tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88786322417300771012024-02-07T07:01:41.390-05:00Engelwood Farmsurban gardening in the city beautiful, Orlando, Flvirgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-91678118822873712592011-05-29T16:15:00.000-04:002011-05-29T16:15:11.824-04:00new garden delights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3ybGFaZijoB9P0q6kNaXKKrM0RVwSuZMwfDei4eU4i2FSeY2UIM75xEvpQvBaKFmtaFcz0508hoJG0gl6tqklmWGO-5w3phhoM1NACm5L7LmdXeE50JK_TM_6cmelT2mzN8GP3WjCoY/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3ybGFaZijoB9P0q6kNaXKKrM0RVwSuZMwfDei4eU4i2FSeY2UIM75xEvpQvBaKFmtaFcz0508hoJG0gl6tqklmWGO-5w3phhoM1NACm5L7LmdXeE50JK_TM_6cmelT2mzN8GP3WjCoY/s640/IMG_1218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">budding sunflower</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDfypG0ccspqJSefQutreLgWkjsv626WjYcEYBLTbIoBPYGBNAHFSxNG19Ly6CzKHDJ3oS5Zi-Fmz5Uhg-J7wUZ33-0K3Pewzq-p_O1iZFLMQjqNWAUZ2dExeu6Msg5AtYgxxy67fnOU/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDfypG0ccspqJSefQutreLgWkjsv626WjYcEYBLTbIoBPYGBNAHFSxNG19Ly6CzKHDJ3oS5Zi-Fmz5Uhg-J7wUZ33-0K3Pewzq-p_O1iZFLMQjqNWAUZ2dExeu6Msg5AtYgxxy67fnOU/s640/IMG_1228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">new tomato</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMX-y1LwvZk_07rCsE_HbGmnVA34S2YYVoQFwQM45nsvPZH_w_2Zto5OEZn1ztFBUyI3IeTYL7H3oMaTDGn4ERhIiLNLpsUfG4JIayIXlfxr2GNo0RuEgFj-BlOnmkfjI94wp0nhQq-0/s1600/IMG_1229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMX-y1LwvZk_07rCsE_HbGmnVA34S2YYVoQFwQM45nsvPZH_w_2Zto5OEZn1ztFBUyI3IeTYL7H3oMaTDGn4ERhIiLNLpsUfG4JIayIXlfxr2GNo0RuEgFj-BlOnmkfjI94wp0nhQq-0/s640/IMG_1229.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">something budding</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rJkIbWZCc5qIcFzlGFidzW3YJmi_FU8YPkG8igZ_rT7h8Dy1pO_CpQF7ZoCrXbhUbwDrLyAs4mLKnpfTrQViENgzt1csU5DC7Vrj-CC1moUmgpk1lCwZLdF8TF2wKFx82VVrhpWBV-E/s1600/IMG_1230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rJkIbWZCc5qIcFzlGFidzW3YJmi_FU8YPkG8igZ_rT7h8Dy1pO_CpQF7ZoCrXbhUbwDrLyAs4mLKnpfTrQViENgzt1csU5DC7Vrj-CC1moUmgpk1lCwZLdF8TF2wKFx82VVrhpWBV-E/s640/IMG_1230.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for a salad</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">our yellow pear tomatoes are coming along quite well. we have so many of them, I pick them off to eat as a snack now and then. The hot peppers I don't even try. Nate likes them in salsa. Our green leaf lettuce has run its course for this year. I'm looking forward to starting it again next year. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-12034605079679210652011-05-11T07:09:00.000-04:002011-05-11T07:09:40.118-04:00new garden photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUm-nEEGHDiy4IOo0imPB1buPfhOkEHg-571rLRjWBNNQIsiXbuRxAWJjloMWweJTn9xj8pJpnBUkvpavYZiAPIJpZrNAxcnJOPtQ-sXeJRuvyhqOEw47uK-bzzgLAgE6KYfc11a2AKs/s1600/yellow+tomatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUm-nEEGHDiy4IOo0imPB1buPfhOkEHg-571rLRjWBNNQIsiXbuRxAWJjloMWweJTn9xj8pJpnBUkvpavYZiAPIJpZrNAxcnJOPtQ-sXeJRuvyhqOEw47uK-bzzgLAgE6KYfc11a2AKs/s640/yellow+tomatoes.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">some new yellow pear tomatoes. we've been very successful with these, this year and last. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjNfPMl8KPn_cxkFujffkydWF6gl1i-fC5q3Ft8r50nqY1cormePA5JadfaedlGOqbPtEF7q8AAloVBFtjiFYaL1n2etVZzKJud2CZF5wkBFRE393jpVIMHGqo3Nl0cQSIoS6AvJiJoY/s1600/compost+potatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjNfPMl8KPn_cxkFujffkydWF6gl1i-fC5q3Ft8r50nqY1cormePA5JadfaedlGOqbPtEF7q8AAloVBFtjiFYaL1n2etVZzKJud2CZF5wkBFRE393jpVIMHGqo3Nl0cQSIoS6AvJiJoY/s640/compost+potatoes.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">not sure what this is growing in the compost pile. I think it's some kind of potato. we'll see. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcn9e5yNgJf2mzTxjvEan3s6thK9SUQp3TSJNxC82bKaOEZSgLwDR0tL7sk8c4ts-Gaxi8OFJ0U-td9QdYBoU4VGVqvWPuYURCE7Vdr5czW2MYLjTj_Lppuxfy76YAV4AXQOUn1afMVaM/s1600/corn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcn9e5yNgJf2mzTxjvEan3s6thK9SUQp3TSJNxC82bKaOEZSgLwDR0tL7sk8c4ts-Gaxi8OFJ0U-td9QdYBoU4VGVqvWPuYURCE7Vdr5czW2MYLjTj_Lppuxfy76YAV4AXQOUn1afMVaM/s640/corn.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">corn. lots and lots of corn. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65NdMFWGR21GSBQvwvwMBeXuP00BhuyAQevrQcNSZ2bZMyuIK4Ruav6wK4dbkcQREJv-uflO2bZYc-iwpLBKu6LQg-zs48vF0iL1p10ohDvSXylZV71bENJsljEijcuXVE5xhNDgzNrk/s1600/hot+peppers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65NdMFWGR21GSBQvwvwMBeXuP00BhuyAQevrQcNSZ2bZMyuIK4Ruav6wK4dbkcQREJv-uflO2bZYc-iwpLBKu6LQg-zs48vF0iL1p10ohDvSXylZV71bENJsljEijcuXVE5xhNDgzNrk/s640/hot+peppers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hot pepper</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3tYTGXrWgZkdI3vl89Abyx2hvB6wqMQZRZ2xPbUdYkLOtt5noSlERIDL1z4FTQyYrrRahyphenhyphenHOrDOO-FaFgl_mnDmkkCtqgcgL5mZSRHqQXcVW2v5nMX0oDj0KzWAyTvPmwxAEW688kOE/s1600/rogue+on+compost+pile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3tYTGXrWgZkdI3vl89Abyx2hvB6wqMQZRZ2xPbUdYkLOtt5noSlERIDL1z4FTQyYrrRahyphenhyphenHOrDOO-FaFgl_mnDmkkCtqgcgL5mZSRHqQXcVW2v5nMX0oDj0KzWAyTvPmwxAEW688kOE/s640/rogue+on+compost+pile.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rogue on the compost box. she likes to claw at the wood.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLty8Q5-NYW2-22sfsd1jSljBi63ITL_shl-dHnsywruW_kyRWDoW_3o9_F0rBb0znwOndli6N9ZbOZ-ULLYQ6Xdauux8HmH8Z0VneClmwrwqvUFXErsgkQNkrcif7XZ7hivULsL3YIq8/s1600/rose+bush.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLty8Q5-NYW2-22sfsd1jSljBi63ITL_shl-dHnsywruW_kyRWDoW_3o9_F0rBb0znwOndli6N9ZbOZ-ULLYQ6Xdauux8HmH8Z0VneClmwrwqvUFXErsgkQNkrcif7XZ7hivULsL3YIq8/s640/rose+bush.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the rose bush has done really well since I trimmed it back, A LOT. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTJdgk3WY9ZNsKCW0bwKZlfOdG47Rb4BeUNX1jF3_whuzzLRq7pV8Ddw51VwlxMQTxNrV-YxYXJfQY4vTUQq9zzhs994-rr9qaqSonH7xcqLcawJNcRs1bQs5G6stnqi4wTwUCNoJQfo/s1600/sage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTJdgk3WY9ZNsKCW0bwKZlfOdG47Rb4BeUNX1jF3_whuzzLRq7pV8Ddw51VwlxMQTxNrV-YxYXJfQY4vTUQq9zzhs994-rr9qaqSonH7xcqLcawJNcRs1bQs5G6stnqi4wTwUCNoJQfo/s640/sage.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and lots of sage. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-88194352743813050772011-04-06T21:07:00.000-04:002011-04-06T21:07:33.067-04:00rain barrels and new plants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvWlBvjEFKb4zyFyjgLutelWmJr684AKDQcUv74wjjmqVEoa3g_WTecpJJlbuUjaLiFwWP0-_yctnfd9gX91VNi_pl71MFaPw1p5ASK7toJdUBwR3JJbXaxKd9jdQzSei7YSA0LDxjeI/s1600/IMG_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvWlBvjEFKb4zyFyjgLutelWmJr684AKDQcUv74wjjmqVEoa3g_WTecpJJlbuUjaLiFwWP0-_yctnfd9gX91VNi_pl71MFaPw1p5ASK7toJdUBwR3JJbXaxKd9jdQzSei7YSA0LDxjeI/s640/IMG_2085.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nate has rigged some kind of contraption that forces the water from the rain barrels into the pvc pipes that run to the garden boxes. So instead of us filling buckets and hauling the water, the water will run through the pipes to small sprinklers in the garden boxes to water for us. good concept. I'm waiting to see how well it plays out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We haven't had much rain here lately. Quite a bit on tuesday, but that's it for the week. It's not really our rainy season yet. wait another month, then it'll hit. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-83897688968634247382011-03-17T21:34:00.002-04:002011-03-17T21:34:58.604-04:00yard guarder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1bEkWAnMOxCN8Fk9P4wW_1Hcui_2lMsZR034dzZpAbh9in9tk8Zmldwn4i3H0Y9Gmg-zwsRPJLh3HVdC3UX6CWlYPHMGh6l2f3Au2FRzKmLVb16mgbvBRwqBVKx_mlmQhSj6CGQzpdk/s1600/yard+guarder+mar+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1bEkWAnMOxCN8Fk9P4wW_1Hcui_2lMsZR034dzZpAbh9in9tk8Zmldwn4i3H0Y9Gmg-zwsRPJLh3HVdC3UX6CWlYPHMGh6l2f3Au2FRzKmLVb16mgbvBRwqBVKx_mlmQhSj6CGQzpdk/s640/yard+guarder+mar+2011.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rogue yesterday. She's such a tough girl. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-60121337331689510552011-02-16T20:42:00.001-05:002011-02-16T20:42:43.321-05:00garden food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wo3Qh-2uYvo/TVx78wYUjNI/AAAAAAAAAEk/rPd4nG7aZLY/s640/scallions+feb+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wo3Qh-2uYvo/TVx78wYUjNI/AAAAAAAAAEk/rPd4nG7aZLY/s640/scallions+feb+2011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Schoolbell; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;">We planted some onions last year and they are now ready to eat. Yay! I love onions, scallions, and the like. I put some in my beloved's dinner tonight as well as on my salad.