Saturday Gardening And Puttering Thread, Nov. 2 [KT]

Hello, gardeners, putterers and friends who just like to experience a little respite from, well, you know. The photo above is from Lizabth:

A fine Northern Cardinal, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the catmint.

Things we see in fall

From Admirale's Mate:

Anybody want to do some I.D.s?

From fun to scary

For Halloween week, we featured some of Larro's photos from the Fall Festival at Silver Dollar City, part of the Branson, Missouri experience.

He sent in some additional information this week:

Down in south central Missouri, in Branson, is the best theme park in America. Silver Dollar City is based on the theme of old time American country craftsmanship, skills, God, and family. They do several festivals a year; I showed you some of the Fall Festival.
Well, the park shuts down for a week now and reopens early November for their Christmas extravaganza
We try to go every year for both, and hopefully will get back this year.
Here is the link.
There is a huge plaza up front with a huge Christmas tree with million lights and a sound system like a concert, and the lights are synched to sound; they blast out Christmas Carols... it is unbelievably awesome. I was crying .. plus the parades through the park after dark - they are all illuminated and wind from one end to the other.
Yeah, I guess being a California resident, you'd be about 22 hour drive and perhaps never get the opportunity, but it is a .. well, I've heard it's in top 10 attractions in country.

The gas prices in the Ozarks seemed attractive, too. He didn't know what the cocaine thing was about.

In an interview with an East Coast liberal, Angelo Codevilla chided the interviewer for never having visited Branson. He suggested that a visit would help him understand America.

Well, then Larro got back to Texas and went to Dallas, where he saw some of the the aftermath of the recent tornado:

It's been a week, and it was an F3?
Wow.
This is a mess..
Thank God no one lost their life!
This action was mostly north, NE Dallas. We come over 2-3 days a week to babysit. I heard it will be $2billion storm.
Nobody around has storm shelters. It's the old closet routine. So it could have been a lot worse.

This looks pretty bad.

Still a mess for some people with less damage. The flag shows some spirit, though.

HUGE trees/ most lots canopied ---
Had trees. Most sawed up. Some left gnarled sticks.
It is astounding no one died as storm came at late hour.
I've got some pics but no WiFi to move data yet.
About half structures are old and single story, the rest are new McMansions and two story. I see about equal structure damage;
Several will need bulldozing.
We got power and gas but cable is gonna be awhile.
Surreal.
Don't know where all the labor will come from.
An old Mexican pulled up in a pick up and asked if he could have sawed logs. I advised a bigger truck!!! Like a sand bucket at the coast --- But he was happy!!! Good for him.
The police are at corners going into neighborhood. All night long. Many owners moved out. The next door neighbor west had to go/ too many holes.
The detached garage out back came off slab - looks like it was shot in, not bolted down? It's about a 20x20 2-door garage and dumpster out back awaits it.

Looks like there could be some work for some people in The Horde with construction experience. And some volunteer opportunities for putterers, maybe.

The Edible Garden

Was anybody impressed by CBD's feature on Romanesco in Sunday's Food Thread, and the garden and cooking ideas in the comments? Thinking about growing some next year? I think it's great.

Clutch cargo said,

Been growing romanesco for 30 years. What's cool about it is unlike broccoli or cauliflower that you just cut, you can keep picking those fractal spirals off, and it keeps filling out. Plus, IMHO it tastes better than any other brassica. There's also a purple blushed variety, but it doesn't hold its color very well when cooked, and I think it's not quite as sweet as the chartreuse stuff.

Serve steamed with Kalua pig. I also liked this recipe. Though I would probably replace the capers with bacon. Or maybe ham.

This is a nice summary of simple ways to cook it, and there are recipes below the video at YouTube.

Gardens of The Horde

Wee Kreek Farm Girl had something interesting happen in her desert garden:

Lots going on in my garden. One success in particular, I had planted Kiwano melon in the end of April and the vines grew very well but then all through summer I had no fruit form, nothing. I just left it alone and figured it was a dud. I hadn't pulled the vines out yet, they were still green and then two weeks ago I was watering and I saw these melons on the vine. Upon closer inspection I have at least 12 melons going. I don't know if anyone else has grown these but they obviously take some time in making their fruit. I just hope we get enough warm weather for them to ripen. They are all green now and they are supposed to get yellow when ripe. I have never tried one, they are supposed to taste like lime jello and you eat the seeds sort of like a passion fruit. I am very excited to try one. Gardening teaches patience among other things.

One of NaughtyPine's succulents decided to bloom recently. Odd timing?

If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Include your nic unless you want to remain a lurker.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:22 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Beautiful birdies

Posted by: CN at November 02, 2019 01:25 PM (U7k5w)

2 Just doing cleanup this weekend. Raking leaves, putting the clay pots away for the winter.

The elephant ears are still decent so I'll let them be for awhile.

Posted by: Tonypete at November 02, 2019 01:26 PM (Y4EXg)

3 From the Treasure Valley of Idaho, the Boise area. I need to pretype this so I am being careful with punctuation so I can post properly.

