Veteran's Day

My mother was a veteran. She was a WAC in WWII. I have many male relatives who were veterans, but my mother is the only female who was a veteran.

Today is my little brother's birthday. He would have been seventy-years-old.

I saw a bunny at the corner of the yard at about dusk. The appearance of a rabbit makes me happy as I hope the sight of one means fewer raccoons come around here.

Today, when I went out to uncover the potato, there were about ten or more birds in the chickens' chain link dog pen. The birds were going wild, trying to get out since I was sort of near them. I just stood and watched. I could hear a dove, but the birds looked like mocking birds. They moved so fast back and forth, slamming into the chain link. I wanted to let them out, but as I moved closer, they bashed them selves harder into the chain link. Finally, only as they landed on the wire did they manage to get out. Flying straight into the chain link did not help them get through. Only when they landed did they manage to escape.

I never did see the dove. Tomorrow, maybe I can locate it. For years I had a pair of doves live in my yard. They did not move far as I can hear them often.

Last night, I covered the potato plant with a piece of cardboard and had to go out early to uncover it. Since it was 30 degrees here last night, I am glad I ventured out with a flashlight. Now, I have to go out again to cover it. The plant seems to be thriving. YAY! It seems to get dark, not only sooner at night, but faster. There seems to be no gradual sunset. That could only be my perception. Maybe sunset starts about 1 pm.

Birmingham, AL had the oldest and largest Veteran's Day Parade in the world. There were events here in my town, but I didn't leave the yard today...lol.

Your turn
Are you a veteran? Did you attend any events today?

Pretty Potato Plant

My potato plant is emerging nicely from the soil. It finally put out leaves....again. Remember, all the leaves fell off the green sprouts before I planted it. I know that once leaves emerge from the soil, the potato plant needs to be partially covered again. However, the leaves are only about 1/4 inch diameter. The leaves that emerged from the sprouts were about a half inch diameter.

Unless someone has a better idea, I am not going to cover them with dirt yet. I used potting soil for this potato. I have a bag of yard soil to use, too. Are either of these better or detrimental for my purposes? Help!

I am pleased as punch that these have not been discovered by the ground squirrels or chipmunks, whichever the little stripe-y monsters are called. Maybe they don't like potatoes. Cats around here are falling down on the job.

Tomorrow, I will get J to move large rocks around the plants. Hopefully, the rocks will keep warmth in the pot when it gets cooler. Since the pot is in front of the rock wall of the basement, they should stay warm there.

When I went outside to take a picture which I cannot post, I moved one more pot, just a tiny one. It will all be done eventually.

Your turn
Is the potting soil or garden soil better for the potato? Any reason not to use either?

Day of the Dead Free Food and Stuff

Taco Bell was giving out free tacos. I could only think of one thing.

The grocery ads came out yesterday. There was nothing that appealed to me. However, Red Delicious apples were cheap at Publix, so I bought three nice ones for only $1.05. Amazingly, green grapes were ~$2 at Walmart and Publix, so price-matching has not been missed thus far. I only buy single apples, never bags. I always end up spending a fortune on apples since bags have bruised and old ones.

This Spring, I gave J a tiny crock pot. It only spit and sputtered as it boiled away. It is only one-quart but cost me $1 at a yard sale. I think it is about $12 bought new. She reported she put one chicken breast and rice in the little crock pot for their dinner. She actually knows how to cook. He would buy a burger and fries. They moved into a motel room that cost them $249/week. He makes $500 every two weeks.  She said this was just to get out of their host's house on time. I talked to their host last night. He said he asked them every day or so where they were going to move and reminded them of their deadline. There is an electric skillet I do not want. She only has to come by and dig it out of the lower cabinet.

Best news--Every day I look at the potato plant. Wednesday, I noticed that there seemed to be little ruffly things that appeared to be leaves forming on the bare potato sprouts that are above ground. Today, they are actually minute leaves. It appears these potato sprouts will live. This week the temperature will be around 80, so they will be able to grow a bit.

Today, I folded the sheet back so they could get air and more light. Since it is a gloomy, cloudy, rainy day, they did not get a bit of sunshine. If I even get marble-sized potatoes, I will count this a success. This weekend, there will be a "greenhouse" for them so my sheet won't rot in the weather. I will surprise you with the description since I cannot post a picture.

