Updates

9 years ago

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I've posted here. I have lots going on right now (a busier schedule, no major medical issues or anything like that, thank goodness).

Xanadu (that's my garden) is in full bloom, and I just picked my first pickling cukes of the year this week, along with some cherry tomatoes (that are the size of plums!). I've been focusing on the theatre and cooking, and other things (trying to find a job, seeing if someone could start giving me driving lessons, etc., those two being a huge failure). My USB cable for my camera apparently doesn't want to work, so there'll be no pictures from me for a while. Anyways, onto the Hoya news.

I found a big, plain green carnosa (not an EA) for sale at Lowe's last month and it ensnared me in it's vines, begging me to take it home, so I did :-). It's growing like mad, and Nikki's just sitting there like a lump, not growing, but soaking up this sun and humidity that we've been experencing. I haven't fed my plants much this year, but they have been getting rainwater when I water them. So, I think I'll give them a dose of tomato fertilizer (MG) the next time I water them (all the flowering houseplants I have love it).

My other big project is my costume for Halloween this year. LOTS of work going into this one, and my friend and I haven't even started on it yet. She's better at sewing than I am. I hope it's a success like my costume for last year was.

Hope everyone and their plants are doing well!

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

greedygh0st
9 years ago
Hi Brad,

I'm happy to hear Xanadu is in a happy uproar. Do you do pickling/fermenting of your crops? I'm just getting ready to make my first batch of kimchi, although I can't grow the cabbage on my own.

Looking for a job is one of the most fatiguing things in life, right up there next to moving. The only positive side to it is that everyone knows just how it feels. It seems like it will never be over, and yet, it eventually is. :)

How come Nikki isn't growing for you? Is she still recovering from the mealies?

Let's seeÃ¢ÂÂ¦ what might you be going to Halloween as this year? Is it... Harold from Harold & Maude?
moonwolf_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi GG,

I've only made refrigerator pickles with my cucumbers, otherwise they're eaten fresh. My dill didn't grow this year, so no fresh heads of dill for in the jars if I make dills. I hope your kimchi turns out well! Dad can't stand the smell of it (he's visited Korea years ago while in the Army Reserves). My one neighbor gave us two cabbage plants, which I have planted next to the cukes and they have been growing like mad!

Still remaining positive about finding a job and learning to drive, because it's all I can do at this point. I hate to sound like I'm making excuses all the time, so I apologize to you all whom I've complained/worried about those things.

Nikki's still battling mealies, but she's still staying green, which is a good thing. I had to restart the carnosa Tammy (tigerdawn) sent me since it looked like it was it's on it's last legs. I gave away a pot of fungii cuttings I took last year to two friends the other day (from the theatre, a mother and daughter, the latter who volunteers there and is only a couple years younger than myself). I also gave a cutting to the costume mistress, who has a slew of houseplants in her home and a large garden outdoors.

As for my costume, it is a fictional character, somewhat recent. Well, similar to them, anyway. Genre: Fantasy.

