I hope by viewing this picture that some of my gardening blogging buddies can help me determine what is munching on my cucumbers. They are getting these tiny perfect little holes in them.
Google search does not come up with much, other then it possibly being a "pickleworm"
Some of my cucumbers have them. Then some I pull off don't. Since I have no clue, if they are still edible or not, The few I have found them on, I have thrown out.
Any advice would be incredibly helpful. As this is my first successful year growing cucumbers, and my bushes have been doing extremely well. Now we are getting hit with these mysterious holy things.
Senior and I have our travel trailer for sale. After many months of no interest, or those who wish to stop by just to kick the tires, we finally get this email. I promise you, it is not made up. This is a real response that we received. How should We reply? -JUGM
Hello,
I'm building a new home in
----------. I have a contractor doing the work but I do need to keep an
eye on the project and come up every other week to check it out. I'd like to
know if you'd like to rent me your RV (and keep it in your yard) to stay in when
I come to town. You can still continue to show it to buyers but you can also
make some money while waiting for a buyer.
Questions? Just
ask.
Tommy
BTW.......I'm 65, don't smoke,
don't make noise, have a wife and an existing home in Miami Beach, will stand up
for police examination, and have good references.
The morning started off sticky. You could cut the humidity
with a knife. But I was up at 7 sharp. Had the coffee pot going and
getting my items out in the driveway for our Bi-Annual community garage sale.
NW and ND were up getting in on the action as well, they were ready to go to
work.
By 8am the steady line of cars started streaming past. Most
were not stopping. I guess the newest thing in garage sale shopping is doing a “drive
by”.It does start to frustrate a person
who is trying to sell things.
How does a person actually know what is for sale unless they
get out of the car and go look? NW asked me how lazy can people be to not get out of a car.
Then there are those who want you to just give your items
away. For instance I had a crystal bowl for $2.00. A lady inquired about the
price, she said “well, I don’t want it that bad” and walked off. A bit later, an elderly single gentleman
stopped by, He loved the bowl and had no problem giving me my asking price. The
nice man chatted a bit with me; he had a kindly face, very southern and
reminded me a lot of my Good Father in law. I was pleased my crystal bowl went
to him.
We also had the diamond plated tool box from Seniors truck for
sale. We just purchased it last year for over $250.00 and any one who has
bought one, knows how pricey a good one can be. We have ours for $125.00.Many inquired about it. But my favorite was
the person who asked if $125 was the lowest we could go.
Now, you must know my Senior to understand the look he gave the man.
Fortunately for the customer Senior was wearing his sunglasses so he couldn't see the look he was getting. I kept my mouth shut and let Senior do the talking. I could tell behind his shades that he was pondering the question, he looked off to space, twitched his mouth a bit...then came back with a flat "A yeah" . After the man walked off, Senior commented "Damn tire kickers"
We had lots of the kid’s toys out for sale as well, and as
always those did well. But isn't it just like kids to not ever want to play with
something until you have it for sale?Mine do just that. All of sudden because you want to sell it, the toy becomes important and they just can't part with it.
We have had a changing table since ND was a baby. I have not been able to sale or even give it
away free. Nothing is wrong with it, It just loves our house and doesn’t wish
to leave it. Look at the above picture the changing table is to the left. I had it all but thrown out in peoples faces, and still no one looked at it. It is like there is some sort of force field around it preventing it from leaving. I have also used it for other things then a changing table. Now I would just like to get a little cash for it and have it out of the house. But still...it stays.
Our total take today was not the best we have done, but any
time we can make a little profit is better then not. So I was grateful. I was happy any wet weather that was predicted held off, and I am extremely grateful that it became over cast and breezy. The day was not bad.
Has anyone been keeping tabs on the George Zimmerman trial?
The Sensationalism of it has been reduced a bit. Especially with the
introduction of Rachel Jeantel- The prosecutions star witness. She has been
more effective for the defense though.
Coming to the stand with an apparent chip on her shoulder, you would think she would want to help the prosecution, to testify on behalf of TM. But her testimony, and deameanor on the stand has done exactly the opposite.
She has been hostile and difficult to question.
She lives on social media and tweeted about her “court nails” and under age
drinking. She has said she is tired of all the questions and wish the attorney would just get off her "A--"
She posts offensive photos and when referring to whites, she likes to
use racial slurs.
Her lack of education showed when asked to read a letter
that was printed in cursive, her response “I don’t read cursive” And when asked
a question this week, she looked at the attorney and stated “That’s retarded
sir”.
