Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: April 5-April 11, 2026

[Meemur]

Warming up back into the 70s here. It's still muddy, but I've got help coming for potato planting on Saturday. In the meantime, I'm working on the driveway containers: peas, lettuce, radishes. The inside onions are getting hardened off. They'll be fine. The outside onions, the volunteers, are growing like weeds, and I think I see a volunteer tomato emerging in one of the containers. It's not quite big enough to tell for sure.

I've been having 4 - 5 tomatoes sprout in the spring in or between the containers. They aren't supposed to overwinter here!

 

[summerthyme]

Warming up back into the 70s here. It's still muddy, but I've got help coming for potato planting on Saturday. In the meantime, I'm working on the driveway containers: peas, lettuce, radishes. The inside onions are getting hardened off. They'll be fine. The outside onions, the volunteers, are growing like weeds, and I think I see a volunteer tomato emerging in one of the containers. It's not quite big enough to tell for sure.

I've been having 4 - 5 tomatoes sprout in the spring in or between the containers. They aren't supposed to overwinter here!

They're self seeding? That's normal, even if we see 20 below or colder. Interestingly, I've never seen a volunteer pepper plant, but volunteer tomatoes can be an actual weed issue in my gardens...

Summerthyme

 

[Meemur]

They're self seeding? That's normal, even if we see 20 below or colder. Interestingly, I've never seen a volunteer pepper plant, but volunteer tomatoes can be an actual weed issue in my gardens...

Summerthyme

That never happened for me in Ohio, but I suspect it was because I was only growing hybrids, not heirlooms, and my hybrids weren't all that robust. Now, I'm growing mostly heirlooms, which I'm fairly sure my volunteers are. In any case, that's good to know. It's certainly not what I was taught at Michigan State, but as we all know, professors don't know everything.

 

[summerthyme]

I've often transplanted early volunteers...they often produce a week or two earlier than the ones I started indoors! And yes, I've grown mostly OP varieties for decades, now...

I'm hoping to be able to offer seeds after harvest this year. About 6 years ago, I had an accidental cross... apparently, a Debarao paste tomato crossed with a Pantano Romanesco beefsteak type. I grow 3 Pantanos every year solely because of the flavor...adding a few to tomato sauce or puree makes a huge difference in taste. Otherwise, they're a bit of a PITA...they are robust and grow easily, but the stems are so tough you really need snips too harvest them. That's mostly because the skins are SO tender, if you grab a tomato firmly and try to twist it off the plant, your fingers meet in the middle! And then, many of the fruits are so big they can be difficult to squeeze through the 4" mesh in my cages!

Anyway, I've been growing out the cross for five years...it has stabilized into producing 12-14 ounce fruits...shaped like a thick paste tomato. Very meaty, but also juicy...and with really good flavor. I named it "Mammoth All Purpose", and its my main variety these days.

If this year's crop looks good, I'll offer seeds for sale this fall...

Summerthyme

 

[Wildwood]

In all my years of growing tomatoes, I've never had a single volunteer. I do about 80% heirloom and 20% hybrid. I do keep the tomatoes picked so it would be rare for seeds to hit the ground plus I usually lightly till that area so anything starting would be disturbed.

Speaking of starts, I came home from a whole day of highway yard sales this evening and found a whole tray of small bell pepper seedlings with the tops gone. I've had this happen before when I kept my starts on the edge of the back porch during the day instead of the front porch. I always suspected mice but now I'm positive. They were fine this morning.

At the last minute, in fear of something happening to my hard to come by pepper seedlings, I decided to leave them in the house and miss a day of sunlight...my bad. That old saying "I make plans and God laughs" is appropriate right about now lol. Right before I found them, I heard what sounded like a mouse in the hot water heater closet. We realized we didn't have a bit of Just One Bite in this part of the house.

I have about a dozen plants left...I may be buying pepper starts for the first time in years. I'll start another tray but I'm using @hd5574's paper towel method for germinating to speed the process up a little. My plants will produce until first frost if I ever get them planted so plenty of time left to start more. Plus I have another year's worth of chopped up peppers in the freezer...we haven't even touched last year's crop yet.

