The Garden Thread - October, 2024

October 1, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time!

[spankalib]

There's enough info in those links to last me the rest of my life! Wow.

...back to advice from the privy specialist:

No, sir, I sez, put her (the privy) in a straight line with the house and, if it's all the same to you have her go past the woodpile. I'll tell you why.

"Take a woman, fer instance -- out she goes. On the way she'll gather five sticks of wood, and the average woman will make four or five trips a day.
There's twenty sticks in the wood box without any trouble.
On the other hand, take a timid woman: if she sees any men folks around, she's too bashful to go direct out so she'll go to the woodpile, pick up the wood, go back to the house and watch her chance.
The average timid woman -- especially a new hired girl -- I've knowed to make as many as ten trips to the woodpile before she goes in, regardless. On a good day you'll have the wood box filled by noon, and right there is a savin' of time.

LOLLLL!!!!!!!!

[Qiviut]

I have a friend who loves curry - she always requests vegetables with curry sauce when we eat out (Chinese). It’s not on the nenu, but they always make it for her.

I am hoping she will visit- we met doing trail maintenance work & in addition to that, did some hiking together. If she visits, I wanted a curry dish & saw this one:

Chicken Curry Casserole

https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/recipe-chicken-curry-casserole/

I used white rice instead of brown & a cup if heavy whipping cream for the sauce ... it was plenty thick after adding sour cream & cheese. Since all ingredients are cooked, it just needs heating up. I think it’s pretty good - I like curry, too. If you don’t like curry, basic recipe is good - just add some other spices.

On a not-so-positive note, our microwave door is acting up. Actually, it’s the part you press to cause the door to open. I noticed a change in the way it felt yesterday. It takes more than one try to get the door open now. I need to dig through the papers the previous owner left & see how old/expensive it is. I think I found two appliances repair companies in the area. If the microwave were not a ‘built-in’, I would take a stab at fixing it myself. Age, cost of service call(s), amount to fix, etc. will influence fix or replace.

[FamiliarFace]

We like curry! Maybe every month or so, but it’s a great change of pace when we cook with it. I’ve printed out the recipe to try soon!

For the microwave, did you get a homeowner’s warranty program when you bought the place? They usually pick the service provider but it’s often a minimal charge for the service call. I hate when anything stops working on a home, which is pretty much all the time when you become a homeowner. There’s always something that needs attention. We’ve had to use our home warranty plan a couple of times, usually for bigger things, but it has come in handy.

[Liz]

Caramel Fudge Cheesecake in Brownie Crust
Divinely decadent. Tastes best days later. Must be thoroughly cooled before serving.

Ing pkg fudge brownie mix (must use 8" square pan size to be baked in 9" springform) 14 oz package Kraft caramels 1/4 cup evap/milk 1-1/4 cups coarse-chp nuts option 2-8 oz bars cr/cheese, softened 1/2 cup sugar 2 lge eggs, room temp, lightly beaten 2 oz ea unsweet/choc, semi-sweet chocolate, both melted and cooled milk chocolate shavings garnish

Steps Prepare brownie batter as per pkg. Spread into greased 9" springform. Bake on sheetpan 350 deg 20 min. Place on wire rack 10 min. Micro-melt caramels with milk. Pour over brownie crust leaving inch margin at edges; sprinkle with nut option.

Beat cream cheese/sugar light and fluffy. Add eggs; beat on low; just combine. Stir in melted chocolate. Pour mixture over caramel. Bake on sheetpan til center is almost set, 350 deg 35-40 min. Cool on wire rack 10 min. Run knife at edges to loosen; cool 1 hour longer on counter.

Must-do Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cool. Next day remove sides of pan. Garnish w/ milk chocolate shavings and serve.

[Qiviut]

No warranty.

My mom was telling me she didn’t like curry ... “tastes funny”. I offered her some casserole & she tried it & liked it.

