Blue Garden chat forum: New Year 2014
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| Our temps are yo yos, Lucy. Yours go up while mine goes down. |
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| I had forgotten all about making a candle in a milk carton. Think mom had us do that one time as kid. Never heard of using ice cubes. May have to give it a try and see what happens. Mary, was thinking the other day when I opened a jar of homemade peach jelly I bought at a craft show, that you just don't see folks using paraffin anymore to seal the jars. As a kid, that is all that topped the jelly jars and with all of us kids a jar didn't last long. Remember always had to get out a butter knife to try and push and tip the wax up enough to get it back off because what kid s going to take the time to clean around the edge of the jar before putting the lid back on? Not this one for sure. By the time you got to the bottom of the jar, the wax had so many chunks missing from it and knife marks was hard to tell it originally was a lid except for the jam stains.  |
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| You can tell that my candle experiment was a loooong time ago. It's been many years since I stopped using was on jam jars, and was glad to switch to canning lids because they keep much better. Paraffin separated from the jar while in storage, so a lot of jam got moldy. Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. More ramblings at http://thegatheringplacehome.myfastforum.org/forum54.php |
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| Wonder how many of us ate bites of waxy, moldy jam and jelly? |
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| Speaking of wax and candles, I recently read that you can make a 24 hour candle with cheap shortening, filling a container with an ordinary candle in the middle (for the wick if you don't have string or other wick material). I have not tried it. String used to be on a lot of things, and I always had a ball of used string in the kitchen junk drawer to use for tieing around packages that were being mailed. How long ago was THAT? Haven't we been using tape almost forever? The sun is just rising, casting pink on to the snowy mountain tops that were bluish just a few minutes ago. We started the day with 5 above 0. Thankfully there is no wind this morning. The blades on my ornamental windmill are not moving at all. With a lack of storms this winter, we have had very little wind, compared to what we usually have. Do you know, that you can have the perfect fireplace fire without even having a fireplace? A guy in the northwest has developed a video of his perfect fire (took him about a year to get it right for long enough) so now you can watch it on your tv. I wonder how many people will get a visit from the fire department when neighbors see flames on a wall and don't realize it is only on the tube. Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. More ramblings at http://thegatheringplacehome.myfastforum.org/forum54.php |
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| Out to the west of me there probably is a storm creeping ever closer. But for the moment I have 45* and a slight drizzle and lots of gloom. I have three actual real live books on the table beside me. I'll probably have them all read before the snow starts. The weather people have changed the warning to an advisory, only difference is the probability of 2 inches of snow instead of 8. Temps will still be hanging around the minus mark by dark, so no change there. I think I'm one of those who need sunlight to survive. I must have every light on in this house right now. |
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Ya gotta love technology  Hank was able to help dd and dsil fix their snow blower via skype yesterday. How cool is that?  The upcoming temps are terrifying me, more for the folks up north but we go down to 4 tomorrow night  NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION Purslane & Portulaca ~ Garden Art |
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| Snowing right now, have a RealFeel of -11 (actual temp is 7degs). Going to go see Anchorman 2 here in a bit. Didn't make the candles last night as we went to the gym. I wasn't feeling the greatest, so I was on the treadmill for only 10 minutes before I felt totally blegh. Talked to a personal trainer guy there I know and he got me to go on one of their new toys that measures body fat, lean muscle, waterweight, blahblahblah. Supposed to use this machine only after fasting for 8 hours (first thing in the morning), not right after dinner. My numbers weren't as bad as I was expecting. Was expecting the body fat composition to be at least 50%-60%, wasn't that bad, so happy about that. And he was impressed with lean body muscle number, but we both agree that my body fat number has to go down. Well duhhhhh. Probably do the candles this afternoon as it's gonna be just too cold to fiddlefart outside. Was hoping that I could get the rest of my lights down today, but not gonna screw around in these kinds of temperatures!! Everyone stay warm!! Never be afraid of a scar. It just means that you were stronger than something that tried to hurt you. My new Etsy shop - handmade jewelry by ME!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/OjodelGato Buy some of my photos! http://www.catsonkeyboards.com "I've seen better acting from extras in Godzilla movies!" - Calculon |
