Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread, October 30

Using Cookie Cutters to Carve Pumpkins
(See other Halloween food and decorating tips, too.)

Happy Fall! And Happy Halloween Weekend! We have some interesting content today, some of it sort of Halloween-ish. Some not so much.

Night at Illiniwek's Farm

Don't know that you would want a critter as big as that deer coming up on you when it's real dark. Fun to see with the night cam, though. Who has an I.D. on the second critter?

Thanks to CBD for formatting the video.

Disconcerting and Disconcerted Critters

From Tony Anthoney:

Your chicken coop photo reminded me of a sight I saw at the Merck Farm near Dorset Vermont last weekend. The plastic owl did not deter the red tail. The ladies in the barn are crowded against the back fence mourning poor Sally (who appears flattened under the feet of the raptor).

Bing tells us about Ravens

With their black feathers standing in sharp contrast to the misty Alaskan background, this group of ravens perched on a leafless tree conjures up a fitting image for this spooky time of year. In the folkloric traditions of many cultures around the world, these highly adaptable, intelligent birds have been considered symbols of all manner of unpleasantness. In Chinese mythology, they're blamed for bad weather, while Celts associated them with warfare. In some Native American traditions ravens are often represented as mischievous tricksters, while many European cultures associate them with evil spirits, usually of demonic origin. In English, a gathering of ravens like this is even called an 'unkindness'!
But the truth about these birds is that they are intelligent and sociable creatures, who happen to be very good to each other. They usually forage for food in pairs, are highly communicative, and love to play. Ravens also mate for life and are devoted parents who both fully participate in the raising of their fledglings. These super-smart birds even console each other, offer each other gifts, and recognize other friendly birds as well as individual human faces. So, while they may look menacing, you'll probably get along with them just fine if you treat them with respect. If not, well, these birds have been known to hold a grudge! After all, another term for a group of ravens is 'conspiracy.' Let's try to stay on their good side.

Quote of the day
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door! Quoth the Raven 'Nevermore.'
- -Edgar Allan Poe

Chihuahuan_Raven_From_The_Crossley_ID_Guide_Eastern_Birds.jpg

Chihuahuan Ravens

Chihuahuas (the dogs) hunt birds. Don't know if they hunt these.

More fascinating facts about ravens from the Farmer's Almanac, including differences from crows, such as: Ravens are often seen alone or in pairs, while crows often fly and feed in a group, referred to as a murder.

Why are scorpions flourescent? A rather long exploration into possible reasons. With some illustrations of how to catch scorpions at night.

We're not that far from Bakersfield, but I have never seen a scorpion here. Wind scorpions, yes. I don't think they fluoresce.

Garden Funnies

Monarch Season Coming to an End (in most places)

How cold is too cold for Monarch caterpillars?

First, the simple answer. For Monarchs and those that do not go into diapause as caterpillars, if the lows are above freezing and the day temperatures are above 65-70 F (18.33-21 C), they'll be fine. As cold-blooded critters, if temperatures drop too low, they'll literally freeze. If temperatures don't climb high enough in the day, they can't eat and will either contract disease from their weakness and die or will die from starvation.
Next comes the question of bringing them inside when it is too cold outside. When they emerge as adults, what if it will be too cold to release them outside?

Indoor caterpillars

They can be fed indoors and kept contained. We recommend Gatorade (not low calorie) as food. If it isn't too cold, they can be released.

Gatorade. For butterflies.

Puttering

Autumn Friendship Quilt

Last Week

Very nice, late entry from Shanks for the memory:

Hummingbirds love Guara too...I planted a row in front of the veggie garden fence and it's a major battle zone.
It's raining in the Central Valley, thank the Gods, we can breathe again after the almond harvest. I still have tons of Banana, Bell, Marconi & Cubanelle peppers. We have started picking the Manzanillo, mission, and kalamata olives to cure. Seems to be a banner year with nice plump olives. To me, other than a freezer full of meat, nothing says luxury like jars of cured olives.
Deer breached our fences this year and helpfully pruned the grapevines and the climbing roses. I planted a red rose on one corner post and a white on the opposite post of the veggie garden front fence...they meet in the middle of the arbor over the gate. This year York was winning.

Wow.