Last Sunday we picked up approximately 150 gallons by volume of downed apples which were largely from our Golden Delicious tree. They are being stored in the garage in our cloth potato growing bags and in buckets until we can grind and press them all for cider. We have already done some pressing and now have a five gallon batch of hard cider started plus more cider frozen until the first batch is out of the carboy. We moved the grinding and pressing operation into the garage because the outdoor temperatures got pretty cold. Side note, we are also trimming down the two apple trees as we go and we still need to stack the trimmings we cut so far. Some are large enough to become firewood.

We need to make more room in the chest freezer for the half gallon jugs of cider so we took the frozen red raspberries that were intended for juicing and steam juiced them. This made two more jugs that will need chest freezer space. We are probably going to need to rearrange that freezer on Sunday or Monday.

There are still lots and lots of leaves to go. Some trees get their leaves shredded for future compost. The Annoying Sycamore leaves will need to be stuffed in leaf bags, or put in the trash, or burned with oak leaves mixed in for added flammability. I looked at some of the trees whose leaves normally turn yellow and they have turned brown. One that turns brick red has gray leaves. I think the leaves actually froze right on the trees. The lowest nighttime temperature this week was 10 F so that could have done it.

Everybody go out and vote on Tuesday.

Note that next weekend I will be working at a Project Appleseed event so my post will happen very late on Saturday, if I manage it.

Posted by: Pat* at November 02, 2019 01:31 PM (2pX/F)

4 Burning Bush ... is my guess on that red bush. That is a common name, no idea about the real name, but I have 7 to transplant some day. Some small nurseries sell cheap but small plants ... saves on shipping but takes an extra year or two.

Nice bird pics ... good usage of broken clay pot.

Posted by: illiniwek at November 02, 2019 01:33 PM (Cus5s)

5 Good thing Wee Creek Girl wasn't too hasty in pulling out those vines!

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 01:40 PM (DJFLF)

6 Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. -- Genesis 3:17-19

Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 01:41 PM (NWiLs)

7 Are we doing puttering in this thread? Because I have questions for the Horde experts.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 01:41 PM (i/wJA)

8 Wee Kreek Farm Girl - sorry about the misnomer!

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 01:41 PM (DJFLF)

9 Good afternoon, gardeners and gardenettes! The sky has been threatening rain all morning. I plan to take the lawnmower out to set it off.

Those photos of the damaged neighborhood are really sad. Our high winds brought down a lot of branches. I had a beech tree branch in my yard. There are no beeches in my immediate vicinity. The same weather pattern passed into Canada. My friend reports that 1/8 of Quebec electrical accounts are without power,

I have the two outdoor succulent pots inside now and will have to remember to water them a few times this winter. No repeats of last year!

The kids who sit in the back of the classroom like the geraniums. I had to explain that they are shedding their petals naturally, to cut off the apologies and prevent future tattling. One of the boys was really surprised how silky its petals are; took some fallen ones to show his little sister. I like that most of the middle schoolers still have a lot of interest in nature.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 02, 2019 01:42 PM (/+bwe)

10 Puttering. Never neglect your short game.

Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 01:43 PM (NWiLs)

11 I *did* see Romanesco at WF salad bar a few times, never tasted it though. They had the variety that had the purple blush.

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 01:43 PM (DJFLF)

12 You're early today, Pat!

Golden Delicious for cider? Got anything with a little bite to go with them?

I think Golden Delicious would be great fresh-squeezed with a little lemon and fresh ginger.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 01:43 PM (BVQ+1)

13 I wrote on the coffee thread that a tornado touched down in SE PA. We live far from tornado alley, but the past few years have brought those particular unpleasantnesses. It's getting to where I can feel one coming in the air.

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 01:44 PM (DJFLF)

14 Emmie at November 02, 2019 01:41 PM

Yes, we can putter today.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 01:44 PM (BVQ+1)

15 Note that next weekend I will be working at a Project Appleseed event so my post will happen very late on Saturday, if I manage it.
Posted by: Pat* at November 02, 2019 01:31 PM (2pX/F)

Very cool about the apples! Enjoy the event.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 02, 2019 01:45 PM (/+bwe)

16 We've been doing a bit of clean up this week. The tomato plants looked too sad so we put them out of their misery. They had given their all this year. The dill and thyme refuse to die completely, so we'll harvest as we need to while they last. (We have plenty of dried herbs.)

Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2019 01:46 PM (bmdz3)

17 Larro's post-tornado photos are scary. He sent more, including big trees downed. Hate to see that. And the skeleton-ish look of the trees that remained standing is disheartening, too.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 01:47 PM (BVQ+1)

18 Genesis 3:17-19

Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 01:41 PM (NWiLs)

Insom, glad to see you're feeling better today!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at November 02, 2019 01:47 PM (BiNEL)

19 hiya

Posted by: JT at November 02, 2019 01:49 PM (arJlL)

20 It's getting to where I can feel one coming in the air.
Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 01:44 PM (DJFLF)

I grew up in an area with frequent tornadoes, and it's weird to live in a place that has never had them. I told a grocery clerk, "It feels like tornado weather" one day and she told me later that she thought that was a weird thing to say. Then her bf's family lost a swath of trees a few miles north by a tornado.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 02, 2019 01:50 PM (/+bwe)

21 I have a chunk of money and a house that has suffered years of neglect. We've lived here almost 20 years and could not afford maintenance until recently.

