Coffee's ready...

[StupidBird]

oesdog, hello! I started freezing fruit to make jams with later in the cooler weather and when I have more time. Just rinsed the berries, let them dry a bit, and froze whole for later. But then DH just bought us a second big chest freezer. A whole beef is in the first, this one is for the garden. We are chopping and freezing peppers, tomatoes for winter chili and stews. Everything else, and most of the tomatoes, are rotting and eaten up by bugs. Except eggplants. Why I planted so many when I don't eat them...? the only place the eggplant grow are completely covered by basil plants, otherwise, flea beetle and others eat em up.

How is the weather there? Its so hot and humid here

 

[oesdog]

Quote:
The weather is not to bad but it will soon get very cold here. You have all the sun and we get cold and rain! I laughed at your eggplant issue - I have one eggplant and only one darn Auberagine on it I picked the other day! I love them and for some reason this year they have not grown!

This year I have a problem with the tomatoes - they seem to have bugs in them - never had that before the way it is. It is like when you water them in the sun and the skins mark only something has darn burrowed into then and its all the nice big red ones too -

We are going to get a big chest Freezer and DH wants to grow pigs to put in it and goats! - I am looking foward to that. This year I will have bother filling the Veg/ fruit freezer at all as I have not tended the yard as well as I might have. Now Jessica is born I will doubtless have more time.

Oesdog - Anyhow here is a picture of Granny! I am very tired as it was the first night home!

 

[rancher hicks]

oesdog: very nice. Enjoy your new family additon. DD is still holding out.

Thanks everyone about the peppers I've been holding out picking them cuz thy'll just go bad. Grew garlic last year for the first time and it did well. Plan to do more this fall. Now about those Egg plants? I planted mine in pots and put them along the side of the house in the driveway. The black tarvia drew in the heat that they like and they did better than the ones in my garden. Tomatoes? have you tried planting maragolds in the same beds to keep the bugs away. I even used the DE in the garden on dry days as it's still dry enough to dry up those slugs. It seemed to help.

We have discussed buying a small freezer. Now can anyone tell me whether I should freeze my acorn squash or leave it as is and store it? If freeze it how do I do that?

Do I see teachers here? DD just started her first year in Houston. I know she'll do well but had to go there cuz NY is in such a state I wouldn't be surprised to hear we're going bankrupt. If that happens let me thank everyone in advance as the Feds will bail us out with your money. (Not meant as a joke).
Unless the Lord moves us to Texas.

Well rain tomorrow so lots to get done. Run, run, run, run. .......................... ok hobble, hobble, hobble...................

Love ya all

Rancher

 

[math ace]

I am a high school math teacher. I have been teaching for 7 years.
I am taking the next 4 months off to take of my dad. In the meantime, I have some career choices to reflect
over the next four months. I truly love what I do, but have gotten a little burnt out on the politics of the job.


Congrats - OESDOG on that the new grandbaby.

Rancher - I tried the marigold thing - - - if you plant them real close they are suppose to deter nematodes. HOWEVER, they attract other pests like white flys. I ended up pulling mine up. The benefits did not out weigh the consequences.

Chicks-in-the-sun. Your program sounds very close to what we are doing, except our teachers have no input and our district does more micro managing which is why we have the 5 - 6 page lesson plans. Congrats on breaking the broody leghorn. That is too funny !

 

[quercus21]

Morning People,
Woke up to a good sound this morning, rain. Looks like it is suppose to set in for a few days.

weather: mid to upper 70's - rain

osedog: you are one happy looking grandma. congratulation. It is good to here everything went well.

The oldest rat called last night, someone dropped off a large box of plum tomatoes and she wanted to know if we wanted them for sauce. I think she wants some sauce, last time I made it, all I heard was "that smells good". Looks like sauce today.

The last crop of beans for this year are starting to flower. I think I am going to try peas when they are done.

We received a white egg from 1 our NHR's. First time for us, usually they are brown.

Our neighbor is going to give us a few pullets to to fill in the "bean d'villie".

Enjoy the day

Kaj

 

[math ace]

quercus21 - - - I am so jealous - - -temps in the mid 70s while I am frying with temps in the upper 90s. . . What to trade ?
Going to get a second cup of JOE and do somethings outside before nature turns on the outdoor OVEN !

Have a GREAT Sunday and enjoy the FAMILY today.