I planned to work on the apples today (cinnamon apples, apple crisp, maybe can Apple Maple Jam and/or apple pie filling), but all I managed to do was eat one Apple :-)

[FamiliarFace]

We all have days like that. Mine started off ok, but by 10 am, I from my niece that heard my sister was taking my BIL to the ER. He’s had a run of poor health since March. I hope they can figure out what’s going on. He just found out he has colon cancer (very early stage) but this visit today was chest pains. Looking like there could be a clot somewhere, so tomorrow he’ll be scoped. My sister is overwhelmed. and this just weeks after 2 hurricanes hit. It’s been a rough 2024 for them. Really rough. Counting my blessings.

[FamiliarFace]

Oh, now you’ve really done it!

You keep this up, and my girlish figure will be gone for good! ;)

[Liz]

Oops......forgot to mention the calories in the chocolate cheesecake.....snx.

[Qiviut]

I woke up around 3 something & instead of tossing & turning, got up at 4 & headed for the kitchen. Apple crisp just came out of the oven & cinnamon apples are in the crockpot with an ETA around 9 a.m. I did make a ‘dent’ in the half bushel of apples, but plenty are left so more early mornings are in store because it appears that’s the only way to get things done.

It’s now about half an hour before dawn. The sky is a beautiful deep pink over the Blue Ridge mountains to the east. Fog off the nearby river has crept across the fields & my cow neighbors are just dark objects as they graze - they are getting noticeably fatter with the calves that will be born in Jan/Feb. It’s just gorgeous outside as I watch the countryside wake up with a first cup of coffee. Inside, the smells of apples, cinnamon & nutmeg scent the air. It’s a good start to the day :-)

[Pollard]

There's enough info in those links to last me the rest of my life! Wow.

More here -- https://www.cd3wdproject.org/CD3WD/INDEX.HTM

2012 version available as ISO files to burn onto six DVDs -- https://archive.org/download/2012_cdw3d_dvd_set

More here -- https://www.appropedia.org/Welcome_to_Appropedia

A lot of the info was assembled for developing nations and so a lot of it is taken from when the US was a developing nation, like them privy experts.

[FamiliarFace]

Lovely! I can smell your house from here! Nothing quite as wonderful as that aroma!

Enjoy the fruit of your labor!

[spankalib]

Butterfly farming! Butterfly farming? Wow man.

Talk about information overload!

[FamiliarFace]

That privy specialist is very much fun to read! Makes a lot of sense.

[Liz]

Hot Buttered Rum / Can omit rum. Makes 4 drinks
A cozy winter libation, full of flavor, like warm apple pie in a glass.
A classic since the colonial era. Christmas cheer on a cold, winter evening.

Ing Batter 4 Tbl butter, softened 3 Tbl packed br/sugar 1/2 c. vanilla ice
cream, softened 1/2 tsp cinnamon Rum Drink 2 c apple cider 1 c dk rum

Steps Buttered Rum Batter: beat butter and brown sugar light and fluffy. Beat in ice cream
and cinnamon, then spoon into lidded container. Set in freezer about 2 hours til needed.

Assemble: heat/stir cider to boiling. Fill glass w/ about 1/3 rum, then hot apple cider.
Top w/ 2 tbl buttered rum batter. Add cinnamon stick, stir to serve.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Boy! You miss a day around here and you miss a LOT!

FYI I am having out-patient surgery at the VA tomorrow. Beau is going with me. I have a small Basal-Cell Carcinoma below my right ear that needs to be excised.

DO NOT look for pictures of this - they are all gross and mine is REALLY small, so my face isn’t falling off or anything. Yet. ;)

I will check in later tomorrow but if something goes wrong - AVENGE MY DEATH! ;)

[1Old Pro]

MOHS? Been there done that, and probably someday will have more. At least it’s below the ear and not on the face.

[Liz]

.......prayers......

[FamiliarFace]

Don’t ever skip the rum! That’s the whole point of this delicious beverage.

[Liz]

Well if you imbibe, have at it.

[FamiliarFace]

I’m guessing you’ll be fine, but I’ll keep you in my prayers. Never hurts.