Jest Another Day in Pear-A-Dice - Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm in Alberta

[CanuckBock]

Heel low:

So much to do, so little time...

I did do OK for the a.m. ...while the girls (got to calling them THING ONE and THING TWO...them silly ol' thangs!) played with toys on the one dog bed (need two now--told Rick that before we got the girls but he wanted to wait...oh well) I did up one of my seed list orders...trying ever so hard not to order the same seed TWICE from two different companies...good gack...

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I bin meaning to post some info on hatching artificially and the equipment and methods we use here at Pear-A-Dice...this be how I do it...best method, not likely...my method yeh until I learn better I suppose...


This is dedicated to Chris so him and Junior don't keep blowing holes in plastic spinach containers with BB guns...unless I got this concept all wrong but then who cares, because I bin meaning to post my equipment on here anyways...so away we goes...

So instead of repurposing plastic spinach holders that may or may not stand up to being heated inside an incubator, not really meant for that but often, we birders and animal keepers use things not meant for our end use anyhoo...oh well, eh.

This was posted and I "think" it was the container that is to be used to hold eggs in a bator because holes were punched in it...but no matter...if I got it wrong...something right has come by it anyway!

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So I would suggest one uses a contraption there in something like this...

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These are desk (office tray) organizers...you go to the DOLLAR stores...they'll often have HEAPS of these...and yeh, not food grade, sure enough BUT last a tad longer than Junior's BB gun holed up spinach container, eh.

On the bottom for the birds (and not in the above photo) one will put the rubberized cupboard liner (dollar store grab for a whole roll), you use tea candle holders (glass...glass is superb for birds...it sanitizes), and marbles (again, can clean these) in the water holder, another tea candle holder (again GLASS--raiser yer glass, eh!) with a shiny marble in the center to entice the little goobers to EAT (eat, eat, eat...yeh yeh...the baby birds got an egg yolk sack but quite frankly, the sooner you get them TO EAT...the sooner they get big and strong and THRIVE)... there ARE studies done showing not only in birds but lambs, calves, heck could apply to puppers too...that feed conversion to growth has the best conversion rates in new borns and begins to decline immediately thereafter. What does that mean to us...the more we can stuff in their gobs to get them up and running...the cheaper it costs us in inputs for the outputs gained. In another words...rate of gain declines from day one onwards.

Get the babes fed with good foods and clean water and they will prosper. Cheap now, gets expensive as time flies by. Back to my topic then...

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When yer under cover at the dollar store (don't want to be seen frequenting THOSE establishments) buying bird things (lift up yer dark glasses so you can see) and choose from the major assortment of plastic (cheap too) containers...keeping in mind the thinner ones can work well to house different eggs of different sizes and species, eh. Even different settings of eggs.


Here's yer arsenal for baby birds...lookit my tool kit below...

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When yer under cover Bam and buying bird things at the dollar store (don't want to be seen frequenting THOSE establishments) buying bird things (lift up yer dark glasses so you can see) and choose from the major assortment of plastic (cheap too) containers...keeping in mind the thinner ones can work well to house different eggs of different sizes and species, eh. Even different settings of eggs. Yada yada...


The thang about the two tiered covered desk drawer organizes, with a tie wrap hinge, you can put on two rubber bands to secure the box shut...no bouncing ducklings busting out. Now never one....one rubber band always breaks...so go for two bands for extra protected insurance like ...think about how rubber breaks and lets one down...tee hee...I know where Bam is gone now...how many PLANNED kids you got?

Anyway before I get in so deep blushing about some place I cannot return from...shall we continue onwards and UPwards, eh.

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So as we all sorta know...this is my Buster the Bator...lookit the top shelf...I can store desk organizers secured with rubber bands on his top shelf...or...

