Last few days of November and the first start of December week 1?

2 years ago

I am so ready for some rain... cause it seems foolish to water the ground, to be able to dig up Bermuda grass.

I changed things up... and went back to digging up some BG. I still worked on the next root removal project... plus I also cut all the cannas off, and laid them down as mulch for overwintering them in place.

I also dug some up, and will dig some more up coming this spring. If anyone wants some, this is a good time to speak up.

Moni

Featured Answer

dbarron

2 years ago

I've given in and admitted I'm sick. Some kind of what my old doctor used to call viral crud. Everything stems from the sinuses, draining down throat into lungs. I have good and bad times...surely in next couple of days it will let loose. I've been semi-sick for a week and a half. I'm fine if I don't move much or talk. I have issues with coughing/drainage as I lie down, but cough drops usually allow me to get my sleep in.

I hate being sick, especially when the temperature is so wonderful and I can't do anything.

I did put this together and will share it as my holiday card to you all. Please note the selfie was taken while laying down on a block of stone to give the background (which is one reason it looks weird). Moni may remember I'm allergic to smiling...not gonna happen.

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Comments (47)

OklaMoni
Original Author
2 years ago
Most of the Cannas I will dig up look like this:
dbarron
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Cannas need no care (like mulching) in our zones from my experience, though it might reduce your BG load in the cannas (lol). I've been trying to kill mine for 7 years..and while I'm only pulling them, they're very resilient.

I'm finding I'm not enjoying the cooler temps for walks these days...my hands get cold (but all in all, it's better than 100F). I am being lazy and not walking dog till after 10 or 11, when it warms up a bit.

