Out of Control!!! Well Not really!! But.....

   So this morning I made it to the local hardware store, I got my tools.... Hooray!

   I wanted to get started right on to my digging and turning the next bed, but... I checked on my pumpkin and it  needed that mix for Out of control Aphid pests quite badly... I took about 30 minutes just spraying the leaves of my pumpkins. That plant had them everywhere. I was so upset.  Now, I have to wait to spray my gourds. The sun and heat will surely not be nice to them if I sprayed them...

   So, I hope that this mix will work well enough... 3 parts water 1 part veg oil and couple drops of soap...

   I  tried the  formula on my pumpkin, I think that the veggie oil was a bit much. It stressed it out. The heat of the day made the leaves stress completely. They show this oily translucent look about them.  Then the leaves became droopy. If I apply this again to my plants, I will not use the oil in the solution.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CAKE

I made the batter before I realized, to take pictures.

 To start:

1. one box of chocolate cake
2. Follow the oil and egg directions NO Liquid, though
3. one can of cherry filling - I use a 21 oz can.

   Mix the cake mix, eggs and oil, first. Then add in the cherry filling so you don't break the cherries and mix again gently, bake to the box instructions. I like the 8 in rounds so that I have the layered effect.

   I also put the cakes in the fridge too cool. It helps keep the cake moist. Then frost as you would your typical layered cake.

Kitty Kat Menace

   Of all places, why does the cat have to come into my yard by landing on my squash mound and ruin the mound then trample the next mound?

   I love cats, I love my wild life, but really, why is it okay for neighbors to let their pets do the things they do in ones yard.  I don't let that happen...!!!

   I actually can see if we were living in the rural setting... BUT HELLO! I live in the urban setting... Pet Poo and trampling is rude!!!

  Okay, my TANGENT is quieting now...


 Watering troubles...

   Looking through my garden, I was made aware that some of my areas weren't getting enough water and the plants looked a little stressed... Thank you husband for having my back.

   I am thinking that is why the gourds and the pumpkin were being attacked by the Aphids...


House Plants

   I have been going through my inside plants and realized I have been neglecting them too... (will lately.)
I have a lucky bamboo. It just doesn't keep the water in the little pot it is in now. So I thought that maybe it
needs to be re-potted into a larger one...
  
   I did a little research. I learned that it likes to have small pots.. The only time to re-pot is when the roots are growing out of its container. And whatever you do, don't use tap water because of the chemicals. Let the water set over night before you do.

  
   I cut my orchid flower stems and it doesn't seem to be very happy...  Do I only use spring water or the same process as my Lucky bamboo?  I am concerned I don't want top lose this one!

   I think that my avocados look good!!! They seem to be kind of splitting or cracking.. I'm getting excited, I hope I don't jinx it!

 

   My little African violets are doing well enough their still small but  flowering.
They may be a little hungry so next watering I will feed!...

Weather Update

   The heat advisory is still in effect until 8:00 p.m. Friday.. Temperatures have come down a little but only a few degrees. It was said that all kinds of weather records were broke today and it is Wednesday! I have been working on this article all week. Terribly on the run this week a lot of things happening, but I guess, One day at a time...

Old Cucumber Bed!!! 

I have Radish sprouts already!! I certainly hope that I get other things to sprout!!!    Hooray.....

OverWhelming, DOT... DOT... DOT...

   An overwhelming list of things, usually makes everybody cringe. If there were a scale of how a person feels when it comes to this, I would be at the top!

   As my day starts, I really rely on my lists, neurotic maybe, but aren't we in same way with something, After all, wasn't it said, I am crazier than well you know!!! lol, ...

It starts off like this...

 1. coffee (maybe the pot if sleep was lousy the night before)

 2. feed the Hitchcock birds (I say that, because, they "all" line up ready for the attack)

 3. evaluate "what needs to be done" in the garden

 4. freak out,.... because the list is so long, I have no time to even get one thing done, much less
     what is on the list...

  Usually, I get ready for work and leave early. The light is just coming when I have to leave, I can't see much before then. So working in the garden isn't much of an option. I then, come home in late afternoon, the sun is up high, the heat is too intense. I can't do much then either...
  I do get about an hour in the evening, if I am not to tired from my intense day... I snap pictures, pick weeds and water things...

    After all that, after being in the heat, and picking and pulling and digging and moving...
I still have a sense of over-whelmingness, but I walk inside to cool off, drink some water, and to think... even after all that, I feel good and happy...  What craziness is that?!!

   But if that is the craziness I get, I will take it just to have the feeling of good and happy...
  
Weather Update

  So today, Mother Nature is playing around again, she has the clouds, and the winds, and dust, but you guessed it... NO rain! I find it funny, so many people, are enduring the wrath of Hurricane Irene. AND, I am complaining about no rain... good grief....


***Hot and Humid *6:15 p.m. 110 degrees still... heat advisory still happening until Monday 8:00 p.m.***

   Soon the weather will break and my over-whelmingness will be even more intense. But to think that I will get the good and happy feeling with the same intensity. Priceless....


This morning 

 The old cucumber bed was dug and turned.. (about freaking time huh!!!)  Guess What I found?  From long past planting...

 Onions that were planted a few years ago... Okay, well, two bulbs only... but what a crazy gift from the garden. I'll take it... ha- ha- ha...

I planted ...

1. Kaleidoscope Carrots...

2. White bush scallop squash

3. Radish sparklers

   Then in the midst of raking and turning through some of the other beds, I was halted...  My tools are seeing some age and wear and tear... Most to my carelessness, by leaving them sit out in the elements of heat and sun..
   My rake and  4 prong rake heads pulled out from it's handle... oh hum and sigh!! I can be so silly sometimes....
   I am in hopes of finding a couple of nice tools when I go to my local hardware store soon..



APHIDS...

   These annoying little creatures are still around, so I need to get some insecticidal soap to spray on the leaves of my Gourds and Pumpkins. They are stressed and the bugs can tell...





   My gourds are doing well but the aphids are relentless, it looks like I will get at least three gourds so far... I do see a couple of flowers for the pumpkins, I hope that I do get some for Halloween, that is my favorite holiday, as well as Thanksgiving.... So here it is in need of (medical need)...


    I found this formula some where!?!?, I am going to give it a go...

   Mix three parts lukewarm water with one part horticultural or vegetable oil. Add a couple of drops of laundry or dish soap to make the formula more effective.  It also said not to spray it on plants when it's hot it increases the intensity of the sun and heat and it can hurt the plant...


   So I will be running off to the store, so I can plant a couple of other seeds in the beds I started to work and turn, and was thwarted, which I think it will be cabbage and broccoli since the seeds didn't take the first time, and maybe some flowers of sorts... hmmm!