Any way, I wonder if it ever makes sense to tear down the decrepit house with the obnoxious floor plan and build the house you want.

We like our lot, but I've been keeping an eye out for a similar desirable location.

If we were to sell our house, it would be to a flipper for cash. They would do the minimum improvements and rent it. The house would require a lot of work to qualify for a buyer being financed.

Anyway, sometimes I wonder if we could put up a detached garage with an efficiency/office and live in that while building a new main house.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 01:50 PM (i/wJA)

22 14 Emmie at November 02, 2019 01:41 PM

Yes, we can putter today.
Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 01:44 PM (BVQ+1)

Trying to wedge even more things into the thread I see.

Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 01:51 PM (NWiLs)

23 18 Genesis 3:17-19

Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 01:41 PM (NWiLs)

Insom, glad to see you're feeling better today!
Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar at November 02, 2019 01:47 PM (BiNEL)

Heh. It's tradition. I'm alright. Been a shitty couple of days but I'll live.

Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 01:52 PM (NWiLs)

24 Emmie, I have down-the-road neighbors who did that. Their original house was a traditional cinderblock house; their new one was built behind it.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 02, 2019 01:52 PM (/+bwe)

25 Good afternoon Greentumbs
Gathered up over 3 tarps of leaves, shreaded them up an in the bin, and they have hardly started to come down.

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 01:53 PM (ZCEU2)

26 Trying to wedge even more things into the thread I see.
Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 01:51 PM (NWiLs)

Golf pun!

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 01:53 PM (i/wJA)

27 I'm jealous Pat.

When I was a kid the grands had an orchard with somewhere in the neighborhood of twelve varieties of apple trees.

Sadly, the orchard is gone now and the cellars and press unused.

Posted by: Tonypete at November 02, 2019 01:55 PM (Y4EXg)

28 Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 02, 2019 01:50 PM (/+bwe)

The first tornado I recall in this area was about 20 years ago. That was presaged by a sickly green color sky. So I associated that color with tornados.

But the recent activity has taught me how to learn the atmospheric conditions attached to those storms. It's a weird kind of still, warm, humidity.

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 01:58 PM (DJFLF)

29 I planted two burning bushes in opposite sides of my backyard last Spring. The leaves of one have turned bright flame pink while the other bush is still green. Talk about microclimates!

Posted by: Cumberland Astro at November 02, 2019 01:59 PM (d9Cw3)

30 We had our first real frost last night. It's a bit earlier than usual IIRC. Have to check the Old Farmers Almanac to see what the average date is. Considering it was in the low 80s two days ago, the contrast seems even greater. When that cold front went through, a lot of the leaves blew off the trees and shrubs.

Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2019 02:00 PM (bmdz3)

31 Naughty Pine, it seems that it is almost never the best use of resources to tear down a structure, but we need a new roof, the doors need to be re-framed or whatever since they gap and sag, walls are uninsulted concrete block, so four rooms need to be gutted and mold-mitigated, only one of the bedrooms has the possibility of having a door, there is almost no storage, and the one bedroom with the door is so small we trip on the bedspread whenever we try to get around in there. We need much plumbing and electrical repair. The outside walls are cracking. The main support beam under the house has those jacks underneath and the top of the jacks have squished into the beam.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:01 PM (i/wJA)

32 Oh, and the crawl space and entry to the crawl space need to be re-done, since modern styles of water heaters that fit in there are becoming rarer and rarer.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:03 PM (i/wJA)

33 Have a Burning bush which has gotten fairly large, it gets off shoots growing all around it.

Emmie- Nothing you mention is a problem if you know how to fix it.

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 02:07 PM (ZCEU2)

34 The house was built in 1950 with the guiding philosophy: how little thought and money can we invest in order to have a roof overhead?

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:07 PM (i/wJA)

35 26 Trying to wedge even more things into the thread I see.
Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 01:51 PM (NWiLs)

Golf pun!
Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 01:53 PM (i/wJA)

I'm feeling more chipper than I expected.

Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 02:09 PM (NWiLs)

36 Emmie, not an expert here, but from your description, it seems it would be best to start over. You also need to consider the neighborhood around your house. If you build a nice house next to a bunch of older houses it will be hard to get your money back if you ever decide to sell.

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 02:10 PM (UHv1/)

37 Busy year, especially the summer. Only planted tomatoes and potatoes. The potato planting was an experiment. Planted in wire cages covered in the black fabric used for weed control. Plants in the ground and add straw as the plants grow upward. Total bust. Potatoes only grew in the ground and very sparingly.
It's a small garden so vertical growing would be nice. Will fill the cages with dirt next year and try again.
Oh well. I tried.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at November 02, 2019 02:12 PM (N3JsI)

38 Skip, it's not just a repair issue. It's also a functionality issue. There's not much to be done for only two tiny closets and no room in the floor plan to add storage. We store one bike in the living room and another in the bedroom and get snagged by handlebars or pedals whenever we pass. No linen, coat, storage closet, or pantry.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:13 PM (i/wJA)

39 Taking a short break from weeding, turning in compost and planting bulbs. I'm a bit late. We almost hit freezing a couple of times this week, but I think everything will be fine.

I have daffodils, tulips and crocus. About 400 bulbs.