Gardens of The Horde

Hi KT. We enjoy your post every week.
I think I've commented maybe once or twice at Ace's so you can call me MostlyHarmless.
We needed to move the Brugmansias in because of an early freeze this year. We live in zone 8. They sit in the attached double garage and are safe when the cold comes. When there's light enough I open the door so they can catch as many photons as possible. They've dropped most of their leaves but the blossoms are mostly holding on. The sweet evening aroma is enough to knock one over. Looks like a choir about to burst into song.
These guys have been having a contest this year. One will go way overboard with the blooms then the other says "Oh yeah? Watch this." then poops out an explosion of blooms. Junior is ahead in this iteration.
The one on the left is 3 years old the one on the right is two years old.
Thought you might like to see them but I can't attach that sweet smell.

Thanks for the great details. Impressive plants!

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

ktinthegarden
at that g mail dot com place

Include the nic by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ,
unless you want to remain a lurker.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:13 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Great pumpkins!

Posted by: LASue at October 30, 2021 12:16 PM (Ed8Zd)

2 Afternoon all!

Saw three ravens on a power line watching me take out the garbage this morning. Kind of creepy.

Posted by: jmel at October 30, 2021 12:17 PM (bVhJi)

3 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at October 30, 2021 12:18 PM (2JoB8)

4 Raccoon?

Posted by: LASue at October 30, 2021 12:19 PM (Ed8Zd)

5 Those Brugmansias are amazing! Never heard of them before.

Posted by: boo-bell at October 30, 2021 12:20 PM (wyw4S)

6 I love the pumpkins, KT. Funnily enough I had decided a couple of days ago that I will use my star cookie cutter to carve out stars on my pumpkin this year. I stink at making jack-o-lanterns and all my good jack-o-lantern makers have grown up and moved away, darn them. But of course I still have to have one.

Posted by: boo-bell at October 30, 2021 12:21 PM (wyw4S)

7 Ravens are fascinating birds as are all corvids. There's a very entertaining book "The Ravenmaster" written by the yeoman warder, Chris Scaife, who cares for the ravens at the Tower of London. Nice mix of birds, English history, and Scaife's own personal history as a veteran. (All yeoman warders must have as a minimum qualification 22 years of unblemished service for the Commonwealth realms.) I need to read it again.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at October 30, 2021 12:23 PM (fTtFy)

8 I tried growing Brugmansias one year, but it was too difficult. I like tropical plants, but up here in the Great White North you have to be VERY attentive to their needs to keep them alive over the winter. I have a Kroton plant - everyone knows those, they even sell them in grocery stores! - it's about 5 years old now. They're pretty tough, so it survives the winter sitting in a south-facing window, and I put it outside in the summer. Well, this year, it actually *flowered*! I looked it up and that's not that common, they say. It must have been just the right amount of sun and rain to make it happy this summer.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at October 30, 2021 12:23 PM (w3PZZ)

9 Good afternoon everyone. Cleanup around the casa today - wet and cold - you know, normal end of Proctober weather.

Posted by: Tonyeeek at October 30, 2021 12:24 PM (mD/uy)

10 Well, this year, it actually *flowered*! I looked it up and that's not that common, they say. It must have been just the right amount of sun and rain to make it happy this summer.
Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at October 30, 2021 12:23 PM (w3PZZ)
--------

My Christmas cactus (which is more of a Thanksgiving cactus, actually) started doing much better (i.e., actually blooming) when I put her outside for the summer and then brought her in when the temps started falling into the 50s at night.

This year she is a Halloween cactus. A whole bunch of buds, about to open.

Posted by: boo-bell at October 30, 2021 12:26 PM (wyw4S)

11 Art Rondelet of Malmsey at October 30, 2021 12:23 PM

It's fascinating that ravens are supposed to be good luck at the Tower of London where associations with them are so negative most other places.

Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 12:27 PM (0ghg2)

12 The Tower of London, to me, was such a crushingly negative place, that I guess ravens could be positive in comparison.

Posted by: skywitch at October 30, 2021 12:29 PM (QVgqY)

13 We got our first frost today, so I must bid adieu to the garden. Currently making pizza dough and sniffling. Got my kid's cold. But the chore list beckons!

Lovely photos, as always. Esp that quilt! I finished a teeny quiltlet this week but its not as nice as the one pictured.

