Ducks 4 in '24

[Dahlia]

I liked to dehydrate tomatoes too. I crumbled them over salads in the winter. I refused to buy tomatoes from the store and salad greens grow best before and after tomatoes. It’s not fair!

I refuse to buy rosemary from the store. My mom used to send me large boxes of it and I would hang it all up and dry it. Now I have to get it from my own garden or do without!

 

[ducks4you]

@baymule
1) do you drain your slices before dehydrating?
2) how thick do you slice OR how do you prepare tomatoes for dehydrating?
Haven't ever done it before this week, so I need to ask an expert!!

 

[ducks4you]

Did

it

again--bought more seeds!!! I picked up about 16 packages of seeds at Dollar General, 15 cents each, then I bought Giant Jalpano and Fooled You jalepano at seedsNsuch, Then, I bought a package of Amish Paste tomato seeds at St. Claire Heirloom seeds, and THEN...


I


bought


an Apple Blossom Amaryllis to be shipped to DD so that she can grow it in her office to bloom in early December.

 

[baymule]

I use a mandolin slicer. Perfect uniform slices every time. Also use for slicing cucumbers for pickles.

 

[heirloomgal]

I use a mandolin slicer. Perfect uniform slices every time. Also use for slicing cucumbers for pickles.

I love the mandolin slicer, I use it as much as I can because it saves so much work! I used to avoid making scalloped potatoes, but once I got a mandolin I was ready to make a pan of those every week! Love it for salad veggies too and pizza toppings.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

I


bought

an Apple Blossom Amaryllis to be shipped to DD so that she can grow it in her office to bloom in early December.
View attachment 69894

Great choice and truely gorgeous. Amaryllis are a great choice for holiday blooms. Its a yearly tradition here.
Just brought all the bulbs out off a break and repotted for the holidays.

A few pics from last year.

 

[ducks4you]

DH helped me straighten out the fencepost that holds the gate into the Inner Sanctum yesterday!
That tractor moved the 8 ft (8 inches thick, 3 ft in the ground) post over 4 inches to straight, and I put a wheel piece on the corner.
NOW, I won't be dragging it on the ground this winter.
DD's had promised to cement this post in, but we are out of time (weather) until next year.

 

[baymule]

I have one gate with a wheel, it is wonderful! All other gates will not accommodate a wheel, gate fits too close to the post. Hey! I have some of those leaning gate posts too! My dogs like to dig holes there.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

@baymule have a couple leaning posts and gate problems . I might get the tractor out and pull the post straighter lto make them easier to open and close, and add a couple cross bars. I have a bunch of blocks and T posts holding them up but I still have to lift the gates up because the ground isn’t level and a lopsided post adds to the problem.

I just finished pulling out 24 6’x8” treated posts from the old coral and removing the 3 metal AG gates attached to the posts . I got one of the chains out and attached to the tractor front bucket to pull out a T post that was set in the ground too deep. I tried for 2 days to pull that post up and it’s stubborn. If it doesn’t rain tomarrow I’ll try again. So frustrating.

 

[ducks4you]

DD pulled out the tractor last week and we pushed the post straight, holding with a sacrificial strap. Here is what it looks like. I have shoved some cement pieces and small bricks in on the north side. It only has to hold somewhat this winter. DD's and DH and I plan to take off the gate in the Spring and cement this supporting post (only) in. I don't want to cement every wooden post in on the property, but the newer fencing is using heavy stainless steel gates which are heavy and pull the posts over, over time.