Simply musing, that's all!
Paul Goetze
frequently find myself between a rock and a hard place. I long to
discuss, dissect, criticize, complain about politicians, about the
state of the world and that of my neighborhood (the Western
Hemisphere).
I am not rejecting small talk .. not at all ... I simply yearn, in
addition to small talk, to make some unfiltered, spontaneous
observations about the things that are important to me and mine, and
yes, that does include spirituality, politics, racial problems,
economic and gender inequalities, just to name a few.
But here's the obvious rub: if we wish to maintain harmony in any
"general" usenet group we have to steer away from everything that
might bother, annoy, cause a spark or be subject to misinterpretation.
And because of this true dialogue is impossible.
Can't say that I have a solution but at the moment I could just bawl
because I have this urge to let loose in connection with some subjects
and can't because my highly prejudiced opinions might cause a hurt in
someone who holds opposite and equally highly prejudiced opinions!<g>
Sigh .. don't mind me, it's been a long winter and this is not a plea
to be given a green light when it comes to controversy! In view of
what happened in afpf six months ago I am not even sure I want that.
Simply musing, that's all! <g>
Paul
Michael Fanner
So far Paul, I've written three other posts in reply to this one of your's
and each one has fallen short of the answer you seek. I don't think there
*is* a solution.
Why not just let rip and see where the dust settles. <g>
--
Mick
Paul Goetze
Hi Mick, I don't think there's a solution either! And when it comes to
just ripping ... last time I tried that there were unforeseen
complications! This does not mean that I'll give up "ripping"
forever. Just wait till my hide is completely healed! <g>
Paul
Michael Fanner
Paul Goetze <paul....@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Hi Mick, I don't think there's a solution either! And when it comes to
> just ripping ... last time I tried that there were unforeseen
> complications! This does not mean that I'll give up "ripping"
> forever. Just wait till my hide is completely healed! <g>
> Paul
In truth Paul, the only solution is to ignore what you don't like. Either
that or develop a real strong hide so that healing doesn't become a
requirement.
You know I'm not one of those for pleading with people to return but it
does seem like a waste, you sitting out here while the action is over
there.
Whether it's people or subjects that you dislike, both are easy to ignore.
You just got to practise a bit, that's all <lol>
--
Mick
**Dalin**
Well said Mick. :) Newsgroups are not for the faint of heart, that's
for sure. You see all kinds of people that you might not like or
associate with if they were your neighbor. But if they are a part of
your group there isn't much you can do but ignore them. Or their
ideas if they want to argue instead of debate.
T'isn't a perfect world, you can withdraw from unpleasantness or you
can try and make things better. By example. I like a good debate
too, but only if I feel I have something to add. Most of the time I'm
ignored anyway! LOL! Well some people like to challenge, even if
they don't know what they are talking about. You just have to
separate the wheat from the chaff. :)
Hope you come back.
Dalin
Paul Goetze
The funny thing is, I thought I *had* a thick hide, Mick. As a matter of
fact I was rather proud of my thick hide! Talk about feeling like a
fool, in my self-deception I even went so far as to TELL everyone else
to get themselves a thick hide just like mine!! <LOL>
Paul
Paul Goetze
Thanks, Dalin! I hope I come back, too. But when I come back I want to
be full of my former self-confidence and mental ease and NOT like a
tender little plant who's afraid of having its itsy bitsy feelings
stepped on. Awwwww! <g> But seriously, that's why I'm giving it some
more time ... no one needs a defensive group member. They can be a pain
in the ....
Paul
**Dalin**
<paul....@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>Thanks, Dalin! I hope I come back, too. But when I come back I want to
>be full of my former self-confidence and mental ease and NOT like a
>tender little plant who's afraid of having its itsy bitsy feelings
>stepped on. Awwwww! <g> But seriously, that's why I'm giving it some
>more time ... no one needs a defensive group member. They can be a pain
>in the ....
>
>Paul
I have a theory and I could be wrong. My best friend since first
grade is a retired minister. I KNOW that people act different around
a minister, they put their best foot forward, they are kinder, nicer.
Sure, I know through your counseling you have seen the dark side of
what people can do to hurt other people, but maybe no one has ever
dared to challenge you in your home town or church. Because you are a
man of the cloth.
Maybe the ng doesn't see you that way because they haven't seen you in
church, or giving a sermon, or marrying someone. Maybe they just see
you as a person and so feel they can disagree, put you down sometimes
for your ideas, etc.
I think you are probably used to people smiling at you, complimenting
your sermon, inviting you for dinner, asking your blessing, your
opinion etc. You've been kind of put on a pedestal because you are a
man of God.
I guess maybe in a ng, where people can't see each other, and for that
reason are sometimes more cruel to each other than they would be if
they were sitting across the table from each other, people say things
they otherwise wouldn't say to each other.
Maybe most of us are a little more used to that than you because of
your profession.
It's not so much that you have a thin skin as you haven't been exposed
to ordinary people who aren't as in awe of your profession because
they don't live in your town or go to your church.
Anyway, I never knew anyone who could talk about a controversial
subject without offending someone!
Some people are too easily offended too. I guess you just have to be
true to yourself.
Sermon over! :)))
Dalin
Paul Goetze
**Dalin** wrote:
> I have a theory and I could be wrong. My best friend since first
> grade is a retired minister. I KNOW that people act different around
> a minister, they put their best foot forward, they are kinder, nicer.
>
> Sure, I know through your counseling you have seen the dark side of
> what people can do to hurt other people, but maybe no one has ever
> dared to challenge you in your home town or church. Because you are a
> man of the cloth.
You don't know Baptists, Dalin! <LOL> It is a rare minister that ISN'T
challenged by his church. I was extremely lucky in my last field but in
the churches before that I had to cope with all kinds of unpleasant
stuff.
> Maybe the ng doesn't see you that way because they haven't seen you in
> church, or giving a sermon, or marrying someone. Maybe they just see
> you as a person and so feel they can disagree, put you down sometimes
> for your ideas, etc.
That's what I always wanted. To be seen as an ordinary, fallible person
who's as chockful of faults as the rest of humanity. I have struggled
against the artificial barrier that has been put up between clergy and
lay people ever since I became a Pastor.
> I think you are probably used to people smiling at you, complimenting
> your sermon, inviting you for dinner, asking your blessing, your
> opinion etc. You've been kind of put on a pedestal because you are a
> man of God.
I would have been very upset if they had done that ... see above. But as
I said, Baptists (at least Canadian ones) are not exactly dying in awe
of their clergy! <g>
> I guess maybe in a ng, where people can't see each other, and for that
> reason are sometimes more cruel to each other than they would be if
> they were sitting across the table from each other, people say things
> they otherwise wouldn't say to each other.