Posted by: Funsize (EiPf6) at October 30, 2021 12:29 PM (EiPf6)

14 The Tower of London, to me, was such a crushingly negative place, that I guess ravens could be positive in comparison.
Posted by: skywitch at October 30, 2021 12:29 PM (QVgqY)
-------

No kidding. And the day we went it was pouring rain and windy and cold. Very appropriate.

Posted by: boo-bell at October 30, 2021 12:31 PM (wyw4S)

15 [ with tumbling hands ] Brawndo has what Monarchs crave.

Posted by: The Future at October 30, 2021 12:32 PM (uWF4x)

16 Almost time to hook up the trac vac.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at October 30, 2021 12:33 PM (0ryfU)

17 9 Good afternoon everyone. Cleanup around the casa today - wet and cold - you know, normal end of Proctober weather.
Posted by: Tonyeeek at October 30, 2021 12:24 PM (mD/uy)

--------------------------

Better than that lousy Smarch weather *shudder*

Posted by: No One of Consequence at October 30, 2021 12:34 PM (CAJOC)

18 I just read that article that goes with the pumpkin picture. Using a rubber mallet to tap the cookie cutter through the pumpkin - genius, absolute genius. Perfect for lazy people like me!

Posted by: boo-bell at October 30, 2021 12:34 PM (wyw4S)

19 When we bought our house, I went out and purchased two blueberry bushes, a blackberry bush, and a peach tree. Unfortunately, I planted them in the low part of the yard so when the rainy season came, they all received too much water. Lesson learned: plant at higher elevation in the yard next time. Got a better spot picked out. Grape vine out front is growing like a weed so pretty happy about that.

Posted by: hubcap at October 30, 2021 12:35 PM (whT2r)

20 Had lots to clean up of branches this morning from wind and rain last night. Ground is getting leaf covered but they haven't but barely started to turn color so most still on the trees.

Posted by: Skip at October 30, 2021 12:35 PM (2JoB8)

21 right, raccoon, I like how he sneaks in when the buck is turned away. I chased a big buck like that out of my garden a couple nights ago ... maybe the tamer ones around town might mess with humans if confronted, never heard of that around here.

Feeding Monarchs and keeping them inside ... nifty. Happy Halloweeny to all you good boys and ghouls.

Posted by: illiniwek at October 30, 2021 12:37 PM (Cus5s)

22 I usually bring in the gargoyle and dragon though get no one for trick or treat. Should go do it anyway.

Posted by: Skip at October 30, 2021 12:37 PM (2JoB8)

23 Skip, there are a bunch of suggestions for a Halloween name for you late on the last thread.

Posted by: Dial "m" for Murder at October 30, 2021 12:37 PM (ya129)

24 hiya

Posted by: JT at October 30, 2021 12:44 PM (arJlL)

25 Attempting to buy a TV from Walmart today turned into much more of an ordeal than it should have been. Tried to order online for store pickup.

First order cancelled as they did not have any in stock. This order also triggered a fraud alert from my credit card.

Second order (at a different store) cancelled, apparently because there was already a similar charge on my credit card.

Third order cancelled for the same reason as the second (I didn't realize it was a card issue at first).

Changed cards (and triggered a fraud warning from that one, too). Fourth order cancelled because I had exceeded the quantity limit, even though I hadn't managed to get any TVs as yet.

So I gave up, and went to the store. Of course, Walmart doesn't have flatbed carts, so I just had to fit it in a regular cart as best I could.

I did, at least, get a TV

Posted by: No One of Consequence at October 30, 2021 12:45 PM (CAJOC)

26 My nick is dropping in and out. Shoot.

Posted by: m at October 30, 2021 12:47 PM (ya129)

27 My dragon I carved, think it was my first project
https://tinyurl.com/m9tvy2wd

And my book reading gargoyle
https://tinyurl.com/y86tvpwv

Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 12:48 PM (2JoB8)

28 The black pumpkin...the cat looks like it's spraying its territory.

Posted by: Lady in Black Magic at October 30, 2021 12:49 PM (sVtYq)

29 In the old days us proles would have a working TV stacked on top of broken TVs.

Now with flat screens, you can't stack them. I just have broken flat screens sitting aside the one working one.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at October 30, 2021 12:50 PM (vuisn)

30 Well I'm already late in the poinsettia re-redding project.

Should have started the process a couple weeks ago. But I messed up, so tonight is the first night the plant goes in the closet.

