Yes, it is! So much cooler this morning, I think fall may come early.

Also check your weep holes if you have a brick home. They got into the wall behind my kitchen through a weep hole near where the water enters my house. I had to spray them from both sides-yellow jackets are tough. Thank goodness I could access them from both sides as it was under my kitchen sink. I now keep metal wool like what you sand with in the weep holes. Just pull it apart loosely and plug the holes. It will still allow air to circulate, but will prevent yellow jackets from entering. YOu will have to replace them every so often as they do rust away.

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 👍😊

Happy that you are taking care of yourself. I did have to get a tooth pulled about 13 years ago now as the root canal did not work to save it. Back then, I was working and had the money to get a dental implant done. I have heard from my dentist that several people have had issues with their implants failing, but fortunately, thank the Lord, mine has not given me any problems. I had two of them done at the same time. One to replace a tooth that was removed when I was in my 20's with 3 small kids and unable to afford the root canal to save it. They had to do a bone graft in order to build the jaw bone back up as it shrinks over time when a tooth is removed. That implant is also doing well. It was not cheap, but I was working at the time. I don't regret having mine done even though insurance did not cover them. Mine were done by an oral surgeon, so be careful of using some of the ones that advertise same day services. Mine took about 2 months to complete. Your whole body feels healthier when your teeth/mouth is healthy. Good luck with your dental work. I am pulling for your!

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 Thank you! ❤ All the information you gave me was helpful!

As to the laundry basket. I had the laundry baskets because I had grown strawberries and did potatoes in them previously. I did not buy them for the purpose of growing in them, they were for bringing in produce, sharing produce with other, and storing winter squash. My mother stored apples wrapped in newspaper from our apple trees for overwintering in them because it allowed air to circulate. They worked beautifully for the potatoes the year that I grew them in baskets in a flood prone area of my yard as it kept them from rotting but allowed the water to penetrate and absorb upwards. I also had tons of earthworms in the baskets that year. I think earthworms are beneficial to potatoes and strawberries, both of which I was able to grow in the wettest part of my yard. They did not work well for the tomatoes this year that was in the video, because I did not have them in the wettest part of my yard, and due to drought conditions, the open weave of it allowed the contents to dry out. Live and learn. I was just trying to utilize what I already had. I find in the ground works best for tomatoes for me. The paper is good enough for one round of growing in the baskets. Cardboard has the disadvantage in that if snails are a problem, it does attract them. I don't really have a snail problem. I put cardboard between the beds on that side of my house because the neighbor's carport dumps a ton of water into my yard when we get a tropical weather system. Fire ants are also a huge problem in Texas and the cardboard seems to deter them as well as crawfish from burrowing into my raised beds. I had to go to raised beds on that side of my yard after a weather system parked itself over the Gulf and dumped over 12 inches of rain on my garden which did not leave for a week. It caused powdery mildew on all my squash and melon plants that year. Raised beds are not working well for me. I think I am going to go back to inground planting this fall. I have been debating it all week. Well, welcome to the channel. Thank you for the advice. I will look into that as now that I am feeling better, the garden does not seem so overwhelming any more. Happy gardening!

Because of the laundry baskets: great idea for potatoes 👍indeed 😊 I took now the idea with the paper inside (3 layers) to wrap out an old wicked basket and yes, paper is better than my former used plastic bags (I used to driill little holes with the scissors because of airing the roots and let water better getting out, that was much work 😉).

I thought maybe they were cardinals, but I am not sure. I am trying not to eat bread unless my stomach is acting up. Yes, bread for me is VERY calorie fattening. My doctor is always shocked at my blood test results and even when they had to do the abdominal camera in that I do not have a fatty liver, diabetes, or any other issues usually associated with being obese. I don't generally do fruit juice, except for the occasional addition of 100 percent apple juice to my daily fruit smoothie.

I guess I have something in common with your mom. I do like black licorice, but I rarely buy it; It is more of a medicinal thing. Apparently, I was born with polyps in my stomach and have always (from infancy) been prone to long bouts of nausea. My mother gave me licorice as a child to help settle my stomach, not knowing polyps was the actual cause. Pepto Bismol to me is the worst taste in the world. I detest wintergreen to this day. Licorice was the lesser of two evils as a child. Your mother probably enjoys fennel which is more beneficial than licorice for women who do not have cancer. I do like fennel tea.