Brad AKA Moonwolf
Related Discussions
UPDATE: obf just be nice # 3 update
Q
Comments (121)
Nicole, I received your email yesterday about your plate prize being chipped. Sent you an email back yesterday. In case you did not get my email, please hold on to the shipping receipt, box and shipping material. I will call the store I ordered from tomorrow and see how they want to handle it for a replacement. If they are unable to do so, then I will send you something else. I will email you after I speak with them. Thanks for letting me know about the chip. Appreciate it! Happy Sunday...must run! Annie
...See More
Updated vs non-updated house
Q
Comments (17)
The reality is that for most of the people in the buying pool for houses at that price range in Bethesda and other close-in DC suburbs, time is a more valuable commodity than money. At that price bracket, most potential buyers are 30-something professionals, many of whom are married with (or planning to have) kids. For many people in that demographic, it's worth it to spend more for a house that requires no work, because the tradeoff for a cheaper house with major projects is that you have to spend the time to plan a remodel, hire someone to execute it, then either live through it or move out (which takes even more time and planning). When I bought my house 10 years ago, I was single, 30 years old, and worked at a law firm. I had the flexibility to extend my rental until some work could be done to my house, so I bought a house that needed cosmetic updates, and got a good price in a hot neighborhood where houses were selling for above asking within a few days. The prior owners 'totally 80s' choices were not appealing to buyers, and also did nothing to highlight the portion of the house that was the original structure from the early 1900s. Once I moved in, I never had time for the DIY projects I envisioned (such as gel staining the kitchen cabinets!), and the house felt like a 'work in progress' for a while. Now I am married with a baby, and I still have a full time job. If I were house hunting now, a house that was 'move in ready' and required nothing more than paint and decorating, would be worth a lot of $$. Because the time and effort required for major renovations would be a tipping point in terms of stress and quality of life, which is hard to quantify in dollars. And I say this as someone who has a decent 'eye' for imagining the potential a house has. In fact, I just recently moved back into my house, after moving out for the summer for a major remodel and addition (totally worth it, but totally exhausting and stressful and time-consuming). Many of my friends who are not into decorating and house stuff also have trouble even imagining the 'after' that a house could be, and overestimate how much it would cost (even at the inflated prices in this area) to make changes. So I think for the average buyer here, 'move in ready' is worth $$$$$, and a 'needs remodeling' house may not even be considered unless it's a tear down to build a mcmansion.
...See More
Updating my updates
Q
Comments (7)
Sorry to hear of your recent problems, Sue, and pleased that they seem to be being dealt with effectively. Thank you for your comprehensive story ... perhaps it may be helpful to others. We'd suggested an alert button for my old beef-farmer stepuncle, childless through two marriages, who'd had a hip replaced three times, with resultant pains in back, hips and leg and needlessly had cattle in the barn, though he had no need of the money, following the death of his wife, who in winter would start things happening if he didn't return after doing chores. I spent a couple of months with him until the cattle went to pasture. He did get an alert button a few months before his death, a couple of years later. If one has an alert button ... it's a good idea to have the people on the notify list have a key to one's house, or know where to find a well-hidden one, if one does not want to have one's door broken in when an emergency develops. In recent times, perhaps a cell phone would be a worthwhile alternative, with increased capabilities included. ole joyful
...See More
Updated updated aviary/entry hall
Q
Comments (30)
Here is the latest plan from the architect. I do think I am going to move forward with this and cut back on one other remodeling project in the house to help make up some of the cost difference. -The architect flipped the bathroom. -He extended the wall on the left, which will have a long window above. He left one slider to get the bikes out. I like the wall as it adds more privacy from the road/driveway. -He added a door out of the garage to the back yard. - He added 8" in width by moving the wall closer to bedroom 3, so now the room is almost 13'8". But I am thinking I might just move it back to 13'. -Now, do I want a slider where the parrot cages are with access to the backyard? I kind of think I do. I can see myself pushing them out there to clean them (although they are fairly easy to clean with Lysol/bleach wipes). I could see this as a dog room also for someone else with access to the backyard. As it stands now, I might put a fence as in the third pic, and let a dog use bedroom 3 with a doggie door to the fenced area. - Th ctr. Is suggesting a door in the six foot opening into the laundry to keep the AC separate. I have no idea what to put there. Thank you!!! :)
...See More
moonwolf_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
Also, I am on the hunt for just a few cuttings that I would like to have for myself and my one best friend (GG, that would not be Shaun but his cousin, whom I just gave some beginner houseplants to, including a Compacta/Hindu Rope).

Mainly, I am looking for pubicalyxes, with "Red Buttons" topping the list (I have a small plant of it, but it's not growing much-just staying green). *sighs* What is it about the pubicalyxes that I love so much?

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Updates

Comments (3)

greedygh0st

moonwolf_gw
Original Author

Related Discussions

moonwolf_gw
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Updates

Comments (3)

greedygh0st

moonwolf_gwOriginal Author

Related Discussions

moonwolf_gwOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

moonwolf_gw
Original Author

moonwolf_gw
Original Author