) bluecat - 03/28/2022

Other than the cops showing up and arresting people for missed child support and everyone wearing a wife beater, you've had yourself a southern dinner.

832.) DParker - 03/28/2022

Our wife beaters were at the cleaners.

833.) Swamp Fox - 03/29/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66147]'Taters and onyos (stolen from this culinary goofball...

[video=youtube;5o-u7zjlShQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o-u7zjlShQ[/video]

...) are in (90 'taters and 138 onyos) and the drip irrigation for those two rows installed. That's a lot of bending over. I'm done farming for today. In fact between yesterday's activities and this morning's I'm done doing anything save for setting my fat ass in my recliner, watching some idiot tube and downing a few Crabbie's.[/QUOTE]

He's vewwy,, vewwy, vewwy entahtaihhnin' .... LOL :tu:

834.) bluecat - 03/29/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66105]

I took this picture before opening.

I took this picture of the damage.

835.) bluecat - 03/29/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66150]Our wife beaters were at the cleaners.[/QUOTE]

Read as, "Our wife beaters were on the line."

836.) DParker - 03/29/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66152]So the damn thing finally showed up. And has luck would have it, I got the new forklift driver to load my package.

I took this picture before opening.

I took this picture of the damage.[/QUOTE]

Ouch.

837.) bluecat - 03/29/2022

Home Depot was very good about it and has ordered a replacement. Now I've got to somehow wrap all this up again and await pickup.

These delivery companies (and I'm including all of them) suck. They are out of control. They drive like a bat out of hell and the packages are either thrown in the ditch or covered in dust. I hate them all.

I'll take a picture of what I did to keep them from driving across my median.

838.) DParker - 03/29/2022

We need to start a support group.

Bluecat: [I]"HI. My name is Bluecat, and I've been waiting on a delivery for 15 days."[/I]

Group: [I]"HI, Bluecat!"[/I]

839.) bluecat - 03/29/2022

Step 1: Recognizing and understanding the anger.

840.) DParker - 03/29/2022

How many steps until we get to the looting, pillaging and scorched earth?

841.) Swamp Fox - 03/29/2022

Seems like that box never should have been put on the truck in the first place.

That's a Home Depot issue, if I understand how the work flows.

But the trucking companies are their own kind of special as well ...

842.) Swamp Fox - 03/30/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66158]How many steps until we get to the looting, pillaging and scorched earth?[/QUOTE]

I'm going with seven ...

Seven shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be seven. Eight shalt thou not count, nor either count thou six, excepting that thou then proceed to seven. Nine is right out.

How do I no this? Because in addition to anger management, I know my Circles of Hell. :wink

I am going for cosmic symmetry here.

[QUOTE]Okay, Jeeves: What is the Seventh Circle of Hell?[/QUOTE]

843.) DParker - 03/30/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66160]I'm going with seven ...

Seven shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be seven. Eight shalt thou not count, nor either count thou six, excepting that thou then proceed to seven. Nine is right out.

How do I no this? Because in addition to anger management, I know my Circles of Hell. :wink

I am going for cosmic symmetry here.

[/QUOTE]

If you haven't already read this you might like it. Co-written by two of the most well-known sci-fi authors,about a sci-fi writer...and even referred to as sci-fi on the cover...but not actually a work of sci-fi, but rather a fun little take on Dante.

844.) Swamp Fox - 03/30/2022

:tu:

I'll look that up.

845.) Swamp Fox - 03/30/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66157]Step 1: Recognizing and understanding the anger.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66160]

How do I no this? Because in addition to anger management, I know my Circles of Hell. :wink [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;66161]If you haven't already read this you might like it. Co-written by two of the most well-known sci-fi authors,about a sci-fi writer...and even referred to as sci-fi on the cover...but not actually a work of sci-fi, but rather a fun little take on Dante.
[/QUOTE]

You have to no these things when you're a king ...

:wink:grin::wink:beer:

846.) bluecat - 03/30/2022

This stopped all the delivery vehicles from cutting across the strip and leaving huge ruts.

847.) bluecat - 03/30/2022

This won't prevent the schoolbus from taking out our mailbox again but it will detour anyone thinking they can just drive through our mailbox some night. The rock is generally hidden in the tall grass so it would demolish a vehicle.

848.) DParker - 03/30/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66165]

This stopped all the delivery vehicles from cutting across the strip and leaving huge ruts.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;66166]

849.) DParker - 03/30/2022

And so it begins.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/toFRnsD.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

850.) bluecat - 03/30/2022

No way, was that from the crown just planted?
You probably already know this but I'll say it. You want to hold off this season.
I'm already impressed.

851.) DParker - 03/30/2022

Yep. Those were planted just 10 days ago. It's just one lone eager beaver so far, but I was amazed to see even that. We've had a few pretty warm days lately and I guess that triggered one of the crowns to...get on with it.

And yes, I won't be harvesting any spears until next year at the earliest.

852.) bluecat - 03/30/2022

Quite right, much too silly.

853.) bluecat - 03/30/2022

One other thing and I didn't know this until a few years ago, but when you harvest a plant, don't pick and choose what you will harvest. Take it all. When you decide it's had enough, let it go. Apparently when you harvest, it signals the plant to produce more spears. So harvesting some but not all is counter productive. Hope that made sense.

I hope I don't come across as a know-it all. I just enjoy sharing what knowledge I pick up.

854.) bluecat - 03/31/2022

It might be hard to explain to your wife why you can't harvest a perfectly good spear.

855.) DParker - 03/31/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66172]One other thing and I didn't know this until a few years ago, but when you harvest a plant, don't pick and choose what you will harvest. Take it all. When you decide it's had enough, let it go. Apparently when you harvest, it signals the plant to produce more spears. So harvesting some but not all is counter productive. Hope that made sense.

I hope I don't come across as a know-it all. I just enjoy sharing what knowledge I pick up.[/QUOTE]

I've read that and was planning on harvesting accordingly, but this is my first attempt at asparagus so I'm glad to have all of the real-world experience-based advice and/or reinforcement of online info I can get.

856.) bluecat - 03/31/2022

You can always ask and I will be truthful if I know the answer.
Asparagus is one of those plants that everyone is so impressed that you grew it. Just dont tell them know its super easy. Lol.

Once it established you will be rewarded as there is only mulching to do.

857.) DParker - 03/31/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66175]You can always ask and I will be truthful if I know the answer.[/QUOTE]

And if you don't know the answer you'll blow smoke up my backside, right? We've got standards to maintain around here.

858.) DParker - 04/05/2022

The rest of the asparagus is taking off nicely. Unfortunately the weeds are too. They're going to be a challenge to keep up with.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/XIwOiTy.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

At least the onions are looking much better than when I first planted them. No sign of potatoes yet though.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/uqWkMqp.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

859.) Swamp Fox - 04/05/2022

A watched potato just looks back at you ...

860.) bluecat - 04/05/2022

Looking good DP!

861.) bluecat - 04/05/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66176]And if you don't know the answer you'll blow smoke up my backside, right? We've got standards to maintain around here.[/QUOTE]

Well there's that and I'll probably throw in some pictues of fatties for good measure.

862.) Swamp Fox - 04/05/2022

:groan:

Following the collapse of the Tar Heels last night, you seem re-energized ... :tap:

LOL

863.) DParker - 04/05/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66235]A watched potato just looks back at you ...[/QUOTE]

Well, what else is it going to do with all those eyes?

864.) DParker - 04/05/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66236]Looking good DP![/QUOTE]

865.) Swamp Fox - 04/05/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66239]Well, what else is it going to do with all those eyes?[/QUOTE]

Sit there and stew?

866.) Swamp Fox - 04/05/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66232]

No sign of potatoes yet though.

[/QUOTE]

....

867.) Swamp Fox - 04/05/2022

868.) DParker - 04/05/2022

Nonbinarygendered Potato Head?

869.) Swamp Fox - 04/05/2022

Sometimes a potato is just a potato, but then again, I'm not a biologist ...

870.) Swamp Fox - 04/05/2022

Any plans to ferment these potatoes into delicious Texas vodka?

I certainly hope so ... :pop:

That's what the world apparently needs... More vodka ... :dig:

871.) DParker - 04/06/2022

Oddly enough, we took the whole family on a tour+tasting at a distillery in Ft. Worth on Saturday...

[URL="https://www.acredistilling.com/"]Acre Distilling Co.[/URL]

And in addition to a pretty good single malt, an "apple pie" moonshine and a couple other decent whiskeys we sampled their "Two Minnies" gin, "Miss Addie's" vodka and "Peach Dream" vodka. I've never really had a good sipping gin before, but I really took a liking to this one. The Miss Addie's wasn't bad either, though the wife preferred the peach one, of course.

But, no...my spuds are going to be reserved strictly for plate duty. Except for any rotten ones, which I'll keep by the back door for throwing at my asshole rooster.

872.) Swamp Fox - 04/06/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66251]

But, no...my spuds are going to be reserved strictly for plate duty. Except for any rotten ones, which I'll keep by the back door for throwing at my asshole rooster.[/QUOTE]

I think you're being a little hard on the .... Well, never mind ... LOL

What's he done now?

873.) DParker - 04/06/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66253]I think you're being a little hard on the .... Well, never mind ... LOL

What's he done now?[/QUOTE]

He's just becoming increasingly aggressive and is always picking a fight...that he always loses. He doesn't ever do any damage (he just likes to kick at my legs, but he doesn't have any significant spurs and I'm always wearing jeans), and ultimately gets the worst of the confrontation, but he's too stupid to learn from repeatedly getting his feathery ass kicked in front of his harem. I like the fact that he's protective of them, but he needs to learn to protect against actual threats vs just picking fights that he can't win with a non-threat. I've refrained from administering the, "You come at the king you best not miss" lesson so far, but he's venturing out onto mighty thin ice.

874.) Swamp Fox - 04/07/2022

It might be time to explain to him about the 11 herbs and spices ...

See if it can be a recipe for discipline :bad::grin: :wink, as well as seduction....

[url]https://www.ibtimes.com/kfc-11-herbs-spices-what-colonel-sanders-nephew-revealed-about-secret-recipe-3097236[/url]

875.) bluecat - 04/07/2022

^^^ You really came through on this one. + [enter value here]

876.) DParker - 04/07/2022

Your first line killed my "+11 herbs and spices" response. So I've got nothin'.

877.) bluecat - 04/07/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66255]He's just becoming increasingly aggressive and is always picking a fight...that he always loses. [/QUOTE]

Are you talking about Joe or Todd?

878.) DParker - 04/07/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66259]Are you talking about Joe or Todd?[/QUOTE]

Yes.

879.) DParker - 04/07/2022

My Banana and French Fingerling 'taters have finally decided to start making an appearance. Nothing from the other 4 varieties yet though.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/Yu0Qjg4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

880.) bluecat - 04/07/2022

Hmm, French Tickler and Banana taters. I wonder if they will cross pollinate?

881.) bluecat - 04/07/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66261]Nothing from the other 4 varieties yet though.
[/QUOTE]

prudes

882.) DParker - 04/07/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66262]Hmm, French Tickler and Banana taters. I wonder if they will cross pollinate?[/QUOTE]

I'd say that the Asparagus is acting as a team of chaperones, but something tells me they're more likely to be foxes guarding the henhouse.

883.) bluecat - 04/07/2022

If you put your ear up to that spear, you can almost hear it crying, "cut me and put me on the grill".

884.) DParker - 04/07/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66265]If you put your ear up to that spear, you can almost hear it crying, "cut me and put me on the grill".[/QUOTE]

[video=youtube;f2ce-zC_n8E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2ce-zC_n8E[/video]

885.) Swamp Fox - 04/07/2022

There are always feathers ... Feathers make nice prizes ... Sounds like you might have some to give away soon... :ek:

886.) Swamp Fox - 04/07/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66258]Your first line killed my "+11 herbs and spices" response. So I've got nothin'.[/QUOTE]

There are always feathers ... Feathers make nice prizes ... Sounds like you might have some to give away soon... :ek:

Not that I'm campaigning for myself ... :p

887.) Swamp Fox - 04/07/2022

And nothing personal against Todd ...

888.) DParker - 04/07/2022

Yeah, we're keeping our son's dog while he's out of town for a few days, and the hunting instinct runs mighty strong in her. I keep telling Todd that if he pisses me off again I'm going to let him out of the run alone in the yard and then drop the leash.

889.) DParker - 04/07/2022

BTW, I found a nice patch of wild onions growing near the creek in my back pasture yesterday so I dug a couple of them up (they're the size of small scallions). This morning I cleaned them, chopped them up and sautéed them for my breakfast eggs. Very tasty. So if the garden onions don't work out I have a backup...kinda', sorta'.

890.) Swamp Fox - 04/07/2022

Wild onions can work ...

891.) bluecat - 04/08/2022

I checked on my potatoes this morning and couldn't see if they were up on account of the sleet.

892.) DParker - 04/08/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66284]I checked on my potatoes this morning and couldn't see if they were up on account of the sleet.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, that makes gardening a bit difficult. It's been nothing but high winds here for the past 2 weeks. I've got a closet full of seed starts that I haven't been able to harden off outside because of it.

893.) bluecat - 04/08/2022

You said harden.

894.) DParker - 04/10/2022

The Adirondack Blue potatoes are poking their heads up now. Interestingly, even the new sprouts are chock-full of anthocyanins (the compounds that give the spuds their blue/purple pigmentation).

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/vFkl3Co.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

895.) bluecat - 04/10/2022

We used to dream of anthocyanins.

896.) bluecat - 04/11/2022

All we got were some dandelions that were spray painted blue and we loved it.

897.) DParker - 04/11/2022

Spray paint? Luxury.

898.) bluecat - 04/11/2022

Right. Well we had it tough.

We couldn't afford blue spray paint so we cut a vein after most of the oxygen had been depleted in our blood and waived the weeds in front of the spray.

899.) Swamp Fox - 04/11/2022

Oxygen? .... Oh, very nice ... :re:

:wink

900.) DParker - 04/12/2022

Well, I planted 90 potato chunks and so far 70 of them have sprouted above ground. That's going to be a lot of spuds for someone who can't eat a lot of carbs.

901.) DParker - 04/12/2022

And I haven't even planted (or received) the 50 sweet potatoes I ordered yet.

902.) bluecat - 04/12/2022

Goodness, Farmers Market?

903.) DParker - 04/12/2022

Probably. There are too many low-flying aircraft in the area for me to try the other cash crop.

904.) bluecat - 04/12/2022

Either way, you're about to make some new friends.

Not a bad position to be in honestly.

905.) Swamp Fox - 04/13/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66316]Probably. There are too many low-flying aircraft in the area for me to try the other cash crop.[/QUOTE]

Wildwood weed?

906.) Swamp Fox - 04/13/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66313]Well, I planted 90 potato chunks and so far 70 of them have sprouted above ground. That's going to be a lot of spuds for someone who can't eat a lot of carbs.[/QUOTE]

Have you considered the shrimping bidness?

Oh, wait ...

907.) Swamp Fox - 04/13/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66316]Probably. There are too many low-flying aircraft in the area for me to try the other cash crop.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66318]Wildwood weed?

[/QUOTE]

'baccy?

YouTube video player

908.) DParker - 04/13/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66320]'baccy?[/QUOTE]

Wacky?

909.) Swamp Fox - 04/13/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66321]Wacky?[/QUOTE]

Something that looks nice, and not too expensive ...

910.) DParker - 04/13/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66322]Something that looks nice, and not too expensive ...[/QUOTE]

There's never a shrubber around when you need one. And yes, I just added that word to my browser's spell-check dictionary.

I've been seeing these little pollinators flit around the wildflowers in my pasture, including the garden area. (Obviously not my photography):

Sphinx moths. They look like even tinier hummingbirds, and are cool to watch...until you learn that they're the adult stage of these nightshade-munching (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants, etc) bastards:

At first I thought, "How am I going to prevent these things from making themselves at home in my veggie patch?" But then I realized that there'd be an up-side to that. Namely, going out there in the evenings with my UV flashlight (that I bought a couple of seasons ago for just such a purpose) to find the voracious larvae while in the act of trying to decimate my plants, hand-picking them from same, putting them in a jar and then watching my hens go all velociraptor-free-for-all on them the next morning.

Yeah, I have issues.

911.) bluecat - 04/13/2022

I have to say I'm very impressed with everything.

912.) DParker - 04/13/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66324]I have to say I'm very impressed with everything.[/QUOTE]

OK, you can be in my entourage. Anyone else?

913.) bluecat - 04/13/2022

I'm building my beetle trap. I'll show it to you when the time comes.

914.) DParker - 04/13/2022

My crappy little trail cam finally captured one of our nocturnal visitors in the back pasture. It's time to order some electric fencing for the vegetable garden...or as she and the rabbits we also play host to would think of it, the free all-you-can-eat salad bar.

[video=youtube;tgG29v1Et-E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgG29v1Et-E[/video]

915.) DParker - 04/13/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66326]I'm building my beetle trap. I'll show it to you when the time comes.[/QUOTE]

916.) Swamp Fox - 04/14/2022

:-)

I've always thought it strange that no one really has a good (or definitive) explanation of how "The Beatles" name came about. At least as far as I can tell. Even supposed comments from members of the band are pretty vague or seem rumor-ish ... The play on the Buddy Holly Crickets with the "beat band" vibe sounds closest to the truth to me. But who came up with the spelling apparently remains a mystery.

[url]https://www.beatleswiki.com/wiki/index.php/How_the_Band_Name_%27Beatles%27_Came_About[/url]

917.) Swamp Fox - 04/14/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66323]

Sphinx moths. [/QUOTE]

Let's hope the Egyptians don't get their diapers in a knot like the gypsies did.

Have you heard about gypsy moths? -- That's messed up, right?

918.) DParker - 04/14/2022

I've heard of Gypsies, tramps AND thieves.

919.) Swamp Fox - 04/14/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66323]
Sphinx moths. They look like even tinier hummingbirds, and are cool to watch...until you learn that they're the adult stage of these nightshade-munching (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants, etc) bastards:

920.) Swamp Fox - 04/14/2022

Coinkadinkally...

[I]Free Bird[/I] is playing on my radio right now, LOL ...

Jam begins in 3,2,1 ...

:grin::grin::grin:

921.) DParker - 04/15/2022

I just planted 17 rooted berry cuttings: 3x Boysenberry, 3x Loganberry, 3x "Arapaho" Blackberry, 3x "Black Gem" Blackberry and 5x "Triple Crown" Blackberry...all thornless varieties. Now I'm just hoping that when they start producing next year some great homicidal maniac doesn't steal a bunch of the Loganberries and come at someone with them.

922.) bluecat - 04/15/2022

It's the damsens you have to worry about.

923.) bluecat - 04/15/2022

Loganberry makes really good wine. Boysenberry is awesome. I think I have the same blackberries as you. You will be covered up with goodness.

924.) DParker - 04/15/2022

I'm particularly eager to see how the "Freedom" and "Black Gem" Blackberries work out. They're two of several varieties that have been bred to produce fruit on the primocanes rather then making you wait for the 2nd year of growth.

925.) bluecat - 04/15/2022

Interesting, never heard of that.

926.) DParker - 04/16/2022

I just learned about them this year myself. They're relatively recent products of the University of Arkansa's blackberry breeding program. Pretty cool stuff.

[URL="https://www.emcocal.com/university-of-arkansas/#:~:text=In%202004%2C%20Dr.,No%20overwintering%20is%20required."]https://www.emcocal.com/university-of-arkansas/#:~:text=In%202004%2C%20Dr.,No%20overwintering%20is%20required.[/URL]

I grew "Arapaho", "Navajo" and "Apache" thornless blackberries for 25 years at our previous house and was pleased with those. This should be an even better result.

927.) DParker - 04/16/2022

Lookin' good, asparagus. Lookin' good.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/Af3jeUa.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

928.) Swamp Fox - 04/16/2022

:-) ...

929.) bluecat - 04/16/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66364]I just learned about them this year myself. They're relatively recent products of the University of Arkansa's blackberry breeding program. Pretty cool stuff.

[URL="https://www.emcocal.com/university-of-arkansas/#:~:text=In%202004%2C%20Dr.,No%20overwintering%20is%20required."]https://www.emcocal.com/university-of-arkansas/#:~:text=In%202004%2C%20Dr.,No%20overwintering%20is%20required.[/URL]

I grew "Arapaho", "Navajo" and "Apache" thornless blackberries for 25 years at our previous house and was pleased with those. This should be an even better result.[/QUOTE]

What have razorbacks ever done for us?

930.) DParker - 04/16/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66367]What have razorbacks ever done for us?[/QUOTE]

Allowed me to grow blackberries without losing a quart of blood every time I pick them.

931.) DParker - 04/16/2022

The sweet potato slips I ordered (25 "Beauregard" and 25 "Centennial") arrived today, so into the ground they went...

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/9E4yUbD.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

...along with 7 "Ambrosia" Cantaloupe (direct-sown seeds), another 90 ft of drip tape and 12 Stevia seedlings that I started indoors. Yeah, I'm going to try growing and processing my own sugar substitute, because...why not?

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/GEecCoD.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

932.) bluecat - 04/16/2022

What's a slip?

933.) DParker - 04/16/2022

A slip is a rooted sprout from a sweet potato, and is the usual method of propagating them. Why they're called "slips", I haven't a clue.

934.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

Interesting

935.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

My onions, garlic and radishes are up. No sign of asparagus or potatoes.

936.) DParker - 04/17/2022

What I still need to plant:

Sunflowers
Corn (4 varieties)
Okra (2 varieties)
Tomatoes (6 varieties)
Peas (2 varieties)
Beans (4 varieties)
Spaghetti Squash
Butternut Squash
Carrots (2 varieties)
Jalapeños (3 varieties)
Habaneros
Habenadas
Poblanos
Watermelon (3 varieties)
Pumpkin (2 varieties)

And probably something else I can't remember right now.

Oh, and I put my mason bee cocoons out and most have hatched already. Hopefully they stick around.

937.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

Unbelievable

938.) DParker - 04/17/2022

Yeah, I don't believe I'm going to get all that done either.

939.) DParker - 04/17/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66373]My onions, garlic and radishes are up. No sign of asparagus or potatoes.[/QUOTE]

Which types of each?

940.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

I believe the radishes were Cherry Belle. I have two varieties of asparagus. One is purple and I can't remember what other is. Jersey? The onions are the sweet yellow. Granax? Same variety as Videlia. Don't know on garlic. You plant it in Oct. I'll pay more attention.

941.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

Yukon gold for potatoes

942.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

I saw some beets poking out of my milk jugs. They would be Detroit red I think.

943.) DParker - 04/17/2022

You said "jugs".

944.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

lmao

945.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

I just watched John Wick take down about 20 people in a museum and nary a casing hit the floor from anybody. What the...?

946.) DParker - 04/17/2022

One of those rare all-revolver action movie shootouts.

947.) bluecat - 04/17/2022

Speaking of which, when the subway shooter story came out on the news, they said he had a .38 caliber with an extended magazine.

948.) DParker - 04/17/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66385]Speaking of which, when the subway shooter story came out on the news, they said he had a .38 caliber with an extended magazine.[/QUOTE]

Well, now I want one.