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Schoolbell; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQUG92Lqwm0/TVx8MOKaigI/AAAAAAAAAEo/DkbzWtsxvtg/s640/scallions+up+close+feb+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQUG92Lqwm0/TVx8MOKaigI/AAAAAAAAAEo/DkbzWtsxvtg/s640/scallions+up+close+feb+2011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">see? you can even see the dirt!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Schoolbell;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span></div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-28169843210796024542011-02-12T23:14:00.000-05:002011-02-12T23:14:41.167-05:00Green Meadows farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix2PDAX0Vfs0T97TE95vW3tGYy86_XWI-NBDR_tCHFUFo8CmFdniijYSdwdd-_TTgugelfTHFn3Ome0XYTsx7Nli_dzVCSPNHfrjirMlEcKi6tSDRZmwMLoH0pWv4sdgvUjPBIT1E7QA/s1600/caught+duck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix2PDAX0Vfs0T97TE95vW3tGYy86_XWI-NBDR_tCHFUFo8CmFdniijYSdwdd-_TTgugelfTHFn3Ome0XYTsx7Nli_dzVCSPNHfrjirMlEcKi6tSDRZmwMLoH0pWv4sdgvUjPBIT1E7QA/s640/caught+duck.JPG" width="582" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Today we visited <a href="http://www.greenmeadowsfarm.com/">Green Meadows farm</a>. We went with Nate's sister and her 2 kids. We had a good time catching ducks (like this one) and chickens, and petting pigs and cows and bison and sheep, and all kinds of stuff. It's the perfect time of year to go, since it's cool enough out and not as many people are attending, due to the time of year. Green Meadows is a petting farm, not really a working farm as such, nevertheless, still fun to go and visit. The ducks, nor the chickens, were too keen on being caught and held, but I managed to catch one of each for the kids to hold. The girl did great with them, the boy seemed scared and unsure. Quite different than what I was expecting. Still, they had a good time. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-59705046420353988182011-02-06T21:26:00.000-05:002011-02-06T21:26:52.812-05:00kittens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgLAR79kJU8_dzieli7KeJ_4P6MHCKuer-weeRqcC9tsp_8Bit1gn7TiyZZqURTnVPAlsBMnyhnQnE5Uw-uozSNn9xPWcjHtYM9UiAbAVuHvSw3MktOnplSj9AM1oOna6puIl590fh2A/s1600/IMG_1422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgLAR79kJU8_dzieli7KeJ_4P6MHCKuer-weeRqcC9tsp_8Bit1gn7TiyZZqURTnVPAlsBMnyhnQnE5Uw-uozSNn9xPWcjHtYM9UiAbAVuHvSw3MktOnplSj9AM1oOna6puIl590fh2A/s640/IMG_1422.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">when I die, I want to come back as a cat in my house</div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-66403740556867023082011-02-05T21:36:00.000-05:002011-02-05T21:36:53.692-05:00winter garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5i2ORqfN6ly_mTFvvwXh5zA3niNCzMt20gIAGbzz7Mdavltpzb-C0nflq6s3wpYDbPrY_Dhg3HIID7l4IRMyhPRGZX3QP8a4pK3_hBhUeRYkBIJvO0jcmTOdc7ix4A2wyrXTGRQrnV70/s1600/cabbage+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5i2ORqfN6ly_mTFvvwXh5zA3niNCzMt20gIAGbzz7Mdavltpzb-C0nflq6s3wpYDbPrY_Dhg3HIID7l4IRMyhPRGZX3QP8a4pK3_hBhUeRYkBIJvO0jcmTOdc7ix4A2wyrXTGRQrnV70/s640/cabbage+2010.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We're getting quite a bit of cabbage and lettuce this time of year. I can hardly believe all that's coming up. I can't wait to start on the spring garden. We're going for compost here in a couple weeks and will be sowing our seeds of love (so to speak) shortly thereafter. I still don't want to plant much until end of this month as we still may get another freeze. After today's weather (78 degrees) I have to wonder...</div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-91225439214947058452011-01-30T14:26:00.000-05:002011-01-30T14:26:40.726-05:00new garden and yard plans<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHr5q9AraiwF_p0SCUTApAlAvTT0H_Es75vanmUTPbIp6SxaPYZMPpx77bqAvYg2N46x2xWQUKHBt4ln5_yAda7HvGDmH-dH7aS_7330HswDnpDdBBWw90QMjCmswt25BKUnBL2Rjuj0/s1600/IMG_6387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHr5q9AraiwF_p0SCUTApAlAvTT0H_Es75vanmUTPbIp6SxaPYZMPpx77bqAvYg2N46x2xWQUKHBt4ln5_yAda7HvGDmH-dH7aS_7330HswDnpDdBBWw90QMjCmswt25BKUnBL2Rjuj0/s640/IMG_6387.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moses hiding</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Nate loves going to the <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/">HD</a>, (imagine that), and while we were there we talked about what to plant in this years garden, and also what to replace with what in the front yard. The frost this year has killed back a LOT of plants that are now very brown in the front yard, but I refuse to replant until March. I have a feeling we're going to get another frost before March, so I don't want to risk killing what I've just planted. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We're going to try carrots and radishes, among a couple other things, in the garden this year. Lettuce has done very well, so we'll do that, naturally, and our onions are still growing in the garden. They are doing quite well, I must say and I'm surprised. I guess I really shouldn't be since they are bulb plants and would do well since they are in the ground. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Moses will miss his hiding place as we'll be putting the camper shell back on Nate's truck here soon. We need to get more compost first before we put it back on. Much easier to shovel and rake when the top is off. He looked so cute this morning I had to take a picture! </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-68716962629270855162011-01-27T06:52:00.000-05:002011-01-27T06:52:32.740-05:00chilly<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5hZn5O9lT7UoFuNAVtR_gWBb-_blDQjd7l-VsWBJHcadr5HRVn3Nw8C0ufntJbLiDto1o_0VWKbNYRjA5nMbcWFh7z8o_KS__Q8rXIbTDZ-CwAMZbQVyl-g8oPKUdIt8kE0uCksFg18/s1600/IMG_6324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5hZn5O9lT7UoFuNAVtR_gWBb-_blDQjd7l-VsWBJHcadr5HRVn3Nw8C0ufntJbLiDto1o_0VWKbNYRjA5nMbcWFh7z8o_KS__Q8rXIbTDZ-CwAMZbQVyl-g8oPKUdIt8kE0uCksFg18/s640/IMG_6324.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolfie caught doing something</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">It's chilly again this morning, but no frost. We did have some big rain 2 days ago, which did cause some major damage in places, but thankfully, we did not. I am waiting for it to be a bit warmer before doing any new major work on the garden. I'm also planning some new landscaping for the front yard. I've got my list of native, drought/cold tolerant plants for Florida handy and ready to pick out some new stuff. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-44255288250093264202011-01-22T23:02:00.000-05:002011-01-22T23:02:12.228-05:00Simple Living Institute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org/images/small_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org/images/small_logo.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">The other night The Mess and I went to an <a href="http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org/calendar.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;">Intro to Permaculture</a> at <a href="http://www.leugardens.org/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;">Leu Gardens</a> hosted by the <a href="http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org/index.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;">Simple Living Institute</a>. It gave me some insight on this way of thinking, and to be honest, it's how I've been thinking about us, as humans, living on this earth. The premise is that humans need to learn to live<i> with</i> nature, not against or opposed to it. This earth has been around for millions of years and will probably out live us, and will outdo us, because we, as humans, can't control nature. Humans are the ones trying to control our living environments, which only makes us frustrated when it doesn't work out the way we want it to. Animals, on the other hand, have learned to live with nature; learning to adapt to climates, weather changes, changes in geography, etc. And can you see how less stressed they are? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scottlondon.com/interviews/mollison.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;">Permaculture</a> comes from a combination of "permanent" and "culture", or "permanent" and "agriculture", first coined by <a href="http://www.tagari.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;">Bill Mollison</a>, an Australian ecologist who believed in living with nature. Our talk last night was directed towards ones own living environment, like our house. We take a look at our house, its geographic location, how the sun and winds face the house, the plants that are already there, and work with that environment to build a setting that is conducive to our living situation. For example, if there is a lot of rain that comes down off one corner of the house during the summer, which ends up dislocating all the dirt on the ground due to heavy rains, I want to install a rain barrel there. This way I'll gather all the rain water, and save my dirt from being eroded from around the house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">The Mess was intrigued, as was I, and we have decided to take a look at our front yard to make some changes to the landscaping so that we can add some fruit plants and some lemongrass, in order to make the most use of the sun that shines in the front yard, and to give us some food too. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org/images/flyer-PDC-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org/images/flyer-PDC-full.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">The Simple Living Institute is hosting a permaculture design course this spring. It sounds fascinating and this is a certificate course, meaning you'll be a degreed permaculturalist afterwards and can go anywhere in the world to do your permaculture thing. We can't afford it right now, but we'll take whatever info we can get and use it to our benefit. We can all use some help and having food plants in our own yard is a pretty cool thing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">The hostess, <a href="http://www.simplelivinginstitute.blogspot.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;">Tia Meer</a>, says that her <a href="http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org/econfarm.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;">Econ farm</a> in far out east orlando is a host farm for <a href="http://www.wwoof.org/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;">WWOOF</a>. I told The Mess that I'm interested in visiting and helping. It's not that far from us, we can learn a lot, and maybe she'll let us bring Scotty with us. Cool!</div></div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-38885361481811979412011-01-13T06:57:00.001-05:002011-01-13T06:57:43.051-05:00freezing this morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa7aAAe_cyrzMKCdX1wBgTjFklwGQ_xbFhK6UJKyOC_ZbawynVHAuy_gPmGuE2YZVhxr1IamETuPiWvDCqVN7Ku22ka3gzIyF2mWJ-UpNQzKctNNv2CTZ6ZtiIJRXz70atmLUvB0vjOE/s1600/rogue+and+wolfie+fish+pond+dec+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa7aAAe_cyrzMKCdX1wBgTjFklwGQ_xbFhK6UJKyOC_ZbawynVHAuy_gPmGuE2YZVhxr1IamETuPiWvDCqVN7Ku22ka3gzIyF2mWJ-UpNQzKctNNv2CTZ6ZtiIJRXz70atmLUvB0vjOE/s640/rogue+and+wolfie+fish+pond+dec+2010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">see? covered fish pond to keep them from freezing. the girls are holding down the blankets. very important job.</div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-48243140455495753132011-01-11T21:34:00.000-05:002011-01-11T21:34:41.817-05:00rogue and frost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30JHv_g22cFNcrxx4AsI6jafyjNqYBVztN_wxmyQ_V9Ti2LLBE5R1rMKFfHI_KUjB_34FUZpeRrcdWt8dGJk5BAHT5ycbOojMWTAicy5hC2lAQ9qu8Cu04UJOdnzmetMvIv0cQ5IyTDw/s1600/rogue+frosted+yard+dec+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30JHv_g22cFNcrxx4AsI6jafyjNqYBVztN_wxmyQ_V9Ti2LLBE5R1rMKFfHI_KUjB_34FUZpeRrcdWt8dGJk5BAHT5ycbOojMWTAicy5hC2lAQ9qu8Cu04UJOdnzmetMvIv0cQ5IyTDw/s640/rogue+frosted+yard+dec+2010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Rogue and our frosted backyard from last month. No frost tonight, but still cold. I think we'll get another 2 freezes before it starts to warm up for the rest of the year. That's ok, we need it to get rid of the fleas, and other such unnecessary bugs. We'll have some outside projects to do this weekend, and with an extra day off, that helps. We may get some more compost to get ready for the upcoming season. We might as well, we'll need it. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-90158264837067103772011-01-08T20:26:00.000-05:002011-01-08T20:26:12.875-05:00almost there...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq6NqXvElZvazoIprEBOO-1tHG3QgWwIxP4KI82C-YJlSD8TDS_jtM4ACEZ6VVXBvBnzhSAwYtBWdjvw_Dz-42937jv-lTORTnaYdrSUkov145E5eW6MbJ64uNFwPqRZ0LM59PHRA0So/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq6NqXvElZvazoIprEBOO-1tHG3QgWwIxP4KI82C-YJlSD8TDS_jtM4ACEZ6VVXBvBnzhSAwYtBWdjvw_Dz-42937jv-lTORTnaYdrSUkov145E5eW6MbJ64uNFwPqRZ0LM59PHRA0So/s640/IMG_0017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">the sun is just so elusive...</div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-88082693842550651772011-01-06T07:01:00.000-05:002011-01-06T07:01:29.347-05:00yay for rain!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUvI71frYwAatg_5qBIyDkVMJugI8Bull0kfGBSCsWr4i2_vOEx4sA4X9k8l4ElorEibeKV5ctYwWzfc3MEjnXNKK_J8dSHegYiuXvDrnOucePetQ1M8QQYlV35qU_S7xHL6Vjvubn8U/s1600/rain+chain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUvI71frYwAatg_5qBIyDkVMJugI8Bull0kfGBSCsWr4i2_vOEx4sA4X9k8l4ElorEibeKV5ctYwWzfc3MEjnXNKK_J8dSHegYiuXvDrnOucePetQ1M8QQYlV35qU_S7xHL6Vjvubn8U/s640/rain+chain.