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Right in the moving tilting shelves...these are turkeys hatching...I don't EVER do the internet mythological LOCK DOWN...that's for the stunned and stupid that should not be messing with the eggs. I set eggs all week (not weekends, that's when me and my Hero go cruising...weekends are for Rick's hobby, loser laps in his many rides, eh!). I use felt markers (sharpies-nfi are usually non-toxic but me and a pencil are just doomed to POKE a darn hole in eggs...me old, I like that...so felt pens and that lasts for the ENTIRE cycle an egg needs to hatch without fading off the shell).

Now I don't always use rubber bands to secure the desk organizers, kinda casual about that but at least you know if it matters, you can secure the containers.


Once you got babies busting outta their shells...I use grocery store bins and deeper desk draw organizers...to transfer the babes...see how easy...hang a brooder light (double securely with cord hung safe up and extra heavy duty string secured...these DO cause fires...you bin warned!) over the babes and voila...deep oat straw in bins...

Turkalurks - note shiny marbles to entice poults to peck at water and foods...
tea candle holder has hard boiled egg yolk - any kind of egg will do yah! ​

All those feeders & waterers with marbles that you got from $ store.

SEE...proof in the bill PRODing...ducklings luv shinies too...
"What is that...bill bill!"
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Note, the tiny bit of No. 1 granite grit on the left side of food pile...that is so they can start supplying the bird teeth grinding they need to digest the food efficiently. We hear so many complain about feed costs in raising poultry but are they supplying the FOOD grinding equipment the birds need to process their foods well. In winter here, grit is hard to find under the snow and ice (wild grouse get whacked on the roads all the time, after grader goes by and scratches up the gravel...birds flock and get kilt).

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Lids open to show the standard Chants I have hatched and am moving to be brooded in Stanley (more on Stan the Man in a moment)

Here are FOUR bins...got me bantam ducks, standard ducks, standard chooks, and turks...each species AND size in their own bin
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Lid is made of hardware cloth and bent over...see the coffee can fulla baby grit (no 1 size for hatchlings)...some bird babes are contained with the edges of the hardware lid pushed tight to the corners... other boogers bump the top and could get out. Those kinds will end up dead if they blow their containment...no heat, no food/water... end up dead and maybe that serves them right but I like to stack the cards in their favour to LIVE!

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So after being in Buster and hatching, drying off...I move them babes...fo away they go from the Hatch House...stacked on top of the grocery store bins are the equipment required to make them "enjoy the day lawn babes"

PARTAH TIME!​

July 14 - Beauty day for day olds to be out on lawn...​

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I often do hatches so the day olds can go out on the lawn and then at two days of age...

Chantie Chicks Running with Dandelion Bud - 2 days old
June 2010​

Chase each other around with dandelion flowers (hmm, yeh, the TWO day old Chant standards plucked a flower and the whole mob figured it was chase me down time...get the flower...flower power er what!).

Glorious Lawn Babes...

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Note there is a groc bin and a blue container...used to transport the babes to the lawn.
Got a piece of tenplast to provide shade should any of the young'uns want some.
Puppy stainless steel pan fulla hardboild egg yolk.
Thermometer to the right in the shade so I know the min temperature the babes are at - jest because "I" feel OK, don't mean they will
Hardware cloth top...we have every kinda imaginable bird of prey ready to pop over and have day old chook on the menu!
Water and chick starter on hand like always
And stock ACDog Fixins in the shade...keeping vigilant guard on HER precious babes.
My lawn chair in the shade too so I can sit beside the faithful dawg...sucking up the sights and sounds of summer time here!

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There is nothing quite like working with Nature and having the conditions for day old to thrive in...nice weather and conditions for them to flourish.

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OK...I mentioned Stan...Stanely the Stainless therapy tub we repurposed from a sports therapy clinic that closed.

July 24​

I also have a horse waterer that had a hole in it, was given to me because of that and I use that too to brood the babies when they outgrow the groc bin brooders...

September 19​

As the birds get on and are better able to deal with our severe temperature changes...outdoors they go to breath fresh air and have access to sunshine (and always shade...birds can heat up and extinguish...so always ask yerself...got shade? if they want it).