Yep, and that's a shame because we are sitting across from each other
just the same, only it's not a table between us but a monitor and
telephone line. There are real people on the other end and we should
remember that.
> Maybe most of us are a little more used to that than you because of
> your profession.
Nope! Don't forget I was an office clerk, then sailor (for almost
thirteen years), then letter carrier, then mail handler, then Postal
Clerk before the Lord tapped me on the shoulder so I am no stranger to
the unvarnished human condition! <g>
> It's not so much that you have a thin skin as you haven't been exposed
> to ordinary people who aren't as in awe of your profession because
> they don't live in your town or go to your church.
Nope, see above!
> Anyway, I never knew anyone who could talk about a controversial
> subject without offending someone!
And that is a shame! Subjects don't offend me. Unkind people do.
> Some people are too easily offended too. I guess you just have to be
> true to yourself.
> Sermon over! :)))
And a good one it was even though it was a wee bit off in spots! :-)
> Dalin
Paul
Jim Everman
> snip <
So, to sum this up, you are saying that all of Paul's years of being
a minister have put him out of touch with reality? :)
Jim
**Dalin**
<paul....@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:>
>
>
>You don't know Baptists, Dalin! <LOL> It is a rare minister that ISN'T
>challenged by his church. I was extremely lucky in my last field but in
>the churches before that I had to cope with all kinds of unpleasant
>stuff.
I WAS a Baptist. As I recall, committees challenged the pastor,
individuals didn't. Sometimes, quite often, there was a big church
split. But it was rare for one person in the church to personally
attack the minister as is sometimes done on the ng. That's what you
aren't used to and it is awful when it happens.
>
>> Maybe the ng doesn't see you that way because they haven't seen you in
>> church, or giving a sermon, or marrying someone. Maybe they just see
>> you as a person and so feel they can disagree, put you down sometimes
>> for your ideas, etc.
>
>That's what I always wanted. To be seen as an ordinary, fallible person
>who's as chockful of faults as the rest of humanity.
Then it will please you to know that is the way I see you. :) I
don't mean that sarcastically either but I never felt a minister
should be placed on a pedestal. That is placing too much of a burden
on a mere human being. I do believe they should be given much respect
for trying to help us follow Biblical teachings about love,
forgiveness, etc. It must be very difficult to be a shepherd who
lovingly searches out the lost sheep and yet have human feelings too
of anger, disappointment, sorrow, etc. and be able to express them.
I have struggled
>against the artificial barrier that has been put up between clergy and
>lay people ever since I became a Pastor.
You see? You say that you had to cope with all kinds of unpleasant
stuff, but admit there IS a barrier. That has to affect the way you
view things.
>
>> I think you are probably used to people smiling at you, complimenting
>> your sermon, inviting you for dinner, asking your blessing, your
>> opinion etc. You've been kind of put on a pedestal because you are a
>> man of God.
>
>I would have been very upset if they had done that ... see above. But as
>I said, Baptists (at least Canadian ones) are not exactly dying in awe
>of their clergy! <g>
Trust me, they did do that.
>
>> I guess maybe in a ng, where people can't see each other, and for that
>> reason are sometimes more cruel to each other than they would be if
>> they were sitting across the table from each other, people say things
>> they otherwise wouldn't say to each other.
>
>Yep, and that's a shame because we are sitting across from each other
>just the same, only it's not a table between us but a monitor and
>telephone line. There are real people on the other end and we should
>remember that.
We should - we don't sometimes. And sometimes we say things we would
never dare say to someone across the table, and maybe sometimes that
is good. I don't know, but don't you think perhaps there is more
honesty even though it is hurtful? I don't know if that's good or
bad, but I think it is easier to not only to be hurtful to people, but
to bare our souls to people that we know we will never see. And maybe
sometimes putting something in writing lets us see ourselves a little
better.
>
>> Maybe most of us are a little more used to that than you because of
>> your profession.
>
>Nope! Don't forget I was an office clerk, then sailor (for almost
>thirteen years), then letter carrier, then mail handler, then Postal
>Clerk before the Lord tapped me on the shoulder so I am no stranger to
>the unvarnished human condition! <g>
I did forget that.
>
>> It's not so much that you have a thin skin as you haven't been exposed
>> to ordinary people who aren't as in awe of your profession because
>> they don't live in your town or go to your church.
>
>Nope, see above!
But remember, all that was a long time ago, a gentler, kinder world.
>
>> Anyway, I never knew anyone who could talk about a controversial
>> subject without offending someone!
>
>And that is a shame! Subjects don't offend me. Unkind people do.
But you can't make unkind people go away! You CAN go ahead and start
a controversial subject and ignore the people who don't want to
discuss it rationally.
My idea of a good newsgroup is a place for all, for good debates,
jokes, laughter, sharing sadness, sharing triumphs. And there will
always be someone to share one of those things with, perhaps a
different person for each aspect though.
>
>> Some people are too easily offended too. I guess you just have to be
>> true to yourself.
>
>> Sermon over! :)))
>
>And a good one it was even though it was a wee bit off in spots! :-)
Well....maybe in a couple. :) But I hope I gave you some good
reasons to get back on the other group with your guard up, gloves on,
and always that love in your heart for your fellow man. But it's
allowed to kick him too - if you do it in a nice way. <g>
Dalin
**Dalin**
wrote:
> So, to sum this up, you are saying that all of Paul's years of being
>a minister have put him out of touch with reality? :)
>
> Jim
Not really - just that he thinks people expect him to be or act in a
certain way and he doesn't want to disappoint them. He knows people
expect their ministers/pastors/priests to be better than the rest of
us.
It's not fair, but it is the way it is.
Dalin
BillB (FL/NC)
offer !
BillB (NC/FL) He who laughs last, probably made a backup.
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3c9d63c5...@nntp.mindspring.com...
Paul Goetze
Again, Dalin, there's some truth to what you are saying even though I
didn't get that from your original post. This unrealistic expectation
you are talking about can be a burden no human should have to carry.
There was only one perfect man ... ever.
But to respond to your point: I don't do my "newsgrouping" with the
thought that I'd better be careful because I might disillusion someone
... ever. Yes, it does hurt when I find out that someone thought more
highly of me than I deserved and that I let him / her down but still and
all I think that's more YOUR view of how a minister should act in public
than mine. And no, this is not written in a confrontational manner! <g>
My view is that sometimes people HAVE to be disillusioned so they don't
fall into the trap of following man rather than God. I thought I had
done a pretty good job in afpf of letting folks see the real me, you
could say I went out of my way to let people see the real me, warts and
all, because I can only be comfortable in a group as an equal, not as a
role model. And I hope that if Glenda or my daughters ever go to
"Google" to read my posts they'll say: "yep, that's him!"