Last night, I was talking to a friend in WM. She said her son just left and did I see him. He was one of those funny and annoying kids in middle school. I would not even call him "bad.
," just annoying. He was the type kid who knows when to draw back instead of getting sent to the office. He has been in and out of trouble, made babies with two girls, lost jobs, spent time in jail. But, he finally grew up, grew a beard, married one of the mothers, and appears to be on the path to being a productive citizen. At twenty-five, he finally "settled down." He had apologized to me after he graduated. I did not know his mother until years after I met him. ...warm fuzzies, here.

I turned on the ac today for at least another week. It was so stuffy for the last few days that I could not sleep.

Exbf is coming tomorrow. Since I did not feel well yesterday and today (from stuffy house and lack of sleep), I need to do things tonight.

I Am Cold! October Goal Met?

Written Sunday, but it is still cold!

My will is sinking. It was almost freezing here last night, I think. However, the heater is not in place yet, nor are the combustible moved. J has been going to help me "next time" she comes over. However, today it was a bit warmer and the temperatures will rise to 78 by Saturday.

Her host has offered to help me, so I may take him up on that. He is trying not to turn on his heat, either. I wonder how that works for the homeless people he has helped and housed. ???

I should have opened a window today to let in a little warm air. It is 4:30 pm and almost too late. I actually got lots done late, late last night, so I did not feel bad about sleeping late today. I am throwing things away slowly as I can often only get one or two small things from the cluttered porch into the trash.

A person gave me the whole Sunday newspaper, so I got the ads and coupons out. And, I have thrown away the excess. It is not a local paper, so most of it is of no interest. So, $2 saved again...yay me! Plus, I will not have to go to WM or newspaper office to get a paper this week. The newspaper is just about three blocks from me and not out of the way at all.

If I can last one more day, this will be the first October in almost 30 years that I have not been very ill and needed multiple antibiotics. Is it possible I have beaten this curse with the correct mix of allergy meds? And, a little luck? And, keeping my fingers crossed?

More trouble:

After her episode last week, I talked to her host. She could not even help him at his business on Saturday, so someone had to take her home. I went by there, and no, she could not help me either. So, it is cold in the house. Saturday afternoon, she be bopped here and smilingly gave me "$10 she owed me." I immediately told her it was $15. She ignored me as she ran to car, saying she and bf were going out to eat. You have no where to go on Tuesday and you can afford to go out to eat? You owe me money and you can go out to eat? grrrr

I noticed all the little things she did not do and decided giving her a list and WATCHING HER is my only recourse to getting things done. I gave her hot chocolate and she took it outside to smoke. I rinsed my cup and easily washed it the next day. I had to retrieve her cup off the porch and soak and scrub it to get it clean. !!!!

A friend came by. He has had a knee replacement. He said he would pay her to help him. When he came in, he thought I had bought a new car. He wants her to wash his, also white, as it sits under a tree like mine. He said she could stay with him. I have no idea what he has in mind, but she is better off with him than her bf.

This friend and his bil will come by to help me. Hopefully, they will and will behave.

It is 5:15, so the goblins will be out soon. Tomorrow, candy will be on sale!

Oh, J and bf rented a room by the week down near the junior college. He will drive 15 miles to work each day, and then have to drive back. They cannot make it. They rented it last night and stayed there....ewww...without sheets? This evening, they move.

Your turn
Are you trying to avoid turning on the heat? What day is your goal to use heat?

I Am Cold! Moon Pie Tin

These tins are about $9 with 12 Moon Pies inside. Nice!  Have you seen these? The singles are tastier than the double-decker sandwiches. When I was a child, there were only the singles. I got Moon Pies from Memaw's store.


At 6 pm on Sunday, it was 60 degrees in the house! My friend will move the heater. However, J said she would move things around for me...since the beginning of September. I can barely lift a fork because somehow I hurt my hand in a different place and it is twice as painful now. No, typing does not make my hand hurt.

I wrote a long post and somehow lost it.

Saturday night, I took a sheet I bought in 1970, folded it several times and put it over the pot with the potato plant. Since I was afraid it might blow off, I found a piece of pipe to put over the sheet. There was no wind to blow it off.  It seems to have survived the cold. It should be down to freezing tonight, so it will be okay. It is the only plant I have that must be protected. 