She also admitted to law enforcement that she lied when she
said she was hospitalized during the funeral of TM. She did not attend because
she felt guilt, and could not stand to see him in a casket. She was the last
person to speak with TM that night, and heard everything on the phone.
But she did not call the police that night, why? She did not call them because she knew
TM was close to his father’s apartment and she assumed his dad would hear what
was going on and render aid. She admitted that at the time of the investigation
she was under 18 and chose not to get involved. Besides as demonstrated time and time again, a lot of blacks have a distrust with law enforcement.
But is she a reliable witness? Doubtful. She had trouble
recalling the phone conversation that night with TM , and when asked, she had
trouble articulating the sound of “wet
grass” and with that, the frustration from the defense attorney
grew. And they got easily exasperated with her.
If Rachel Jeantel is the best the prosecution has, then this
case is going to sink. She has painted herself to be just what we knew her to
be: Uneducated, mad black woman with a a resentment for whites.
Personally to me, she has been the comic relief to this trial.
It's Wednesday. I have been a bit under the weather which is why I have not posted much these past couple of days. But, Now I am feeling much better.
It has been very hot here, afternoon storms kick up and provide much needed rain and a lightening show for us.
The other day after dinner, I mustered the energy to go out to the beach with Senior and the boys. First time this summer. Moo-Moo can't believe we have not been yet...but as I told her.. "ummm I have a life"...lol
Caught some good pics, including this one :
Every time we see the horses on the beach, Senior and I joke about who picks up their "poo" lol
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This morning I saw something I have never seen. I had taken the dogs out, and saw a bee flying around my cucumbers, it landed on one of the blooms and did what bees do to flowers.
Which leads me to my next question. The other day I was buying some local honey for my dad.
but, there were so many types. I picked one that said "wildflower". What is the difference?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday we got to meet my nieces Fiance, he is a really nice guy. We like him. How in the world My niece hooked him is beyond us!. That same day I also worked up a trade. I traded my Ruger 10/22 for a compound bow. I know I probably got the short end of the deal, but I grew up with the family of the young man I traded it too, he is supporting a young wife, and 2 small children, and could not afford to buy something that nice out right. But, now I need to get my new bow a tune up and adjusted for me. He had it at 55#s pull, and that is a bit too much for me.
Senior is getting a "diamond" brand. It comes in the mail today..he is "Over the moon" excited about it too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today I am on the search for boxes, another community garage sale is this weekend. the proceeds we make will go to giving my Cherokee a tune up, and changing of his fluids. My goal is to out right sale my Subaru to carmax, and drive the Cherokee a while. How long the while will be I am not sure, but I am hoping to cut in to some of our debt, and this is one way to accomplish that- We will flip that car payment and put that money on something else so we can pay that item down faster.
Then when we see where Senior will land a job in logistics, we will go from there with the purchase of another vehicle and keep the Cherokee as our "fun/ project" car. We have been looking at the Nissan Xterras...and No way will I buy anything new..
A lot of you have read or commented to my post yesterday about the local missing girl. As you know the case did not turn out positive. Here is an update for you:
Scumbags name is Donald Smith he has been a registered sex offender since 1993. He had been in and out of jail since then. In 2009 he was charged with making obscene phone calls to a 10 year old girl, and for impersonating a city employee. He was sentenced to 3 years in jail and was just released this past May 31st. Just about three weeks ago...
His first court appearance was this morning...he was denied bond.
He met the mother of Charish and her siblings on Friday night in A local Dollar General store around 7pm. They seemed down on their luck and looked like they needed help. So he offered to take them to Walmart to buy clothes. They shopped for a few hours,Why for a few hours has yet to be said. But around 1030pm he offered McDonald's hamburgers for the kids.
The mother has since said she did not allow her daughter to go with him, that the little girl just did it on her own. He walked right out of the store with her never stopping at McDonalds.
The mother realized her daughter was missing and called 911... then the search began.
He was noticed Saturday morning driving down the interstate, and stopped. The police shut that section of highway down. He was seen on his knees with hands behind his head, numerous officers had their weapons pointed..just daring him to move.
Little Charish's body was found in a church parking lot... the memorial there today is growing. I might take the boys so they can lay down some flowers or a balloon.
We have also learned that since 2007 the mother and Charish's biological father had been in a bitter custody battle, he lived out in California and Charish was due to fly there on Saturday to spend the summer. Unfortunately that did not happen.
The community outrage is enormous, people are posting on message boards what they would like to personally do to this guy. Senior and I talked about the laws that should be passed. ZERO TOLERANCE.. One strike and you are out..life in prison. I feel the politicians want to go after our guns, all in the name of saving our kids..but what about protecting them from sexual predators?