I'm (every day) trying to watch my evergreen clematis species (acquired last January) to watch the single blooms that it looks to bear this year. Naturally a watched clematis refuses to boil, err bloom. I noticed this week the hellebores buds are starting to be visible as well.
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November 2017 Week 1 General Garden Talk
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Comments (68)
Kim, I have no words for this situation. Well, I have words, but for the sake of politeness, I won't use them. I promise to only use nice words instead. I. hope. she. enjoys. her. lawn. (I said that through gritted teeth.) Lawns make no sense to me. People spend a lot of money to plant, feed and water a lawn for what purpose? So they can mow it weekly, rake up the grass clippings and have them hauled away to already overflowing landfills? Lawns are monocultures that do not support a diversity of life, yet we Americans cling to them as a vestige of the days when only wealthy landowners could afford the resources to maintain some pristine but largely useless green carpets of lawn. If I had to have a perfect green lawn, I'd just buy and install that stupid fake grass they sell nowadays (CostCo sells one that looks really realistic) and I wouldn't waste time and resources maintaining it. The sad thing is that your garden fed and nourished so many in so many ways, and now that will cease. That is the tragedy of this situation. When I think of you, I think of you and Ryder out there working together in the sun. I think of beautiful flowers and fresh herbs. Fresh apricots. Rain. Sunshine. Yes, even weeds. Tomatoes, potatoes, onions and eggplant. Butterflies, bees and other little creatures. Sunflowers. Borage. I could go on and on. I think of the people at the Farmer's Market buying and delightfully taking home your products and enjoying them. I think of life. I think of how creating the garden, planning it, planting it, maintaining it, sharing it and spending every day out in it fed your soul. As you worked to improve the soil, you were indeed feeding the soil too. The soil fed the plants. The plants helped feed all the little creatures. I believe God looked down on your garden and smiled. It was all so good. There is a synergy in all of that. And, it completely sucks that it all is being destroyed. I am so sorry for that. I grieve for the loss of what you created. I am sorry for all the pain I know this is causing you. Having said all that. I. know. you. We are kindred souls along with all the other gardening freaks here on this forum. Gardening is in your blood. You will create a garden wherever you go and it will be a million times better for the world than any lawn grass. You will flourish wherever you live and grow. You will be happy. You will achieve. You will thrive. So will your garden. Maybe it isn't going to be in the place where you started and which you now are leaving, but it will be good. It will be better than good. It will be great. I guarantee it. You are setting out on a wonderful new adventure, and perhaps it isn't an adventure you were anticipating going on....but you can and will do this, and you will arise above the actions of that foolish young woman who is going to replace your beautiful, bountiful garden with lawn grass. 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When I walk on our land, I see life everywhere in gazillions of different forms. I imagine you are much like me. You revere what God's earth, your hard work, the sweat equity and the pain all combine to produce. You will produce a beautiful garden. You will manage a beautiful farm. You will bloom wherever you are planted. Believe it. I do. You will not be embarking on this new journey alone. We'll all be right here with you. Happy Gardening lies ahead. Now, go dig up and save as much as you can, but don't fret over what you cannot find and move. We'll all help you rebuild your friendship garden in your new place---one plant and one batch of seeds at a time. The Spring Fling reigns eternal and there's always tons of new friendship plants waiting to be discovered at every Spring Fling. For you, the new adventure begins and a new friendship garden awaits. Enjoy it. It is such a privilege to get to begin a new garden even though you hate to leave the old one behind. 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November 2018, Week 1
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Comments (32)
Good Morning, Y'all. We only dropped to 28 degrees so, surprisingly, many flowering plants survived and look half-decent. When I looked at the garden around 7:45 a.m., I still could see flowers that looked fine on the Cape honeysuckle, begonias, lantanas, marigolds, some of the Texas hummingbird sage plants, mealy cup sage, autumn sage and the globe amaranth plants. The remaining herbs (rosemary, sage, chives, parsley and basil) also looked fine. Even some of the remaining zinnias looked good. Everything else probably is gone though. If the butterflies that were flitting around the garden yesterday survived the cold night, and it is likely they did, then at least they still have some flowers for nectar. Jennifer, I need to give our dogs a bath. Maybe on Monday. I have one grandchild here for the weekend, so just don't want to mess with bathing dogs while she is here. Larry, Mud has us at a standstill here as well. I'd say that I'm hoping we'll dry up in this cold, dry air, but more rain (and snow) are in the Monday forecast so I guess we'll just have more mud. You're quite a bit colder than us this morning, but then you're quite a bit further north. Our Mesonet station went to 26 but at our house the Min-Max only shows 26, and it still was at 30 when I got up at 4:40 a.m., so we really weren't at 28 degrees for more than a very few hours. A mole has tunneled across our driveway, from the neighbor's pasture to our yard. I hope he or she isn't planning on sticking around. When moles show up here, the cats usually take care of them so they normally aren't a problem for us. I kinda felt sorry for the mole having to tunnel through all the mud. Some people that I know dig up their regular potatoes with some sort of attachment they pull behind their tractors. I don't know if it is some sort of mechanical digger or what, but it merely turns over the soil and then they can easily find the potatoes. I wonder if such a thing would work with sweet potatoes? George, I bet y'all were cozy and warm with that fire going. Jen, That's a lot of dogs. Are you dog sitting? Jennifer, If you know what caused the injuries to the dog, I'd just explain it to the vet. I suppose if the vet questions why you didn't bring in the dog you could just explain you used your own holistic methods to heal the wounds? Lots of folks here that have lots of animals do a lot of the routine day-to-day doctoring of their animals (not just cows, horses and such, but farm dogs and cow dogs as well) and don't take their pets in for every injury--not if they can heal it themselves. Wherever the hair is not regrowing there probably is scar tissue. We've had that with snakebitten cats---the hair did not grow back in the snakebite area. Our cat, Shady, is 18 or 19 years old and still has a circular scar that is white flesh with no hair growing there in the same spot where he broke out in a copper-colored rash after a copperhead bit him in the abdominal/groin area when he was only a couple of years old. I just think of it as his copperhead bite scar. In the early years I did think that hair eventually would grow back there, but then it never did. Today is sunny and bright and it looks so nice outdoors, but it still is very chilly. Looks can be deceiving, I guess. The leaves on the red oaks look a brighter red this morning, so at least there's that. Everything that had yellow or golden leaves left on the trees has lost them over the last couple of days. I expect the red oaks will lose the rest of their leaves soon, although some of the red oaks have foliage that still is 95% green. It is odd how some trees are so slow to change color and lose leaves this year. There's not much consistency. The post oaks are still green too, but usually are about the last trees to lose their leaves here and some of them will hang onto their leaves all winter long before dropping them in early Spring so new leaves can emerge. We had a lot of hungry deer waiting for deer corn this morning. They remind me of cows standing near a fence waiting for the rancher to show up with cattle feed. I don't go back there and put out food for them until they've all moved far enough away from the feeding area that I feel safe. Generally, I feel safe if they've jumped the fence into the adjacent pasture and moved at least 30 to 50' away from where I feed them. Deer that are too friendly can turn dangerous in the blink of an eye, especially bucks during the rutting season, so I'm always extremely careful. I hope everyone has a good day. Dawn
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November 2019, Week 1
Q
Comments (42)