This should get interesting...

Posted by: kallisto at October 30, 2021 12:50 PM (DJFLF)

31 My nick is dropping in and out. Shoot.

--

Maybe the " " is causing the problem? Leave the quotes out and see if it helps.

Posted by: Lady in Black Magic at October 30, 2021 12:50 PM (sVtYq)

32 Lovely quilt!

Posted by: CN...FJB at October 30, 2021 12:51 PM (ONvIw)

33 31 My nick is dropping in and out. Shoot.

--

Maybe the " " is causing the problem? Leave the quotes out and see if it helps.
Posted by: Lady in Black Magic at October 30, 2021 12:50 PM (sVtYq)

Trying this....

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 12:52 PM (ya129)

34 Lovely quilt!

Posted by: CN...FJB at October 30, 2021 12:51 PM (ONvIw)

yes, I really like that quilt too.

And SkipJack the Ripper's dragon is pretty scary.

Posted by: kallisto at October 30, 2021 12:52 PM (DJFLF)

35 Yay! That's some Black Magic there!
; )

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 12:52 PM (ya129)

36 We normally don't decorate for Halloween, but having a 3 year old granddaughter living here has inspired my husband to do something special for her. We have a 72 Chevy pickup that takes up valuable space in the driveway (especially when we have to shovel) so he parked it on the lawn using the permeable pavers so it won't sink. We put Hernando the scarecrow behind the wheel, and Mickey is in the truck bed (the only inflatable left when we went to look).
For Christmas, Santa will be behind the wheel, and "presents" will be in the truck bed.
Here's a photo, if this works: https://tinyurl.com/28brmzf2

Posted by: Toni at October 30, 2021 12:54 PM (PgM6e)

37 The ravens up here are a piece of work. I have seen three of them figure out how to open the plastic lid on a dumpster and then pillage it mercilessly. They also have distinct voices. Some are like a dry rattle, others are the "caw" sound, still other mimic other sounds. In Anchorage, they fly over east to the mountains at night, and presumably they nest there as well, but they are all over the place during the day, and they get into plenty of things. Not quite as invasive as the magpies, but pretty close.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at October 30, 2021 12:54 PM (qvjMx)

38 27 My dragon I carved, think it was my first project
https://tinyurl.com/m9tvy2wd

And my book reading gargoyle
https://tinyurl.com/y86tvpwv
Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 12:48 PM (2JoB

Those are great.

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 12:55 PM (ya129)

39 A gathering of ravens is an 'unkindness' or a 'conspiracy', but a gathering of crows is a 'murder'.

Why?

Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 12:55 PM (0ghg2)

40 27 -Wow! Fantastic!

Posted by: Toni at October 30, 2021 12:57 PM (PgM6e)

41 yes, I really like that quilt too.

And SkipJack the Ripper's dragon is pretty scary.
Posted by: kallisto at October 30, 2021 12:52 PM (DJFLF)

The pieced pumpkins are very cool.

Posted by: CN...FJB at October 30, 2021 12:57 PM (ONvIw)

42 39 A gathering of ravens is an 'unkindness' or a 'conspiracy', but a gathering of crows is a 'murder'.

Why?
Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 12:55 PM (0ghg2)

. . . I should probably know the answer to that. . . .

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 12:58 PM (ya129)

43 illiniwek at October 30, 2021 12:37 PM

Love the night wildlife caught on camera.

Those butterfly caterpillars are fun to watch indoors. They just eat and eat and eat. Monarchs, swallowtails, even painted ladies.

Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 12:59 PM (0ghg2)

44 Posted by: Toni at October 30, 2021 12:54 PM (PgM6e)

oh, that's a nice set-up!

I have no halloween spirit this year, maybe next year.

bleh

Posted by: kallisto at October 30, 2021 01:00 PM (DJFLF)

45 I have two carved items in my possession but I don't have them here so no pictures, a Sun face and dolphin and calf.

Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 01:00 PM (2JoB8)

46 KT

I have heard there are more Monarch butterflies in Nipomo than last year. I heard the last few years had fewer butterflies.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 30, 2021 01:01 PM (QljPp)

47 One thing that Shanks for the memory didn't mention was that the rain put out the fires in the mountains! Mostly, anyway. That was great.