The yard sale was fun, showed a lot of growth from the last few years in vendors and buyers which is wonderful because most are doing the opposite. We found more good deals than expected and enjoyed a day out together. I wish we could go back tomorrow because we missed about a fourth of it...we just ran out of time. Wednesday is usually the first and slowest day...not today. By the end of the day, most locations were well picked over.

Recently, I set my intentions for a comb binder to assemble booklets of information. You can add to them if needed. Also, I'm going to put some of my cookbooks in them. They are so much easier to use and keep clean in one of them. Anyway, I found one for $15, brand new and still in the box, at one of the churches we went to. It also had a box full of the combs with it. I have the disc bound system and love it but these are more permanent. I also found a fork pastry blender at the same church...can't say how many times I've almost bought one on eBay but just would not spend the money...the one today was fifty cents and the woman checking DH out told him she was giving it to me. It was a wonderful day...one for the memory banks. We got to visit with many vendors we've been buying from for years. One couple we really love in their early 80's, felt a little bittersweet. She'd really gotten a little more fragile than she was last fall. She gave me a tiny quilt square she'd turned into a prayer pocket then and she gave me two more today for my little granddaughter who loves mine. I'll gift her mother with the other. They each contain a little scripture page and mine had a tiny cross tucked in. I'm going to find two little crosses to go in theirs and give to them.

 

[Meemur]

Sorry about the mouse! Too bad a hawk didn't get it.

 

[ginnie6]

Well we had to cover the few plants dh already put out last night. It was the last date we saw for a possible frost. Not sure it got as cold as predicted though as its showing 41 here. So hopefully now there won't be anymore chance of it and we can finish planting this weekend. I feel 100% but dh is still a little "pekid" as my Granny would've said. That's not gonna stop him though.

Had both the local grands yesterday. DD had a client drive in from Va to see houses so she ended up being out most of the day. Got the cutest video of dgd saying mommy and daddy NEVER feed her and she has to come to granny's to eat lol! I kid you not within twenty minutes of being here she was asking for a snack. She's going to be four in July and yesterday she ate (after a full breakfast at home) two apples, three good size bowls of yogurt, two adult size servings of butter noodles, a piece of pork loin, blackeyes peas, and of course the gummy bears that magically grow in dh's pocket lol. I told her she was like her mommy at that age, she has a hollow leg and all her food falls down to her leg! Dgs was not far behind her either. He was sleepy when they got here so he was a little fussy for a while plus it was chilly and dd didn't realize it when she dressed them so we couldn't go outside to distract him. He loves being outside!

Today I'm off to quilt guild. I didn't make it last month for some reason so I'm excited. I have something to work on while there and just need to make me some lunch to take. I'm thinking just a bacon and egg sandwich I can warm up. And I'm getting close to finishing the guild quilt I've been hand quilting! I'm down to the last corner. I have never been so glad to see the end of a quilt. So to finish and then wash this thing before handing it on to someone else to bind. I'm going to take the extra backing and tack it down to the front to wash it. It HAS to be washed before I hand it on though. After eight months of being worked on its dirty. I don't quilt in a frame so its just folded up and laid wherever when I'm not working on it and when I am Rufus MUST be on or under it lol.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Just checking in. Nothing to report. Another nice, warm, and sunny day, so I'm going to enjoy outdoors.

 

[Meemur]

Me, too, SB. It's sunny and in the low 50s here. I've got some garden work to do: I've already got some weeds emerging. Yikes!

 

[connie]

Sunny warm weather here with no high winds this week. We gave up our small inground garden years ago. But we are going to grow some tomatoes this year in pots. And a few okra plants in ground. Easy to harvest and not available lin stores. No farmers markets. Occasionally cantaloupe and watermelon from TX valley sold roadside.
Would love to be able to buy fresh black eyed peas.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Sunny warm weather here with no high winds this week. We gave up our small inground garden years ago. But we are going to grow some tomatoes this year in pots. And a few okra plants in ground. Easy to harvest and not available lin stores. No farmers markets. Occasionally cantaloupe and watermelon from TX valley sold roadside.
Would love to be able to buy fresh black eyed peas.

