The hardest items was planning fuels stops to ensure adequate 'reserves' & acquiring a satellite phone for scheduled position 'check-ins'. Also bringing my EPIRB as a backup. GPS has been updated.
Remember the 7Ps...
Remember the 7Ps...
Whatcha Up To???
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
RLwhaler
Well-Known Member
I figure Sam and his wife should be somewhere east-northeast of Mexico City by today. Just a guess. That's one heck of a drive.
E
ErnieCopp
Guest
I wonder if cows still sleep on the asphalt pavement at night, like they used to 50 years ago when i spent ten winters halfway down, shooting ducks and doves.
Ernie
Ernie
RLwhaler
Well-Known Member
Heck of a drive that's for sure. 4 of us drove to Cancun right out of high school,we ran out of money while there. I waited tables.We barely had enough money to come back. LOL!
I can't wait to hear Sam's venture...
M
Mr_Yan
Guest
Hot enough around here that the company provided cold sliced watermelon for the shop worker's first break and at lunch.
Yesterday was mid 90s F and humid. About 7 PM a storm rolled through and kept going to about10:30. Picked up about 1.5" of rain from it but also had the weather alarms going off for 60+ mph winds and flash flood warnings.
Yesterday they were predicting a high of 98 F for today but after the storm rolled through they revised it to 88 F.
Grilled kabobs for dinner
Yesterday was mid 90s F and humid. About 7 PM a storm rolled through and kept going to about10:30. Picked up about 1.5" of rain from it but also had the weather alarms going off for 60+ mph winds and flash flood warnings.
Yesterday they were predicting a high of 98 F for today but after the storm rolled through they revised it to 88 F.
Grilled kabobs for dinner
M
Mr_Yan
Guest
Got another round of T-storms late afternoon yesterday. Brought nearly another inch of rain. Currently 92 F and 58 % RH - works out to a dew point of about 73 F. My glasses fogged up when I walked out of church this morning.
M
Mr_Yan
Guest
Too hot to work out side today so I tried my hand at making seed tape for my fall carrots.
I used drops of elmers school glue in a grid 3 inches by 1 inch apart on a sheet of newspaper and set a carrot seed in each glue spot. After these dry I will cut them in 1 inch wide strips. I plan on planting them in an open space in my garden just outside my kitchen door when the heat breaks (Tuesday?).
I used drops of elmers school glue in a grid 3 inches by 1 inch apart on a sheet of newspaper and set a carrot seed in each glue spot. After these dry I will cut them in 1 inch wide strips. I plan on planting them in an open space in my garden just outside my kitchen door when the heat breaks (Tuesday?).
Had a nice shower today. About an inch of rain. Forecast for next few days says good chance of more rain. It's been really dry for the past 6 weeks, so the grass and trees will appreciate it.
Mowed and trimmed the yard. Fixed the entrance gate operator. I paid a lot of money for that thing, and I'm really disappointed in some of the parts they use. Scoped out a spot for another water well...I'm thinking about irrigating the front acre.
Mowed and trimmed the yard. Fixed the entrance gate operator. I paid a lot of money for that thing, and I'm really disappointed in some of the parts they use. Scoped out a spot for another water well...I'm thinking about irrigating the front acre.
Some more rain today, grass is starting to perk up. Went outside on the front porch to watch it and got nailed by a yellow jacket on my neck. Had a pretty bad allergic reaction, that's a first. It will be all out war on wasps when the rain quits in a few days. I've noticed they're really aggressive lately.
I figure Sam and wife should be on the home stretch. Probably arriving in Panama tomorrow or Wed.
I figure Sam and wife should be on the home stretch. Probably arriving in Panama tomorrow or Wed.
M
Mr_Yan
Guest
Something must be going around. Last Sunday my wife got stung by a big slow bumble bee when walking around in the community garden. This was one of the big slow typically docile ones and it got her right in front of her ear. My wife wasn't even doing something that would have antagonized them. Today I was sitting at a picnic table eating lunch when a wasp (mostly black but with yellow markings) landed on the back of my neck. I brushed it away and got stung or bit between my collar and hair line.
My sting, well, stung for a few minutes then subsided. After an hour the pain built back to about the same as when just stung so I walked down to the nurse's station as I couldn't see it to judge swelling. I hope this doesn't require an investigation and report like a typical work accident - I work for a giant fortune 100 company blue chip type company and there's a form and report for everything.
The first 'Pride of Barbados' seedling is up. I've got about a dozen of them planted, not sure what kind of germination success I'll have. I had to prepare the seeds individually with a metal file because they're so tough.
The nurseries around here wanted $15/$20 per plant (yikes!). I bought 20 seeds on eBay for $4 shipped. Maybe I'll order some more seeds and sell the plants roadside in front of my house, lol!
The nurseries around here wanted $15/$20 per plant (yikes!). I bought 20 seeds on eBay for $4 shipped. Maybe I'll order some more seeds and sell the plants roadside in front of my house, lol!
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RLwhaler
Well-Known Member
That is awesome Wolffman!! 20 bucks was the "sale" price!! You'll enjoy the colors. It's been at least 5 weeks,and they're still blooming at my house.They grow fairly fast too!
