So How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

KimB

(drum roll please) And the results are IN! We harvested our potatoes!

I planted two kinds of potatoes: white and red, which I have since learned are called Charlotte (white) and Desire (red), each in separate buckets.

We selected our first bucket and tipped it over into an empty garbage can and VOILÀ! Here's “The GREAT Harvest”!

Charlotte or White Potatoes

That's right – 2 potatoes. You can barely see them in my hat! And the “big” one is about 1 inch long. Yeah ... Not so good.

Discouraged but still hopeful we tipped over the other bucket AND ...

Desire or Red Potatoes

YIPPEE! SPUDS!

Trees of Darkness by KimB

Trees of Darkness

Trees of darkness miles high,
Phantoms drawn on grizzled skies.

Moons and stars of dour black,
Cast their shadows grimly back.

Heralds of the day of night,
They beckon with their failed light.

Rulers of the world's ends,
Until the suns arise again.

KimB 7/2011

Saguaro Corners

Among the many ventures and adventures the folks had was the cafe across from the entrance to the U.S. National Park in Tucson, Arizona. They came upon the little cafe by happenstance when Dad worked at Lockheed in Tucson. Thru friends and acquaintances, they met the owner of the tiny cafe who was looking for someone to run the business for him. There wasn't much trade, mostly sales of cold bottled and canned soft drinks and an occasional hamburger. There was a separate building with two motel rooms available in case a tourist wanted to spend the night instead of driving the 17 miles back into Tucson for lodging.

The folks were given full reign on how to run the little cafe. It wasn't long before word got around to the local cowboys that the cafe was open for business and they began to ride their horses over for bottles of coke and a burger. Mom added homemade chile and various sandwiches to the menu which went over like gang busters.

Occasionally a cowboy would stay to chat a bit after eating and friendships began to develop. When Dad got home from his work at Lockheed, he helped Mom in the cafe and some of the cowboys from the neighboring ranches began to drop in during the evenings to chat and tell stories about their work experience.

One afternoon one of the cowboys stopped at the cafe and asked Mom if she would be interested in buying a horse. The question was so totally unexpected, it took Mom a moment to collect her thoughts. The cowboy needed the money and if Mom didn't buy the horse he would continue to look for a buyer. The price was $100, and she would be getting 2 for the price of 1 since the horse was pregnant.

Mom paid for the horse and got a bill of sale then the cowboy helped her stable the horse in a lean-to shed in back of the cafe. Later he came by with a bale of hay and some feed for the horse.

When Dad got home from work, he was as surprised as Mom was that she had actually bought a horse. The horse was a bay, brown with black mane and tail with the name Pepper. Mom and Dad were excited at the prospect of a foal due in a few short weeks. The cowboys answered any questions they had and the event was anticipated with curiosity; would it be a filly or a colt and when would it be born, during the day or night?

Each day after Dad got off work from Lockheed, he gave his attention to Pepper and he and Mom pampered her with treats. While Dad was away at work, Mom made frequent visits to Pepper to check that all was well. One afternoon during one of those visits, Mom was astonished to find Pepper in labor and the foal due any minute. It was a thrilling event and when it was over, a dark brown colt managed to stand next to its mother. Mom was sorry that Dad hadn't been there to see the birthing, but that didn't detract from their excitement of having a new born colt to name. There was only one that came to mind and they both agreed on it. Saguaro.

Bowl of Chili

Email the Editor!

[Note: Editor's post]

We have added a direct email address to the Editor!

A direct email address will allow those who which to contribute a post to get it to me faster and will allow me more flexibility on getting things scheduled for publication too.

The email address needs to be converted by the sender to the proper email format by replacing the (+"atsign"+) with @. The reason the email address is listed this way is to cut down on spam.

We hope that having this option will encourage more family members to send stories to share. Topics can be about anything. Something you would share with friends and family. Stories don't have to be long, even a few sentences would be most welcome. Many of the current posters didn't think anyone would be interested but the blog has many many readers from all over the world. People ARE interested in our adventures and memoirs. Our family has wonderful stories to tell!