I am wondering how much work it is to process all those olives.

Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 01:02 PM (0ghg2)

48 36 We normally don't decorate for Halloween, but having a 3 year old granddaughter living here has inspired my husband to do something special for her. We have a 72 Chevy pickup that takes up valuable space in the driveway (especially when we have to shovel) so he parked it on the lawn using the permeable pavers so it won't sink. We put Hernando the scarecrow behind the wheel, and Mickey is in the truck bed (the only inflatable left when we went to look).

Here's a photo, if this works: https://tinyurl.com/28brmzf2
Posted by: Toni at October 30, 2021 12:54 PM (PgM6e)

Nice! Years from now, she'll be telling friends, "No, really, there was this truck, and a guy with a pumpkin for a head...."

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 01:03 PM (ya129)

49 Vacuuming behind furniture and in closets today. I have a case making moth issue, and can never seem to beat them. (They love the pet hair)

One of these days I need to deal with my closet of shame....all the piles and bags of fabric!!

Posted by: Funsize (EiPf6) at October 30, 2021 01:04 PM (EiPf6)

50 CaliGirl at October 30, 2021 01:01 PM

That's great if there are more monarchs this year. Maybe we can go over and take a look before they leave.

Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 01:04 PM (0ghg2)

51 44 I have no halloween spirit this year, maybe next year.

bleh
Posted by: kallisto at October 30, 2021 01:00 PM (DJFLF)

kallis-toe of frog

--Shakespeare

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 01:09 PM (ya129)

52 >>>Shanks for the memory: I planted a red rose on one corner post and a white on the opposite post of the veggie garden front fence...they meet in the middle of the arbor over the gate. This year York was winning.

That sounds wonderful. Send a photo?

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 01:16 PM (ya129)

53 I saw the scorpion video and wound up buying a UV flashlight because I remembered I wanted one to look for pet urine.
Walking around the yard at night it shows plastic very well, and I found that the corn silk fluoresces. I also recently noticed that some of what I have been calling crabgrass has started glowing a deep red, which I had not noticed before.

Most natural things don't fluoresce in my backyard, but paper and plastics do

Posted by: Kindltot at October 30, 2021 01:16 PM (KbLYZ)

54 I have no halloween spirit this year, maybe next year.

bleh
Posted by: kallisto

Here ya go......

https://tinyurl.com/r5c2wesd

Posted by: JT at October 30, 2021 01:21 PM (arJlL)

55 On my break. Sup, y'all?

Posted by: WeaselBoo - Honorary Texan at October 30, 2021 01:22 PM (MVjcR)

56 tcn in AK, my mom long ago threaded the picked Thanksgiving turkey carcass over a branch of the sassafras tree next to the back porch, so the raccoons and crows etc that raided the milkbox would have some holiday pickings.
The next morning when we came down to breakfast she told us what she had seen at dawn (she started every day with 6:30 a.m. Mass): a group of ravens in the tree, making a variety of sounds, worked together to slide the carcass up the branch, then they all flew off with it, with two of them carrying it in tandem.

Posted by: barbarausa at October 30, 2021 01:23 PM (O+xKB)

57 My job for the day is to cut back the weeds and move my compost enclosure to a new site in the yard. Then scrape off the uncomposted top and use that for the base of the new heap, and I have a place to put the falling leaves.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 30, 2021 01:23 PM (KbLYZ)

58 Skip what did you carve them out of ?

The gargoyle looked like styrofoam

Posted by: JT at October 30, 2021 01:26 PM (arJlL)

59 I had a nasty looking critter in the house that looked like that wind scorpion. Camel spider maybe?

Posted by: Ronster at October 30, 2021 01:26 PM (WJn70)

60 KT, Shanks, there was a couple of vineyards in Keizer and Dundee (Red Hills) area in Oregon that decided to pull out some vines and put in olives instead. One of the growers said that he had to move from a 10-20 year succession mindset from grapes to 100-200 year mindset for olives.

Oregon is a tad chilly for olives, but they grow them in Portugal and Northern Spain, and they grow with the same areas as grapes, the main issue is that olives don't like wet feet, which can be a concern in Oregon.

