Randoms week of 4/30

coco2787 · April 2018

What's up this week?

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/aFTt8wvDtqKCQ/giphy.gif

wishiwaspreggo · April 2018

As I've mentioned in a few posts, I've been on a journey to tame my yard and garden and I've been making excellent progress. Built 3 flower beds, planted shrubs and hostas, built a couple vegetable beds and planted spring peas and broccoli, repaired our walkways, and laid my weed n feed. There's an eyesore of an old fence running along the back part of our yard, which we found out belongs to our unfriendly neighbors. We power washed it (because it was mossy and gross) and then varnished it a lovely dark chestnut. Through the power washing, some of the rotting wood broke off and we had our contractor repair the boards. Rather than thanking us, our neighbors sent a letter threatening legal action if we continued to work on their crappy fence. I wanted to start a fight but my wife wouldn't let me so we stopped.

Anyway, I've been contemplating planting some English ivy back there. Too petty?

catlady2015 · April 2018

@wishiwaspreggo - I'd plant the ivy, but that's just me. Maybe I'm petty, but I wouldn't want my neighbors dictating what grows on the fence that's in my own yard.

meggyme · April 2018

@wishiwaspreggo the only thing about ivy is it could topple an already old broken down fence and it’s difficult to get rid of once it’s planted. Could you hang some cool outdoor wall art on it? Or wall planters?

wishiwaspreggo · April 2018

@meggyme - that's the idea

deliberately plant a vine that would destroy my neighbor's fence (hence the "too petty?" question). Space them out correctly and they'll devour the wood in a few years. However, I want to sell my house in 2 years so... that would be a problem for a potential buyer. And yes, I would be worried it would spread. I like my chain link fence and would not like to see it covered in ivy.

I'm not going to do it but it's fun to think about quietly planting a few of them right before I move out. But again, probably unkind to punish the new residents for my neighbor's bad behavior.

Seriously, though, who gets angry at someone for improving their property?

lurvleybunchococonuts · April 2018

I'm going over to city hall in my town this Friday to look into getting a plot at our local community garden. Keep your toesies crossed for me that they still have plots available!

meggyme · April 2018

@wishiwaspreggo maybe drop some ivy cuttings over the fence.

SkilledSailor · April 2018

@wishiwaspreggo I'm confused. They own a fence on your yard? Could you put up another fence just in-front of theirs and then plant some jasmine? Not so petty that it destroy's their property but petty enough that it gets the point across.

@lurvleybunchococonuts Oh fun! Our city has a cute community garden. They host events and everything. Seems like a cool thing to be a part of.

I'm sitting in this house with H away for work wondering how all you military wives do it. It's so quiet in here! I work from home so I am use to spending most of the day waiting for him to come home and keep me company.

meggyme · May 2018

@wishiwaspreggo oh! ^her suggestion of jasmine is a great idea! It looks and smells good as soon as you put it in and it will eventually cover the fence.

@SkilledSailor how long is YH gone for? The first 2 weeks are the worst while you figure out your own routine. Lately MH has been leaving for a couple days/a week here and there so I haven’t been able to get used to him being home or away. It’s annoying.

galactickates · May 2018

@coco2787 that gif is mesmerizing...

lurvleybunchococonuts · May 2018

@SkilledSailor I'm super excited I only have a few small raised beds at home and they aren't in the best location (didn't really think through how much difference in sunlight the area gets when the tree is full of leaves)

PSA: don't place garden beds when trees are without leaves! So in the beds I think I'll plant some wild flowers and then the plot is 10x10 which is HUGE compared to what I've had and gets amazing sunlight. SO MANY IDEAS!!!!

Plus it's REALLY reasonably priced. Might not be the comparable to elsewhere but it's $15 for the growing season with a $50 deposit for the watershed key. It's a gated area, they have a composting bin for weeds that haven't gone to seed, a shed that only plot "renters" have access to, and a water supply with watering cans/hoses available. They aren't strict on the rules either, you just have to be planted by June 30, stay planted all summer, not abandon your lot without notifying the parks department, keep the weeds to a minimum, not take any produce from a plot that isn't yours unless you have permission (duh), and make sure you pull any weeds/the plants in the fall.

@coco2787 LOVE the gif

it's @jrm_14 level of weird

SkilledSailor · May 2018

@meggyme Just a week. I know we're super lucky for this to be true but it's the longest we've been apart since we started dating.