And if you are not certain about format and other trivia, please do not worry. The Editor works with everyone to make sure the stories are as YOU want them to be. Spell Check works!

So send your stories to: MrsBizzyB+"atsign"+LIVE.com

(The address is on the side panel too.)

So How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

Loretta

Years ago, gardening was a way of life. We lived in a rural area in Iowa and everything we grew was used in some way or other. Starting with spring planting and ending with either eating it fresh from the garden or canning for future use in the winter months. We didn’t know what store bought was about. Today if we didn’t have stores we would go hungry.

The garden we have this year is pitiful.

Stating with our winter that wouldn’t go away. The stores that supplied the plants had a terrible time keeping them alive. Finally waiting until they were sure the cold was over to stock again.

Now I’m not saying that was the start of our bad luck, but it surly factored in.

We have eight tomato plants that look ok but only three have tomatoes on them. We have three cucumber plants not one cuke on any of them. My water melon and cantaloupe plants are growing and have blossoms, but the bees must be on strike and not pollinating. The hot pepper plants are producing but are small. My bells are growing small ones as well. The cilantro we bought this year and the volunteer wannabe ones from 2 years ago are growing all over the garden. The green bean plants are doing good we’ve had a couple meals with those. The corn looks about 6ft tall no corn as of yet. The grape plants lost a lot of their fruit because of the cold. The blackberry plants are spreading out , but no fruit. My apples are still growing. We still have our hopes on apple pies in the fall.

This is the first year my garden has failed me.

Happy Birthday George!

On August 22nd you will be 90!!!  E gads, those years rolled by mighty fast! It seems only yesterday that you and I, along with my younger brothers and sisters, spent summer days, barefoot and fancy free with not a care in sight. Those days are among my fondest memories.

Do you remember sitting in the branches of Grandmother's apple tree after it had been knocked down during the storm the night before and eating green apples? Between bites of sour green apples we ate salty crackers.

Remember going to the empty stadium to run the track? Being barefoot, the cinders hurt my feet and I never made it all the way around, but that didn't stop us from going back to the stadium often to climb the bleachers and count them when we were tired of running.

Remember the territorial war we had with the neighbor kids on the hill in back of Grandmother's house? Both sides spent hours making mud balls to throw at each other. We spent hours making marble size mud balls and laid them out in the sun to dry for ammunition, but the war fizzled out about three days later. It was a good thing too, since the weapons we had made would have killed someone if we had ever hit a target.

Remember the evening when Penny, the dog thought he was jumping into his favorite chair and landed splat on the floor instead? The room was dark and Penny forgot that Grandmother had moved the chair from the usual place.

Remember the peach ice cream Grandmother made in the old hand crank freezer and carefully packed in ice to keep until time to serve. You and I took teaspoons and sneaked into the cellar room and stole tastes. We took so many that when Grandmother discovered what we had done, she made us take the little red wagon to town and bring back enough ice to make more.

Remember the Michigan Rummy games we played sitting on the floor of the front room at Grandmother's. She let us play with the bicycle decks of cards, but frequently told us she would not allow Euchre played in her house.

Remember the New Years Eve we went sledding down the hill and rammed into the telephone pole at the bottom? I still have a scar on my leg where it got caught between the pole and the sled.

Remember when you and our friend Doyle and I went to the movies together and sang "Over the Rainbow" on the way home?

Remember the errands to the day old bakery Grandmother would send us on and we always walked thru the park so we could see the statue of Chief Mahaska?

Those were the days! We both have had many twists and turnings with experiences taking us to strange and far away places during our years, but I like to browse these memories from time to time and remember the loved ones that shared our lives back then.

May your day be the best of birthdays. And may tigers never knock at your door.



Not Just Sitting Around by Loretta

[Editor's note: This story was written by Loretta]

I wanted to share my first attempts at what the blade runner can do. I had Billy cut them out and I painted them. They sit above my door frame and they haven't fallen yet.

