Over the Fence Chat for 5/4 - 5/10

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Well, it's 9:30pm CST and this is the first time today I've felt like getting on the computer at all. My oldest girl had crappy-crud a couple days ago, and now I've got it, too (ah ... ah .... AHCHOOOO!)! Oh ... excuse me. Besides driving the school bus and being trained on another route that I'll take next week, I haven't gotten much done around here this week.

Last Friday our co-op told us their mill would be down for 6-8 weeks, so we had to scramble to get enough feed on hand to last that long. There are other co-ops in the area, but I don't like dealing with any others - they are higher priced and aren't nearly as friendly. So Monday after I finished my route, I came straight home, cleaned out the truck and trailer so we could get our two ton of feed to last us the month and a half the mill will be down.

This time of year is always on again, off again when it comes to rain, so we have to work in between times to get the gardening stuff done. It dried up enough in one of our "patches" to get some tomatoe and pepper plants set out, but the big garden is still too wet to get into. Maybe if it doesn't rain tonight we will be able to get into it tomorrow and get the rest of the plants set out. Will just have to wait and see.

It's not as if I don't have plenty to keep me busy, and it bugged me a LOT today to be sick cause the weather was absolutely beautiful. I got out a couple times but my energy level was non-existent after just a few minutes ... so back to bed I went. Oh well ... tomorrow is another day, right? RIGHT!

Speaking of getting back to bed, I'm feeling pretty light headed so I will get this posted and lay myself back down. Here's hoping all you crazy, wonderful people have a great evening and a fantastic week! Let us hear from you when you get time. G'nite!

-- Phil in KS (cshomestead@planetkc.com), May 04, 2002

Answers

Must be the season for the crud Phil, been having a bit of an upset myself. That, and the cup of coffee I had at my favorite neighbor's, have me wide awake. I tend to be a bit of a night owl every now and then. I read somewhere that not everyone's circadian cycle was on 24 hour rotation so their sleep patterns varied. I think that is me.

I mowed a big bunch of grass this morning. Why doesn't anyone tell the grass it is cold and rainy so it shouldn't grow?? We did have a beautiful day today, sunshine and mid 60's........the warmest it has been for a while.

We managed to finally get a feeder pig; we have been looking for a while. He is definately NOT Babe!!! Our little Amish neighbors got him out of the pen for him and they sure were cute to watch.

Hope everyone has a great week.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), May 05, 2002.


It's 52* and wet (it's rained day and all nite). We really needed the rain so I'll take the cooler temps with it!!! Added more supers to the beehives and made my tags to put on the jars--when the honey is ready! This will be my first honey year and I am excited (can you tell?):) I had thought about labels but they are so expensive and as someone mentioned they would cover the front of the jar so you wouldn't be able to see thru the honey. Sorry, you all are 'under the weather'! We went through that two months ago and I pray we don't ever get it again!! We still haven't planted the garden! Only 30 tomato plants. I hope we will get the garden done this week. I did get all the orchard weeded, mowed and the grapes fertilzed before this rain!! Have a good week!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), May 05, 2002.

I spent the entire day in the garden yesterday. We had alot of rain last week and it washed out the wood chips between my raised beds. I raked up what I could and layed sawdust down. I layed down some railroad ties to divert the water should it happen again. I planted my broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage plants yesterday, along with some radishes and simpson lettuce. I finally got all the beds weeded in anticipation of putting out peppers and tomatoes at the end of the month. I spent some time in the strawberry patch cleaning out dandelions and got them covered with bird netting. There are quite a few blossoms already. We had a hard frost yesterday and I lost some cukes and cantalope that I didn't cover good enough. No great loss I guess. I had three does due to kindle yesterday also. One doe kindled in the middle of the night, and I guess she didn't cover them good enough and they died. Another kindled yesterday afternoon (2) and as of this morning they are doing fine. The third built a nest but hasn't delivered yet. I was very happy last night, because I accomplished so much yesterday. I really needed a day like that! Hope everyone has a great and productive week! God Bless.

-- Mike in Southern PA (mleeyworm@yahoo.com), May 05, 2002.

The colds season is alive and well in Canada too. I horked up something ooky this morning and was praying that this stupid cold would wear itself out SOON! Its not a bad one by any means, just annoying at this point. My calf is disgusting to look at. Sores, bald patches, BLEAH..I remember how I cuddled him and adored him and now I don't wanna go near him the poor darlin'. The last antibiotic seemed to help with the cough and he perked up and ate better but now that we are treating what appears to be ringworm all over him (and I thought I was being nice brushing him so much!!)with stinky ol' copper napthanate(sp?) he just seems miserable again. Was cuddling my newest doeling that I brought home Friday and thought "hmm her skin is some flakey". Parted the hair to discover lice, lice, and more lice. They don't scatter when you part the hair so I assume is a sucking lice and not biting. Anyhoo, I dusted her with DE and sulfur ASAP and will do so again and again until she's clear. Did the other doeling too just incase. The piglets were brought home on Saturday and are in the barn to start off since its still plenty chilly at night and some days too. I moved the Golden Polish chicks into the henhouse with everyone else. I really need to make more roosts in there!! does anyone else find spring EXHAUSTING?????! I haven't had time to get spring fever! the garden lays there accusingly as if to say "And why haven't you started all those seeds yet?? I'll be dry enough to work in just a few weeks fool!!" sigh..The meat chicks come next week......

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), May 06, 2002.

Hi everyone! Phil, I hope you're feeling better. I'm just getting over having it, still have a cough, but feel alot better than I did. So much to do around here, just can't be sick! :)

I went out and started weeding the garden. Since I've been sick and then having rain, the weeds are taking over. I usually like to weed, but the boogers are everywhere. I've got half of it done and should finish up today. The garden always looks so pretty after it's "cleaned" up.

While out in the garden, I noticed the potatoes are blooming, the peppers have got little ones on them and the rabbits this year have left the beans alone. I might actually get a good mess of green beans this year! I'm growing corn this year for the first time for what seems forever. It's up and growing and I had to thin it out.

While outside, Dave and I were talking about how we can't hardly wait till all the veggies start ripening. I can almost taste the sweet corn and fresh slices of tomatoes. Makes all this work and weeding worthwhile. :)

I have all my fruit in the back yard and so far it's all doing good. The blueberries are still living and the cherry tree has got little baby cherries forming on it. While inspecting the apple trees, we noticed a few catepillars and a large web they built on one of the trees. Got rid of the web and catepillars and Dave told me I needed to spray the trees. I won't use chemicals, so I hope just being vigilant with picking off the bugs will do the trick. We shall see.......:)

Well, I better get outside while it's not too hot and finish up the garden. You all have a great day and hope the sun's shining for you!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 06, 2002.



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