@lurvleybunchococonuts Very cool! Does it include more than one growing season? Like, are you allowed to have a summer plot and then use it again for the fall/winter?

oaklandava · May 2018

Hey hey guys! Sorry for my absences, but they will be more frequent until we get internet at our house. I can only check this at work presently! We moved to our new house, yay! and it is amazing, despite the hour and a half commute until June 15. We have to leave at 5:15am...it's horrendous. So, right now, I'm finishing a few ideas I have and painting a few rooms this weekend and we will be all set. I'm just excited to be done with the moving process. It is the worst!

wishiwaspreggo · May 2018

@SkilledSailor - is the cold-hardy version of jasmine as scented as the tropical version? I've only ever seen it in warm, balmy climates but I suppose it would grow fine over the summer. In any case, I'm just leaving the fence alone. It looks great since we've mostly finished the work. There are just a few posts that could use new boards but it's not the end of the world. When we go to sell potential buyers will not even notice it, I doubt.

@oaklandava - ugh, yes, moving is the worst!! I hate my situation right now because I'm basically viewing my house as an investment property and not my real home $:\$ I haven't had that sense of "home" since we left our condo. It makes me sad. We are in over our heads with this house. It's getting better as we improve it. Hopefully you all will be settled in soon!

doxiemoxie212 · May 2018

All this talk of houses and yards and here I am in nyc in an apt (obv) debating if I’ll be any more successful keeping a basil plant alive this summer than I was last... lol

kristah2 · May 2018

@oaklandava yay for getting into your new house!! Though that commute sounds horrible! I don't think I'd ever make it to work if I had to leave at 5:15.

lurvleybunchococonuts · May 2018

@doxiemoxie212 I bet it'll be the best basil plant EVER!

My mom was pretty good at growing lettuce in a container in a window if you want to add to the basil!

@SkilledSailor Ya know, I'll have to ask about the fall when I go on Friday. I was just thinking meh, I live in WI so they wouldn't do much in the winter, but the FB page they have a post from this last December about how someone had just dug up their winter carrots! I'll definitely have to look into it and find out... hmmmm... so many questions to ask.

wishiwaspreggo · May 2018

@lurvleybunchococonuts - that sounds like a great deal! What all are you gonna plant? And yes, location is definitely a consideration when planting veggies. They need LOTS of sunlight and plenty of water. Other than that they just do their own thing, as long as their needs are met. I recommend a product called Mater Magic if you're going to plant tomatoes or bell peppers (or any other nightshade veggies, really). I put a bit in my bell pepper pot and in a matter of days I had flowers popping all over the plant that turned into peppers. TONS of peppers. I made and froze 4 trays of stuffed peppers, and used my fresh tomatoes to make a sauce

Yummy stuff. I'm growing tomatoes, cucumbers, purple carrots, and green beans from seeds in my house right now. I tried to grow Swiss chard and beets but they failed. Oh well. I better read up on what they require and try again late in the summer maybe.

Anyway, I love gardening. It's so rewarding, especially when it's harvest time!

lurvleybunchococonuts · May 2018

@wishiwaspreggo Beans, shell peas, multi colored carrots (cause MH doesn't eat orange *insert eyeroll*), pickling cucumbers, and a variety of tomatoes are no brainers. We'll likely do a few hot peppers, some spaghetti squash and maybe some non-orange squashes. Maybe a FEW pie pumpkins cause I LOVE pumpkin. Not summer squash or zucchini though. As much as I like both of them MH isn't a big fan and you always end up with BOATLOADS when you just want a few. I'm toying around with looking into what you need to do for onions. Maybe some basil and a few other herbs, but herbs have always been tough for me in the past for some reason I dunno if I don't harvest them soon enough or what. And I might do sunflowers in my raised beds at home so that there's something pretty and useful going on there. (ETA: The more I'm thinking of it I might do some beets in the fall if possible too). I'm trying to focus primarily on veggies that have a decent shelf life that you can freeze or can. My raised beds the past couple years only produce enough for a meal or two and never enough to bother canning so I'm really hoping a plot at the community garden will be successful.

