Thursday, August 29, 2019

And still we are having "Summer time and the livin’" is HOT.


Ohmideargod – August is almost over.  Not that I’m upset that AUGUST is almost over because almost over means, almost cooler temperatures are on the horizon.  But, it also means another month has zipped by in this year of 2019.

Today is

USE More Herbs, Less Salt Day and the purpose is to encourage everyone to take a simple step to use less salt and more herbs.  Works for me!  And, since I don’t use pepper or chilies, I substitute herbs for those also.  There are all sorts of herbs that are bursting with flavor that can make foods tasty, like basil, bay, celery seed, dill seed & weed, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, onion, garlic, sage, mint, lemon balm, bay, oregano and, and, and. 



When I grow up, I want a house with a still room.  A still room is a distillery room and historically were found in most great houses and castles in medieval times.  Medicines, cosmetics and many home cleaning products were created, home-brewed beer, wine, and liqueurs made, and herbs and flowers preserved.  A still room was a working room: part science lab, part infirmary and part kitchen.  I want one!

One like this is good – I don’t even mind the skeleton.

While outside watering, I made note of a couple of the new plants (that is, first time plants) I put in this spring.  They’re doing terrible.  Big heaving sigh

One is Lunaria or Moonwort.  I ordered seeds and they popped right up.  Then, in March, I planted them outside.  They did pretty well and I had high hopes of seeing this


 and then this

since everything I’d read about Lunaria said “easy to grow” and “require little to no attention” and “grows in any soil”.  Unfortunately, like most plants, their heat tolerance is not given.  Mine looks like this  (boo hoo)

This is the only one of 6 that has survived the heat and humidity.  I’m currently babying this one so I’m hopeful for next spring – blooms and seed pods (please, please, please). 

The other new herb I planted this year was Valerian.  Easy to grow likes full sun and rich soil and lots of water and, obviously hates our heat and humidity.  Grrrrr 


Remember my whining about the downed pecan tree branch.  Well, my friend came out to help with disposal.  He welded the chainsaw and I walked many trips over to the fence to dump everything in a pile for heavy trash.  We got it done in about 30 minutes!


Later in the day I went out and started picking up all the green pecans because, as my sister reminded me, the husks will dry up and open leaving what will look like a good pecan (they are not – they are rotten). 


When I went out early this morning, this guy was on the brick ledge watching me.  Always kinda weird seeing an alien at the backdoor.


And, just in case you need to know - today is also

According to Hoyle Day

Individual Rights Day

International Day Against Nuclear Tests

National Whiskey Sour Day



9 Aug 2019


3 comments:

  1. About 3 weeks ago there was a bunch of baby praying mantis on the front porch all over this one area on my knock out roses. I grabbed a plastic container and grabbed them all up and put a few each on my lemon trees which were infested with white flies and aphids. I love beneficial bugs. I ordered a little morning glory bush about a week ago. It's doing great and it's in a medium large pot so I can bring it in when the winter cold gets too much. The rascal is thriving like crazy.

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  2. I'll have the whiskey sour, hold the sour.

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  3. I see your valerian looks as bad as mine.

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