Paul
**Dalin**
(Sorry Paul, I sent this by mistake to your e-mail address.)
>
>> On Tue, 19 Mar 2002 00:53:33 GMT, Jim Everman <eve...@Anet-STL.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > So, to sum this up, you are saying that all of Paul's years of being
>> >a minister have put him out of touch with reality? :)
>> >
>> > Jim
>>
>> Not really - just that he thinks people expect him to be or act in a
>> certain way and he doesn't want to disappoint them. He knows people
>> expect their ministers/pastors/priests to be better than the rest of
>> us.
>>
>> It's not fair, but it is the way it is.
>>
>> Dalin
>
>Again, Dalin, there's some truth to what you are saying even though I
>didn't get that from your original post. This unrealistic expectation
>you are talking about can be a burden no human should have to carry.
>There was only one perfect man ... ever.
>
>But to respond to your point: I don't do my "newsgrouping" with the
>thought that I'd better be careful because I might disillusion someone
>... ever. Yes, it does hurt when I find out that someone thought more
>highly of me than I deserved and that I let him / her down but still and
>all I think that's more YOUR view of how a minister should act in public
>than mine. And no, this is not written in a confrontational manner! <g>
I guess it's true that I do expect my spiritual leader to be a little
better person than I am, not perfect - but better. Just as I expect a
politician to uphold the dignity of his office and not run around with
young interns!
>
>My view is that sometimes people HAVE to be disillusioned so they don't
>fall into the trap of following man rather than God. I thought I had
>done a pretty good job in afpf of letting folks see the real me, you
>could say I went out of my way to let people see the real me, warts and
>all, because I can only be comfortable in a group as an equal, not as a
>role model. And I hope that if Glenda or my daughters ever go to
>"Google" to read my posts they'll say: "yep, that's him!"
To tell you the truth, I began to think of you more as an ordinary man
and less a minister the day you said that one nice thing about
retirement was that you could now have some wine. As a Baptist
minister, you couldn't. So in a way, you were trying to live up to a
certain religious standard in your church by not drinking wine as a
minister. At least I don't think you did. <g>
I hope I'm making some sense. It's pretty early in the morning and
I've only had one cup of coffee. :))
Dalin
Paul Goetze
this. So, here it is once again, this time for public consumption <g>:
Hi Dalin, I realize it's very disillusioning but, sadly, MOST religious
leaders are not better persons than the ones they lead. They've just
been given a different function in the Body of Christ. The Bible itself
is very clear that we are all ministers together. The things that are
expected of teachers/preachers are the same things that are expected of
ALL Christians. To me, the one I have always tried to live up to is
Christ's commandment to "love one another as I have loved you!"
My ministry HAS been a ministry of love. That's what I have preached to
the exclusion of almost everything else. God's unconditional love and
grace for those who so ill deserve it and the obligation this love lays
upon us to love others in the same way. Freely, unconditionally,
acceptingly, inclusively ... warts and all. But He expects that of all
of us, don't you think?
I have tried be a good follower, I hope that others HAVE seen something
of Christ in me but I also know that I could not ever live up to
people's unrealistic expectations of what a spiritual leader should be
like. Despite our love for our Lord we are not plaster saints. We get
angry, we do stupid things, make wrong decisions, yes, even act unloving
at times .. this is why I get so frustrated in the newsgroup if I lose
my cool and someone comes back with, "boy, some fine pastor/Christian
you are."
It is maddening because after a while we feel we have to put on a front
of semi-perfection just so we won't let others down ... which completely
defeats the reason for being in the group which is to reduce some of the
loneliness the clergy/lay people barrier has imposed upon us.
I know this contradicts what I said yesterday about Baptist
congregations and their ministers but I had to speak "generally" in the
group. MOST members of my congregations treated me as an equal, I was
"Paul" with them, they let me be flawed and loved me regardless. But
there were SOME to whom I was always "Reverend", to whom Glenda was
always "Mrs. Goetze" and it was because of them that being in the
ministry was so hard. And it was because of them that I gave up wine.
<g>
Just a small footnote, re, one of your posts yesterday: there were
plenty of personal confrontations over the years ... not all the
confronting was done officially, by deacons' boards. Some laid me out
for not preaching against things like smoking and drinking and dancing
enough. Others thought I was too forgiving when it came to others'
SINFUL behavior .. and these weren't just mild disagreements .. they
were angry confrontations.
I was generally lucky because my emphasis on "love" changed the hearts
of many, thank God for that. We really got more mellow and forgiving
with one another but as I said there were SOME! <g> I know that many of
my colleagues experienced far worse in their years in the ministry. It
can be downright humiliating to be everyone's property and super
Christian. A friend told me only day before yesterday that a member of
his congregation actually came up to him while he was mowing his lawn
and chastised him for wearing jeans. He did not think that was proper
attire for a minister! <g> Ah, well ... life is good now. I still get to
indulge in my passion which is to preach the love of God without living
in that glass house!
And I would plead with you to continue to see me as a fellow struggler
and not as someone who should be ahead of you! I might be in some areas
but you might have me beat by a mile in some others!
Paul
**Dalin**
I'm probably one of those people who would not have treated you as an
equal. <g> I probably would have called you Pastor Goetze, just as I
would call our president "Mr. President" if I were to meet him, not
"George". Just as I call my doctor "Doctor", not by her first name.
It's a mark of respect to a leader. It's the way I was brought up, I
guess.
I wouldn't care about superficial things such as your wearing jeans.
I would care if you were abusive to your wife and then preached love
from the pulpit on Sunday.
I know it's a burden, but I think it's unrealistic to expect people to
treat you as an equal and not expect you to be better than they when
you are our spiritual teacher. You see, we want you to be better!
We look to you as an example.
Of course you are human and will get angry, frustrated etc. the same
as any person. I think maybe we don't want to know or accept that
though.
You see, being a minister is a calling, not just a job. People who
are called - well I guess we think that is something special and we
expect special things from them.
That's not fair to you, but I really think that's the way it is.
But...the next time I get mad at you (if I do) I'll forget you are a
retired minister and lay you out in lavender, ok? <vbg>
Dalin
Sharon
I am Catholic and I respect our Priests, but they are as human as I am.
Like you said, there is only one perfect person and that is God. We all try
to do and be the best we can, but there is only one person who has the right
to judge us, others can only guide us on our journey.
Sharon
"Paul Goetze" <paul....@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:3C9749F6...@ns.sympatico.ca...
Paul Goetze
Paul
Paul Goetze
wrote:
>I'm probably one of those people who would not have treated you as an
>equal. <g> I probably would have called you Pastor Goetze, just as I
>would call our president "Mr. President" if I were to meet him, not
>"George". Just as I call my doctor "Doctor", not by her first name.
>It's a mark of respect to a leader. It's the way I was brought up, I
>guess.
