Halloween Kitty

I am Trixie and I love Halloween

Trust me. Just ignore my evil eyes. I mean no harm.

Bwahahahaha!!!

Creative Square Foot Garden

Everyone is trying to find ways to save money. Our family is no exception. We need to save not because we borrowed more money than we can afford to repay, but because most of the things we purchase have increased in price. Gas, clothes, insurance, and food are all costing much more. I have been looking for little ways to save money.

I have been planing to change half of my vegetable garden from traditional rows to square foot gardening. A square foot garden uses raised beds to grow vegetables. This uses less water, is easier to weed, and is more productive than traditional rows. I have been preaching this type of gardening for a couple of years without actually doing it myself. Sister#2 put in a square foot garden last spring and I am embarrassed to say she out produced me in a 4 x 8 foot plot. I have a 15 x 30 foot garden. Oh the shame. Anyway, I decided to start the square foot garden this fall.

I have been looking for free wood or rock or something to create my raised beds. This search has gone on for about two weeks. Yesterday, I looked up and saw our wood pile. Hmmm....those might make a fine border. So I lined them up, put news paper in the bottom and filled them up with compost and soil.

TaDa

Ignore the weeds. I will get to them later.

Now that is not a very good picture, but can you see the foot prints. Might be a wolf or a coyote.

Nope, here is the culprit. Last night the neighbor called to let us know Abby was roaming the streets. She must have taken a stroll through the garden before she went on her walk. Notice the nice big bone on the ground in front of her. That thing really hurts when she drops it on your feet.

Rainy Day Ramblings

Its raining, its poring, my husband is snoring.

Really, he is and I am stuck inside.

Here is the spider that was up in the corner near my computer desk. Pretty scary, don't you think? He relocated to a rosebush.

Rainy days always cause me to daydream. Today I am dreaming of roses I want to grow. The roses in these pictures are from the Earth-Kind Rose Trial at the Texas Agrilife Extension office in Kaufman on highway 34. If you live around here, do yourself a favor and check it out. The roses look awesome. They are not fertilized or sprayed. The variety above is Julia Childs. I don't own a yellow rose and must have this one.

This one is Bright Melody. I think it is a buck rose, but I need to verify that.

Finally, Rainbow Knockout. Hopefully, this Knockout will perform as well as the other varieties.

Now I am off to finish my scarf for the Scarf Initiative organized by Kathryn of Plant Whatever Brings You Joy. Do you think I should put fringe on the scarf?

Bad Bedfellow

This morning, I was sleeping well having nice dreams about sunshine and flowers when something crawled across my face. I woke up and brushed it away and the sucker stung me on the palm of my hand. Then it crawled under the covers making me scream and bounce around the bed. Mr. Bad Bug then crawled to the edge of the bed. I went and got some tissue to kill it with. Okay, maybe tissue paper is not the right weapon to use to kill a stinging creature. I was still a little asleep and a lot in pain, cognitave function was not at it's best, just saying. I tried to squash it and the little monster stung me through the paper on the tip of my finger. I dropped it and it stung me again on the side of my finger. At this point Manly Man is awake and very confused. I leave the room to go find Benadryl. When I returned to the bed room, Manly Man was in his tennis shoes and boxers trying to find the bug with a giant mag light. He said it fell off the bed, but we never did find it. I took the blankets outside and shook them out just to be safe. This was the worse wake up ever. Now I am afraid to sleep in my bed.

Dumb Dogs and Other Critters

Hugh at Rock Paper Lizard wrote a truly funny post comparing his cat to a possum. In the comments I mentioned that we have had a couple of retarded dogs. Hugh, in return, asked if they were clumsy. I decided to answer him here.

Here are Tisha and Trixie being nice. Normally, the little one chases the big one all over the house. Tisha was a birthday gift for Middle Monkey. She has spent the last five years paying us back by hunting Middle Monkey every chance she gets. Trixie, the calico, is Tisha's daughter. She barely tolerates us at all. We are just her food source.

Here is Abby. She is my dog or better said, I am her person. She has an obsession with me. I cannot go anywhere in the house without her right under my feet. She seems to be convinced that something is going to get me and it is her job to be my bodyguard. This causes a lot of tripping and yelling, "Abby outside." She has a very large bone, which she likes to drop on our feet. This hurts -BAD. Abby does not qualify as retarded, just a little touched.

Here is the bunny family. I paid for two female baby bunnies. I actually brought home a male and a female.

Here is Mario formerly known as Lucy. Mario is still in trouble for the unplanned bunny family.