I am sick of these people thinking they can take our most precious resource. I am sick of hearing the details of what they do to them.
My personal punishment for Mr. Smith would be to strap him with duck tape naked to a tree, cut him so he bleeds...then leave him for every possible animal to eat off of. Senior wants to see him slowly drawn and quartered.
My anger is still there, but I pray for her family..especially her dad who was trying his best to get her out of a bad environment. The media was at the Mothers house, I saw the home on TV, I saw the neighborhood...not great at all.
I am sure the mother is dealing with her own demons as well. She trusted a stranger. Was he on the prowl for a child? -YES. It could have easily been another child. One that he snatched off a street.
I feel there is a difference between this case and other child abduction cases. The mother willingly went with this guy to the walmart. This case did not have to happen. I feel it rests on her shoulders, sorry, but that is how I am. Parents are suppose to protect their kids, we teach them not to talk to strangers, but not only did this mother do that, she also got in a van with him and he took her and her kids to the Walmart. She has to live with all that now...
Last night, I held our boys, and loved them, I kissed them repeatedly before bed time. I watched them sleep, and made sure they were tucked in tight. God forbid if ANYONE touches one of our boys...
This morning I got up and made a post about an Amber Alert for a local missing 8 year old girl.
At 9am they arrested the POS Child predator that kidnapped her from a local Walmart.
At 10:15 the media broke in with a news conference that her little body had been found in a church parking lot. My stomach dropped. Our boys are the same age... It hit me hard.
The mother was shopping at 11pm last night with her kids. He approached her, befriended her, and asked to take the little girl to the stores McDonald's to buy her a hamburger... the mother said yes.
While I do not know the mother, I don't know her situation, perhaps she works 2 or 3 jobs and that was her only time to grocery shop...But My God ! to allow your little 8 year old to walk off with a stranger is insane. I can't even talk about it without using profanity...
He then took her from the store, and then proceeded to do God knows what to her. I can't imagine how scared she must have been through her ordeal. And then, once he did all that to her...why did he have to kill her? He could have just left her alive in the parking lot...Why end her little life?
During the press conference, my heart went out to the police officers who were searching for this Angel. They could not keep it together and were in tears.
I made ND and NW watch it. I wanted them to know why mommy is a complete and utter B---H to strangers who try to approach us in a store, I wanted them to understand why mommy and daddy watch people around us, I wanted them to see that there are bad people out there that want to take kids, and reinforce once again why we don't talk to strangers...
I held them close, and again told them how much I loved them.
Heaven has a new Angel today and her name is Charish Perriwinkle. There will be a new star shinning tonight in the sky. RIP little one.....
While every one is talking about James Gandolfini passing away suddenly today. Another famed person lost his two year battle with prostrate cancer., one of my favorite writers Vince Flynn.
He was a hero for Conservatives, and wrote the "Mitch Rapp" series of terrorism thrillers.
Vince was one of George W. Bushes favorite writers. One of my favorite stories was of when Bush was in MN he asked Vince to ride with him in the Presidential limo. Vince told Hannity once how Mr. Bush complimented his writing, but wondered how he got all that information for his Novels. He went on to say that it kind of made him nervous and he was afraid he might get detained...but Bush was so comical about it all..
Prayers for his family and those close friends who knew him best. All we can hope is that they start making his books in to movies, and the actors do them justice.
I have been dealing with it now for a few days, I start on something then I loose my thoughts...I freeze up, I can't work. I can't gather myself... I call this "Blogitis"
I notice it effects me during the summer months, so it must be a seasonal thing. Then I realize that its because the kids are home. They are running around, chasing the dogs, or chasing the cats.
They are being silly and pulling their mother in every direction.
"mommy where are you? " "mommy where is ? " "mommy can I" ? I am trying to teach them to be more independent. They don't need mommy for every little thing.
But the house becomes full of playful energy and it causes my "blogitis" to flare up.
The ideas for several good posts are rolling around in the vast area of my brain. I have been asked to elaborate more of the topics of my nieces engagment and more recently to post more about Moo-Moo.
When I sit down to gather my thoughts for one of these spectacular post-That darn Blogitis kicks in. I don't want to sound "gossipy" but also want to put it all in a comical way that only I can.
So, this morning I thought I would do a sneak attack on the Blogitis. I was up before the kids, Senior had headed out to work. I had a hot cup of coffee.
"yea I can do this" then it happens. I lose my train of thought, my brain freezes up...GRRRR!