OK...I think I have meandered around long enough on the topic of stuff for babes...hope I have not thoroughly confused anyone, but if I have, I know I can count on you's to steer me right and 'xplain it better, eh!

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

Edit - double posted pics and words, eh. Cleaned it up! CLEAN up, aisle nine...

Edit - to add few new pics...and more blah blah blahs...

 

[CanuckBock]

Tara! My dear lady, do you have any idea how much like a slacker you make me feel?
I still have to get the last of last years stuff moved out and get the compost tilled in so it can set/work for a bit.
Thanks Much!
Scott

Well Scott, you must start to get with it. Winter hibernation (what winter...last night was like a day time high at 4C/40F) has come to a rip roaring halt.

I know...we might get hit with winter yet but I already feel like we have had several SPRINGS with the snows going to melted ice! Skating around and not wanting to be that way!

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Good things tho...Rick took the white winter dog bus to an inside shop with a hoist and he's doing the undercoating...yeh, beginning of February...how delish!

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So as of last night between coatings of undercoat, he had got the running boards one side sorta on, two black wheel well mouldings one side, working on wiring the lights on the back, front, and of course, short on the whole undercoat being done, but doing the rest of it today. Gonna let it cure overnight tonight.

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Passenger side, front and back mouldings on...

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Wiring this up for lights and back bumper goes back on...

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Make the convoy tomorrow to collect her back home. So neat the weather has let him do this now...

Oh I am never quite caught up...like a dog chasing its tail...I only fool myself I am in the lead when I already know...I got lapped a few rounds and am way, WAY behind. (I got a big butt!)

Waz that...so far behind we figure we're FIRST...power of positive thinking...positively speaking! Last but first in our minds and that is what matters most!

Forget about farm work, I have dirty dishes & pots still sitting in the sink from 3 days ago. Have to wash them soon - I'm out of utensils but, do have some paper plates.

Plates...we need ones that we consume with the meal. Tacos...hamburgers delicately balanced on one paw (hand?)...

I do try my best to have NO dishes at the start of supper but with aging, supper = dishes and I just shrug those ones off till the next morn. Not like they are going to do a BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS inspection here. The barns and the yard...now that has to be tidy or it bothers me. Priorities as we so see fit!

Anyone that comes by to complain about the housework being lax...needs to get on with the chores outside and help me if they want to have a rightful reason to complain.

I really doubt DD that anyone has "kept a messy house" on their tombstone and if they do...I'd find them an interesting person that led an interesting and FULL life fulla adventures. Too busy to be bothered with the mundaness of general living...

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The dishes can wait, eh.

Besides...I got a chuckle outta this one...

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I love the concept of your paper plates my dear...it can always be worse...ALWAYS...

Doesn't seem like it's time to start thinking about a garden, but won't be long before the Spring veggies are ready to plant. I do raised bed gardening and have to be choosy about what I plant....not near enough space. I do pretty good with tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash. I'm going to try some potatoes and peas this Spring and see how they do.

Ha ha ha...get on it woman!

This is the regiment...

Order catalogues in 2015...they arrive hither tither (getting some even now!).

Make lists when able...I tend to zone out and if you see my LAST post, at the beginning I mention worries about double ordering the same durn SEEDS from two dif places!

So you get the lists going, cross reference you not doubled any, blunders over what company might have the best kinds for you. I am looking into Manitoba and seeds from out EAST because I want heritage, non-hybrid, non-GMO and going to purchase a book on how to save seeds and learn that up for the first time in my life. Even that book I want, shopping hard because I see in the catalogues the same book for $18 plus shipping, $25 includes shipping...so I gotta crunch numbers and give my dough to the one that makes the most sense.

I do get that not all $ value makes perfect sense either. Do you pay a bit more to keep one company going because they have so many things you want to see a going concern and them in business in the future BUT I also got to watch our own bottom line and not be a spend thrift...lots to consider.

So back to timing...

