What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

I can't get anyone to do anything besides see me once and shove me out the door! What happened to medical curiosity? The need to help those suffering? I am so frustrated. It's been TWO years.

Hang in there! I’ve had chronic idiopathic urticaria for about ten years. Nobody knows why, went through all the blood tests and urine, etc. nothin’

 

[igorsMistress]

@Sueby i went to the doctor in early January of 2021. My fingers and wrists were so swollen and painful I couldn’t open doors, flush toilets, turn on faucets, tie my shoes, put on socks, …
I was expecting an RA diagnosis because my mom had RA for 50+ years.
They did a bunch of blood test. Gave me oral steroids which helped the swelling tremendously but messed with my blood sugar a lot ( I also have type 2 diabetes ).
Got the message that I have an autoimmune disease and to see a Rheumatologist. At that point I still thought it was going to be RA. She did her own series of blood & urine tests. March 8, 2021 I walked into her office expecting to hear that I have RA and instead was told that I have Lupus.
Several months later my daughter went to her doctor and requested a blood test. Turns out she has non symptomatic Lupus. Her numbers were higher than mine!
We both see different Rheumatologist but they are in the same office.

@igorsMistress where in Arizona is this worm farm? How long did you have to wait to get a tour? Sounds like something I would enjoy seeing when I’m out there in May if I can schedule it.

Here’s a link to their website. The VIP tour is $25 but you can bring a guest. At the moment they are requiring Covid vaccinations to tour, not sure what the process would be in May. They’re right in Phoenix
https://arizonawormfarm.com/

 

[Swiss]

Just saw your profile pic, just wondering.
When you first harvest sunflower seeds are they soft ? then they dry get hard, or are they under ripe?

I actually haven't harvested sunflower seeds. My picture was one of my first (and only) 3 sunflower plants, and all of them ended up with their stalks chewed through and then the heads chewed off and stolen.

I know at least one person on here has harvested before, but can't remember who off the top of my head... I'll go do a search...........
@WthrLady can you answer this?

 

[WthrLady]

OH wait what? @Swiss what did I miss? Backing up...BRB.
OH sunflower seeds. Yup, that was me.
I cover the head in inexpensive netting tulle from the fabric store and a piece of cotton twine, otherwise the little birds go to TOWN on your heads. I let the seeds cure naturally on the head and then rub the seeds off and store. You can tell when they're ready to harvest when you rub the head of the flower and the TINY flower there flakes off and the seeds are hard and black. That's when I cut the heads off the plant and I usually let them sit a day or two, just to take a break from them, and then I pop the seeds off and store in brown paper sacks or feed bags. This way any moisture can still escape.
Trick is putting this bag where MICE don't find it.

 

[WthrLady]

I actually haven't harvested sunflower seeds. My picture was one of my first (and only) 3 sunflower plants, and all of them ended up with their stalks chewed through and then the heads chewed off and stolen.

I know at least one person on here has harvested before, but can't remember who off the top of my head... I'll go do a search...........
@WthrLady can you answer this?

@JesusisGod @Swiss GREAT video

 

[BReeder!]

Just saw your profile pic, just wondering.
When you first harvest sunflower seeds are they soft ? then they dry get hard, or are they under ripe?

I harvested and roasted sunflower seeds last year. They were hard shelled right from the dried head. The seeds inside were a bit softer before roasting and the taste was a not different, not bad though. I roasted them to ensure they were dry enough for long term storage.

 

[pennyJo1960]

DH bought sunflower seeds this year so good time to show the video.

 

[Sueby]

but I did go get some chicks from TSC this afternoon

Yay, chicks again! Sorry, I know you weren't really interested in the work, but I kind of agree with DH, might not be a bad idea at this point. I'll be relieved when my cow comes in in a few weeks.

I can't get anyone to do anything besides see me once and shove me out the door! What happened to medical curiosity? The need to help those suffering? I am so frustrated. It's been TWO years.

Ugh, that's frustrating. I love my rhuemo & she does anything I ask & I'm still frustrated I don't have a diagnosis. But at least she's trying. Have you had anyone do all the typical blood work?

& thank you for sharing @karenerwin. I was in the same boat, I replaced my cast iron with carbon steel because I couldn't lift them anymore! The methotrexate has helped with that, back to cooking with cast iron. I'm so glad you got your diagnosis quickly & are feeling good. I have a friend with MS (which is technically an autoimmune) & when I told her she said EVERYONE has an autoimmune these days. Kind of makes me wonder. You daughter must be pretty young do be diagnosed with SLE already.

Aaaaanyway, it's sleeting like mad, they say it's going to sleet all day. I've never seen so much sleet, it's pouring off the roof like a waterfall! But the good news is it's not freezing rain & it's not sticking to the bird netting so I'll take it.

 

[igorsMistress]

Yay, chicks again! Sorry, I know you weren't really interested in the work, but I kind of agree with DH, might not be a bad idea at this point. I'll be relieved when my cow comes in in a few weeks.

Ugh, that's frustrating. I love my rhuemo & she does anything I ask & I'm still frustrated I don't have a diagnosis. But at least she's trying. Have you had anyone do all the typical blood work?

& thank you for sharing @karenerwin. I was in the same boat, I replaced my cast iron with carbon steel because I couldn't lift them anymore! The methotrexate has helped with that, back to cooking with cast iron. I'm so glad you got your diagnosis quickly & are feeling good. I have a friend with MS (which is technically an autoimmune) & when I told her she said EVERYONE has an autoimmune these days. Kind of makes me wonder. You daughter must be pretty young do be diagnosed with SLE already.

Aaaaanyway, it's sleeting like mad, they say it's going to sleet all day. I've never seen so much sleet, it's pouring off the roof like a waterfall! But the good news is it's not freezing rain & it's not sticking to the bird netting so I'll take it.

Yeah, I've been a prepper my whole life and when he brought that up I couldn't argue the point lol.

So, cow? Like you're growing it out and then butchering or it will be for milk or?

 

[Sueby]

Yeah, I've been a prepper my whole life and when he brought that up I couldn't argue the point lol.

So, cow? Like you're growing it out and then butchering or it will be for milk or?

Sorry, half a cow - butchered from a friends farm. We get one every year.