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| Love such a positive story, Larry. Sunny and just below freezing here with no wind (balmy). Shovelled some snow that comes with this warmer (nicer) weather. Still the temperature is soon going back down. Larry's driving story, though fortunately not in winter, serves to remind how important planning ahead is in winter. As Sharon says (and demonstrates with Ethan), the kids love activities (art, science, whatever). Saw one of those fires on a large flat-screen T.V. at last neighbourhood party, Mary. The room was heated with a gas fire. Apparently a (modern?) gas fire is a much better way to heat a home than an open wood fire. Still watching the fire on T.V. didn't do much for me. At least, however, I didn't assume the T.V. was on fire. You too, Toni, and All. |
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| As we head toward a -50 windchill tonight, the wind is howling and gusts are causing our fireplace chimney to roar. So glad that we're among the fortunate who have a comfy, cozy home to shelter us. Unfortunately, there will be some who will suffer through a very cold night or end up in the ER with hypothermia or frostbite. I think of all the animals in the wilds of our 26,000 acre game preserve. There will be casualties for sure. Our daughter, Robin, called to tell us that her furnace can't keep up with the cold. Her house is down to 60 degrees. Fortunately she has an electric blanket and an electric mattress pad. Unfortunately, she has to be at work at 6 AM, when the windchill will be at its worst. We'll be waiting for her call to let us know she made it to work OK. Had an interesting dog walk tonight. We took a different and shorter route than usual to avoid the wind as much as possible. Both dogs were confused. They're creatures of habit, and this definitely was not the usual walk. On our way back home, we noticed that tear drops from Laila's eyes had frozen solid just below her lower eyelashes. Definitely time to call it quits. The morning walk will be just as cold, so we're hoping both dogs will do their duty quickly so that we can get back inside. Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos! As a gardener: When planning for a year, I plant corn. When planning for decades, I plant trees. When planning for life, I train and educate people. Website: https://cottageinthemeadow.plantfans.com/ |
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| The temp was 47* when I got to the computer at 4AM Its 30* now with 25 mph winds and gusts to 50 mph. So I just HAVE to re arrange the freezer in the garage. I also tossed 2 bags of frozen dahlias. DD forgot to move inside last fall when we dug them. |
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| Good morning. If I say that our early morning temperature is 8 above 0, many of you will think that is downright balmy! That's ok with me, as today I think some of your temperatures are downright brutal. Pity those who have to be out feeding cattle, or milking, or doing other necessary outdoor jobs such as emergency responders. They need our prayers, especially in dangerous weather. Larry, I hope the dog's plumbing is not frozen this morning. Here's an idea you may want to try, but first a bit of the story behind it. When I was endurance riding, some of the riders would whistle in a certain way when it was convenient to have a horse urinate, to save time later, as this was as much of a timed contest as it was a ride over trails. They started this at home, watching when the horse seemed ready to go, and then whistling while he relieved himself. Eventually, the horse learned to associate going with that sound, and would go at that signal when it was convenient for the rider, thus avoiding inconvenient emergency stops. You might want to that with your dogs. Yesterday I was reading some of Rudyard Kipling's poetry. This one struck me, since we have a lot of returning veterans, and unfortunately not all come home ok, or maybe not at all. We expect the government to take care of them and their families, but that wasn't and isn't always the case. This poem of Kipling's did a lot to raise awareness (and help for their families) in his day. http://www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. More ramblings at http://thegatheringplacehome.myfastforum.org/forum54.php |
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| Just watched a National Geographic special on owls Mary and thought of you. The guy that narrates the show actually has a cabin in Yellowstone - how freaking cool would that be. Cold here and of course, getting colder. The winds are getting stronger all the time  I looked like a bag lady when I walked the dogs this morning. I bet there will be no walks tomorrow. Just do your business and get in the house I like that idea about training Mary. NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION Purslane & Portulaca ~ Garden Art |