949.) Swamp Fox - 04/17/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66385]Speaking of which, when the subway shooter story came out on the news, they said he had a .38 caliber with an extended magazine.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;66386]Well, now I want one.[/QUOTE]

"You'll put yer eye out!"

950.) Swamp Fox - 04/17/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66369]The sweet potato slips I ordered ... [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;66370]What's a slip?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;66371]A slip is a rooted sprout ...[/QUOTE]

I don't want to know when your slip is showing ...

951.) Swamp Fox - 04/17/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66374]What I still need to plant:

Sunflowers
Corn (4 varieties)
Okra (2 varieties)
Tomatoes (6 varieties)
Peas (2 varieties)
Beans (4 varieties)
Spaghetti Squash
Butternut Squash
Carrots (2 varieties)
Jalapeños (3 varieties)
Habaneros
Habenadas
Poblanos
Watermelon (3 varieties)
Pumpkin (2 varieties)

And probably something else I can't remember right now.

[/QUOTE]

Spam?

952.) DParker - 04/17/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66387]"You'll put yer eye out!"

[/QUOTE]

Too late. I'm at the SIL's house for our annual family crawfiah boil and I found some of these leftover from Christmas. Pretty good.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/QOPt2OA.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

953.) Swamp Fox - 04/17/2022

LOL ... I *luv* it!

One more reason for me to look in at a "local" bottle shop...

954.) bluecat - 04/18/2022

Good stuff

955.) DParker - 04/19/2022

We finally got a customer for the hummingbird feeder I put up last week (not counting the wasps that found it right away).

[video=youtube;f0g1S1j_WDA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0g1S1j_WDA[/video]

956.) bluecat - 04/19/2022

It looks happy.

957.) DParker - 04/19/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66394]It looks happy.[/QUOTE]

A good sugar buzz will do that for you.

958.) DParker - 04/19/2022

BTW...

Happy birthday to this thread
Happy birthday to this thread
Happy birthday to this thread
Happy birthday to this thread

959.) Swamp Fox - 04/19/2022

"... Fruit flies like a banana ..."

:beer:

960.) DParker - 04/21/2022

I can now confirm the loyalty and work ethic of at least one of my newly hatched pollination employees (from the batch of Orchard Mason Bee cocoons I put outside last week). You go, girl (yes, I just assumed its gender...based on the size, since it's fairly big and the females are larger than the males.) That brings the count of types of critters I've hatched here at Casa de DP to 2, and the number of the counting shall be 2, that being the 2nd number.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/lYWaIpX.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

961.) bluecat - 04/22/2022

If those are Jackie Mason bees, are they doing their little comedy routines?

962.) DParker - 04/22/2022

RIP, Jackie.

963.) Swamp Fox - 04/22/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66408]I can now confirm the loyalty and work ethic of at least one of my newly hatched pollination employees (from the batch of Orchard Mason Bee cocoons I put outside last week) ... That brings the count of types of critters I've hatched here at Casa de DP to 2, and the number of the counting shall be 2, that being the 2nd number.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/lYWaIpX.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

She's not dead yet!

964.) DParker - 04/24/2022

Today was our 17th day of April with 30+ MPH winds, which...among other things...makes installing those 90-foot lengths of drip tape in the garden a real pain in the butt.

965.) bluecat - 04/24/2022

What is drip tape?

966.) DParker - 04/24/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66415]What is drip tape?[/QUOTE]

It's one of several drip irrigation options for row crops.

[video=youtube;AkmGORIR9p4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkmGORIR9p4[/video]

967.) bluecat - 04/24/2022

Super, thanks. More questions to follow.

968.) DParker - 04/24/2022

Drip irrigation is the only way I'd ever water a garden on this scale. It's roughly twice as efficient as most other methods in terms of water usage per plant irrigated and has several other benefits as well. As it is I'll be using about 640 gallons every time I water the whole garden, which at the season's peak will likely be about every 3 days if I can get enough mulch on the rows. It would require a LOT more than that with conventional watering methods (sprayers, flooding trenches, etc). Luckily we're on a well, so no charges for the water itself. But I still have to run the pump, and electricity and equipment wear and tear ain't free.

969.) Swamp Fox - 04/24/2022

That's messed up. You heard about Piggly Wiggly, right?

:wink:poke::p

970.) DParker - 04/24/2022

Yeah, but they won't let me drive my tractor through the produce section at the Piggly Wiggly.

Yesterday I finished installing the remainder of the drip irrigation lines, then spent half of today planting most everything else that was waiting to be planted, save for the 2 pumpkin varieties ("Big Max" and "New England Sugar Pie") because I don't want them maturing too early before Halloween. Also, the sky started to open up before I got to plant the cucumbers ("Boston Pickling"), so they'll have to wait a couple of days. Here's what and how many of everything that went into the ground today, by variety:

Sunflower
- 20x "Mammoth Grey Striped"

Corn
- 40x "Silver King"
- 40x "Peaches and Cream"
- 40x "Painted Mountain"

Okra
- 12x "Clemson Spineless"
- 12x "Jing Orange"

Tomato
- 8x "San Marzano"
- 8x "Amish Paste"
- 8x "Brandywine Red"
- 8x "Cherokee Purple"
- 6x "Big Rainbow"
- 6x "Dixie Golden Giant"
- 4x "Black From Tula"
- 4x "Aunt Ruby's German Green"

Pea
- 60x "Sugar Snap"
- 60x "Tall Telephone"

Fava Bean
- 14x "Windsor"

Lima Bean
- 20x "King of the Garden"

String Bean
- 10x "Taiwan Yard-Long"
- 10x "Maxibel"
- 10x "Golden Butterwax"
- 10x "Blue Lake Bush"

Squash
- 5x "Spaghetti"
- 5x "Butternut Rogosa Violina Gioia"

Pepper
- 5x "Habanero"
- 5x "TAM Mild Jalapeño"
- 5x "Lemon Jalapeño"
- 5x "Habanada"
- 10x "Poblano"

Watermelon
- 7x "Charleston Grey"
- 8x "Yamato Silver"
- 7x "Leelanau Sweetglo"

Carrots
- 20x "Purple Dragon"
- 20x "Scarlett Nantes"

Yeah...that's a lot.

971.) Swamp Fox - 04/25/2022

Yeah, but I bet you get the nice Chianti from the A̶B̶C̶ ... Piggly Wiggly ... :grin:

972.) DParker - 04/25/2022

Do you want to know where I get the liver? No...you don't.

973.) Swamp Fox - 04/25/2022

I don't even know what fava beans are ... LOL

974.) Swamp Fox - 04/25/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66433]Do you want to know where I get the liver? No...you don't.[/QUOTE]

LOL .....

975.) DParker - 04/25/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66434]I don't even know what fava beans are ... LOL[/QUOTE]

They're a tasty ancient legume, is what they are. This is my first time growing them. I'm not planting them at the recommended time of year, but if they don't work out in the TX heat I have plenty of seeds and can try again in the Fall.

[URL="https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-are-fava-beans-995664"]https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-are-fava-beans-995664[/URL]

976.) Swamp Fox - 04/25/2022

[QUOTE]A Texan walks into a pub in Ireland and clears his voice to the crowd of drinkers.

He says, "I hear you Irish are a bunch of hard drinkers. I'll give $500 American dollars to anybody in here who can drink 10 pints of Guinness back-to-back."

The room is quiet and no one takes up the Texan's offer. One man even leaves. Thirty minutes later the same gentleman who left shows back up and taps the Texan on the shoulder. "Is your bet still good?", asks the Irishman.

The Texan says yes and asks the bartender to line up 10 pints of Guinness. Immediately the Irishman tears into all 10 of the pint glasses drinking them all back-to-back. The other pub patrons cheer as the Texan sits in amazement.

The Texan gives the Irishman the $500 and says, "If ya don't mind my asking, where did you go for that 30 minutes you were gone?"

The Irishman sez, "Oh...I had to go to the pub down the street to see if I could do it first."[/QUOTE] ....

977.) Swamp Fox - 04/25/2022

[QUOTE]Paddy was in the crowd at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade when he collided with a young guy.

Paddy says to the young guy, “Sorry about that. I’m looking for my wife, Kaitlyn, and I guess I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” The young guy says, “That’s OK. It’s a coincidence. I’m looking for my wife, too. I can’t find her and I’m getting a little desperate.”

Paddy says, “Well, maybe we can help each other. What does your wife look like?”

The young guy says, “Well, her name is Brianna, she is 24 years old, tall, with long red hair, big blue eyes, long legs, big boobs, and she’s wearing tight white shorts, a green t-shirt and no bra. The T-shirt says Hug An Irish Girl Today. What does your wife look like?”

Paddy sez, “Doesn’t matter — let’s look for yours.”[/QUOTE]

LOL ,,,,

978.) bluecat - 04/25/2022

^^^Boo, hiss

979.) bluecat - 04/25/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66428]Yeah, but they won't let me drive my tractor through the produce section at the Piggly Wiggly.

Yesterday I finished installing the remainder of the drip irrigation lines, then spent half of today planting most everything else that was waiting to be planted, save for the 2 pumpkin varieties ("Big Max" and "New England Sugar Pie") because I don't want them maturing too early before Halloween. Also, the sky started to open up before I got to plant the cucumbers ("Boston Pickling"), so they'll have to wait a couple of days. Here's what and how many of everything that went into the ground today, by variety:

Sunflower
- 20x "Mammoth Grey Striped"

Corn
- 40x "Silver King"
- 40x "Peaches and Cream"
- 40x "Painted Mountain"

Okra
- 12x "Clemson Spineless"
- 12x "Jing Orange"

Tomato
- 8x "San Marzano"
- 8x "Amish Paste"
- 8x "Brandywine Red"
- 8x "Cherokee Purple"
- 6x "Big Rainbow"
- 6x "Dixie Golden Giant"
- 4x "Black From Tula"
- 4x "Aunt Ruby's German Green"

Pea
- 60x "Sugar Snap"
- 60x "Tall Telephone"

Fava Bean
- 14x "Windsor"

Lima Bean
- 20x "King of the Garden"

String Bean
- 10x "Taiwan Yard-Long"
- 10x "Maxibel"
- 10x "Golden Butterwax"
- 10x "Blue Lake Bush"

Squash
- 5x "Spaghetti"
- 5x "Butternut Rogosa Violina Gioia"

Pepper
- 5x "Habanero"
- 5x "TAM Mild Jalapeño"
- 5x "Lemon Jalapeño"
- 5x "Habanada"
- 10x "Poblano"

Watermelon
- 7x "Charleston Grey"
- 8x "Yamato Silver"
- 7x "Leelanau Sweetglo"

Carrots
- 20x "Purple Dragon"
- 20x "Scarlett Nantes"

Yeah...that's a lot.[/QUOTE]

I thought I had a nice garden till you showed up. Thanks a lot.

980.) DParker - 04/25/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66441]I thought I had a nice garden till you showed up. Thanks a lot.[/QUOTE]

Bear in mind that list is what I planted, not what has actually survived, grown and produced yet. Some of the ones I started inside in my closet were looking kind of sad and droopy when I planted them, so how successful I am remains to be seen. Oh, and let's not forget the weeds. Holy crap, the weeds.

981.) bluecat - 04/25/2022

My potatoes aren't even up and I planted them the first week in March. We are WAY behind this year. Saw a spear of asparagus yesterday where normally I'd have been eating for some time by now. Supposed to frost again tonight.

Damn global warming, it's freezing everything out.

982.) DParker - 04/25/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66443]My potatoes aren't even up and I planted them the first week in March. We are WAY behind this year. Saw a spear of asparagus yesterday where normally I'd have been eating for some time by now. Supposed to frost again tonight.

Damn global warming, it's freezing everything out.[/QUOTE]

I know, right? We were so warm this winter we went through 1/5 of a cord of firewood in the fireplace, and my heating bill was still at "Damn!" levels. I can't complain though. Even though a lot of the stuff I started in my closet isn't off to the strongest start, my potatoes are kickin' ass and takin' names.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/O1tMR00.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

983.) bluecat - 04/25/2022

To top off all the frustration is the fact that my heirloom Romas haven't germinated yet. Don't know if I'll have to buy them. My other plants in jugs (I said jugs) are doing great - spinach, turnips, beets, dill, wingstem, gayfeather ( I said gay).

984.) DParker - 04/26/2022

Hiw long ago did you plant your Romas? And did you warm the soil at all?

985.) bluecat - 04/26/2022

Back in January. Last year I did the same thing. So maybe you are right. It's just been too cold to germinate.

986.) DParker - 04/26/2022

Oh, yeah. If they haven't sprouted by now they're not going to. IIRC tomatoes need a soil temperature of at least 50°F for germination, and if they do they'll take something like a month and a half to do so. Did you start them inside or outside?

987.) bluecat - 04/26/2022

I get that but who knows what the temps in the jugs have been. We'll see. Always learning stuff. Last year they were coming through the top in May.

988.) Swamp Fox - 04/26/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66440]^^^Boo, hiss[/QUOTE]

Tough crowd ... Tough crowd ...

989.) Swamp Fox - 04/26/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66441]I thought I had a nice garden till you showed up. Thanks a lot.[/QUOTE]

You're comparing yourself to the wrong Podunker, LOL.

Compared to me, you're Mr. Greenjeans ....

990.) bluecat - 04/26/2022

Can you say greenjeans?

991.) Swamp Fox - 04/26/2022

I knew you could ... (LOL)

Let's ask Mr. Rogers ...

992.) Swamp Fox - 04/26/2022

Mr. Green Jeans had a life prior to Captain Kangaroo:

993.) Swamp Fox - 04/26/2022

DP, you need this for your chicken shack ... or living room:

[url]https://lonestarart.com/products/bizarre-strange-weird-boy-durable-metal-sign-8-quot-x-12-quot-use-indoor-outdoor-great-farmhouse-decor-gift-under-20-usd?variant=34157847937083¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAjwjZmTBhB4EiwAynRmDxYkEb10hLhJu7OQFEuwMZFNJkQIKxcSc3NJapEefphbqfFzpGv0GhoC4XYQAvD_BwE[/url]

994.) Swamp Fox - 04/26/2022

[QUOTE]Rare 'forgotten' cask of whisky bought for £5,000 more than 30 years ago sets new world record as it sells for more than £1million at auction
The 374-litre cask was distilled at The Macallan in 1988 and auctioned this week
On Sunday it sold for £1,017,000 in an online auction hosted by Whisky Hammer
It broke the 2021 record for sale of Sherry hogshead which fetched £439,000
The cask, filled on May 5, 1988, was held at the Macallan Distillery for 34 years
By STEPHEN WYNN-DAVIES FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 14:12 EDT, 25 April 2022 | UPDATED: 14:25 EDT, 25 April 2022

[...]

It sold for $1,295,500 (£1,017,000) in the online auction on the Whisky Hammer site, breaking the record set in 2021 by Bonhams for the sale of a 30-year-old, re-racked, Sherry hogshead from Macallan, which fetched $574,000 (£439,000).

[...]

It was bought on a whim by an expat who then forgot about it for more than three decades until they were reminded by Macallan that it was still maturing in the warehouse.
[...]

The cask was bought by a private individual based in the US.

[url]https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10752171/Rare-forgotten-cask-whisky-sells-1million-auction-new-world-record.html[/url][/QUOTE]

DP, I'll be down there directly ...:grin:

995.) DParker - 04/26/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66456]DP, I'll be down there directly ...:grin:[/QUOTE]

You'd better drive fast. By my calculations...

[QUOTE]The 374-litre cask was distilled at The Macallan in 1988[/QUOTE]

...means that about 72% of what was in the cask originally has already soaked into the wood and/or evaporated.

996.) Swamp Fox - 04/26/2022

Whiskey-soaked barrel staves are Irish popsicles, lad, and evaporation is nothing compared to beating all the other buggers to the cask ...

:wink

997.) Swamp Fox - 04/26/2022

[QUOTE]Brenda O'Mara is home making dinner, as usual, when Tim Finnegan arrives at her door.

"Brenda, may I come in?" he asks. "I've somethin' to tell ya".

"Of course you can come in, you're always welcome, Tim. But where's my husband?"

"That's what I'm here to be telling ya, Brenda. There was an accident down at the distillery."

"Oh, God no!" cries Brenda. "Please don't tell me."

"I must, Brenda. Your husband Seamus is dead and gone. I'm sorry."

Finally, she looked up at Tim. "How did it happen, Tim?"

"It was terrible, Brenda. He fell into a vat of whiskey, and drowned." [Yeah, I spelt it with an "e" :wink]

"Oh my dear Jaysus! But you must tell me true, Tim, did he at least go quickly?"

"Well, Brenda, no. In fact, he got out three times to pee."[/QUOTE]

You can thank me later .... :wink

998.) bluecat - 04/26/2022

You're Irish jokes are "Gold", Swamp Fox, "Gold".

999.) DParker - 04/26/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66459]You can thank me later .... :wink[/QUOTE]

How much later? Will you be issuing a reminder at the appropriate time? What form should these thanks take?

I might have more questions after I've thought about the matter a bit.

1000.) bluecat - 04/26/2022

Oh, you need the Swampy to english translator app.

When Swampy says "You can thank me later", what he really means is "Please don't thank me later".

When Swampy says, "Ask me how I know", what he really means is "Please don't ask me how I know".

1001.) bluecat - 04/26/2022

There's a CE to english translator app too.

1002.) bluecat - 04/26/2022

Back to your drip tape.

First let me say I've experienced the same thing with the soaker hoses. They are the worst. If you get two seasons out of them you are lucky. They disintegrate almost instantly. I got one with a 15 year guarantee and it didn't make it to season 2.
I got the black plastic hose that works okay but it kinks when trying to bend it back to next row. So I have to use it only on straight areas. I took a small drill bit and drilled holes throughout.
Then I got some really cheap hose (on purpose) and drilled holes in it. It works okay but still it kinks. I'm interested to know if you purchased your drip tape from a supplier. This might be the answer to the kinking. You have a straight main line and then laterals.

1. Does your drip tape sit on top of the mulch or underneath?
2. Can you leave the main line and tape out all year or do you bring it in for the winter?

1003.) DParker - 04/26/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66464]Back to your drip tape.

First let me say I've experienced the same thing with the soaker hoses. They are the worst. If you get two seasons out of them you are lucky. They disintegrate almost instantly. I got one with a 15 year guarantee and it didn't make it to season 2.
I got the black plastic hose that works okay but it kinks when trying to bend it back to next row. So I have to use it only on straight areas. I took a small drill bit and drilled holes throughout.
Then I got some really cheap hose (on purpose) and drilled holes in it. It works okay but still it kinks. I'm interested to know if you purchased your drip tape from a supplier.[/QUOTE]

Yep. I got it and most everything else for the drip lines (with a few minor exceptions) from [URL="https://www.dripdepot.com/"]https://www.dripdepot.com/[/URL]. Good selection, competitive prices and free shipping on orders of $49 or more.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66464]This might be the answer to the kinking. You have a straight main line and then laterals.[/QUOTE]

Right. There are no bends anywhere, save for a little waviness in the beds and a gradual 90° turn made by the 1/2" main line tubing. That runs to a T-connector on the edge of the garden, which splits the main line into two section that service 5x 95 ft of 5/8" drip tape lines. Yeah, it sounds dumb to run 5/8" drip lines off 1/2" main line, but the 1/2" line was sufficient for the flow rate I needed and 5/8" was the smallest size I could get the tape in. In any event, it works.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66464]1. Does your drip tape sit on top of the mulch or underneath?[/QUOTE]

I have it buried just below the surface in each row in order to shield if from the sun and those nasty UV rays. Most of the main line is buried as well, save for the part behind the barn where it's connected to the hose I ran from the garage. But it's shaded all day back there.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66464]2. Can you leave the main line and tape out all year or do you bring it in for the winter?[/QUOTE]

I plan on leaving it out all year. We'll see how that works. If I'd gone for the thin 8 mil tape it'd be essentially disposable as that usually only lasts a single season. But the 15 mil version (what I got) is stouter, and is supposed to last for several years if not abused.

1004.) DParker - 04/26/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66464]Back to your drip tape.

First let me say I've experienced the same thing with the soaker hoses. They are the worst. If you get two seasons out of them you are lucky. They disintegrate almost instantly. I got one with a 15 year guarantee and it didn't make it to season 2.
I got the black plastic hose that works okay but it kinks when trying to bend it back to next row. So I have to use it only on straight areas. I took a small drill bit and drilled holes throughout.
Then I got some really cheap hose (on purpose) and drilled holes in it. It works okay but still it kinks. I'm interested to know if you purchased your drip tape from a supplier.[/QUOTE]

Yep. I got it and most everything else for the drip lines (with a few minor exceptions) from [URL="https://www.dripdepot.com/"]https://www.dripdepot.com/[/URL]. Good selection, competitive prices and free shipping on orders of $49 or more.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66464]This might be the answer to the kinking. You have a straight main line and then laterals.[/QUOTE]

Right. There are no bends anywhere, save for a little waviness in the beds and a gradual 90° turn made by the 1/2" main line tubing. That runs to a T-connector on the edge of the garden, which splits the main line into two sections that each service 5x 95 ft of 5/8" drip tape lines. Yeah, it sounds dumb to run 5/8" drip lines off 1/2" main line, but the 1/2" line was sufficient for the flow rate I needed and 5/8" was the smallest size I could get the tape in. In any event, it works.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66464]1. Does your drip tape sit on top of the mulch or underneath?[/QUOTE]

I have it buried just below the surface in each row in order to shield if from the sun and those nasty UV rays. Most of the main line is buried as well, save for the part behind the barn where it's connected to the hose I ran from the garage. But it's shaded all day back there.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66464]2. Can you leave the main line and tape out all year or do you bring it in for the winter?[/QUOTE]

I plan on leaving it out all year. We'll see how that works. If I'd gone for the thin 8 mil tape it'd be essentially disposable as that usually only lasts a single season. But the 15 mil version (what I got) is stouter, and is supposed to last for several years if not abused.

1005.) DParker - 04/27/2022

Here's the layout of the drip lines. The main line's transitions from running behind the barn to along the eastern edge of the barn and then to turning toward the garden are actually gradual arcs, but I was too lazy to draw them that way. The 10 parallel lines running the length of the garden are drip tape. The others are all 1/2" poly main line.

1006.) DParker - 04/27/2022

Here's a satellite's-eye view with the location of the garden drawn in red pen by a 5 year-old.

1007.) bluecat - 04/27/2022

Way cool. Now here is the 64,000 question. Let's say you want to switch things up and plant a different crop in the same space, but that crop has different spacing from main line. Can you cap a hole from main line? Hope that made sense.

1008.) DParker - 04/27/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66469]Way cool. Now here is the 64,000 question. Let's say you want to switch things up and plant a different crop in the same space, but that crop has different spacing from main line. Can you cap a hole from main line? Hope that made sense.[/QUOTE]

Yes, you can plug main line holes with what's called a "goof plug" and just plug your drip line in somewhere else.

1009.) bluecat - 04/27/2022

Cool, I'm going to check this out. Thanks.

1010.) Swamp Fox - 04/27/2022

I'm just glad I could contribute to this thread and put it over the thousand mark... :wink

1011.) bluecat - 04/27/2022

What you really said was you were not glad to contribute and put it over 1,000 mark. lol

1012.) Swamp Fox - 04/27/2022

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

1013.) bluecat - 04/27/2022

No, nor was it over when the Vikings stormed the Alamo.