Now I am here just rambling about a disease that most of us suffer from, but probably have not had diagnosed. From what I understand there is no known cure. The FDA has not approved some miracle pill that can be sold over the counter for what ails me. There is no known support group either. No meetings or interventions I can go to, and no 12 week process to overcome such an illness. And definantly no rehabilitation center.
Then I look over my words I just put down for you, a rant about a disease effecting my writing abilities, and it hits me.. My brain did not go in to shock and freeze up. I wrote a post about not being able to post. : )
Last evening, I was flipping channels late at night and happened upon a NATGEO special about "Yosemite National Park". So, it sparked the interest of Senior and I . It is spectacular there. Makes me feel like a spot where the earth was created.
Towards the end of the show, they then discussed the "Prairie Rattlesnake" It is the only venomous creature in Yosemite, because of its ever changing climate nothing else of that nature can live in that environment, The Prairie Rattler has acclimated itself to Yosemite.
Researchers could not figure out how they can digest their foods so quickly in those temperatures.
Senior says " Its in the venom"
However, the team of researchers trapped a snake, kept it in the same temps as Yosemite, and fed it a dead rat. They then put the snake to sleep in a tube, while it was digesting the rat, They took numerous x-rays of the creature. And still they could not figure out why they digested foods so rapidly.
Senior again says " Its in the venom"
Low and behold the next thing out of the researchers mouth was " We think it has something to do with the snakes venom" so they shoot venom in a rat, kill the rat, then feed it to the snake. Again more x-rays.
The conclusion " Its the make up of the venom"
I look at Senior, and say " well, I wonder how much that research cost us taxpayers" All these people had to do was ask Senior.
With that in mind, I decided today to do a little research of my own, and look at how much we the taxpayers spend annually on animal research programs. The amount was staggering an estimated $16 billion a year. Now here is the hypocrisy, during the 2010 midterm elections it was the republican candidates blasting the democrat incumbents for supporting these wasteful practices. Aren't the democrats suppose to be the liberal tree huggers?
While they stand for "Environmental Protection Agency" as of late they have been anything but. In 1996 the EPA developed a screening program to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen, or such other endocrine effect as the [agency] may designate.
To make a long story short, the same EPA that lobbies Washington against drilling for oil because it will disrupt the habitat of some bird, and the same EPA that has aided in making it a felony to harm or kill certain species. Do you see where I am going with this? How hypocritical.
Another wasted program was the recent "Robo Squirrel" $325,000 was spent to develop and study how rattlesnakes interact with small rodents. San Diego State University, and the University of California took part in the program and are now being highly criticized but, researchers say they learned when attacked by a main predator such as a rattlesnake the "California Ground Squirrel" employees a key defensive act... they wag their tails. It took our money to learn that ? With the U.S over a fiscal cliff, and our National Debt at more then 16 trillion, certainly better uses for $325,000 could have been found.
As for the Prairie Rattlesnake Venom..I could not find any numbers of what the frivolous research cost you and I. Or why it really matters to any one other then those researchers.
But, when you can't pay a bill, or you or some one you knows does not have the money to fill up your gas tank, or make home repairs..Think of the Prairie Rattlesnake, the EPA, and the Robo Squirrel..I am sure they thank you for your sacrifice. Which is afterall in the name of "Research"
I can always blog about politics and etcetera, more scandals are rocking the White House. The administration can not keep hiding behind the "I did not know" curtain forever. One day it will catch up to them. My mother use to say " Your sins will find you out"... darn if over the years she did not prove to be right with that statement.
Anyways, I have been on a cooking streak this week. I guess because I have been tired of the same ole things and wanted food we had not cooked in a while. It started Tuesday night with some Southern food.
I pan fried smoked sausage, added in sliced potatoes. Boiled up some collard greens, and did a pan of fried corn bread. Then topped all that off with a big glass of Sweet Tea.
ND and NW made their corn bread better by squirting honey on it...that does make it yummeh. What can I say, the kids know how to liven up food. There wasn't any left overs at all. Every one stuffed themselves silly with this mess. My Man, SENIOR thanked me with a big wet kiss on the cheek!.. So it must have been good.
The other day my good gurlie buddy and favorite canadien KYMBER did a post about making spaghetti and meatballs..which prompted me to remember that it had been years since I made "Meatball Subs". So I got back to the half of me that is Italian and whipped some up last night.
I mix my own meat and add garlic powder, Italian spices and Parmesan cheese to them. I then let them soak in spaghetti sauce for about an hour.