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| Thick fuzzy fleece pajama bottoms, knit hat pulled down over my ears, t shirt beneath long black sweater, fleece bathrobe, fuzzy socks up to my knees, mammoth crocs, scarf, heavy long fake fur coat with hood, oh and leggings beneath the jammy bottoms. My clothes weigh more than I do. It takes me 10 minutes to get myself dressed to take Sunshine outside, takes her 2 minutes to do her thing, then another 10 minutes to unwrap myself. All in all not so bad. And if I slide down out there in the frozen tundra, I won't feel a thing. Not a bad day at all though I would enjoy something a little warmer than the 2 frozen degrees that I'm feeling. And then there's the wind. So the only thing that got cold was my nose, I reckon it wasn't so bad. Stay warm and stay in. This weather 'jus' ain't fer the faint o' heart. So says me. |
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Wow, I feel lucky that we have mostly cloudy and 4f this morning. Some of you got it crazy cold!!!! And all that snow, oh my!!!!  |
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| Margaret - I'm in the same boat as you & Mary.. we're at 8degs and its gonna climb into the upper 30s today. Yesterday was cold, but we didn't have the wind that some of y'all have. I know those days from when I lived upstate NY (Canadian border upstate) where the high for the day was -22 and the wind was 20-40mph w/a windchill of -40 to -60degs. At that time in my life, my car didn't have a working heater and that was a miserable time if I had to drive at night. Sharon - Just thinking of your description of what you wore reminds me of the one child from A Christmas Story where he's so bundled up he can't move! LOLLL!! Mary - Waffles is trained to "go pee" on command. Never could get Sebastian to do that command, but, then again, he pees on everything. Same with Wolfgang... he knew "go pee" very well. "Go potty" I haven't been able to get through Waffles' thick skull. But we don't have the brutal that everyone else has got. Was gonna go to the gym this morning for 1/2 hour, but I'm going to tonight for 1.5 hours, so I'll just get it done then rather than splitting it today. Tomorrow I'll definitely split it. Waiting on hearing from my boss on how being stuck there at the office on a Friday is not fun and he hates it.. I wonder if he's gonna try to con me into going into the office on Fridays for free. Sorry, not gonna happen. But I got that funny feeling. Never be afraid of a scar. It just means that you were stronger than something that tried to hurt you. My new Etsy shop - handmade jewelry by ME!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/OjodelGato Buy some of my photos! http://www.catsonkeyboards.com "I've seen better acting from extras in Godzilla movies!" - Calculon |
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| Just out getting food. It was 48° the last time I looked. lighter rain when we came out of the store. Driveway down to the gravel, no ice. Going to get cold again. Will have to check on batteries as the mouse light is showing red & a note said 'critical'. I am using the attached mouse at the moment. Don't like it as well because it doesn't have the 'back button' on the side. |
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| Felt a little like that child too, Toni . . . think my arms were probably sticking straight out. Like a fat scarecrow with all those clothes. Well Lucy! you and your 48 degrees. Hmmmmmmmmm . . . I think it might be amazing that your temps are that high while ours are this low. Unusual for sure. Looks can be deceiving, there's not a thing about the looks of this day that suggests anything but normal. Looks just like any ordinary day, minus the birds. Have not seen even one bird this morning. I have two huge cedar trees that are protection for them. I suspect they are all cuddled together in them. But Sunshine needs boots, I'm thinking. |
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| The Mourning Doves were out early when temps were in the 40's.No sign of any birds here now that its in the teens. |
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The dogs' plumbing survived the brutal temps, Mary.  It's still -17 here. They did their duty in record time. Fortunately, they respond readily to the "pee" command. I think they were as anxious to get back into the house as we were. Enjoyed the info on Kipling, but the link wasn't to a specific poem. Which one did you have in mind?Sharon, Wilma says to tell you she just went out to burn the trash in sweatshirt and tennies. (What does that tell you about who the sensible person in this marriage is? )Thankfully, Robin made it to work with no problems. Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens: Come on in and take the tour! Check out the photos! As a gardener: When planning for a year, I plant corn. When planning for decades, I plant trees. When planning for life, I train and educate people. Website: https://cottageinthemeadow.plantfans.com/ |
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