Insomnia Thread...

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Hi you guys!


Hope everyone's having a good Sunday so far.


So here's how things are looking in London today...











Here's part of the Holly shrub by our backdoor...





This one's a bit snowy looking but still nice...





I've been munching on Beth's chocolate and gonna make some of her coffee in a bit. Everything so far is very good.


If anyone wants to chat, drop in and say hello...


: )

[tbaleno]

Brrr, Icy rain over here. I really just want to call in sick to work tomorrow. I don't want to go out.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I think a lot of people feel the same way, Tom. Nothing's worse than freezing rain!


So how's your hydroponic set-up going? Do you grow all year round using your system?


Do you mostly grow food? Love to see pics if you ever feel like posting some...


Janan, you around? How's your weekend going? Hoping I'll get your package real soon...


Did you see the stuff Beth sent me? I'm nibbling on some of the passion fruit chocolate right now and it's kinda tangy. Super delicious and different.


What about you, Cam? How's all your seedlings and blooming cacti doing? I haven't been out to see anymore colors even though I had intended to. Just been so busy, that's all.


I might be up late tonight...I have a feeling. If anyone wants to babble on with me tonight and can't sleep either, don't hesitate to post.


I hope this never happens to me...





Woops!



Chat soon...


: )

[tbaleno]

I'll be up until past midnight est. I have some stuff to buy but I have to wait until the beginning of my credit cards next billing cycle begins which is at midnight tonight. Some of the stuff I need to buy I need shipped tomorrow and I have to leave the cc to my wife to order stuff so I can't do my ordering at work. It stinks my finances are this tight, but it could be MUCH worse.

The good thing about all my problems right now is that it makes me look at them in relation to others who are in much worse shape. So in some ways, this is one of my best Christmases because every day I'm thinking of those that are worse off than me.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I've watched documentaries about people ruining themselves financially with credit card debt and having to claim bankruptsy!


It's scary the trouble people can get themselves in with money. Glad I've never had any problems that way. My parents drilled it into me from a young age...about being responsible with money.


Sounds like you'll be up late too, Tom. I think I might be up until 1 or so, but not sure.


Making some carrot muffins right now but they're almost ready so they can cool on the counter for awhile. Mmmmm they smell good. Can't wait to try them...


: )

[tbaleno]

MMM carrot muffins. Sure would like some... I'll just pretend to eat them. It is better for my diet that way anyway.

I refuse to use a real credit card. The one I use is my American express so I am forced to get it paid off every month. I haven't used a real credit card in 2 years or so. The problem is that right now is that I'm transitioning from one job to another and the new job has a really good cafeteria so thats $40/mo I shouldn't be spending. I have to stop being tempted to eat there. My last job had a food truck that would come by and the food wasn't great so the temptation was much less. I think my current problems are because I won't use a credit card to put off my debts. So in the short term it is painful, but like you said, the alternative would likely cause long term pain. I should be out of this mess in the spring when I don't have to pay so much to heat the house. I just have to push through this rough patch and make modifications to my life style until then. This is why I didn't want to spend more than $20 for some dragon fruit plants the other day.

That reminds me. I don't know if I responded to your earlier post about my hydroponics. I grow year round, I grow only things I can eat. My hydroponics system is the one thing I don't cut back on. I could probably save $30/mo on the electric bill if I stopped my hydroponics. As for pictures, I've posted links to my webcam occasionally. You could find it by going to the link in my signature if you are really interested.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I'm not surprised to hear about how much you spend in the cafeteria...I read that most people don't add up how much they spend on coffees and donuts, ect. and that it adds up to a huge amount of money from week to week!


A bag lunch is better for you and easier on the pocket book too. Good that you're at least aware that you gotta cut back, because a lot of people don't even care and just keep shelling out money everyday on take-out food. It adds up quickly, that's for sure.


Not to mention the damage to the heart and arteries!


Sounds like a good idea Tom...making some lifestyle changes until you get control of things
again.


Carrot muffins turned out awesome and they're cooling right now.


: )

[tbaleno]

The good thing about your carrot muffins is that they are zero calories... At least for me. And I'm sure I'll get to hear about how tasty they are! So I can eat them victoriously through you.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I'd share them if I could Tom.