In the past we've tried cabbage which was an utter failure, it grew, but never balled up into a head. Brussels sprouts which didn't do anything. Spaghetti squash which grew, and blossomed, but never pollinated or produced any squash

Leaf lettuce which grew just fine, but never enough for a proper salad (maybe I wasn't patient enough with it). As mentioned my herbs were semi-failures (cilantro one year was a success, parsley the next even though I would plant cilantro, parsley, basil, oregano, and dill each year). I've had decent luck with beans (especially last year they grew like mad), cucumbers, and hot peppers. I tired shell peas last year and they were a success just not very many (spacing issue). I've been successful in tomato plants, I always seem to get these MASSIVE beautiful plants with little crop. I'm hoping the change in location, increase in sunlight is what's missing there. Also another lady in my BMB suggested pinching off the extra branches that stem off. I'll have to look into the mater magic you suggested too. I tried carrots last year which was successful although they were all pretty little, again spacing issue. My MIL has a huge strawberry patch so I've never bothered with them, they will take over your garden if you're not careful.

^^Sorry if that's long

Have I mentioned I LOVE veggie gardens??

galactickates · May 2018

Green onion is super easy to grow in your window to. You literally throw the roots in a glass of water, set it on your windowsill and forget about it. I've thrown 5 in and they all grew. everytime I trimmed a couple they were replenished by the next time I used it. Every 4 or 5 days.

prpl11butterfly · May 2018

All you gardeners! I can barely keep my air plants alive. I had like 12 hanging in glass bubbles on my wall and killed 3 a few months ago. I think there are 3 or 4 more dead now....

I'm over here dying listening to a customer haggle our finance guy down on costs of warranties. She's so loud and really pushing him and it's hysteral (I should mention that I can't stand him). And now hes moved on to bragging about is "rich and famous" step daughter.....

catlady2015 · May 2018

@prpl11butterfly - brown/black thumbs unite! I can't grow plants to save my life. it's horrendous. My yard will be lucky to have green grass.

don't you love it when people you can't stand get a hard time from someone else? OK, I admit it, I'm petty, but I really enjoy karma coming back to bite someone else in the butt.

prpl11butterfly · May 2018

@catlady2015 what plants I don't kill my cat manages too. I actually had to give my mom a huge calla lilly plant that I got from my former employer when my grandfather passed. The lillies were bigger then my hand. I couldn't risk killing it or my cat (because I'm pretty sure they are poisonous) but I was so sad.

It's definitely his karma he's so full of hot air and always short changing the salesman on their profit. Now he's getting shorted on his.

wishiwaspreggo · May 2018

@lurvleybunchococonuts - wow, that as an impressive variety you've got going there!! If you want some good herbs, do them in pots outside your house in a bright, sunny area. Basil loves heat and sunshine, provided you water frequently. Same with oregano. Lavender and rosemary prefer drier soil. But as long as they're in hot and sunny areas they should do fine. My basil grew like a weed last year. I could hardly keep up with picking and using it. I ended up making a bunch of pesto. I mixed compost into the soil before planting so that may have done something to it lol... happy gardening! Post pictures if you can

eleven_ · May 2018

I just started watching The Handmaid's Tale. I'm so emotionally invested and DH just told me he thinks it's the dumbest show he's ever seen.

galactickates · May 2018

@eleven_ oh man that show.... I'm in deep too. I'm totally caught up. It's soooooo good. I think 2 new episodes get released tomorrow on hulu. How many episodes are you in?

CraftyG · May 2018

I started watching that show and binged it all in like a day I thought it was amazing! Absolutely bawled my eyes out on the last episode of the season!

kristah2 · May 2018

I love handmaids tale. We watch it on TV. It comes on Sunday's, we watch Monday. I think Hulu gets it a day or two later.
Season 2 started with 2 new episodes. I only watched 1/2 so far. It is so dark and well done that it hits me right in the feels every time and I need a break after I watch.

coco2787 · May 2018

I ❤️ Handmaids Tale. I haven’t watched any of the new episodes, it’s on my to-do list. I’ll probably binge watch all of it after I graduate next week.

lurvleybunchococonuts · May 2018

I'm with @coco2787 I loved 1st season of Handmaids Tale, haven't seen any new episodes. I tend to want to sit down and binge watch a show so I'll likely wait until it's all out and then watch them all over a weekend.

@wishiwaspreggo thanks for the herb suggestions. I've done them in containers the past 2 years, but didn't have tons of luck. Hopefully I can adjust placement and have them work out this year.