1014.) DParker - 04/27/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66475]No, nor was it over when the Vikings stormed the Alamo.[/QUOTE]

I remember learning about how David Bowie fought in that battle.

1015.) bluecat - 04/27/2022

He gave it all he had.

1016.) DParker - 04/27/2022

FedEx just dropped off my 2nd batch of Mason Bees, and I was headed out to the garden anyway so I took the box out with me so I could put the cocoons in the hatching spot I set up. When I got there and opened the box 4 of them had already hatched during the trip here. A couple of them walked out and onto my hand, said, "Wassuuup?" and then flew off to do bee stuff.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/qU4YZya.jpg"]Full-size original[/URL])

Sure, I could fly...but it's a nice day so I think I'll just take a little stroll and check the place out.
[video=youtube;JCSvfdODML0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCSvfdODML0[/video]

1017.) bluecat - 04/27/2022

Will they come back to the spot to repeat or will you have to continually supply mason bees?

1018.) DParker - 04/27/2022

They have s foraging radius of about 300 ft or so from their hatching location, provided there are sufficient numbers of blooming plants in that area to keep them supplied with pollen. So in theory they should hang around...or at least enough females should, laying eggs in the nesting house I provided them with, thus beginning a repeating annual cycle. Again, in theory. We'll see.

I also have 200 Leafcutter bees that should be here some time next month. It'll be a pollination-palooza!

1019.) Swamp Fox - 04/28/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66475]No, nor was it over when the Vikings stormed the Alamo.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;66476]I remember learning about how David Bowie fought in that battle.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;66477]He gave it all he had.[/QUOTE]

I wasn't there personally, but I'll always remember when Bowie played [I]We Could Be Heroes [/I] from the ramparts, and the Mexican Army band answered with a cover from that album by ZZ Top...

:wink

1020.) Swamp Fox - 04/28/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66459]You can thank me later .... :wink[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;66461]How much later? Will you be issuing a reminder at the appropriate time? What form should these thanks take?

I might have more questions after I've thought about the matter a bit.[/QUOTE]

Be patient, lad.

It all will unwind as it should.

1021.) bluecat - 04/28/2022

Swampy, delete that thing. It's creeping me out.

1022.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

You'll never find a pot o' gold with that attitude .... LOL :bk: :grin:

1023.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

I need to take a long hard look at myself.

(I said hard)

1024.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

You need to take a long hard look at my [I]Deguello [/I] joke and at least give me one star for Texas, is what you need to do ...

Points-miser ... LOL

1025.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

You may need to point me to the proper location. What is this Deguello of which you speak?

1026.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66505]You need to take a long hard look at my [I]Deguello [/I] joke and at least give me one star for Texas, is what you need to do ...

Points-miser ... LOL[/QUOTE]

That's Mister miser to you.

1027.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

Aha,

[QUOTE]Tradition holds that on the morning of March 6, 1836, General Santa Anna ordered his band to play a song called El Degüello during the assault on the Alamo. The song supposedly meant "throat cutting" and was played in situations where no quarter was to be given to the enemy.[/QUOTE]

You are very crafty. Yes, it did warm severals cockels (can you say cockels?) of my hear. It was extremely witty.

I'm going to give it Texas two-step.

Brava

1028.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

Aha,
[QUOTE]
Tradition holds that on the morning of March 6, 1836, General Santa Anna ordered his band to play a song called El Degüello during the assault on the Alamo. The song supposedly meant "throat cutting" and was played in situations where no quarter was to be given to the enemy.[/QUOTE]
You are very crafty. Yes, it did warm severals cockels (can you say cockels?) of my heart. It was extremely witty.

I'm going to give it Texas two-step.

Brava

1029.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

I think it might have been more appropriate though to have played No Quarter by Led Zeppelin to the troops.

1030.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

I think maybe it's pronounced "da Jello" some places ....

As in, "How do you no an elephant's been in your refrigerator?"

Answer: "Footprints in [I]Deguello.[/I]"

That may have led to the confusion ... :beer:

1031.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

Here's the scene commemorating when David Bowie played at the Alamo just before the night assault ...

1032.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

Most people only know about Crockett but little about his sidekick Tubbs.

1033.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

Well last night, in total frustration for not having any potatoes yet, I dug into my bags. No potatoes. They had all decomposed and were gone.
At first I blamed the guy that told me don't worry about the eyes on thin skinned potatoes so I called a reputable garden store today and talked with their head guy. He said the same thing but offered that the bags being exposed so much and the cold that we had this spring kept them from germinating properly. Had I planted them in soil I probably would have been fine. So I was able to find a bag of red skinned potatoes (will get the name) and will plant them immediately.

They had blue potatoes which I am not familiar with. DP, when your blues are ready to eat, let me know how you like them. I was nervous about planting them and trying to can them. I thought that blue might turn the water blue/black.

1034.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66514]Most people only know about Crockett but little about his sidekick Tubbs.[/QUOTE]

I always get Tubbs and Lionel Ritchie mixed up ...

1035.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

I think I've heard somewhere that the blue potatoes are best roasted.

I don't no nothin' 'bout cannin' no potatoes ...

1036.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66516]I always get Tubbs and Lionel Ritchie mixed up ...[/QUOTE]

They are confusing. Lionel Ritchie, after his music career dried up, went on to make toy trains.

Tubbs of course, was slaughtered in the Alamo.

1037.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

Well not actually in the Alamo but on a rooftop.

1038.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

LOL ...

It's good this sight is still up so folks can lern stuff ...

1039.) DParker - 04/29/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66515]DP, when your blues are ready to eat, let me know how you like them.[/QUOTE]

I've had blue potatoes before, in multiple forms (as chips, baked and mashed). The pigments (anthocyanins) don't have any noticeable impact on flavor. They are however decent antioxidants, with the health benefits those convey. Honestly, I just went with different colored spuds for the novelty of it.

1040.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

Well, I'm pro-oxidant and I don't think that makes me a bad person ...

I feel everyone should be proud of it.

1041.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

I'm neutral biotically, though, just so you no ...

My pro-nouns are meat, taters, cheese and beer.

You can call me "White Bread" ...

1042.) bluecat - 04/29/2022

You said White

1043.) Swamp Fox - 04/29/2022

1044.) DParker - 04/29/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66524]You said White[/QUOTE]

1045.) Swamp Fox - 04/30/2022

There's a reason they call it Hot 'lanta ....

[url]https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/animal-stories/millions-of-bees-en-route-to-alaska-die-after-airline-shipping-mishap/2820458/[/url]

1046.) bluecat - 04/30/2022

Colossal screw up. Closed up like that I'm not surprised. I had to put some in the Blazer a month ago and I put the air conditioner on for them.

1047.) Swamp Fox - 04/30/2022

Air conditioning?

You're lucky ...

1048.) Swamp Fox - 04/30/2022

I'da had to drive fast with all the winders down.... I'm not lyin' ....

1049.) Swamp Fox - 04/30/2022

Winders?

I'm lucky ... LOL

1050.) bluecat - 04/30/2022

You can laugh out loud? You're lucky.

1051.) Swamp Fox - 04/30/2022

This is true ... :-)

1052.) Swamp Fox - 04/30/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66540]You can laugh out loud? You're lucky.[/QUOTE]

I no ... :-):wink

1053.) DParker - 04/30/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66542]I no ... :-):wink

[/QUOTE]

Shore and begorrah.

I might or might not have just closed a local brewery, so take that for whatever that's worth.

1054.) bluecat - 04/30/2022

I'm green with envy.

1055.) DParker - 04/30/2022

All of the seeds that I planted last weekend (Sunflowers, Corn, Okra, Peas, 6 types of Beans and 2 types of Squash) have begun sprouting. I'm hoping I can say the same thing about watermelons next week, as every single one of the watermelon plants that I started indoors a couple of months ago died when I put them in the ground, so I had to pull them and plant the seeds I had left in their place.

1056.) bluecat - 04/30/2022

I'm green with envy.

I've never been too successful transitioning seedlings to outdoors.

The potatoes I planted today were Dakota Red. Can I say Dakota?

1057.) DParker - 05/01/2022

I lost half the tomatoes I started indoors too. Clearly I have some more larnin' to do in that front.

1058.) bluecat - 05/01/2022

It's hard to do. I keep them in the flats and move them outside when weather's nice and inside at night. It's tough. I gave up on the grow light for that reason.

1059.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66543]Shore and begorrah.

I might or might not have just closed a local brewery, so take that for whatever that's worth.[/QUOTE]

LOL + 3

"An Irishman and a Scotsman walk out of a pub ..."

:wink... :beer:

That's it. That's the whole joke. And I added the Scotsman ... Otherwise, he'd still be inside, in a coma. :wink

1060.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66546]I'm green with envy.

I've never been too successful transitioning seedlings to outdoors.

The potatoes I planted today were Dakota Red. Can I say Dakota?[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but you can't say Dakota Red ...

1061.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66548] I gave up on the grow light for that reason.[/QUOTE]

Give me a minute ...

1062.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2022

Three is the number of the shamrock, not two, and four is lucky, but not particularly Irish. Five is right out, and a little weird.

So, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out, as I said before.

1063.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66543]Shore and begorrah.

I might or might not have just closed a local brewery, so take that for whatever that's worth.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66549]LOL + 3

"An Irishman and a Scotsman walk out of a pub ..."

:wink... :beer:[/QUOTE]

You might ask, "Why three?"

Why not more? (Or why not less, if you have low self-esteem ---Not usually a problem on the internet.)

Three is the number of the clover. The number of the clover is three. Not two, not one, and five is right out. Four is lucky, but not particularly Irish.

So, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out, as I said before.

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-leaf_clover[/url]

1064.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66546]

The potatoes I planted today were Dakota Red. Can I say Dakota?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66550]Yeah, but you can't say Dakota Red ...

[/QUOTE]

The best way to respect American Indians is to erase them from popular culture.

Change my mind ...

1065.) bluecat - 05/01/2022

Well said, weedhopper.

1066.) Swamp Fox - 05/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66560]Well said, weedhopper.[/QUOTE]

I see what you did there ... :-)

But my Indian name is Two Nurses Giggling ...:wink

1067.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66560]Well said, weedhopper.[/QUOTE]

If DP could somehow keep the black helicopters at bay, I might take up a new hobby late in life. :-)

I mean, after Clinton, Obama, Trump and Biden, who wouldn't want to?

I like to know where my groceries come from, and DP appears semi-reputable.

1068.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2022

I updated my "Scotsman walks out of a bar" joke if any of you European-types are interested ...

1069.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2022

You'll have to scroll back to Post 1050 if your privileged asses can manage it ...

1070.) bluecat - 05/02/2022

What have the Scots ever done for us? Scotch tape?
So lame.

1071.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66568]What have the Scots ever done for us? [/QUOTE]

Ahem .... :-)

1072.) Swamp Fox - 05/02/2022

I no you'll appreciate the shoes at least ... :wink

1073.) DParker - 05/02/2022

Corn is up. Okra too.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/CB8CzuP.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

I celebrated by washing the tractor. Yeah, we live life on the edge here.

1074.) bluecat - 05/02/2022

Yesterday, my wife and I (she helps me some) were spreading horse manure on some of the plants, mulching, planting, watering, weeding, etc. We were laughing at how romantic it is to live in the country while we were picking off ticks.

1075.) DParker - 05/02/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66572]Yesterday, my wife and I (she helps me some) were spreading horse manure on some of the plants, mulching, planting, watering, weeding, etc. We were laughing at how romantic it is to live in the country while we were picking off ticks.[/QUOTE]

Nothing says, "I love you" like couple's parasite removal.

1076.) DParker - 05/02/2022

A couple of weeks ago I found a nice little patch of about 50 or so wild onions near the creek in the back pasture. I've always encountered them while hunting the E. TX woods, but never paid them any real attention other than enjoying the aroma. But I decided to dig a few of these up and give them a try, and it turns out that they're quite tasty. They're very pungent when you cut them up, but the flavor strikes me as a combination of a Spanish onion and a mild garlic. And the whole plant is usable, with the green above-ground growth being usable like chives. I just need to restrain myself until they've bloomed and gone to seed so I don't dig too many up before they can reproduce for next year.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/zGp57YI.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/57dwPLw.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1077.) DParker - 05/04/2022

This is some magic rain we've gotten the past couple of days. These corn sprouts were less than half this size yesterday morning.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/9bkvwC2.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1078.) bluecat - 05/04/2022

I might have the same onion. I'll take a pic. They are super invasive and I'm learning to live with them. In the fall they are covered with bees and butterflys.

1079.) bluecat - 05/04/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66570]I no you'll appreciate the shoes at least ... :wink[/QUOTE]

What shoes?

1080.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

You've been staring at that picture for two days, and are just now coming out of your coma, right? :wink

1081.) bluecat - 05/04/2022

Wait, what, where did this drool come from?

Truth is that picture just showed up.

1082.) DParker - 05/04/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66582]I might have the same onion. I'll take a pic. They are super invasive and I'm learning to live with them. In the fall they are covered with bees and butterflys.[/QUOTE]

There are something like 14 wild onion species that call TX home. But allegedly even botanists can have a difficult time telling them apart so I'm assuming they're all the same as far as we would be concerned.

1083.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

I like my botanists to come up with something better than,"They all look alike to me..."

Either place your bet or toddle on over to the seafood bar ...

1084.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

This kind of crap is what keeps botanists in business ...

1085.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

A botanist and an Art History major walk into a bar ...

1086.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

Was that too harsh?

1087.) bluecat - 05/04/2022

Jamicka just texted me and she is almost ready to post. She appreciates our stories.

1088.) bluecat - 05/04/2022

or he

1089.) bluecat - 05/04/2022

or they, lol

1090.) bluecat - 05/04/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66598]A botanist and an Art History major walk into a bar ...[/QUOTE]

The botanist bought the Art History major a drink because the botanist is gainfully employed and the Art History major is a 3rd shift
fry cook potato assembler at McDonalds.

1091.) bluecat - 05/04/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66598]A botanist and an Art History major walk into a bar ...[/QUOTE]

What have the botanists ever done for us?

We know what the Art History teachers have done for us, squat.

1092.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

I'm gonna defend Art History majors here against further speachy assault, because there's only so much internet violence they can take...

1093.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

No, seriously.... If you want to study Art History, go ahead on. We need more people who know what they're looking at, not fewer.

Just don't be a whiny jackwagon who can't spell ...

1094.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66604]Jamicka just texted me and she is almost ready to post. She appreciates our stories.[/QUOTE]

The, thou, though ... It's all the same.

1095.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66607]The botanist bought the Art History major a drink because the botanist is gainfully employed and the Art History major is a 3rd shift
fry cook potato assembler at McDonalds.[/QUOTE]

The market is not always ... reflective of what we'd like ....

:dig:

I can see I'm spending all the rest of the week sending PMs to all the botanists ....

1096.) Swamp Fox - 05/04/2022

I no a wom ... Sorry, scratch that .... wild onion when I see one ...:wink

1097.) DParker - 05/07/2022

Did the last of my from-seed planting today (until June when the pumpkins go in).

Cucumbers ("Boston Pickling", "National Pickling" and "Marketmore Select") and herbs (Chives, Dill, Basil, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme...sorry, no Parsley).

I also have 75 bare-root strawberries that will be going into planters I'm mounting on the backyard fence.

1098.) Swamp Fox - 05/07/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66657]

Cucumbers ("Boston Pickling", "National Pickling" and "Marketmore Select") and herbs (Chives, Dill, Basil, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme...sorry, no Parsley).

[/QUOTE]

Classics are wasted on the lurkers ....

[url]https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/09/07/young/[/url]

1099.) Swamp Fox - 05/07/2022

1100.) bluecat - 05/07/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66657]Did the last of my from-seed planting today (until June when the pumpkins go in).

Cucumbers ("Boston Pickling", "National Pickling" and "Marketmore Select") and herbs (Chives, Dill, Basil, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme...sorry, no Parsley).

I also have 75 bare-root strawberries that will be going into planters I'm mounting on the backyard fence.[/QUOTE]

You said mounting.

1101.) Swamp Fox - 05/07/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66663]You said mounting.[/QUOTE]

"You're damn right I did ... Huzzah!"

1102.) DParker - 05/08/2022

Strawberries planted and planter boxes mounted. There are 2 more setups just like it on another stretch of fence.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/d7whNcS.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1103.) bluecat - 05/08/2022

Are the strawberries supposed to drape or just be in the planter? Cool idea.

1104.) DParker - 05/08/2022

The planters are long but narrow, so they should drape over the sides...which is why I didn't really care too much what the planters looked like. They should be mostly obscured by the greenery. The trick, of course, will be keeping the birds at bay. I'll likely need to rig up some sort of netting scheme. And some drip lines for them and the blackberies.. Watering all that by hand is going to be a pain in the butt.

1105.) bluecat - 05/08/2022

Birds wouldn't be interested in the strawberries would they? I've never had any issues with birds with blackberries or strawberries.

The only thing missing now are the cows?

1106.) Swamp Fox - 05/08/2022

[I]Fetchez la vache![/I]

:grin::grin::grin:

1107.) DParker - 05/09/2022

I've not grown them before, but I have a friend who grows them and birds eating the berries are his #1 problem with strawberries. I assume that will be the case here as generally anything brightly colored...especially red...gets their attention.

1108.) DParker - 05/09/2022

Ah, that time of year when the spuds are in bloom.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/2ZbeRxM.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The beans and squash are taking off.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/YJDm6yp.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

And the strawberry crowns I planted on Saturday are already sending up greenery.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/ZHXe3Ky.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

I realized that if I have to drag the hose out that that part of the yard to water the strawberries and blackberries every other day...or even more frequently during the peak of summer...they're probably doomed, so I just placed an order for enough drip irrigation hardware to do the job for me.

1109.) DParker - 05/09/2022

These will go well with liver and a nice Chianti.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/DxAMwSU.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1110.) DParker - 05/09/2022

Here are some of my newly-emerged Leafcutters hanging around the nesting block I made for them and the Mason bees. They're little bitty things. I think the holes are too big for the LCs, so I put some smaller diameter paper tubes in about half the holes to see if they like those better. Hopefully they hang around and make babies for next year.

[video=youtube;q-Ovl4CQIjE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-Ovl4CQIjE[/video]

1111.) bluecat - 05/09/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66673][I]Fetchez la vache![/I]

:grin::grin::grin:[/QUOTE]

"Bring me a small lyre."

1112.) bluecat - 05/09/2022

I am so behind you. I'm just now getting asparagus. I've got an apple tree that hasn't even leafed out yet.

Curses.

1113.) DParker - 05/10/2022

Hey, hey...it's not a competition.

But if it were...

Seriously though, it really helps that it's been extra warm and sunny here the past couple of weeks, which has really supercharged growing conditions. Hell, it hit 95°F today already. I suspect this summer is going to be a long one.

1114.) Swamp Fox - 05/10/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66689]"Bring me a small lyre."[/QUOTE]

.....

1115.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66691]Hey, hey...it's not a competition.

But if it were...

Seriously though, it really helps that it's been extra warm and sunny here the past couple of weeks, which has really supercharged growing conditions. Hell, it hit 95°F today already. I suspect this summer is going to be a long one.[/QUOTE]

You damn right it's a competition! I'll meet you at the asparagus at high noon and we'll settle this once and for all.

1116.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66691]Hey, hey...it's not a competition.

[/QUOTE]

You damn right it's a competition! I'll meet you at the asparagus patch at high noon and we'll settle this once and for all.

1117.) DParker - 05/10/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66694]You damn right it's a competition! I'll meet you at the asparagus patch at high noon and we'll settle this once and for all.[/QUOTE]

Will honor be satisfied by Hollandaise sauce at 20 paces?

1118.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

Hell yes! I'll grill the asparagus.

Whoever eats the most wins.

1119.) DParker - 05/10/2022

I'll have my second contact your second. In the meantime...ruh-roh, Shaggy. It seems that a deer has taken a stroll through my veggie rows. Oddly, nothing appears to have been eaten...so I can only surmise that this was a scouting mission for the supply raids that are sure to follow.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/J4PyEeq.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1120.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

Fool me once...

I couldn't remember if I posted this before. I did a search and couldn't find it. Here is what some rascal thought of my blue spruce. I had it caged for two years and then decided to remove the cage because the danger had passed. Deer wouldn't want a blue spruce anyway. So I see the damage and caged it again. He came back that night and bashed in the cage. I fixed that and he reappeared to bash it again.

Kind of like, "burned down then sank into the swamp" I have a larger cage on it now and am training one of the laterals to be a leader. Hope it works. It was a beautiful tree.

1121.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

By the way, those are all onions in the background with their seed heads. I think this was an October pic.

1122.) DParker - 05/10/2022

Damn. That looks like a job for about 5,000 volts or so.

1123.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66697]I'll have my second contact your second. In the meantime...ruh-roh, Shaggy. It seems that a deer has taken a stroll through my veggie rows. Oddly, nothing appears to have been eaten...so I can only surmise that this was a scouting mission for the supply raids that are sure to follow.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/J4PyEeq.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

If you build it, they will come.

1124.) DParker - 05/10/2022

That's a lot of onion rings.

1125.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

Everything I have outside has a cage around. It's beautiful.

1126.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

He must have trotted around the yard a bit with the cage stuck on his antlers because the cage was about 10 yards away.

1127.) bluecat - 05/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66700]Damn. That looks like a job for about 5,000 volts or so.[/QUOTE]

Whatever it takes, 5,000 volts or 125 grains.

1128.) Swamp Fox - 05/12/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66698]

Fool me once...

I couldn't remember if I posted this before. I did a search and couldn't find it. Here is what some rascal thought of my [COLOR="#008080"]blue spruce[/COLOR]. I had it caged for two years and then decided to remove the cage because the danger had passed. Deer wouldn't want a blue spruce anyway. So I see the damage and caged it again. He came back that night and bashed in the cage. I fixed that and he reappeared to bash it again.

Kind of like, [COLOR="#008080"][B]"burned down then sank into the swamp"[/B][/COLOR] I have a larger cage on it now and am training one of the laterals to be a leader. Hope it works. It was a beautiful tree.[/QUOTE]

^^^
Don't ask me how I no about any of this. [COLOR="#008080"][/COLOR]

[url]https://conifersociety.org/conifers/articles/blue-spruce-diseases/[/url]

1129.) DParker - 05/12/2022

I decided that the connection to my drip irrigation system was far too simple, so I added a fertilizer injector with some supporting hardware (a pressure regulator and a backflow preventer).

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/qx1ZzHL.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1130.) Swamp Fox - 05/12/2022

That reminds me ... I need to call my cardiologist.

Or is it my urologist?

I can't keep them all straight ...

1131.) bluecat - 05/12/2022

I'm not an ornithologist but that is some crazy stuff there DP.

1132.) bluecat - 05/12/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66716]That reminds me ... I need to call my cardiologist.

Or is it my urologist?

I can't keep them all straight ...[/QUOTE]

If you can't keep it straight, you would need the urologist. Help is out there. Don't lose hope.