I'm fixin' to get some seeds from ebay and try it out!
RL, I bet your plant will give you a bunch of seeds in the fall. So far I still only have one plant up out of 12. You're supposed to nick the seeds with a metal file to help water get to them. Then soak in water overnight. I have about 10 seeds left and I'll try soaking these for 2 days and see what happens. I also ordered these seeds called 'Pride of Madeira'. I'll get those going soon and see what happens. Pic of its flower below.
M
Mr_Yan
Guest
Went up to the community garden to spray for squash bugs but got there too late and found that the flowers were open and honey bees were all over. I was up there at dawn (5:30 am) and didn't think that would be too late.
Instead of spraying I spent a good 45 minutes going over leaves and smashing squash bug eggs. I found one clutch just hatching and smashed the nymphs. I only saw one adult which I was able to smash. By the time I was done the legs of my pants were covered with smashed eggs from wiping off my hands. Guess I was a bit of an insectisidal maniac.
Started another 80 soil cubes for the fall - or hope to get a harvest in the fall
Instead of spraying I spent a good 45 minutes going over leaves and smashing squash bug eggs. I found one clutch just hatching and smashed the nymphs. I only saw one adult which I was able to smash. By the time I was done the legs of my pants were covered with smashed eggs from wiping off my hands. Guess I was a bit of an insectisidal maniac.
Started another 80 soil cubes for the fall - or hope to get a harvest in the fall
- 15 green cabbage
- 15 red cabbage
- 10 kale
- 10 collard
- 10 brussles sprouts
- 10 broccoli
- 10 chard
RLwhaler
Well-Known Member
You must've read my mind..I was in the process asking you how to get these seeds started. Thanks for the advice! Much appreciated!
I have to be honest..I did get carried away searching through ebay last night. Ordered all kinds of colors. I'll send ya some! When fall comes around,I'll be right back to ask you for advice how to harvest some seeds.Would gladly share with our members here.
That 'Pride of Madeira' is awesome!
The recent rains have helped the Bermuda grass out a bunch. We have been lucky and had rain showers for the last 6 days straight.
About 2 weeks ago I did a granular application of 'Talstar' on the St Augutine in the backyard for chinch bugs. I also spread a pass around the house for ants. Well, now I have ants in the house. This morning I'll be spraying Bifen and Termidor around the entire house. These fire ants are really making me mad.
If anyone is interested, I get all my chemicals at Domyownpestcontrol.com. You can get most anything you want there including professional products. I get great service from them and shipping is always free.
About 2 weeks ago I did a granular application of 'Talstar' on the St Augutine in the backyard for chinch bugs. I also spread a pass around the house for ants. Well, now I have ants in the house. This morning I'll be spraying Bifen and Termidor around the entire house. These fire ants are really making me mad.
If anyone is interested, I get all my chemicals at Domyownpestcontrol.com. You can get most anything you want there including professional products. I get great service from them and shipping is always free.
RL, I've never grown Pride of Barbados before, but it's seed pods look like the pic below. I imagine it's like any other plant that has pods like this. You can harvest the pods when they are dry and start to split open. Store the seeds in a cool/dry/dark place. You might have to open your own Ebay store, lol!
RLwhaler
Well-Known Member
LOL!! Gotcha! I've seen those already. I will do just that. Thanks!
M
Mr_Yan
Guest
On Thursday a thunder storm rolled through here and a tree three houses over got nailed.
There's a large lawn / yard waste bag next to the tree in this pic.
For an idea of size the trunk is easily 5' in diameter about three feet off the ground.
When we looked at it again today it didn't show much sign of dying off but you can see a radial crack along that current path where the bark was blown off.
There's a large lawn / yard waste bag next to the tree in this pic.
For an idea of size the trunk is easily 5' in diameter about three feet off the ground.
When we looked at it again today it didn't show much sign of dying off but you can see a radial crack along that current path where the bark was blown off.
I did some reading today, and others are saying that it can take 1-2 months for the Barbados seeds to sprout. I guess a heavy dose of patience is in order. I probably need to put the pots on automatic watering.
RINGO
New Member
Pulled weeds , again. Watered of course , and got a few herb starts going for sale at the farmers market.
Good fun.
Good fun.
Went for a cruise in the Jeep with the boy this evening. Watched the farmers harvesting corn and then went into town and checked out what was going on. There is a new pub and they had some live, outdoor music going on. That's a big deal for Needville TX.
The TX Sage decided to bloom today. I can't figure this plant out, it blooms whenever it feels like it.
It's been really hot and we haven't been doing much outdoors except for the necessary.
The TX Sage decided to bloom today. I can't figure this plant out, it blooms whenever it feels like it.
It's been really hot and we haven't been doing much outdoors except for the necessary.
M
Mr_Yan
Guest
yesterday i harvested 6 watermelon, 4 sumer squash, and a small handfull of greens - 39.9 pounds
Yan, I'm always amazed at how far apart our growing schedules are. It seems like I've been wrapped up forever and you're just now in the thick of things.