>
>I wouldn't care about superficial things such as your wearing jeans.
>I would care if you were abusive to your wife and then preached love
>from the pulpit on Sunday.
>
>I know it's a burden, but I think it's unrealistic to expect people to
>treat you as an equal and not expect you to be better than they when
>you are our spiritual teacher. You see, we want you to be better!
>We look to you as an example.
>
>Of course you are human and will get angry, frustrated etc. the same
>as any person. I think maybe we don't want to know or accept that
>though.
>
>You see, being a minister is a calling, not just a job. People who
>are called - well I guess we think that is something special and we
>expect special things from them.
>
>That's not fair to you, but I really think that's the way it is.
>But...the next time I get mad at you (if I do) I'll forget you are a
>retired minister and lay you out in lavender, ok? <vbg>
>
>Dalin
Hi Dalin, the hardest thing on this earth is to overcome one's
upbringing. We, the older generation (ouch!! <g>) were brought up in
the belief that our betters really were better. I can't speak for the
secular in positions of authority but I know that when it comes to the
Church secular values don't apply.
We are servants of one another, the one most willing to serve gets the
prize not the one with the title. As to the calling: ALL have been
called! St. Paul put it this way (hugely paraphrased): some have been
called to be mouths (me), others have been called to be eyes or ears
or hands or feet. Because of my calling as a "mouth" I spend more time
in the lime light but all of us are important and all are EQUAL!
And you're NOT free to lay me out in lavender, after all you're a
CHRISTIAN! :-)))
Paul
Val Adams
Val de (wryly grinning) Lerkan Merkan....
(;-))
--
"Trust in God; but keep your powder dry."
.
"Paul Goetze" <paul....@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:vj8c9usn4ritu2raa...@4ax.com...
**Dalin**
<paul....@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
>Hi Dalin, the hardest thing on this earth is to overcome one's
>upbringing. We, the older generation (ouch!! <g>) were brought up in
>the belief that our betters really were better. I can't speak for the
>secular in positions of authority but I know that when it comes to the
>Church secular values don't apply.
Oh I don't think we always in our hearts thought our "betters" were
better, but we were taught to respect those who were in positions of
authority, whether religious or otherwise. Doesn't mean we didn't
curse them under our breath! <g>
>
>We are servants of one another, the one most willing to serve gets the
>prize not the one with the title. As to the calling: ALL have been
>called! St. Paul put it this way (hugely paraphrased): some have been
>called to be mouths (me), others have been called to be eyes or ears
>or hands or feet. Because of my calling as a "mouth" I spend more time
>in the lime light but all of us are important and all are EQUAL!
I'm sorry, I know what you are saying but when you called yourself a
"mouth" I just got the giggles and can't stop. You certainly do have
a silver tongue!
Some people don't know what their calling is however, that's why we
look to our spiritual leaders to show us the way. And we may accept,
but still hate, that they sometimes have clay feet.
>
>And you're NOT free to lay me out in lavender, after all you're a
>CHRISTIAN! :-)))
And human too. So if I do lay you out in lavender you, as a
Christian, will forgive me won't you? <g>
Dalin - who occasionally backslides <g>
Paul Goetze
Hi Val, long winter isn't it! <g>
Paul
"Val Adams" <va_ada...@STEMSpacbell.net> wrote in message
news:FWKl8.11158$j96.8...@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
Val Adams
good authority, once you set them lil suckers in the ground, practically
nothing on earth will prevent tomatoes....then you get to weed & feed &
water & pick & preserve.....whole career all by their own selves....
;)
--
"just one cure for the winter time blues!"
.
"Paul Goetze" <paul....@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:qSNl8.13791$V94.1...@news20.bellglobal.com...
**Dalin**
<va_ada...@STEMSpacbell.net> wrote:
>yup! puttin' in tomatoes this week, though, that ought to help; have it on
>good authority, once you set them lil suckers in the ground, practically
>nothing on earth will prevent tomatoes....then you get to weed & feed &
>water & pick & preserve.....whole career all by their own selves....
>;)
Val, you are in Canada? Isn't it a little early to plant those
tomatoes?
It's snowing here today and we don't plant anything until June 1.
Then we have to be careful to pick the type of tomatoes that we plant,
they have to be early maturers, otherwise the fall frost will get them
before they are full grown. :(
Dalin
Jim Everman
>
> yup! puttin' in tomatoes this week, though, that ought to help; have it on
> good authority, once you set them lil suckers in the ground, practically
> nothing on earth will prevent tomatoes....then you get to weed & feed &
> water & pick & preserve.....whole career all by their own selves....
> ;)
Very little will grow in the dirt that's on this city lot, but when I
did grow tomatoes, I would plant four or five plants at random spots
around the yard. No weeding, no special care except to avoid mowing
them. :) Oh yeah - and supports as they started to bear fruit. I
always had more tomatoes than I could eat, and one year nearly filled
the freezer compartment of my refrigerator with them. (Blanched,
peeled, quartered and packed in zip-lock bags.)
Jim
BillB (FL/NC)
--
"Jim Everman" <eve...@Anet-STL.com> wrote in message news:3C9927F...@Anet-STL.com...
Val Adams wrote:
>
> yup! puttin' in tomatoes this week, though, that ought to help; have it on
> good authority, once you set them lil suckers in the ground, practically
> nothing on earth will prevent tomatoes....
- SNIP -
Jean B.
>
> Very little will grow in the dirt that's on this city lot, but when I
> did grow tomatoes, I would plant four or five plants at random spots
> around the yard. No weeding, no special care except to avoid mowing
> them. :) Oh yeah - and supports as they started to bear fruit. I
> always had more tomatoes than I could eat, and one year nearly filled
> the freezer compartment of my refrigerator with them. (Blanched,
> peeled, quartered and packed in zip-lock bags.)
>
Oh! You're my kind of man, Jim! I am going to get those little
plants this year and do that. One q, though: how did you prevent the
varmints from getting them ere you did?
Jean B.
Jim Everman
When I did it in Ohio, I had a fenced yard in a small town (Xenia).
Very few varmints.. I also did it when I lived north of Saint Louis,
and perhaps there, word got out that I was trying to trap rabbits
and/or squirrels for dinner... :)
But I never had that sort of problem at any rate.
Jim
me@rochester.rr.com JerryD(upstateNY)
the state of the world and that of my neighborhood (the Western Hemisphere).
Paul
Add this server to your computer...............news.annexcafe.com
The are political boards there.
I post to two.............annexcafe.dialogue.philosophy.todays.hot.topics
and............annexcafe.politics.scorched-earth
--
JerryD(upstateNY)
.I am not rejecting small talk .. not at all ... I simply yearn, in
Yvon Goguen
Paul <writing from his s-i-l's place>
"JerryD(upstateNY)" <It's m...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:P5lm8.4683$8%1.15...@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com...