[QUOTE]Peyronie's (pay-roe-NEEZ) disease is a noncancerous condition resulting from fibrous scar tissue that develops on the penis and causes curved, painful erections. Penises vary in shape and size, and having a curved erection isn't necessarily a cause for concern. But Peyronie's disease causes a significant bend or pain in some men.[/QUOTE]

1133.) Swamp Fox - 05/12/2022

LOL ...

Worse than a Crazy Straw, I'd guess:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

1134.) DParker - 05/12/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66718]I'm not an ornithologist but that is some crazy stuff there DP.[/QUOTE]

Are you saying my setup is for the birds?

Basically, I'm just too lazy to manually fertilize 1,000 row-feet of veggies, and just injecting it directly into their water is much easier...not to mention that it uses a lot less fertilizer in the process.

1135.) DParker - 05/12/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66719]If you can't keep it straight, you would need the urologist. Help is out there. Don't lose hope.[/QUOTE]

[video=youtube;yOZVg_s6FIU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOZVg_s6FIU[/video]

1136.) bluecat - 05/12/2022

It's pretty cool. I ain't gonna lie.

1137.) bluecat - 05/12/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66723]Are you saying my setup is for the birds?

Basically, I'm just too lazy to manually fertilize 1,000 row-feet of veggies, and just injecting it directly into their water is much easier...not to mention that it uses a lot less fertilizer in the process.[/QUOTE]

It's pretty cool. I ain't gonna lie.

1138.) bluecat - 05/12/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66724][video=youtube;yOZVg_s6FIU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOZVg_s6FIU[/video][/QUOTE]

I was thinking about posting that, but I know Swampy is already embarrased. Maybe you could post a picture of crooked cucumber at some point to let Swampy know it's perfecty natural. Hideous but natural.

1139.) DParker - 05/12/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66727]I was thinking about posting that, but I know Swampy is already embarrased. Maybe you could post a picture of crooked cucumber at some point to let Swampy know it's perfecty natural. Hideous but natural.[/QUOTE]

Give me another 90 days and I'll see what's on the vines.

1140.) Swamp Fox - 05/12/2022

Y'all have permanently put me off carrots ...

Thanks, boys. :tap:

But without a current girlfriend, I didn't need night vision anyway, so it all works out ...

Wait... Did I just say that ?

1141.) bluecat - 05/12/2022

kinky

1142.) Swamp Fox - 05/12/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66729]Y'all have permanently put me off carrots ...

Thanks, boys. :tap:

But without a current girlfriend, I didn't need night vision anyway, so it all works out ...

Wait... Did I just say that ?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;66730]kinky[/QUOTE]

I've seen some of yore girlfriends and I hafta say ya either need some better night vision or yore really better off without it ... :wink

1143.) DParker - 05/14/2022

Allow me to sing for you the praises of the humble stirrup hoe. No, I'm to talking about a woman of questionable virtue with a fondness for cowboys and/or her gynecologist. I'm referring to the garden implement of destruction, named for the fact that its business end is shaped like a saddle stirrup.

I'd never used one until a couple of days ago, after having picked up a copy of the one in the above image in an effort to more effectively deal with the army of weeds that so relentlessly keep popping up in my vegetable garden. For those that are more than about 8" or so from the plants and tops of the rows, where my drip irrigation tape is buried just a couple of inches below the surface, brute force methods (up to and including judicious applications of Roundup) suffice. But for closer in a more surgical method is needed to avoid damaging the plants and/or the buried drip tape. Conventional hoes (again, not the "ladies" who do so well when business trade shows come to town) are great when you can use them to chop up the ground to get at the roots, but are obviously not suitable to this application. I had been just pulling the weeds by hand, which is quite effective given that you can get most/all of the roots out with the rest of the plant, but it just wasn't proving to be practical for 1,000 row feet of crops.

Enter the stirrup hoe, which is designed to decapitat weeds just below the surface via relatively shirt back-and-forth strokes with the bladed strip that is the base of the stirrup. This shallow cutting action makes it easy to get in close to the veggies and just above the buried plumbing without damaging either. While not the instant permanent solution that removal of the roots is, it can be applied to far more weeds in a far shorter amount of time without the back-aching bending and fumbling for a good grip on the often slippery green bastards. And although the weed will tend to renew the top growth using energy reserves stored in the roots, if you repeat the decapitation before they can reestablish enough leaves to perform photosynthesis and generate more food those energy reserves will eventually be depleted and the weed will die.

I've found that a quick pass on 2 or 3 rows first thing in the morning before it gets too hot outside is allowing me to keep the weeds from getting the upper hand. There are a couple of spots where the planting density prevents use of the tool and I still need to resort to pulling weeds by hand...like the onions, peas and carrots...but those add up to only about 50 row-feet in total, or about 5% of the garden. I can live with that.

1144.) Swamp Fox - 05/14/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66752]Allow me to sing for you the praises of the humble stirrup hoe. No, I'm to talking about a woman of questionable virtue with a fondness for cowboys and/or her gynecologist. I'm referring to the garden implement of destruction, named for the fact that its business end is shaped like a saddle stirrup.[/QUOTE]

Under-rated post. Hereby nomininated for post of the year... Yes, that's what I said ...

However, let me point out once again that there are plenty of hos at the Piggly Wiggly who will sell you some perfectly fine vegetables without yo' necessarily having to go th'u all the personal ho'in' and fro'in fo' yo'sef....

Ask for Alison, Chantel, or Tiffany ...

1145.) Swamp Fox - 05/14/2022

"But are they fresh?"

1146.) Swamp Fox - 05/14/2022

If they are, complain to a manager ...

1147.) Swamp Fox - 05/14/2022

Or ask them out for ice cream ....

It's up to you.

1148.) Swamp Fox - 05/14/2022

Buckwheat Zydeco and Dwight Yoakam --[I]Hey Good Lookin'[/I]
\

1149.) Swamp Fox - 05/14/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66755]If they are, complain to a manager ...[/QUOTE]

Karen? ....

Chad? .....

Sue?

:pop:

1150.) Swamp Fox - 05/15/2022

Shoot ... I'm sorry if the farm implement hoe took a back seat ....

I said back seat ....

Sorry ... sorry ....

I don't make the rules.... I just live in the world we live in .....

1151.) Swamp Fox - 05/15/2022

I've found that many times a simple marriage or divorce ---or sometimes both --- solves many of these opportunities ...

1152.) DParker - 05/15/2022

I continue to be amazed by the asparagus. I took the first pic of a newly emerging spear Wednesday morning. It's protruding about 1 inch above ground. The 2nd pic was taken less than an hour ago, 3.5 days later. It's now 15" tall. That's a growth rate of 4"/day.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/KMQ4WCa.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/QZ5nLAW.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1153.) Swamp Fox - 05/15/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66762]I've found that many times a simple marriage or divorce ---or sometimes both --- solves many of these opportunities ...[/QUOTE]

....

1154.) Swamp Fox - 05/15/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66763]I continue to be amazed by the asparagus. I took the first pic of a newly emerging spear Wednesday morning. It's protruding about 1 inch above ground. The 2nd pic was taken less than an hour ago, 3.5 days later. It's now 15" tall. That's a growth rate of 4"/day.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/KMQ4WCa.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/QZ5nLAW.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

This is encouraging ...

1155.) Swamp Fox - 05/15/2022

I mean, you know when your ground is gettin' dry, your spears pretty high ...

1156.) Swamp Fox - 05/15/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66766]I mean,you know when your ground is gettin' dry, your spears pretty high ...[/QUOTE]

Don't make me play any more music videos on this thread ....

LOL .... :hb:

1157.) DParker - 05/15/2022

Just under 23 hours later the same spear has grown another 3". I had no idea asparagus grew so quickly.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/ROnHVJd.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1158.) Swamp Fox - 05/16/2022

Let me see what yer puttin' in that water ...

1159.) DParker - 05/16/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66769]Let me see what yer puttin' in that water ...[/QUOTE]

1160.) Swamp Fox - 05/16/2022

That's differnt than what I thought you'd say,,, LOL ...

1161.) Swamp Fox - 05/16/2022

You brought in topsoil ,right? I couldn't find the post. Will you have to do it next year as well?

1162.) DParker - 05/16/2022

No, I had some compost trucked in. It was just enough to cover the garden area to a depth of ~1", and was done for the purpose of helping to break up the clay a bit. With luck it will continue doing that job, helped by the remains of the crops that will be tilled in at the beginning of next season.

1163.) bluecat - 05/16/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66766]I mean, you know when your ground is gettin' dry, your spears pretty high ...[/QUOTE]

Boo, hiss.

1164.) bluecat - 05/16/2022

1165.) Swamp Fox - 05/16/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66774]Boo, hiss.[/QUOTE]

But I'm tired!

1166.) DParker - 05/16/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66776]But I'm tired![/QUOTE]

That don't confront me.

1167.) Swamp Fox - 05/17/2022

Ever'body funny ... Now you funny, too ...

LOL :wink

:tu:

1168.) bluecat - 05/17/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66776]But I'm tired![/QUOTE]

:-):-)

1169.) bluecat - 05/17/2022

Picked up a stirrup hoe today. Got to do asparagus tonight, we'll see if it does the trick.

I do love a hoe in stirrups.

1170.) DParker - 05/17/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66788]I do love a hoe in stirrups.[/QUOTE]

Well...yeah.

1171.) DParker - 05/17/2022

But I have some more weeding to do as well. They've pretty much taken over the two rows that I haven't gotten to yet.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/Ezu6qSb.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

In better news...the first cantaloupe blossom of the season. Unfortunately it's the only one so far...and it's a male flower. But it's a start.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/nZd3Gf4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1172.) bluecat - 05/17/2022

Very impressive that you are on all of this. Wow!

1173.) bluecat - 05/17/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66791]But I have some more weeding to do as well. They've pretty much taken over the two rows that I haven't gotten to yet.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/Ezu6qSb.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

I think it's a bit early to assign gender roles at this point.

1174.) bluecat - 05/17/2022

I was going to warn you about horse radish. I planted some of that off to the side of my asparagus and I regret it.
You can't pull it up. Spreads and it won't die. I will make horseradish at some point but you need to do it where it can flourish and not impact other plants.

1175.) DParker - 05/17/2022

Note to self: Don't even think about planting horseradish.

1176.) DParker - 05/18/2022

BTW, I forgot to mention that the stirrup hoe works best when the soil is fairly dry, especially if you have any clay in it.
Otherwise the blade tends to get gummed up, which obviously keeps it from cutting effectively. It's also really easy to get carried away and accidentally do harm to one of your plants...like the poor little jalapeño I decapitated.

1177.) bluecat - 05/18/2022

I tried out the new hoe last night. :-)

At first it wasn't working until I figured out that I had it upside down. It does work really well. It's a bit of an adjustment as I have to face the fact I'm not getting these things by the root. But honestly, there reaches a point where that is not feasible.

My soil was damp and had just minor cloggage. I cleaned out the asparagus then dumped quite a bit of prairie grass and then wood mulch on top of the cleaned area so I've got a pretty nice protective layer now. I'll take a picture when the asparagus has leafed out a little more.

I was taking my warren hoe and laying it on it's side and scraping that way but with the stirrup hoe I don't need to do that. Great tip. Thanks.

Also, my asparagus gets really high and tends to flop over and sometimes break. So, I made cages for the individual plants and that really keeps them upright. I stake down the cage so the aparagus can lean over in the cage if it wants to.

It's a timing issue. I have to wait until all the spears that are going to emerge are up. Then I clean the area thoroughly and put down mulch - then the cages. You have to clean the area first because once those cages are installed, it becomes difficult to hoe - and if you wait too long on the cages, it's too difficult to get a cage around them as they are so fragile and large. All that mulch goes back into the soil making it more rich. tmi, I know.

No collateral damage was observed.

1178.) DParker - 05/18/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66797]I tried out the new hoe last night. :-)[/QUOTE]

You said "tried out".

[QUOTE=bluecat;66797]At first it wasn't working until I figured out that I had it upside down. It does work really well. It's a bit of an adjustment as I have to face the fact I'm not getting these things by the root. But honestly, there reaches a point where that is not feasible.[/QUOTE]

Bingo. That's exactly what led me to get one.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66797]Also, my asparagus gets really high and tends to flop over and sometimes break. So, I made cages for the individual plants and that really keeps them upright. I stake down the cage so the aparagus can lean over in the cage if it wants to.[/QUOTE]

That's a good idea. The spears on mine are tall and quite spindly, and between that and the 2 months of ~30 MPH winds we've been having I've been expecting to find a couple of them snapped in two. But so far I've been lucky and that hasn't happened. I might try caging them as a precaution though if the wind keeps up.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66797]No collateral damage was observed.[/QUOTE]

Then you're already better at it than I am.

1179.) bluecat - 05/18/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66798]You said "tried out".

[/QUOTE]

Now that was funny. + 4

I could have said "tired out".

1180.) DParker - 05/18/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66799]Now that was funny. + 4

I could have said "tired out".[/QUOTE]

And we'd have believed you. Yeah...that's the ticket!

1181.) Swamp Fox - 05/19/2022

LOL...

1182.) DParker - 05/19/2022

We've been here all this time and had no idea this little decoration hanging from the back porch awning was a color-changing solar-powered mobile until the wind blew one of the globes off and exposed the LED inside of it. I found the power switch and...oooohhhh...aaahhhh.

[video]https://youtube.com/shorts/WPhmExWZboo[/video]

1183.) Swamp Fox - 05/19/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66784]
:-):-)[/QUOTE]

LOL ... Are you in show business? ... Great catch .... + TenGallon Hat .... LMAO!

1184.) Swamp Fox - 05/19/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66802]We've been here all this time and had no idea this little decoration hanging from the back porch awning was a color-changing solar-powered mobile until the wind blew one of the globes off and exposed the LED inside of it. I found the power switch and...oooohhhh...aaahhhh.

[video]https://youtube.com/shorts/WPhmExWZboo[/video][/QUOTE]

....

[QUOTE]"Some day, this war's gonna end ..."[/QUOTE]

1185.) bluecat - 05/19/2022

1186.) bluecat - 05/19/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66806]LOL ... Are you in show business? ... Great catch .... + TenGallon Hat .... LMAO![/QUOTE]

She was awesome!

1187.) DParker - 05/19/2022

I've been living here for 30 years now, and I have yet to meet anyone named "Tex Ma'am".

1188.) bluecat - 05/19/2022

Have you ever met Um Jim?

1189.) DParker - 05/19/2022

No, but I've met a lot of Slim Jims.

1190.) bluecat - 05/19/2022

Met and assimilated.

1191.) DParker - 05/19/2022

We have met the enemy and he is greasy...but delicious.

1192.) Swamp Fox - 05/20/2022

Maybe Jamika can start a thread about jerky ...

1193.) DParker - 05/20/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66818]Maybe Jamika can start a thread about jerky ...[/QUOTE]

I'm always up for a trip to Buc-Ee's.

1194.) bluecat - 05/20/2022

Whoa, where is this?

1195.) DParker - 05/20/2022

That's the jerkey counter at one of the several Buc-Ee's locations in TX (and a couple others states as well now). It's a chain of gas station-convenience stores (though "convenience store" doesn't remotely do them justice), each of which I'm pretty sure can be seen with the naked eye from low Earth orbit.

[URL="https://buc-ees.com/"]https://buc-ees.com/[/URL]

1196.) Swamp Fox - 05/21/2022

Drive- thru brew?

1197.) Swamp Fox - 05/21/2022

Ask me about Starvin Marvin's....

[url]https://images.app.goo.gl/Wjr5tvda1WmNfUqF7[/url]

1198.) Swamp Fox - 05/22/2022

What, no nibbles? Time flies ...

That's the restaurant. I'm talking about the convenience store/gas station. There was one on the edge of Durham a long time ago for a while. Not sure if it was a bootleg because it had a different logo from today's SM. Maybe it was just politically incorrect and Corporate changed it. In any event, it was better than what I see on google for SM today.

1199.) Swamp Fox - 05/22/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66819]I'm always up for a trip to Buc-Ee's.

[/QUOTE]

Who do these people think they're fooling with the masks and the gloves?

Do they know what food service is all about?

1200.) Swamp Fox - 05/23/2022

Eight hours ....

Don't make me play Scots/English border murder ballads ...

1201.) DParker - 05/23/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;66827]Eight hours ....

Don't make me play Scots/English border murder ballads ...[/QUOTE]

Sorry...I've been distracted. Yesterday was our 34th anniversary, and we had a cool front blow in over night so I had to take advantage of today's highs in the upper 60s (as opposed to the mid-to-upper 90s that we've been having) by spending all day doing outdoor stuff.

1202.) DParker - 05/23/2022

All 3 varieties of onion should be ready pretty soon.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/k4lhGIv.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/c9zmwbj.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/r0wrEgw.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1203.) DParker - 05/23/2022

I think I'm going to need more Ball jars.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/2lqoU1d.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/QpwXnHQ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1204.) bluecat - 05/24/2022

Lookin' good.
You will need more everything.

1205.) DParker - 05/26/2022

She's baaaaack. I found hoofprints in the garden early this morning (fortunately she's still not trying to eat anything...though I'm sure that will change as soon as the plants start producing beans, peas, etc), then I went back to check my trail cam and found this. You can see that the house lights are still on, meaning she was traipsing around back there while I was sitting in the living room watching TV, right under my nose...so to speak. The brazen hussy.

[video=youtube;hC5ti2KTzkU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC5ti2KTzkU[/video]

1206.) Swamp Fox - 05/27/2022

Murder ballads cover similar ground... :wink LOL

:tu:

1207.) Swamp Fox - 05/27/2022

1208.) Swamp Fox - 05/27/2022

......

1209.) DParker - 05/27/2022

Well, Bambi's sister is on my naughty list now, and is getting coal in her stocking for Christmas. Not only is she getting braver and coming onto the property before dark, she's also decided that the leaves on my sweet potato plants are good to munch on. This means war.

[video=youtube;KOKg4U-ve64]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOKg4U-ve64[/video]

1210.) Swamp Fox - 05/28/2022

You should say [B]"Bambi's sister"[/B] and [B]"naughty list"[/B] more often: 1004 guest on line right now ...

Of course, they're thinking of a different Bambi ...

1211.) Swamp Fox - 05/28/2022

1009 now ...

LOL

1212.) Swamp Fox - 05/28/2022

1014 ...

1213.) DParker - 05/28/2022

I'm finally seeing these evil SOBs (aka Squash Vine Borer Moths) flitting around the garden, so it's time to engage in some biological warfare by carpet bombing everything with BT.

1214.) Swamp Fox - 05/29/2022

So, I wonder what the connection is to Thuringia, or the Thuringian forest in Germany?

I mean, if you're gonna find a bug-killing bacteria in the soil, one good place to look would be a mysterious semi-wilderness in the land of [I]Hansel und Gretel.
[/I]
As an aside, the Thuringian Forest is just north of where I think the Krauts of my family tree originated in northern Bavaria. I like to imagine them hunting wild boar and chasing Bohemian girls back and forth across the border ... :wink

1215.) DParker - 05/30/2022

I picked up this handy-dandy backpack sprayer for non-herbicide use in the garden. So far I really like it. For an additional $80 I could have gotten the motorized Ryobi model that works with the 40v batteries I already have, but I won't be spraying often enough to justify the extra cost or the hassle of something more prone to mechanical failure. Besides, 4 gallons of liquid is already heavy enough without adding a motor and big-assed Li-Ion battery to the load.

Since the hungry little doe seemed to be the greater and more immediate threat than the SVB moths I made my first use of the sprayer an application of this stuff yesterday:

1216.) Swamp Fox - 05/31/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66866] Since the hungry little doe seemed to be the greater and more immediate threat than the SVB moths I made my first use of the sprayer an application of this stuff yesterday:

.... So I'm cautiously optimistic that this stuff might actually work.[/QUOTE]

That's how they get you!

LOL ...

1217.) bluecat - 05/31/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66842]Well, Bambi's sister is on my naughty list now, and is getting coal in her stocking for Christmas. Not only is she getting braver and coming onto the property before dark, she's also decided that the leaves on my sweet potato plants are good to munch on. This means war.

[video=youtube;KOKg4U-ve64]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOKg4U-ve64[/video][/QUOTE]

Sweet potato leaves are the gateway vegetable.

1218.) DParker - 05/31/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66869]Sweet potato leaves are the gateway vegetable.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, that's how it starts out. Then, before you know it, you're strung out on broccoli and pole beans.

1219.) bluecat - 05/31/2022

I have a small perennial garden that is surrounded only by chicken wire. I noticed that one of our night time residents ate the tops off my brown-eyed susans.

Kind of defeats the purpose of having a perrenial garden if all you see is fencing.

1220.) DParker - 05/31/2022

Ours is now coming out in broad daylight (ignore the timestamp on the photo...I forgot to reset the camera's clock when I replaced the batteries recently...this is from yesterday around 7:00am, judging from the temperature). New hoofprints were in the garden this morning, but still no new damage. I think that stuff might actually be working.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/noKqGHc.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The corn and sunflowers are around 18"-30" tall.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/LBp3FW1.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The "Painted Mountain" corn stalks are a dark shade of crimson. Kinda' cool.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/4RIHBN7.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1221.) bluecat - 05/31/2022

That is one good looking garden.

1222.) bluecat - 05/31/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66856]I'm finally seeing these evil SOBs (aka Squash Vine Borer Moths) flitting around the garden, so it's time to engage in some biological warfare by carpet bombing everything with BT.

[/QUOTE]

I'll send a picture of my diatomaceous earth dispenser.

1223.) DParker - 05/31/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66874]That is one good looking garden.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I am having some trouble with getting herbs to germinate. I planted a bunch 3 weeks ago, and although the Basil and a few Dill plants have finally sprouted, I'm not seeing anything out of the Thyme, Rosemary, Sage, Oregano or Chives. And while the tomato plants that survived seem to be healthy and growing, I'm not seeing any blooms on them yet. Normally they'd be covered in them by the size they are. The cantaloupes are in full bloom though, and are keeping a small squadron of honey bees busy.

1224.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66866]I picked up this handy-dandy backpack sprayer for non-herbicide use in the garden. So far I really like it. For an additional $80 I could have gotten the motorized Ryobi model that works with the 40v batteries I already have, but I won't be spraying often enough to justify the extra cost or the hassle of something more prone to mechanical failure. Besides, 4 gallons of liquid is already heavy enough without adding a motor and big-assed Li-Ion battery to the load.

Since the hungry little doe seemed to be the greater and more immediate threat than the SVB moths I made my first use of the sprayer an application of this stuff yesterday:

When I went out early this morning I found fresh hoof prints in the garden indicating she'd visited again last night, but it didn't appear that she'd munched on anything this time...at least not enough for me to spot any new damage. So I'm cautiously optimistic that this stuff might actually work.[/QUOTE]

I'm really interested in this.

Is the price reasonable?

Do you spray a barrier around the area or do you spray the plant itself.

What is the cost and do you have any idea what is in it?

You may have struck Gold!

1225.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

Potatoes and a small yak-like creature. These didn't get started until May 1st after the first batch rotted, so they are really taking off.

1226.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

Sugar snap peas and an emerging row of okra to the left of them. Tomatoes and garlic at top.

1227.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

Asparagus leafing out. I've got around 15 plants.

1228.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

Beans at bottom, then a layer of weeds, then blackberries.