Now for retarded dog stories.

When I was a teenager we had a grey hound named Missy. Missy loved donuts. My dad is a veterinarian and Missy was his clinic dog. One morning she put her head in an empty donut sack to lick the sugar. The sack got stuck on her head and she got scared. Now, grey hounds are fast. She went running all over the clinic through the waiting room, in the office, and through the exam rooms. Most of the staff, the ones who were not helpless with laughter, were trying unsuccessfully to corner her. She ran into almost every wall before someone managed to catch her and get the sack off her head.

Our last German shepherd was retarded. She ate the net off the trampoline so she could jump up on it and sleep.She would run down a monkey and pants them. That's right, she would get them down and pull off their pants. She would not stay in the yard and we could not bring her in the house. We tried to bring her in, but she would run around like something crazed knocking over furniture and monkeys. We put a shock collar on her to keep her in the yard. Now, I don't approve of shock collars as training tools, but this dog was going to get run over and we had to do something. I would rather put a shock collar on people who abandon animals on the side of the road. In the end, the shock collar was a complete failure as she was to dumb to remember that if she jumped the fence she got shocked. She just kept jumping the fence and being surprised when she got shocked. After a few times, I felt sorry for her and took it off. At that point we realized she was not a town dog and found her a home in the country. She was not any better for her new family and they sent her back. She ended up living out the rest of her life with my dad at the vet clinic where she couldn't get loose. You could see in her face that she wanted to be good, but she just was not smart enough to figure out how to behave. Poor Sammy was always in trouble.

Do you have a dumb dog or a smart dog?

Humming Bird Shower

Something really cool just happened. I was out in the garden watering with the water hose because the rain barrel is dry. In order to get the water to a few plants a little out of the reach of the hose, I sprayed water through the air to the plants. A little green and grey humming bird flew up and just hovered. Then she began flying through the water drops. She must have taken a ten minute shower. I was too amazed to move, so the purple hull beans got over watered.

Who Has Been Digging in My Garden?

Last week I planted two more tomatoes. I hope these little plants will grow fast and give me a good fall crop. This may be another year where I am dealing with green tomatoes in November. That’s okay we will make pickled green tomatoes and fried green tomatoes. When I planted these I really amended the soil with a ton of compost, blood meal, and bone meal. After the plants were in the ground, I watered them with compost/bunny poo tea. The tomatoes were planted sideways, so roots can grow along the buried stem. They turned their little crowns up nicely and seem to be growing about half an inch a day. So far so good.

This morning I went out to give them some water and discovered that something had dug a hole about six inches deep beside the biggest of the tomatoes. It was too big a hole for one of the cats to have dug. The gate was closed, so I don’t think a dog could have gotten in. Hmmmm. I am going to go out and heavily mulch them this afternoon and hopefully the hole digging critter will be deterred.

The mystery digger reminds me of another digging situation we had a few years ago. We have a tiny St. Augustine lawn. It is usually in pretty good shape, but we don’t baby it with tons of water or fertilizer. During the year in question all sorts of little cone-shaped holes were being dug in this little green lawn. I accused the Monkeys and they denied involvement. I threatened exotic punishments if they did not quit digging up the lawn. They pled their innocence. This went on for about two weeks. Everyday there were more little cone-shaped holes in the lawn. My husband came home one morning after working a nightshift and called me out into the front yard. There was an armadillo digging up the lawn. That was the only time I have ever seen one alive rather than dead on the side of the road. Stupid armadillo.

How I made a Mosquito Habitat and Another Use for Monkeys

I put an umbrella sedge in a large low bucket of water to get it ready to plant in the bog garden. It has rained a lot lately and there is standing water in the bucket. I took a look at it today and the water was full of mosquito larvae. I have mosquitofish (Gambusia Affinis) in my little water garden. I started with three and now have too many. So I stand over the little water garden with a cup trying to catch a few mosquitofish to put into the other container.

Middle Monkey asks, "What are you doing?".

Me, "Trying to catch a mosquitofish."

Him, "Move over I can do it for you."

Me, "Have you done this before?"

Him,"Yep, whenever you're not looking."

So he caught me a couple of mosquitofish and put them in the other container. They went right to work eating the mosquito larvae. These little fish should not be set free in streams or ponds, as they will out compete native fish. They breed fast. For my little water garden, they do a great job. They are supposed to be able to survive low oxygen saturation and high salinity. Pretty interesting critter.

If you ever need a critter caught, get a 10-year-old boy. They have amazing patience.