- order catalogues by end of 2015
- receive catalogues
- go thru them, pick out what I might want to grow, keeping in mind, there is seeds that can wait for next season too
- what can I manage, time and space, energy and whatnots
- what keeps, what is fun to try, what is worth while in the past

So even things like will we get a killing hailstorm that flattens everything...so many variables but FUN...basically this is to be fun and yet, now more economical than ever.

We have a sic dollar value if we want to shop outside the country, food is going up and up because we import so much in the grocery stores, should be growing it ourselves and it is so much better for us and the Earth.

Timing...

Feb 1st - this is me and the dogs enjoying the day getting on the gardening trail together....got snow peas for them to be concerned over.

Jest so nobody is fooled, eh...this is my VEG GARDEN as of February FIRST!

Excellent crop potentials...for ICE WORMS!
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But, by June 1st, need to be planting so the plants have time to mature and produce the food we want...

Greenhouse - Feb 1, 2016​

So gonna fire up the greenhouse...been a while, serious while since like 2007 and other than a few pathetic pots of Basil, I bin busy with other things in life. Now with the price of FOOD being what it is and the quality sucks compared to homegrown...well we are full speed ahead on gearing up for a good growing season...and gotta hop to it...times a wasting.

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Off to the greenhouse with me doing inventory on what we have and need. I bought a bag of seedling soil and some peat moss square formed pots...for the corn you plant inside. Many do not start it indoors but I pretty much know with our short season (did this on the Coast and harvested corn where nobody else could!), last year only netted us baby corns. So back to my original plan. Corn hates its roots disturbed, so you start it in the peat pots and you plant THAT in the garden...you get a head start and might...MIGHT get cobs of corn...might! We shall see how the plans unfold (of mice and WOmen).

So got soil, got peat pots...in the pic above, the girls are inspecting the seedling starter contraptions I had stowed away...bought them on sale...I see the price says $4.99 and got them for like $2.99...now later have to unwrap them to see if the plastic has degraded...been a while eh. Hee hee.

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So hauled back my seedling greenhouse affair thingy...

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Rick sounds excited about the plantings too...he wants to take this to the car wash and give it a blast...if he wants to, fine by me. I bought this one for $39 and see them now listed for $49...not sure that means much past I guess I like that I still have it and it will do.

Does Emmy like or not...Lacy don't seem to care one or the other!​

Course like most typical persons...I am figuring I am ahead in the dollar amounts but then again...truth be told, have to confess...I saw these birds, metal ones painted up kewl and well, yeh...the place I bought the peat moss pots and soil...had them on for 75% off...so I bought a bunch to adorn the New Orchard. Saved what money...sheesh...oh well...will have them for years...and dog approved! Well OK...the fact that the dogs ended up rolling about...not sure if Lacy told Em to let the old hag (that be moi!) be with my silly (at least its not gnomes ... not yet!) ornaments!

Got wind chimes, some boppy balancing ones and these teeter totter ones...tacky indeed!

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So the reason for the jaunt back and forth to greenhouse...to count me pots...gotta lotta pots...did I mention although I have not really used the greenhouse, I have been exercising my GREEN thumb all my life pretty much. Even as a kid, my mom gave me a tub of my very own to do plantings in.

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So as said, to the GREENHOUSE then to see what pots I have...so see what containers I have and will it be enough...what bottleneck aspect...what will be the clincher on how much I order in seeds and what I bother to plant...want in the veg garden, what in the greenhouse, what in the tater and corn patch that is now doubled in size since last year.

Boils down to even what sugar peas to plant...for them two dogs eh.

So I figured the black pots I have in this above size, 16 per each wire rack. When Rick built me the greenhouse, we bought the sliding glass door from Habitat for Humanity...way cheaper than a new one that runs like $1500 back then in 2007. Forget what we paid but peanuts compared to new.

While there, he spied some wire epoxy coated racks...from an industrial fridge, who knows...oven, don't care...but he made me four.