1229.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

A mixture (lol) of red heritage raspberries and boysenberries.

1230.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

Working from left to right, onions, strawberries (hard to see as they sit in the next tier below) then the raspberries.

Can you spot the rogue horseradish?

1231.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

Garlic at top left of picture.

1232.) DParker - 06/01/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66900]I'm really interested in this.

Is the price reasonable?[/QUOTE]

That depends on the value you place on not having Bambi eat your garden. Given the investment I've made in mine...both in time and money...and the damage she was starting to do it would have been difficult for the price to be too high to be worth it to me. YMMV. I started with just a 32 oz. bottle of concentrate, which makes 2.5 gallons. That's enough for 2 applications on my 3,000 sq ft at the rate I sprayed it. The cost was $38.95 from Amazon ([URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DQMXNQ?th=1"]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DQMXNQ?th=1[/URL]), because I couldn't find it locally. So that's ~$20/week for the first two applications, or ~$0.0067/sq ft/application. After the first 3 weeks I'll switch to once per month, so the cost over time will be cut by about 77%. Actually, it will be cut by even more than that because I just ordered more concentrate, but in the 1 gallon size ([URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DQQ346?th=1"]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DQQ346?th=1[/URL]), which is 23% cheaper per ounce. Given all that you should be able to do the math for your situation and determine whether or not the cost is justified.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66900]Do you spray a barrier around the area or do you spray the plant itself.[/QUOTE]

At a minimum you need to spray the plants (though not edible parts or blossoms...it's not harmful, but it will make the edibles taste terrible, and probably interfere with pollination of the flowers). My hope is that by the time edibles appear she'll either have given up on trying to taste things, or at least continuing to spray just foliage continues to offer protection. But I had enough that I also sprayed the ground around the perimeter. In my case that doesn't appear to have offered any extra protection, as I'm seeing new hoof prints among the rows on a daily basis. That could be because she already knew that the garden was a source of food and so was willing to press on through the smell

[QUOTE=bluecat;66900]What is the cost and do you have any idea what is in it?[/QUOTE]

According to the label:

[INDENT]Active Ingredients: Peppermint Oil 1.77%, Garlic Oil 0.95%, White Pepper 0.05%, Putrescent Whole Egg Solids 1.25%
Inert Ingredients: 95.98%, Water, Gum Arabic, Vinegar, Vegetable Oil[/INDENT]

(I said, "Putrescent Whole Egg Solids.)

[QUOTE=bluecat;66900]You may have struck Gold![/QUOTE]

You didn't say, "Jerry".

[QUOTE=bluecat;66901]Potatoes and a small [B][I]well-fed[/I][/B] yak-like creature.[/QUOTE]

FIFY

[QUOTE=bluecat;66902]Sugar snap peas and an emerging row of okra to the left of them. Tomatoes and garlic at top.[/QUOTE]

Nice. This reminds me that I need to hurry up and install 100 ft of netting or something else for my row of climbers (peas, beans and squash) before it's too late. That's going to be a chore. I have enough T posts that the former owners left behind, but I need to go buy a post driver and hope that I can drive the posts deep enough into this hard-assed ground.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66903]Asparagus leafing out. I've got around 15 plants.[/QUOTE]

I'm especially eager to hear how these turn out for you so we can compare notes, this being my first attempt at asparagus.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66904]Beans at bottom, then a layer of weeds, then blackberries.[/QUOTE]

I'm assuming these aren't new blackberry plantings...or else I'm going to be really upset at how slow mine are growing.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66905]A mixture (lol) of red heritage raspberries and boysenberries.[/QUOTE]

Now I'm jealous. I'd love to grow raspberries, but there's only one cultivar (Dorman Red) that can be successfully grown in these parts, and the flavor isn't good enough to make it worth the effort. That's why I planted some Boysenberries and Loganberries, so we can at least have raspberries involved as part of hybrids.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66906]Working from left to right, onions, strawberries (hard to see as they sit in the next tier below) then the raspberries.[/QUOTE]

Nice. My strawberries project is proving to be a bust. Of the 75 plants I got only 15 have survived. I assume that the heat is just too much for them and the soil in the shallow planters just dries out too fast...but it's odd that the ones that have survived seem so healthy, in spite of being in exactly the same conditions as (and right next to) the ones that didn't make it.

[QUOTE=bluecat;66906]Can you spot the rogue horseradish?[/QUOTE]

Unless I'm mistaken, it's the weed-looking greenery in the upper-left by the brick border.

1233.) DParker - 06/01/2022

Another experiment. I had a store-bought sweet potato that stayed in the pantry a little longer than planned and had sprouted at one end. So when I went to use it this past weekend I cut the sprouts off and stuck them in a glass of water, where they're enthusiastically putting out roots and leaves. A few more days and I'll put them out where I have some bare spots in a couple of my garden rows and see what happens.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/pgjyPrZ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1234.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

Should grow I'm guessing. They always say to not use potatoes from the grocery store as they have been sprayed with some sort of growth inhibitor. But if they sprout then why not?
Keep us posted.

1235.) bluecat - 06/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66910]That depends on the value you place on not having Bambi eat your garden. Given the investment I've made in mine...both in time and money...and the damage she was starting to do it would have been difficult for the price to be too high to be worth it to me. YMMV. I started with just a 32 oz. bottle of concentrate, which makes 2.5 gallons. That's enough for 2 applications on my 3,000 sq ft at the rate I sprayed it. The cost was $38.95 from Amazon ([URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DQMXNQ?th=1"]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DQMXNQ?th=1[/URL]), because I couldn't find it locally. So that's ~$20/week for the first two applications, or ~$0.0067/sq ft/application. After the first 3 weeks I'll switch to once per month, so the cost over time will be cut by about 77%. Actually, it will be cut by even more than that because I just ordered more concentrate, but in the 1 gallon size ([URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DQQ346?th=1"]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DQQ346?th=1[/URL]), which is 23% cheaper per ounce. Given all that you should be able to do the math for your situation and determine whether or not the cost is justified.

At a minimum you need to spray the plants (though not edible parts or blossoms...it's not harmful, but it will make the edibles taste terrible, and probably interfere with pollination of the flowers). My hope is that by the time edibles appear she'll either have given up on trying to taste things, or at least continuing to spray just foliage continues to offer protection. But I had enough that I also sprayed the ground around the perimeter. In my case that doesn't appear to have offered any extra protection, as I'm seeing new hoof prints among the rows on a daily basis. That could be because she already knew that the garden was a source of food and so was willing to press on through the smell

According to the label:

[INDENT]Active Ingredients: Peppermint Oil 1.77%, Garlic Oil 0.95%, White Pepper 0.05%, Putrescent Whole Egg Solids 1.25%
Inert Ingredients: 95.98%, Water, Gum Arabic, Vinegar, Vegetable Oil[/INDENT]

(I said, "Putrescent Whole Egg Solids.)
[/QUOTE]

I might need those pollinators.

[QUOTE=DParker;66910]

FIFY
[/QUOTE]

He's just extra fluffy.

[QUOTE=DParker;66910]

I'm especially eager to hear how these turn out for you so we can compare notes, this being my first attempt at asparagus.

[/QUOTE]

My asparagus is about 4 years old. It is really nice. It just hasn't completely leafed out yet. Most of the plants are the purple variety. No real difference in flavor I can tell but the spears can get really thick.

[QUOTE=DParker;66910]
I'm assuming these aren't new blackberry plantings...or else I'm going to be really upset at how slow mine are growing.
[/QUOTE]

These are about 4 years old as well. I had to take a pick axe to get through our rocky soil. It was not easy chopping. But they love it there.

[QUOTE=DParker;66910]

Unless I'm mistaken, it's the weed-looking greenery in the upper-left by the brick border.[/QUOTE]

Yes, it can get quite big. I might have already hacked at it earlier.

1236.) DParker - 06/02/2022

My cantaloupes are literally Hitler. They're currently overrunning the watermelons and potatoes, and have their sights set on conquering the asparagus after that. Today ze garden....tomorrow ze vorld!!!!

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/xECoooG.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1237.) bluecat - 06/03/2022

Never before in the history of the world has that sentence ever been crafted.

"My cantaloupes are literally Hitler."

1238.) bluecat - 06/03/2022

When cantaloupes are ready we expect to see pics of buxom girls holding them provocatively

- maybe even a bad "cantaloupe" joke thrown in for good measure.

1239.) Swamp Fox - 06/05/2022

"Lesbians" ----There. I said it

I believe that is the keyword.

Correct me if I'm wrong ...

Ask me about melons in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot ...

1240.) Swamp Fox - 06/05/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;66922]When cantaloupes are ready we expect to see pics of buxom girls holding them provocatively

- maybe even a bad "cantaloupe" joke thrown in for good measure.[/QUOTE]

This is a true story, in fictional format:

[QUOTE]Dear Penthouse:

I couldn't believe it, but this actually happened to me. I was in the parking lot of the local Harris Teeter, and it was two medium watermelons, not cantaloupes ...

However, it was a bluecat girl, not a Swampy girl ...

I'm hoping for better luck next time.

Spectacularly yours,

Swamp Fox

[/QUOTE]

1241.) bluecat - 06/06/2022

:tap:

[QUOTE]I'm hoping for better luck next time.[/QUOTE]

So you couldn't even score with a fatty?

1242.) bluecat - 06/06/2022

[QUOTE]However, it was a bluecat girl, not a Swampy girl ...[/QUOTE]

Interpreted as "out of my league"

1243.) bluecat - 06/06/2022

[QUOTE]Spectacularly yours[/QUOTE]

So what type of watermelon, the round type or the long cylindrical ones?

1244.) Swamp Fox - 06/06/2022

They were global, you might say ...

1245.) DParker - 06/07/2022

Here, a pair of melons. Try to not get yourselves too hot and bothered. (Props to my bees for getting the job done.)

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/VXVwFWD.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/4Yrt65i.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1246.) DParker - 06/09/2022

Just so I can say that I've harvested something. There are much larger versions of both the yellow and red varieties out there, but their tops haven't fallen over so they're not ready yet. For some reason these two decided to call it quits early.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/6UoLikh.jpg"]Full-size version[/URL])

1247.) bluecat - 06/09/2022

Nice, are you going to store them in the basement or someplace cool or just start eating?

1248.) DParker - 06/09/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67000]Nice, are you going to store them in [B][COLOR="#B22222"]the basement[/COLOR][/B]...[/QUOTE]

Now you're just trying to give me an inferiority complex (and it's working). I'd kill to have a basement. Unfortunately the TX ground makes that impossible without spending boat-loads of money for all of the extra material and engineering required to pull it off here. There are companies that will do it here, but....yikes ($$$$).

[QUOTE=bluecat;67000]...or someplace cool or just start eating?[/QUOTE]

My plan is to eat a couple right away, then when the harvest really picks up I'll start keeping enough in the garage (it stays cool and mostly dark out there) to last us for the 2-3 months I expect that they'll keep, and any excess will get dehydrated and stored in plastic bags...either vacuum sealed or with oxygen absorbers and desiccant packs in them. In fact I'm looking into dehydration for most all of our long-term preservation, including excess eggs. Anything that it can't be used for but can be frozen will get vacuum sealed and tossed in one of the freezers.

1249.) Swamp Fox - 06/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;66999]Just so I can say that I've harvested something... [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE][B][I]"What, are you a farmer or something? Got that deer with a combine, did you?"[/I][/B]

[I]--Things I'm liable to say if I get wound up.[/I]
[/QUOTE] ......

:p

1250.) Swamp Fox - 06/10/2022

I think there's a version that avoids the credits rolling over the scenery and then the action, but this is all I have for y'all right now...

Still, a kick-ass scene:

1251.) bluecat - 06/10/2022

It would suck being the second to the last of the Mohecans. That person would be like damn, so close.

1252.) Swamp Fox - 06/10/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67006]It would suck being the second to the last of the Mohecans. That person would be like damn, so close.[/QUOTE]

I heard somewhere that Chingachgook would have traded places with Uncas ... :cf:

:shh::p:poke:

1253.) Swamp Fox - 06/10/2022

Not sure how or why [I]la Longue Carabine[/I] sheds his shirt and his rifle around 2:47 and has to get the rifle tossed back to him by Uncas in a sporty exchange that sometimes looks like a fistbump if you're not paying attention, but whatever ...

I think the women liked it ...

1254.) Swamp Fox - 06/10/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67001]... or with oxygen absorbers and desiccant packs in them. [/QUOTE]

N̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶n̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶M̶i̶s̶s̶o̶u̶r̶i̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶e̶s̶t̶ ... Er... Never heard of this. Please elaborate ... That means explain, son ...

1255.) DParker - 06/10/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67010]N̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶n̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶M̶i̶s̶s̶o̶u̶r̶i̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶e̶s̶t̶ ... Er... Never heard of this. Please elaborate ... That means explain, son ...[/QUOTE]

The primary enemy of most food storage is oxygen. For dehydrated foods moisture is also a major problem. Neither are an issue when food is vacuum sealed, but are when conventional container storage is used. To combat them [URL="https://www.amazon.com/O2frepak-100-Pack-Absorbers-Indicator-Absorption/dp/B07GV8C6RJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=2CW37EOA4VU04&keywords=oxygen+absorbers+for+food+storage&qid=1654833943&sprefix=oxygen%2Caps%2C279&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFMVzY1NjNBN05VMUMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNDU0NDIxNDRLQUZZOU43Q1E2JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5ODU1OTVCOFZJTkpEM1dWOEsmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ=="]oxygen absorber[/URL] and [URL="https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Premium-Packets-Desiccant-Dehumidifiers/dp/B00DYLR3Q6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=32XUECS4B8QU0&keywords=food+desiccant+packs&qid=1654834157&sprefix=food+desicc%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-1"]silica gel desiccant[/URL] packs are added to the packaging to react with any oxygen and or moisture that are present in the air inside the container, which makes for a spoilage-inhibiting environment.

1256.) Swamp Fox - 06/10/2022

Why have I never come across one of these packets in any of my food in, um, all of my 39 years?

In the packaging of my Don't Tread On Me t-shirts and hula-dancer bowling shirts made in Viet Nam, yes, but not in my rice, noodles, Stouffer's lasagna, boiled peanuts or any of my other tasty comestibles...

1257.) DParker - 06/10/2022

Because most of those things are either made to not be stored for long periods of time, or contain enough preservatives to keep spoilage at bay.

1258.) DParker - 06/10/2022

The sunflowers are now about 5 ft tall, and the Painted Mountain corn is topping 6 ft.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/ACLjmSj.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Butternut squash, reporting for duty (the blooms are nearly 6" across).

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/lwEbzUH.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Jalapeños...of some kind. I forgot which varieties (TAM Mild or Lemon) I planted where, so I won't know what these are until they start to ripen.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/dkGSB1x.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

We've been overrun by dragonflies the past couple of weeks...which is a good thing. This is one of the cooler looking ones I've seen.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/PSspMF3.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1259.) bluecat - 06/10/2022

Dragonflies? You have a creek or pond nearby, no?

Forgot about the basement issue. You could always create a root cellar/storm shelter maybe.

1260.) DParker - 06/10/2022

Yeah, the eastern boundary of the property is a creek. There was a small swarm of them in the back pasture (which is what the creek borders) 2 days ago, which was cool to watch.

1261.) DParker - 06/10/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67015]Forgot about the basement issue. You could always create a root cellar/storm shelter maybe.[/QUOTE]

No need. I have plenty of room in the detached garage for shelving units that I already have sitting in one of the storage sheds, and that I plan to use to hold stuff. There are no windows, so it's dark whenever I'm not in there. And it's well insulated so it stays pretty cool even when it's miserably hot outside.

1262.) DParker - 06/10/2022

1263.) bluecat - 06/10/2022

Perfect, now can you get the history channel out there?

1264.) DParker - 06/10/2022

As a matter of fact, I can. I don't have a TV out there, but I do have a phone with a Wi-Fi connection to the house. So I can listen to Doug Marcaida say, "Eet weel keel" while stacking bags of potatoes.

1265.) bluecat - 06/11/2022

Lol, awesome. That's important ya know.

1266.) DParker - 06/11/2022

The sunflowers are over 5 ft tall now, and the "Painted Mountain" corn is pushing the 7 ft mark.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/jRt1yH6.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Some of the string beans ("Blue Lake Bush") are starting to bloom.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/B9ibrLf.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

And finally...a watermelon ("Charleston Gray").

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/1zeTx0k.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1267.) Swamp Fox - 06/13/2022

Dove hunt at DP's! :grin::p

1268.) DParker - 06/13/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67027]Dove hunt at DP's! :grin::p[/QUOTE]

Everybody sets off fireworks pretty much nonstop around July 4th here, that ought to give us some cover.

1269.) DParker - 06/13/2022

Pickle in training.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/7PoP1qx.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The Painted Mountain corn ears are getting long (this one is about 8"), but are still skinny.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/C4W3mhm.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Some of the asparagus has decided to go for a 3rd wave. It's killing me to resist the urge to harvest one or two to try them out.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/0MGkBDK.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

I'm thinking about putting in a baseball field just to see if any long-dead ball players show up. Of course it'd be a really small field, so I guess they'd have to be the ghosts of little league players.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/tbU5HqB.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1270.) bluecat - 06/13/2022

"Is this heaven? No, it's Texas."

1271.) DParker - 06/13/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67032]"Is this heaven? No, it's Texas."[/QUOTE]

Given the temperatures over the past few days, "heaven" might not be the place in mind.

1272.) bluecat - 06/13/2022

Are you pleased with your watering system so far? Everything looks really healthy.

1273.) DParker - 06/13/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67034]Are you pleased with your watering system so far? Everything looks really healthy.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, once I got past a couple of bad connections (my fault) it's worked quite well. Even the fertilizer injector has done it's job without problem. The only minor (and it really is minor) irritation is that I have to clean out the pressure regulator filter every 3 or 4 waterings because the Miracle Grow that I'm using tends to gum it up over time. Luckily I have a digital flow meter attached to the hose bib that services that drip system so I can see when the flow rate starts to slow down and know that it's time to turn it off, walk back to the filter, take it out and clean it. No big deal though....except when it's 107°F out, and then everything is a big deal. Or at least you'd think it is from the amount of whining I do about the heat.

It remains to be seen how easy it will be to pull the drip tape out of the dirt, roll it up and set it on the side without disconnecting it from the main line when it comes time to till everything under with the tractor. I suspect that will be a bit of a clumsy pain in the butt, but if I only have to do it once per year then I guess I can live with that.

1274.) Swamp Fox - 06/14/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67035]
It remains to be seen how easy it will be to pull the drip tape out of the dirt, roll it up and set it on the side without disconnecting it from the main line when it comes time to till everything under with the tractor. I suspect that will be a bit of a clumsy pain in the butt, but if I only have to do it once per year then I guess I can live with that.[/QUOTE]

Well. Maybe until you're about 70, and then it'll kill you ... :wink

I remember billyb once told me everything gets harder when you're an old man ... Well, almost everything, he said ...

(Or was that Cookedeye?)

I don't no anymore ...

BTW: You said "gum it up" ...

:huh:

1275.) bluecat - 06/14/2022

CrookedEye is seeming more confused than normal lately. It's like he wakes up from a long nap, yells something indistinguishable, then passes out again.

1276.) bluecat - 06/14/2022

Reminds me of someone else too. Hmm, who could that be? dot dot dot

1277.) Swamp Fox - 06/14/2022

Does it start with Luv1?

1278.) bluecat - 06/14/2022

think dot dot dot

1279.) bluecat - 06/14/2022

Starts with 'J' and ends in 'e'.

1280.) DParker - 06/14/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67041]Starts with 'J' and ends in 'e'.[/QUOTE]

Brandon?

1281.) DParker - 06/14/2022

You can almost hear this fledgling Butternut Squash saying, "I want to be a bowl of soup when I grow up!"

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/32eJQNN.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1282.) Swamp Fox - 06/15/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67042]Brandon?[/QUOTE]

That starts with a capital "F" ...

1283.) bluecat - 06/15/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67043]You can almost hear this fledgling Butternut Squash saying, "I want to be a bowl of soup when I grow up!"

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/32eJQNN.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Are you going to plant any of those things that say, "I want to end up on the side of my neighbor's house on Halloween night."?

1284.) DParker - 06/15/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67045]Are you going to plant any of those things that say, "I want to end up on the side of my neighbor's house on Halloween night."?[/QUOTE]

Actually, my schedule says I'll be planting those this weekend. Two varieties, to be exact: "Big Max" and "New England Pie". The former allegedly grow quite large and will be for decorative purposes, with the latter being a small, high-sugar variety to be used for culinary purposes...as is made obvious by the name.

Stock photos found on the intertubes...

Big Max:

New England Pie:

1285.) bluecat - 06/15/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67046]Actually, my schedule says I'll be planting those this weekend. Two varieties, to be exact: "Big Max" and "New England Pie". The former allegedly grow quite large and will be for decorative purposes, with the latter being a small, high-sugar variety to be used for culinary purposes...as is made obvious by the name.

Stock photos found on the intertubes...

Big Max:

New England Pie:

[/QUOTE]

Peyronies disease like what Swampy has?

1286.) DParker - 06/16/2022

LOL! Now I'll be nervous harvesting the carrots for fear there'll be a bent one.

1287.) Swamp Fox - 06/16/2022

They call me Punkin Pie...

down at the Waffle Hut ...

1288.) Swamp Fox - 06/16/2022

....

1289.) DParker - 06/16/2022

My wife and I saw Ron White do that routine live at the Majestic Theater in Dallas...well..a long time ago. It was a great show.

1290.) bluecat - 06/16/2022

I don't see what Swampy posted. It times out.

1291.) Swamp Fox - 06/16/2022

It's the/a Ron White [I]They Call Me Tater Salad[/I] show -- about an hour...

1292.) bluecat - 06/16/2022

Good stuff.

1293.) Swamp Fox - 06/16/2022

Not sure he deserves *all* the acclaim he got, but that might just be professional jealousy ... LOL ... :fire:

1294.) DParker - 06/17/2022

Good timing. I just got an e-mail from TicketMaster.com letting me know that tickets for a local upcoming Ron White concert just went on sale. I'm going to pass this time, as the last couple of comedy specials of his that I've seen suggest that he's suffered the fate of so many other great comics before him, and he's become a bitter asshole.

1295.) bluecat - 06/17/2022

I attended one his shows. I'd watched a lot of his stuff early on and I thought he was brilliant. The show I saw, he was very crude and it was dissappointing.

1296.) bluecat - 06/17/2022

I've always appreciated a comedian that can be funny without the crudeness - Jerry Seinfeld comes to mind as well as George Carlin and Brian Regan.

1297.) DParker - 06/17/2022

I was a huge fan of George Carlin early in his career. But as he got older he just became and angry old man and far to convinced of his his own wisdom...which I found to be unsupported by the evidence.

1298.) DParker - 06/19/2022

Our little Nugget is now officially all grown up.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/4FoqeRD.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1299.) Swamp Fox - 06/19/2022

I guess she's female, then.

Or is that up in the air?

1300.) DParker - 06/19/2022

She hasn't started wearing combat boots and flannel shirts so I'm guessing she's comfortable with her birth-assigned gender.