Saturday, J, all smiley and looking on top of the world came bebopping over here and paid me
"the money she owed me." No, I used $15 worth of gas, not the $10 she gave me. grrrr

Sunday, I posted in my daybook all the things I have to do in November and December. Well, doctor appointments were there. Now, I have put quite a few Thanksgiving and Christmas events, too. Many of them are eating occasions, even if they are brown bag events with a lecture.

Your turn
Do you have fond memories of Moon Pies? Is it cold where you live? Are there any food plants you must cover during the cold nights?

Spectacular Free Lunch and Other Food and Stuff

Since the eye doctor locked the door as I left and the phones were off, too, I had no idea if I should be careful washing my hair or not wash my hair. I envisioned having a multitude of holes in my eye that might get infected. Consequently, I did not wash my hair before Tuesday activities.

Exbf came and we went to the Tuesday free lunch. So, half the town has seen me in greasy hair. Plus, I was going to wear the only orange blouse I own. No, could not find it but I looked for all of three seconds since I was running late and he was waiting in the car. The blouse was on sale for $1, so I thought it was a good price for something bought to wear once a year.

The decorations for the lunch were the spectacular part. All the round tables had black tablecloths and a bouquet of dead and half dead flowers and weeds. Each place had a Halloween bag of candy. All the people who serve and cook and work in the eating area dressed in Halloween costumes/attire. The whole scene was quite festive.

We had some sort of Mexican dish--huge bed of lettuce, chopped tomatoes on top, chopped onions, cheese, salsa, sour cream and a pile of chips on the other half of the plate. Of course, I only had lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. I had the thinnest slice ever of pumpkin bread and the chocolate icing from a tiny square of cake and unsweetened iced tea.

I brought home a to go plate for both of us. They served me little cheese and practically no sour cream because they were running out. We went to store where I got an 8 oz container of sour cream. I had lots of shredded cheese, so I was able to fix my salad.  I ate all this well after dinner. He will probably eat his today.

For dinner here I had put carrots, potatoes, an onion, bit of dehydrated celery, two cloves of garlic, and bit salt in crockpot. He had two chopped German hotdogs with his. I had plenty of potatoes and found four carrots in the refrigerator, so we each had two carrots, one for dinner and one in leftovers. The onion had just started to go off, growing green in it. So, in a way I saved the food from doom.

With most of the potatoes I may make a potato, cheddar, bacon soup. I sampled this at Publix and loved it, unlike all the potato soup in my past. The cheese and bacon salvage it for me, I think. Daddy made potato soup, and I just hated it.

At the lunch the people I sit with are friends and relatives. They began talking about pecans and the trees one of them has. Last year, they got 25 5-gallon buckets of pecans. I was relating how I grew up with pecan trees, about 10 trees at both places we lived and how pecans were my favorite nut. I replace any nut in a recipe with pecans.

The woman with whom I sit at the lunch asked me if I would like pecans. We made plans for me to pick up some that day! So, I we drove over and it was given a quart bag of pecan halves. They had just come from the freezer, last year's crop. He sat in the car for the forty-five  minutes I stayed inside. After my late salad, I ate 10 pecan halves. I was in ecstasy. Then, she assured me she would give me more when this year's crop came in. Yesssssssssss!

I checked the potato I had planted and little bits of green sprouts had appeared. I thought they had grown out of the soil, but I think that the rain washed the soil from around the sprouts that were showing. I am debating as to whether to cover them again or leaving them exposed. Leaves are what should emerge.

Tuesday, I still felt awful with a lingering headache from the eye doctor, so I did not put the cabbage in the crockpot with the carrots and potatoes and onion because I lay down too long. The cabbage has been here forever and forgotten, so I will put that in the crockpot today with another bunch of potatoes and an onion. Maybe the potato soup will be cooked on Friday. hmmm

From the looks of my refrigerator, I don't need to go grocery shopping, or at least for vegetables. Plus, I have plenty of bananas and apples and grapes. The sweet potatoes are waiting, too. I won't need milk until Saturday, and I bought orange juice on Tuesday when I bought the sour cream.

