Seriously - how fast IS this dog!?
He'd already made two "laps" from the deck, around the back yard, and back again before I thought to grab some video. And that "ouch"? He was so excited he nipped me!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Making my life a bit easier...
I admit it - I have a thing for growing flowers. But with all these pots...
...hanging baskets (foreground), and deck planters (barely visible in the background), it's a pain in the ass to water everything! Either you're lugging out hoses, dragging them around, probably breaking one plant as you water another, and then have to put it all away (h'yeah, right!), ooooor you're repeatedly filling a watering can and walking around to everything that needs watered. It's alotta work!
But wait - what's that slipping into the back of this hanging basket!?
And what's over there coming down from running along the upper edge of the gazebo and then splitting off down into the various pots and baskets?
It's drip irrigation!! I've got a 1/2" tube running off a 4-way manifold over at the faucet, and then it splits in two at one point - with one line going up to deck planters and baskets towards one side of the deck, and the other line running under the main steps of the deck and over to the other planters, baskets and pots! Each of those two main lines are closed off at their ends, and I have 1/4" tubing poked into them at various points. Sometimes the 1/4" tubing is then split again, as needed.
And then off the 1/4" tubing I have 1/4" soaker hoses...
...mini sprayers and misters...
...and different kinds of drippers...
So now, with just the turning on of the faucet (and making sure I have the manifold set to run water to the irrigation), allllll sorts of deck planters, pots, hanging baskets and more are getting slowly watered at the same time. And in most cases it's a nice, slow soaking kind of watering - so the water runs THROUGH the soil, rather than most of it flowing right off the top!
I guess I should get some video of this, or perhaps just some pictures with the water in action, hunh? Might also help to show the main 1/2" lines with the 1/4" tubes running out of it. Maybe I'll do that soon. This all started a couple years ago when I was setting up the drip irrigation for the raised beds, and just couldn't quite get it right. I was still playing around with the hoses and tubing, and learning how the water pressure worked, etc. I got a kit or two, added some individually purchased pieces, etc and then started on trying to do the same for the deck plants (and, again, didn't get it quite right the first two times). Now? Now it is goooood!! I LOVE my drip irrigation system! I'm still fiddling with it, still adding some lines here and there, and really should get the whole thing on a timer sometime soon. But for now, I can come home from work, turn the system on for 10-15 minutes, and everything stays well watered without drying out and having all the plants die off. Nice!
...hanging baskets (foreground), and deck planters (barely visible in the background), it's a pain in the ass to water everything! Either you're lugging out hoses, dragging them around, probably breaking one plant as you water another, and then have to put it all away (h'yeah, right!), ooooor you're repeatedly filling a watering can and walking around to everything that needs watered. It's alotta work!
But wait - what's that slipping into the back of this hanging basket!?
And what's over there coming down from running along the upper edge of the gazebo and then splitting off down into the various pots and baskets?
It's drip irrigation!! I've got a 1/2" tube running off a 4-way manifold over at the faucet, and then it splits in two at one point - with one line going up to deck planters and baskets towards one side of the deck, and the other line running under the main steps of the deck and over to the other planters, baskets and pots! Each of those two main lines are closed off at their ends, and I have 1/4" tubing poked into them at various points. Sometimes the 1/4" tubing is then split again, as needed.
And then off the 1/4" tubing I have 1/4" soaker hoses...
...mini sprayers and misters...
...and different kinds of drippers...
So now, with just the turning on of the faucet (and making sure I have the manifold set to run water to the irrigation), allllll sorts of deck planters, pots, hanging baskets and more are getting slowly watered at the same time. And in most cases it's a nice, slow soaking kind of watering - so the water runs THROUGH the soil, rather than most of it flowing right off the top!
I guess I should get some video of this, or perhaps just some pictures with the water in action, hunh? Might also help to show the main 1/2" lines with the 1/4" tubes running out of it. Maybe I'll do that soon. This all started a couple years ago when I was setting up the drip irrigation for the raised beds, and just couldn't quite get it right. I was still playing around with the hoses and tubing, and learning how the water pressure worked, etc. I got a kit or two, added some individually purchased pieces, etc and then started on trying to do the same for the deck plants (and, again, didn't get it quite right the first two times). Now? Now it is goooood!! I LOVE my drip irrigation system! I'm still fiddling with it, still adding some lines here and there, and really should get the whole thing on a timer sometime soon. But for now, I can come home from work, turn the system on for 10-15 minutes, and everything stays well watered without drying out and having all the plants die off. Nice!