Today is my boy's 19th birthday, but he's at boot camp in San Diego, so I won't be giving him a hug or hearing his voice.

Happy birthday, Jonathan!

Posted by: Nurse ratched at November 02, 2019 02:13 PM (PkVlr)

40 Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:01 PM

Sounds to me like that house is ready to come down. Could run into money, though. But even mold mitigation is expensive, so refubishing would also run into some bucks.

Living in a detached garage with an efficiency/office would also require some money. Be sure you have enough to feed the alligator before you start.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 02:16 PM (BVQ+1)

41 Ronster, my tastes run to modest but functional. This is a semi-rural, modest neighborhood with several cute Victorians, some standard older ranch-styles, and several trash houses, with the occasional newly-built fancy mansion.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:18 PM (i/wJA)

42 Nurse ratched at November 02, 2019 02:13 PM

Yay for you! Got those bulbs planted.

And happy birthday to your son, too.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 02:19 PM (BVQ+1)

43 41. Well, not that fancy. Just new and large suburban-style house.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:20 PM (i/wJA)

44 Skip at November 02, 2019 01:53 PM

You are going to have a lot of leaves. I think of leaves when I think of you, Skip.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 02:20 PM (BVQ+1)

45 Hellooooo nurse!

Posted by: Insomniac at November 02, 2019 02:20 PM (NWiLs)

46 Emmie, good luck on what ever you decide to do.

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 02:22 PM (UHv1/)

47 Living in a detached garage with an efficiency/office would also require some money. Be sure you have enough to feed the alligator before you start.
Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 02:16 PM (BVQ+1)

Yeah, that's one of the things that worries me. There's no guarantee how much it would end up costing.

Other than building the efficiency and normal living expenses, was there some other expense you are referring to?

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:23 PM (i/wJA)

48 I didn't grow up in a tornado area although I could tell when a hurricane or other severe weather was coming. You don't get a lot of tornados in Rhode Island. Mrs. JTB, on the other hand, knew about them and assumed I did too. (WRONG!)

Going through Ohio one time she kept looking at the sky and said if needed we should pull off the highway and get in a ditch with the puppies. But she didn't tell me why. I thought she was just being overly cautious. Turns out we got brushed with a F1 while driving 70 MPH on I-80 in a Caravan. I didn't know why she was freaking out and she didn't understand why I didn't take shelter. I thought it was just a nasty rain storm. Ignorance is bliss because I had no idea what a tornado could do to a minivan. Between my superior driving skills (cough BS cough) and a LOT of luck we came though safely. That was over thirty years ago. I've learned a lot since then.

The other time we had a run in with a tornado while on the road was also in Ohio. I'm starting to take it personally.

Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2019 02:24 PM (bmdz3)

49 neverenoughcaffeine at November 02, 2019 02:12 PM

Wish your experiment had worked. Try to make it light dirt that you add after the potatoes start to come up.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 02:24 PM (BVQ+1)

50 Thanks, Ronster. I don't always make practical decisions, but I do try to consider all the practical ramifications.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:25 PM (i/wJA)

51 Emmie, are you hooked up to central water and sewage?

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 02:25 PM (UHv1/)

52 I will have more this year as its the first in a few that have leaf blower and garden tractor in good working order.

Made a cold frame around 3 pepper plants, 6-6 x 6-6 x 3-0. Had near freezing last night, trying to get a few peppers still on plants to grow a little.

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 02:29 PM (ZCEU2)

53 Ronster, we have city water, summer ditch shares, and a septic system. Also electric, natural gas, and cable internet. Telephone is just a re-connection away.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:30 PM (i/wJA)

54 neverenoughcaffeine, I tried something similar once. It was also a failure.

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 02:31 PM (UHv1/)

55 Insomniac
So glad you're feeling better.
No yard work as the vines are down, the leaves that have fallen are gone, box elder, still waiting for the Hawthorn to shed. Once that's done I can trim some branches and maybe a couple of limbs.

Posted by: Winston a dreg of society at November 02, 2019 02:32 PM (Tt761)

56 LOL ! I think I know what that "Cocaine is back" sign about. It was supposed to say "Propane is back", but some jokesters...well, you can surmise the rest.

Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:33 PM (zr5Kq)

57 Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 01:50 PM (i/wJA)

what type of foundation and it's condition ?

town water and sewer ?

the condition of the floor joists and their dimensions ?

And the sill and band ?

Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:34 PM (rpxSz)

58 Beautiful birds. That is a male cardinal.

Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:35 PM (zr5Kq)

59 58 Beautiful birds. That is a male cardinal.
Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:35 PM (zr5Kq)

dickie bird ?

Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:36 PM (rpxSz)

60 Garden Thread!
I'm vigorously farming as we speak.

Posted by: Weasel at November 02, 2019 02:36 PM (7snhQ)

61 Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:36 PM (rpxSz)

plumage

Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:37 PM (zr5Kq)

62 61 Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:36 PM (rpxSz)

plumage
Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:37 PM (zr5Kq)

maybe a week but no bruises

Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:38 PM (rpxSz)

63 what type of foundation and it's condition ?

the condition of the floor joists and their dimensions ?