I thawed a package of chicken legs to cook for exbf. A package of bacon is thawed for eating with eggs and for the potato soup. I am set for food!

Maybe I ate my Halloween candy. At the lunch each plate had its own bag of Halloween candy. Yes, I finished it during the day and last night. Hopefully, I will get more somehow...lol...not buying it because I will eat too much.

Potato Planting

The potato has been sprouting indoors for two months. About three weeks ago, it had leaves. I put it outside two days ago on a shelf and sheltered by the porch. Then, after one chilly night, the leaves disappeared. The little sprouts remained green.

Saturday, after J mowed back and side yards, I gave her the $25 money order, and we went to mail it. She had worked here portions of three days.  I like to see money go into the mail! Then, I took her to the little free pantry to see what was there that she needed. She got sugary cereal and angel hair pasta. Her bf refuses to eat regular spaghetti pasta. I hate angel hair, but I will eat it rather than go buy more.

Then, we came home and planted the potato. I had her put the pallet in the back yard in front of the rock wall. She put the pot on that. The holes are big, so the dirt could fall out. She got the broken pot from the trash for me and got a brick with no idea why I asked for them. I smashed the brick into the piece of pot. She knows my hand hurts so she was trying to figure out how to hand me the brick and not hurt me. She was so shocked. I think I scared her when I smashed the broken piece of pot. I mostly just let the brick fall without much support from my right hand.She has no understanding of planting since she has never done it. I instructed her how to put the pot pieces in, put in dirt, put in potato, and more dirt.

I keep telling her to read about planting. Lots of knowledge can be gained by reading. She does not like to read that kind of stuff.

I told her she now knew how to grow food. Her bf likes meat and potatoes, and pasta with anything. So, she can grow potatoes! I hope she takes this life lesson to heart. Maybe I will find another potato that wants to sprout and give her a bucket, watch her plant the potato. She can take it to her apartment (when she gets one) and grow more potatoes. It will be easy enough to carry without much dirt in it at first.

I asked her to bring a hose to water the potato and soil and to put the hose on a light mist. Well, she put it on a hard mist and shoved the hose into the pot and watered the potato about two inches from the potato. I yelled not to hit it so close and pulled the hose up. It was a yell of alarm not anger. When she got it on a soft mist, she wanted to water closely again. This is a mix and does not need to be watered so long and hard. It blows away even in a mist. It had definitely had enough water. I explained it all to her. She has never heard this, so I hope she learns.

While I was sitting in a chair, waiting for her to bring all supplies I asked her to bring, I examined the potato up close. There was a potato starting to grow. It was about half the size of a grain of uncooked white rice. There were other little nodules, some as small as a period on this page. It was fascinating to observe how badly that potato wanted to reproduce more potatoes. I know I am anthropomorphizing the potato. But, nonetheless, it was following it destiny, its biologic" urge," if you will.

If I had planted the potato when I should have, I would never observed dozens of dust-sized potatoes. That alone, the observation, the knowledge, added a zing to my day. Hopefully, J learned something, too. When the potato has grown through the dirt a bit, I will show her how to add leaves, pine straw, and dirt.

If a raccoon or other animal turns this over, you will hear my primal scream from the ends of the earth. I could put it into the chicken pen...good idea, Linda. Sunshine comes in there. And rain.

Sunday morning
Nothing had dug up my potato.

Your turn
Have you ever grown potatoes from a potato? In a pot or bucket or the ground? Have you ever observed the minute potatoes on a sprouting potato? Would this be a good science project for kids? I think so.

Free Produce

Again, I went to the food giveaway that is not means tested. There were other people there who were not anywhere near needy but enjoy getting free food.

I received two pounds of beans and two pounds of rice. There were potatoes, sweet potatoes, and free apples, too. The five Granny Smith will go into the crock pot. I will bake all the sweet potatoes in one oven, dip the meat from the skins, and save some for when exbf comes, and maybe freeze a serving or two after I have enough for four meals for me.

A gallon of milk, five pounds of sugar, and eggs were offered, too. I turned down the bread as my freezer is full, and I can only eat so much and need even less.

It is a beautiful day that will lead to colder weather. The oven will be used when it is very cool in the house.