Then I take my sub rolls, line them with mozzarella cheese and bake them in the oven for about 10-15 min. on 350 degrees, Until the buns are slightly toasted and the cheese is melted. Then I slop my meat balls and sauce on top, and sprinkle more Parmesan cheese. The boys had never had a meatball sub before, NW was begging for another one, and ND ate 3/4 of his. I also chopped up my first cucumber and added it to salad...
Boy ! was I a hit at the dinner table.. SENIOR virtually inhaled his and told me repeatedly that is one of the best subs he had ever had. And, gave me another big wet kiss on the cheek. I was asked to please make them again. : )
I told y'all that when the Weather man says "tropical moisture"...it really means "folks your screwed."... This is Tropical Storm Andrea, and some where under there is Florida. We don't know where exactly, but we are down there... I can testify to this because I am here blogging to you all.
I was suppose to have the carpets cleaned today, and you know the weather is bad when even they don't want to show up. Oh well, got to reschedule for another day. Its probably a good thing, because with all the mud in the back yard the two boxers are as happy as pigs eating slop, and we don't need that mess trampling in across clean carpets.
On another note and updating about my cucumbers, while poking through them the other night, NW and I found this beauty just hanging there. It literally exploded out of no where. More are soon to follow. I just wish they would all be ready at the same time so that I might can a few jars of pickles.
Kids spent the night with the G-parents. I hate saying this, but I needed the break. Senior and I watched "TAKEN 2"... Good movie, I still liked the first one better though. This one did not have the classic one liners like the first one. But Liam kicked butt as always. If you are like MAMMA BEAR and I, and are a Liam Neesan fan--watch "THE GREY". Ohhh that movie is awesome. I still would like to see him team up with my other four favorite actors: Vin Diesel, Mark Wahlberg, Russel Crowe, and Dwayne "the rock" Johnson for a movie..
More planning today for Seniors graduation dinner, Family is coming in from NC tomorrow. I am making a "cupcake tower"...so yes I will post a pic of my creation. Senior is on the hunt for ammo, and rushing me out the door...so I must say "CIAO" for now.
They just keep growing and growing and growing.. My 2 pickle bush cucumber plants. In the jungle of yellow buds, vines, and leaves are plenty of baby cucumbers growing nicely. By end of July, I hope to have them picked and ready for canning.
Now, with that being said.. and Summer in full swing. I begin to worry about snakes hiding in things. The fear comes from a story from childhood: On one of my Summer visits to South Carolina, a little boy went out searching for worms to go fishing with. He happened upon a nest of what he thought was Earth worms, Only they were actually baby pygmy rattlesnakes. He died- I have never forgotten it, and freak every time ND comes in and tells me he has a "pet" earth worm.
Last summer Senior found a Pygmy near our wood pile- you can imagine my reaction... *shivers*
So, my question for all my good vegetable gardener blogger friends is this: Can I cut back the larger leaves of my plants? Or, will doing that hurt the cukes that are growing?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My beans are also sprouting. These too are the bush variety.
Our skies here have been opening up in the afternoon, we are in a disastrously wet pattern with some Tropical Moisture promised for the weekend. Translated that means : " Sorry folks, your screwed..flooding rains are expected" Anytime you hear the weather man say "tropical moisture"...grab your john boat and oars.
I swear Florida is going to break off and become an Island. Hopefully it does so SOUTH of the Cape...because that area is a whole different country!
This is a funnel cloud that some one snapped a pic of. Nothing like what those good folks in Oklahoma and the plains states are dealing with , but for us it is a scary sight.
And here is another one taken from a river near our home:
Seniors college graduation is Saturday. He is doing so with Honors. We are so proud. But I must get this house cleaned up, and a carpet cleaning scheduled. As his brother and G/F are driving down to attend. I can't tell how awesome it is to have something positive happen, instead of something sad.
So I am happy as a pig in mud to make dinner plans and etc....
My Niece is coming as well, you know the "bride to be".. Its hilarious because she has been engaged for all but 2 seconds and all ready an authority on marriage... anyways..that is a story for another day and another blog post...
Whether you loved him or hated him. Whether you voted for him or not.. you all must admit, he was better then what we got now- He and Laura brought class to the White House and to the Office of President. He knew how to Salute, and would have never asked a Marine or any one else to hold anything of his, and he most certainly would know how to properly prounounce the individual military ranks.
So this comes as real no surprise to me that when he hosted the Memorial day run for Wounded Warriors Project on his ranch out in Crawford, TX he took the time out to pose for pictures with our wounded troops. And here is one..not holding his umbrella, but our Flag...