And the sill and band ?
Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:34 PM (rpxSz)

Answering these questions is beyond my expertise. As far as I know, the house can still be made useful. I wish to live in this location, but not in this structure. I am pondering whether it is worthwhile to re-build on this lot or try a different location.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:39 PM (i/wJA)

64 Emmie, if you build on a new plot of land, you have to consider all the utility hook-up costs and a new septic system. Not cheap.

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 02:39 PM (UHv1/)

65 I'm vigorously farming as we speak.

==

me too ! no, truth be told, not green thumbed. but I do enjoy fruits of other people's labor !

Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:41 PM (zr5Kq)

66 Ronster, I see what you're getting at. I'm sure some lots that may become available have utilities and some don't. There's always the possibility of finding an already-built home that meets my needs.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:42 PM (i/wJA)

67 I wish to live in this location, but not in this structure. I am pondering whether it is worthwhile to re-build on this lot or try a different location.

Sorry, I have no advice, but can totally relate. Am in similar situation and *feel for ya*

Posted by: JQ at November 02, 2019 02:43 PM (gP/Z3)

68 65 I'm vigorously farming as we speak.

==

me too ! no, truth be told, not green thumbed. but I do enjoy fruits of other people's labor !
Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:41 PM (zr5Kq)
-----
To the untrained eye of the non-tree farmer, it would appear as though I'm simply sitting in a chair with my feet up, smoking a cigar, and drinking coffee.

Posted by: Weasel at November 02, 2019 02:44 PM (7snhQ)

69 66 Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking on floor plans, though. My husband just listed a 3-BR 2-BA with one of the bathrooms only accessible by passing through the other bathroom. Obviously one of the baths was added later, but what a silly set-up!

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:45 PM (i/wJA)

70 JQ, what have you considered?

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:46 PM (i/wJA)

71 Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:39 PM (i/wJA)

if everything else is good or better, you may be able to take it down to the subfloor and rebuild to suit

with out seeing what you have, your rebuild may require additional floor joist support

if you have a full basement, this is an easy job

if all else is good, I would really consider this partial rebuild
could save you a lot

but if your really flush with cash, by all means, go for what you want

it hurts at first but you wont regret it

Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:46 PM (rpxSz)

72 Weasel, tree farmers have it rough, don't they?

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 02:46 PM (UHv1/)

73 Emmie- You definitely need some professional advice, one possibility if the house can be added on is use parts but expand a room here or there.
There was a time I thought of adding a 2nd floor to my rancher but would have been hard to do it just myself in a short time so instead built a out building.

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 02:48 PM (ZCEU2)

74 69 66 Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking on floor plans, though. My husband just listed a 3-BR 2-BA with one of the bathrooms only accessible by passing through the other bathroom. Obviously one of the baths was added later, but what a silly set-up!
Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:45 PM (i/wJA)

I remember that house, one of my first rebuilds

does it still have the stove hood that vents into the bedroom ?

Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:49 PM (rpxSz)

75 To the untrained eye of the non-tree farmer, it would appear as though I'm simply sitting in a chair with my feet up, smoking a cigar, and drinking coffee.
Posted by: Weasel at November 02, 2019 02:44 PM (7snhQ)

..little do they know that just by sitting there, with your feet up, you are vigorously promoting tree health and growth...

Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:51 PM (zr5Kq)

76 So, I fell in love with several architectural ideas from The Not-So-Big House book. One of the architectural firms had a partnership with a house-kit company, but they ended that partnership the same month that my money arrived.

According to the testimonials, even non-experienced people have been successful with those kits. They are very step-by-step.

I don't even know how practical it is to build one's own house. I helped my brother build his, so I've had some exposure to the process. Also, we have friends and family who would help.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:51 PM (i/wJA)

77
72 Weasel, tree farmers have it rough, don't they?
Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 02:46 PM (UHv1/)
-----
Yes. Yes we do.

Posted by: Weasel at November 02, 2019 02:52 PM (7snhQ)

78 75 To the untrained eye of the non-tree farmer, it would appear as though I'm simply sitting in a chair with my feet up, smoking a cigar, and drinking coffee.
Posted by: Weasel at November 02, 2019 02:44 PM (7snhQ)

..little do they know that just by sitting there, with your feet up, you are vigorously promoting tree health and growth...
Posted by: runner at November 02, 2019 02:51 PM (zr5Kq)
-------
And discouraging pine tree blight.

Posted by: Weasel at November 02, 2019 02:54 PM (7snhQ)

79 Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:46 PM (rpxSz)

I see. Well, even to my untrained eye, it is obvious that our "foundation" should not be re-used.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:54 PM (i/wJA)

80 does it still have the stove hood that vents into the bedroom ?
Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:49 PM (rpxSz)

8|

I guess the fragrance of bacon helps sleepyheads get out of bed.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:56 PM (i/wJA)

81 Back yard half bath.

Posted by: klaftern at November 02, 2019 02:56 PM (RuIsu)

82 Emmie, we have a large lot and *could, maybe* live in this house while a new one gets built... The first problem would be Old Septic System: according to the City, we would need to install New Septic (a big, ugly hump in the yard to cover above-ground tank. Whereas the old system is in-ground and out of sight)

I don't know if the added expense would be worth it.

Thought about buying a lot and building on it, but we're not experienced with buying/ selling/ contractors, &etc....

Although I love our location and neighbors, I think the best thing for us would be to simply find another (already built!) home in the area.