Years ago, we had a huge backyard garden. We gave that up and went to raised beds. Now, we're giving up the raised beds. I don't even know if we'll try to grow anything this year. The farmer's market makes it too easy. At least for us. We're tired of throwing money away trying to make the raised beds produce enough to warrant the cost.

 

[summerthyme]

After 17° yesterday morning, the current 61° feels great...if you're in the sun, and NOT out in the wind! But its very windy, and it still feels pretty chippy...

We got 6 raised beds hauled out to the garden...4 more to assemble today. I'm hoping to use the flat garden (about half will be taken over by the new raised beds) solely for corn, snap beans and peas...essentially, the only things I grow in single rows anymore. The potatoes keep being rotated around the farm in random areas...this year, we're putting them in the open end of the fenced orchard (about half is fully planted with fruit trees, but we fence off the other half for pasture...right now, the 6 pigs are in there...they'll be moved to the woods pasture in a week or so...as soon as we can get that fence rebuilt)
The potato spot from last year will be put into pumpkins and other vines. I think I'm going to get some luffa gourd seeds and try them... it turns out, kitchen sponges are a potential significant source of microplastics. I'm not fanatical about it, but I'm doing what I can to eliminate plastic from our personal food chain! I got rid of all my plastic containers for leftovers years ago and switched to silicone and wooden utensils for use with my non-stick pans. I use either cotton or linen dish towels...no microfiber.

I have no way to prove it, but I have strong suspicions that microplastics in our bodies may be a large part of the major inflammation issues so many people struggle with...and inflammation is the root cause behind cardiovascular disease, and probably cancer (again, my thoughts...it will take at least a generation for the science to catch up - and probably two more before TPTB admit it!

I set 30 eggs in the incubator yesterday...I timed it so they should be about 2 days old when the 220 CornishX chicks arrive the last week April. That way, we can raise them all together in the movable chicken coops on pasture.

I need to prune the grape vines yet, but there's still about 4" of water where I need to walk to do it...hoping it dries down soon!

Hubby has been cutting trees for next year's wood...he usually works on it during the winter, but the snow was waist deep in the woods this year...not safe conditions for cutting big trees. He wants to get it all cut up in the next couple of weeks, so he can work on splitting it before it gets too hot.

We've got one cow getting very close to calving...since we're not sure how big the Waygu calves might be at birth, we're watching them closely...don't want to lose a calf.

Spring on the farm...it just gets busier from here!

Summerthyme

 

[markshere2]

Last night I vacuum sealed some bread making ingredients into mason jars using the Food Saver 'jar vacuum adapters' and oxygen absorbers from Amazon.
I have a hand operated vacuum pump for manual backup for the Food Saver 5200 integral electric pump in case it fails on me. Just one small step to stretch out shelf life a bit longer.

The Zoshiroshi bread maker is performing quite well. I'm done with store bought bread with all the ingredients and high price. I now make organic!
A friend gave me a mess of chicken breasts from the food bank. I'm going to pressure can them and store away.

Six more turkey eggs are in the incubator. For the first time ever, I have a turkey hen setting on her eggs.
She's a cross of a broad breasted white meat bird and a Kentucky bourbon red. I'm excited because in years past they always laid an egg and abandoned them. So I had been collecting them and eating them or placing 6 or so into the incubator to become the next years meat. I have two mating pairs of turkey. Last years hatch were processed and canned.

My chicken flock gradually aged out so I bought 20 assorted chicks from tractor supply. Eventually I'll sell some eggs to offset increasing feed costs.
A friend gave me three Chinese geese from his large flock. Two males and a fresh one year old female.

The goose hen is also setting full time on a nice nest of large eggs. The geese make a loud vocal fuss when something is not right at night. They act as a alarm for coons and foxes.

All my civil defense radiation meters are calibrated and tuned up. They are there if I need them. You never know these days.
This winter I repaired the neighbors generator set. I took no money, just a good deed. Last week he came over and gave me a big supply of beef from an American Aberdeen he processed. Huge amount of ground, a nice steak and a roast.
It's nice to do things that way.

