Many many things and I'm not cutting for length because.....
I'm just too self-centered for that
crboltz tomorrow I'll be posting a resolution from the CSU Academic Senate that actually came to a -civil yet tension filled - fight on the floor from one entity.....but it passed. I'll post it/send it. As far as what it actually does for the fight against Prop 8 remains to be seen. But the mere fact that it passed has me feeling hopeful that the tide is about to turn. We'll see if the UC and CCC follow suit.
In general, I've been working my hiney off. So far, I have beefsteak tomato, cherry tomato, yellow bell pepper, dwarf zucchini, dwarf eggplant, celery, peas, carrots, onions, blackberry bush and scallions in the ground. All but the tomato, blackberry and peppers are seed (you really can't start tomatoes, blackberries and peppers from seed....has to be seedlings/cuttings).
I've dug out, composted and mulched half of my side-of-the-house garden; the front garden and one raised bed in which strawberry seedlings will go. I found a great pop-up green mesh "tent" to go over the 3x3 bed to protect the berries from birds. Whether it will deter other animals remains to be seen.
I've dug out most of my garden that butts up against the garage. It had been the herb garden but most of the herbs are too mature to harvest now. The purple sage has very much established itself and really doesn't want to come out of the ground. Pitchfork, shovel, shears, shear grit and determination have not yet gotten it out. I will prevail......
That garden will be the flower garden this year. I have a seedling starter mini greenhouse that I put together today. the seeds I've started? Watermelon; cantalope, pablano chile, yellow squash, basil, greek oregano, (for more raised beds) snap dragons and borage (for what will now be the flower garden. I've found that some flowers are just easier to put in the ground as seedlings.
I'm learning as I go and I have a hard time believing just how much I learned from last year. I've prepped against powdery mildew (we'll see if I succeed); beneficial nematodes ought to kill the June Bug larvae that infested one of the raised beds last year and Manatids ought to take care of just about everything else (except for Japanese beetles for which I'm already devising a trap). I just have to identify the larvae that infested my corn crop last year and protect against that...then I should be set. The only problem with Manitids is that they eat EVERYTHING including other beneficial insects. I'll have to guard against them eating butterflies. I think, if I just determine the temperature they prefer and make sure my butterfly attracting plants are put in somewhere other than the Manatids ideal temperature zone, it should be OK.
I've invested in a crockpot and made some of the best freakin' beef stew I've ever made. Word of warning: DO NOT MAKE MASHED POTATOES IN A CROCK POT! You will end up with buttered glue. Keep them warm in the crock pot? Sure. Just don't MAKE them in the crock pot.
I've started making my bread again. Hubby and Lil Miss B don't like the heel ends so I've just made a 9x13 pan of bread pudding (for moi, for breakfast) using the heel ends.
The rest of the heel ends? Croutons! (which Lil miss B loves with a vengance.....salt, garlic, thyme and butter....who wouldn't like them?)
They were very good but she thought they were too spicy....less garlic next time and no black pepper.
Can I stop now?
crboltz tomorrow I'll be posting a resolution from the CSU Academic Senate that actually came to a -civil yet tension filled - fight on the floor from one entity.....but it passed. I'll post it/send it. As far as what it actually does for the fight against Prop 8 remains to be seen. But the mere fact that it passed has me feeling hopeful that the tide is about to turn. We'll see if the UC and CCC follow suit.
In general, I've been working my hiney off. So far, I have beefsteak tomato, cherry tomato, yellow bell pepper, dwarf zucchini, dwarf eggplant, celery, peas, carrots, onions, blackberry bush and scallions in the ground. All but the tomato, blackberry and peppers are seed (you really can't start tomatoes, blackberries and peppers from seed....has to be seedlings/cuttings).
I've dug out, composted and mulched half of my side-of-the-house garden; the front garden and one raised bed in which strawberry seedlings will go. I found a great pop-up green mesh "tent" to go over the 3x3 bed to protect the berries from birds. Whether it will deter other animals remains to be seen.
I've dug out most of my garden that butts up against the garage. It had been the herb garden but most of the herbs are too mature to harvest now. The purple sage has very much established itself and really doesn't want to come out of the ground. Pitchfork, shovel, shears, shear grit and determination have not yet gotten it out. I will prevail......
That garden will be the flower garden this year. I have a seedling starter mini greenhouse that I put together today. the seeds I've started? Watermelon; cantalope, pablano chile, yellow squash, basil, greek oregano, (for more raised beds) snap dragons and borage (for what will now be the flower garden. I've found that some flowers are just easier to put in the ground as seedlings.
I'm learning as I go and I have a hard time believing just how much I learned from last year. I've prepped against powdery mildew (we'll see if I succeed); beneficial nematodes ought to kill the June Bug larvae that infested one of the raised beds last year and Manatids ought to take care of just about everything else (except for Japanese beetles for which I'm already devising a trap). I just have to identify the larvae that infested my corn crop last year and protect against that...then I should be set. The only problem with Manitids is that they eat EVERYTHING including other beneficial insects. I'll have to guard against them eating butterflies. I think, if I just determine the temperature they prefer and make sure my butterfly attracting plants are put in somewhere other than the Manatids ideal temperature zone, it should be OK.
I've invested in a crockpot and made some of the best freakin' beef stew I've ever made. Word of warning: DO NOT MAKE MASHED POTATOES IN A CROCK POT! You will end up with buttered glue. Keep them warm in the crock pot? Sure. Just don't MAKE them in the crock pot.
I've started making my bread again. Hubby and Lil Miss B don't like the heel ends so I've just made a 9x13 pan of bread pudding (for moi, for breakfast) using the heel ends.
The rest of the heel ends? Croutons! (which Lil miss B loves with a vengance.....salt, garlic, thyme and butter....who wouldn't like them?)
They were very good but she thought they were too spicy....less garlic next time and no black pepper.
Can I stop now?