Hello out there!
We’re still alive and kicking so don’t you worry. I know it can be irksome to come to a blog you are enjoying and not have anything new for a month, and I apologize.
I just wanted to let you all know, I’m here and will be back in full swing very very soon. I promise.
But until then, please hang in there, and don’t give up on us.
Abierto Beach
Behind my nephew is the Eastern most tip of all California.
That's the entrance to the cave we crawled into.
And this is the hole to the sky inside the cave.
Steve (Grandpa) feeding little Jairo for the first time.
Isn't he just the cutest thing you've ever seen?? Somedays he looks like his dad, others his brother.
Dad (my brother) with his little hippy boy.
Sorry it’s been a while folks. I’ve been so busy since I got home I barely have time to breathe. Finally, I had a moment to sit down and get some pictures together for a post. I’ll have a few more, of the views in Mexico, soon.
Mexico is fantastic. It’s the morning after we arrived and right now I am sitting at the foot of my brothers’ moms bed typing on my computer while my dad, his ex-wife (i.e. brothers’ mom) and her husband all play on their computers. If Bill (brothers’ moms’ husband) had a Mac too we would be a commercial for Apple machines!
We are an example of extended family love like no other. Joan (brothers’ mom) has been like an aunt to me my entire life. I met Tobys’ (brother) fiance Cristina and she is a doll. Jairo, my new nephew is so sweet and mellow. Babies really do just eat, poop and sleep. In that order! But I love him already. What am I saying, I loved him before I even met him. Both Grandpa’s are completely in love. You can barely get them to put him down.
I haven’t taken to many pictures yet, but as soon as I do I’ll show you all how adorable we all are. And how beautiful Mexico is. The pool out back is tiled in aqua green and warm all the time from the sun. With palm trees and flowers every where, it’s like a little oasis right in our backyard.
Oh, and before I forget. Yesterday (our very first day) and the estuary caught (or possibly was set) on fire. It was amazing to watch. The flames were 100 ft high and burned for hours. It was sad but impressive.
Until next time.
I’ve known you all my life. Since I was little I’ve avoided you. I’ve double checked every inch of me to be sure you aren’t hitching a ride. And still I’ll find you crawling across my hand when I’m sitting at my desk. And the question is…How in this good green earth did you get there?? I mean seriously. You didn’t crawl across the table, I’d have noticed (wouldn’t I?) But there you are. And then (bug friendly folks turn your heads please) I squish or burn you before you BITE me! Eewww. I hesitated in writing this because you are so….eeewwww! However, my friends and I were talking the other day, and we were arguing about which breeds of ticks can give a person Lyme Disease. I’d heard it was only the little brown ones with white markings on their backs (Dog Tick) but my friend had heard it was only the little red ones (Deer Tick). And then I realized how little I actually know about ticks. And although I don’t necessarily Want to know ticks, it’s important to be informed about your enemy. So here is what I found (because no one should suffer alone).
Male Deer Ticks (click to link to image) are small, flat, and black. The females (click to link to image) are a little larger and red with a black shield around their heads. I had always thought the tiny black ones were the babies because I’d often find them attached along with the bigger red ones. The females gorge themselves on blood, grow to be the larger gray ticks, fall off and lay up to 3000 eggs before they die. This whole process can take up to two years.
The eggs hatch in spring (around April) and the larva is the first of three stages in its life. This larva only has six legs, doesn’t climb very high, and will wait for up to two months for a host. They prefer mice, rabbits, squirrels but will attach to dogs, cats, deer and humans. A small portion will then move to the second phase.
They detach, molt and become what is known as a nymph. The process takes about two months, which I believe is one of the reasons we have two “tick seasons” around here. This sexless, eight legged, blood sucker will climb a little higher on grass and bushes, and again seek a host, albeit a larger one. Again they will drop off and molt.
We can thank our lucky stars only a small portion of ticks survive these two phases to adulthood. While adults they seek hosts like deer and bear, and of course the occasional accidental human. This is also the time they breed. Both a male and a female must be attached to the same host (another obstacle we can be thankful for). Once the female is impregnated she will drop to the ground, lay her 3000 or so eggs and then die. The eggs will hatch the following Spring and the cycle begins again.
ALL species of ticks carry Lyme Disease. That’s right ALL of them (and there are hundreds). And whether they have bitten you for an hour or two days, the disease might have transferred. And then again it might not. And then of course, if you have it you might not have any symptoms, or you might. The symptoms include;
* Headache
* Flu-like symptoms
* Spreading “bull’s-eye” rash from the tick bite
* Swelling and pain in the joints
As I said, I’ve lived around ticks my entire life. And I don’t think I’ve ever been bitten (of course I am very careful and try to avoid them. When I’ve been walking in the fields or bushes, I am sure to check very thoroughly for them before I go in the car or house) and my brother (who is 33) was just bitten for the first time this year. But one of my friends has been bitten a dozen or so times this year alone. And so far (symptoms take about 10 days to occur) no Lyme Disease.