Val Adams
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3ca1fa0d...@nntp.mindspring.com...
natural misunderstanding, that CA is for California, not Canada, so actually
i'm a teeny bit late for the area. used to hunt for early maturity guys &
start from seed to try & insure long season but nowdays just pick up what
the nurseries have & they're in 4 inch pots already. I do have trouble with
tree fruits though, just the opposite of yours, we dont usually get cold
enough for long enough for some of the really neat stuff like apples & pears
& cherries, durn it!
Val
.
Val Adams
"BillB (FL/NC)" <BillB...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:txbm8.5652$ps.5...@news.direcpc.com...
- SNIP -
well I had Roma up to Christmas last year but that's a fluke, usually every
thing is played out by late September. I envy you, the prices for store
bought in winter are just disgusting and we like tomatoes a lot!
Val
Val Adams
"Jean B." <jb...@rcn.com> wrote in message news:3C994E44...@rcn.com...
excuse piggy back, for some reason not seeing Jim's posts today. His sounds
like a good plan for avoiding critters, new ground every season & no place
for infestations of multilegged tomato lovers to build up. My soil is poor
also so I'm stuck with beds, hence limited number of new spots from one
season to the next so here's another approach: compost like crazy, plant
resistant varieties & way more than needed. old midwestern saying comes to
mind "one for the cutworm, one for the crow, one for the weather & one to
grow" dont think that's verbatim, but the general idea
Val
Sharon
morning. I did have crocus in bloom though.
Sharon
"Val Adams" <va_ada...@STEMSpacbell.net> wrote in message
news:2oum8.478$LR4.10...@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
Jim Everman
> like a good plan for avoiding critters, new ground every season & no place
> for infestations of multilegged tomato lovers to build up. My soil is poor
> also so I'm stuck with beds, hence limited number of new spots from one
> season to the next so here's another approach: compost like crazy, plant
> resistant varieties & way more than needed. old midwestern saying comes to
> mind "one for the cutworm, one for the crow, one for the weather & one to
> grow" dont think that's verbatim, but the general idea
> Val
Well, you may not see this one either, but I'll go ahead anyway..
Of course, I never tried this, but I have heard from people I suspect
might know (since they are avid gardeners), that most of the little
buggers that like tomato plants absolutely hate hemp (and it's
relatives). The town I'm from in Ohio had three hemp rope factories at
one time and it still grows wild around there (won't get ya high
though.. well, so I've heard).
Jim
**Dalin**
wrote:
>> excuse piggy back, for some reason not seeing Jim's posts today. His sounds
Someone once told me if I planted marigolds around the edge of my
garden I would have no cutworms or bugs. They were right, but since
it was my first garden when we moved here, it might have been
coincidence.
Our soil is so poor that I now plant a few plants in tubs and put them
on our sun deck.
Dalin
Jim Everman
> >might know (since they are avid gardeners), that most of the little
> >buggers that like tomato plants absolutely hate hemp (and it's
> >relatives). The town I'm from in Ohio had three hemp rope factories at
> >one time and it still grows wild around there (won't get ya high
> >though.. well, so I've heard).
> > Jim
> Someone once told me if I planted marigolds around the edge of my
> garden I would have no cutworms or bugs. They were right, but since
> it was my first garden when we moved here, it might have been
> coincidence.
>
> Our soil is so poor that I now plant a few plants in tubs and put them
> on our sun deck.
>
> Dalin
Yeah - I think that's another anti bug plant (marigolds).. I guess
there are several. That's one of the ideas behind some of Monsanto's
genetic modifications. Put the stuff the bugs don't like into plants
that don't normally have it. Monsanto has a new facility for genetic
research within walking distance of me - just on the other side of the
Missouri Botanical Gardens. Someday I'd like to go over and see if
they offer tours.
There is a neighborhood garden in the vacant lot next door. People
build raised areas with used rail road ties and fill them with topsoil
from the river bottoms. I've considered doing it, but never been
ambitious enough.
Jim
NHunkele
> There is a neighborhood garden in the vacant lot next door. People
>build raised areas with used rail road ties and fill them with topsoil
>from the river bottoms. I've considered doing it, but never been
>ambitious enough.
>
> Jim
This condo complex has garden plots available for those residents who want to
use them (not I). I have a small bit of ground near the front door that one
son has filled with perennials and I grow a tomato plant in a large pot on the
back deck each year. Two of my neighbors keep me well supplied with zucchini.
NOrma
Val Adams
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3ca149ea...@nntp.mindspring.com...
giggle; I'm afraid growing hemp of any sort round here would involve me with
more competitive critters than i really want to deal with, this is 18th st
territory plus the local DEA has choppers and I fear me No One would believe
my teeny tomatoes explanations, if they even bothered to ask!
I do use companion planting, including marigolds & various strong herbs like
santolina, oregano & so on around the yard, but as you say, Dalin, results
could still be coincidence, I also plant resistant stuff which is probably a
help in its own right and then under the pressure of events as the season
wears on in the garden have never yet sat down and done a real study with
controls, etc.
and no, Jim this one is still piggyback. My ISP did what it called a
renumbering on 2/28 & I had to resubscribe to everything. At that point I
lost a few trolls in other ngs, which i dont miss, but I do miss folk in
here and afpf when they go walkabout which has been the case recently. It is
easier to notice individuals in a smaller group plus is two of my best
sources for gentle humor for my older online friends who dont do ng and
especially my ex mil who doesnt do computers. Hoping it is a Mindspring
problem & will stop soon, otherwise dont quite know what to do.
Raining here today so will rest my aching 'gardener's back' & play with
miniatures indoors all day. tee hee, the whole world's fun when you let it
be!
(;-))
Val
Jim Everman
The lot next to me is where a townhouse (similar to this one) burned
down (long before I moved here). It actually belongs to the church
across the alley behind me, but all they do is mow it. They are happy
to have people use part of it for gardens because that means less to
mow. Oh yeah.. and they get money from the city as part of a
neighborhood beautification program. :) It's also where we throw block
parties, although there's no problem closing the street since I live
on the last block of a dead end street.
Jim
**Dalin**
>>
>natural misunderstanding, that CA is for California, not Canada, so actually
>i'm a teeny bit late for the area. used to hunt for early maturity guys &
>start from seed to try & insure long season but nowdays just pick up what
>the nurseries have & they're in 4 inch pots already. I do have trouble with
>tree fruits though, just the opposite of yours, we dont usually get cold
>enough for long enough for some of the really neat stuff like apples & pears
>& cherries, durn it!
>
>Val
>
we had to put fresh dirt in the garden, lime, fertilizer, etc. It was
a pretty expensive garden!