Friday, June 25, 2010
NOT who I want in my garden...
The way this picture is set up, it looks like this deer is hovering on a cloud of tree hydrangea blooms!
I don't care WHAT she's doing so long as she stays on the far side of the pond (which is where she is in this picture). She didn't care too much that Brett, Doogie, Tucker and I were all out on the deck, and the critters didn't seem to even notice she was back there. I say we keep it that way - 'cause I figure it's that, or she's in my garden snacking on stuff, and that just can't happen!
I don't care WHAT she's doing so long as she stays on the far side of the pond (which is where she is in this picture). She didn't care too much that Brett, Doogie, Tucker and I were all out on the deck, and the critters didn't seem to even notice she was back there. I say we keep it that way - 'cause I figure it's that, or she's in my garden snacking on stuff, and that just can't happen!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Happy Birthday Doogie Bowser!
Guess who turns 2 today!
There's a cute picture of him from a short while after we got Doogie. Sometimes I wish he could go back to looking that cute and acting like a puppy, and other times I admit I wish he was a few years older to sort of take some of the puppy out of him and maybe slow him down a bit. ;-) Oh well - we love him just the way he is!
There's a cute picture of him from a short while after we got Doogie. Sometimes I wish he could go back to looking that cute and acting like a puppy, and other times I admit I wish he was a few years older to sort of take some of the puppy out of him and maybe slow him down a bit. ;-) Oh well - we love him just the way he is!
Shasta, Shasta!
You've all seen shasta daisies before, right? Pretty, but standard, nice white petals around a yellow center? Well check this out - here's a different variety of shasta daisy opening up.
And another one - opened up just a wee bit more.
Ta-daaaa! Here's an open one! This is a variety of shasta daisy called Crazy Daisy I started a couple years ago from seed, and I really love 'em!
Would you call this a flock of crazy daisies?
And here's one from the side. Yeah, sure, they're still "just daisies", but I really like how they've got so much more "oomph" and character to them.
There, now aren't you feeling just a little more crazy!?
And another one - opened up just a wee bit more.
Ta-daaaa! Here's an open one! This is a variety of shasta daisy called Crazy Daisy I started a couple years ago from seed, and I really love 'em!
Would you call this a flock of crazy daisies?
And here's one from the side. Yeah, sure, they're still "just daisies", but I really like how they've got so much more "oomph" and character to them.
There, now aren't you feeling just a little more crazy!?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
But wait, there's more!
Monday there was one.
Tuesday afternoon? I think that's all four!
Ok, I'll quick checking in on them for awhile, and will just watch to see that the parents are taking food to them frequently.
Tuesday afternoon? I think that's all four!
Ok, I'll quick checking in on them for awhile, and will just watch to see that the parents are taking food to them frequently.
Monday, June 21, 2010
First hatch!
Guess what I just found in the bluebird nesting box! I've been watching the bluebirds dive down on insects in the lawn a lot lately - looks like they're gonna be feeding more than just themselves!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Nightmare vision
Can I just share a little something with you? THIS is what I see when I close my eyes...
I'm not sure what grass it is, but it's in my yard EVERY YEAR and makes my life a living hell. I pull so much of it. I won't even try to compost it - I don't want to risk it spreading my compost!! Instead I toss it in the neighbor lot or, better, into the pond!
Oh, and don't forget to check the Fresh is Best blog for this week's CSA share!
I'm not sure what grass it is, but it's in my yard EVERY YEAR and makes my life a living hell. I pull so much of it. I won't even try to compost it - I don't want to risk it spreading my compost!! Instead I toss it in the neighbor lot or, better, into the pond!
Oh, and don't forget to check the Fresh is Best blog for this week's CSA share!
Friday, June 11, 2010
For the birds!
There's always quite a bit of bird activity in the backyard, something I'm really grateful for. Who knew you could be so entertained by all the different varieties of birds you can attract just in your backyard (granted, location's big factor here). So, without any further ado...let's move on to the stars of this entry!
These male brown-headed cowbirds were really strutting their stuff.
Female bluebird in the backyard red bud earlier this spring, before it bloomed and then leafed out.
Male bluebird sitting on a fence post, checking out the female bluebird.
Here's what the blue jay nest looked like back in the spring.