Larry, I just hate that it is so expensive to heat a greenhouse. We had neighbors right next door to us who had a small greenhouse when I was a kid, so at least I knew the perils and pitfalls of greenhouse gardening. When we built ours, I swore I would not spend money to heat it, and I haven't, but that does mean I use it less in winter than I thought I would....and, I don't care. I'm going to make the right financial decision for us even if it isn't the fun garden decision. I still can do a lot with a greenhouse heated with natural sunlight and a large mass of water in containers. With the sort of cold we're expecting in the next couple of days, there is little one can do anyway, except try to protect edible cool-season crops with frost blanket weight row covers and such. It is just so early for all of this. 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Usually when a mother cat eats her kitten it is because something is wrong with the kitten and she is trying to protect the rest of the litter from the illness by removing it from the scene. It is hard to think about, isn't it, but it comes from an instinct to protect the group, not from meanness. I suspect Diana has a territorial insecurity issue with the dogs---she doesn't feel safe, perhaps? My solution would be to give her a place to retreat to where she's out of their reach? I'd probably buy her a tall cat tree, and maybe put up some of those elaborate cat shelves on the walls where a cat can climb for safety. (They sell them at places like Chewy's.com but a person could make their own pretty easily.) I love the one I'm going to link, but the price tag is scary. I think it wouldn't be that hard to DIY something similar though. Elaborate Cat Shelf System Our cats have no dog issues. Our dogs may bark at the cats, or may think about chasing them, but one little swipe of the cat claws across a dog's nose reminds the dog or dogs who's the boss and that is that. Sometimes, though, a cat is too afraid of the dogs to swat them with his/her claws so then the dogs think they have the upper hand. Jesse is petrified of cats because he's been clawed a couple of times but, being a puppy, he persists in trying to engage the cats in 'play'. One of these days he will learn that such engagement always ends badly for him and he'll leave the cats alone all the time, not just most of the time. This is my year off from veggie gardening so I can focus, focus, focus on the landscape renovation, even though y'all know I have to have a few peppers and tomatoes in pots or I'd lose my mind. I'm not going to raise them from seed though. I'm just going to grab a handful of plants when they arrive in the stores in March---I expect to be about ready to harvest the first fruit by the time the Spring Fling arrives, and that is why I rarely bring home tomato or pepper plants from the SF---it is too late for my location as the plants need to already by growing, blooming and producing in order to beat our wicked heat. I'm worried we are getting spoiled by the wet springs---we have been wet and mostly cool in spring since 2015 and that long run of abnormally wet, cool spring weather that persists into May or June cannot last forever. It is easy to forget that prior to 2015, we had wicked drought in 2011 through 2014 that made getting a good tomato harvest hard because it got so hot so early. Amy, The mother cat is an irresponsible, fat, lazy white thing who lives about 1/4 to 1/3 mile away from us, I believe, based on her direction of travel when she leaves our place to travel across the fields. She is showing up here every evening and every morning wanting to be fed when I feed the three big kittens (not her kittens, which are in the house) out at the garage. Yesterday she brought 3 friends with her. I fed the big kittens their canned food inside the garage and closed the door to keep the adult visitors outside, and gave them dry food. They ate it, but they weren't impressed, and they didn't act especially hungry. I think they'll stop showing up here if they cannot access the kittens' canned food. None of these are skinny or act particularly feral---I just think they probably have dry food at their homes and discovered that the kittens get canned food here at night, in particular, to lure them into the garage so they can be inside of there all night for their own safety. Because she is so large (i.e. fat) and clearly well-fed, and also because she seems to have a home, I don't understand why she had her kittens in our garage and later abandoned them twice. Perhaps she has poor mothering instincts. I do think her family (whom we do not know) have dogs, so maybe she didn't feel safe having kittens on that property---it has two homes, two families, and multiple dogs. I agree with you, Amy, about no more falling! Oh, and our skin does get thinner as we age, and I sure can tell it with my own. I'm perpetually scratched or bruised from the cats and dogs. They don't mean to hurt us, as you know, but they sure manage to do it. Nancy, You're so lucky you didn't break a bone. We go on lots of broken bone calls here....people getting thrown off horses, getting pinned to a fence or wall by a cow, falling off porches or decks or ladders or tractors or whatever. It is scary how often their overall health, especially if they are older folks, declines after a fall. Having said that, one of our neighbors got thrown off a horse on leased cattle land a few years back, and had to be brought up out of the river bottom area in the back of a pickup truck, lying in the bed on a rough ride across pastures, with a broken hip or pelvis or both.....he was 89 and his motivation to do all the proper healing and physical therapy was so he could get back on his horse and ride again. I don't know. I might have taken that injury as a sign that I should give up horseback riding myself. There is NO book on this earth that would compel me to plant hackberry trees for any reason. LOL. Our next door neighbor had them in Fort Worth, did not control them, let them reseed everywhere, and those trees grew up in our fenceline and destroyed our fence. I hate them. Oh, we have them (and sugarberries too) here in our woodland and they are aggressive and re-seed everywhere, but I'd never ever under any condition plant one on purpose because of the way they spread aggressively. Of course they feed wildlife---so does poison ivy, but I don't plant it either. If Tim and I had nothing to do with our time and energy except cut down trees, we'd cut down all the hackberries and sugarberries, and just doing that on our few acres would take the rest of our natural lives, so we'll never be rid of them but maybe we can keep them from spreading more. The ones growing on the southern edge of our woodland are moving towards my garden, year after year, creeping ever closer and that's going to cost them their lives after Tim retires one of these days. Native plants are great and we have acres of them, but one reason they survive, thrive and do so well in the first place is that often they are aggressive spreaders and growers and can take over an area. My goal as a nature-loving gardener is to have many native plants, but not too many of the super-aggressive ones that take over every square foot of space. There has to be balance. We are lucky because we never bulldozed and clear cut our property, so we don't have to restore native plants to it. There's also plenty of non-natives we perpetually work to eradicate because of their extreme aggressiveness. We also work to control natives that are aggressive spreaders. All these years of watching how the plant community members interact with each other has given me the opportunity to observe how the plants, both native and non-native, have advanced and spread ever since we bought this land way back in 1997. What have I learned? Too much to write here, but one of the big lessons is that most plants are relentless in their desire to spread and grow, and if we don't control them, the aggressive spreaders will crowd out many equally desirable (or more desirable) plants. Knowing in your mind that, logically of course, this sort of thing happens, but seeing it first-hand can be a rather shocking experience. When we first moved here, my attitude was that I would not cut down a tree for any reason because we need all the trees. Ha! I sure learned, and very quickly, how wrong I was about that. We have to cut down trees and hack back the jungle or they'd crowd us, our gardens, our house and outbuildings, and our animals right off the property. It is easy to think you'll just sit back and let the plants slug it out among themselves, but that doesn't really work either because a few aggressive species will spread so much that they hurt your property's overall biodiversity. If I never see another hackberry, sugarberry, eastern red cedar or honey locust tree on our property ever again, it will be too soon. They are here, and we'll never get rid of them, but part of our landscape reno is to cut out and remove a honey locust tree we left near the dog yard for shade, and now it and its suckers are overtaking the entire dog yard fence and need to be removed, and their suckers and stumps need to be killed with a stump/brush killer or we'll be fighting them the rest of our lives, and we don't need their thorns near the dog yard. Our native persimmons also sucker and spread as groves, and I've tried to leave them alone, but they are moving into the back garden, so they're going to be removed this winter too. Dawn
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November 2020 Week 1
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Comments (59)
I don't watch TV at all. Years ago I realized that most of what I saw on it was 1) wasting my time & 2) trying to indoctrinate me . Our family simply stopped watching. Moni, at $4000 in repairs, you might do better replacing your car with something else. I know of two used car lots that have good deals. I NEVER buy a vehicle new. HU, I grew three beans this year, which appear acceptable for shellies: Cherokee Striped Cornhill, Hamby & Spangler. They're all old fashioned Appalachian string beans. Hamby and Spangler see especially easy to shell. They also have really large seed. All three are pole/cornfield beans. I'll attach a photo of Spangler. It's very impressive. For a bush shell bean, I'd check Sandhill Preservation Center. If I remember correctly, they list some which are specifically shell varieties. All three of the cornfield beans mentioned are outstanding for snaps. Hamby refused to set pods until cooler nights arrive, but it's been loaded ever since. It's in a protected place and I'm still picking.
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OklaMoni
Original Author
2 years ago
I lived in Kay County and got introduced to Cannas by a friend up there. She always dug hers up, in order to have some the following year. I never started with them till I lived here in OKC. I resorted to piling wood chips or the cut off sections on top of them... and so far, never lost any... unlike Darlene, she often lost all she didn't dig up.

