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Post by oust on Apr 23, 2024 20:03:09 GMT -5
Today i had a car wash then used the vacuums for an hour or so. It looks so much better. I had a big bag worth of layers/winter clothes in there so i got it all out. Another big bags worth of trash/water bottles out and it looks good now. Showered and hair washed Put the food away and cleaned the counters and sink
Ate earlier and not many dishes to do, DH can do them tomorrow.
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 8:41:46 GMT -5
Good morning!
It is cold today--the feels like temperature is 31 degrees, and the high will not go over 45. I do have to mow, at least the grass by the alley, and do a little more cleanup in the yard so it's easier to work.
TO DO:
Call decluttering client 10 minutes on plants Restock water in fridge Delete 10 hard emails
Diane
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 9:52:29 GMT -5
Next:
10 minutes on seedlings Wash some dishes Measure cage and order perches Delete 10 hard emails
Diane
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 11:57:16 GMT -5
Okay, they finally picked up the yard waste can, I was waiting for them to do that so I could bring it to the back and mow the area near the alley. I would normally hate mowing this late in the morning but since it's so cold today, the sun is not an issue. Hopefully I will have energy to mow the back yard too since the mower is out, and I will bring it out again tomorrow to mow the front and side while the handyman is here.
I started a load of laundry, and have been playing with seedlings. So many need repotting!
And I'm finding something interesting that's happening with my salvia seedlings. Salvia is a big family of plants, because I like blues and purples, when I first looked for seeds I bought something that was a cultivar, called "blue" something, I can't remember the variety. So, I planted them for two years, last year they didn't do well so I didn't have a lot, but neither did the dill and some others because of the drought and the other reasons why the yard didn't do as well last year. Anyway, the first year I collected seeds and planted some for the second year, I may also have taken some of the original seeds to plant more the second year--I don't remember the details. The second year the plants that did grow looked just like the ones from the first year.
Well, last fall I collected seeds from the salvia plants that did grow. When I went to plant them this spring, I noticed that the seed seemed to look like two different kinds--both were shaped like salvia, but one type was small and darker, the other a little larger but lighter in color. I have often wondered if, when collecting seeds, is there a way to know which are healthiest--should I save the biggest ones? The darkest ones? So I figured this would be a perfect test--I planted one tray of the smaller, darker seeds and one tray of the larger, lighter ones. I figured I would be able to tell which to collect in the future if there was a difference in germination, growth rate, health, etc.
The smaller, darker seeds germinated first and at a higher rate. The tiny seedlings grew faster. I figured, okay, I have my answer.
However, as time went on, the slower to germinate seed started looking so different from the other plants. The original plants grew tall, with many stalks, and were a darkish green. The second tray is light green, and are growing to the side instead of upright. The first tray seedlings are about 6 inches high and 2-3 inches wide, the light green seedlings are 2 inches high and 6 inches wide, with wide leaves. The light green leaves are also developing a scalloped edge. They truly look like completely different plants.
At first I thought, did I accidentally mix seeds together, but the light green seedlings don't look like anything I've seen before. Then I realized that they are always telling you that cultivars to do not grow true to the parent plant. I don't usually buy cultivars since I'm trying to have things native and original varieties, for the pollinators. So I've never thought much about this before, but I'm thinking the light green seedlings might be a throwback to a more original variety. I did take seed from more than one salvia plant, so maybe the light seeds came from one and the dark seeds came from another, but I think I would have noticed that when collecting. I didn't know if a plant could form two different kinds of seed, one true to that plant and one true to an "ancestor"--and if they do, that the seeds would actually look different from each other. It's also possible that someone else in the neighborhood has a different kind of salvia and it was cross pollinated with mine.
So, another interesting, cool, unexpected experience from the garden. I can't wait to see what the light green plants end up looking like as they grow.
Now, like it or not, I have to go outside to mow.
Diane
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 13:47:23 GMT -5
Okay, I'm done for a little while. I mowed everything--alley, back yard, side yard, front yard!