Dry wall screw and washer holds the wire rack to the wood frame for the greenhouse tables​

There are two that are two wide and two that are four wide and I use this math as my basis as to what I will be able to house up on the top of the tables in my black pot supply. The adult producing plants, eh. Now I still have all the floor space under tables that may contain any number of plants in bigger pots and containers I have, but the bottleneck I want to use this year is the number of adult plant pots on the four tables.

Here goes the math...

In the smaller pots...I can place SIXTEEN of these sized pots per rack.

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In the bigger sized black pots, I can fit FIFTEEN on two racks...so doing the math...here are the pots for all the racks of four tables.

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There are three sizes of pots, the small, medium and much larger (which could well hold the melon plants nicely in). So this pile of pots will do my entire table racks in the greenhouse and I can use this to determine what seeds I want to order, grow and how busy I can be looking after the tables of plants.

Conservative in my estimation because, the floor is free. Next year, I might go hog wild and order and plant seeds to do both tables AND floor space but hey...give me a break, it has been a while since I did the greenhouse growing.

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I do have this sign in the greenhouse...thinking it might convince someone to help the plight, but not with it tacked to the table INSIDE the greenhouse, eh!

So since we are talking food...never let that opportunity pass without recounting something that was eaten this week past.

January 30, little more than a week back...snackies!​

See how much veg I could be contributing to the food consumption that goes on here...yes...garden...rah rah rah...so nice to be anxious about getting the garden going...need that incentive, that excitement...it is alot of work but economically and good for you wise, warranted!

On Wednesday, cooked up a turkey dinner...with all the fixins.

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Ate good on that for a few days...got some turk still left, so might have a sandwich for lunch eh...

And no post is ever quite right (well fine, I do post sometimes without a dog in sight but I near always hear how the addiction here has to have more dog pics in it!)...


So talking about playing with dirt, then food preparation and consumption...before we go to the dogs...let us do the wash up time!

Got a bar of this in the main bathroom fur such special occasions​

Girls are looking charming...February 1st 2016

Lacy


Emmy
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Some action shots...

Jan 22, 2016 - GO GIRL GO!



Jan 24, 2016 - Blue Dog steals RED ball...GO GIRL GO!
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Feb 1, 2016 - Heelers HEAD over HEELS ​

Oh lookit the pretty princesses...so soft, cuddly and cutester...for ACDs that is.

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Those milkbone (nif) treats sure must be workin'...pearly whites!

"I give you a CHOP PAW!"​

Last weekend, Rick and I decided new toys were in order...

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Rick bought a cow with SIXTEEN squeakies and a hedge hog that farts...

And I bought the rope toy and a red ball...

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Red ball for Lace to pounce on...rope toy for Emmy to chaw on...

Lasted for a bit...and then one of them decided the other was having too much fun alone with THIER toy...

Two for Ropin'​

So why does a blue dog want a red ball and a red dog want a blue one?

Total colour opposites!​

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Emmy trounced Lacy in the snow...

Love the BUNNY BUTT of Lace's


"Ah my, such pretty TEETH YOU HAVE?!!"
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And seconds later...best girlfriends...

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Until there is another time to do the meet and greet...

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Or pounce upon your foe's head...

Good GACK Emmy! - The sky is gonna be falling fur Lacy if you do this??​

February 2, saw one of the Mandarins lay an egg...sure hope they don't bother with any more...not the right time of year eh!

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Dogs are proof enough for me....I believe!

Yah...another Believer! We all need something to believe in!

Dogs don't lie!!

Never...true to the tips of their tattle tails, eh!

Tara? I never would have believed that of you but, the dogs don't lie!
Scott

Yes, quite true...the girls will never lead us astray and lie...but I do! Hee hee...

"Well yeh, no you don't look FAT in that!"

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[drumstick diva]

Tara I have a similar little greenhouse shelfie thing- mine doesn't have casters but, it came with a plastic humidity cover that zips. The first one was $ 30,, with $ 10 rebate. Second one I didn't need but was too cheap to pass up, $ 20. with a $ 10 rebate - at end of season.