The last time I went past the grove in Keizer they were having some trees die, but that was several years ago and I have not been by since. Keizer is on the Willamette and is loamy soil, but it may not drain well enough for olives.

As an aside, I ran across a very old recipe that spelled out how to pickle unripe plums to make faux olives for the housewife that wanted olives and lived far from those sunny climes. I am tempted to try.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 30, 2021 01:32 PM (KbLYZ)

61 Silty soil I suppose.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 30, 2021 01:34 PM (KbLYZ)

62 I didn't carve a pumpkin this year.

Wonder where I will get my seeds to roast.

Posted by: nurse hatchet at October 30, 2021 01:37 PM (U2p+3)

63 Our burn barrel is rusted out along the bottom. I should either add some L brackets to keep it upright or have someone make me a new one.

Since I was granted the vaccine exemption request at my work I should dig out the ph # and call the tree guy I had out a couple years ago, and go ahead and have him work on the trees that I could physically do w/o a 60 foot cherry picker as well as the tall ones. I was waiting to learn if the exemption would be granted thinking if my paycheck will end I don't want to spend that money. Part of me still doesn't want to hand off the chainsawing and pruning. That is the activity I usually pick when I feel like I'm being lazy but I don't want to do other chores.

Posted by: PaleRider, vaccine exceptional at October 30, 2021 01:39 PM (pxVvf)

64 60 I ran across a very old recipe that spelled out how to pickle unripe plums to make faux olives for the housewife that wanted olives and lived far from those sunny climes. I am tempted to try.
Posted by: Kindltot at October 30, 2021 01:32 PM (KbLYZ)

Great idea; hoping you do that and report back.

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 01:39 PM (ya129)

65 I do have a near life size skeleton I put in the back seat of my lesbaru with a seatbelt on.

His name is Kenny. Kenny gets lots of looks.

Posted by: nurse hatchet at October 30, 2021 01:40 PM (U2p+3)

66 I didn't carve a pumpkin this year.

Wonder where I will get my seeds to roast.
Posted by: nurse hatchet

Pumpkins in trash after Halloween ?

Posted by: JT at October 30, 2021 01:40 PM (arJlL)

67 "Keizer is on the Willamette and is loamy soil, but it may not drain well enough for olives."

Tiling is the thing around here, for regular crops. Seems like it might be well worth putting in drain tile down the aisles for a higher value crop like that. They surely considered that, if I thought of it, so must be some other issues.

Posted by: illiniwek at October 30, 2021 01:43 PM (Cus5s)

68 Oh, God. They killed Kenny. Those Bastards!

Posted by: Kindltot at October 30, 2021 01:44 PM (KbLYZ)

69 I drove by a house with a couple of life size skeletons doing the nasty on the front porch. Disgusting.

Posted by: Ronster at October 30, 2021 01:44 PM (WJn70)

70 I'm watching the Hammer horror "Curse of Frankenstein". Victor (Peter Cushing) has been tampering in God's domain.

Per IMDB: Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing's friendship was sparked when Lee stormed into Cushing's dressing room, complaining that "I've got no lines!" Cushing kindly responded, "You're lucky. I've read the script."

Posted by: All Hail Eris at October 30, 2021 01:45 PM (XItSe)

71 I painted a pumpkin this year (pretty good job too, if I do say meself). The squirrels made short work of my neighbor's beautifully carved punkins.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at October 30, 2021 01:47 PM (XItSe)

72 Halloween decorations here are mostly those inflatable things. I've seen a few, like maybe 5 or 6 houses with an actual pumpkin out front.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 30, 2021 01:47 PM (BFigT)

73 a group of ravens in the tree, making a variety of sounds, worked together to slide the carcass up the branch, then they all flew off with it, with two of them carrying it in tandem.
Posted by: barbarausa at October 30, 2021 01:23 PM (O+xKB)
---

This is so Metal.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at October 30, 2021 01:48 PM (XItSe)

74 JT is a solid piece of Maple from a tree had to cut down. Painted with same Krylon stone paint I used on the Little free library.

Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 01:50 PM (2JoB8)

75 Oh, God. They killed Kenny. Those Bastards!
Posted by: Kindltot

So, he's dead ?