Playful Cat

Sitting Cat

Lying Down Cat

Meteor Showers

There is something magic about watching a meteor shower. My family and I had that wonderful experience many years ago when we lived on the Sky Ranch at the top of Kings Mountain in Red Wood City, Calif.

It was a balmy evening and the family had gathered in a patio area outside the house to chat and catch up with each others doin's during the day. My sister and her husband lived in a small building on the property, and my husband and I lived in another. Mom and Dad lived in the big house with my brothers who ranged from young adult to grade school age. As we enjoyed the quiet rustling of the Red Woods, dusk gave way to darkness and singing of insects joined our chatter.

Suddenly a falling star caught our attention and as we gazed at the night sky, we made wishes that everyone knows will come true when wished on a falling star. Twinges of excitement grew each time we spotted another shooting star and all of us were wrapped in an aura of magic as we watched and wondered at so many streaking across the sky.

We all were loath to go to bed while the star show continued and we stayed watching until the wee hours of the morning. We had the pleasure of seeing shooting stars over the next several evenings although the numbers diminished.

Knowing that disintegrating particle debris from comets cause the the stunning celestial event does not take away the magic of seeing and wishing on a shooting star as it streaks across the night sky.

Meteorwatch 2011 Trailer
Perseid Meteorshower July 17 - August 24, 2011
Peak August 13, 2011

So How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

A. Nonymus

We are lucky and thankful to have our wonderful Flea Market, as well as several terrific Farmers Markets... which provide some consolation and alternative to 'Our [non existent] Garden'.

Having the bragging rights on a bumper crop of homegrown cukes or t'maters is definitely a fun goal, and a great reward for a home gardener, but since we are lacking the means this year to grow a garden, at least we can enjoy the largesse of inexpensive fresh produce and fruits trucked in from farms not as affected by the deplorable weather conditions.

At this point in the growing season, it's obvious that there is little point to putting in the blood, sweat, toil, and tears in pursuit of our own garden of Eden. This post is our 'official white flag of surrender' to the garden muses this year.

I believe in self-sufficiency, but thank heaven for the urban farming movement, 'cause truck farms rule! Enjoy the bounty from those who have been able to struggle and grow good stuff. I saw a TV promo to 'shop local', and supporting your local farmers is a great win-win for growers and consumers.

But the Texas drought will harm wildlife habitat for years to come.

KimB

Well.... I broke down and did it.... I had the gardener install a watering timer for the veggies.

The poor little things were just too pooped to pop and the bucket system wasn't cutting the mustard as it were. I had the drip system already in but it was connected to the same watering valve as the trees (there was only one valve). When Allen watered the trees I didn't have to bucket the water but that was just two times a week. The rest of the time it was the bucket brigade method. So I had the gardener install another valve for the veggies.

Now they get a little aqua every day and I don't have to worry about them drying out if I miss a day.

What to do Percy? By KimB

[Editor's note: This story was written by KimB]

"What to do Percy?" Is a common saying in our family and is used to indicate a quandary of one type or another. I often wonder how many know of its origins?

Congo Percussion

Growing up we had limited access to TV and radio but we did have a record player. It was a rather fancy one and could play many types of records because it had a dial that could vary the speed of the turn table.

We used to check out records from the library and scour stores for cheap records to buy. As this was long before videos and streaming movies, the records would often have stories done in a "radio drama" format.

The Black Watch

We found interesting and unusual recordings like: Congo Percussion [Chief Bey Congo Percussion 1960s] that had this booming timpani drum and Scottish bagpipe tunes [The Black Watch Regimental Band and Massed Pipers], but the radio drama format was popular and we loved listening to the stories over and over.

On one outing to the store, we found a recording of Walt Disney Swiss Family Robinson [1963]. As we had a limited budget there was some debate about whether to buy it or not, but a bit of whining on my part got it put into the purchase column.