I have had one potato that was just barely starting to sprout. It then had green leaves which have fallen off. the potato is shrinking but still viable. The afternoon, I will have J help me plant it in a bucket. The bucket will go onto cap blocks. I have large flat stones I will put around the bucket. This will sit in front of the back wall, a rock wall, of the house. The bucket should grow a potato or two. I will cover it when it gets to freezing. Let's see how many potatoes one potato will grow.

J promised she would be here at noon. It is now almost 2 pm and she will be here when bf goes back to work after lunch....urge to kill.

your turn
What free food have you found lately? Have you ever grown potatoes this late?

Bunny, Potato Blossoms, Reuse Idea

outside by the fence

I don't think I would ever decorate the yard like some people do for Easter. I am too cheap. But this little guy greets anyone who comes to my home. He was free, too. Look at the yellow carrots on the plant container. He can stay out here a few days until Easter.

blossom on potato plant

This is a very pretty flower. I saw it all the way across the yard. I am not sure why a potato plant blossoms since the potato is underground. I read that the flower will make potato seeds. Now, I will try to figure out when to harvest the seeds. Do you have any experience with potatoes, blossoms, and seeds?

reuse of ? Can you guess?

I watched people being handed forms to fill out. I could not figure out what held the form. Puzzled, I looked closer. Someone had a clever idea to reuse ring binders. The fronts and backs had been neatly cut off, saving the entity the expense of buying dozens of clipboards. This idea could be used in schools when children need a solid surface on which to write if the teacher is handing out papers. It will also corral papers for each child, maybe even long enough for them to get the papers ALL into their backpack.

My children could have used these when they were coloring on the floor. Often, I would buy one themed coloring book and tear out pages for all three children. One Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving coloring book was enough. We did not have the Internet from which to copy pages!

Your turn

Still, does anyone have any of the figurine planters? Has anyone gotten seeds from potatoes? Can you think of a use for these recycled binder covers? 

Potato harvest

tiny, volunteer potato

You can stop laughing now.

I could have had a cheap potato from compost. If there had been more, I could have been potato-self-sufficient. Actually, there were more. He just somehow kept showing the fence the potatoes instead of turning them to the camera....sigh. Right above the "large potato" is a smaller one. There were potatoes not much larger than a black eyed pea. Use your imagination.  I thought the plant was a tomato, watered it, and tended it. Then, someone told me it was a potato plant. Bummer. I wanted to plant tomatoes there, so it came out.

Your turn

Did you plant potatoes this year? How are your potatoes?  

Silly tends a garden

Who else tends to weeds? Waters them? Protects them from chickens? Sprays them for pests? Yes, I even staked one of the plants. Okay, I put a tomato cage over it. No blossoms? I thought it would take off any day. This morning I had a three-foot weed. And, several more. Okay, you can quit laughing now!

not a tomato in the lot

I had a 4'x4' box for "square foot gardening" constructed, planning all sorts of goodies.  Nothing was ever planted. So, I just used it for compost, knowing I would have rich soil, if nothing else. This year, I thought I had a volunteer tomato. Then, another familiar plant grew.

potato plant

anyone have a clue what this is

poke salat

This morning, I was laughing at myself while I was talking with the man who mowed my lawn. He exclaimed that one was a potato plant and the other was poke salat. I have a free meal! Poke salat scrambled with eggs and potatoes...green vegetable, protein, and carbs.

I can even recognize poke salat, not this time! But, it was not growing in a ditch, by a fence, or just as volunteers elsewhere. Out of its element, it was vaguely familiar but unrecognizable to me.

Four tomato plants sit, waiting to go in that spot and another spot by the back porch. Now, I want so badly to see what I can grow that I will not pull it up. I think I remember that potatoes and tomatoes should not be planted together.

For now, I can uncage the potato plant! It has been so hot that I have severely procrastinated planting anything. Too late? Oh, no, not in my opinion. I just won't have a large yield.

For your information, potato plants look suspiciously like tomato plants. I really really really want to pull up the potato plant and see what has grown!

The whole setup looked neater when exbf could weed eat around it. Plus, the guy who mows did not go between the box and the fence this week. Can you see the wisteria starting to climb onto the chicken wire? Messy!

I feel silly

Your turn
Have you ever lovingly tended weeds, thinking that you had another desirable plant only to find it was a weed? Have weeds ever turned out to be desirable plants?