I use mine as an intensive therapy stand for ailing plants or very fragile babies that can't handle plant lights yet. Last year I waited so long for the weather to warm so I could start pepper seeds inside, that I Didn't remember until it was way too late to start them. I'll have to try harder this year. They are supposed to be "naughty" peppers, I wanted to give plants to the neighbors and shock them when they produced fruit. Oh well...maybe this time.

 

[CanuckBock]

Tara I have a similar little greenhouse shelfie thing- mine doesn't have casters but, it came with a plastic humidity cover that zips. The first one was $ 30,, with $ 10 rebate. Second one I didn't need but was too cheap to pass up, $ 20. with a $ 10 rebate - at end of season.

I use mine as an intensive therapy stand for ailing plants or very fragile babies that can't handle plant lights yet. Last year I waited so long for the weather to warm so I could start pepper seeds inside, that I Didn't remember until it was way too late to start them. I'll have to try harder this year. They are supposed to be "naughty" peppers, I wanted to give plants to the neighbors and shock them when they produced fruit. Oh well...maybe this time.

ROTTEN DD!!!

I do hope you remember to start your pepper plants then. Maybe I can help with that as I continue my planty pursuits...hee hee.



Neat to know we share the widdle greenhouse thingy. I like your prices but expect now with dollar exchange, your deal is probably the same kind I got all those years ago. Hee hee...but good show, eh!



Truly enjoying this internet and yet paper catalogues too. Gardening...ah, my...so many fun aspects.
One thing you gotta love is the information we now have...maybe a tad too much at times.

I am working on my T & T seed order because if I get it in by the fifteenth, there is a ten percent discount on the plants and seeds. WOOT

Here's what I mean by kewl...all this info, more than I have in the printed catalogue (but won't give up on my printed word and pictures on the paper I hold in my hands...)

• 1 pound fresh okra
• 2 large eggs
• 4 to 6 dashes hot pepper sauce
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, optional
• oil for deep frying

Wash okra and drain thoroughly. Cut off ends of the okra then cut okra crosswise into 1/2-inch rounds. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and hot sauce; add okra and stir to coat all pieces well. In a shallow dish, combine cornmeal, salt and cayenne pepper, if using. Dip okra pieces into cornmeal mixture to coat well. Heat oil in the deep fryer to 370° to 375°. Fry okra in batches until browned, about 4 to 6 minutes for each batch. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately. Serves 4.

Planting Instructions

Okra needs full sun. It will grow in ordinary garden soil but does best in fertile loam, particularly where a nitrogen-fixing crop, such as early peas, grew previously. When okra is 4 inches tall, mulch to keep out weeds and conserve moisture. Water during dry spells. Every 3 to 4 weeks, side-dress with compost or feed with compost tea. Start seed indoors 4 - 6 weeks before transplanting out to the garden. Soak seeds overnight - this will speed up germination. Cover seeds with 1 cm (1/2 in) of soil. Firm soil over seed. Keep moist but not waterlogged. To germinate maintain a soil temperature of 22 C (72 F). Seed should germinate in 7-10 days. Plants will develop better with a growing temperature of 17 C (62 F) until transplanting out. Water well and fertilize lightly with 10-52-17 and liquid seaweed for strong root development. Do not transplant out till night temperatures are warm.


It is however nice to know the bean I want from these people looks like this and I can share that here...and NOW

I mean I remember talking to people about gardens and the plants...sending photos is great with e-mail but the Net...oh my...now I can share the above bean and the excitement of it before I have even placed my order.

I know, I am very silly and easily amused...

Back to my order I go...I am also saving the photos of the plants so I can revisit and see how they turn out my first year with them...yeh, easily amused indeed!

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[drumstick diva]

I should mention that the rebate they give ,is not in cash, you HAVE to spend it on items in their store.