I find it easy to just pile the leaves and stems on them... and remove/trash that in the spring. :)

Danny, wear some gloves. Good ones. No need to have cold hands... LOL

I don't venture out till my back yard is in the sun. At this time, it is totally shaded by the neighbors tree. Sun make such a BIG difference.

Today I may take a yard break... that remains to be seen... but later on (2), I am going for a hike, should be short, as the main trail is only 1 1/2 miles long. I belong to numerous bike and hiking groups, and one of the meet-up groups is doing that hike.

Moni
dbarron
2 years ago
In Chelsea, I had them invading feet into the yard from the beds (cannas). Maybe Ponca City area was high enough in elevation and northern enough to be a risk for them, but our areas in recent years aren't. I used to love them, now they're like bearded iris, they're just weeds ;0 I think a lot of that is because everyone has them (my opinion).

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what I want to fix for lunch..and coming up blank. I'll go do some web searches and see if my mind comes up with something...I doubt I'll starve.
jlhart76
2 years ago
Grew up by Grand lake & mom never dug hers up. When I grew them in Tulsa, I couldn't get rid of them. Even after snowmageddon 2011 they came back stronger than ever.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
I use to grow cannas when I lived in Ft. Smith, some areas I would leave them in the ground, but in the wettest and coolest areas I was bothered with them rotting. I dug up enough that I would have a good start even if the rest rotted. I even dug up my banana trees, but there I had a very good place to store all my plants, I don't here.

I think I will take Madge out to eat today, she has just worked her bottom off trying to have Thanksgiving for everyone else. We will have leftovers for a god while, even though she tried to send food home with everyone.

Danny, my hands and feet stay cold, and I feel I am handicapped if I have a pair of gloves on, it seems as though I cant hold or pick up anything when I am wearing gloves.
hazelinok
2 years ago
Moni, next time I'm near your area, I'll drop off the gloves. I was over fairly near to you today (20th and I44), but was in a real hurry. My daughter doesn't live near you any longer. She and her husband bought a house in Edmond. SO. Much. Further! Or is farther? Anyway, I'm not over there as often.

As far as cannas go...have an extremely dry summer like this year and only water 2 or 3 times. Mine didn't grow well. I neglected that area. Weeds and lack of moisture.

My house is half decorated. Hopefully will finish on Tuesday and then can enjoy the season! I don't put up a lot of stuff, but it's the cleaning and all that goes along with the decorating.

I scored a pair of chairs FINALLY on marketplace. I've had a specific type of chair (and price) in mind for months. When something finally comes up, I miss out. Someone always beats me to them. But, not this time. I didn't really have to work much today so went before work and got the chairs. Super excited.

If you've been in the furniture market lately, you know that new things are hard to get. M & M order furniture from Ethan Allen in June and still do not have their furniture. Most of the stuff in stores is very poorly made...and gray is the color of choice. I like gray, but prefer warmer tones of tan, beige and cream. These are older chairs and have been well cared for. The woman I bought them from got them from an estate sale in Nichols Hills. She decided to go with French slipper chairs.

I'm very pleased. Hopefully the animals won't ruin them. I had an old couch and wingback chair in that area and didn't care if they messed them up. Although, I'm very attached to those two pieces because my Dad had the couch made in the 70s when I was a little girl. I had it recovered about 18 years ago. And the wingback has memories of Lane attached to it.

Anyway...no gardening today.

I'm tired. Was sick last night and probably dropped 2 lbs from throwing up. Guessing it was from the crap I've been eating over the past few days.

Looking forward to a good night's sleep.
OklaMoni
Original Author
2 years ago
Larry my feet LOVE wool socks this time of the year... and my gloves come off often, while working... but for walking gloves are GREAT. :)
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
Moni, I have to agree, I am trying to use gloves more often. I am old and my skin is thin, and my hands are beat up most of the time. I walk very little, but gloves are great if I am driving a tractor. I also use thick socks. I have been buying my work boots a little larger and using special inserts and thick socks to fill the voids in my insulated boots. This set-up is hard to walk in, but being as I only have to walk to the tractor or my side by side, it works great for me, but I still have to remove my gloves often.
Macmex
2 years ago
Love my wool socks. This year I used them straight through the summer. I've gotten quite attached to work gloves too. Wish I had used them about a month ago when I was cutting sweet potato vines with a hand sickle. REALLY sliced my left index finger. I think the day before Thanksgiving I was finally able to work without a bandage on it.
jlhart76
2 years ago
Today's email: clear to close for Wed afternoon. Only took a month & a half longer than expected. If all goes smoothly, I'm starting on the garden this weekend.
Kim Reiss
2 years ago
Jen congrats. Hope it finally goes smoothly.
OklaMoni
Original Author
2 years ago
Ouch, George, done similar before... it takes forever to heal up.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
George, my hardest learning curve was to use gloves while repairing a barbed wire fence. The use was easier later in life when we went to metal post and just hooked a wire around the post to secure the barbed ware. I was never good with a hammer, and it seemed the goal of my right hand was to see how many fingers on my left hand it could mash, metal posts are a blessing for this old man.

I need to get out today and work on my Long tractor. It use to belong to a preacher, he dies 7 years ago, and the tractor was used very little in the past 10 years, so is in need of a lot of TLC.
Macmex
2 years ago
My Long tractor is down right now. Starter went out and it's beyond my ability to change it. We purchased an electric winch for our flatbed, so we could load the tractor and take it to the shop, but... having trouble with the winch. We'll get it together sooner or later.

The tractor has been revolutionary to my lifestyle. I used it to cultivate the garden this spring, which was a first. I use it in my constant pursuit of firewood. The front end loader really really helps with moving firewood around.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
George, the starter is out on my John Deere. I have 4 old junkie tractors, and it is a nightmare to keep them all running. To start my John Deere, I park it with a chain running under the bucket and attached to the back side of the bucket, so when I have Madge pull with the side by side, the tension on the chain will lift the bucket off the ground. I place the tractor in 7th gear and it will start quickly. I just let it sit and idle till I am finished with it for the day.

I took the PTO shaft to Ft, Smith awhile ago to get it repaired, maybe should have just bought a new one. A fellow that use to live near me was killed in a PTO accident week before last. I had a new muffler and exhaust pipe made for the Long yesterday. I am trying to get a tractor for each implements I use the most. I am not strong enough to change implements, but I am strong enough to drive my side by side to the tractor and climb on.

Without my tractors, I would not be able to do much. I put the 6' brush hog on the Long for a counter balance. I have a large stump in the wildlife garden that I want to haul off. I expect the stump, with all the clay attached will weigh a ton or more.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago

George, I did not get a good picture of my Long tractor, but it is a 2510 with a 50 hp 3 cyl diesel engine. I have tools scattered all around, when you have as much junk as I do, something is broken down all the time, and what is not broken, has a flat tire on it.

