Sally's GF3 thread

[Sally PB]

My dad passed away 39 years ago today. (Wow, time flies.) He was only 58.

Dad, you were right about a lot of things. A lot of things that I was certain you were wrong about, yeah, you were right. It took me many years to figure that out.

If I'd lived the life you wanted for me, it would have been very different from what I have. I don't know if it would have been better, though I'm fairly sure I would have earned (a lot) more money. IMO, I turned out okay, and I'm happy.

I wish we could have talked more. RIP, Dad. I owe you a lot.

 

[Sally PB]

I dug my garlic today. A lot of the bulbs are the biggest I've ever grown. Here's the biggest, next to my men's size 9 shoe:

@aart, what's going on with this bulb? It's the only one that had this problem.

I took it apart, and the cloves were all ok. No creepy crawly things in it. Three of the cloves went into tonight's dinner.

For the last two years, nearly every bulb I've grown has had 4 cloves. Some cloves were big, some huge, some more normal sized. A very few had 5 cloves.

I'm thinking a lot of the big bulbs I found today will have 5-6 cloves. The weird one did.

What's different? They're in a new location in the garden. I put 3-4 inches of pine needles over the bed last fall, after they were planted. (I haven't used pine needles for mulch before.) They're also planted over one of my hugelkultur ditches.

 

[Sally PB]

A picture of Pip from today. Sorry it's sideways.

She'll be 9 weeks old on Sunday. Her comb is only marginally bigger than what the other 3 Bielefelders have. I don't think her wattles have grown at all since she was 5 weeks old.

I'm glad she likes my lap.

 

[aart]

@aart, what's going on with this bulb? It's the only one that had this problem.

More leaves gone than on others?

 

[Sally PB]

More leaves gone than on others?

It looks like something gnawed its way in at the base of the scape, just above the cloves. Or, a lot of water got in and it rotted...? In which case, I'd expect to see more than just this one instance.

Two of the cloves' wrappers looked like there might be some rot/softness. But when I peeled the wrapper off, the cloves were solid and fine looking.

 

[aart]

It looks like something gnawed its way in at the base of the scape, just above the cloves. Or, a lot of water got in and it rotted...? In which case, I'd expect to see more than just this one instance.

Two of the cloves' wrappers looked like there might be some rot/softness. But when I peeled the wrapper off, the cloves were solid and fine looking.

Layer coverage looks thin, why I asked about the leaves.
Could be a water issue too.

 

[Sally PB]

I got the results of my blood work yesterday. I ask for a hard copy print out so I can go through the numbers, line by line. I have the book, Your Blood Never Lies, which explains what all the numbers mean.

I am not happy about my cholesterol. Not a bit. It has never been this high, it went up 20 points from last year, and cracked the "high" designation at 241.

What am I going to do about it? Well, I am NOT going to take any pills for it. It will be on me to change my diet to get it back down.

I am cutting WAY back on cheese (and my neighbor just gifted us with 5 pounds of cream cheese ). I am going to have oatmeal more often. When the weather got hot, it didn't sound very good, but I can get over that. Toss in cinnamon, banana, and raisins, and it's plenty tasty.

I'm not giving up eggs. Probably going to cut back on bacon/sausage.

I wish I could sweat it off. That would be easy, working in the garden.

They say you reap what you sow. Well, I am going to try sowing what I want to reap.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

 

[NanaK]

I am not happy about my cholesterol. Not a bit. It has never been this high, it went up 20 points from last year, and cracked the "high" designation at 241.

Mine is about the same. I don't understand it. I'm with in my ideal weight range. I try to eat right.

What am I going to do about it? Well, I am NOT going to take any pills for it. It will be on me to change my diet to get it back down.

I tried the medication. Made me feel like I had the flu. Dr. took me off of them.

I am going to have oatmeal more often. When the weather got hot, it didn't sound very good, but I can get over that. Toss in cinnamon, banana, and raisins, and it's plenty tasty.

I like it with chopped peaches, cinnamon and just a tiny splash of milk. Cream would be better but cholesterol. sigh...

I'm not giving up eggs. Probably going to cut back on bacon/sausage.

Mmmm, bacon.

I wish I could sweat it off. That would be easy, working in the garden.

If that would work, I'd lost at least 10 pts off this morning! Muggy.

Yep, I'm in the same boat as you. I also have high BP and Graves. Been taking meds for that for years. I do the best I can.

They say you reap what you sow. Well, I am going to try sowing what I want to reap.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Dr tells me increase fiber. Leafy greens, collards, spinach, kale, fiber supplements, etc.

If she answers any more questions of mine by starting the sentence with, "Well, when you get to be a certain age....yada..yada..yada." I may have to yell in her stethoscope.

 

[Sally PB]

If she answers any more questions of mine by starting the sentence with, "Well, when you get to be a certain age....yada..yada..yada." I may have to yell in her stethoscope.

 

[Sally PB]

Dr tells me increase fiber. Leafy greens, collards, spinach, kale, fiber supplements, etc.

As someone who really (REALLY) likes vegetables, I surely don't eat enough.

Wishing my beans would get going. I planted them late, so they're behind. Still waiting for the first tomato too.