Hot Afternoon Bunny Drama or Abby has a Bad Day

It is 102 here and feels like 107. Usually, we put a couple of frozen water bottles in the rabbit hutch to keep the bunnies cool. I forgot to freeze them last night so we had to bring all four rabbits inside to keep them safe and cool. So we have four rabbits, two cats, three kids, me and a German shepherd in the house. There is only one kennel. Usually, Abby stays in there. We have to keep either the daddy bunny or the rest of the bunnies in the kennel to avoid additional bunnies. Gotta keep em separated - nuff said. So at least one bunny at a time is in the living room being babysat by a monkey. The only one having a hard time is Abby.

First she got in trouble for trying to give these a bath.

Then this one scratched her on the nose when she tried to give her a kiss.

Then this one chased her out of the living room. How humiliating.

Abby is not having a good day.

Buzzed

When I walk through my garden in the morning. There are lots of visitors. Cicadas, hover flies, butterflys, grasshoppers(grrr), dragon flies, wasps, and bumble bees. The bumble bees buzz by my head almost every day. This is a little startling, but I have learned not to swat. The bees will not sting unless disturbed (touched) while nectaring or when they feel the hive is threatened. This is a live and let live situation. I rarely get stung and the garden is covered up in bumble bees and wasps.

Unfortunately, I have not seen many honey bees this year. I look for them, they just don't seem to be around. This morning, I found one. She was nectaring on this sun flower. She buzzed off before I could snap her picture. Boy, was I happy to see that little critter.

Here is a short list of things to grow and provide to help out the bees

1. Nectar and pollen flowers. I like zinnias.

2. Violet colored flowers.

3. Bees like a bloom with a bulls eye - Dark eye.

4. Puddled water

5. Variety of blooming plant material.

6. Native plants.

The don't list is pretty straight forward. Pesticides are out. Even many organic pesticides are not selective. They will harm a bee just like they will harm a squash bug. If the bee is visiting a squash bloom you sprayed with poison to kill the squash bug, guess who else gets nuked. Oh and anyone who wants to get into the argument about BT, that's fine, but it will kill butterfly caterpillars, just like it will kill cabbage loopers. Just saying.

One other odd factoid. Bees can't see red.

Here is some moth Middle Monkey found. I think it had just come out of it's chrysalis and had not pumped up its wings yet.

It Rained

I woke up this morning to a pair or royally ticked off cats. They decided to sleep on the deck last night and it rained on them. As soon as I opened the door they high tailed it into the house complaining the whole time. Well, they didn't really high tail it, they don't have tails, more like high nubbed it.

It was not enough rain to make much of a difference. Most likely, all it will accomplish is making it more humid this afternoon. Of course, I washed a rug yesterday and left it out overnight to dry. Yep, it's wet.

There is a slight chance for more rain this morning and over the next couple of days. Wish us luck.

Mulch Monkeys

The Monkeys and a neighbor boy helped me spread some cedar mulch today. They were not quite as enthusiastic about it as they were about deconstructing a compost pile, but they got the job done. I am sure the 100+ degree temperature did not help motivate them.

Inevitably, someone asked why we are doing this. So I got another chance to teach. Here are a few reasons to use mulch.

1. Mulch keeps the soil cool and moist. This helps conserve water.

2. Mulch discourages weeds.

3. Mulch is is more attractive than bare soil.

4. Using bark mulch is a great way to recycle.

5. As it breaks down, mulch adds organic matter to the soil.

6. Worms like mulch.

Apparently, Trixie did not think much of us invading "her" garden and interrupting a nap.

Beneficial Insects - Content Warning

Look what Middle Monkey found in the front yard this morning. Excuse the blurry picture. That sucker was fast.

We do not spray for bugs in our garden. We like to let nature take care of everything whenever possible. I am always on the lookout for beneficial insects. Lady bugs and their weird looking offspring do a great job on aphids. Assassin bugs look pretty scary and eat anything they can get their proboscis into.

Our favorite killer bugs are praying mantids. All praying mantis are praying mantids, but not all praying mantis are praying mantids. It's a species thing. Anyway, these creatures will eat anything even each other. A baby mantid's first meal may be his brother. I feel very sorry for the male mantids. If they don't make the jump to the females back just perfectly for mating, they are dinner. Even if they do, she is still going to eat his head during the act and then the rest of him after she gets the needed genetic material. Just thought you should know.

I have a compost update. The pile stayed over 140 degrees for four days. Today it started dropping and currently is at 135. It still a hot pile. When it drops below 130 it will be considered active. Once it cools off to the 80's it is ready to turn and start the whole process over again. We have compost success and I am very happy.

