New England, August 2016

Rock, thanks for confirming that a tarp would work. I thought of that this morning but wasn't sure. I'll cover it right after this sun "storm" is over.  

Scorpio Rising wrote:The benchy thing is cool!  In my cart....thanks! Sorry, no experience with too much lobster, gosh darn it!

SR, the bench is free shipping all by itself. You don't have to wait to have $49 in your cart to get the free shipping. That's why I was able to order it right away.

I had a molded plastic bench like that and even bought my mother one. She really used it.

I had a wooden one you could use as a kneeler or a sitter, with a pillow.  I loved it.  I gave it to my friend at the comm. garden since I had to give up my outside garden.

Hey Quiltbea, would you happen to have a picture of the wooden kneeler/sitter? It might be a picture of something else that happens to have the kneeler in the pic. The reason I ask is that I would like to make these for folks that can use them. I tend to be handy in wood working. Thanks.

Making your own kneeling bench is a fabulous idea, Rock! I don't know why I didn't think of something like that.

Although my mother uses 1 pound weights to do her exercises. Have you ever lifted a 1 pound weight? When I do, they practically hit the ceiling as my free weights are 15 pounders. So I'm wondering if homemade wooden kneeling benches might be too heavy for elderly ladies to carry around. Or would it be good exercise for them to carry it around?  

I seem to have pulled a muscle in my thigh and am having to take a couple days off from everything. I've been feeling it coming on for days. Walking with a cane is okay just to get from here to there, from this seat too that seat. Such a beautiful day today though that all  I want to do is go out and play! But it seems the universe has put me in a time-out.  Fortunately I was able to water the garden and harvest a huge bunch of kale before it finally gave out (right after eating my first Gilbertie tomato - yummo!)

I've been using my new cheapo dehydrator to dehydrate kale.  After drying I squish it up and store in canning jars for soups and smoothies during the winter. It's the coolest thing since I don't have much freezer space left so blanch and freeze is out for now.

CapeCoddess wrote:

SR, the bench is free shipping all by itself. You don't have to wait to have $49 in your cart to get the free shipping. That's why I was able to order it right away.

How cool is that!?

CapeCoddess wrote:I seem to have pulled a muscle in my thigh and am having to take a couple days off from everything. I've been feeling it coming on for days.

Are you sure it isn't your sciatic nerve? If it is, I know a super simple yoga excerise that stops it, instantly. Just let me know and I'll find the link for you.

I was wondering about that since my lower back on the right side was sore yesterday. Could be I suppose. It seems to be under the front thigh muscle and over to the right along the outer leg. Please send me the link and I'll figure it out before I try it. Thanks a bunch!

Hey CC, you are wondering the same thing I am. That is why I wanted to see a pic first. If I make it out of the right material, strong but light wood, it shouldn't be to heavy. On the other hand, it might be to much for some, or maybe to bulky to carry very far.
I think I can make it weather resistant enough so that it can be kept near the garden, under something and out of the rain. If I put the hand holds in the right place or even a shoulder strap on it, that would make it work for most. Also, the size matters. For a big guy, it would need to be bigger and sturdier, and for a smaller petite Lady it would be smaller, therefore lighter. The built to fit kind of thing. In a world where there are so many differences, it will be hard to build this type of tool to fit everybody with just one size, it is turning into a one size fits MOST.
I have never been one to stay on my knees comfortably very long, so this fits right up my alley. I like to tinker with wood, I like to make the garden experience more pleasurable and helping others.

My kneeler looks like this.  Turn it upside down and you can sit on it.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f35/15/01/62/26/garden11.jpg

I am sorry, but I can't seem to post the photo, just the site from which I got it.
I'll have to relearn how to post pictures again.  Duh.

I

Rock, I a PMing you....

Thank you Quiltbea!

quiltbea wrote:I am trying again:

QB, that's a beautiful kneeler bench. But did it ever get too heavy for you to carry around? Did you ever not use it because you thought it might be too cumbersome?

It felt good carrying it with those holes for the hands to grip.  Wasn't heavy for me.
I found that when I could no longer get down on my knees or get up from a low sitting position without strain, I had to give it up.

We are heading for 90sF the next couple days.  If I still had my veggie garden, I would be putting up the shade cloth between the sun and my tomatoes, moving them from the east in the morning to the west side in the afternoon.
I can't wait to see more pictures.

quiltbea wrote:
I can't wait to see more pictures.

Let's see what we can do for ya, QB.

OK, so here's my tromboncino squash.  This is the biggest one yet, in 2 yrs of trying.  The problem has been that the female flowers won't open so the squashes abort.  I tried tearing one open once and hand pollinating but it died.  Any helpful hints?

Tromboncino is growing up the trellis on the right with cukes.

The cherry tomatoes coming in fast now -  Sweeties, Sungold & Black Cherry: url=https://servimg.com/view/17528927/1929][/url]

My mom loves the Gilberties.  Guess I'll grow them yearly even though they are the only ones to get BER:

Mystery tomato.  I thought it was a Roma but it seems to be round, so it's a 'wait and see':

The lettuce dome is getting wind blown but hanging in there, as are the pak choi and lettuces below it - Grand Rapids, Freckles, Paris Island Cos and Marvel (not 4 seasons).

Banana peppers in a pot on the back porch.  Only ones with fruit so far.

Old school SFG with cherry toms, ground cherries and collards.  Strawberry bed to the right of it:

Butternut. 1 fruit out of 9 plants so far:

This is some of the lettuce I'm still eating - Rouge d' Hiver.  I'll be planting peas  behind it along the trellis this weekend.  The bolted Hiver is in the box on the other side of the trellis and is still edible, not bitter:  


This is my first cuke.  It's on a rather prolific plant that I don't have the variety of.  Someone, and I can't remember who, sent me seeds with 'Heirloom Cuke' on the baggie.  Thanks for these who ever you are!!!  It's delicious and I'll be saving seeds:
Does anyone know what the white splotching is on it?

And last but not least, some summer flowers:

Thank you CapeC.  I enjoyed my 'walk' thru your productive garden.  Loving it.

Me, too. I enjoyed the tour.

I'm having file issues and cant seem to rotate the photo. Sour pickles day one and day 3.

Nice! Your cukes, Camp?

First CC's garden, then Camp's garden. Double treat today.

CapeCoddess wrote:Nice!  Your cukes, Camp?

Thanks. Nope, I
bought them at the farm.

So soupy out!  
In the sun on the front porch:

So early this morning while it was still foggy out I harvested all the chives and they are now in the dehydrator.
Thank goodness the dehydrator is in the garage and the door is wide open because it sure does stink!

I also filled up twelve 4 inch pots with compost so I can up pot the ornamental cabbage seedlings - indoors of course. I've never grown them before so this is an experiment.

Miss Lilly appears to be melting, even in the shade.

sanderson wrote:First CC's garden, then Camp's garden.  Double treat today.

+1 ... excellent pics of those gardens.