Hubby is NOT on board with any of my daydreams, sigh.

Posted by: JQ at November 02, 2019 02:57 PM (gP/Z3)

83 Here in SE Wisconsin we had a surprise heavy snow on Halloween - don't know how many inches but it snowed/blew all day and knocked out our power for 9 hours. This was an inconvenience, not a disaster. It killed the last of Husband's tomato plants, but they were about ready to pack it in anyway.
Mild day today - snow is melting - and all the trick-or-treaters who couldn't come out on Thursday are out now. Husband is raking leaves, I am doing NaNoWriMo for the second time.

Posted by: Annalucia at November 02, 2019 02:58 PM (S6ArX)

84 I see. Well, even to my untrained eye, it is obvious that our "foundation" should not be re-used.
Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:54 PM (i/wJA)

then you start over, sorry

but could be a blessing in disguise

Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 02:59 PM (rpxSz)

85 Hubby is NOT on board with any of my daydreams, sigh.
Posted by: JQ at November 02, 2019 02:57 PM (gP/Z3)

My husband correctly deduces that anything I want to do would be a big hassle. But he's okay with me being happy, just resistant to the process.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:01 PM (i/wJA)

86 Plans can be gotten cheap or free, doing it yourself is possible, maybe subcontracting out specialists maybe electric, plumbing or heating.

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:02 PM (ZCEU2)

87 I guess the fragrance of bacon helps sleepyheads get out of bed.
Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 02:56 PM (i/wJA)

I've been told that burned garlic is a powerful aphrodisiac

Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 03:03 PM (rpxSz)

88 Dog-walkers around here are jerks. Not one, but THREE separate gooshy piles under the leaves in my front yard. My beat-up sneakers have too much life left to toss, but I'm not looking forward to cleaning them.

On a happy note, I decided to just mow the rest of the leaves on mulch setting and let Mother Nature do the rest. The lawn if the neighbor who raked and burned looks just as good as the abandoned house on my other side. So I took just one bag for composting: the branch bag.

Sadly, though, the temperature and humidity did not allow me to stain and seal my shed. I REALLY don't want to leave raw cedar all winter. Praying for sunnier day tomorrow.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 02, 2019 03:04 PM (/+bwe)

89 This company:

https://www.shelter-kit.com/gallery.html

Used to carry this kit:

https://rosschapin.com/plans/small-houses/elderberry/

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:05 PM (i/wJA)

90 37. Pat* described how she grew fingerling potatoes in pots. This was about 5-6 wks ago. Very interesting.

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 03:08 PM (+8Yuj)

91 "I don't even know how practical it is to build one's
own house. I helped my brother build his, so I've had some exposure to
the process. Also, we have friends and family who would help."Posted by: Emmie

Doing it yourself can result in long term satisfaction, just in the fact that "I built this". A review by a professional would be useful, or maybe even an architect, though idk about that. Some consult on ideas and options can be really helpful though.

good luck ... sounds like the team effort might be rewarding for all ... just feed them well to keep them happy.

Posted by: illiniwek at November 02, 2019 03:09 PM (Cus5s)

92 New Septic (a big, ugly hump in the yard to cover above-ground tank. Whereas the old system is in-ground and out of sight)

I had to do the above ground thingy when I built my house. After the inspection, I moved everything below grade. Hope the local health department isn't reading this.

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 03:10 PM (UHv1/)

93 although a consensus view on the positive term of any Speaker of the house is dubious

Nancypants has decided she doesn't give a rat's ass about her legacy

she gonna be remembered as partisan cow that cost her party dearly

O care, partisan impeachment

Posted by: REDACTED at November 02, 2019 03:11 PM (rpxSz)

94 Emmie that plan looks nice

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:11 PM (ZCEU2)

95 I had to do the above ground thingy when I built my house. After the inspection, I moved everything below grade. Hope the local health department isn't reading this.
Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 03:10 PM (UHv1/)

and what would it be worth to you for them not to know ?

Posted by: RONSTER'S NEIGHBOR at November 02, 2019 03:13 PM (rpxSz)

96 Emmie, that is an attractive kit house. I wish you luck in whatever you do. I grew up in a house that started as a one-room lumberjack shack and was added onto during the Great Depression, so my parents rebuilt it a room at a time for forty years.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 02, 2019 03:14 PM (/+bwe)

97 Skip, I have a weakness for porches and balconies!

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:14 PM (i/wJA)

98 Well it's officially fall - just had my first bowl of homemade butternut squash soup! This a.m. was appropriately brisk, hoodie weather. The only sucky thing about fall is the shorter days. I'm so goofy I actually enjoy raking leaves.