 

[CanuckBock]

The White Sub on Sunday...ready for the ride back to Home Sweet Home​

Rick, he had an EXCELLENT weekend...the white winter dog bus is looking superb...so wonderfully tricked out by Rick.

As said previously, he added a whole bunch of stuff to it and the main point was to undercoated the truck...he even painted some of the undercarriage black to tidy it up even more so...

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He fixed what I had complained to him about...I did not like that you could barely SEE the back end of this sub-bus...so he put in a light for the license plate and the bestest part...a LED light strip on top of the new chrome bumper...way better visibility now.

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See, you can see he is reversing...both white lights on the sides AND strip along the bumper...way too kewl what can be done nowadays...me love it!

BEEP BEEP BEEP plus SEE IT GLOW!​

Dog Approved...the girls say they will accept being driven around in this Ghostly Pumpkin Mobile!​

Talked to my son, he is getting geared up to assist me in running the girls SILLY round the conformation rings in April. Another exciting prospect in the works, eh.


On Sunday, while visiting with my SIL...I got to click this fun pic of one of the Labs she has there...this is Zero.

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I also stopped to top up my Valentine give aways for the bus kids on Friday and could NOT resist picking up this t-shirt...I know...I know...hilarious!

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Yeh...

it's a given...the T screamed it was made for me!

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Quote:
Originally Posted by drumstick diva

I should mention that the rebate they give ,is not in cash, you HAVE to spend it on items in their store.

Well there is always a catch. So I am guessing here but is that how you ended up with the naughty pepper seeds...hee hee...had to spend the discount AT the store!!

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As promised, Rick washed my seedling greenhouse plant stand...I got the four shelves washed and drying out now. I am thinking I might hafta buy another one...what with my list of seeds getting longer and longer...must control self...having TOO much FUN... I already warned Rick to brace himself...I tallied up the two orders thus far and yeh...small fortune...oh well. NObody ever said growing it yerself was a way to save $...

I got some of the seed order forms copied in town this morn and need to get pen to paper so I can facsimile them off this evening. UNLESS of course the lines are down due to them actually having some winter out East...skipping us here tho. I hate spring...hate fall too...I don't like ice and mud and I always find too much has to be completed during fall (processing foods, putting lawn ornaments away, clearing out pens before they freeze to where you can't do any more with them but layer bedding...getting ready for winter...when winter hits...excellent, you get to quit all the foolishness of FALL...done like dinner, no more's can be taken on...OVER!). I love summer and love winter...you can drive in it, you can move around in it...predictable. Repeating spring several times during one SEASON sucks...I do note we're getting a whole week of spring this week though...and I guess I should rejoice as that should end the existence of ICE. But in reality, if spring had not shown up and then left...there would be no ICE...so spring needs to show up and boot winter away...or just quit playing with us already...toying with us...

This morning...the Girls' snow pile made by Rick for them...DIRTY!

See why I dislike spring...how dirty it gets...reminds me of fall time jest before a most welcome nice covering of winter whites helps make it all look clean and tidy once again...me no like spring, and me no like fall...stay winter or go directly to summer but this winter, then spring, winter then spring...yeh, not even for the BIRDS...blah...ice, mud, repeat...yeh...

Needs to make up its mind and stay there...I said STAY...like a good dog...yeh...

Emmy making Lacy STAY
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Lacy returning the favour...​

Good dogs...staying??? Stay down??

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[drumstick diva]

Tara no I sent for a trial order of the pepper seed for $ 2.00 from someplace I think called Pepper Joes in USA. I could mail the seed to you if you want. I'm sure I won't get around to starting it this year either. If they fruited, I could count on you for zany photos.

 

[CanuckBock]

Tara no I sent for a trial order of the pepper seed for $ 2.00 from someplace I think called Pepper Joes in USA. I could mail the seed to you if you want. I'm sure I won't get around to starting it this year either. If they fruited, I could count on you for zany photos.