Then I got the bright idea of putting big tubs on the sundeck filled
with veggies. That worked out pretty well except for hauling the dirt
up to the tubs etc. And there wasn't a whole lot of room left for
chairs, etc.
Two years ago a small local farmer's market opened about 1/4 mile down
the county road from us. Fresh picked produce every morning for sale
at dirt cheap prices. It was nice to drive down there, see all the
fresh stuff and flowers too and buy just what I needed.
And of course, zucchini is always free. People put baskets of it in
their front yard with signs "PLEASE take!"
So this year I think I will just put a couple of tomato plants out on
the deck and spend more time working in the flower beds. :))
Dalin
Val Adams
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3c9ca884...@nntp.mindspring.com...
giggle; yeah, me too, dont garden near as hard as i used to, nor go through
the orgies of preservation i did to when the kids were home. Farmers markets
are scarce in the city, though there are a few; but the real issue for me is
exercise, all my obsessive pursuits are sedentary & gardening is the
pleasantest way I know to get the muscles moving. As you may be aware, past
a certain point in time if you dont keep moving around there is a chance you
will stiffen up permanently!
Mark & I go for long walks sometimes also, but we live on a steep hill,
which means we have to drive somewhere flat to begin with and that is not
always convenient.
Hurray for flower pots!
Val
**Dalin**
<va_ada...@STEMSpacbell.net> wrote:
>
>> Two years ago a small local farmer's market opened about 1/4 mile down
>> the county road from us. Fresh picked produce every morning for sale
>> at dirt cheap prices. It was nice to drive down there, see all the
>> fresh stuff and flowers too and buy just what I needed.
>>
>> And of course, zucchini is always free. People put baskets of it in
>> their front yard with signs "PLEASE take!"
>>
>> So this year I think I will just put a couple of tomato plants out on
>> the deck and spend more time working in the flower beds. :))
>>
>> Dalin
>>
>giggle; yeah, me too, dont garden near as hard as i used to, nor go through
>the orgies of preservation i did to when the kids were home. Farmers markets
>are scarce in the city, though there are a few; but the real issue for me is
>exercise, all my obsessive pursuits are sedentary & gardening is the
>pleasantest way I know to get the muscles moving. As you may be aware, past
>a certain point in time if you dont keep moving around there is a chance you
>will stiffen up permanently!
>Mark & I go for long walks sometimes also, but we live on a steep hill,
>which means we have to drive somewhere flat to begin with and that is not
>always convenient.
>Hurray for flower pots!
>Val
And hooray for fake flowers! I spent a small fortune last year on
flower sets. I can't start from seed as I don't have any place in the
sun to start them indoors. And we can't plant outdoors until June 1
here. So I bought a bunch of fake flowers at the dollar store and
interspersed them amongst the real flowers.
And I saved them all for this year! <g> So I'll have to find some
other way of getting exercise. We don't have any place to walk here
either. I've been thinking of getting a bike though, but I hate
riding in the road with traffic. Maybe a skateboard would be good.
:))
Dalin
>
>
>
>
Val Adams
.
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3ca31e18...@nntp.mindspring.com...
Oh, darn, now i am embarassed, I inherited a bunch of plastic flowers a few
years ago & tossed most of them except the ones that could be adapted to
miniatures and a very few gramma wanted for the graveyard up north. She cant
get up there as often these days, so they worked out quite well for when she
cant tend things personally.
Confess i never thought of using them in the garden, sounds like the ideal
solution to the short growing season, no weed, feed, water or bugs to
contend with! We went shopping yesterday, bought a few more plants & some
gladioli bulbs. have had only marginal luck with those, but they are so
pretty, hope springs eternal.
Skateboard? On a country road? say, what's IN those fake flowers? (and do
you think I could find any round here? Maybe the locals wouln't recognize
it....;)
well it's too cold to work outside yet so I am off to make another 50
beastly little 1/8 inch diameter apricots. I need a LOT for an order i am
working on. meanwhile, maybe you could consdier making a gymnastic exercise
out of climbing up & down on the deck?
Val (with the BIG grin today)
Jim Everman
. . .
> Skateboard? On a country road? say, what's IN those fake flowers? (and do
> you think I could find any round here? Maybe the locals wouln't recognize
> it....;)
There are other solutions for skateboarding during less than
favorable conditions...
<http://webusers.anet-stl.com/~everman/skate.html>
Jim
**Dalin**
Oh, a comedienne on a Monday morning! Ugh!! <vbg>
Try the dollar store (if you have those) for the silk flowers. Just
use a few in between the real ones when and if the real ones die.
Pretty rocks that say "Peace" and "Love" and "God Bless this Garden"
work in bare spots too. <g> As well as statues of frogs, bunny
rabbits, turtles, snails, etc. Why by the time I'm through there will
hardly be room for the real flowers! <g>
And I'm off to make a real apple pie. :) There is still snow all
over the ground and I love the smell of baking on a cold winter's day.
Dalin
**Dalin**
wrote:
>Val Adams wrote:
This is hilarious Jim! Actually I do have a treadmill! If I break
my neck I'll know who to blame! Wonder if roller skates would work?
Where on earth did you come up with such a wild idea?
Dalin
Jim Everman
> > . . .
> >
> >> Skateboard? On a country road? say, what's IN those fake flowers? (and do
> >> you think I could find any round here? Maybe the locals wouln't recognize
> >> it....;)
> > There are other solutions for skateboarding during less than
> >favorable conditions...
> > <http://webusers.anet-stl.com/~everman/skate.html>
> > Jim
> This is hilarious Jim! Actually I do have a treadmill! If I break
> my neck I'll know who to blame! Wonder if roller skates would work?
> Where on earth did you come up with such a wild idea?
> Dalin
I believe it was while trying to come up with an idea to send to
"America's Funnies Home Videos" after I sent them the "Hunter" tape -
<http://webusers.anet-stl.com/~everman/hunter.html> (all those shots
are taken directly from the video). Unfortunately, the tape was either
terribly dull or way too exciting (and hazardous to my health!). The
treadmill shot is from one of the 'dull' tapes..
*BUT* - I know how to ride a skateboard - I assume NO responsibility
for beginners.
I spent much of yesterday afternoon building a "Professor Poopypants
New Name Computer" (think slide rule) patterned after that list
someone (barb?) posted the other day. Next step is to mail it off to
Beverly, my youngest grand daughter. I'm trying to decide if I should
make a web page, a la Glitter Ball,
<http://webusers.anet-stl.com/~everman/gltrbal.html> or not...
Pssttt - if anyone tries to convince you I'm totally sane, just laugh
hysterically at them...