 

[rancher hicks]

Good Morning everyone, inspite of the rain. Have a tarp over the run so let the chickens out anyhow. Rest day no work. Not that I can do much. Backs hurting again, sometimes just walking around can do it. Went shopping with DW yesterday, no big deal just need to rest. Its' been said Nothing keeps a body prisoner like old age, and that's the truth. Fortunately I can read and crochet granny squares. Not at the same time mind you. I hire a kid to come and work but he doesn't always come and I have stuff to do. I realize I only pay minimum wage but in this economy you'd think it wouldn't be so hard. Course it's only for a few hours a month.

By the way the bankruptcy comment was about NYS not us personally. Pols can't pay the billls when their lining their pockets. Lots of corruption in Government.

Math: DD was supposed to teach Geometry but got switched to 11 grade math. She's certified in all grades as far as I know. She was elementary math and science but got certified in High school also to increase her chances of getting a job. She's was courted by El Paso but failed their personality test. Apparently she failed on question that asked "It's my job to entertain my students" and she said No. Apparently in El Paso you have to be and entertainer to teach school.
Mind you this is a girl who graduated with honors and won awards. She had one professor post her Teaching statement or something like that on line. El Paso school system must be full of nutters. NYS of course is just broke. Well I guess you know how it is.

Quercus: I wish someone would drop off a box of tomatoes here. Any kind, 'Cept my friend Marty he uses chemical fertilizer and I refused his tomatoes when he offered.

Are there any dual purpose breeds that lay white eggs? I get a rare one when a hen eats to much oyster shell.

Well carpe diem as they say, I say carpe coffee. LOL

Rancher

 

[chics in the sun]

Good Morning, chicken friends!

Oesdog - What a beautiful grand-baby! Congratulations! You look so proud and happy.

Rancher - Best of luck to your daughter. I'm not a teacher, but a school Social Worker. At my last school I was also teaching a parenting class. At this school I'll probably just lead groups once a week, as the school is so big and has such a large population of pregnant girls that they have a seperate teacher for the parenting classes. Hope your back is feeling better today.

Math Ace - Yeah, I think a lot of those requirements for failing schools are the same, but the administration of the school has a lot to do with how they meet them. The prinicpal really is leaving a lot of the planning up to the teahcers, and we voted on how we would be increasing the time the kids would be in school so they can get caught up. One breed that lays white eggs and is dual purpose AND is good for hot weather is the Crevecouer. I always thought they were interesting looking.

I haven't gotten any white eggs yet since the Leghorn broke out of the broodiness. How long does it usually take? I couldn't believe what I did last night. I had left the girls out free-ranging when we went to a neighborhood pool party, as BF's oldest daughter stayed home. We got home and they were all in the roost - I peeked in at them and then went inside - and FORGOT TO CLOSE THE COOP DOOR! I looked outside this morning and there they all were, wandering the yard. I'm so glad nothing happened to them!

It's starting off as a rainy cloudy day here, but at least it won't be so hot that way. The heat index yesterday was 105, but I actually think the two days before that were hotter. It was just brutal. Gotta get my son and BF's youngest daughter - and myself - ready for church. Have a relaxing Sunday, everyone.

 

[oesdog]

Quote:
Morning - I would give Tomatoes but your too far away and I can’t throw that distance!
Hope your Dd gives you your grandchild soon. Sorry you are sore today! I have Fibromyalgia so can Empathize with sore !
I don’t know much about the school system over there. We do things a bit differently - My Dd is going back to finish her teaching degree once she is over the birth of our little cherub! Funny how there is such a teaching connection on this thread? My eldest Sons partner is also teaching (She is French so that is kind of interesting!) Anyhow hope your day goes well and your back gets better soon.

Oesdog -

Dd is on the way round with baby so that will be good. – Yep I am the happiest Granny in the world. Now when you have your grandbaby you have to show us a photo of you with it!

 

[math ace]

Rancher - - I so understand your daughter's troubles. I graduated suma cum laude. I have been teaching 7 years with perfect evaluations. This year I went on two interviews - - - - The emphasis has switched from hiring "highly qualified" teachers to hiring "highly malleable" teachers.

In other words, don't teach in research supported manner. Instead, teach as you are told and use the latest "in vogue" methods. It is not shocking that your daughter ran into the "if you entertain the students they will learn" theory. My response is - - - do our employers entertain us ? ? ? We have a job to do and it is not always "entertaining", however, it is still our job. Our children have a JOB to do - - - go to school and learn. It does not have to be "GAINT PARTY" for this to occur. It is still their job, and they still have to be successful at it. THIS is the message I convey to my children every single day. I think this message does a better job of preparing them for REAL LIFE.