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">summer rain</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">We are getting some much needed rain here this morning, thank god. We need it. There was a small brush fire nearby recently (a couple miles away) but that is close enough. Winter isn't usually our rainy season. Everything is dry and brown since we have no rain. We didn't get much rain over the summer either, so brush fires are something we'll have to deal with. I am glad that it hasn't gotten so close to us. We do have a green space just east of us, between our neighborhood and the one on the other side of it, which is only some 500 yards away. I keep my eye on it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The plants like the rain and now we have more water for our rain barrels. Another winter project is putting up some more gutters to route more rain to the barrels instead of just the ground. We have a list of outside projects to do before April, when it starts to get really hot. I told Nate, this year, I am NOT working outside in July. I'll be glad to help outside up until 10a, and after 6p in the evening, but other than that, it is just too damn hot and uncomfortable to work in the garden. We'll get it done. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-7557351723069868452011-01-04T07:08:00.000-05:002011-01-04T07:08:03.403-05:00back to "normal"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WxH_NYiXv1PwM582RbV9xjx7KvHWHDLsxHkar0KJltdVFgxBR0Lfbsr0F59h7_sIEqGYgTlNyU9yNEqsbplXUpZSiCQwJ8vcoU2-eD39jNlwGTQoz1m_yYZoadh2QvKKNyYnpdVvKZw/s1600/blue+sky+orlando+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WxH_NYiXv1PwM582RbV9xjx7KvHWHDLsxHkar0KJltdVFgxBR0Lfbsr0F59h7_sIEqGYgTlNyU9yNEqsbplXUpZSiCQwJ8vcoU2-eD39jNlwGTQoz1m_yYZoadh2QvKKNyYnpdVvKZw/s640/blue+sky+orlando+2010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">our weather has improved as of late, and we are back to our "normal" of 60's/70's here for the winter. I have no doubt that we will have at least 2 more cold snaps where it gets down to freezing for more than a couple days again, so we are not doing too much to the garden. We have some lettuce growing and onions too. I don't worry too much about the onions since they are root vegetables, but the others, and the fish, I worry about. So far, so good. The fish I cover, and the other garden boxes we've covered also. Nate set up one of the garden boxes as a 'greenhouse'. I say that in quotes because it's not made of glass or metal frame, just a wood frame and plastic around the sides. We'll see how our makeshift house goes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have so many oranges that aren't good to eat but can be used for something, that I had thought of making marmalade. I need canning equipment though. I need to look into that. I could be something lucrative, or at least interesting, to try. I'm also looking more serious into growing sage. A good herb for many reasons. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">enjoy your weather, whatever it is like. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-23358927551060251092010-12-28T19:09:00.002-05:002010-12-28T19:09:59.309-05:00frost on the leaves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg1MjGCalXSCeEeMqx284-wTsoTy3JxKqzgou54ZBZqtajAC1ptmTLOTlBCM4g5YCeiJLw_zR8XtjEeZzW7bpWW9tMhNAlIQ7jQduTboVjrL78wPeMHMNruKH4byOJDaliyyFwIdgteM/s1600/frosted+leaves+dec+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg1MjGCalXSCeEeMqx284-wTsoTy3JxKqzgou54ZBZqtajAC1ptmTLOTlBCM4g5YCeiJLw_zR8XtjEeZzW7bpWW9tMhNAlIQ7jQduTboVjrL78wPeMHMNruKH4byOJDaliyyFwIdgteM/s640/frosted+leaves+dec+2010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">we woke up to this this morning. doesn't happen often.</div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-64006891820533198092010-12-27T08:13:00.000-05:002010-12-27T08:13:13.398-05:00cold cold cold<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIOJKQYJuxiBF_jjHFgewSWzjYYhVTmJge8n4BYfK7O7ksewDymhwLv6JHt6JvQfyvcEdnM5oB2ZnmVEqHc9YbjsaiFvQCII6MmV7Tmy-EFVZGrW9mQTHi2y8UYehbnj0Hnc_pywYnec/s1600/red+tree+leaves+dec+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIOJKQYJuxiBF_jjHFgewSWzjYYhVTmJge8n4BYfK7O7ksewDymhwLv6JHt6JvQfyvcEdnM5oB2ZnmVEqHc9YbjsaiFvQCII6MmV7Tmy-EFVZGrW9mQTHi2y8UYehbnj0Hnc_pywYnec/s640/red+tree+leaves+dec+2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fall in Florida<br />
<br />