1301.) Swamp Fox - 06/19/2022

Well, I'm glad that's settled ....

1302.) Swamp Fox - 06/19/2022

1303.) Swamp Fox - 06/19/2022

.....

1304.) Swamp Fox - 06/19/2022

or is it?

1305.) Swamp Fox - 06/19/2022

This is why they don’t want you to see #WhatIsAWoman. It’s because of moments like this. Gender ideology is an insane, incoherent mess. pic.twitter.com/p5m2RIbKff

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 2, 2022 ">

1306.) Swamp Fox - 06/19/2022

Maybe he/she is a chickenhawk!

1307.) Swamp Fox - 06/19/2022

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows ...

LOL

1308.) bluecat - 06/20/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67072]

This is why they don’t want you to see #WhatIsAWoman. It’s because of moments like this. Gender ideology is an insane, incoherent mess. pic.twitter.com/p5m2RIbKff

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 2, 2022 ">[/QUOTE]

I saw more of those interviews and it gets crazy.

1309.) DParker - 06/20/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67077]I saw more of those interviews and it gets crazy.[/QUOTE]

I think it started at crazy and then dialed it up to 11 from there.

1310.) DParker - 06/20/2022

Cukes ("Boston Pickling) are hitting their stride.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/TsIDf1n.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Finally some tomatoes. These are either San Marzano or Amish Paste, I'm not sure which.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/6ysir0d.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

We'll be up to our eyeballs in sweet corn soon. These are "Peaches & Cream".

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/8hbT0t7.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The okra is starting to get its act together and is putting out some flower buds.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/sHwa6OG.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

String beans ("Golden Butterwax), reporting for duty.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/BwHdHqy.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

And...the sweet potatoes are starting to bloom.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/FRnx7iL.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

I also spotted some full-sized Spaghetti and Butternut squashes when our kids came over yesterday, but I forgot to bring my phone and didn't get pics. Maybe later.

1311.) bluecat - 06/20/2022

Looking good DP! Love those pics.

1312.) DParker - 06/20/2022

This has become our view from the backdoor every evening now. Hopefully soon we'll be able to see her back there with a fawn in tow.

[video=youtube;1-fLnVLhsuY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-fLnVLhsuY[/video]

1313.) bluecat - 06/20/2022

If there is any chance you can legally shoot deer with a bow out there, don't let your wife name them. Just sayin.

1314.) DParker - 06/20/2022

Unfortunately, no. It appears that a few years ago some idiots were unable to keep their arrows out of other people's property, so the county enacted a ban on archery on parcels under 10 acres in size, just like the shooting ban that went into effect for the same reason.

1315.) DParker - 06/20/2022

[Crocodile Dundee]
"Nah, that's not a Butternut Squash. Now [I][B]that's[/B][/I] a Butternut Squash.
[/Crocodile Dundee]

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/OFeFVqa.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Shoo fly, don't bother my Spaghetti Squash.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/tMDDq2U.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

There's a watermelon damned near everywhere I look.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/0wG2OLm.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1316.) bluecat - 06/20/2022

Sorry about the deer hunting. I remember now you mentioned that it was banned.

I hope you like squash. You may be gnawing on that awhile.

1317.) DParker - 06/20/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67090]I hope you like squash. You may be gnawing on that awhile.[/QUOTE]

It ain't exactly soup weather, but by crackey I'm going to have some anyway.

1318.) DParker - 06/20/2022

I have to give the new kid points for effort and enthusiasm. She's laid one of these tiny things every day for the past 3 days.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/wAWowot.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1319.) DParker - 06/20/2022

Well, that was fast. The pumpkins are popping up already.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/4nfwaSh.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1320.) Swamp Fox - 06/21/2022

:tu:

1321.) DParker - 06/21/2022

I clearly need to start paying closer attention to the cucumbers.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/1mKxYvU.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1322.) bluecat - 06/21/2022

I've got some pickling tips if you are interested. They look like the perfect size.

1323.) DParker - 06/21/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67118]I've got some pickling tips if you are interested.[/QUOTE]

I'm listenin'.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67118]They look like the perfect size.[/QUOTE]

They're 2 varieties bred for pickling ("Boston Pickling" & "National Pickling") plus one for slicing ("Marketmore Select"), though I've let some of them get bigger than I should have.

1324.) bluecat - 06/21/2022

I've tried several but my favorite is the National Pickling. They have a thin skin so they are fun to eat. Are you wanting to pickle them whole or cut them in chunks?

1325.) DParker - 06/21/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67120]I've tried several but my favorite is the National Pickling.[/QUOTE]

Now if I can just figure out how to tell them apart.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67120]Are you wanting to pickle them whole or cut them in chunks?[/QUOTE]

I'm thinking I'll probably go with slices and spears since it's much easier to pack them into fewer jars that way.

1326.) bluecat - 06/21/2022

I'm going to pm you some tips.

1327.) DParker - 06/21/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67122]I'm going to pm you some tips.[/QUOTE]

Buy low, sell high?

1328.) bluecat - 06/21/2022

How to make your pickle less flabby.

1329.) bluecat - 06/21/2022

... and I'm not talking about viewing bluecat babes. (Can I say babe?)

1330.) DParker - 06/21/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67124]How to make your pickle less flabby.[/QUOTE]

So, properly pumped-up pickles.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67125](Can I say babe?)[/QUOTE]

Baa - ram - ewe.

1331.) bluecat - 06/21/2022

Hear me now and believe me later, these pickles are flabbulicious.

1332.) DParker - 06/22/2022

BTW, I sliced up one of the smaller "Marketmore Select" cukes after leaving it in the fridge for a few hours and I have to say I'm impressed. It has a pronounced but mild flavor (if that makes sense) and crisp texture. A damned good fresh-eating cucumber. I'm going to have to let a couple get a little bigger before picking and see if they retain those characteristics with a little more ripening.

1333.) DParker - 06/23/2022

The silks on this ear were pretty much gone, so I thought I'd pick it and see what was up. I don't know what happened toward the tip, and those two rows at the base, but the rest of the ear is well-filled and cool looking. It's a bit skinny though.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/0vUvdKA.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Some of the melons have decided to keep the asparagus company.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/TKTA321.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1334.) bluecat - 06/23/2022

The melons look really healthy. I want to know if they are sweet when you eat them.

Is that Indian corn? Can I say corn? If so, is it just for decoration or are they edible?

1335.) DParker - 06/23/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67149]The melons look really healthy. I want to know if they are sweet when you eat them.[/QUOTE]

That makes two of us. I'll let you know.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67149]Is that Indian corn? Can I say corn? If so, is it just for decoration or are they edible?[/QUOTE]

It's "Painted Mountain", which is one of the varieties that is generally referred to as Indian Corn (there are quite a few others as well). And while I think most grow it for its decorative appearance, it is an heirloom sweet (but not super sweet) corn that was bred for its hardiness and vigor. This one is not good looking enough to dry for decoration, so I plan on boiling it later and seeing how it tastes.

1336.) Swamp Fox - 06/24/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67119]I'm listenin'.

[/QUOTE]

+ 90 proof .....

LOL

1337.) Swamp Fox - 06/24/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67148]The silks on this ear were pretty much gone, so I thought I'd pick it and see what was up. I don't know what happened toward the tip, and those two rows at the base, but the rest of the ear is well-filled and cool looking. It's a bit skinny though.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/0vUvdKA.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR="#FF0000"]Looks like some type of voodoo fertility talisman... Okay, maybe from the Jersey Shore... [/COLOR][/FONT]

Some of the melons have decided to keep the asparagus company.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR="#FF0000"]
See, that's what I'm on about ..[/COLOR][/FONT]

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/TKTA321.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

;;;;;

1338.) Swamp Fox - 06/24/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67149]The melons look really healthy. I want to know if they are sweet when you eat them.

Is that Indian corn? Can I say corn? If so, is it just for decoration or are they edible?[/QUOTE]

Corn .... LOL +7

I should let the other stuff go ...

but

How?

1339.) DParker - 06/25/2022

Cool beans.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/z5PTvPL.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

I don't know what the deal is with my Mason bees but the Leafcutters are hanging around and giving me my money's worth. Not only are they pollinating the hell out of the garden, they're already on their 3rd generation with another 5 tubes full of eggs.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/vSAczMF.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1340.) Swamp Fox - 06/26/2022

I see bream bait ...

1341.) bluecat - 06/27/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67193]Cool beans.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/z5PTvPL.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

So I have some questions. Are the leafcutter bees destructive at all? After you set up the tubes, what do you do?

1342.) DParker - 06/28/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67202]So I have some questions.[/QUOTE]

And you're not even from New Jersey.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67202]Are the leafcutter bees destructive at all?[/QUOTE]

Technically, yes...but just a bit. As their name implies they cut bits of leaves out to use for building the separators between the eggs in the tubes, as well as the end cap to seal off an protect the "nest". But the amount they take is minimal, even with so many of them, and the plants don't suffer for it. It's a really tiny price to pay for the pollination they do.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67202]After you set up the tubes, what do you do?[/QUOTE]

So far, nothing. They've been hatching on their own, and still have plenty of empty unused tubes. If/when they start running out before winter I'll replace the used ones with fresh new ones. And any tubes that have unhatched eggs/larvae in them when the temperatures drop to the point that they become dormant will be brought inside, removed from the tubes (by unrolling them...they're just paper) and kept in the refrigerator until Spring, when they'll be put back outside to hatch and repeat the cycle.

1343.) DParker - 06/28/2022

We've had a whitetail doe hanging around the back pasture...and my vegetable garden...since at least mid-April, which I know because of a trail cam I set up back there just to see what sorts of nocturnal visitors might be showing up from the creek area. In some of the images from most of May I could see a bit of a belly paunch on her, which was visible up to May 30, and which then seemed to disappear on photos taken 2 days later (June 1). I told my wife that I think she was pregnant, and had just given birth. Since she shows up back there nearly every day (usually either very early or very late, though on rare occasions she's back there in broad daylight) I've been expecting to eventually see her with a fawn in tow, assuming I was right about her. And late Saturday night I was proven right...sort of. It looks like a small dog in this video, but that's a fawn copping a squat behind mom.

But then it turned out that I was also wrong...sort of. In this clip from the next morning we see mom with 2 young 'uns in tow.

But wait...there's more. A few minutes later we see that we don't have a resident doe with a 2 fawns. We have 2 resident does, with 3 fawns between them....that I know of so far. That's a lot of herbivore mouths to feed. My garden might be doomed.

1344.) bluecat - 06/28/2022

Awesome. Looks like mom has her hands, er..hooves full.

1345.) bluecat - 06/28/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67209]

So far, nothing. They've been hatching on their own, and still have plenty of empty unused tubes. If/when they start running out before winter I'll replace the used ones with fresh new ones. And any tubes that have unhatched eggs/larvae in them when the temperatures drop to the point that they become dormant will be brought inside, removed from the tubes (by unrolling them...they're just paper) and kept in the refrigerator until Spring, when they'll be put back outside to hatch and repeat the cycle.[/QUOTE]

Aren't those tubes reused by them? Next time you are there with camera take a close up please. How thick is that board?

1346.) DParker - 06/28/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67213]Aren't those tubes reused by them?[/QUOTE]

No. After the new bees hatch and emerge the tubes are full of frass, leaf and cocoon fragments, etc.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67213]Next time you are there with camera take a close up please.[/QUOTE]

Done. These two tubes have been used and the former occupants have hatched.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/6stCDe6.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

For contrast, here are two tubes that were recently filled up and capped off.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/UiL55WO.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Just as I took that 2nd pic a female buzzed in around my head and headed into the 3rd tube. You can't see much (in fact you'll need it full-screened on a full-sized monitor to see anything), but I got a few seconds of footage of her in there doing her thing. Since she's working right at the opening we can surmise that the tube is just about full at this point, and will be capped off soon as well.

[video=youtube;GMa_s6F2DcQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMa_s6F2DcQ[/video]

[QUOTE=bluecat;67213]How thick is that board?[/QUOTE]

Those are 7" lengths of 2x6 that I clamped together. Then I drilled 5/8" holes 6" deep where two boards met so that each boar actually has a semi-circular groove running down the surface, with two adjoining boards combing those grooves into a tunnel. Then I drilled 4x 1/4" holes perpendicular to the bee holes, one near each corner, all the way through the board "sandwich" and inserted a length of 1/4" aluminum rod into each one. This holds them together as a unit, but I can take them out at the end of the season and clean out the tubes/holes. The plan was to use that feature to remove any dormant Mason bee cocoons that might be in the holes that don't have paper tubes (those are used by Leafcutters, as they're smaller and prefer smaller diameter holes for nesting), but I don't see any evidence that any Mason bees have made use of them.

1347.) bluecat - 06/28/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67215]No. After the new bees hatch and emerge the tubes are full of frass, leaf and cocoon fragments, etc.

Done. These two tubes have been used and the former occupants have hatched.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/6stCDe6.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

For contrast, here are two tubes that were recently filled up and capped off.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/UiL55WO.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Just as I took that 2nd pic a female buzzed in around my head and headed into the 3rd tube. You can't see much (in fact you'll need it full-screened on a full-sized monitor to see anything), but I got a few seconds of footage of her in there doing her thing. Since she's working right at the opening we can surmise that the tube is just about full at this point, and will be capped off soon as well.

[video=youtube;GMa_s6F2DcQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMa_s6F2DcQ[/video]

Those are 7" lengths of 2x6 that I clamped together. Then I drilled 5/8" holes 6" deep where two boards met so that each boar actually has a semi-circular groove running down the surface, with two adjoining boards combing those grooves into a tunnel. Then I drilled 4x 1/4" holes perpendicular to the bee holes, one near each corner, all the way through the board "sandwich" and inserted a length of 1/4" aluminum rod into each one. This holds them together as a unit, but I can take them out at the end of the season and clean out the tubes/holes. The plan was to use that feature to remove any dormant Mason bee cocoons that might be in the holes that don't have paper tubes (those are used by Leafcutters, as they're smaller and prefer smaller diameter holes for nesting), but I don't see any evidence that any Mason bees have made use of them.[/QUOTE]

7 inches or 7 feet?

1348.) DParker - 06/28/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67217]7 inches or 7 feet?[/QUOTE]

That's kind of personal, don't you think? Oh, you're talking about the 2x6s? 7 inches, long enough for me to drill holes 6 in. in depth and not come close to punching all the way through.

1349.) DParker - 06/28/2022

My surveillance position has been compromised.

[video=youtube;kWjEm4Dh-DQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWjEm4Dh-DQ[/video]

1350.) bluecat - 06/28/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67220]That's kind of personal, don't you think? Oh, you're talking about the 2x6s? 7 inches, long enough for me to drill holes 6 in. in depth and not come close to punching all the way through.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I might need a different angle on that. Just not seeing how it is constructed. Pretty cool though. Congrats on pulling it off.

1351.) bluecat - 06/28/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67222]My surveillance position has been compromised.

[video=youtube;kWjEm4Dh-DQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWjEm4Dh-DQ[/video][/QUOTE]

lol, did you see the hole in her ear? Is that from a .22 you think?

1352.) DParker - 06/28/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67223]Congrats on pulling it off.[/QUOTE]

There you go getting all personal again.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67224]lol, did you see the hole in her ear? Is that from a .22 you think?[/QUOTE]

Possibly. My son suggested an ear tag, like she's a reject from a farming operation. But I don't think there are any of those anywhere near here.

At least she didn't slobber all over the lens. Now if she'd just stop eating the leaves off my sweet potatoes and pepper plants.

1353.) DParker - 06/28/2022

This is what happens when you get lazy and skip harvesting your cucumbers for even one day. Two of them got away from me by hiding under some thick foliage until they turned bright orange, making it easier for me to spot them yesterday.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/VSwQPPs.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

With previous varieties that I've grown ("Straight Eight" especially) overgrown and overripe examples like these two become bitter and nigh inedible...except to chickens, who dearly love them as a treat when it's hot outside. I cut one up and was about to take the whole pile out to them when I decided to try one, just for grins. To my surprise, it was still fairly tasty. Not at it's flavor peak, to be sure...but still good for a mindless snack while working at my desk, or watching some idiot tube later. So I gave the yard birds half and kept the rest for myself. Then I tried lightly dusting them with some of this stuff...

...and the combination was friggin' delicious. In my quest for snackable goodies that won't send my blood sugar skyward cucumbers might well be the ticket as a base, with numerous variations on the theme. That's good, because I've got more sitting in my fridge already than I'll ever be able pickle, with a lot more to come.

1354.) DParker - 06/29/2022

The does are getting pretty bold. I just had to go chase one out of my garden. Walking across open pasture I made it all the way to the barn about 50 yds from her before she decided it was time to bolt.

1355.) DParker - 06/29/2022

I found one of my Mason bees gittin'-r-done on a sunflower side-by-side with 2 much smaller Leafcutters. She's covered in pollen.

[video=youtube;ssYtpttLKkE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssYtpttLKkE[/video]

1356.) bluecat - 06/29/2022

You said pollen.

1357.) bluecat - 06/29/2022

Definately doing its part.

1358.) DParker - 06/29/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67230]You said pollen.[/QUOTE]

I keep forgetting that this is a family-friendly site.

The year's first cantaloupe and sweet corn ("Silver King").

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/w2wxtWy.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The pollination was spotty on one of the ears and there was a little bit of corn earworm damage to all 3, but it looks like I got to it with the BT last week soon enough to keep that to a minimum, and dealt with by just cutting off the damaged tips. After 5 minutes in some boiling water it was tender and very sweet. I'll plant this again.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/xuXxwam.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

After a little bit of fridge time we tried the cantaloupe. While ridiculously juicy and plenty sweet, it lacked the heady perfume aroma that I remember from the variety. I think it was picked just a day or so too early, and needs to go without irrigation for a couple of days in order to develop and concentrate the aromas and flavors. Next time.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/UJnnieN.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1359.) bluecat - 06/29/2022

It's gotta feel good to put that much thought, time, money and effort into all of this and then begin reaping the rewards.

1360.) DParker - 06/29/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67233]It's gotta feel good to put that much thought, time, money and effort into all of this and then begin reaping the rewards.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely. Now if those hungry hoofed she-demons will just stop defoliating my sweet potatoes and peppers I might get to try some of those at some point.

1361.) Swamp Fox - 06/30/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67232]I keep forgetting that this is a family-friendly site.

[/QUOTE]

It's only a model ... :wink

1362.) Swamp Fox - 06/30/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67229]

[video=youtube;ssYtpttLKkE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssYtpttLKkE[/video][/QUOTE]

Very nice ...

1363.) DParker - 06/30/2022

The morning's haul of cucumbers, another cantaloupe and just enough okra to sauté for my morning egg, onion (also from the garden) and chopped pastrami burrito.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/h6E63D8.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1364.) bluecat - 06/30/2022

Your wife has to be loving all the fresh produce too.

1365.) DParker - 06/30/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67240]Your wife has to be loving all the fresh produce too.[/QUOTE]

The cantaloupe and cucumbers in particular, since those are her favorites...and everything else mostly because she doesn't have to shop for it.

1366.) DParker - 06/30/2022

My Butternut squash has a terrible case of acne. These things are enormous.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/z7MNGe4.jpg"]Full-size original[/URL])

1367.) DParker - 07/02/2022

I'll have 22 lbs of cucumbers, a 4 lb cantaloupe, that 7 lb butternut squash...oh, and 1/2 lb of okra. Thanks.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/aPw3wKs.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/peD5xfw.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/CQ4ZhXP.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/hh2VzG4.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1368.) bluecat - 07/03/2022

That's it?

Happy fourth y'all.

1369.) DParker - 07/03/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67273]Happy fourth y'all.[/QUOTE]

Back at ya!

I've been wondering if the heat was getting to the hens because egg production has been down for the last 3 weeks. Then yesterday evening I found my broody Buf Orpington hunkered down inside a big piece of play equipment that the previous owners left in the sandbox by the stable. I suspected she was sitting on an egg or two, so I reached under her (which elicited much complaining), and by the time I was done I pulled 21 eggs out from under her. I candled all of them and found 2 that are definitely chicks in progress., with the rest either being infertile or with shells that are just too thick and dark to see through. So it's going to be an interesting couple of weeks as ai crack them open one-by-one and see what's inside them.

What I then realized was that she's been spending the night out there every night instead of bedding down in the coop. She's damned lucky that we haven't had any predators in the yard at night.

1370.) DParker - 07/04/2022

Today was pull-all-of-the-remaining-onions day.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/bjzBmKw.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The converted garage is now a root cellar.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/5sbREaZ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The tops of the Adirondack Blue potatoes have all turned brown and died down, so as long as I was out there I dug one up just to make sure there was something down there. It's a bit deformed on the outside...

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/tuCX0eH.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

...but is perfect on the inside. It was quite tasty after being cubed, boiled and slathered with butter and salt.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/sRKUPwI.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1371.) bluecat - 07/05/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67274]Back at ya!

I've been wondering if the heat was getting to the hens because egg production has been down for the last 3 weeks. Then yesterday evening I found my broody Buf Orpington hunkered down inside a big piece of play equipment that the previous owners left in the sandbox by the stable. I suspected she was sitting on an egg or two, so I reached under her (which elicited much complaining), and by the time I was done I pulled 21 eggs out from under her. I candled all of them and found 2 that are definitely chicks in progress., with the rest either being infertile or with shells that are just too thick and dark to see through. So it's going to be an interesting couple of weeks as ai crack them open one-by-one and see what's inside them.

What I then realized was that she's been spending the night out there every night instead of bedding down in the coop. She's damned lucky that we haven't had any predators in the yard at night.[/QUOTE]

Why do you think she opted to nest outside?

1372.) bluecat - 07/05/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67275]Today was pull-all-of-the-remaining-onions day.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/bjzBmKw.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The converted garage is now a root cellar.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/5sbREaZ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

...but is perfect on the inside. It was quite tasty after being cubed, boiled and slathered with butter and salt.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/sRKUPwI.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Beautiful. Almost as beautiful as your damascus blade.

1373.) bluecat - 07/05/2022

I need to pull my onions soon. My potatoes are still green as they got a late start.

1374.) DParker - 07/05/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67276]Why do you think she opted to nest outside?[/QUOTE]

Possibly because when she first went broody and tried to nest in the coop 24x7 I kept pulling her out so she could eat, drink and get some exercise. But that's just pure speculation on my part.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67277]Beautiful. Almost as beautiful as your damascus blade.[/QUOTE]

Are you hitting on me? I mean, not that there's anything wrong with that.

But seriously, thanks. With all of the kitchen goodies I've accumulated all of the years, that knife is my favorite piece of gear.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67278]I need to pull my onions soon. My potatoes are still green as they got a late start.[/QUOTE]

You said, "pull my onions".

Which type(s) of onions did you grow?

1375.) bluecat - 07/05/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67279]Possibly because when she first went broody and tried to nest in the coop 24x7 I kept pulling her out so she could eat, drink and get some exercise. But that's just pure speculation on my part.

Are you hitting on me? I mean, not that there's anything wrong with that.

But seriously, thanks. With all of the kitchen goodies I've accumulated all of the years, that knife is my favorite piece of gear.

You said, "pull my onions".

