Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[jvls1942]

Lisa. I keep trying to get a dr. to subscribe a massage for me. then the insurance would pay for it
since I am just sticking in the house, there is not much news to pass along.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I used to get massages. If you can find the right massage therapist it is a wonderful pain reliever. Most doctors want you to go to physical therapy instead. It's too bad. PT kinda helped me, but I'm still dealing with leg and back pain. I figured it will take a few more months to feel good enough for me to stop complaining.

Last weekend I put a deposit on another boxer pup. Not sure if I can handle another, but I'm here alone a lot and want something that looks like it means business, and I'm not getting any younger. I will get her the beginning of September.

We got a raccoon in the live trap a few days ago. Looks like it got in my corn and knocked some down. I originally thought it was the wind, but stalks are broken. So far no others, so hopefully that was it.

Garden is dry. Need to water daily. Getting lots of green beans, a few cucumbers, and tomatoes.

 

[jvls1942]

smokey here . yesterday it was the worst ever.
my eyes and nose itched.
the smoke made going outside comfortable, except you can't breathe the air.
the bees have been swarming the squash blossoms. there are squashes forming on some of the vines.
the tomatoes are turning red. the lettuce should be ready when the tomatoes are, for blt's.
i trimmed some of the bottom leaves on the peppers so that i can get water sprayed at the dirt.
something stole the bait from the trap again. will have to figure out how to set it even more sensitive.
thinking a chipmunk is the peach thief. i hope he gets the diarhia from all those peaches.
do you know that people who have chickens are called chicken tenders ?

 

[Callender Girl]

Lisa, your news on the boxer pup makes me think of this quotable bit I've read: "It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." I think you have a good head start on this!

My new highly recommended pet sitter is supposed to stop out yet this week to meet the menagerie. I can't go to Minnesota with my sister next week if I don't have someone to care for critters. And, I really want to keep my appointment for Thai bodywork in Grand Marais. I never feel as good as I do after that 90-minute session. Some years, I go twice during the week we're up there.

Golly Goose (the less-friendly of the two) was limping and wouldn't put weight on her right foot yesterday morning. I was not able to catch her to take a close look but managed to book an appointment with the Great But Very Pricey avian vets for today. By midday Golly seemed fine and was chasing ducks by late afternoon. I corralled her for the night and was able to check out the foot -- no obvious injuries, no bumble. So, I cancelled her appointment and am hoping she's still fine this morning.

Heat finally broke; it was 58 degrees at 3:30 this morning. Hallelujah!!

I picked my first five Reliance peaches yesterday and threw bird netting over the lower branches of the tree so I MIGHT get more when the rest ripen.

I am pretty sure the tomato munchers are little rabbits that are getting through the fencing. At first, I thought it might be hordes of grasshoppers attacking the tomatoes. But unless they have Really Big Feet that leave muddy tracks on the tops of the fruits, I'm sticking with bunnies as the culprits.

I couldn't spot Seafoam in the garage like you suggested, Jim. But I did finally take a look at the pulleys and belt on the riding mower. The good news: I got it running yesterday. The bad news: I'm embarrassed that the problem was that someone (me, of course) hadn't bothered to clean all the tall, dried plant material out from the underside of the mower, causing it to clog and stop all movement. Geez!

 

[jvls1942]

slow news day
i dragged the garden real good. today i will go get some fresh buckwheat seeds.
idk if i will plant corn next year, but the plot will be ready if i decide to.
i trimmed some of the lower leaves off of the pepper plants so i can spray water at the dirt.
Annie had a nuisance call. they asked for James the fifth Stachoviak. she hung up. after a brief moment of thought it hit us. my middle initial is V.
think Roman numerals. lol
glad the lawnmower was an easy fix, Barb.
Lisa, I hope the new pup brings you much joy.
after I die, I want to come back as one of your dogs.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Barb this dog will be dog number 24 in my life. I think I'm totally made of dogs now. My purpose in life is dogs. There is no greater creature in this world. No other that choses the company of another species over their own, well except me.

Hope your goose stays healthy. I now have a gaggle of 20. Definitely enough for me. I probably should have thought it through before letting some hatch this year.

We saw another raccoon on the game camera so set another trap. They seem to be waiting on my corn to ripen same as me. I think I will stick some of my blueberry shrubs in that box in the fall. The corn is nice, but falls over, especially with fat raccoons around.

 

[jvls1942]

we went and bought a bag of cleaned oats. $13.35
the feed mill didn't have it in bulk. i figure i need about 10 to 15 pounds to seed the garden for a cover crop. the buckwheat was too expensive.
long story short: I feel lucky to be here right now.
we almost got sideswiped by a semi on hwy 29
bent the side mirror all the way back on those orange sticks they use to line the middle of the road under construction. didn't need a second cup of coffee to wake me up.
the clinic called. the insurance cleared my for an injection in my bum shoulder. August 12.
i am going to set all 3 traps. small, medium and large.
have a few rocks to pick before i sow my oats.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Glad you are okay Jim. That sounds scary. We usually buy oats at Fleet farm and just use those. Same with the sunflower seeds.

 

[Cebarmlds]

How scary, good to hear you're ok!