I do believe this is a white-crowned sparrow - check out the funky "crown"!
This was one of those "first sitings" - at first I thought it was an odd rose-breasted grosbeak, but it turns out it's an Eastern towhee instead. Neat! I don't think I've seen once since!?
These Canadian geese were strutting around making a lot of noise in the backyard...
...and this one's just plain ol' showing off!
Ok bird people - I need your help. This guy is always sitting along the tree line, getting chased out/attacked by the other birds (especially the bluejays and red-winged blackbirds), and I *think* it's the one I've seen fly over our house from the wetland across the street, once with a frog in it's talons, and another time a snake.
Thanks to the description I gave a former Biology prof of mine, Dr Waller, who's now retired and working at Donzell's, it sounds like this might be a red-shouldered hawk rather than the Cooper's hawk I was initially guessing.
The bird was very helpful - here's the backside. So - what do you think?
Ok, this is not a bird. This picture's placement here sort of represents how I feel about this chickmunk in with my plants - how did it get here, and what am I going to do about it?
Eh, it's too cute, and the harm is minimal. I guess I'll leave him.
Female rose-breasted grosbeak just chilling out and looking pretty.
Annnd here's a male rose-breasted grosbeak. I wish these guys would feel more comfortable in my yard and spend more time visiting!
Blue jays strutting along the fence in the backyard. Man, they sure get noisy!
One of the Eastern bluebirds checking out the nesting box my brother and niece made for me a couple years ago. He must've liked what he saw - now there's a nest with four eggs in it! (Oh, and that pole? I thought it was a fun way to re-use the old umbrella post after a wind storm launched the umbrella off the deck in the back, up over the house, and smashed it on the front sidewalk.)
And I saw this one the other day. At first I assumed I was seeing the bluebirds again, and then realized it was a little TOO blue, both in color, and in cover... Nope, not a bluebird - this is an indigo bunting - not something I often see in my yard!
Well, that's it for the latest bird posting. If you catch me on any errors (especially that hawk), let me know!!
These male brown-headed cowbirds were really strutting their stuff.
Female bluebird in the backyard red bud earlier this spring, before it bloomed and then leafed out.
Male bluebird sitting on a fence post, checking out the female bluebird.
Here's what the blue jay nest looked like back in the spring.
I do believe this is a white-crowned sparrow - check out the funky "crown"!
This was one of those "first sitings" - at first I thought it was an odd rose-breasted grosbeak, but it turns out it's an Eastern towhee instead. Neat! I don't think I've seen once since!?
These Canadian geese were strutting around making a lot of noise in the backyard...
...and this one's just plain ol' showing off!
Ok bird people - I need your help. This guy is always sitting along the tree line, getting chased out/attacked by the other birds (especially the bluejays and red-winged blackbirds), and I *think* it's the one I've seen fly over our house from the wetland across the street, once with a frog in it's talons, and another time a snake.
Thanks to the description I gave a former Biology prof of mine, Dr Waller, who's now retired and working at Donzell's, it sounds like this might be a red-shouldered hawk rather than the Cooper's hawk I was initially guessing.
The bird was very helpful - here's the backside. So - what do you think?
Ok, this is not a bird. This picture's placement here sort of represents how I feel about this chickmunk in with my plants - how did it get here, and what am I going to do about it?
Eh, it's too cute, and the harm is minimal. I guess I'll leave him.
Female rose-breasted grosbeak just chilling out and looking pretty.
Annnd here's a male rose-breasted grosbeak. I wish these guys would feel more comfortable in my yard and spend more time visiting!
Blue jays strutting along the fence in the backyard. Man, they sure get noisy!
One of the Eastern bluebirds checking out the nesting box my brother and niece made for me a couple years ago. He must've liked what he saw - now there's a nest with four eggs in it! (Oh, and that pole? I thought it was a fun way to re-use the old umbrella post after a wind storm launched the umbrella off the deck in the back, up over the house, and smashed it on the front sidewalk.)
And I saw this one the other day. At first I assumed I was seeing the bluebirds again, and then realized it was a little TOO blue, both in color, and in cover... Nope, not a bluebird - this is an indigo bunting - not something I often see in my yard!
Well, that's it for the latest bird posting. If you catch me on any errors (especially that hawk), let me know!!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
First week of the CSA!