It has been very cold here lately. Very windy too, which makes it feel even colder. We had a wind chill advisory last night and had to bring some of our plants in and cover them. The kittens have taken to staying inside also. At least there is some sun. This doesn't help our winter vegetables much. I haven't checked on the onions lately, but since they are bulbs in the ground, I think they'll be ok. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-186392245971822182010-12-24T17:37:00.000-05:002010-12-24T17:37:00.912-05:00happy holidays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOZ81OJhzjv6YC53Aku9CTvHQ7YDicvqVYqCUwVqBzS_8FBAw4VqZBUXc8XnJm2akIWy6cNE3KGa0SvcgAltSz1OhgLr8n88ft1nPAb_vAFdFyD6fVzEa49ISTSn0IjuQgeCC96MIz5c/s1600/christmas+lights+2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOZ81OJhzjv6YC53Aku9CTvHQ7YDicvqVYqCUwVqBzS_8FBAw4VqZBUXc8XnJm2akIWy6cNE3KGa0SvcgAltSz1OhgLr8n88ft1nPAb_vAFdFyD6fVzEa49ISTSn0IjuQgeCC96MIz5c/s640/christmas+lights+2009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year</div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-75486570450734449932010-12-22T21:49:00.000-05:002010-12-22T21:49:14.957-05:00break in the weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07U31wCtcBHEcPzyYSbG9QycgHH4A_hLSoLob8fqIvIQhnq6GiaahqdjRuhXhRm6XBIJkzJBL8L4D8v5JjGpK1TCW4xKNKa6Ms71ymKvMjOiHEDb8-a0jbuJXuWHR1lbT_qY6pz8bXBA/s1600/christmas+in+mco+lake+eola+fountain+2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07U31wCtcBHEcPzyYSbG9QycgHH4A_hLSoLob8fqIvIQhnq6GiaahqdjRuhXhRm6XBIJkzJBL8L4D8v5JjGpK1TCW4xKNKa6Ms71ymKvMjOiHEDb8-a0jbuJXuWHR1lbT_qY6pz8bXBA/s640/christmas+in+mco+lake+eola+fountain+2009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The weather was a little better today. I actually had the chance to uncover the fish pond and add some water. All the fish are there, thank god, they have all survived. It most recently looked like this photo above, taken at our famous <a href="http://www.cityoforlando.net/fpr/html/Parks/lakeeola.htm">Lake Eola</a> downtown. No rain today, and no chance of rain anytime soon. I am hoping we have a better rainy season this summer. We didn't get much rain this past year. We need it or the threat of brush fires grows. That we don't need.</div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-36372219857780070482010-12-18T19:22:00.000-05:002010-12-18T19:22:53.777-05:00rain today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFX1aqrlaDOLwF8-ywaNDv3EM70DlXeZBFtUiayqGbkJ1VomAc8BDZ5qyVEj1Zmc5MRcEY_oJkbUSIaosykK1sBnw-2GYSeZQuB7Olj3O-vJMJEaUF96iKonUdtMXIBqy707WbJQv6TMc/s1600/rainy+skyline+2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFX1aqrlaDOLwF8-ywaNDv3EM70DlXeZBFtUiayqGbkJ1VomAc8BDZ5qyVEj1Zmc5MRcEY_oJkbUSIaosykK1sBnw-2GYSeZQuB7Olj3O-vJMJEaUF96iKonUdtMXIBqy707WbJQv6TMc/s640/rainy+skyline+2009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It looked like this for most of the day today. It wasn't as cold, but the rain was biting, so it didn't make for such a great day. At least the plants got fed water, and they didn't freeze. I uncovered a bit of the fish pond, for some fresh air and possible sun, and all the fish are they. I bought a plant for the pond in the hopes the plant would provide some shelter and warmth and fun for the fishes to swim through. I just got one. The last time we had this plant it took over the pond, but we bought, like 6 of them. A little overboard with the plants at that time, but now we know better. The kittens are enjoying being outside again, but not the rain so much. Rain makes it difficult for the kittens to slide gracefully off the top of my car. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-51746090807453090512010-12-16T07:12:00.000-05:002010-12-16T07:12:32.079-05:00bus stop foot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYKnB3W4VYyc_rVVo1bsLNFLwQV_9B3HO868yLRm0ZY5XEXBw-rKTQ435lQGfh2vYX66gy8vY-9SrkFxL6TKOXRNOS6DMN99g50yqzoYvg-Kmbyd_Bn5uK0h6fCmhuPpm3QuPeZK1fBU/s1600/bus+stop+foot+close+up+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYKnB3W4VYyc_rVVo1bsLNFLwQV_9B3HO868yLRm0ZY5XEXBw-rKTQ435lQGfh2vYX66gy8vY-9SrkFxL6TKOXRNOS6DMN99g50yqzoYvg-Kmbyd_Bn5uK0h6fCmhuPpm3QuPeZK1fBU/s640/bus+stop+foot+close+up+2010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought of riding <a href="http://www.golynx.com/">the bus</a> today, since I understand that Santa Claus may be my bus driver any day, and that means my ride is free; but it's still too cold. I couldn't talk myself into it. I would definitely NOT be wearing these shoes today. Nope, no flipflops for me for a couple weeks now. It's supposed to be warmer by weekend. We'll take another look at the plants then. I know the tomato plant is a goner, and not sure about the red hot pepper plant. On a bright note, the onions are doing well!