Jim
Yoj
>
> well it's too cold to work outside yet so I am off to make another 50
> beastly little 1/8 inch diameter apricots. I need a LOT for an order i am
> working on. meanwhile, maybe you could consdier making a gymnastic
exercise
> out of climbing up & down on the deck?
>
> Val (with the BIG grin today)
Are those apricots marzipan, by any chance? I love marzipan, and thoroughly
admire anyone who can make realistic-looking fruits and vegetables with it.
I dabbled with it a little in my cake-decorating days, but was never
particularly good at it.
Joy
**Dalin**
wrote:
>
>> This is hilarious Jim! Actually I do have a treadmill! If I break
>> my neck I'll know who to blame! Wonder if roller skates would work?
>> Where on earth did you come up with such a wild idea?
>> Dalin
>
> I believe it was while trying to come up with an idea to send to
>"America's Funnies Home Videos" after I sent them the "Hunter" tape -
><http://webusers.anet-stl.com/~everman/hunter.html> (all those shots
>are taken directly from the video). Unfortunately, the tape was either
>terribly dull or way too exciting (and hazardous to my health!). The
>treadmill shot is from one of the 'dull' tapes..
>
> *BUT* - I know how to ride a skateboard - I assume NO responsibility
>for beginners.
>
> I spent much of yesterday afternoon building a "Professor Poopypants
>New Name Computer" (think slide rule) patterned after that list
>someone (barb?) posted the other day. Next step is to mail it off to
>Beverly, my youngest grand daughter. I'm trying to decide if I should
>make a web page, a la Glitter Ball,
><http://webusers.anet-stl.com/~everman/gltrbal.html> or not...
>
> Pssttt - if anyone tries to convince you I'm totally sane, just laugh
>hysterically at them...
>
> Jim
I've seen the url with Redcat before. He was so cute. Those are
wonderful pictures. Do you think one of these days you might get
another kitten? I keep thinking about it, but it hurts so much when
you lose them.
And....I've bookmarked the url for the glitter ball. I'd like to try
it myself when I get enough extra cds. I hope you leave that page on
your site for a bit because I still have a few CDs to go. :) I think
it's really a clever idea!
Dalin
Val Adams
.
"Yoj" <jgay...@att.net> wrote in message
news:MqKn8.5157$Eb5.5...@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
yummm! i love marzipan myself, but no, these are made of a type of clay you
can fire in the kitchen oven. They have to be relatively inert to ambient
conditions, you see, and too many other critters like marzipan as well as
humans do! As for realistic, you must form your own judgement, there are a
few on my website, under 'miniatures'. It is non commercial, no cookies or
anything, but I have taken to warning people against putting their real
email on the guest page, spam is getting so bad these days and the rats have
to be getting the data from somewhere, why leave them an opening.
http://home.pacbell.net/ma_adams/
Val
Val Adams
.
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3ca15b38...@nntp.mindspring.com...
sorry; one of the advantages of semi-retirement, i seldom actually know what
day it is. of course, there are those who argue that i didn't before,
either....
hmmm; rocks with 'peace' & 'love' on them always strike me as akin to the
old saying, 'if you dont listen to my anti-war song , I'm going to hit you
over the head with my guitar..." The kids have talked about casting me a
shark in concrete; three pieces, the tail, dorsal fin & nose with maybe a
few teeth sticking out of the ground...
REAL apple pie? That's disgusting. daughter is the only real baker in the
family, and i never get to taste here cooking any more. Phooey; it is late
enough to be warm and pleasant outside, i am going to go out and savage some
helpless little green things that are growing where i dont want them.
val (still grinning, in spite of everything)
Val Adams
.
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3ca374c6...@nntp.mindspring.com...
AAAARGH! James, you are mad, in a most delightful way!
I still have the glitterball directions, just havent done anything with them
yet. trust me, they are in august company....
Val
(still piggybacking, but now grinning insanely)
**Dalin**
<va_ada...@STEMSpacbell.net> wrote:
>> Are those apricots marzipan, by any chance? I love marzipan, and
>thoroughly
>> admire anyone who can make realistic-looking fruits and vegetables with
>it.
>> I dabbled with it a little in my cake-decorating days, but was never
>> particularly good at it.
>>
>> Joy
>>
>yummm! i love marzipan myself, but no, these are made of a type of clay you
>can fire in the kitchen oven. They have to be relatively inert to ambient
>conditions, you see, and too many other critters like marzipan as well as
>humans do! As for realistic, you must form your own judgement, there are a
>few on my website, under 'miniatures'. It is non commercial, no cookies or
>anything, but I have taken to warning people against putting their real
>email on the guest page, spam is getting so bad these days and the rats have
>to be getting the data from somewhere, why leave them an opening.
>http://home.pacbell.net/ma_adams/
>
>Val
Val, I just checked your site. I am impressed! Such little and
delicate work. How long does it take you to make something like the
blackbird pie?
I was interested in miniature doll houses some years ago, but having
no artistic talent I had to buy the little furniture kits. Well, they
were so darned expensive! I could see this was going to be a hobby
that I just couldn't really afford, so never got into it.
I remember an empty Victorian house kit and the kit sold for $500! So
I got into candle making instead. That lasted until I spilled a pot
of hot wax all over the indoor/outdoor carpet in the kitchen. I never
did get it all up.
Then I decided to collect kalaidoscopes. That's a nice hobby, you
just pick them up and look through the glass and it's very relaxing.
And they are a nice conversation piece. <g>
Dalin
**Dalin**
Hey! At least the rocks don't die! I have what is known as a black
thumb. The only house plant that seems to grow for me is
rhododendron. I even killed my cactus garden.
Did I happen to mention besides the fake flowers and peace rocks that
I have a nylon daisy with spinning petals and a nylon hummingbird
whose wings spin in the wind? <g> My garden may be a little crazy,
but it's a fun place. :))
Dalin
Val Adams
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3cb3e346...@nntp.mindspring.com...
moue ; { I didn't mean to be snooty about rocks, I use them a lot for
terracing & such. Mostly broken concrete, which I dont like much but is the
easiest thing to get in large chunks. maybe if I used your idea & painted
happy faces on 'em I'd like 'em better? There are some stepping stones I
really covet , Celtic knots in a kind of bas-relief efect, and I bought one
of those big reflection balls, too, but am afraid to put it outside. I
like the silk flowers idea too, there is a lot to be said for things not
dieing! The trouble around here is not so much my thumbs (generally
multi-color, from painting miniatures) it is more that the stuff that really
Wants to grow is seldom tasty or even attractive. One season I cornered the
entire neighborhood supply of fox tails. Which made the neighbors look at me
funny, or at least I thought it did, and I had a whole big argument going in
my head about hey, you guys should talk, downhill denizen goes in for
scorched earth, even my weeds would look better, and uphill side has a
(gasp!) paid gardener that comes in twice a month & all the damn crab-grass
& ivy clippings float down here on windy days & take root, just where I dont
need 'em... but of course it Was all in my head, I doubt normal people with
jobs & all even notice my embryo jungle.