New arrangements for the chickens and spring cleaning of the sheds keep me busy.
Trying to get well organized from lessons I learned from the winter storm. I'm grouping items by their kind so I can locate stuff better.

I continue to store gasoline. Once a month I purchase one 5 gallon container at China Mart and fill it all the way up so that little air space is left. I mark the date and shelve it out back where it will stay cool in summer. Been buying regular and ethanol free. Ethanol free is way up now on the eastern shore of VA.
I have a nice supply for the generators now, that I bought at much cheaper price.
It sure pays to prep early and always.

Suggest you Rotate yer gas into your daily drivers.

I use this thing from Amazon


works a treat!

 

[hd5574]

After 17° yesterday morning, the current 61° feels great...if you're in the sun, and NOT out in the wind! But its very windy, and it still feels pretty chippy...

We got 6 raised beds hauled out to the garden...4 more to assemble today. I'm hoping to use the flat garden (about half will be taken over by the new raised beds) solely for corn, snap beans and peas...essentially, the only things I grow in single rows anymore. The potatoes keep being rotated around the farm in random areas...this year, we're putting them in the open end of the fenced orchard (about half is fully planted with fruit trees, but we fence off the other half for pasture...right now, the 6 pigs are in there...they'll be moved to the woods pasture in a week or so...as soon as we can get that fence rebuilt)
The potato spot from last year will be put into pumpkins and other vines. I think I'm going to get some luffa gourd seeds and try them... it turns out, kitchen sponges are a potential significant source of microplastics. I'm not fanatical about it, but I'm doing what I can to eliminate plastic from our personal food chain! I got rid of all my plastic containers for leftovers years ago and switched to silicone and wooden utensils for use with my non-stick pans. I use either cotton or linen dish towels...no microfiber.

I have no way to prove it, but I have strong suspicions that microplastics in our bodies may be a large part of the major inflammation issues so many people struggle with...and inflammation is the root cause behind cardiovascular disease, and probably cancer (again, my thoughts...it will take at least a generation for the science to catch up - and probably two more before TPTB admit it!

I set 30 eggs in the incubator yesterday...I timed it so they should be about 2 days old when the 220 CornishX chicks arrive the last week April. That way, we can raise them all together in the movable chicken coops on pasture.

I need to prune the grape vines yet, but there's still about 4" of water where I need to walk to do it...hoping it dries down soon!

Hubby has been cutting trees for next year's wood...he usually works on it during the winter, but the snow was waist deep in the woods this year...not safe conditions for cutting big trees. He wants to get it all cut up in the next couple of weeks, so he can work on splitting it before it gets too hot.

We've got one cow getting very close to calving...since we're not sure how big the Waygu calves might be at birth, we're watching them closely...don't want to lose a calf.

Spring on the farm...it just gets busier from here!

Summerthyme

I have always used cotton or linen..dish towels..and pure copper scrubbers for stainless steel ...they can still be found...more expensive but the plated ones are a total mess...
I have all sizes of ball jars from 1/2 pint to half gallon..which make great storage containers in the fridge..I don't have a large fridge....this old house will not allow it..but the jars are vertical and stackable so save a lot of space
You can also use sea sponges..I use those in the shower also..

I have a huge old crock on the counter filled wooden cooking implements of all kinds...spoons, flippers, tongs, potato masher...even a couple of wooden spatulas.non stick
when mom passed she had really nice stainless ones with wooden handles..I saved all of those...I also over the years have collected some..large (cooking size ) mismatched sterling spoons..when I found a greatdeal..which I use cooking soups, veggies and stews
Years ago I had a girl friend who u

I grew up I'm a world...where you put your produce in brown paper bags at the grocery store...then saved them to flour your chicken to fry...or use for lunch bags...

Same thing with clothes and bedding...it was all natural fibers....

 

[Wildwood]

Years ago, we had a huge backyard garden. We gave that up and went to raised beds. Now, we're giving up the raised beds. I don't even know if we'll try to grow anything this year. The farmer's market makes it too easy. At least for us. We're tired of throwing money away trying to make the raised beds produce enough to warrant the cost.

