Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all! A lot of new things coming up for next year and I can't wait to get them started. Stay tuned...

More Catalogs

Came home today to a surprise.... more catalogs.

 I must say that I was not expecting these to come in, except the Gurneys catalog. I did order from them this past year and was quite happy with the products I received. Even got myself a hat! Anyway, received catalogs from aforementioned Gurneys plus Burpee and Henry Fields. Now, everyone knows of Burpee. They cover every Lowes and Home Depot from coast to coast and I have to admit it was my primary seed source last year. There wasn't a week that went by that I wasn't browsing their life size, colorful display of
packets galore! But this year will be different! You can order most of your seeds online, get greater quantities at cheaper prices. Just don't buy the garden tools, light stands, etc. from the mail order companies. This will cost you an arm, leg, and part of your frontal lobe. This is why the ex computer cart will be the new light stand. Burpee has a "Deluxe" two tier Glow 'n Grow Light Garden Cart, which will hold 8 plats and rolls around on 4 wheels. All for the low price of $460.95. But it is for the serious gardener. Which is why I'm not getting one. Let me get you a picture of this Guinea Pig for you.

I figure I can get 3 plats on a bottom level and 3 plats on a mid level. Not as big as I thought it was. Doesn't look like much but it's heavy enough. The top measures 20" x 35 3/4". Figure on each plat being 10 1/2" x 21 1/4". A little overhang on the ends but I can live with that. I will have to take out the posts in the middle- right but I will find a way to mount the shelves on the outside. And find a way to mount casters on it. I did use this desk this year to help with my plantings so I need to find a coating for the top as it is starting to bubble. Next is design phase which will take a few days. Will keep you updated.

Waiting on spring.

Merry Christmas to All!

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope that you're holidays are bright and merry.

I have started a strictly garden- only blog.... tossingdirt.blogspot.com. I am looking forward to a productive year. A lot of things to try and change!

Catalog

Well, unexpectedly I received a new seed catalog this year from Territorial Seed Company in Oregon. I did look at their products last year but did not order from them. This year I believe I will since they are being proactive with their products! They do have a good selection and are worth taking a look at.

I will be building a cold frame soon and I have an old computer desk that I am going to turn into a seed cart for growing my spring vegetables. Stay tuned for this adventure! 2'-0" x 4'-0" lights seemed to be the hard thing to find as I don't want to spend the department store price. We have a Restore here in town but I never seem to catch the lights I want there. I'll keep looking but only until the first of February; that's when I start the majority of my seeds.

Well, Christmas Eve is upon the family and supper is being served. Talk at you tomorrow.

Swift Kick in the ...........

     The wife reminds me today, "you need to update your blog you know." I know and it has been a while. Things seem to get in the way but I promise more effort will be put into this. I did rejoin Facebook but having been on it for a while, I believe I may just deactivate it for good. Nothing but the same comments from the same people. So now I sit here on the love seat, the WOF snoring in her new Christmas bed and An American in Paris on TV, I write. Type actually but you get the drift.
     With the holiday season quickly approaching there are a plethora of movies and "specials" being shown on every TV station. I normally don't mind sitting through a few but the new ones really want to make me throw up. It's like they cookie- cutter them from one main idea; Old flames reunite in their hometown, not looking for anything special but get together anyway on Christmas Eve! There's only so many ways you can tell that story. This holds no interest for me. I do like watching the old classics and have reminded myself that we do get TCM on our TV. I watched a great story this morning, a movie called All Mine to Give. The wife was shopping so I sat down with the intention of watching my standard Sunday fair of This Old House, Ask This Old House, America's Heartland, etc. I know, an exciting, riveting schedule of TV bliss to be sure but somehow I couldn't turn away from it. Very  good story about a young boy doing what he could to help his younger siblings find homes after his parents died. Here's a link if you are interested in it http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050112/. Not exactly a heartwarming, feel good holiday movie but you can't stop watching. This will a purchase after the holidays for sure. And if that wasn't enough, The Shop Around the Corner came on next. If it's got Jimmy Stewart in it, I watch it. I have seen this one a few times and it's worth watching every time. Both of these reminded me of a movie I happened across last year with Edward G. Robinson called Our Vines Have Tender Grapes. Another purchase after the holidays. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037963/ I know, old movies, old movies, etc, etc. I am just a big fan of the older black and white classics. So with that being said I have decided to do a movie review for every post. The movie will be a classic venture, black and white if possible (although there are a few good colorized films.) Just as I say this State Fair from 1945 comes on. And tell you my opinions on it. There will be some that I know but I will throw caution to the wind and pick ones that I have never heard of before as well. I have to admit that I searched ahead on TCM's schedule and tomorrow they are running about five Cary Grant movies in a row, and I have set the DVR for two of them. Another actor I will not miss. Maureen O'Hara is another. Audrey Hepburn........ :) I think I am living in the wrong time. Things seemed simpler back then. No I Phones, email, internet.
     I keep tabs on a webcam from Cran Sur Sierre, a resort in Switzerland from time to time.