When we got it home and played it, we had a bit of a surprise. While it was the “Swiss Family Robinson” story, the radio adaptation left a lot to be desired. In short: it was awful. I'm not sure how the actors read those parts or if they were just scraped from the movie dialog but every line and description was just absurd. The sound effects where undeniably bad.

It was so bad we all started to laugh and the more we listened, the harder we laughed. Tears were flowing down our cheeks and sides where splitting as we gasped for breath and held our ribs which were hurting from laughing so hard. Every line was even worse than the previous one and we didn't stop laughing until the end of the recording.  It was so awful we just had to play it again! Each replay had the same effect: uncontrollable laughter. It became a staple for listening and guaranteed laughter maker.

In the opening of the recording is the ship wreck that lands the family on the island. There are the sounds of storms and lightening and rain pounding in the background. At a crucial moment, the Captain says “What to do Percy? What to do?”

And ever since, “What to do?” has become a standard phrase in our house. Even now, it brings a smile and a chuckle at the memory.

Swiss Family Robinson Recording

One of 'Those Days'

I can tell this is going to be one of 'those days'. Little quirks are popping up and changing the smoothness of my routines. Nothing major, just little indications that this is going to be one of 'those days'.

It all started when I dropped one of my medicine pills on the floor. Ordinarily that's a trifle but it was a tiny gray pill and the floor linoleum is the same gray color. And to top it off, today is the day I take only half of that pill which makes it even tinier. I finally found it.

After taking my meds, I started the coffee pot and went to the computer to check email while the coffee was being made. There wasn't any email, so I went back to the kitchen to get my morning coffee and discovered the circuit breaker had tripped and the coffee maker had stopped half way thru the process.

What to do Percy? What to do?

I pouted, that's what I did. I felt sorry for myself. I wanted my morning coffee and it was not going to happen until I could get someone who knew how to check the circuit breakers for the apartments. I was forced to be patient, and eventually someone did come along, and I got my coffee.

Then I settled down to my computer with my favorite coffee mug full of steaming hot coffee and signed into the chess server as usual. I like to play chess in the mornings while I drink my coffee and it wasn't long before I was in a game with a player from China.

The game was going well for both of us and some where in the middle game I began to make headway. Slowly but surely I was making the right moves and getting the upper hand. The opponent was a good player so I had to really work to keep my advantage. As the game went on, I maneuvered into a winning position and the game was a win for me as I made the next move. Then the computer dropped my piece! The game was over and I had lost!

It's ONE OF THOSE DAYS!

One of Those Days!

So How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

A. Nonymus

The searing sun burns down on our tortured Gulf Coast soil, as we bake in this seemingly endless, and rampant heatwave... 45 straight days over 100! Gardens are far from our reality, but certainly not far from our thoughts.

In contrast to our baked ground and severe gardening conditions, our local flea market is overflowing with stalls stocked full of marvelous fruits and vegetables. This shopping adventure is virtually a bonafide 'farmers market'.

We are fortunate to have an alternative to our expensive grocery chain stores and their expensive fresh produce at our local flea market. We are able to have really nice fresh fruit and vegetables, remarkably cheap. Today; 4 cantaloupes for $2, delicious and juicy fresh peaches, 4 the size of baseballs for $1. I don't think we could possibly grow them so cheaply in our 'planned'/ imagined garden.

Whilst I was selecting some lovely cantaloupes and peaches today, I couldn't overlook the abundant cornucopia of mangoes, papayas, tomatoes, avocados, exotic melons and fruits, on display at my favorite stand, which belies our frightful and terrible drought and water shortage.

These products have to come here to be for sale after journeys from far and wide... some local truck farms, but some of the products come from Mexico or Central America, and lots of special items come from Chile or even other exotic places like California or Georgia.

This wonderfully abundant display , offered a moments welcome contrast to the oppressive drought, and gives us to ponder what our garden 'might have become'... Sigh, oh well ...we are in good company - think Chicago Cubs, yep, we'll get'em next year!