Baby Pictures

I would like to introduce my babies

First, a cute little pumpkin baby. Yes, the mystery vines were correctly identified as pumpkins.

Next baby popcorn. These should be yummy.

Finally, Baby bunnies. These two will need homes soon.

Idalou Texas

Somebody from Idalou, Texas read my blog today. I don't know who you are, but I am naming the white bunny after your town. I love my site meter. One time someone showed up from Katmandu, too cool.

ARRRG...CLICK BEETLE!!!!!!!!!

It has been a critter filled day here at Aunt Debbi's Garden.

The temperature is below 90 so out into the garden I go. The chore list includes weeding, spreading compost, and killing weeds in the pathways with boiling water. Smells a lot like cooking spinach. Why would anyone every cook perfectly good spinach and make it into a green gooey mess? It is so lovely as a salad.

The first visitor we noticed was a giant swallowtail butterfly. It was sipping nectar from the zinnias. We check the lemon tree to see if it had laid any eggs. Instead of a bird poo looking caterpillar, all we found was actual bird poo on the lemon. Too bad, maybe later

The next visitor was a two lined skink. It was not actually a visitor. Baby Monkey kidnapped it from a neighbors house and brought it home. I made him release it in the garden after the poor things tail fell off.


I came back into the house to put the pot back on the stove to boil when I noticed something large and dark on my shoulder. It moved when I tried to brush it off. I asked Middle Monkey to identify it. He starts screaming, "It's a giant cockroach." I find myself dancing around the kitchen screaming, "GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF!!!!" He runs for a towel yelling, "This may hurt." Not sure what he was planing on doing. About the time he took a swipe at it with the towel I hear a loud click. Praise the Lord it was not a giant cockroach. It was a black and white click beetle. We played with it for a little while and let it go on the deck.

On further research I find that the click beetles larva eat corn plants. Hmmm, maybe we should have let it go someplace else.

Another Ridiculously Big Plant

It figures I would play my own game first. Middle Monkey here again with Abby and a giant Pampas grass at our neighbors house. I cheated and shamelessly copied Weed Wackin Wenches photo. Their's is way bigger and they didn't pose a ten-year-old boy in front of it. Anyway, do you think the scale may be a little off? Sort of looks like the grass is trying to eat the house.

If You Show Me Yours' , I'll Show You Mine

Here are a few pictures of Middle Monkey, one of his hibiscus blooms, and a couple of bunnies. The other bunny had dirty feet and a squirmy attitude. The brown bunny is fat boy. He has grown too big to hold in the palms of our hands.

No, my child does not have a tiny head. Those flowers are really that big. We thought it would be fun to see other big flowers and plants and pets. Even better, pictures of big plants and pets. To start us off here is Weed Wackin Wenches with Diva Dog and a giant Papas grass. I will be looking for your big blooms, big plants, and cute critters. If you feel like showing me yours instead of making me look for it. Leave me a comment. To repeat, we are looking for big flowers, big plants, and cute critters. Feel free to cheat with photo shop or trick angles.

Player #1 Cinj has what looks like a spider eating something

Player#2 Jack with a dinosaur

Player#3 Jack again as monster baby

Player#4 My Sister with her hydrangeas and daylilies

Player#5 Brenda with Abigail in the garden

Player#6 Tomato Casual showing the everything is not bigger in Texas. But the wenches already proved this.

Player#7 Kathleen with Hollyhock munchers.

Player#8 Silence Dogood has tamed a tiger

Player#9 Sherry love is in the air over at her blog

Player#10 Double Danger has a giant agave

More Toad Drama

As if last nights toad incident was not enough, tonight two of the monkeys rush in and shout, "Guess what K caught?" Then Baby Monkey shoves a Mason jar with a big ole toad in it right into my face. I scream, "GET THAT OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!!" "But, we want to keep him." Me, "No, NO REPTILES OR AMPHIBIANS IN THE HOUSE EVER. " "Okay, we will put him in your water garden, " they reply. "DO NOT BUT THAT CREATURE IN MY WATER GARDEN. IT WILL EAT MY FISH OR MAKE A MESS OR SCARE ME." I hollered while melting down. Manly Man intervened and I am safe.

Oh, BTW, I found a worse bug story.

One more thing. Somebody out there in the blogosphere wound up here through google looking for this.

Sitting on an ant pile.

I can't recall ever doing that. Double Danger has a whole bunch of advise on keeping this from happening to our backsides.