An image from 11-27-2011. This is the latest I've seen up here that it hadn't snowed.

Last two images show before and after the snow. These views are over the eighteenth green of the golf course, one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen to play. I hope one day to get the chance to play there. 

Here's an image looking over the small community at the resort. If you're interested, here's a link to the resort, webcams listed on the right. http://www.crans-montana.ch/

     The wife was offered free tickets to the UNC basketball games a while back so we took the boy and one of his friends and had a great time. Not so much fun getting there but fun non the less. Many thanks to the benefactor. 

Even wore blue in support of the home team. 

     Holidays approaching and we are getting close to getting the house in order. More cleaning and straightening to be done but that's it. I actually broke down and cleaned out the fish tank. Also managed to kill the three fish we had but at least the tank is clean now. And you know the old saying, clean tanks makes for fish. Maybe not. Anyhow here's a shot of the main tree and a partial shot of the Santa collection. Sorry if it's blurry but it is what it is. 

WOF of the Week. Taking it easy on Sunday. 

I will post later this week as I can't sit here for three hours at a time writing. Typing. Whatever. 

Thanksgiving

First, have a Happy Thanksgiving. I must say that this year our family has a lot to be thankful for.

We have traveled to the great state of West By God Virginia to spend the holiday with our families. The oldest boy flew out from Camp Geiger and we drove up Wednesday morning through the miserable rain and idiots on the road. Leaving at 4:00 am was the wife's idea and I am not sure that was the wisest move as it was a cranky ride up. Don't believe I'll do that again.

Rain has been unrelenting in WV for the previous few days and my family lives along the Little Kanawha River. It is moving quickly at least so it shouldn't cause too many problems. I have a picture and video for you.

The youngest boy has finally caught me in height. 13 years old and 6'-0" tall. Some day he'll quit growing but I'm not sure when. He really enjoys life and I have a bunch of new ideas for things we can do next year as he is the only child now. He does enjoy that but not the chores that come with it. 

The oldest boy got leave for this holiday and learned that he will be stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. That makes the wife happy as he is close to home. His is in 308 but we don't know what company. He is also a 0311 infrantry-man and hopes to be team leader. He's talking about being deployed next June or so. 

 Well, more family is showing up so I'll leave you with one more photo and wishes for a happy holiday for you and yours. 

Until next time.....

Updates, Updates, Updates, and then some.

Well, it's about time for some updates. As you all know, winter is just around the corner. I spent the morning cleaning out the beds of any remaining plants except the beans. I hope to get something off of them before the first freeze. We've had a few frosts but no hard freeze yet. Maybe one night this week but I think that will be it.

Grow little beans, GROW!

Anyway, other than waiting for the first freeze and, more drearily that winter is coming soon, the flowers are doing good.

And I am going to be ordering seeds today/tonight. Get them at this years' prices. That's what I say. I did get some lettuce in the ground a few weeks ago and actually just remembered them. Let me go look...

And I don't see anything. I need to work on what to get in the ground right now. 

Here's a few pictures from my travels lately. Leaves are changing. 

Went and saw the oldest boy this past Saturday and he demonstrated his dance moves that they work on in the barracks. 

Techno music. Wow. 

WOF of the Week.

Really getting into her love seat lately.

That's all for now but i will have some more this week. 

Battleship North Carolina

So we head off to USMC Base Camp Geiger at 0600 to see the boy for the day. Plan was to go down to the Battleship North Carolina which is down in Wilmington, NC. You just don't realize how big these things are until you are actually on them. It's about 730 foot long. It's main armament are three 16" guns on the front, capable of sending projectiles 21 to 23 miles! Some pictures from the day.....

Someone is tired from their weekend liberties.

I was hesitant to stop to let the wife take this picture. I could see Gibbs coming outside to shoot me, as they shoot everyone as you know. 

All in all a good day. Had a nice picnic lunch at the battleship grounds. Too bad we couldn't have done more but there just isn't time when you have to drive some distance to do anything. 

On the garden front we went out Saturday and I got some New York ferns to plant, a herb garden/pot setup so I can grow some herbs over the winter. I'll have a picture of it for you next time. Also got a few flower packs as I want to try to grow some indoors this winter but I don't know how successful I will be. Also planted some Simpson Elite lettuce in the garden. I should probably get some carrots in the ground as well. Also hoping that we'll get green beans before the first frost, which isn't too far away!