More to follow .... Happy Gardening.... or shopping at your Flea or Farmers Market!


KimB

On the above Hot Note – it's been so hot here that the tomatoes have stopped producing tomatoes.

Temperatures at night are cool if 101 or so. During the day it can hit 109+. And we live on the cool side of town. A trip to the big mall to our west and 113 or so is normal. Getting into the car after a shopping trip: the temperature inside registers 126 and drops as we head homeward.

I am bucket watering every day just in hopes of keep everything from flopping over completely.

Body Modification and Enhancement

Tonight the television broadcast a warning of infection to those with breast implants. It wasn't too long ago the news carried horror stories of implants gone wrong, but the only worry these days is infection.

Our culture permits all manner of body modifications and enhancements. The more benign methods of dying hair, shaving legs, growing beards, wearing rouge, powder and mascara and piercing ears is so universal we don't consider them to be detrimental.

It seems as if humans have always wanted to change our bodies. Cranial deformation was practiced by Egyptians. Nefertiti and Tutankhamen had a modest deformation in comparison to the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas. The Chinese bound the feet of women for over a thousand years and was only abolished in 1949 by the communists.

Status and religion are both rationals for extreme modifications. Today there are segments of society that practice genital mutilation by both men and women for religious purposes.

Body piercing and tattooing is popular with men and women, sometimes carried to the extreme. Silicone injections in the lips, cheeks, and chin along with other sub-dermal implants are readily available for those who want them. Facelifts, nose surgery and botox are no longer thought of as unusual.

Heaven forbid that our character lines aka wrinkles should show signs of aging.

Just a bit lower now

So How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

MrsB

My kitchen counter in back of the water faucets and along the side of my microwave is filled to capacity with tiny containers of water with avocado seeds punctured with toothpicks to keep the upper half of the seed above water.

My penchant for saving seeds and trying to propagate them has to end! To tell the truth, I really don't have any intention of planting them because it would mean 'work'. I'm against that word and try not to use it. I will, in all probability, try to give the rooted seeds away, or barring that, just toss them.

The outdoor spider plants are thriving and looking good despite the 100 (and plus) degree days we have been having . The Christmas cactus is also flourishing.

Esther

In My Garden

I have read with interest the way some people tend to their gardens. For many years, I have helped to plant and weed in them, since I was old enough to know the difference between a vegetable plant and a common weed. Also, to know a weed can grow much faster than most of the plants we put into the garden.

The first I can remember was when we lived in Iowa Falls. My Grandfather A took over the job of the garden when he and Grandmother A came to live with us. He had a wonderful garden with everything that made our meals so very good. He would have us help to weed out the rows and there was one year I can remember, where he promised we could pick out the cantaloupe we wanted. We just had to weed out one row when ever it was needed. And he always kept each row neat and clean so there was not too much to do when he said he needed us to get the weeds out. With the eight of us children it did not take long to do the weeding and most of the time it was a game to see who could get done first or who had the most weeds to throw on the compost pile.

I also remember when it came time to pick the cantaloupe, every one of us could not eat it at the Sunday dinner Mom had. That night we ate fried chicken, mash potatoes, green peas, buttered carrots, hot biscuits and gravy. Then came the desert which was strawberry cake with real whip cream. All the cantaloupes were still in their serving dish on the counter in the kitchen.

I think of all the gardens and how much work they needed brings back some good memories. When I had some time to enjoy having nice veggies to eat. They were all so good to have when the weather was great.

Today, I spend most of my time looking at catalogs of flowers and vegetables. The pictures all look perfect. When I go to the store, I pick the ones I want to eat for supper. I just love to eat fresh corn cooked with baby butter beans. Finding the "just right" tomatoes, selecting the cucumbers and bell peppers, is so nice. It is a plus to have any vegetable I want in a nice clean area and in a comfortable place, summer or winter.

It is really my age that tells me I have to have my garden delivered to me. I do miss having one to work in.