Check out the Fresh is Best blog to see some of my contributions to this weeks CSA shares! Here's just a teaser image:
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Sixty pricks in fifteen minutes
With all the craziness in our lives lately, I had to bump back my first ever, much needed allergy test. This spring was one of the worst ever for my allergies (and yeah, I realize I'm not the only one that applies to) - and I finally decided it was time to see a specialist for help. I've already burned through the helpful effects of stuff like Nasacort and Claritin - they used to work for me, but became ineffective over time. And Rhinocort...well, that stuff just gave me raging headaches. So hopefully now that I'm seeing a specialist (who has me trying Nasacort plus Singular temporarily), things will improve.
And how does one find out what exactly they're allergic to so they can get a better drug prescription? You take it in the back sixty times...
Here's a video on YouTube of a process SIMILAR to what I went through:
Instead, in my case the nurse used blocks or groups of applicators so she could press down with 10 at a time. No, they're not needles, but more like a plastic version of a star-tip for frosting (pretty gay, hunh?) - like this:
So each block of ten of those has the points facing down in an "allergen" (I'm guessing that's what they're called) - and the nurse would touch my back and say "I'm going to put them here" and then she'd take the block and push all those pointy things onto my back. It took her less than a minute to apply all six blocks, but she wasn't slowed down by writing things on my back like many testers do. I agree with her - it's convenient to be consistent and always have them in the same order - makes sense to me.
She told me what to watch out for - especially with trouble breathing, and said the waiting period would only take fifteen minutes, but that she'd check back with me frequently. Hey cool - reading time! So I sat there and the first time she came back, no, there were no odd sensations. By the second time she came back, yup, there was definitely some itching and irritation going on - and the catch is you're not allowed to scratch! What's the worst thing about an itch? Not being able to scratch it!!
A few visits later and she told me it definitely looked like my reactions were mostly to molds. When the fifteen minutes was up she took a picture for me (saying she's had many patients request this), and then cleaned the chemicals off my back before applying a cortisone lotion to stop the itching. She even offered me an antihistamine, but said it was probably no more effective than what I'd already be taking at home. (Oh, speaking of which, I've been off all my allergy drugs for the last five days - UUUUGH!)
Now then, I'm about to present you with the image of my bare back. Those of you who're faint of heart might want to avert their gaze now. Something this hot and sexy isn't for everyone.
Ok, you had your chance.
Here it is!
Yeah yeah, I know, I have a lot of freckles. I've spent too much time out in the sun, especially in my high school hears. Plus she had me turn to an odd angle so she could take my picture without having to jump up on the table (that would be awkward!). And yeah, I know, love handles....right. Thanks. Moving on... So you see that really itchy looking red welt over on the right? That's the control. That was the first and most persistent itchy spot - but that's how it's supposed to be. Now you can match up all the spots on my back with the following chart to see what I'm mostly allergic to (plus you can just read the size of the wheals (the red bumps) and the flares (the rashy area around the wheals) in millimeters on that chart. You'll see 1) that the intensity of my allergies really isn't all that bad over all, and 2) that I'm apparently not all that allergic to many things anyhow.
Now the nurse did say that these reactions are different from how my body's defensive system reacts, so that's the stuff I'll be discussing with the allergist next week. Here's hoping I get hooked up with some good drugs that are effective for a longer period of time!
And how does one find out what exactly they're allergic to so they can get a better drug prescription? You take it in the back sixty times...
Here's a video on YouTube of a process SIMILAR to what I went through:
Instead, in my case the nurse used blocks or groups of applicators so she could press down with 10 at a time. No, they're not needles, but more like a plastic version of a star-tip for frosting (pretty gay, hunh?) - like this:
So each block of ten of those has the points facing down in an "allergen" (I'm guessing that's what they're called) - and the nurse would touch my back and say "I'm going to put them here" and then she'd take the block and push all those pointy things onto my back. It took her less than a minute to apply all six blocks, but she wasn't slowed down by writing things on my back like many testers do. I agree with her - it's convenient to be consistent and always have them in the same order - makes sense to me.
She told me what to watch out for - especially with trouble breathing, and said the waiting period would only take fifteen minutes, but that she'd check back with me frequently. Hey cool - reading time! So I sat there and the first time she came back, no, there were no odd sensations. By the second time she came back, yup, there was definitely some itching and irritation going on - and the catch is you're not allowed to scratch! What's the worst thing about an itch? Not being able to scratch it!!