That's because it's only 40 degrees out there! It is literally 1/4 the effort to do exactly the same thing when it's 40 degrees compared to even 75 degrees. But I am tired, so I'll eat lunch and rest for a while.
Diane
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Post by mylittlescholar on Apr 24, 2024 14:02:15 GMT -5
Good morning everypony!
that is interesting, Diane. I can understand what you have discovered, thanks to lessons from DVD!
I am in weekend mode--need to get a grip! we are borrowing DF's car, driving it to the bigger city and buying DVD his new iphone. I bought him an apple watch last year, but he needs an iphone to use it!
DONE: DVD made me coffee and bagels approved schedule request with housekeeping sent recordings to tarot card client (I think! still figuring out how to use Skype) texted w/ LR took meds
updated log updated $ sheet checked online balance x2 transferred $ updated challenges put new purchases away
NEXT UP: what to wear? wash up and get dressed do face and makeup
laundry? pack to DPs to pick up car
PACK: watches old phone
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 14:40:25 GMT -5
Good afternoon scholar!
I have one more job I must finish today, clear the area on the enclosed back porch next to the loose window, which the handyman might have time to work on tomorrow, depending on how other things go. I will do that 15 minutes at a time, so I'll do 15 minutes now, and also move the laundry to the dryer.
Diane
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Post by danny15 on Apr 24, 2024 16:30:31 GMT -5
Diane, everything you describe about your seeds and planting is so fascinating! You could give classes to local growers!
We have been moving flowering plants out during the day for watering and sun and back in at night when the temps are too low for them to be safe. To keep the trailing flowers off the floor and from getting pinched under the pots I put out some short stools for them to sit on. The ones that don't have a lot of growth yet can sit on the floor. Lots of work.
DD1 has been having fun going thru stuff in the basement rec room finding lots of treasures and organizing for keeps or donates. Not sure where some of the donations will go as they are so varied.
I've been poking thru different areas setting aside small, random things. The stuff I think I need to hang onto until I unearth similar stuff. Like half used spools of satin ribbon, straight floral wire, extra potholders, battery powered candles that go in the windows for Christmas that I haven't used but I know there are more nearby. I know if I donate things half-way I will be sure to find the rest of a set shortly afterwards and be all annoyed. But I don't want piles sitting around waiting for the stragglers to show up. So I have to keep at it.
I remembered that I have to fast tonight for lab work tomorrow. And drink LOTS of water to avoid the dreaded thousand pokes if I am too dehydrated.
Our next-door neighbor gave us the very sad news that her black lab has gone into liver failure and only has a couple days left. Sweet girl Emma spends so much time here and has her own toy box of squeakers in our garage. We keep a plastic, snap-closed box of treats out there for her too. She LOVES hanging out when any workers are here. Even the UPS guy keeps treats for her and whenever he pulls into our driveway or hers, Emma runs as fast as she can to greet him.
Our neighbor invited DD1 and I to spend time with Emma at their house last evening. That darling girl got up off her bed with tail wagging to come see us. DD1 brought 2 new toys and a zip-lock baggie of sliced cheddar cheese. But just getting up wiped Emma out. She is not eating at all. We are all heart-broken. One son is my grandkids' age and they are waiting for their college son to come home. DD1 and I spent 4 hours petting her and sweet talking her. When she could, she would wag her tail and kiss us. We cried when we left. I hate good-byes.
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 16:52:46 GMT -5
Oh danny, I'm sorry about your neighbor's dog, I know from my dog walking that an animal doesn't have to live in your household for you to become attached and feel like, in a way, they're "yours" too. It sounds like she had a good life with much love.
Diane
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 17:13:06 GMT -5
Danny, I'm loving the mental picture of your plants each getting their own stool to sit on!
I spent about half an hour on the back porch, rested for a while, then went back and finished in about 15 more minutes. I didn't just clear the space in front of the window, I tried to straighten things up, threw a few things away, swept the floor, and brought in several bottles of rain water that were sitting out there.