Raised beds can be difficult, especially in hot climates like ours. It's hard to keep them hydrated and not too hot, especially the smaller ones. Mine are big and we have an irrigation system in them but still, I have to watch it carefully. I can't gain any ground dirt wise. We add it at least every other year but it collapses it seems like. It takes a lot of dirt to raise a 4' x 25' bed six inches.

 

[feralferret]

Am finally mostly recovered from a bad spell with my digestive system. Got sick Monday. Spent seven hour straight in the bathroom. Not from the diarrhea but because I couldn't stay awake more that a couple of minutes at a time. It's hard to stand up if you can't stay awake long enough. Too sick to be able to eat all day Monday. Ate very lightly Tuesday morning. Nothing the rest of the day. Ate lightly Wednesday morning before a previously scheduled medical appointment at the wound center for my right hand. Didn't eat anything else Wednesday. Ate a light breakfast Thursday and almost a normal amount Wednesday evening, although very careful what I ate.

When I was at the wound center, the doctor ordered a CBC blood test since I had lost blood in my stool the previous days. I am already very anemic. Sure enough my hemoglobin had dropped from 9.4 a month before to 8.3. At least not quite low enough to need another transfusion.

Speaking of my right hand, I have an appointment with the surgeon on Monday. It looks like I have lost the fight to save my middle finger. How am I supposed to flip someone off without it? Seriously, I have known for several months that I was losing that battle. I will lose the whole finger. My index finger that was amputated two knuckles down has pretty much finally healed, but not where it was supposed to heal. The bottom half of the stub is normal but the top half is just bone. At least I have a little something for my thumb to press against to hold things. I have an appointment with the gastroenterologist today (Friday) in the late morning and an ultrasound test later in the early afternoon that my primary care doctor ordered to measure my circulation at all four extremities. My appointment with her is Thursday of next week. At least my heart seems to be doing better, although I am sleeping a whole lot.

Watching out for severe weather in the coming days. If I were still in Amarillo, I would be able to go storm chasing like I used to back in the late 80s and early 90s the next few days. Monday through Wednesday look to be the potentially severe days here. Between phone alerts and my weather radio, it's easy to stay alerted. I also leave the radar on my computer screen when I go to bed so that I can see what is going on at any time if I am awakened. I have my wireless keyboard with touch screen within easy reach so I can deactivate my screen saver instantly and can access the warnings or other advisories immediately.

 

[Digger]

Prayer for you FF.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Raised beds can be difficult, especially in hot climates like ours. It's hard to keep them hydrated and not too hot, especially the smaller ones. Mine are big and we have an irrigation system in them but still, I have to watch it carefully. I can't gain any ground dirt wise. We add it at least every other year but it collapses it seems like. It takes a lot of dirt to raise a 4' x 25' bed six inches.

We have to add more garden soil to all the raised beds every year, plus cow manure. I don't know where all the dirt goes, but we have to add more. That cost money, and we get very little in return. I've tried growing cukes, summer squash, bell peppers, banana peppers, and tomatoes, but they never do very well. Some years were better than others. I only got 2 squash from 4 plants last year, and only a handful of bell peppers. Out of all the tomato plants we had last year, I only canned 8 pints. We would have done better and saved money by buying from the farmer's market.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I have an update on Cary's doctor visit from the other day. Doctor said he was doing great, but all of his bloodwork hadn't come back yet. Nurse called yesterday afternoon telling us that his bloodwork was terrible. Everything was out of whack. Now, he has an appointment with his Urologist for follow up April 22nd. His PSA was way over the top, and his white blood cell count was also very high. Other tests were too high, too.

We are trusting God that this turns out not to be anything serious, but we could use a lot of prayer.

 

[Wildwood]

We have to add more garden soil to all the raised beds every year, plus cow manure. I don't know where all the dirt goes, but we have to add more. That cost money, and we get very little in return. I've tried growing cukes, summer squash, bell peppers, banana peppers, and tomatoes, but they never do very well. Some years were better than others. I only got 2 squash from 4 plants last year, and only a handful of bell peppers. Out of all the tomato plants we had last year, I only canned 8 pints. We would have done better and saved money by buying from the farmer's market.