Posted by: JT at October 30, 2021 01:51 PM (arJlL)

76 Olives in Texas...maybe. One of the largest olive orchards in Texas was just east of Marbles Falls, I was told by the local nurseryman. It had 10,000 trees that have dropped down to about zero.

I planted 7 olives in my yard and put PVC septic lines 3 feet deep next to them so I could feed them deep all year. I was told that an olive can freeze to the ground and come back after they got that old. I figured I lure them deep.

After having them frozen to the ground 3 years in a row I can say they do come back about 90%. It is embarassing to tell people the ankle high trees are 4 years old.

Posted by: SenatorMark4 at October 30, 2021 01:53 PM (DlT2q)

77 I use to use a burn barrel, eventually the bottom goes and had a grate up on cinder blocks with barrel shell on top. Ashes fell through grate . Now I have cinder block 3 high on 3 sides .

Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 01:53 PM (2JoB8)

78 I don't even like 8-legged spiders, let alone that 10-legged one up there.

Posted by: Spookiologist, Rickrolled by Jesus at October 30, 2021 01:56 PM (OssQ4)

79 I have a messy not fun job for the doldrum that is soon when AoSHq goes to nap.
Cleaning out laundry pump. It is lower than sewer line out so needs to be pumped up. It gets gooey soap and whatever build up. Haven't done it in a few years.

Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 01:57 PM (2JoB8)

80 I don't even like 8-legged spiders, let alone that 10-legged one up there.

I think 2 of those are antennae.

Posted by: Ronster at October 30, 2021 01:58 PM (WJn70)

81 Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 01:57

Oh, yuck.

Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 01:58 PM (0ghg2)

82 Clouding up here......

Posted by: JT at October 30, 2021 01:59 PM (arJlL)

83 Weasel, I hope you've written a good Alec Baldwin rant. We've waited all week, you know.

Posted by: Spookiologist, Rickrolled by Jesus at October 30, 2021 02:02 PM (OssQ4)

84 Ronster at October 30, 2021 01:26 PM

Camel spider is another name for wind scorpion.

There are also Vinegarones here. They have acetic acid in their tails, which they squirt, instead of stinging like a scorpion.

Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 02:03 PM (0ghg2)

85 Pets are up!

Posted by: m is for murder at October 30, 2021 02:03 PM (ya129)

86 Our burn barrel has moon cutouts on the bottom and around the sides so it gets great airflow and burns fast. It is setting on cinderblocks so a fair amount of the ash does just fall through.

I neglected to dump it before snowfalls last winter so I think that is what caused the sides at the bottom to rust. Plus our neighbor that made it had cut quite a bit at the of the sides for airflow. I do have a grate I hardly ever use to set on top of it, so I suppose I could remove the bottom entirely and just flip it. Probably less work to just put in the brackets. We have a slew of shelf brackets in the garage and very little wall space in garage or sheds where it would make sense to me "we could put a shelf here"

Posted by: PaleRider, vaccine exceptional at October 30, 2021 02:04 PM (pxVvf)

87 Thanks KT

Posted by: Ronster at October 30, 2021 02:05 PM (WJn70)

88 A burn barrel would last me 5 years or better and while I had another after last one burned out just made the cinder block stand the burn pit.

Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 02:12 PM (2JoB8)

89 Well, I spent the morning prepping the garden for the glean.
Got to 35 last night, and colder is coming.
If all goes well, may have red sliced maters at T Giving.
Problem is, i forgot to shut the gate, and the deer got in.
Wife is still out there, assessing damage. Worst case scenario, one jumps over the 8' fence, and they learn it's possible.
Digging sweet taters tomorrow.

Posted by: MarkY at October 30, 2021 02:12 PM (w16UT)

90 Damn. Momma took the west side of the high fence out.

Posted by: MarkY at October 30, 2021 02:13 PM (w16UT)

91
This is so Metal.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at October 30, 2021 01:48 PM (XItSe)

Hardly, it is the plot of the song The Twa Corbies

Posted by: Kindltot at October 30, 2021 02:47 PM (KbLYZ)

92 I am going to go on one of my thoughts: If you have a burn barrel you might consider making a rig instead to turn your yard debris into biochar for your garden

Look up TLUD or Top Loading Upward Draft Biochar, or Biochar retort, and read up on what biochar is good for in your garden

Essentially it absorbs nutrients and gives soil bacteria a safe home to use it all up, but there are some requirements to use it.