So, ticks are prolific and may carry Lyme Disease, which you may or may not get (and let’s not even talk about all the other diseases they may carry…). And the best advice I can give, avoid at all costs. But you know, if you live in the country, and like to walk in the woods and fields, you must accept the chance encounter with a nasty little neighbor (and a few dozen of his closest relatives). Just give yourself a thorough once over to be sure they aren’t staying for dinner.
Sincerely *ahem*… Stephanie.
It reminds me off a baby in swaddling clothes.
I wanted to eat some cherry tomatoes, so I grabbed my camera, called the dog, and hopped into the Rhino for the short drive up the way to the orchard and greenhouse. I made a quick detour to see my parents new house. The kitchen cabinets are being installed and the bedroom has been painted, but more on that later. For now we’re talking FOOD!!
Oh glorious food. There is nothing like picking a tomato fresh from the vine, warm from the sun, popping it in your mouth, the burst of juice and flavor. yum yum yum!
And this was just the ones I had time to find...dozens more I'm sure.
The smell of basil and tomato plant fills the air. It is heaven to bury your face in a forest of tomato plant and hunt for those little red treasures of tasty delight.
And our peppers this year. Oh My Word. Do we have more peppers then we know what to do with. Peppers for me, for you, for them, for ALL! Peppers peppers peppers.
Purple bellpeppers, red pepperoncinis.
A forest of peppers.
And basil! There is a large folding table in the barn right now, completely covered in basil, and when I was in the greenhouse, I couldn’t even tell where it was harvested from.
My favorite basil to look at, but not necessarily eat (the scent is to live for)
Basil making a break for it.
Heirloom tomatoes.
We were unsure about these tomatoes at first. They split easily, and really aren’t much to look at, but slice one up for a sandwich and you’ll never regret them. So sweet.
Tomato flower
Although the eggplant isn’t ready to harvest yet, it’s almost there. And the flowers are some of my favorites.
We have more. So much more. But for now I think this is enough to appease even the most avid gardener. I have two bowls full of veggies to take home tonight, and guess what? We still have a while bowl full left from the last harvest. Whatever will we do with it all…
Hey folks. SO Sorry I’ve been absent for the last week or so. I had every intention of posting, and then, well you understand. Stuff came up. As stuff tends to do. But I do have some exciting news.
I’m going to Cabo to meet my new nephew and sister in law to be. I can’t wait!! I’ll be gone from the 19th to the 31st. And I will, do you hear me, I WILL come back with a tan. I even bought a new swimsuit (gulp).
On a business related update. Our succulents are going crazy. And we will be putting them up for sale very very soon. My dad is working on the webpage, and I’m putting together some ebay auctions. So, keep an eye out, cause they are adorable, irrisistable, and you know you want one!!
This beautiful begonia flower was a volunteer. We have some in pots on purpose, but this one showed up in one of our hydrangea pots. No harm, no foul.
Succulents are tough. Not only can they live in some of the worst conditions on the planet, they are easy to kill. Figure that one out. They naturally grow in deserts, places where everything else withers and dies, they thrive. Yet when you bring them home and give them water and nutrients they die. I guess they are trying to tell us something. Don’t Water Me!
These matching little beauties are planted in a copper tray. Very pretty display actually.
And any gardener knows, Not watering isn’t as easy as it seems. When I see a dry pot, my first instinct is to water it. When we first got our succulents from my Pa, we put them up in the hothouse and treated ‘em like all the other plants. And they started to show their displeasure almost immediately. But my dad quickly figured out what he was doing wrong, moved them to the back of the room, and stopped watering. And now they are Glor-Ious! Growing like mad!
These all started about 2" high with a few leaves, now they are 6-8" tall.
I was looking around for more information on caring for succulents and the consensus is only water once a week during peak season (mainly Spring and early Summer), and only water once a month during the Winter months. Be careful though, some cacti and succulents are from the southern hemisphere and they consider our Spring/Summer their Winter, so adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Another good tip for the unsure gardener, only water when the soil is dry completely through. And when in doubt, Don’t Water!
One of the coolest things I read I found on CactusLands. They said you can cover the topsoil of your succulent with pea gravel or crushed granite to help the soil dry at an even rate (helps keep the topsoil moist along with the rest). It also helps the water distribute evenly. Very cool. And I think I’m gonna try it out on a few of ours.
See the little baby in the bottom left corner?
Along with the important lack of water, succulents also don’t particularly care for nutrients. We planted our succulents in Black Gold (it received the National Home Garden Club Seal of Approval) which is a peat and perlite mixture with no fertilizers, and as I said, they are doing just great. No matter what brand of soil you use, be sure it has good aeration to allow water and air to the roots. If you do add nutrients to the soil (they like a little nitrogen) do so sparingly.
Don't water often, but enjoy the beauty when you do. I just love the droplets!