We have a small tractor and can get dirt from our own property but we have to ammend it...a lot. We just did that last year and the biggest part of my garden budget is going for the fence this year so I'll just add a few amendments and that is all we really need.

We don't really have a good sized farmer's market...more hit and miss so it's either grow it, drive an hour one way or rely on WalMart. It would be rare to find any purple hull peas anywhere and when you do, they are brought in from somewhere else.

 

[Wildwood]

I have an update on Cary's doctor visit from the other day. Doctor said he was doing great, but all of his bloodwork hadn't come back yet. Nurse called yesterday afternoon telling us that his bloodwork was terrible. Everything was out of whack. Now, he has an appointment with his Urologist for follow up April 22nd. His PSA was way over the top, and his white blood cell count was also very high. Other tests were too high, too.

We are trusting God that this turns out not to be anything serious, but we could use a lot of prayer.

Once again, we need a hug emoji...praying for y'all and a better report.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We have a small tractor and can get dirt from our own property but we have to ammend it...a lot. We just did that last year and the biggest part of my garden budget is going for the fence this year so I'll just add a few amendments and that is all we really need.

We don't really have a good sized farmer's market...more hit and miss so it's either grow it, drive an hour one way or rely on WalMart. It would be rare to find any purple hull peas anywhere and when you do, they are brought in from somewhere else.

We have a small farmer's market going into the small town where we do our grocery shopping. Over in the next county from us, there is a huge farmer's market. We can get purple hull peas by the bushel and anything else we want there. All locally grown from around the area. I can get so much more there than I can grow in these raised beds.

 

[summerthyme]

I have an update on Cary's doctor visit from the other day. Doctor said he was doing great, but all of his bloodwork hadn't come back yet. Nurse called yesterday afternoon telling us that his bloodwork was terrible. Everything was out of whack. Now, he has an appointment with his Urologist for follow up April 22nd. His PSA was way over the top, and his white blood cell count was also very high. Other tests were too high, too.

We are trusting God that this turns out not to be anything serious, but we could use a lot of prayer.

That sounds like he's got another urinary tract infection brewing...
Seems odd they wouldn't at least prescribe an antibiotic now, rather than wait 10 days for the Urology appointment...

Praying its something minor and easily resolvable...

Summerthyme

 

[SouthernBreeze]

That sounds like he's got another urinary tract infection brewing...
Seems odd they wouldn't at least prescribe an antibiotic now, rather than wait 10 days for the Urology appointment...

Praying its something minor and easily resolvable...

Summerthyme

Another infection is what I thought, too. I think "they" are thinking prostate cancer, though. Monocytes and alkaline phosphatase were too high, along with other blood markers. His good cholesterol was too low, and the bad one was too high. Bunn and creatine were normal.

 

[summerthyme]

PSA can jump with a UTI. It's unusual for white blood cells to be high if its "just" prostate cancer.

The PSA test isn't all that reliable as a diagnostic test for new cancers. It's inventor is actually pretty pissed the FDA allowed it to be used for that...he invented it solely to track progress in proven cancer cases who were undergoing treatment...its very useful to show whether treatment is working. But there are a LOT of false positives. We know two men who actually underwent biopsy (one of them twice!) and they found no cancer.

Since Cary had that kidney cancer a few years ago, you're right to be concerned, but don't get all wound up about it...it could easily be something minor.

Summerthyme

 

[SouthernBreeze]

PSA can jump with a UTI. It's unusual for white blood cells to be high if its "just" prostate cancer.

The PSA test isn't all that reliable as a diagnostic test for new cancers. It's inventor is actually pretty pissed the FDA allowed it to be used for that...he invented it solely to track progress in proven cancer cases who were undergoing treatment...its very useful to show whether treatment is working. But there are a LOT of false positives. We know two men who actually underwent biopsy (one of them twice!) and they found no cancer.

Since Cary had that kidney cancer a few years ago, you're right to be concerned, but don't get all wound up about it...it could easily be something minor.

Summerthyme

Thanks for that, Summerthyme. I am watching him closely for any sign of a UTI. He hasn't complained about anything, so far. His appetite is a bit off, though.

 

[summerthyme]

It could well be simple prostatitis...infection and inflammation of the prostate...