I for got to add ( someone was talking about moving compost and dirt some weeks back). If you look over the Kubota, you will see about a 8 or 10 yard pile of compost that is ready, and to the right of that, you will see another long pile I have ready to start cooking, which should be ready for late next spring. I already have the house gardens amended. What you see over the Kubota will go to improve the wildlife garden. I hope to gather more scrap hay before spring.
Macmex
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I have practically the same hay spike for my Long!

Larry, what's a side by side?

Also, are you telling me I might be able to pull start my Long? That would be wonderful! Tell me more!
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
George, you may have heard the saying " Poor people have poor ways ", I was raised like that. We have, at times had to pull start tractor all my life. On my John Deer, which is a 2240, which has 1 HP more than the long, and also a 8 speed transmission, and a started that has not worked in months. I just run a chain under the bucket, then up to the attach to something very strong above so when you hook the pull chain to a pickup, and pull, the tension will hold the bucket off the ground, which makes the tractor easier to pull. You will have to pull the tractor about walking speed, more or less, before letting out on the clutch. My John Deer will just slide the wheels if I dont have in a higher gear.

When I park my John Deere, I just leave the bucket up enough ti run a chain under the bucket and attach it to a chain that I have attached permanently to the mounts on the back of the bucket. I have it mounted this way so I can attach a chain over the bucket if I want to extent my reach, or drop the chain between the tractor and bucket to increase my lifting power. Anyway, before I leave my tractor for a few hours, or a few months, I attach the chain in the manor stated, then just toss the pull chain in the bucket and lower the bucket to the ground, my hydraulics leak down anyway, so the bucket is going to be on the ground when I come back.

My wife does not want anything to do with the tractors, but she will drive my side by side, which is just an atv, utv, rtv, they are called by many names, mine is a Kuvota RTV X900, which just a small work vehicle, It is 2 or 4 wheel drive with 1100 pound hydraulic dump bed and a 2 range hydrostatic transmission and a 3 cyl diesel 21 hp diesel engine.

I think you can easily pull start your tractor, just make sure you are on solid ground where your pickup can get good traction. My pickup is just 2 wheel drive and wont pull a hat off your head if you are on wet grass.

I use to start my John Deere by jumping across the pole on the started, but that is dangerous, because you have to be standing in front of the back tires, and a tractor can easily start in gear and run over you. ( I have all the safety features by-passed on my tractors to make them easier to operate ) which I DON"T RECOMMEND.
Macmex
2 years ago
"My pickup is just 2 wheel drive and wont pull a hat off your head if you are on wet grass."

Larry, I have to remember that quote. That's exactly how I feel about my pickups when on wet grass. I once experienced the humiliation of having to ask a tractor to pull my two wheel drive out of being stuck, in a hay field. What was so humiliating was that I COULD NOT SEE the depression in which we were stuck!

I will most certainly try pull starting my Long! Thank you! Will let you know how it goes.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
George, I am sure you can pull start your tractor, if the tires slid just go to a higher gear, if the clutch slips you may have a bigger problem.

My neighbor is really good to help me in the wildlife garden, but he "dips". I tell him often to be careful where he spits because my truck will get stuck in it. He is always on my case about my truck, his is 4 wheel drive and almost never gets stuck.
Nancy RW (zone 7)
2 years ago
I actually read your entire dialogues, Larry and George. It brought back fond memories of life on the ranch. I knew next to nothing then and even less now, but it was fun reading. I do recall my husband being really excited when he found a good used Massey Ferguson and added it to his tractor collection--the tractors were all the same to me (spoken like a true non-mechanically-minded person, eh? I preferred horses.), and they all worked just fine (I know there was an Allis Chalmers, John Deere, and _____ ). Except for the time we mired three of them in a bog where we'd been haying. Took sinking three of them to figure out how to get them out--with the fourth, but with that one a good long way from the bog, and a lot of chains linked together.

We did the haying operations for many of the ranchers around the area, since my husband had invested in a combine, loose bale stacker, a baler, and bale stacker. I ran the baler and loose bale stacker, for the most part. What great stories we had from that time--involving all things outdoors!

It's crazy warm this week! I've been so good at the walking for exercise. BUT I mowed a big chunk of lawn 2 days ago and then walked, in addition. Wiped me out. I need to get out and do that again today, so won't spend a lot of time here.

Peppers are still kicking, garlic is up. . . Many many asters are still blooming happily along. And the leaves are piling up. I'm trying to just get by with mowing, but at some point, the leaf piles just get too deep and I'll have to double mulch and bag them.

Jen, are you done/official yet? Continued good luck.

Finger injuries--I'm sure most of us have our share of life wounds to boast. But finger ones are among the most bothersome, I think. (And foot ones. And backs. And knees. And hips. . . . LOL--I guess all can be among the most bothersome!) I mowed off my middle and fourth finger tips the first month (middle finger tip had to be amputated) I was here, and that set my new garden back a ways. Took 3 months for it to be healed. What gardening I did was done with a bread sack over the right hand and taped up.

I have turned into a glove wearer. I wear thinner gardening gloves in the summer--but will need to get some coat gloves for walking as it gets colder. The thinner gloves probably wouldn't help prevent snake bite damage, but I FEEL safer while out there digging.

I'm sorry you had the flu unpleasantness, HJ. Did anyone else in the family get it? My DIL in Mpls and I were just laughing about the Thanksgiving we went out to eat at a nice restaurant, and over the next three days, all six of us (hired guy, W and S, my 2 grandchildren and me) took our turn with the 24-hr flu. Funny now--not at the time!

I'm feeling sorry for myself not having good gardening friends near to visit with. Best to you all.
jlhart76
2 years ago
It is official, we are done! For better or worse, we now own this place. Which means this weekend I'm starting by clearing out the big circle bed in front. It's full of weeds and covered with a layer of landscape rock, with that black plastic crap underneath the mess. I don't know what I want to do yet, but it has to be dog friendly and look nice as it's the first thing prospective clients will see.

Later I'll start on the actual garden, but I need to get signed up for chipdrop. Hopefully I can get a few loads of woodchips delivered this winter to get me started.
hazelinok
2 years ago
Nancy, I need to learn how to garden and do outdoor chores in gloves. It's so hard!

I don't think I had a flu. It was a short little throwing-up thing. It really could have been related to the foods that I had eaten on the prior days.

