California - What are you doing this month?

We got all of 5 drops or so this morning - hope we get more but the skies look a little too bright up here since our window is from 10-12 noon.

Hey, do you remember which thread you put your pictures of your new boxes with the "cat proofing" AKA tulle?  My cats went nuts in my new box and my dogs are trying to eat out of them as well.... GRRRRRR animals!  (NEVER MIND - I found it about half way through this thread.  Hubby is now instructed to solve my issue, LOL!)

You mean this critter proofing?
Actually, the chicken wire cage held in place with pvc stakes worked.

I'm inside for a break and bite of breakfast. Yes, just a few drops. I'm re-furbishing the compost cage before I build another pile today. Took it apart, removed the battered interior fly screening, and now am in the process of lining the interior with 1/2 hardware cloth. Then reassemble and start building. Thank goodness my molar that was prepped for a new crown has calmed down so I can work today.

Owwwie!  Hope you're back to normal soon.  

So, did the tulle work to keep the cat out?  I just found a source for 50 yards of 108" wide white tulle for about $38 + shipping.  It might literally be cheaper to buy the entire bolt than just what I need.

I'm sorry I'm just now responding.  The tulle is fine if Sweetie doesn't like something, like cabbage and kale.  But obviously, if it's DT beans or corn, it takes chicken wire under the tulle!  I would get that tulle if it's 108".  I know there are great buys at JoAnn's, but it's not worth the drive for you.  I love how clean and bug free my cabbage and kales/chard are.  
The Russian kale is 24-26" tall!
I spent the day rehabbing the compost cage and building the new pile.   I'm not sure what kind I have built. BTE with shredded green branches in the Berkeley style with a side dressing of Hugelkulture (??). Only in California.

LOL! that's funny!

Everything looks so pretty

I'm going to be down your way today as hubby has a minor surgery on his finger. So I'll check out Joanne's while I'm there. Depending on how long he'll be in surgery and recovery I may be running some quick errands.

audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:Everything looks so pretty    

I'm sure you didn't mean photo #3!

Hope the surgery goes smooth. DH is gimping from a torn cartilage so he will be having knee surgery.

What glorious weather we are having this Thanksgiving.  Today is supposed to reach 73*F in Fresno, with rain expected tomorrow. Do I wash all the pots and pans, clean the kitchen and turn the compost, or go car shopping? I hate car shopping but I have to do it!

The bucket potatoes aren't doing anything. The kales need to be harvested (cut and grow). The hybrid compost pile is 147*F today after watering and adding a little more blood meal on while turning on Wednesday.

What are the rest of you doing?

Tuesday rain??  Up to an inch or more?  

http://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/pacific-storm-to-bring-rain-flooding-to-california/ar-BBg7CMR

Woot!

I need to get my second new 4x8 finished.  We still need to install the weed cloth.  I've mixed up 1/2 of the MM for it but will need to get more vermiculite in order to finish it.

I have planted everything in the first bed and am starting to see sprouts.  

Not much else planned!

The only good thing about new car shopping is you end up with a new car in the end, LOL!  Oun minivan is dead in the driveway but our son-in-law thinks it might be a simple fix.  Our "black beast," (F250 turbocharged diesel long bed extended cab, lifted 4wd truck)  is 15 years old and though she's pretty beat up on the outside, I adore her.  No new cars in my future, LOL!

Camp, Yes!!

Audrey, For vermiculite, Have you tried Sierra View Nursery on Academy? Or maybe, some place else is closer. They carry large vermiculite. I call first to make sure they have it in stock.

What did you plant in the first 4 x 8, I forgot. Lettuce?

I have to say that this was the best experience for buying a car. Using the internet for a specific car complete with bottom line price, sans tax. The internet salesman was an older, kind, dignified gentleman. The contract man was the last and he was fast and competent. No switch or baits, padding, etc. I LOVED my stripped down 1996 Avalon and it took the last 3 years for me to finally accept that I should get a new car. The trans is just starting to vibrate a bit to where I could actually feel it. The new car is the bottom package but still has lots of bells and whistles for me to learn. The good thing is that the important functions are in the same place so in an emergency I don't have to think about anything, just react. And it was just a tad over the Camry with electric seats and V6. My inheritance from Mother really helped out to get my last car. (66 years old + 17 years for a Toyota = 83 years old, the time when some have to think about giving up the keys. Plus the attachments for back seat child seats. DGC

My ode to the old Avalon after I had it a couple years:

I love my car, oh, yes I do,
Zip and zoom,
Plenty of room,
I love my car, oh, yes I do.

Boffer, funny video!!  I think most of us talk to our plants.  Don't know about singing, etc.  Folks, Boffer is keeping us on our toes this winter!

Folks  You know Boffer, he is always sneaking something into the page.  Anyone see a cheerleader?  Just click it.

Normally I do not read much of other people's areas, just too busy keeping up with my own and all the other interesting non-regional threads.  Now that I cannot get out to my own garden, I am starting to read others. Helps keeps the winter blahs away.
As a visitor, I love reading what others have done, as there are many things that would be applicable to my own efforts.
So for winter reading I still have a load of topics to read here. That, I think, is the advantage over FaceBook. which is instantaneous and forever lost, that is retained on this forum.
So much knowledge here for newbies who can read through entire threads and learn so much so easily.

Kelejan, You are always welcome here. It seems Audrey and I, plus Yardslave, are the only No. Cal. active bloggers here.

I finally turned the compost pile!  Yeah!  That rain we got on Sunday?  0.01"     Rain expected Tuesday and Wednesday.  I wonder if the high humidity (our rain   ) is what has caused the powdery mildew I just discovered today on my snow peas.  Time to break out the milk.  Maybe I can make a run for some raw non-fat and also do the tall fescue grass with milk plus a spoon of molasses.  The weather has been unseasonably warm recently that the snow peas are blooming.  Only in California.  

Time to break out the winter clothes.

It is raining very nicely up here right now. I don't know when it began but everything was thoroughly soaked when I got up this morning. It can just keep coming for weeks as far as I'm concerned

Besides, today is going to be spent in my art studio painting and rainy days are perfect for that activity (it keeps me locked up and working instead of wanting to go outside and play, LOL!)

Are you Californians any where near the mud slides, etc.?  That sounds so nasty for those folks.

Judy McConnell wrote:Are you Californians any where near the mud slides, etc.?  That sounds so nasty for those folks.

No, Sanderson and I are in the middle of the state, those are over at the coast and from where we live the coast is 3-4 hours away. Thank you for thinking about us. California is a very BIG state

When there are fires in the fall and then heavy rains it is very common to have mudslides - our topography can be very steep in the canyons and coastal ranges. Without ground cover to hold things in place it can get very ugly.

sanderson wrote:....Time to break out the winter clothes.

I thought that was a PNW thing!

I am totally embarrassed to say, I have done this more than once, LOL! I'm so hot-blooded that socks are my "slippers" those few days a year that my feet get cold. Then if I need to go outside... well, my flip flops are always at the ready by the door and I just HATE to have to tie on shoes so....

boffer wrote:

sanderson wrote:....Time to break out the winter clothes.

I thought that was a PNW thing!

That is SO funny!  It sure ain't a New England thing.  Here it's barefoot or bust!

I was amazed when you used that pic as your avatar. I'm such a tenderfoot that I rarely even go out on our deck without footwear!

You have to get used to it, especially after a winter of footwear.  But I was able to go barefootin' yesterday, and will do so tomorrow, too!

How do you get the flip flop between the toes with the socks on?

CC