Summerthyme

 

[Meemur]

Prayers said for FF and Cary (and everyone else on the thread).

I'm working on the lawn today, before I go do paying work. I'm doing some light raking and re-seeding, just a few bare spots. I dug out some patches of Creeping Charlie last fall.

Most of the yard birds have returned: the robin family, the finches, and several sparrows. My cat is back to snoozing on her perch by the front window so that she can watch them all day. There was also a flicker last year, but I haven't seen it, yet.

 

[WanderLore]

Sheree, ask for a re draw. Labs can sometimes be wrong.

 

[WanderLore]

Lots rain off and on. Horses still in back acre.
Still sweeping water a little in basement but sump pump is working.
Just hanging out till this afternoon. Chiropractor and shop.

 

[Meemur]

Artemins II splashed down safely. The crew is fine.

I'm breathing a sigh of relief because there was a lot that could've gone wrong. This is 2026, and lots of professionals, even at the top levels, have concentration problems that cause them to make mistakes.

 

[ginnie6]

Prayers for everyone!
We got most of the garden planted today. This morning we went plant shopping. We originally planned on starting everything from seeds but managed to find plants at a decent price so went with that. Tomorrow the corn and bean seeds get planted then all there is to do is water and weed. I’m happy with how everything looks.
I need to go get a load of wood mulch this week sometime now that we’ve got plants in. I’d like to fill our little paths with mulch.
I’m counting on this garden this year!

 

[anna43]

I went to town to do monthly shopping today. Spent $124.40 on groceries at Walmart, Aldi and Dollar Gen and 125.24 on miscellaneous items at Walmart plus another $69.70 at Menards. If I send it the rebate, I'll get a $7.17 credit for Menards (minus cost of envelope and stamp!). I found seed potatoes at Menards 5# for $7.49. I would have preferred to find them loose so I could have purchased several varieties, but they were already bagged and I do not want 5# of each ... way too much for me. I chose Red because the other varieties were not something that keeps. Also got a bag of composted manure for the rhubarb and asparagus and 25'/18" chicken wire fencing to add to my fencing to keep out the multitude of rabbits. I think I have enough posts for this additional amount. I wanted a 50' roll, but they didn't have any in 18" and I decided not to buy two rolls.

I went to Dollar Tree for shelf stable milk but there was none on the shelf and the guy that checked the back for me could not find any. I imagine there was probably some there, but they were in the process of shelving a truck load and he likely could not see it. The aisles were blocked with carts of boxes and empty boxes were everywhere, so the whole store was a mess to get around in.

At Dollar Tree I ended up buying cards for May birthdays, a 50th anniversary card and several sympathy cards. I'm still reeling from the three family deaths so still haven't sent sympathy cards. I did take a card to the one funeral I attended but need to send cards and notes for the others.

The high today was 54º, dry and not too windy so was a perfect day to shop ... not too cold or too hot or too wet! The stores were crowded and some shelves very thin especially canned fruit at both Walmart and Aldi. I wanted pineapple tidbits but neither store had them except name brand at Walmart that were too expensive. I have pineapple chunks and can spend the time necessary cutting them into tidbits!! I also wanted tapioca but could not find any at Walmart. Aldi never carries it. I know HyVee and Fareway do, but I was not up to going to an additional store. I will start my next month's shopping list tomorrow with tapioca.

I wanted to bring my supplements and OTC meds to a full year's supply which was a large part of the Walmart total. I shopped with a list and got everything except the tapioca that was on the list. I wanted stew meat but couldn't find any so ended up buying a round steak to cut into stew meat for making stew twice. I put in way more veggies than meat, so it stretches pretty good.

Praying for everyone dealing with health issues.

 

[Meemur]

My condolences for all of those who've passed, Anna. I've had seasons like that. It's so depressing.

For what it's worth, I haven't seen tapioca at either Fareway or HyVee since around Christmas. I think a lot of the young people are using it in bubble tea. I know it's more traditional to use the black tapioca, but I'm told that the pearl tapioca works, too.

I'm still up, waiting for the Tylenol to kick in. I've been over-doing it outside. I need to pace myself better.