There's a homesteading channel that I watch from time-to-time and she mentioned something briefly about getting your body used to eating crappier foods. (I think she was saying) so many people in the homesteading life, eat really healthy, homegrown foods. And when you eat that way, your system really can't take too much less-healthy "food". I really do believe that. I'm not a homesteader, but my diet is pretty clean. Breakfast is always a backyard egg cooked in "grass-fed" butter on a slice of Ezekiel bread that is toasted. Lunch is a specific whole fat yogurt brand, with local honey and berries (either wild, garden, or sometimes store bought) and a salad made with stuff from the garden.

Then, dinner varies. But, it usually has elements from the garden. Sometimes many elements from the garden.

So, when I do eat many meals of "not the above", I get sick to my stomach.

AND if we're ever in a crisis situation and I'm out of my homegrown foods and the only available options are junky types of food, I'll be in bad shape. People who are used to eating that way, will be fine. At least in the short term.

So, I'll do my best to start eating a bag of chips every week (A family sized bag!) haha. I love chips SO much. And fries.

Anyway, it is something I've been thinking about and I'm sorry for everyone who actually read through all of that.

But, here's another thing. WHY are so many women having surgeries to remove fibroids?! Every woman in my Pilates class has had the surgery except me. My teacher will be out next month because she is having that surgery. What is going on? What is in our food and water and air?! It's not only my Pilates friends, it's so many others.

Anyway again...

Sorry a big change of topic from tractors to fibroids. lol!

Garden stuff. Well.... it's so dry! Why am I watering on December 1?! I don't have time for this. I need to be doing December things!

Oh! I bought a dibbler. I bought it from a man at the Cleveland County craft show. Y'all know how I love homemade items. It's a really nice one and I'm super excited to use it next year.

My house is nearly in shape for December. I bought batteries tonight and my battery candles are all up and going. I have them in lanterns and a variety of other places. It really cozies up the house. I know I've mentioned this before....it's always something that I notice...when the batteries in the candles finally die. Usually it is in March. Last year, I had one go until May. I'm such a seasons person and realize that I don't miss the candle coziness in the summer at all. It's because there's an abundance of light.

I probably should dust off my livejournal (did any of y'all do livejournal back in the day before Facebook and all?) and ramble there instead of here.

Happy December!
Macmex
2 years ago
Ow! Nancy! You lost the end of two fingers? Was this recent? Ouch!

I try to use gloves more and more, as injuries are so bothersome and, especially in winter, I end up having sand paper hands. Something about working wood, working soil and butchering that drains the moisture out of my hands.

Hazel, I have the same problem with "crappy food" but I just try to stay away from it. My problem is that if I get accustomed to too much grease and sugar I wear it for a long time afterwards.
AmyinOwasso/zone 6b
2 years ago
Well, you all have been talkative! I've read, but I've been sick, too. The one year old got sick the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Then daughter and I were both sick. I did not throw up because I barely ate, but had issues with the other end. Got some kombucha. Ron got me egg drop soup and pho. I crave chicken broth when my stomach hurts. I mentioned the pho place because it's really close and I believe they have egg drop soup. But Ron didn't realize that and got pho, which was really good too. I'm not sure what's in the broth. I guess I'll look up recipes. For the uninitiated pho is Vietnamese soup.

The tractor stories reminded me of when I worked for the ranch, too. He had big equipment and haying equipment and it rarely worked.

Ron always wears gloves. It comes from years of metal work. He buys the thinner ones by the dozen. He has welding gloves to use when grilling, or fighting with vicious black berries. He has padded ones to absorb the vibration when mowing. He just bought some waterproof winter gloves. I try to have a pair of garden gloves in my size. I forget to wear them.

I was told I had fibroids 30 years ago. I had adhesions between #2 and #3. I thought that might have started the fibroids. I was told they would "dry up and go away " when I went into menopause. I told that to the last gyno I saw and she said "really" in a tone like she thought it was ridiculous, but we didn't get into it.

I can't believe it's December. Ron keeps buying things. We only give actual gifts to the grandkids. Our children get cash. My big thing is stockings. Everyone gets a toothbrush and a comb, chapstick, nail brush, elastic hair ties and whatever little cheap things I can find. I try to get everyone a Christmas ornament every year. This gets more and more expensive.

TTFN
hazelinok
2 years ago
Amy, I hope you're feeling better now.

And, yes, the ornament buying does get expensive! We all (Tom, Mason, Ethan and I) all have a Hallmark series ornament that we collect. Actually, Ethan's series (Santa's Sweet Ride) stopped 3 years ago.

We went to pick up the ornaments on Black Friday and they didn't have them. Apparently they're having a difficult time getting them into the stores. I need to check back. Ethan collects nutcrackers, so I might not get him an ornament from now on...just a nutcracker.

I like your holiday card, Danny. Hope you feel better soon.

I suppose I'll cover the spinach and lettuce tomorrow with SHADE CLOTH! It's December. What in the world?!

That's about it from me. I'm sort of thinking about seed ordering, but will probably wait until after Christmas. I have a week off after Christmas and that seems like a fun thing to work on then.

Any suggestions on a native evergreen that would thrive in mostly shade? And doesn't get very big?
dbarron
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Not much that's native evergreens likely to grow in your area, even less in shade, certainly nothing that's a shrub (or that I can think of). There's east coast and west coast evergreens, but neither are particularly adapted to plains soil and weather conditions. Fastest way to kill most west coast stuff is to give it summer water. Fastest way to kill east coast stuff is to NOT give it water at all times. You may have noticed that Oklahoma is a plains state (with grasses, not evergreens). Maybe grow a grass (hee)? There's a few assorted things, but nothing small and likes shade (that I can think of, maybe someone else will have something in mind).

Closest might be a subshrub like Pachysandra procumbens (not the japanese one, the native) and/or something like a Christmas fern (if you have the moisture/humidity to support ferns). But again, we're talking east coast type plants that will require supplemental water during crispy times and may not thrive. West coast stuff as a rule is full sun (think Junipers out on a sunny rocky ridge).
hazelinok
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Oklahoma has evergreens. Probably not the kind I want for a very small space in front of my house that faces north, but we have them. I live just on the edge of the cross timbers, I think.