We have an old metal computer desk that i used as my desktop for planting this year that I am considering turning in to a light stand for when I start my seed next year. I think that if I add some wood members, cheap casters, and modify the shelves I can have a pretty good stand for cheap. I have two (2) bulb lights but would like to have two (4) bulb lights for it. Keeping my eye out for those. Once I get the design on paper I'll do a build here and let you witness the catastrophe. 

I do have a good WOF of the Week picture but that will have to wait until later this week.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

My favorite season has arrived. If it could be like this year- round, I'd be in heaven. Cool, crisp mornings, mild afternoons, and cool evenings. Perfect! Oldest boy has to like it as he's now not baking in the heat, youngest boy definitely likes it. I've even got him talked into moving out to northern California but the wife is still being a....

It's happening all over! Leaves are coming down and covering the ground. Driving around I see all kinds of displays! I need to pull over more and get some good shots before they are gone for the winter.

Grabbed the youngest boy and we took off for a state park somewhat near us this past Sunday. Below are some of the pictures I took. He took some as well and I believe his are better. He really likes the outdoors. The park's name is Medoc Mountain, and no, there's no real mountain here. No cell coverage either. 

Thought this was a neat passageway. Reminded us when we went to Cranberry Glades last year.

There is a very large picnic area and open fields as well.

On our return trips for Almost Heaven, we usually go off the mountain at Fancy Gap, VA down Route 52, maybe hitting the farmer stands at the bottom. This time we went down I-77 and I was able to get this shot with the overhanging clouds.

Pretty Cool.

Now, I get emails all the time from all kinds of sites (not those:). Most people do. Now, I got one from one of the job listing sites and it had a job working in Prudhoe Bay, AK, North Slope. I know where Prudhoe Bay is at but curiosity got the best of me so I went to city data.com and looked up the statistics on this place. I had to take a pictures with my phone of what I saw at the top. 

At this time four (4) people live there with an average age of 11.5 years. 2 males and 2 females, but the difference is 60% males and 40% females, so instead of going by actually numbers they must go by weight.

Household income is off the scale! These kids do well working in the oil fields. 

No Way!!!!!!!

I stole this off of Facebook. My brother In Law had it posted on his wall and I thought it was funny. Thing is, we've been mocking Star Wars as of late anyway so this just fits right in. 

You've got to have a sarcastic, dry sense of humor around me. I find the ordinary funny I guess. 

No WOF of the Week this time. Sorry. I promise another update this weekend.

What in the ......., Really?

My job requires traveling to different project sites from time to time and here lately it seems all I have been doing is driving.  I bet I probably have about 3,000 miles under my butt from the month of September alone. And I have to say I'm not like most people when it comes to driving. First, I really don't speed over the limit. I see no sense in getting someplace 10 minutes sooner by speeding. After you get the ticket you'll see that it is not worth it. Secondly, I don't listen to the radio unless it's NPR (news) or I may throw in a CD (which I have been buying lately.) Other than that, it's silence. Oh, if I can  find a ball game or talk radio on the AM dial, I go there. But most of the time it is silence. It gives me time to think and I also like to look around, especially this time of year. Leaves will be changing real soon and I'm not going to miss this! I also people watch, seeing the different types of drivers that usually go past me, or on the rare occurrence I pass them. Case in point.......

Honestly my first though was "Circus around here?" But as I passed it was an older couple on their way somewhere. And this fellow was traveling a good highway speed. I don't know if it was their stuff that they had, just bought, or were getting rid of. I make it a point of not joking about people's situation in life but the load did catch me off guard. 

Got a phone pic from the oldest boy this past weekend I wanted to share with you. He says he looks good in this and I suppose in a way he does. 

If he gets shipped overseas, I want to see this stuff from head to toe!

Getting something out of my truck a few nights back.

Now this is what I call determination or a bad GPS system. Must be the same type we have as it couldn't find it's way out of a bag. You can see on the left where he (she?) climbed up the side of the mailbox, cruised around the top, then decided that there wasn't much to see.

Seriously???!!!!! This picture was taken Friday, SEPTEMBER 30TH!!!!! And so it $&^**@#@ starts. There needs to be a statute on the books of every town across the USA stating that no Christmas decorations, displays, and/or selling of merchandise shall take place until the weekend after Thanksgiving, period. Give me a break. I might as well go ahead and wish you Happy Holidays now!

Garden- wise, I think I'll start on some carrots and onions for spring picking and try (this time successfully) to get some cabbage to come in. More on this later though. 

Talk at you soon.