Anyway your garden does sound like fun, anything with daisies in it cant be
all bad, and fun is really what it's all about!
Peace?
Val (wit' de wry grin?)
.
Val Adams
learned early on that if i did three+ was more likely to come out with
something saleable (chuckle; I'm good, I am NOT 100% accurate!). I think if
I started from scratch, maybe an hour to mix the clay, another hour for
modeling, maybe half an hour or so for the detail painting. But I mix colors
in fist size lots, and I model in stages; as much to relieve the boredom as
considerations of efficiency; and detail the same way; so, if i worked on
blackbird pies for eight hours straight, would likely manage ten or so,
slightly more than if done one at a time. I guess 'about' two hours or less
each would be reasonably close.
giggle; it's true, miniatures, if done thoroughly, can bankrupt you; there
have been cases known! Well, but i always favored the paste & patches
approach, so has not been too bad. I think it is not so much a matter of
talent as developing skills, which just as in any other field comes from
making mistakes & doing things over...and over, and over....
I think a lot of people get discouraged before they really give themselves a
chance to discover how good they can be. That is not unreasonable, a hobby
ideally gives back some satisfaction, one doesn't normally want to wait
months or years before arriving at a point one can feel good about it. For
me personally I had a point to make so was willing to bull my way through
the bad times. In point of fact, i had to rent out the top floor of the
house to make ends meet, but i didn't care, i was gonna by gum Do It Myself,
was too darn stubborn to quit, and so eventually things worked out. I have
some fancy expensive pieces now, because Mark bought them for me, but most
of my 'goodies' are hand made or bashed kits; some of the early ones,
frankly, are kept at the backs of rooms, so the defects dont show!
giggle; we did some candles too in our flowery days; but a pot of wax caught
fire, scaring son out of a years growth (and adding ten years to me!) &
still have not got all stain off of wall, though i have painted over twice.
The darn stuff just worms it's way in, doesn't it?
Ooooh! Kaliadoscopes are wonderful! I saw one once that used little pieces
of semi-precious stones, agate & such, and another that was mounted in
turned brass with stained glass decorations. more than we could afford, but
i kept slithering back to the counter to look through it again! Ha, I bet
you never lack for inspiration now, a new beauty to be seen every minute!
Have you ever tried sticking bits of colored glass to clear pane in random
patterns like on the inside? If you caulked it with clear gel you could make
some wonderful sun catchers for your garden...(she says, alluringly...;)
giggle; off to work now, today it's teeny weeny plums, and finishing the
gold leaf on the base of the new swans...
have a great one, & dont eat too much pie!
Val
**Dalin**
Well now, wipe the moue off your face, you look much nicer with a
grin. :)
Actually my rocks aren't rocks, just little stones, about the size of
a fist. And they have words engraved in them like "peace", "love",
"happiness" etc. Just little ones nestled amongst the petunia. And
the little statues I have are quite small, a tiny green stone frog, a
small stone snail, a grey stone squirrel sitting on the front step.
From my description earlier you must have had the impression of a
terribly tasteless garden and all it would need is a pink flamingo to
make it complete. LOL! Hmmmm.... that's a thought!
Actually it is small and whimsical. And I adore stepping stones, but
I really don't have a place for them. And some of them are so
beautiful it seems a shame to let people step on them and expose them
to the elements.
I suspect gardening is much different here in NY than in California.
You are fortunate whether planting flowers or veggies to have a much
longer growing season. :)
Dalin
>
Sharon
when it was time to start picking the tomatoes, Chem-lawn sprayed our yard
and killed my plants. Needless to say they were told not to come back
again. Everyone knows what a tomato plant looks like with red tomatoes on
it right?
Sharon
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
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Val Adams
"**Dalin**" <lj...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
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well, I figured moue was better than custard pie, though not perhaps as
tasty.. Speaking of which...In a garden? I mean, like, you know, that's so,
like, not relevant, you know, it's so, like, a personal Thing, you know? I
even had a cement frog myself once; indeed, I may still, if I ever get all
the brush cut back.. I would love a giant cement snail, and Scott (oldest
grandson) has promised me a miniature castle as part of the fountain he is
building for Mark; unfortunately, he IS my grandson, so that may take a
while......I do draw the line at plastic elves;mainly from what by now
probably amounts to a genetically inheritable predisposition to avoid
offending the Gentry; touchy tempers, that lot, and you just never know.
Yes, the gardening problems do differ. You have the short season, but I
imagine water is more readily available. The Weather Service is already
warning us to expect drought this summer, which may mean rationing.
Bio-hazard is a way of life here (like, hey, man, I like to ,like See what
I'm, like, breathing, man) but I expect that is true to some extent in all
urban areas, maybe less so in country places (one fondly hopes). Light is
also a difficulty in cities, though I am fortunate to live in an older
section with more space between houses & no apartment buildings close enough
to matter. MIL in west end of town, (newer) has parts of her yard she cant
even use because of over-shadow from nearby taller buildings. It's a problem
in a different way later in the season, it's just too darn hot and glaring
to work outside, which is why the spring weeding jobs get so horrendous, the
place hasn't been touched from about September on!
On the other hand, you have slud, and muggy, and rain when you Dont need it,
and the occassional hurricane or blizzard...I guess gardening is just one of
those 'sweat of the brow' things Wherever one engages in it; like, Gaia
loves us sure enough, She just doesn't want us to get spoiled from life
being too easy...
giggle; would apologize for irrepressible outbreaks of val-speak, but it has
always tickled me that 'They' named a whole dialect after me so i wont...
Happy (quick check of computer calendar) Thursday, also Rabbits when they
come round on the guitar!
Val (grinning again;perhaps it's indigestion? or senile dementia...)
Val Adams
living in a state with a big agri base is the produce folk swing a lot of
clout. They go through periodic paranoia about med fly, and one year they
had the city dumping malathion all over us. It may be true the stuff was not
strong enough to hurt things bigger than insects, at least the fish in the
pond survived; but the sticky base vehicle that was used smothered a lot of
plants, including even one small fruit tree we didn't get washed off fast
enough. Plus it killed all the beneficials, I didn't see a lady-bug for
almost three years after; plenty of aphis though, isn't it funny how
selective these things are.....
The local council woman lost her seat over that one; especially as Beverly
Hills, west of us, had enough ooomph to Not get dumped on; sharper
councilor, or bigger tax base, take your pick; they both stink; but then, I
guess that's politics.
Better luck this season, maybe you could rent an attack-snail to hold the
sprayers off?
Val
"Sharon" <cros...@flash.net> wrote in message
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