From what I understand about a quarter of our state is forest. I'm thinking of those giant pine trees around Broken Bow that I enjoyed so much a couple of weekends ago...

Thanks for your suggestions, Danny, I'll check them out. I may have to try something non-native in that area. I saw something that isn't a native, but it could work in the shade.
Nancy RW (zone 7)
2 years ago
Agree with dbarron. What about this boxwood? https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/shrubs-for-oklahoma.aspx

When I moved here, to my dismay there were creeping junipers spaced every 5-6 feet, all along the front of our house and the south side. West and south--sounds good? No--both of those sides are full shade, because of all the oaks. I had a lot of work to do, so didn't get around to pulling them out for 3 years. . . by that time I could just yank them out by hand. It's frustrating for Okies who want a pretty Christmas tree! LOL
Nancy RW (zone 7)
2 years ago
Yep, OK does have evergreens. Harder to find those that will thrive in shade. We live right in the middle of forest here. . . eastern red cedars thrive--lots of them here and there. A couple streets away from us is a grove of loblollies--Danny saw them (indeed, pointed them out to me since I was looking down and the loblollies were up--way up!). I do love those. Might transplant a couple on our property. They're enormous, but very cool. I hunted and hunted for an evergreen/pine tree for John at the school, to no avail.

Oh my, what a gorgeous day! The last for a while. We went out on the lake yesterday with friends in their pontoon--it was heaven! However. . . ZERO fish were caught. I was the winner, as I hooked a big one, but alas, it broke free just shy of the boat. No one else even had a good bite.

I have a krink in my shoulder/neck. Might have to chase down a chiropractor. Darn! and HAVE to get a bit of mowing down, so will pick this up later. Best to you!
OklaMoni
Original Author
2 years ago
What a weird day/week.

I made plans to visit with a friend... and had a splendid day yesterday (Thursday). But it would have been splendid for cycling or working in the yard/garden...

Jim, I knew through cycling died... and the funeral was today (could have been another awesome day to spend in the yard). But let me back track. Had a phone call Thursday evening from Minnesota Judy (friend that lives there) not to be confused with all the other Judy friends I have... She said, she called to say good bye. Well, drat, drat, drat... I had a feeling when I saw her in September... but who really want's to think THAT? We had a long long visit... and I wished her a pleasant journey before we hung up. What does one really say at a time like that?

Now this morning while driving over to Esther's house, where we met to drive to Ft.Worth for the funeral of Jim my song played on the radio. Made me wonder what sign that could be... you know, the song by Billy Idol, Moni Moni.... only he spells it wrong (Mony).

If you ever have nothing better to do, go to YouTube and search for Jim Foreman. Jim has a lot of video's there... He lead a very interesting life.

So, we got stuck in traffic jams along I-35, and had some awesome sunset to watch... even though we had thought to be home before sunset.

Moni who used her sit muscles most today.

PS, Danny LOVE your card!
OklaMoni
Original Author
2 years ago
Hazel/Jennifer... order your seeds NOW! Don't wait.
dbarron
2 years ago
Moni, you have a point (about early order). I was going to go lite this year with mostly only starting some annuals...but now I've kicked off (since reading your post) to JL Hudson and am making a list. I haven't ordered from them for years, but at least they're in the US (vs Jellito in Germany, and Plant World Seeds in GB). Ok, so maybe I am going to end up with another year of pot garden in the middle of the yard.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
I still have not checked my seed supply. I have a large supply of seeds but there is a good chance I may be low/out of some peppers. I want to find a pepper that Madge really likes, same with tomatoes, there is no use in growing a lot of things that you cant use.

I have a huge supply of cow peas, okra, pumpkin, and squash. I also expect to have a lot of sweet potato slips.

I think we need to develop better ways to use our squash, pumpkins and sweet potatoes, they are so easy to grow in large volume, and so easy to store if you have the room.

This past summer we just had too much okra, peas, and peppers. My grand daughter used a lot of the peppers by making a lot of pepper relish, but we had to freeze too many peas, okra and tomatoes. We have been talking about canning out food, but afraid our health wont permit the added work of canning.

We have been trying to grow more winter vegetables, but we need to get better at that also, we need more variety, we have 4 types of greens, and turnips running out our ears. I flopped on carrots and beets, they are still in the ground, but I am unsure they will survive the winter. I must get better on my timing

The containers have not done too well with winter gardening, I need a lot of learning there also. The turnips I put in a container look nice, but not as nice as the ones in the ground. I want to try to grow more food in containers, but at this point tomatoes and peppers have been my only plants to produce, and they did not produce as well as the plants in the garden.

I am just rambling, its best to just shut up and try to get a little work done. It looks like it may be a very pretty day.
dbarron
2 years ago
Larry, for your rambling, another method would be drying those things. Then put them in jars or cans and freeze them. Good for like seven or eight years then.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
Danny, thanks, Madge and I have talked about drying veggies, but Madge is afraid it would be too much work. Madge nor I have every tried drying food, and know nothing about it, we do have a lot of jars we could use.

Madge and I are tired today. I had a Doc. appointment in Ada Ok. at 9:15 yesterday. We dont travel well, so we left Thursday around noon and planned on making a fun trip out of it. After we got out of the Doc. appointment, we got a call from one of Madge's sons, he was broken down northeast of Ft. Smith with a trailer load of cabinets, so we got home as quickly as we could to pick up my truck, extra diesel and my diesel cans, went to buy parts and fuel, and stayed with son while he worked on the truck, then followed him to his delivery. We got home way after dark, we got a text not long after, saying he was broken down again. I think he left his truck and trailer, and had someone come and get him, which was okay with us, we are just not able to handle roadside repairs or night time driving.
Kim Reiss
2 years ago
Dried foods when fully dried are good for many years. I have some for over six years. I don’t freeze mine. They do better for me if I leave them on the shelf dark cool. Then I remember to use them. Currently I have herbs, chicken, onions, onion powder, beets, sweet potatoes, mixed greens, okra, zucchini, squash, onion top powder, celery, mushrooms and tomatoes. I hope to expand more next year.
jlhart76
2 years ago
I dehydrate beggies & then grind them to powder, use that as 'seasoning'. That way I feel like my veggie-boycotting husband is eating something resembling healthy.