Bwa ha ha...you keep the nasty peppers DD...I don't need more things to do. Wool mattress, sewing dog showing outfits, training the girls for conformation, growing veg and flowers, hatching, cleaning pens, tilling dirt, picking weeds, watering the greenhouse, harvesting the lil' red hen bounty...then there is the down time I love...loser laps with my Sweety in the summer time (smelling the clover blossoms and enjoying the drive)..."Oh sorry Rick, I gotta stay home and baby DD's nasty on a stick peppers..." That will fly like a lead balloon here.

​

Here is the LED lights on with the license plate light on...so kewl...SEE it! Me so happy. See that dome light...that's one of the ones we scrounged from the wreckers...the back bumper has turned out FAB...told Rick...that even the black rubber swanked up...she's a kewl rig, looking rather fine...fine for a winter dog bus, eh.

​

Rick came home from work yesterday and then he installed the passenger side running board lights...LED too...these one flash when you are signalling...way over the top...the guys that ordered them in for him...did not even know these existed...kewl. Tonight, after work, maybe the other side too.

Expensive though...the rear and two sides in LED tallied up to $750 or so. Yeh...but we are SEEN...SEE me happy...

​

Continuing on my seed order work...in just the tomatoes...too many choices...too many!

This year, my focus is on getting tomatoes in lotsa colours...yellow, orange, red with orange stripes, black, purple, white, green zebra (yellow striped green)...all my parameters are 65 to 70, 75 days with the seventy-five being the max I will accept for this year at least--one type is coming from my father's home country in Northern Europe--orange paste one/sausage shaped. Trying two neat ones...Reisetomate from Heritage Harvest (nfi) which forms clusters...so you tear off a red cherry tomato that is fused to the group. Other kewl one, this one from Mapple (nfi)...getting a big package of Mystery Keeper...harvested as green and stored on the kitchen counter...until like EASTER...yikes...we shall see, eh...we shall SEE!

Think I have three seed companies, the orders done up and ready, but hey...until it's sent off, always something I might change my mind over...hee hee...

We're special!​

I got me some pretty special puppers relying on me to get the very best sugar peas on the grow for them...peas, carrots, greens...oh my...what else will they take a liking too.

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[CanuckBock]

Heel low:

T&T Seeds order gone out last night.

Ordered the following seeds and perishables. Seed comes in mail and perishables have to wait a bit to follow by mail...not time to plant, eh.

Pepper Purple Beauty

Thumbergia Black Eyed Susan
Carrot Atomic Red
Carrot Kuroda
Carrot Solar Yellow
Scallop Squash Sunburst
Okra Jambalaya
Bean Borlotti
Radish Watermelon

Strawberry Patch collection
Asparagus Sweet Purple
Raspberry Royalty
Blackberry Chester
Fern Collection

Seed Potatoes:
EARLY - 65 days
Alta Bush
Linzar Deleketess

MID - 80 days
Russian Blue
Purple Caribe
Amarosa
Viking
Nicola

LATE - 90 days
French Fingerling

Quite excited about these seedy endeavours.

Ordered the How to Save Your Own Seed 68 page book from Seeds of Diversity Canada this morn.

This order for seeds has gone to Mapple this morn:



Yeh...got two more orders to do up, small tiny one for some coloured markers, maybe a packette er three of seed to the one place (gettin' organized before the seeds even arrive!) AND my huge order to Heritage Harvest...ack...that one I keep finding more to add and then have a day where I can stroke off lots...oh well.

Rick has voiced he does not care one iota what I buy...my money and time, effort & energies BUT I am under strict orders... TO HAVE FUN this summer with the plantings. Righty OH...working on it already...the happy/joy part, eh.

And yeh, Rick completed the Drivers' side LED light strip on the running boards after work last night. Weather has allowed him to stay home today

and hey, he's already working on more spiffy stuff for the White Dog Bus...kewl...

See if I can do up that small order and then keep plugging on the JUMBO seed order...

Doggone & Chicken UP!

Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada

 

[scottcaddy]

Interesting list,
much fun!
Scott