</div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-45660292490730901352010-12-14T07:09:00.000-05:002010-12-14T07:09:07.209-05:00cold cold cold<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bqQ6hisVffk4ObshwKI93kY8nHjUtq25M1DpO0Gts7_PsnGWvkINMYL9E9qhHKxqekjZke3XqZHUfkqIglLPieP5Q8JVMhbwcqNR3ucaCsnLa_se6JQk11PSnfvOsjssg58xdPUvVmc/s1600/IMG_5330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bqQ6hisVffk4ObshwKI93kY8nHjUtq25M1DpO0Gts7_PsnGWvkINMYL9E9qhHKxqekjZke3XqZHUfkqIglLPieP5Q8JVMhbwcqNR3ucaCsnLa_se6JQk11PSnfvOsjssg58xdPUvVmc/s640/IMG_5330.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolfie and Moses</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">We have been especially cold here lately. We woke up to 28 degrees this morning and it's only supposed to be a high of 50 around 4p. We have covered the plants in the container garden and moved some of the hanging ones into either the shed or tool room for cover. I know that my wedelia in the front yard has been killed off. Not to worry, it's a low maintenance native plant and will come back in no time. Nate wanted to take it out, but I like it because it has yellow flowers. I like to have a little color in the yard. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The kittens have been staying inside all day lately. I can hardly wonder why. It's unusual though, because as soon as they eat in the morning, they head right back outside. Although, this cold hasn't kept them from doing their job. Nate found rat parts outside our back patio door this morning. yuck. </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-10602639577803257352010-12-09T21:04:00.000-05:002010-12-09T21:04:20.904-05:00cat on a cold fish pond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://attachedatthehip.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/img_6191.jpg?w=1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://attachedatthehip.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/img_6191.jpg?w=1024" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">It's been really cold here. And when I say cold, I mean it has been close to freezing at night for most of the week, and not much warmer during the day. Oh yeah, we get sun, but that doesn't necessarily make it warm. Now, I must admit, for us, it's not so bad, considering this is Florida, but we aren't used to such cold weather so early in the season. Our garden has faired fairly well (can I say that without sounding redundant?), without much loss to vegetation. The cats have stayed indoors most evenings and even in the morning after they have been fed. The fish pond I covered with some wool blankets. These are army blankets, so you know they are heavy duty. Nate put some 2 x 4's over the pond, then we put blankets over the 2 x 4's. I'd rather not have my fish freeze to death. Poor things. It's tough enough</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><em>taking</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">a cold shower, can you imagine</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><em>living</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">in it constantly? No, I say. I've been feeding the fish, so I've seen them and know they are there. Wolfie here, likes to drink out of the fish pond. I think she's trying to eat their food. (She loves to eat, we call her our fat girl.) See how it looks like she has no feet? And she almost matches with the blankets!</span>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8878632241730077101.post-82843244613491070962010-11-19T07:04:00.011-05:002010-11-19T07:04:00.252-05:00Winter Park Harvest Festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://winterparkharvestfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/banner2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://winterparkharvestfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/banner2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://winterparkharvestfestival.com/">Winter Park Harvest Festival</a> is tomorrow! This is a day long, and I mean <b>day long </b>8a -9p, event celebrating our local farmers, gardeners, entrepreneurs and non-profits. I am excited! The weather has been great lately which adds to the awesomeness of this event! I can't wait! I'm so excited! </div>virgin gardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05001838821460772152noreply@blogger.com0