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 03:14 PM (+8Yuj)

99 Thanks, Naughty Pine. Unfortunately, the collaboration ended a few months ago, so I don't even know if any are available.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:15 PM (i/wJA)

100 Thanks, illiniwek!

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:16 PM (i/wJA)

101 But the recent activity has taught me how to learn the atmospheric conditions attached to those storms. It's a weird kind of still, warm, humidity.
Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 01:58 PM (DJFLF)

Sometimes people don't notice until the blustery multidirectional wind and weird light begin. That's find-a-basement time.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 02, 2019 03:17 PM (/+bwe)

102 Emmie if it was me I wouldn't do the garage with MIL apartment but would buy a used RV to live in during the building of the new house. If you buy used you probably wont have too much depreciation hit. That is just me because I'd never have the patience to build a new garage with some living area and then live in that and do the house build, plus unless you would foresee being willing to rent the apartment office or moving a parent in you wouldn't get much out of that investment IMO.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at November 02, 2019 03:18 PM (n4y+3)

103 We had our first hard frost Wed night and our first snowfall that night and the next day. Late for the frost, average date is my bday, 10/4. Early for the snow, average here is Jules' bday, 11/10. Lots of leaves down since. Earliest snow I remember, but then my memory is getting old like the rest of me.
Still have to clean up the garden, looks like Mon is the warmest for a while, I'll plan on doing it then. Will that happen, who knows!

Posted by: Farmer at November 02, 2019 03:18 PM (605Ma)

104 now I'm gonna sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on apple slices and nuke them. It's an experiment!

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 03:18 PM (+8Yuj)

105 I like porches and balconies too, though I only have a ground deck.

Kallisto- I could break you of that thought

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:19 PM (ZCEU2)

106 I built my house. Dug the basement did all the plumbing and wiring. Had some help on the interior. It took 5 years, because I'm lazy.

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 03:19 PM (UHv1/)

107 RONSTER'S NEIGHBOR
How about a 6 pack of Pabst's blue ribbon?

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 03:22 PM (UHv1/)

108 My brother has a small lot in Paradise, CA. He bought it with a mobile home on it but when he married they bought a modular house. They are planning to get a new modular when they move back. I'm not sure where Paradise is as far as restoring infrastructure after their fire last year. Modular is cheaper than having a builder to a stick build but I'm sure quite a bit more than a kit.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at November 02, 2019 03:23 PM (n4y+3)

109 PaleRider, I've pondered whether the mother-in-law quarters would be a good idea. I do not know if a separate structure using the septic would be allowed, for one thing. I don't know if it would be a plus if we ever sold; I don't know if we'd mess with AirBnB or perhaps renting; I do know that we could offer nice guest quarters.

I've also considered the RV approach.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:26 PM (i/wJA)

110 105. you mean enjoying raking leaves? Well I only have 2 silver maples, one in front, one in back. And a redbud also in back. Neighbor assists with the leaf removal. So yeah, maybe you're right - if I had more to do - different story!

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 03:26 PM (+8Yuj)

111 Ronster, good for you!

My brother and his wife had a few regrets with their home, wishing they'd made a few different decisions. But it was very nice and serviceable. It seems it might be discouraging to go to all that work and then wish you had done something different.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:29 PM (i/wJA)

112 104. Kallisto, at least it should smell good!

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:30 PM (i/wJA)

113 In the compound ( back yard fenced in area) I have 3 maples, 1 sycamore, back yard 2 large maples a few smaller maples, 1 large maple in front and the neighbors across the street 4 large oaks that blow over to my side the first nor'eater

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:32 PM (ZCEU2)

114 Emmie, you'd have loved the house my dad built for mom. Porch, deck, patio, balcony...Italians love them some outdoor living.

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 03:32 PM (+8Yuj)

115 If I had it to over again there would be no basement. It has flooded twice and is just a catch all anyway. Waste of time and money for me.

Posted by: Ronster at November 02, 2019 03:33 PM (UHv1/)

116 Forgot the side maple behind the out building

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:33 PM (ZCEU2)

117 114 Emmie, you'd have loved the house my dad built for mom. Porch, deck, patio, balcony...Italians love them some outdoor living.
Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 03:32 PM (+8Yuj)

That does sound lovely!

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:34 PM (i/wJA)

118 Holy crap Skip! Well at least you never have to take a fall foliage tour to Vermont!

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 03:35 PM (+8Yuj)

119 Ronster, my husband would like a basement for coolness in the summer. But he avoids stairs, and I suspect radon is prevalent around here. (Both of my parents died of lung cancer, apparently from radon.)

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:36 PM (i/wJA)

120 The sycamores drop the monkey balls as well as leaves.

Posted by: kallisto at November 02, 2019 03:38 PM (+8Yuj)

121 Not in a flood zone you would want a basement here. Some have partial basements that are smaller than house footprint, parts are crawl spaces.

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:39 PM (ZCEU2)

122 We call them sycamore bombs, it's right out back overhanging the house. Any wind storm sounds like hail hitting the roof.
Would advise anyone not to have one, yet they are the biggest tree in the east in size records

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:42 PM (ZCEU2)

123 Washed the tractor!

Posted by: Weasel at November 02, 2019 03:42 PM (7snhQ)

124 Added Clutch Cargo's harvesting tip for Romanesco above, with some recipes from CBD's food thread.

Pretty cool that you can harvest the florets one at a time from the outside and let the inner ones keep growning.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 03:45 PM (BVQ+1)

125 Weasel - Did it rain?

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:45 PM (ZCEU2)

126 Not growning. Growing.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 03:45 PM (BVQ+1)

127 I also have around 2 dozen pines, though 3 are dead and need to get chopped down.

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:46 PM (ZCEU2)

128 125 Weasel - Did it rain?