A few visits later and she told me it definitely looked like my reactions were mostly to molds. When the fifteen minutes was up she took a picture for me (saying she's had many patients request this), and then cleaned the chemicals off my back before applying a cortisone lotion to stop the itching. She even offered me an antihistamine, but said it was probably no more effective than what I'd already be taking at home. (Oh, speaking of which, I've been off all my allergy drugs for the last five days - UUUUGH!)
Now then, I'm about to present you with the image of my bare back. Those of you who're faint of heart might want to avert their gaze now. Something this hot and sexy isn't for everyone.
Ok, you had your chance.
Here it is!
Yeah yeah, I know, I have a lot of freckles. I've spent too much time out in the sun, especially in my high school hears. Plus she had me turn to an odd angle so she could take my picture without having to jump up on the table (that would be awkward!). And yeah, I know, love handles....right. Thanks. Moving on... So you see that really itchy looking red welt over on the right? That's the control. That was the first and most persistent itchy spot - but that's how it's supposed to be. Now you can match up all the spots on my back with the following chart to see what I'm mostly allergic to (plus you can just read the size of the wheals (the red bumps) and the flares (the rashy area around the wheals) in millimeters on that chart. You'll see 1) that the intensity of my allergies really isn't all that bad over all, and 2) that I'm apparently not all that allergic to many things anyhow.
Now the nurse did say that these reactions are different from how my body's defensive system reacts, so that's the stuff I'll be discussing with the allergist next week. Here's hoping I get hooked up with some good drugs that are effective for a longer period of time!
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
NO MORE RAIN!
Oh c'mon, really!??!
And here's the forecast: "Evening: Showers this evening becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch."
Now look - I need to scoop the dog poop, pick up all the frisbees, mow, use those clippings for garden mulch, finish mulching the in-ground bed with wet newspapers and straw (I got about a third done yesterday), and fertilize the lawn....and this is all stuff that's better done BEFORE a rainstorm than after. Otherwise I have to wait for the grass to dry out (and it was still too damp yesterday).
And don't just say "wait a couple days after this storm", because the extended forecast does not look promising....
Not to mention the tomato plants are NOT happy with all this rain! They need some time to dry out, get their roots better established, and get some size on them.
Grrrr....
And here's the forecast: "Evening: Showers this evening becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch."
Now look - I need to scoop the dog poop, pick up all the frisbees, mow, use those clippings for garden mulch, finish mulching the in-ground bed with wet newspapers and straw (I got about a third done yesterday), and fertilize the lawn....and this is all stuff that's better done BEFORE a rainstorm than after. Otherwise I have to wait for the grass to dry out (and it was still too damp yesterday).
And don't just say "wait a couple days after this storm", because the extended forecast does not look promising....
Not to mention the tomato plants are NOT happy with all this rain! They need some time to dry out, get their roots better established, and get some size on them.
Grrrr....
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
What's going on in the garden?
Want to see what's growing, what's getting picked, and what's flowering? Don't forget to check out the Fresh is Best blog - I just posted a new entry with pictures taken just this afternoon after the big storm, and I'll have another post coming out tomorrow with a fun video.
http://freshisbestcsa.blogspot.com/
http://freshisbestcsa.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Memorial Cookout
We had Brett's family (parents, his brother Blake, plus Blake's girlfriend Laura) over Sunday for an early Memorial Day cookout. Monday was supposed to get stormy (and boy did it!), so we went with Sunday instead. Sure, it was HOT most of the day, but it turned out great otherwise!
I didn't think to take pics while we were doing the cookout, eating burgers, sausages, pasta salad, corn on the cob, etc, nor when we were playing our first-ever 6 person game of Five Crowns, but I did remember to get the camera while we were out in the backyard scarfing down the yummy watermelon! It helped that I took out a stack of pre-moistened oversized dishtowels to wipe off, plus a bucket for all the rinds!
Even Doogie loved the watermelon...
Yum yum!
Hope you all had a great holiday weekend as well!
I didn't think to take pics while we were doing the cookout, eating burgers, sausages, pasta salad, corn on the cob, etc, nor when we were playing our first-ever 6 person game of Five Crowns, but I did remember to get the camera while we were out in the backyard scarfing down the yummy watermelon! It helped that I took out a stack of pre-moistened oversized dishtowels to wipe off, plus a bucket for all the rinds!
Even Doogie loved the watermelon...
Yum yum!
Hope you all had a great holiday weekend as well!
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