 

[ginnie6]

I'm up and enjoying my coffee. I had dreams of sitting out in the garden drinking it this morning but its still a little chilly outside. Its supposed to get 80 something today so that won't last long and I'm sure pretty soon that will happen.
We're going out as soon as we can to get the corn and beans planted. I will definitely have to water everything as there is no rain called for.

I'm getting close to finishing the quilt I'm handquilting for the guild! I'm so beyond ready to be done! I'm hoping I can take a day this week and just finish it. I may have to turn the ac on to do it though lol as the forecast says mid to upper 80's this week. Oh well. At least it would be done and I could get it out of here.

I need to get started on the pool this week too. We did not get it covered this year so its full of leaves. The down side of living under oak trees. It's going to be a job! But the grands will enjoy it and so will I after a hot morning in the garden.

 

[nomifyle]

Praying for you and Cary sb, God’s got this. Dh is racking up all kinds of appointments with his potential cancer situation, they are giving him plenty of pain meds now.

As for me, I’m still trying to clean, I’ve made a dent in the living room, a little at a time, the ocedar mop is great for dusting the walls, although I can only do a little at a time.

I’ve gotten one big thing done, I had a pile of cords of all kinds sorted and inna tote and that floor area cleaned, not perfect but so much better and I’m working in the kitchen inch by inch.

 

[connie]

I used to soak in Magnesium salts. My bad knees now make it too difficult to get out of tub. I keep a roll on magnesium bedside for cramps.
We made a big Costco run this week. It is 1 1/2 hrs away. Have vowed to go every couple of months as huge hauls just too tiring.
We are under storm watch later today.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

It's still in the 80's for us, but no rain in sight. They cancelled our rain chances for the foreseeable future. It looks like I'm going to have to drag out the water hose. Last Spring, we had so much rain that many farmers never got their fields planted. This year, we're in a drought. The farmers are getting their fields planted, but praying for rain. I pray this drought doesn't extend on into Summer and Fall, or we're going to be in big trouble.

I changed out the bedsheets to wash this morning, and it's so warm outside that I'm going to hang them on the line to dry. It's already 70 degrees out there. I also need to sweep and dust the house.

I haven't been inside Sam's in about a year, I guess. Once I got my pantry stocked to the brim, I stopped buying in bulk. Now, I just replace a few items at a time as they get low. I have been wanting to go just to see if there have been any changes. We might stop in when Cary goes for his follow up appointment.

I'm making beef meatballs and gravy with mashed potatoes for supper tonight. I don't know yet what I'll make to go with that, but it will be another veggie of some kind plus cornbread. I made a chocolate cake, yesterday, so that will be dessert. It's the first cake I've made in months. We're all out of fresh fruit, and it will be Wednesday, before we go grocery shopping.

We have Home Fellowship, tomorrow.

 

[kyrsyan]

Yesterday was hard crash day. I've been so stressed, and the final verification that the mortgage is approved came through. All that is left is signing next Friday. So the stress backlash hit and it hard.

Today someone came by and quoted me for the backyard cleanup and house pressure washing. $1000 for both. Likely going to say yes. And he only wants $60 to mow every two weeks, for the whole yard including backyard. My current guy, who wants me to drop him, wants $80 for the outside and another $40 if he takes over the fenced area. So the new person is likely taking over the normal lawn care.

He's an immigrant but not from the normal groups. And he seems respectable. No pretending to not understand. No hedging. If his work is solid, I'll use him in the future.

But, by all that's sacred, I am bone weary tired. I won't stop though. I'm honestly truly appreciating the cleaner house and more space. But now I can breathe and do it better without the rush and stress.

I'm learning all sorts of tricks. Like magnets to hold curtains in place on the rod. And getting the rechargeable LED bulbs in fixtures, and which ones to use in which fixtures. And my sewing machine space should be clear soon.

 

[etdeb]

I had to hired a service last summer once spouse went in oxygen and it was 290 a week I had to drop him this year and also the pool service another 400 month plus chemicals. For the pool never used now due to health and limited mobility issues.
There were months last summer it ran 1000 month total service and chemicals.
Country life can be a money pit if you become mobility challenge and disabled spouse.