Which type(s) of onions did you grow?[/QUOTE]

These were onion sets and they were yellow. I typically do the granex which is the Vidalia. This year, like last I grabbed the small bulbs which do just fine. I'm not sure I can tell much of a difference between whatever I have and the Granex (Vidalia). I don't recall what they were.

1376.) DParker - 07/05/2022

Yeah, I usually just grow "1015Y Texas Super Sweet", which are also very similar to Vidalia. But since I had so much room I added the "Texas Early White" and "Red Creole". It's a shame the red ones don't grow bigger. They're quite good, and according to [URL="https://dixondalefarms.com/onion_comparison_table/"]this website[/URL] they have 2-3x times the storage potential of the other two.

1377.) Swamp Fox - 07/06/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67279]

You said, "pull my onions".

[/QUOTE]

Beat me to it, so to speak ....

:groan:

:p

1378.) DParker - 07/06/2022

Alright, this is getting out of hand. Besides the 4 on the counter from yesterday and the 6 in the basket that I just brought in, there's 1 cantaloupe already in the fridge and another 4-5 still in the garden that are probably ready to pick. I just ran out of basket space. Also, that's the 2nd 7+ lb butternut squash I've brought in so far. My wife is getting ready to take our granddaughter home after her weekly sleepover here last night. Guess who's taking multiple cantaloupes home to Mom and Dad.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/Hke0ch1.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

We also did a July 4th dinner last night, because we wanted to wait until she was here to help me harvest the ingredients for it (she likes doing that). Unfortunately I forgot to take pics pre-meal, so all I have is evidence of the leftovers.

More Adirondack Blue potatoes from the garden.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/0cqNPEQ.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

The two types of super-sweet corn I'm growing, Peaches & Cream and Silver King.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/n1tnHCX.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

Ribeyes. Not from the garden, but seared with a weed torch in the firepit outside. [TimeAllenGrunt.mp3]

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/wAVQK95.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

And for dessert, Sugar Baby watermelon...from the garden.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/ToMITqs.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1379.) DParker - 07/07/2022

I went out early this morning to try to get a little potato harvesting done before it becomes hellishly hot. After letting the chickens out and watering the strawberries and blackberries I grabbed my new spade fork and headed out to the garden. I was planning on filling up the basket, but between having to pull weeds out of the way, picking burrs out of my legs and several other time-wasters I only managed to fill it about halfway before I called it quits. That only took care of the first 15 row-feet of 100 that I have planted to 'taters, but that's OK. Not all of them have tops that are completely dead yet, and if I do this every day I can have it all done within a week. I also grabbed a cantaloupe that was nearby and convenient.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/LSKRCHc.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1380.) bluecat - 07/07/2022

I know it's more work but consider canning some of your potatoes. They will last almost indefinately and are very tasty. We just had some from last year.

1381.) DParker - 07/07/2022

1382.) DParker - 07/07/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67305]I know it's more work but consider canning some of your potatoes. They will last almost indefinately and are very tasty. We just had some from last year.[/QUOTE]

I probably will, given how much other food preservation I'm already going to have to do anyway. I'm also looking into dehydrating them as an alternative.

1383.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67305]I know it's more work but consider canning some of your potatoes. They will last almost indefinately and are very tasty. We just had some from last year.[/QUOTE]

Potatoes in the can?

Somebody's gonna tell me I need to be less judgy...

1384.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

We jumped from 67 to 338 viewers just now because of that post.

Just sayin'

1385.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

426 a minute later ...

Tell me something's wrong with the algorithm ...

1386.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

470 and rising ....

1387.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

To 550 in less than 12 minutes...

1388.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

590 ....

These people really like potatoes in the can ...

1389.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

626 ...

You know what's next ...

1390.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

Yup .... nailed it...

666 at 1:30 PM

1391.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

It only took 17 minutes for Satan to show up ...

That's better than a police response.

1392.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

737 ... LOL ....

To the moon!

(Can I say moon?)

1393.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

On plane at 794?

C'mon .... let's break 1000 ... Maybe we're gonna need a bigger can ...

1394.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

852 in a flash ... LOL

1395.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

UhOh ... 843 ... This potato rocket may have hit peak trajectory ...

1396.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

854 ... It would be weird if the key word is "potato" and not "can" .....

More research is needed ...

1397.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

Experiment: Stage 1

[QUOTE]So, you like your potatoes ...[/QUOTE]

1398.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

848 ....

1399.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

Experiment: Stage 2

[QUOTE]in the can? [/QUOTE]

:pop:

1400.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

848 ...

1401.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

It appears to be a tie.

HC readers respond to potatoes and potatoes in the can equally well ...

God help us.

1402.) bluecat - 07/07/2022

What doesn't make sense is if there are really that many guests viewing the forum, why is it you can never find them on any thread?

1403.) bluecat - 07/07/2022

883 ...

1404.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

Because they're zombies?

1405.) DParker - 07/07/2022

When did you start channeling crookedeye?

1406.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

Crookedeye and I have always been simpatico, as the Mexicans say ...

1407.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

...

:wink

1408.) DParker - 07/07/2022

Apparently I'm running a playground back there. This was going on as I was walking back to the garden to dig potatoes. They must have spotted me before I saw them. Nice synchronized wizzing by the does at the end. They also seem hell-bent on fertilizing my garden.

[video=youtube;rWpYJp-J9UI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWpYJp-J9UI[/video]

1409.) Swamp Fox - 07/07/2022

You're a regular Ricky Raccoon ....:wink

1410.) bluecat - 07/08/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67335]Apparently I'm running a playground back there. This was going on as I was walking back to the garden to dig potatoes. They must have spotted me before I saw them. Nice synchronized wizzing by the does at the end. They also seem hell-bent on fertilizing my garden.

[video=youtube;rWpYJp-J9UI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWpYJp-J9UI[/video][/QUOTE]

Good stuff!

1411.) DParker - 07/08/2022

Concerned sunflower looks after sad friend.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/yzDzrXS.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1412.) bluecat - 07/08/2022

"Cheer up li'l buddy, we can't all be as tall as dad."

1413.) DParker - 07/08/2022

Yeah, that one in the back is at about 9 ft now. I like to stand there and watch my mason and leafcutter bees work those seed heads. They love those things, and there were a couple dozen bees all over them. Interestingly, the honeybees don't seem to have any interest in them and stick to the cucurbits and okra.

1414.) Swamp Fox - 07/08/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67340]Concerned sunflower looks after sad friend.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/yzDzrXS.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Are you sure that's what he's doing?

1415.) DParker - 07/09/2022

Don't ask, don't tell.

1416.) Swamp Fox - 07/09/2022

LOL ...

There are a lot of leaves in the way, so it's hard to say for sure ...

1417.) DParker - 07/09/2022

What happens in the garden stays in the garden.

1418.) Swamp Fox - 07/09/2022

That's prolly for the best ...

1419.) DParker - 07/11/2022

All the free food from my garden just got even more expensive. I just ordered one of these (49 cu. ft. commercial refrigerator) to be delivered on July 14th or 15th so I can, among other things, have a place to keep all of the excess produce that I'm getting every day. The fun part will be getting into my garage because the delivery truck is just going to drop it off (no movement into the building included), and it weighs about 395 lbs. Luckily I have a young strapping neighbor who is a firefighter and who owes me a favor since I used my tractor to unload a big-assed welding unit from the back of his truck into his garage for him.

1420.) bluecat - 07/11/2022

Looks like a beast.

1421.) DParker - 07/12/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67359]Looks like a beast.[/QUOTE]

It had better be. We've eaten 4 cantaloupes already, I just turned another 1 into ice cream, I've given away 9 (friends, family and neighbors), tossed 5 overripe-to-the-point-of-starting-to-rot ones into the pasture for the deer, have 5 on the kitchen counter and another 8 in the garage....and the vines aren't even close to being done producing. And when I was just out there I counted at least 25 watermelons that I could see (in addition to the 1 I've already harvested), with a good 1/4-1/3 of those either ready to be picked or not more than a day or two away from it. And most are not tiny icebox watermelons either. Thank goodness I can still leave the rest of the potatoes in the ground for a little while longer.

1422.) DParker - 07/12/2022

I made cantaloupe ice cream yesterday. The texture was off (I was impatient and didn't refrigerate the mixture for long enough before putting it into the ice cream mixer) but the flavor was outstanding.

(Insert Bubba's shrimp speech here replacing crustacean references with melon ones)

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/raEnoU0.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1423.) bluecat - 07/12/2022

Cantaloupe ice cream is a first for me. Glad it provided good flavor. You could open up a roadside market.

1424.) DParker - 07/12/2022

Hopefully it works well with watermelon too, as I have what I estimate to be at least 350 lbs of them sitting out there now. I just brought this one ("Leelanou Sweetglo" or "Yamato Silver", I'm not sure which yet) inside, and at 13.5 lbs it's average-sized at best.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/Lgmy8iv.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1425.) DParker - 07/13/2022

Leelanau Sweetglo it is. My granddaughter kept insisting it must be a giant cantaloupe because an orange fleshed watermelon is just somehow wrong. It's tasty nonetheless.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/8mOR0yu.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1426.) bluecat - 07/13/2022

I've never seen anything like that.

1427.) DParker - 07/13/2022

Yeah, it's a first for me too. I'm looking forward to one of the Yamato Silvers which, as the name implies, have a silvery white flesh.

1428.) DParker - 07/14/2022

Just another morning in the 'hood. Got a call at 7am from my wheelchair-bound neighbor asking if I could help his wife to round-up the wayward cow she was chasing by my backyard fence. We eventually coaxed her through a gate into my other neighbors' pasture for her to hang out in until the owners are found. She obviously had a quality upbringing, as evidenced by her having the manners to bid my chickens a "Good morning" as she wandered by.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/bEH3aNN.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1429.) bluecat - 07/14/2022

"Morning ladies. I trust you are doing well."

1430.) DParker - 07/14/2022

Hens: "We're clucking wonderful, and you?"

Cow: "Udderly fantastic. thank you."

1431.) bluecat - 07/14/2022

Couple of questions: When you are watering, do you water your entire plot all at once or do you have zones?

Related, if you pull up all your onions which I assume is in a long row - now you have a row with nothing in it. Do you have the ability to turn off that row or do you not worry about it when you water.

1432.) DParker - 07/14/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67378]Couple of questions: When you are watering, do you water your entire plot all at once or do you have zones?[/QUOTE]

As it stands I water the whole thing. I do have some valves I could install on however many rows I want so that I can turn them off individually, but as it turned out I really didn't have that need. That's especially true now when it's so hot that pretty much everything needs a good deep soaking nearly every day. My Fall garden might be different, but I haven't gotten all that decided on yet.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67378]Related, if you pull up all your onions which I assume is in a long row - now you have a row with nothing in it. Do you have the ability to turn off that row or do you not worry about it when you water.[/QUOTE]

The onions were all in a single row, but they represented only a fraction (maybe 1/6) of that row, so even now I wouldn't want to shut off that whole dripline.

1433.) DParker - 07/16/2022

I'm the new head of the Ministry Of Stacking Melons On Top Of Other Melons.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/tDAUPkC.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1434.) Swamp Fox - 07/16/2022

"Those melons seem too big for that minute maid ... "

[Insert picture of real-life Barbie here:]

1435.) DParker - 07/16/2022

I thought the O.J. looks like it's saying, "Damn, I hate riding the subway during rush hour."

1436.) Swamp Fox - 07/16/2022

LOL ...

I'm okay with a little melon-spreading ...

[url]https://www.thetalko.com/15-real-life-human-barbie-dolls-of-the-world/[/url]

1437.) bluecat - 07/18/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67386]LOL ...

I'm okay with a little melon-spreading ...

[url]https://www.thetalko.com/15-real-life-human-barbie-dolls-of-the-world/[/url][/QUOTE]

Good Lord!

1438.) bluecat - 07/18/2022

Mixed bag

1439.) DParker - 07/18/2022

That's a salad right there. A bit of a weird one, but one nonetheless.

1440.) Swamp Fox - 07/18/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67411]That's a salad right there. A bit of a weird one, but one nonetheless.[/QUOTE]

I thought you were talking about the collection of living Barbies, until the picture uploaded to my 'puter .... LOL

1441.) Swamp Fox - 07/18/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67409]Good Lord![/QUOTE]

LOL ...

1442.) DParker - 07/18/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67413]I thought you were talking about the collection of living Barbies, until the picture uploaded to my 'puter .... LOL[/QUOTE]

Well, I mean...I do have a bottle of good blue cheese dressing I'd be willing to experiment with.

1443.) Swamp Fox - 07/18/2022

I'm a Cool Whip man, myself ...

1444.) bluecat - 07/19/2022

+ 3 for the both of ya

1445.) DParker - 07/19/2022

Although I guess this would be the more appropriate choice.

1446.) bluecat - 07/19/2022

kinky

1447.) Swamp Fox - 07/20/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67419]Although I guess this would be the more appropriate choice.

[/QUOTE]

LOL .... +8 ....

1448.) DParker - 07/20/2022

Words I never thought I'd ever utter:

"I'm really getting tited of these whitetailed deer."

1449.) Swamp Fox - 07/20/2022

Camel ranching?

I'll bet that's incompatible with deer...

1450.) DParker - 07/21/2022

If it gets any drier here camels might end up being the livestock of choice.

1451.) DParker - 07/21/2022

My chickens are like feathered piranhas. I tossed a half watermelon rind and an ear of overripe corn on the ground, and 5 minutes later they had both picked clean.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/bddxDhc.jpg?1"]Full-sized original[/URL])

My Centennial sweet potatoes, which I planted from slips just over 3 months ago, have grown like weeds and, per their days-to-harvest schedule (90 days) should have been ready to harvest as of last week. I just went out to dig up one plant to see what was under it and...nothing. Not even so much as a wide spot in a single root. This is a shot of just one section of the root system, but they all look exactly the same. I'm not a happy camper.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/jCGZ9Oa.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1452.) bluecat - 07/21/2022

Whoa and whoa. Those chickens are pretty thorough.

Could you see the tops of the sweet potatoes? Did they look healthy?

1453.) DParker - 07/21/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67430]Whoa and whoa. Those chickens are pretty thorough.

Could you see the tops of the sweet potatoes? Did they look healthy?[/QUOTE]

Yeah, the vines look good save for the partial defoliation due to hungry whitetails. I suppose that could stress them and reduce their photosynthesis ability enough to prevent tuber formation.

1454.) bluecat - 07/22/2022

You said tuber.

1455.) DParker - 07/22/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67432]You said tuber.[/QUOTE]

At least it wasn't "Toobin".

1456.) bluecat - 07/22/2022

Toobout or Toobin?

1457.) Swamp Fox - 07/23/2022

Wax on, wax off ...

1458.) DParker - 07/23/2022

220...221....

1459.) Swamp Fox - 07/23/2022

LOL ...

I think Jeffrey is still using manual power ...

1460.) DParker - 07/25/2022

My first Yamato Silver watermelon. A good sized melon at just over 10 lbs, not only is the appearance of the flesh unusual but the flavor is also very different. I couldn't quite put my finger on it until I read some others describing it as being like Asian pear with hints of citrus. That's at least as good as any description I could come up with, so that's what I'm going with. I still think I like the Leelanau Sweetglo just a little bit better, but both are more interesting than conventional red-fleshed watermelons and I'll definitely be growing both again next year.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/qJfRTg6.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/4MgG9OT.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1461.) bluecat - 07/25/2022

I never knew there were so many varieties.

1462.) DParker - 07/25/2022

I knew there were a lot of different varieties of pretty much every fruit and vegetable commonly grown (plant breeders are a prolific bunch), but I had no idea there were so many really good and interesting ones until I started experimenting with growing the less-commonly known stuff. That's one of the reasons I tried so many different things this year in an effort to find out what (if anything) I've been missing out on. As a bonus, several of the things I planted from seed and really like are heirloom varieties (for instance, the Marketmore Select cukes, the Leelanau Sweetglo & Yamato Silver watermelons, the Clemson Spineless & Jing Orange okras) that will produce offspring that are true to their parent plants. When I plant them again next year I'll make an effort to isolate multiple varieties of the same thing from one another enough to prevent (or at least minimize the chances of) cross-pollination so I can save that year's seeds rather than having to buy more for subsequent planting. I need to find a good heirloom sweetcorn too. Unfortunately all of the really good super-sweet varieties are hybrids that won't reproduce true to parentage, but maybe I can find something that's "good enough".

And of course my potato planting should be self-sustaining already if I can stop myself from eating all of them and save some for seed purposes.

1463.) bluecat - 07/25/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67449]I knew there were a lot of different varieties of pretty much every fruit and vegetable commonly grown (plant breeders are a prolific bunch), but I had no idea there were so many really good and interesting ones until I started experimenting with growing the less-commonly known stuff. That's one of the reasons I tried so many different things this year in an effort to find out what (if anything) I've been missing out on. As a bonus, several of the things I planted from seed and really like are heirloom varieties (for instance, the Marketmore Select cukes, the Leelanau Sweetglo & Yamato Silver watermelons, the Clemson Spineless & Jing Orange okras) that will produce offspring that are true to their parent plants. When I plant them again next year I'll make an effort to isolate multiple varieties of the same thing from one another enough to prevent (or at least minimize the chances of) cross-pollination so I can save that year's seeds rather than having to buy more for subsequent planting. I need to find a good heirloom sweetcorn too. Unfortunately all of the really good super-sweet varieties are hybrids that won't reproduce true to parentage, but maybe I can find something that's "good enough".

And of course my potato planting should be self-sustaining already if I can stop myself from eating all of them and save some for seed purposes.[/QUOTE]

How will you save potatoes to seed next year? Just curious. I harvested my potatoes yesterday and was a bit disppointed by the amount I harvested. Seems like I should have had more.

1464.) bluecat - 07/25/2022

This is what I got out of 26 plants. It made 9 quarts of canned potatoes.

Potatoes were healthy, watered, in a mixture of manure, peet, potting soil and composted soil.

1465.) DParker - 07/25/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67451]How will you save potatoes to seed next year? Just curious.[/QUOTE]

My current plan is to cut up some of the current harvest for seed and use them to plant another crop early next month for a Fall harvest, then save some seeds from that harvest for next year's early Spring planting. If that doesn't work out (no Fall harvest happens, for whatever reason) I'll try to keep enough from the current harvest for next year. In theory (untested by me yet) you can keep properly stored seed potatoes for a max up up to around 200 days or so (though almost certainly less). But I'd much rather use seed from a Fall crop if possible.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67451]I harvested my potatoes yesterday and was a bit disppointed by the amount I harvested. Seems like I should have had more.[/QUOTE]

My per-plant yield so far has also been significantly less than I was expecting. Granted, I've so far only dug up 100% of a single variety (Adirondack Blue). From 23 plants I got just over 22 lbs of spuds, or just under 1 lb / plant. I was expecting something closer to 2 lbs / plant (based on average yields that I've been able to find figures for on the 'net). I've dug up a few of the next variety in line (German Butterball) and that one looks like it will be even worse. The plants were healthy as could be, and the individual potatoes all look well-formed so far...but they're sparse and very small in size, averaging the size of a typical "new" potato even though they should be fully matured by now.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67452]

This is what I got out of 26 plants. It made 9 quarts of canned potatoes.

Potatoes were healthy, watered, in a mixture of manure, peet, potting soil and composted soil.[/QUOTE]

That looks pretty close to what I expect I'll end up from the Butterballs (27 plants) when I'm finished. In fact they also individually look a lot like that variety, including the tiny ones that are about the size of a grape.

1466.) Swamp Fox - 07/25/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67451] I harvested my potatoes yesterday and was a bit disppointed by the amount I harvested. Seems like I should have had more.[/QUOTE]

That's what my great-great grandmother said ...

:wink:p:poke:

1467.) DParker - 07/25/2022

Except that my waistline could actually benefit from a little famine.

1468.) Swamp Fox - 07/25/2022

Don't consult your doctor because she will go the wrong way on the seven-course meal ...

LOL ...

Ethnic jokes are the best jokes .... Wanna fight about it?

1469.) DParker - 07/25/2022

Well, the carrots are a complete bust. I don't know what went wrong (except for the deer eating the tops, which was a relatively recent development) but this is the sum total of the harvest. Shown (for scale) with one of the four "Lemon" jalapeños I found while I was out there. At least I can look forward to trying those.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/9OY3xGp.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1470.) bluecat - 07/25/2022

Yeah, you can definately see where these were nipped.

I said nipped.

1471.) Swamp Fox - 07/25/2022

1472.) Swamp Fox - 07/25/2022

Save some for when you're really hungry ... LOL

1473.) Swamp Fox - 07/25/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67463]Well, the carrots are a complete bust. I don't know what went wrong (except for the deer eating the tops, which was a relatively recent development) but this is the sum total of the harvest. Shown (for scale) with one of the four "Lemon" jalapeños I found while I was out there. At least I can look forward to trying those.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/9OY3xGp.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

Save some for when you're really hungry ... LOL

1474.) DParker - 07/25/2022

Close...so close...

1475.) Swamp Fox - 07/25/2022

I feel like I might have missed something ... LOL .... But maybe not. :wink

1476.) bluecat - 07/25/2022

You said bust.

1477.) crookedeye - 07/25/2022

what is that a texas carrot

1478.) Swamp Fox - 07/26/2022

LOL ...

A Nebraska cucumber?

1479.) DParker - 07/26/2022

Mine's bigger.

1480.) DParker - 07/26/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67471]I feel like I might have missed something ... LOL .... But maybe not. :wink[/QUOTE]

"Nipped" vs "Nipsey"

1481.) DParker - 07/26/2022

Taking a walk out to the garden with my UV flashlight pays off. I see you, you tomato plant munching little bastard. It looks like one of my hens is getting a bed-time snack.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/mwbsVIi.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1482.) bluecat - 07/26/2022

That is one horny worm.

1483.) DParker - 07/26/2022

As of this morning he's fertilizer.

1484.) bluecat - 07/26/2022

What's up with the UV light. Do all insects show up when you do that? Kinda cool.

1485.) DParker - 07/26/2022

I don't know about all, but many do...including scorpions, which is handy when you're walking around at night in flip-flops. I don't think all (or even most) insects do though, or else I would have been seeing a lot more than I did given that I know the garden and pasture in general are both covered in six-legged critters. I knew that tomato hornworms do though, which was the reason I bought the light in the first place.

1486.) bluecat - 07/26/2022

I probably mentioned this but maybe didn't follow through, but I have a diatomaceous bottle I use that distributes the powder pretty well if you want me to take a picture of it.

1487.) DParker - 07/26/2022

I have a bag of DE but don't use it for anything. The previous owners used it for the chickens' dust baths because of its ability to desiccate and kill surface pests (mites and the like), but I'm not enamored of its ability to get into the lungs and wreak havoc. I know it's safe if you're really careful about handling it, but my birds aren't exhibiting any signs of mites or similar infestations, so I just don't bother with it.

1488.) bluecat - 07/26/2022

It would be for your tomatoes.

1489.) DParker - 07/26/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67484]It would be for your tomatoes.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I figured that. But the only infestation I have there (that I can't just hand pick like that lone hornworm) are deer. So far the grasshoppers don't seem to be interested.

1490.) Swamp Fox - 07/27/2022

It's a fair cop ...

