The Old Folks Home

[bruceha2000]

No, by October they are running from the fires. Lots of fires in Calif last year, 11 started in Oct, 10 in Sept, fewer in the other months.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Old Folks we will hit 84 of so but not normal does happen back
to 68 come Monday .. We use the wood ash in the coops birds do dirt bath in it no pests..
Extra on tired plants prevent snails

 

[microchick]

I'm the same way about chipmunks. They are adorable until they become destructive. We were overran with them back in Western Illinois thanks to the cemetery we lived beside. When they got done ravishing the cemetery they moved to our yard.

I finally got enough of them and turned into Rambo. I'd grab my scoped .22 and creep along the side of the house, lay down behind my lilac bush and pick the little boogers off one by one. DH said he could always tell how bad of a day I'd had at the office by how fast I went into the house and came out with my .22. I think my record was 14 in one afternoon.

After one particularly grueling day, I went in and came out with my scoped .17 and decided it was time to stage a operation that included clearing the cemetery of chipmunks. I got comfortable behind a tombstone and waited for one to stick its head out of it's burrow. It did, I fired and 'flipped' the little critter about 3 feet in the air. Blew it in half. I was pretty amazed at the job the .17 had done on it, went into the house to get DH. When we went back, no chipmunk to be found. DH was questioning whether or not I'd hit the little fiend until sometime later we were told that they are omnivorous and it's remains had been drug off by the colony for a bedtime snack.

Yeah, kinda changes your feelings about them being cute and cuddly when you think about that.

I have to admit, I kinda miss chipmunk season in IL.

Everything survived our frost here last night. Heading out to plant some corn and then make bread. We just finished hauling 4 loads of wood to the barn so I'm a bit tired.

 

[bruceha2000]

Geez, I hope no one was visiting their dearly departed when you were popping the chipmunks!

We have one around the house, not enough to be destructive. Of course if it went down to the barn and got into the Ramik I had out for the rats, I suspect we no longer have a chipmunk.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Sure would have been fun to be behind one of those stones
just say Boo or scream at the right time

 

[bruceha2000]

 

[perchie.girl]

I could dream of that! They do drink some rain water in the Winter but since we go 6 months for nearly not rain, we have to put water fountains out in the Dry season.

We do not get more thatn a tenth of an inch from April to October

Same here. I actually get a little more in those months up in the desert where my house is. Because the Arizona Monsoons travel up and over our mountains on the way to inland. In a rain shadow but those clouds are big and heavy . The drop two to three inches as they cross over. In Fist sized splats that come down in bursts that last about fifteen minutes.

About all it does is knock the dust down and raise the humidity because it disappears into the ground just as quickly. If we got more there would be flash floods.

103 down by the coast here last week. 80 up at the house same day within an hour. But usually the temps are about equal.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

good grief! Do you go and stand in it when it comes in October?

Dry climates have their perks. No biting flies, low humidity, and an appreciation for growing plants appropriate for the climate. Grass doesnt belong here. Dont get me wrong there is great opportunity to make a beautiful garden. Once established needs only monthly watering.

Rock Purslane
I am getting some when I move home.

Agastachi Or Giant Hysopp or humming bird mint
Agastache Mexicana Lavender Blue

Agastache comes in many different colors. Some of the leaves are edible.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

For what its worth i plan to use Grey water for irrigation. I have a well but its a low producer. So that is reserved for drinking water.

I just bought Cattail seeds and will use those as well as water hyacinth as Water purifiers. Both for the grey water and for the Aquaponics system. Hoping to filter the water one last time before returning it to the fish.

Duck weed too will be on the menu for the livestock as well concentrating mostly on the poultry. High in protein and they find it tasty.

deb

 

[ronott1]

good grief! Do you go and stand in it when it comes in October?

We are very excited when the rain starts! It is close to the end of the fire season then.

Tow big problems are slippery roads from all the oil falling off of the vehicles and power outages from dust making shorts on transformers when they are all of a sudden wet