Sally's GF3 thread

[Sally PB]

Right now, the bees are working the white clover. When I go out Japanese beetle hunting, I step carefully in the clover patches and watch where I put my feet.

I am cautiously optimistic that we will get another harvest in a couple months. Bees like goldenrod, which will bloom in a few weeds, and we have fields of it.

I used to dislike goldenrod. It doesn't smell all that pretty, and it is very difficult to get rid of, if it gets a roothold. Now I love it, for the bees' sake. Though I still don't let it get started in the gardens.

 

[Sally PB]

I want to dispel a notion about "organic" honey. Unless you live somewhere where everything in a 3-4+ mile radius from you is organic, you can't be sure your honey is organic. Here in Michigan, nope, you don't have organic honey. I may garden using organic methods, but the farmer 1/4 mile away does not. Bees will range up to 3.5 miles, easily.

I want to have as much for them as close by as possible. I'd rather they didn't need to go where the farmer sprays whatever he's using on his fields.

What I have is pure, raw, unfiltered honey.

 

[cavemanrich]

What I have is pure, raw, unfiltered honey.

That is ORGANIC enough for me.

 

[Sally PB]

A long time ago, I used to read a column by Sydney J. Harris. He had a series he'd write every now and then titled, "Things I Learned En Route To Looking Up Other Things."

I learned about what makes jam set here. This was a handy link in a post about using honey to make jam. I also got a recipe for cherry/honey jam.

Something I learned en route to looking up something else.

 

[Sally PB]

We had a Clock Doc come to look at one of our grandfather clocks. It's the one that hubby's dad built from a kit in 1976. The doc said their life span is usually around 35, so it's not at all surprising that at 49, he's not running anymore.

We had two options. (The third of doing nothing was not an option. We are getting it fixed. A lot of sentimental value in this.)

#1. Doc repairs it as it is. He said he didn't think he'd even get to it before February. Very time/labor intensive.

#2. He gets a new movement and installs that instead. The clock face would stay the same. He thought it would be a month to get one ordered and delivered.

Both are about the same cost. About $1200. We are going with #2. At first I thought it would be cheaper to buy a new movement... then I saw all the stuff inside it. Wow. It comes from Germany.

I was really impressed with this guy, really liked him. We're going to have him clean/maintain our Howard Miller clock that we bought from the owner of the company we used to work for. He said he can do that when he comes out to install the new movement on Grandpa.

Howard Miller clock company announced it is closing soon. I asked this guy what he thought about that. His answer: He was surprised that they were able to hang on this long. The younger generation just isn't interested in handmade clocks anymore.

When we bought the Howard Miller clock from our old boss, he was moving into an RV and just didn't have a place to put it. (And all the vibration of going down the road... SMH.) None of his kids wanted it. We bought it for the laughable sum of $200. Which was the only offer he got, I think. He was glad that hubby wanted it.

 

[Sally PB]

I had my yearly physical today. Fasting, so one cup of black coffee was the sum total of my breakfast. Bloodwork, asked for a hard copy mailed to me.

I'm hoping to see more improvement on my total and LDL cholesterol. Last year's physical was about 6 months after hubby and I started our no-days-off workout routine, and my total and LDL each dropped 20 points.

My BP was 102/58.

 

[Sally PB]

The doc's office called with test results. The total and LDL numbers haven't gone down, but I'm ok with that. I'll get a paper print out in the mail (Gasp! how old fashioned!) and see how the numbers compare to last year.

Another plug for this book:
Your Blood Never Lies: How to Read A Blood Test for A Longer, Healthier Life.

The author explains what all the numbers mean, and gives reasons why they might be high/low. I had a blip in one of my liver numbers one year. Turns out ibuprofen can do exactly that, and I'd taken some the day before.

 

[cavemanrich]

I'm planting buckwheat as a ground cover.

Just quick question. I may consider planting some as a ground cover in my flower garden spots.
I also eat buckwheat. Can I use that as seeds??

 

[Sally PB]

The buckwheat you eat is probably hulled. Is it called buckwheat groats? If it is, no, you can't plant it. I think it's steamed...?... in the de-hulling process. Seed buckwheat is a dark chocolate brown.

 

[Sally PB]

Not my picture. These are buckwheat seeds.