Posted by: Skip at November 02, 2019 03:45 PM (ZCEU2)
----
Nope! Used a bucket and soap and water and everything! Pretty proud of myself if I do say so.

Posted by: Weasel at November 02, 2019 03:46 PM (7snhQ)

129 Those melons have amazing markings!

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 03:47 PM (i/wJA)

130 Thanks for the fall photos, Admirale's Mate.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 03:56 PM (BVQ+1)

131 Hiya, JT

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 03:58 PM (BVQ+1)

132 Don't think I've ever tasted Romanesco. Better remedy that.

Posted by: Emmie at November 02, 2019 04:00 PM (i/wJA)

133 Weasel at November 02, 2019 03:42 PM

Farming, or puttering?

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at November 02, 2019 04:39 PM (BVQ+1)

134 Hello all, sorry I am late to the party, helping my elderly neighbor with some painting and landscaping. Now that I am done I am yearning to putter, so off I go!

Posted by: Wee Kreek Farm Girl at November 02, 2019 04:48 PM (sCp90)

135 Pepper ambush!!!

Peter pepper and jalapeno in the garage fridge. Tabasco and Thai hot entire plants on work bench. Philippine hot in a couple of 5-gallon buckets in the garage hoping to ripen more fruits to red. Scorpion tail. more jalapeno, non-hot habanero and probably 10 pounds of serrano in the house. Help!

Just made 12 jars of mango habanero using 2 pounds of a non-hot variety called 'Roulette' and only 2 scorpion tails for heat. Will dry some Thai hot, pickle the peter peppers and jalapeno and put the serrano into one more round of taco sauce.

The garden is done all but save one row of beets. it snowed here Holoween between bouts of cold-assed rain and 20 mph winds. I was out with a can of beer pulling the rest of the peppers. heh. N. Indiana. If you don't like the weather wait a day.

Posted by: Cicero Kaboom! Kid. at November 02, 2019 04:57 PM (Vy7tf)

136 A couple of javelinas tore up my garden looking for water. I had olla pots in the raised beds. I was wondering how long it would take before they found them. 2 months. I guess it's time to put up a fence.

Posted by: AzDesertRat at November 02, 2019 07:12 PM (/2TXu)

137 I had Javelinas break thru a fenced in garden and the only thing left were the jalapenos. Hope they didn't break your olla pots. We ended up fencing the whole backyard to just keep them out. Good luck...

Posted by: Wee Kreek Farm Girl at November 02, 2019 09:48 PM (sCp90)

138 Yes, I was early today because I attended a "Settlers of Catan" tournament at the College of Western Idaho and had to leave home at noon, then went to a boardgaming Meetup in the evening. (I came in 13th of 28 at the tournament, better than my previous showings, and I did win one of my 3 games.) I was happy to see the Garden Thread appear just as I was finishing typing my post in a word processor file. I've had problems with some punctuation marks causing the site to reject pasted-in posts, so I worded it a bit oddly to avoid anything but commas and periods.

I like the idea of lemon and ginger with the cider. We'll try that at some point. Husband actually came up with a mix he called the "All-American", 1 jigger bourbon, 1/4 jigger creme de cassis, top tumbler up with cider. Goes down dangerously smoothly!

I think I previously mentioned our 2 apple trees were badly damaged in summer windstorms, victims of their own heavy crop, and the lack of proper pruning by the previous owners. We have to cut the trees back quite a bit, so harvests will be poor for several years. Since we'll have so much cider this year, we plan to try as many hard cider experiments as we can, so we'll know what we like; when the lean years come, we'll make only what we liked best.

We do plan to plant 3 new apple trees next spring, and have certainly decided one will be Golden Delicious, but are still researching varieties that we can actually obtain - that will survive our winter cold and summer heat - and that will pollinate each other.

37 neverenoughcaffeine, yes, you can get 20 gallon cloth pots that are useful for growing potatoes. If you get such a thing, make sure you get ones with handles! - makes it easy to tip it over onto a tarp and go through the soil looking for the potatoes. To start, put maybe 2 inches of soil at the bottom, add the potato start, cover it with maybe 2 more inches, and make sure you water it from time to time. (We set ours next to sprayer-irrigated raised beds.) Add soil as it grows, so only a few leaves show above the soil each time. Stop adding soil when you get close to the top of the pot. Yes, my fingerlings did super well this way, Yukon Gems did OK - this year's Yukon Golds didn't do too much.

I *hope* to enjoy the Appleseed event! I'm one of the Instructors. If attendance is low, I'll get a bit of shooting time in, too. We're hoping the warm week predicted will last to next weekend, and it won't be windy or rainy. (As a Project Appleseed Instructor: I exhort all of you to vote for those who will support Constitutional law, and who value Liberty and personal responsibility.)

Posted by: Pat* at November 03, 2019 01:04 AM (2pX/F)

139 Plant ID:I agree that picture #4 is burning bush. Enjoy it now because the rest of the year it doesn't look like anything but "bush", though the stems are interesting up close. I think picture #3 is bittersweet. I recognize it because I spend an enormous amount of time pulling it out, cutting it down and painting it with clorox. Both are invasive (but seductive) in CT and for good reason.
Lurker who devours this thread every week.

Posted by: LizzieG at November 03, 2019 01:26 AM (xW2ky)

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