Called our local parks department yesterday and they still have a few plots left! Fingers and toesies crossed they still do first thing Friday AM when I have time to go down there and get one

Also got to ask a few questions so apparently the $15 is for the "year" and you can continue to use your plot as far into the fall/winter as you'd like. So if we have a fall/early winter like last year with no hard freezes I might be able to plan a decent fall garden after the summer one

And you are allowed to set up a trellis so long as it's removed once you're done. Sooooo excited!

@prpl11butterfly @catlady2015 I wouldn't exactly say I have a "green" thumb. I really do take a toss it in the ground, keep it watered, and see what happens approach. If I pick up a tip that might help keep it alive I'll try it. I can't keep "pretty" things alive for the life of me, but thankfully veggies are pretty hearty plants and are able to bounce back after some abuse

wishiwaspreggo · May 2018

The last episode of the Handmaid's Tale hit me hard

when they separated Emily from her family and they went to Canada... ugh!!!!!! There are so many moments in that show that made my stomach hurt. But in a weirdly good way. I like it when a show can make me feel something powerful. And they do an excellent job of making me squirm in my seat.

Maybe this is a UO, but I don't like it when people say The Handmaid's Tale is like a republican fantasy. It's actually pretty much their nightmare too but for different reasons. I mean, there's obviously no 2nd amendment rights so that wouldn't fly. Conservative Christians have serious qualms with surrogacy and have equated it with slavery. And let's not forget about their fear of Big Government. Doesn't get any bigger than having everything in your life controlled by the state. The men don't seem to get a fabulous deal either, except for the Commanders and even their lives kind of suck. There are lots of holy rolling men who cheat on their wives, have affairs with other men, and don't live the squeaky clean lives they promote. I don't think they'd be okay with laws mandating that they have limbs cut off their body when they get caught.

Though that doesn't mean civil and reproductive rights aren't in danger, because they always are, but yeah, that's not really our future.

Anyone want to talk about how freaked out they are by the surgery scenes though?? Holy cow!!!! I know there were only a couple but that gave me nightmares.

ETA: SORRY!!!!! I didn't realize what I said was considered a spoiler - I thought I kept it vague enough but apparently I didn't so I added the spoilers here.

lurvleybunchococonuts · May 2018

@wishiwaspreggo ahhhh!!!! No spoilers PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!

General PSA: For the love of all that is good PLEASSEEEEEE put discussion/comments/thoughts of new episodes in a spoiler box with a warning. Same goes for any new movie/season of a show/book/etc.

ETA: Thanks for updating!! I literally have NO idea what's going on in the show and that sounds like a BIG plot update so... spoiler

eleven_ · May 2018

@galactickates I just finished episode 3 of season 1. I read the book a bit ago and it was really dark and disturbing so I was putting off watching the show until I felt I could ready myself emotionally. I want to binge watch it so bad!

@coco2787 HELLS yeah for graduating next week!!! That is so exciting! Are you happy to be done?

galactickates · May 2018

@lurvleybunchococonuts - don't worry, I'm totally caught up and I don't even remember that happening -> what's in @wishiwaspreggo's spoiler.

It took me forever to remember but I do now. I'm not going to comment on it. Just catch up so you can talk about it! LOL!

We should stay a Handmaids Tale thread. The newest episodes came out today I believe

holly321 · May 2018

@lurvleybunchococonuts, FX the plot is still available Friday. I went today and bought a bunch of seeds for the garden, I am trying to decide if I feel up to planting today.

I have been intrigued by the handmaid's tale, and I think I might start it. I started downtow Abbey this week, but now my mom is watching it with me, so I need something else for just me. Or I could read the book I bought about a month ago.

coco2787 · May 2018

@eleven_ oh yes, I’m very excited! Still have to pass the certification exam (and get a job), but it’s been a long 2 years. And I’m definitely planning to spend a week doing absolutely nothing before I start studying.

galactickates · May 2018

Something weird is going on in TTGP. Who are all these newbs that showed up out of no where and they are all acting like they've known each other forever. I keep thinking someone is waking zombie threads because I don't recognize the names.

Nope....

I've been gone a few days How t F did this happen? It's really freaking me out

prpl11butterfly · May 2018

It has blown up! I was thinking that yesterday. And they are bringing back all the threads.

galactickates · May 2018

But who are they and where did they come from? Lol I feel like I'm in the twilight zone

nitnat007 · May 2018

@prpl11butterfly @galactickates so many newbs. I can’t keep up.

coco2787 · May 2018

@galactickates I just lurked there earlier today and I seriously don’t recognize any names expect for the people on the IF and TTCAL threads.

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