1491.) Swamp Fox - 07/27/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67469]Close...so close...[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67471]I feel like I might have missed something ... LOL .... But maybe not. :wink[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;67476]"Nipped" vs "Nipsey"[/QUOTE]

It's a fair cop ....

1492.) Swamp Fox - 07/27/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67479]As of this morning he's fertilizer.[/QUOTE]

Do you wring their necks or do you drive a spike through their brains?

Asking for a friend...

1493.) Swamp Fox - 07/27/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67477]Taking a walk out to the garden with my UV flashlight pays off. I see you, you tomato plant munching little bastard. It looks like one of my hens is getting a bed-time snack.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/mwbsVIi.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;67479]As of this morning he's fertilizer.[/QUOTE]

....

1494.) DParker - 08/01/2022

Well, Todd (my stupid rooster) has finally bought himself a one-way ticket to freezer camp. I was sitting on the edge of the back porch yesterday afternoon having a little quiet time hand-feeding the chickens some of their favorite treat (black soldier fly larvae). Todd is normally pretty sedate for this, even participating with no aggressive behavior at all, and this time appeared to be no different...until I turned my head for a second to give some larvae to one of the hens who was standing just behind my left shoulder. Apparently he thought that was a great opportunity to launch a sneak attack and he hit my right arm like a ton of bricks, sinking one spur into my forearm and the other directly into my wrist. Were I not bleeding like a stuck pig and my wrist in severe pain I would have killed him on the spot...but I was and it was, so that bought him a little time. I let both punctures bleed for just a little bit to help flush them out, then cleaned them up with peroxide and stopped the bleeding. Given what nasty critters chickens are and what they walk through all day I thought it a good idea to hit a local 24/7 urgent care joint to get a tetanus shot and a script for some antibiotics, which I did. As the night wore on my wrist and hand swelled a bit (which the doctor said would likely happen) and the pain became quite intense, making me think that I might have a hairline fracture in one or more of the little bones in/near the wrist. But this morning that pain had largely subsided (though it still aches pretty bad if I put any pressure on my wrist), which I wouldn't expect if anything were actually broken.

Given that I'm right-handed he has a few more days to strut around and crow until my hand and wrist feel good enough to grab his feathered ass and take him out of the gene pool. My fault for putting it off this long hoping he'd eventually learn better.

1495.) Swamp Fox - 08/01/2022

Crock pot or open fire?

1496.) DParker - 08/01/2022

At his age (> 1 year) low-and-slow is the only game in town, which is fine by me. I have a Dutch oven, a Crock Pot, a pressure cooker AND a sous vide cooker. Options...I has 'em.

1497.) Swamp Fox - 08/01/2022

Rooster jerky .... Jerky rooster .... [ ----- ----] etc. might be worth a few clicks ...Just sayin'...

I think a rooster of Todd's stature deserves not the pot but a real open fire on the internet these days ...

1498.) DParker - 08/01/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67579]Rooster jerky .... Jerky rooster .... [ ----- ----] etc. might be worth a few clicks ...Just sayin'...

I think a rooster of Todd's stature deserves not the pot but [B]a real open fire on the internet[/B] these days ...

[/QUOTE]

Well, I suppose I could shut down all of the cooling fans in my PC and let the CPU and graphics card overheat.

1499.) Swamp Fox - 08/01/2022

Well, he's probably not worth all that ... But ---to paraphrase Ladge the bushwacker and apply to the innerweb---"I've seen some things ..."

1500.) Swamp Fox - 08/01/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67578] I have a Dutch oven, a Crock Pot, a pressure cooker AND a sous vide cooker. [/QUOTE]

If Julia Child wrote a song for Hank Williams Jr. and had no sense of meter ...

LOL

1501.) Swamp Fox - 08/01/2022

[QUOTE][B][SIZE=2]Take A Taste[/SIZE][/B]
[I][SIZE=1]--by Swamp Fox [/SIZE][/I]

[I]I got a crockpot, a skillet and a hot plate, too.
Ain’t too much cookin this ol’ boy can’t do.
Chunk me a rooster and I’ll th’o ‘im in the pot...
When you bite in you’ll say thanks a lot.
A country cook can survive.

[/I][/QUOTE] .....

1502.) DParker - 08/01/2022

Take that, Henry Gibson.

1503.) Swamp Fox - 08/01/2022

1504.) Swamp Fox - 08/01/2022

None of this is real ...

1505.) DParker - 08/01/2022

You picked the wrong witch.

1506.) Swamp Fox - 08/01/2022

:-)

Well, Henry never had a chance with her ... lol

1507.) bluecat - 08/02/2022

Damn DP! I didn't realize roosters would be so aggressive.
Glad you are on the mend.

1508.) DParker - 08/02/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67590]Damn DP! I didn't realize roosters would be so aggressive.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, some of them are great, but some can be real assholes. He started off as the model of good behavior. He was protective of the hens, but was never aggressive toward any of us. I don't know why, but that started changing about 3-4 months ago and he started regarding me as a threat (and lucky for him...until now...it's been only me). At first it generally consisted of nothing but an aggressive posture, ruffling his feathers and walking in front of me with his head held low. But pretty soon he started attacking my legs from behind when he was nearby and I turned my back to him. I was usually wearing jeans and his spurs weren't really developed so he never did any real damage (except for a couple of times when I was in shorts and he scratched me superficially). And then waiting for me to be nearby stopped being good enough. He'd abandon the flock and cross the entire yard (nearly 100 ft) to pick a fight with me. That should have prompted me to put an end to it, but he never did any real damage and I vainly hoped he'd eventually get tired of getting an ass-beating (the end result of his aggression every single time) and get it out of his system. Clearly that was a mistake on my part. Conversations with numerous more experienced flock owners have led me to believe that there's just no salvaging a belligerent rooster, and you need to nip it in the bud as soon as it starts.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67590]Glad you are on the mend.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Yesterday morning I could tell that the wrist wound was definitely infected (redness, swelling and warmth around it), but after the first 24 hours of antibiotics they seem to be doing their job, and the symptoms are subsiding. There's still some stiffness/soreness, but it's nothing even remotely like the excruciating pain I had late Sunday night. I suspect what I have now is due to the combination of the impact an him puncturing down to the bone. You definitely have to take this sort of thing seriously.

1509.) DParker - 08/04/2022

After bringing this little Sugar Baby in I still have 18 watermelons (some of all 4 varieties) in the garden. At just over 14 lbs this is one of the smallest that was out there. The 4 Charleston Gray's are somewhere in the vicinity of 30 lbs each, with the rest probably averaging about 20 lbs or so.. I estimate I still have roughly 400 lbs of watermelon to pick.

([URL="https://i.imgur.com/YD55gwf.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL])

1510.) bluecat - 08/05/2022

Well I think it's safe to say your gardening methods are working big time. I will be getting my drip tape system in place for next years garden.

Glad you had the foresight to get your antibiotic shot as soon as you did. That might have been really nasty.

1511.) bluecat - 08/05/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67585]

[/QUOTE]

I didn't realize Shirley MacLaine also played Eldora.

1512.) Swamp Fox - 08/05/2022

That's not Shirley MacLaine, that's Henry Gibson ...

[QUOTE][I]MacLaine played baseball on an all-boys team, holding the record for most home runs, which earned her the nickname "Powerhouse".[/I] ---Wiki[/QUOTE]

1513.) bluecat - 08/05/2022

Well it was Shirley MacLaine in a past life.

1514.) Swamp Fox - 08/05/2022

[QUOTE][I]"she was the most obnoxious actress I have ever worked with"[/I] --Anthony Hopkins ... Wiki[/QUOTE] .......

1515.) Swamp Fox - 08/05/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67594] The 4 Charleston Gray's are somewhere in the vicinity of 30 lbs each ... [/QUOTE]

This is problematic ...

Those are Confederate watermelons, suh! and you will have to enjoy them immediately!

(Pro Tip: --Don't even joke about this on Twitter ... )

[QUOTE]The frock coat is similar to the uniform worn by members of the 1st Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (Hagood’s) organized in December 1860 from Charleston’s antebellum militia companies, and the 1st Regiment of Rifles (Orr’s) organized in July 1861.

[B]Penciled beneath the image is [I]Charleston Grays 1861[/I]. According to South Carolina Antebellum Militia Units and Confederate Military Land Units, no such company ever existed making positive identification of Lt. Morris problematic.[/B] HDS lists 2 soldiers named Morris from South Carolina who enlisted as musicians, including R. Morris, who served in the South Carolina 2nd Light Artillery, and Charles Morris, who served in Company A of the South Carolina 16th Infantry. [/QUOTE]

Considering how many small Confederate units across the South named themselves "The Grays," I find it difficult to believe that there were no Charleston Grays, especially colloquially.

In any event, suh, please remove these watermelons from the soil and don't think about anything except that which makes you happy.

Like eating watermelon, suh! ...

1516.) Swamp Fox - 08/05/2022

[url]https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/108565[/url]

1517.) DParker - 08/06/2022

Which brings to mind something I never understood...namely, the stereotype about black Americans with regard to watermelon and fried chicken. I mean, who the hell [i]doesn't[/i] love watermelon and fried chicken?

1518.) Swamp Fox - 08/06/2022

Bingo ... !

1519.) Swamp Fox - 08/06/2022

I could fill a page with internet outrage over menus ...

Though to be honest, it's mostly weenie white folks getting in a twist.

1520.) DParker - 08/10/2022

Well, I just found the exception to my rule. I tried to give a 26 lb watermelon to our neighbors to the north, and he said that nobody in the house eats watermelon. That makes me suspicious as hell, and I'm going to be keeping my eye on them from now on.

1521.) Swamp Fox - 08/11/2022

It's either commies or a congenital personality disorder ...

1522.) bluecat - 08/11/2022

Doesn't like watermelon? That ain't right.

1523.) DParker - 08/11/2022

That's what I'm on about!

1524.) Swamp Fox - 08/11/2022

You should offer them chocolate Santas at Christmas ...

If they decline, it's either lack of human personality/funny bones or diabetes ....

We'll get to the bottom of this .....

1525.) Swamp Fox - 08/12/2022

The three things it could be is either commies or a congenital personality disorder, or lack of human personality/funny bones, or diabetes ...

Wait ...

Amongst the things it could be ...

I'll come in again.

1526.) DParker - 08/12/2022

Helll, I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes a year ago (under control now via diet and exercise) and even I can eat a little watermelon in moderation.

1527.) bluecat - 08/12/2022

What's next on your harvest calender?

1528.) DParker - 08/12/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67676]What's next on your harvest calender?[/QUOTE]

I still have another 50' of potatoes to dig up, 2 or 3 more cantaloupe, a dozen or so sunflower heads are just about ready, a small amount of string beans remain and, hopefully, at some point, a bunch of sweet potatoes. I also have tomatoes trickling in now, and anticipate that will pick up as the temperatures start to drop as Fall approaches. Oh, and a half-dozen basil bushes that will need to be turned into pesto and frozen.

1529.) bluecat - 08/12/2022

Nice, what are you doing with your sunflower heads? Are you going to plant a fall crop?

1530.) bluecat - 08/12/2022

I started beets last weekend and they are ready to set outside and begin the process of getting them used to real sun. My goal is to pickle a bunch of beets to eat at Christmas dinner.

1531.) DParker - 08/12/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67678]Nice, what are you doing with your sunflower heads? Are you going to plant a fall crop?[/QUOTE]

The heads are drying out in the garage. I might use some seeds to plant some more. The rest will be split between myself and the hens for an occasional treat.

[QUOTE=bluecat;67679]

I started beets last weekend and they are ready to set outside and begin the process of getting them used to real sun. My goal is to pickle a bunch of beets to eat at Christmas dinner.[/QUOTE]

Good looking setup. I had abysmal results when trying to harden off the seedlings I started with mine and lost the majority of everything. I need to figure out what I did wrong.

1532.) bluecat - 08/12/2022

I'll be honest, I haven't been very successful either. If you leave them under the grow light too long they get long and leggy and won't survive. I'm trying to work out the best practice of getting them used to real sun. I'll put them next to our French doors inside in the sun for a week or so and then reevaluate. Also, I will thin immediately so one plant per container. They came up in 3 to 4 days.

1533.) DParker - 08/13/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67681]I'll be honest[/QUOTE]

Well, there goes your political career.

1534.) DParker - 08/13/2022

Jerk chicken and dumplings. No Caribbean spices, the chicken was just a real jerk.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/zm8JvEA.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL]

1535.) Swamp Fox - 08/14/2022

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=DParker;67683]Jerk chicken and dumplings. No Caribbean spices, the chicken was just a real jerk.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/zm8JvEA.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

LOL .... Well, I tried ...

Looks good.

Now I'm feeling a bit peckish ...

:grin:

1536.) DParker - 08/28/2022

So, it's ~2 AM after you've been having a good ol' time at your new favorite brewery and you feel like taking advantage of the fact that it's not a bajillion degrees out anymore because of the week of rain you've suddenly had after months of drought? Why not grab a flashlight, stagger out to the pasture, pray you don't step on a copperhead, chase off a small herd of deer and see to the basil that is in desperate need of having the flower/seed heads pruned. Oh, and make sure you take a pic that includes your beer gut while you're at it.

Now I smell like 225 lbs of pesto...not that there's anything wrong with that.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/ysKDcRy.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL]

1537.) Swamp Fox - 08/29/2022

It's a partial herbal eclipse ...

1538.) bluecat - 08/29/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;67825]It's a partial herbal eclipse ...[/QUOTE]

+4, lol

1539.) bluecat - 08/29/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67824]So, it's ~2 AM after you've been having a good ol' time at your new favorite brewery and you feel like taking advantage of the fact that it's not a bajillion degrees out anymore because of the week of rain you've suddenly had after months of drought? Why not grab a flashlight, stagger out to the pasture, pray you don't step on a copperhead, chase off a small herd of deer and see to the basil that is in desperate need of having the flower/seed heads pruned. Oh, and make sure you take a pic that includes your beer gut while you're at it.

Now I smell like 225 lbs of pesto...not that there's anything wrong with that.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/ysKDcRy.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

Yuk yuk

1540.) DParker - 08/31/2022

We really like the spaghetti squash that my garden has produced, but the skins are so hard and tough that they're nigh impervious to even the sharpest kitchen cutlery. But I'm a man and I have cordless power tools, so I'm not going to let that stop me. Of course the circular and jig saws would be overkill (c'mon, I'm not a barbarian), which left the oscillating tool and angle grinder with cutting wheel as options. Both were effective at cutting through the stubborn cucurbit's hide like it wasn't even there. But the oscillating tool gets the win...simply because when a cutting wheel spinning at 9,000 RPM hits the soft guts of a squash the aforementioned guts tend to not stay as confined as one would prefer. Plus the oscillating tool is much easier to use with one hand.

This has been today's helpful...yet manly...tip from the Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor School of the Culinary Arts.

1541.) bluecat - 08/31/2022

You're a regular Gallagher.

1542.) DParker - 09/01/2022

Now that you mention it, I do have more watermelons....and a sledge hammer....

1543.) bluecat - 09/06/2022

Do you have your system on a timer? What is the frequency and duration of your waterings. Thanks, I'll hang up and listen.

1544.) DParker - 09/06/2022

I did, but the damned thing stopped working after just a couple of weeks, so I just do it manually now. I water once every two days (except lately, when that's been disrupted by the rain we've been getting). I turn it on in the morning when I let the chickens out of their run, then turn it off 4 hours later (I have Alexa remind me, otherwise I'd never remember). The emitters in my drip tape are spaced at 12" and drip at 0.33 gal/hr, so this gives me 1.33 gallon per row foot, which I've found to be just right for my soil. Your mileage will almost certainly vary a bit from that, and you'll need to experiment just a little to get things dialed in for your conditions.

ETA: The outdoor spigots are on lines that bypass the in-house filtration and conditioning system, so the water that comes out of them contains all of the super-fine sediment that gets picked up by the well. As a result I have to clean the fine mesh filter on the drip main line pretty frequently, or else the water flow quickly declines until it comes almost to a halt. I used to be able to tell when that was needed just be looking at the spigot because I had a flow rate meter attached between the spigot and the hose, but that stopped working after a while too, so now I just walk out there at least once/week and check the filter directly. So that's something to plan for and pay close attention to if you're on well water also. In fact you'll need to pay attention to it even if you're using filtered and/or conditioned water, as there will still be at least some minerals and/or sediment present, you just won't need to clean the filter nearly as frequently.

1545.) bluecat - 09/06/2022

Yes, the water will be coming from a well so I'll need a filter of some sort. I don't recall seeing that. Is it just an add-on between spigot and mainline or mainline and driptape?

1546.) DParker - 09/06/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67920]Yes, the water will be coming from a well so I'll need a filter of some sort. I don't recall seeing that. Is it just an add-on between spigot and mainline or mainline and driptape?[/QUOTE]

You always need at least a drip irrigation filter on the drip mainline, no matter what your water source is (due to the aforementioned minerals and other stuff that is always present at some level even in conditioned city water) so as to not clog the drip emitters. This is usually combined with your drip pressure regulator in a single unit, though you can certainly get and install separate units. In my case, I also added another filter (with a clear see-through plastic housing) at the spigot so as to reduce the frequency with which I need to walk out and check/clean the one on the drip main line by the garden. That might or might not be beneficial in your case, depending on how far away your drip system is from the house and how lazy you are (on a scale from 1 - me).

1547.) bluecat - 09/06/2022

I got the drip pressure regulator but it doesn't look like anything that would filter. I might have to call them and talk to somebody. I have my whole order now...I thought.

1548.) DParker - 09/06/2022

Crap, I thought I covered the regulator/filter combo when we talked about the basics of a drip system a while ago...but I can't find it via the search tool, so maybe I missed mentioning that. Well, shame on me. Well, since you already have a pressure regulator you can just get an inline filter and attach the two together, which works just as well. Just be careful to pay attention to the threads on both ends of the filter and make sure they're compatible with the threads on what you're connecting them to (some come with pipe threads instead of hose threads, so watch that).

1549.) DParker - 09/06/2022

In fact I was almost certain I talked about both as well as a backflow preventer (you don't want stuff backing up from your irrigation system into your hose, and from there into your water supply), and I thought I posted a link to something like this (that combines all three, though I think the filter section is FAR too small to be useful) as an example. But, like I said, I can't find it now, so maybe not:

[URL="https://www.amazon.com/Habitech-Drip-Irrigation-Faucet-Adapter/dp/B076C7G7NF/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2ZO4SKFSCIL5U&keywords=Habitech%2BDrip%2BIrrigation%2BFaucet%2BAdapter%2BKit&qid=1662484366&sprefix=habitech%2Bdrip%2Birrigation%2Bfaucet%2Badapter%2Bkit%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-5&th=1"]https://www.amazon.com/Habitech-Drip-Irrigation-Faucet-Adapter/dp/B076C7G7NF/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2ZO4SKFSCIL5U&keywords=Habitech%2BDrip%2BIrrigation%2BFaucet%2BAdapter%2BKit&qid=1662484366&sprefix=habitech%2Bdrip%2Birrigation%2Bfaucet%2Badapter%2Bkit%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-5&th=1[/URL]

1550.) bluecat - 09/06/2022

[QUOTE=DParker;67924]In fact I was almost certain I talked about both as well as a backflow preventer (you don't want stuff backing up from your irrigation system into your hose, and from there into your water supply), and I thought I posted a link to something like this (that combines all three, though I think the filter section is FAR too small to be useful) as an example. But, like I said, I can't find it now, so maybe not:

[URL="https://www.amazon.com/Habitech-Drip-Irrigation-Faucet-Adapter/dp/B076C7G7NF/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2ZO4SKFSCIL5U&keywords=Habitech%2BDrip%2BIrrigation%2BFaucet%2BAdapter%2BKit&qid=1662484366&sprefix=habitech%2Bdrip%2Birrigation%2Bfaucet%2Badapter%2Bkit%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-5&th=1"]https://www.amazon.com/Habitech-Drip-Irrigation-Faucet-Adapter/dp/B076C7G7NF/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2ZO4SKFSCIL5U&keywords=Habitech%2BDrip%2BIrrigation%2BFaucet%2BAdapter%2BKit&qid=1662484366&sprefix=habitech%2Bdrip%2Birrigation%2Bfaucet%2Badapter%2Bkit%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-5&th=1[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

I don't recall seeing that pic but it doesn't mean I didn't see it. I appreciate having someone to talk with that's been through this.

1551.) DParker - 09/06/2022

[QUOTE=bluecat;67925]I don't recall seeing that pic but it doesn't mean I didn't see it. I appreciate having someone to talk with that's been through this.[/QUOTE]

We should start a support group.

1552.) Swamp Fox - 09/07/2022

[QUOTE]*[B]Well[/B]*, here's another fine mess you've gotten me into, Stanley ....[/QUOTE]

.....

1553.) DParker - 09/09/2022

I planted all of my herbs months ago, and nothing came up except for the basil....and now, all of a sudden, some of the sage decided to make an appearance in among the weeds that are taking over. It's like the seeds just laid dormant all this time.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/UWTT8ya.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL]

1554.) bluecat - 09/09/2022

Lazy bastards!

1555.) Swamp Fox - 09/10/2022

[QUOTE][I]Sage, whose parents were old Arizona hippies, suddenly appeared after all this Thyme hiding underground with fellow conspirators -- including his/shiz half-sister Parsley and their wife, Rosemary -- following a coded communique from their/they're ring-leader, a shadowy black nationalist known only as Sweet Basil ...

The FBI pounced.[/I] [/QUOTE] ....

1556.) Swamp Fox - 09/10/2022

I bet if you worked hard enough you could get that story circulated nationally, for a day or two ...

First, get it past the 23-year-old Tik-Tok addict local news editor at the college-town independent (meaning lefty) community paper, which leads it to getting picked up by the local TV news, whose highest aspirations were to cover apartment fires and fatal crashes on the commuter routes until this political blockbuster came along.

Then it's smooth sailing to the AP.

Once you get it to Reuters, then you know you've made it all the way through the chain of fools.

The folllowing assumes modern "journalists" are attractive to the o̶p̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶e̶ sex :

1557.) DParker - 09/23/2022

The hens have been banished from the porch by virtue of the railing we had built today, which allows us to finally use our new patio furniture. There might or might not be an adult beverage or two on the table between the chairs we're in.

[URL="https://i.imgur.com/faCKXiO.jpg"]Full-sized original[/URL]

1558.) Swamp Fox - 09/23/2022

Nice!:-)

1559.) bluecat - 09/23/2022

Yes!

Stained concrete?

1560.) DParker - 09/23/2022

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;68012]Nice!:-)[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bluecat;68013]Yes!

Stained concrete?[/QUOTE]

Yes, though no longer the wrong kind of stained after hosing it down for the last time (hopefully).

1561.) DParker - 10/12/2022

I also found a few spots that were clearly torn up by a hog or two. It's getting to be a damned zoo back there.

[video=youtube;suTLrPoU2fo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suTLrPoU2fo[/video]

1562.) Swamp Fox - 10/12/2022

Some .357 magnums and a circular firing squad and everything should be good ...

vBCms Comments

Welcome To Hunting Country

General Hunting Forums

Archery & Bowhunting

Shooting Sports

Manufacturers' Corner

Firearms

Classifieds

Not Hunting / General Chit Chat