There is a lot of Woo around the subject, but it appears to work, according to some people I trust.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 30, 2021 02:53 PM (KbLYZ)

93 Not as bad as other times on that clean out, maybe wasn't as long ago as thought. Cleaning hair out of drain in tub the washing machine dumps into was worse.

Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 02:54 PM (2JoB8)

94 >>>I had a nasty looking critter in the house that looked like that wind scorpion. Camel spider maybe?

>Possibly a potato bug, aka Jerusalem cricket?

Posted by: Dr. Bone at October 30, 2021 02:54 PM (pBdm6)

95 I have dozens of pine trees, it's useless stuff when branches or trees come down.

Posted by: Skipjack the Ripper at October 30, 2021 02:55 PM (2JoB8)

96 Moving front-porch houseplants inside.

Shutting down and draining our outdoor shower lines.

Draining and coiling up the garden hoses.

Sweeping the copious oak leaves off the front porch (again).

Wondering if we'll be able to get some garden going next year.

Grateful to be living where we have so many nice days.

Posted by: mindful webworker anticipating winter at October 30, 2021 03:13 PM (ekL79)

97 The book reading gargoyle would look just right sitting next to skip's little free library. It might not be there long though.

Posted by: AlmostYuman at October 30, 2021 04:08 PM (+pdD8)

98 Windscorpion: {Thinks to self} "So that is what that thing probably was!"

Twenty-some-odd years ago, I saw the damnedest looking creature crawl into the w*rk building one night. Shape was exactly like photo above. Coloring was darker-- dull black head and dark translucent legs, abdomen was striped black and eerie flesh-toned/ pinkish. Guessing body length about 1.5 to 2 inches. The leg span made it appear *huge*, perhaps as large as an adult hand. Have never seen anything else like it, either before or since.

EEEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: JQ at October 30, 2021 04:21 PM (dB4Iz)

99 From Boise area: We finished canning the last tomato sauce of the year. I took the largest poblano peppers, which we saved out, and turned them into pre-made, frozen rellenos.

We now turn to leaf disposal - finished shredding 3 Tatarian maples, and part of the southside maple; still multiple maples, sweet gums, a linden to shred up, and sycamores and an oak to clean up after. (Shredded leaves are saved for compost making, others are trashed.) There's also tomato vine etc. disposal still to do...

Almost apple time - older Golden Del. and probably-Jonathan trees have good crops. Will make some applesauce, then cider (which can turn into hard cider later). I get to eat some of the best apples.

We did have over an inch of rain this week. Lows mid 40's, highs mid 60's.

Under puttering, we bought new drapes for my bedroom window and door, husband hung them up. Got rid of the door's Venetian blind, which was broken, but kept the one on the window.

May your Beloved Departed rest in blessed peace this Samhain.

Posted by: Pat* at October 30, 2021 04:26 PM (2pX/F)

100
I usually look at Halloween in my corner of SE PA as the end of the leaf dropping season. Not this year. The trees are still half full of leaves.

Can't blame it on Global Warming as we hardly had many 90 degree days this summer. Not enough for the local media to proclaim "Heat Spell" as in decades past.

Posted by: Traitor Joe's Military Surplus, Vaccine and Massage Parlor at October 30, 2021 04:50 PM (dQvv7)

101 The Wind Scorpions around here are lighter in color than the one in the photo, with absolutely massive serrated, scissor-like jaws, backed by what look like massive muscle mounds. Some guys put one in a jar with a spider, and nothing happened until night, when the Wind Scorpion ripped up the spider.

I think they would make good models for Sci-Fi critters.

Fortunately, ours are not very big. They seem to like carpeting, though.

Posted by: KT at October 30, 2021 06:18 PM (0ghg2)

102 So, ravens are conservatives and crows are democrats. That explains arkancides and right wing conspiracies.

Posted by: Bonnie Blue says Fvck Joe Xiden at October 31, 2021 12:17 AM (hlxe7)

103 Do you think those chickens will be extra nervous on Halloween?

Posted by: KT at October 31, 2021 09:40 AM (0ghg2)

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