Then I brought my laundry up from the basement, and worked on downstairs seedlings for a while, moving them around so they each get some light.
I still have to make sure the bathrooms are clean tonight, and if there's time I would like to go out to the yard and clean off one more area in the back yard so that the sidewalk is completely empty and safe to walk on. I also need to cook some veggies for dinner. Today went by so fast, I can't believe it's 5:00 already.
Diane
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Post by ohblondie on Apr 24, 2024 17:40:44 GMT -5
I am not accomplishing as much as I hoped I would be doing. I am doing something every day and I am bagging up things to go
Laundry and dishes are getting done I am getting my mom to visit my dad I started doing yard work and had a can of yard waste picked up
I still have yet to thoroughly clean the bathrooms though And very little getting done in the LR..... And my car, well, yeah.
it will be beautiful tomorrow so i will do some outside work!
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 18:14:34 GMT -5
Ohblondie, you need some time to decompress! These are your first weeks of being retired, you have the right to just sit and contemplate where you are and what you plan to do. And relax a little! When you're ready you might want to post about some small projects so you can start working on something with a beginning and an end, with individual steps to report, and that will make you recognize that you're getting things done. But you don't have to work every minute! Not to mention all you're doing for your parents! And kids...
I went out to the yard for half an hour, I wanted to get that stuff over with. I cleaned up the area on the back sidewalk, then I raked some more sod chunks on another sidewalk and put them in the yard waste can, then swept up underneath, including some grass clippings from earlier. Now I'm done with the yard for today.
Time for dinner!
Diane
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Post by desposito on Apr 24, 2024 19:24:22 GMT -5
Time to get ready for bed. I did a cursory cleaning of the upstairs bathroom and will do a better one of the downstairs one when I go down.
Good night all, see you at some time tomorrow!
Diane
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Post by catcats on Apr 24, 2024 21:05:09 GMT -5
Diane, I found your info on the 2 different kinds of seeds very interesting. I will look forward to reading about these seedlings as they get larger, so please do write about it !
Danny15-- I am sorry that dear Emma is not going to live much longer. I found it interesting and very sweet that you and your DD1 were invited over to say your goodbyes. That was so thoughtful of Emma's family to do that. I think it will be helpful especially to your sweet DD, that she got to say goodbye.
Today I was able to do all the dailies and also take down trash and recycling. Did a wee laundry load and hung it in the basement. Cleaned 4 of the condiment shelves and wiped off all the bottles and jars in the fridge that were on those shelves. Much knee pain, but didn't bother icing them today.
I made nectar and hung my hummingbird feeder this afternoon and a couple of hours later---there was a hummer already !!! I was thrilled !!! It made me wonder, since I understand that they return to where they were fed the year before, if they were just hanging around waiting for it !!
Wishing everyone a nice tomorrow !!
catcats
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Post by womble on Apr 25, 2024 4:57:32 GMT -5
Good Morning x
Danny I'm so sorry about your neighbours dog Emma, that's so sad, but also lovely the special people in her life got to say goodbye x
Ohblondie, I hope you are enjoying your retirement. A lot of people seem to say they don't know how they had time to work
Fascinating about your Salvias Diane, it will be interesting to see how they mature.
How amazing you get hummingbirds catcats, beautiful x
I have to get "guest ready" today. I was just going to do downstairs, but it's been so many years since they've been here I don't want to get caught out if they want to look around.
Breakfast
Feed dog Feed birds
Gather washing
Water my plant Wash load in 2nd in
Hoover downstairs
Quick mop
Utility room - move ironed pile upstairs
Dining room - clear table
Lounge - tidy throws, move shoes, flick duster over
Clean downstairs toilet
Kitchen-
Hoover Mop Clear worktops
Wipe
Wipe cupboard fronts Recycling Sink
Check fridges dates
Dishwasher on
Food delivery
Hoover stairs
Hoover bedroom Clean sink and toilet
Make bed Put ironing away
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