But yup, I'll be raving on and on about how tasty they are, rest assured! I think with the brown sugar in these babies though, they won't be quite calorie free for me, but I like to think they are!


I like banana muffins too and in summer I've been known on a cool day to make blueberry and strawberry muffins as well.


Alright, time to try one...


: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

By the way Tom...


What kinds of vegetables have you experimented and had success with using your hydroponic system? Do you find the plants are extra large and vigorous?


Do you still have problems with mites, even though you're growing in water?


Muffins are awesome!


: )

[tbaleno]

The most successfull I think was cucumbers. I have grown lots of things. Of all the stuff I've tried to grow, I've only been able to actually get the following to the point where I could harvest:

beans
cucumbers
Peppers
Tomatoes
watermelon
zucchini

I'm really a very bad gardener, I lack the nurturing nature of most gardeners. I generally let the plants fight for their lives. I don't have a heck of a lot of experience with gardening, so I can't really tell if they are extra large and vigorous. Though my roma tomato plant is about 4 feet tall right now with over 70 tomatoes on it (almost all with BER ;P)

Edit: I was just down there. The tomato plant is now 5 feet tall, and it appears that adding epsom seems to have stopped a lot of the ber as only about 50 percent of the fruit have it. It seems limited to the first fruits and isn't happening much on the newer ones.

BTW, if you see a tomato in the left hand corner in a glass punch bowl, that is one I started from a seed I saved. It's the first time I've tried to grow a fruit from a saved seed. The plant is doing well, but I won't call it a success until I get a fully ripe fruit.

[ShearMe]

Originally Posted by tbaleno

I generally let the plants fight for their lives.

I like to do that sometimes too.

When I was still attempting hydroponics, I noticed that the mint I was working with was tiny, but powerful. It rooted very quickly as compared to dirt grown mint. My basil did pretty good, grew better than it did outside. Both had an extreme flavor, unmatched by anything I've tried before.

I know it varies by plant, and by which nutrients you use, but anything is possible with hydroponics!

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Oh I would be so mad if my crop was destroyed, Tom!


You gotta figure out what's going on with that and do something different next time.


Me, I spoil my plants to no end. It can sometimes be ridiculous! I have to shower a few more in the morning and feed them too. Everyday my plants get fussed over one way or the other.


I don't feel tired yet but noticed it's getting late. Guess Janan's busy tonight...


Hi Zac!


That's right...I forgot you grew hydroponically too. You and Tom can compare notes.


: )

[ShearMe]

I don't feel tired either, but I do need to wake up early to finish off my new mailbox post and mailbox planter.

I'm rebuilding the whole thing because 1) it fell apart 2) the post was rotting 3) a nearby sprinkler head was a few inches underground, and watering nothing even if it was above ground, and 4) the mailbox was tilting into the street.

I got a bag of concrete to make a good base for the planter. I'm gonna do it the right way this time.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Wish I was outside building a planter!


Who'd wanna go out in this (except for Zac! )...











Good luck with your project, Zac!


: )

[ShearMe]

Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady

Who'd wanna go out in this (except for Zac! )...

Looks like fun!

It's not even cold here; perfectly comfortable without a jacket outside.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I'm envious Zac!


With our windchill, we're at 3°F!!!


If I went out without a coat, I'd be an icicle in about 3 minutes flat!


I think we're getting some more tomorrow.


I'd rather be in my garden of course, but will have to settle for my indoor one until Spring...


: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Soon I'll be ice skating on this...








: )

[ShearMe]

Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady

Soon I'll be ice skating on this...

I think creek skating is my biggest lure to the north.

OH! I found a new nursery today which is MUCH better than that mislabeling one I used to go to. Meh beh I'll find some goodies come spring.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

One time I was skating on a lake with a friend and she went on this one area and we heard a loud cracking noise and then saw the ice split!


Needless to say, we got the hell out of there in one quick hurry! It was actually really scary and I was terrified we might fall in!


It's actually happened to some people before so you gotta be careful. There's an outdoor rink downtown in Victoria Park that's free to skate on and not over a lake, so it's a bit safer.


: )