Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 50) December 23

JustaDumbBlonde | December 23, 2011 | JustaDumbBlonde

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Update on the solar installation ... they are still working to get this thing finished and turned on by Dec. 31, so that we can take the tax credit for this year. There will be 14 rows when they are done.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Thank you! I'm running around today and checking-in as much as I can. Have my last batch of marmalade on the stove, almost ready for jars.

We've had over 3 inches of rain this week and everything outside is a mess, but the pond has received enough beneficial runoff to get it almost normal.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Thank you so much! I wanted a cross for many years and last year my husband constructed that one and we put lights on it. There is an obsolete antenna tower on the back of the house, and we hung the cross on it.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Good girl! You really scored with your new setup! Merry Christmas.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Hey stranger! So good to see you ... was just thinking about you the other day when I was eyeing up some old windows on a house that is going to be torn down.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Fascinating...

[Gabz]

LOL!!! me and my windows :)

I don’t know why I’ve been such a stranger, just haven’t been posting as much as I used to do.

[Gabz]

It’s just beautiful. When I first saw the picture I actually thought it must be a local church. Silly me, I should have known better!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Oh, No! It’s so hard when you lose a dog. My heart goes out to you. How is Cashmere doing?

[Dacula]

Red,

I am sorry to hear of the passing of Aladdin. You and your family will be in my prayers.

God bless you and may he comfort you at this difficult time.

[Darth Reardon]

So again this year I let the winter season sneak up on me and didn't start my seeds until late, but things are finally starting to take off. Got my first cauliflower the other night, getting a slow but steady run of tomatoes, enough lettuce and spinach, and the first batch of celery is almost ready.

[hoosiermama]

we put in a few solar panals on one of our buildings this summer..Our electric bill is half of what it was. WOO HOO

All of our buildings have a south facing roof. Could easily create a solar farm.

[hoosiermama]

So sorry to hear about your loss. We just got a new border collie puppy. Does a heart good to have a “baby” in the house. She’s taken ornaments off the tree, put them in her nest. Yesterday she brought one of the fake eggs to the house. She loves hanging out with the hens.

Dad named her Ranger, but she’s more of a Danger!

One can never totally replace an ol friend, but new ones sometimes do help fill the void.

[Red_Devil 232]

Cashmere is doing fine. Unfortunately she watched as my wife and I struggled to get Aladdin into my truck so I could take him to our vet. We donated him to the Veterinary Science School up at Mississippi State University. It cost me $75 - pays for freezer space and transportation up there.

When I got back from the Vet she laid down by the truck and stayed there for an hour or more - I guess waiting for Aladdin to come out - it was sad. I do think she is missing her buddy. But she is healthy and very active.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Ohhh, you gotta love the south facing roofs! I definitely did not want the solar panels taking up room on the ground, and the house is under old oak trees and all shaded. I asked the solar man if he could put them on the shed, and he could fit them all on the back side, so hardly anything is visible from the house.

The system is sized for 115% of our current power consumption, so we should run a credit on the electric bill, and we will have power in both of our outbuildings that are not currently lighted. They have also run power out to the island in my pond so that I can hook up a pump/fountain in the summer.

[Arrowhead1952]

Our daughter is home for a few days and cut some fresh broccoli from my garden. She said it was much better than store bought broccoli crowns.

[Red_Devil 232]

I think you mentioned it before, but what are the panels going to power?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

My goodness, those are beautiful photos and great groceries! You did good.

[Nepeta]

Bok choy is blooming in my yard in Cincinnati on 23 December!

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Our entire homestead will be solar, with the exception of the donkey barn that is still propane.