Hit something last night so I'm sitting in the tire shop getting new tires. Great way to spend my Saturday morning.

I started digging therocks out of the circle bed in our driveway. I seriously hate landscapers who convince people to put rocks down as mulch. Not only that, but it has that black plastic crap underneath. Looks like I'll be busy all winter just digging rocks.
AmyinOwasso/zone 6b
2 years ago
Sorry about the loss of your friends Moni.

Sorry you're sick, Danny. Thinking you might need antibiotics.

Congratulations on closing, Jen!

H/J, Yaupon Holly? I don't know how it handles shade.

I'm better now, thank you. I spent yesterday ordering Christmas gifts.

What kind of peppers are you looking for Larry? I don't do hot, but I've fallen in love with pimento peppers. Ashe County is very productive. They are like squatty bell peppers. These are consistently thick walled. The other one I like is what I call Italian frying peppers, Figitelli Sicilia or the one Nancy had at spring fling (I forgot to write the name down.) These are shaped like a hot pepper, long and tapered, but nicely sweet.

So Danny, do you dry stuff? I bought a fancy dehydrator but I couldn't get things to REhydrate satisfactorily. Kim how do you do it? I have had things mold...

Larry you had a long day! Dehydrating isn't labor intensive. Just cleaning, cutting (if necessary) and laying on trays. You would probably want a big machine. The machines take up space and are left on for long periods of time, so that's a consideration. It doesn't bother me, but Ron's OCD kicks in and he wants it out of the way. You can dry things like Basil or parsley in a regular oven by heating the oven then shutting it off, put a tray of herbs in and leave it overnight.

I wish I could get excited about buying seeds. I can't get excited about anything lately. (Reminds me I need to water house plants.) Ron asked me if I wanted to move my seeds to the spare room and put a Christmas tree there so I wouldn't be Scrooge-y. I have a little decorative chest of drawers for my seeds. I'm thinking no.

(Bah humbug). Actually, the little fake tree is easier to put up and take down and doesn't shed needles.

Have a good weekend.
Macmex
2 years ago
Larry, I want to let you know that I used your method of starting the tractor without a starter. Only had to pull it about 15 ft and we did manage it with a two-wheel drive pickup truck! My hat did stay in place though,,😉
hazelinok
2 years ago
Wow, Larry, that was quite a day. No wonder you're exhausted. I would be too!

Moni, condolences on the passing of your friend.

It was a beautiful day yesterday. Not so much today. It's okay, though, it is December after all.

I will wait until after Christmas to order seed. If I miss out, I'll just use what I already have. The thought of sorting through seed and making decisions regarding seed purchases, makes me feel stressed.

Too much to remember right now and plenty to do. Both jobs will keep me very busy for the next couple of weeks and then all the holiday things, which I love (no complaints). I want to fully enjoy them without stress. And I want to rest a little more. By 8:30 pm, I'm sitting down and resting. For the most part.

I was up early this morning to do my work out and feed everyone and then headed out to do some shopping mostly for two parties this weekend. I had 9 gift bags to put together and couldn't find stuff easily in the stores. It was a little stressful because the stores are packed. Normally I don't mind busy stores in December because in some ways, it's cheerful and reminds me of earlier times. But, today I'm on a bit of a schedule and have actually scheduled THIS hour to rest.

All the holiday candy for this weekend was finished last night, so that is good. And the 9 gift bags are finished now. I just have one more gift to wrap for "Dirty Santa". And one more appetizer to make.

Amy, I'll check out the Yaupon Holly. I need to pay attention and see how much sun that area does get. It must get some because of the annuals that have lived there.

I'm sorry about your lack of excitement for things. Maybe the new year will bring some excitement (in a good way) to you.

I might shut my eyes for a few minutes. Naps are exciting to me. I'm a pretty boring person, though.
Kim Reiss
2 years ago
Amy when I dehydrate I let it go until completely crispy. Except apples pears bananas. Blueberries do great and make an awesome addition to water and tea. So do cucumbers.
As far as rehydrating I mostly use my stuff for soup. I boil 2 quarts stock and add stuff in. The greens powder is stout so I only use tsp. I have not tried my chicken yet. Will let y’all know when I do. Sweet potatoes are cooked dehydrated powdered. I pour boiling liquid on with butter and salt and beat together to get mashed sweet potatoes. Very nice when I can’t get organic.
Add carrots and cucumbers to list I have in stock.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
George, I am glade you got your tractor started, and was able to hang on to your hat. A diesel tractor is easy to start if everything in good working condition, but they can get a little cranky if you run one out of fuel, I only have one tractor with a working fuel gauge. The Long's fuel gauge does not work, and that is high on my repair list, because I cant get a stick down in the tank to measure the fuel depth.

Amy, I grew a lot of Ash County peppers this year. I also grew some Monster Bells. I think Madge liked the Monster better, I liked the Ash County better. I would like to find a pepper that is not quite as hot as the Jalapeno. The mild Jalapeno just does not fill the bill, but I do like the hot banana pepper.
Macmex
2 years ago
My tractor's fuel gauge doesn't work either, but I can easily see the fuel level. I fill frequently.

My father used to grow pimientos. I love them, but hot is my priority and I only grow what I can keep pure. My wife's favorite is called Chile Rayado and my favorite is Ají Yellow #2, aka Murupi Amarela, an habanero type.

Today's been nice. I worked a little firewood and then went into the garden to do some cultivating in our blackberry patch. The weather's perfect for outdoor work.
slowpoke_gardener
2 years ago
Today has been a wonderful day to be outside. I have been over at the neighbor's place. He is starting an eight foot fence around approx. 3 acres for his garden, his son was cutting cedar post for a gazebo and the garden. I like to help, but cant walk well enough, or lift enough to be of much use, but I can use my RTV and drag cedar post all over the property.

I came home just before dark, and Madge was out in the garden picking mustard greens. I thought, what a lucky guy I am, but the mustard was for the donkeys. I did get to ride out into the pasture with Madge, and watch the donkeys eat my greens. I wont stay out that late again. The donkeys ate well, I will be going to bed hungry.

Last few days of November and the first start of December week 1?

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