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 Oh I completely agree with you about the bad taste of Pepto Bismol! If I wasn't sick already at the time, taking Pepto Bismol would make me sick lolol.

At Walmart, they sell a Hiland Bulgarian Buttermilk-- enjoy the contents of the container with exception of one cup. Take that cup, put in a clean quart size mason jar, and fill it up to the neck of the jar with whole milk. Place the canning lid on it loosely. I turn the canning lid upside down so that it is metal touching the rim of the jar, not the rubber sealer. As I said, the lid must be loose. Then sit it somewhere in your kitchen that is rather warm and will not be bothered by others (does not need to be in the dark of a cabinet, only out of the draft and away from direct sunlight). I sit mine beside my microwave. Leave it for 24 hours, and then use a funnel to pour it into the buttermilk container where you purchased the original from at Walmart. If you leave it longer than 24 hours, it will get really thick and globby. Not to worry if that happens, just give it a good stirring with a spatula which will break it up. I find the above brand Bulgarian style and whole milk for just 24 hours of sitting gives me the best texture- just like the store brand. It will take two quart mason jars to fill the Walmart container which you should thoroughly wash out the buttermilk plastic container with hot soapy water at least once a week. I like putting mine back in the container, so nobody mistakes it for another kind of milk. Other people will tell you that you can make it with vinegar, which is true, but I prefer the taste and texture of this method= just like the store brand. When something sits my stomach polyps off, like medicines, it can be weeks of drinking buttermilk. This is much cheaper and no hunting for the right kind. I always keep some.

@rusticgardenretreat4892 Thank you so much! So easy, never knew this was possible. I love full fat buttermilk and can't wait to make this. Thank you again for sharing!

I have a toaster oven that I use most of the time. I am going round and round about fixing the oven as a new gas stove, low end model, would run me $450 and fixing this one could run me more than $300. It just seems that I might be happier with a solar oven for $500 as it would give me more peace of mind in these troubled times. I hate to let anything go on the house that might impede my children's ability to sell it after I am dead. I don't use the oven very much except when canning and cooking during the late fall and winter. Unfortunately, my garden did not survive, so I have nothing to can. Not sure that I will garden going forward, except perennial flowers and asparagus.

Yeah, I think it is the heat and humidity. I can go longer in the cooler winter months. I also sleep better and overall get more rest in winter months- fewer allergies, better breathing.

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 👍❤

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 👍❤

I don't know about the cod liver oil, I do eat chicken liver a couple of times a month as a local restaurant runs a Tuesday special on it-- save $2 on 12 livers.

Sounds great. A bunch of these are going towards my daughter. I have hand crank flashlights that are Velcro on the back of each bedroom door and inside cabinets as well as some lights that directly charge from the sun. I live in Texas with a failing grid. There is a feeling that you can never have enough lights or heat sources. A back up to a back up to a back up. Grew up on a very rural farm, a couple of miles off the main road in a very remote area of Indiana. My parents had flashlights, kerosene lanterns, candles, and a fireplace as well as electric furnace and gas stoves.

Yeah, I feel ya. I turn the central on for visitor and the grand kittens. When we had that stretch of 110+ heat wave last year, it ran me $7 a day to cool the house. Which when you think about it in those terms is totally worth it except that the central could not get the house cooler than the mid to upper 80's during that high heat wave, even though I have more than R30 in the attic. I really don't sleep well that warm. I even cut my heater off at nights during the winter as long as we are above freezing. I grew up without AC, but I don't want to grow old without it! I like this Midea unit because it is U shaped, so there is not a large window gap. I feel safe with it as everything is screwed in place and the AC also has built in locking mechanism to prevent the window from opening. I also like that it is very quiet. It was nice to spend this month's $50 savings on some preps for the house and gaming gifts for my friends at the senior center.

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 👍

My house is about 1400 square feet. I have at least R30 insulation in the attic- added R30 on top of what was already there 2 years ago. We had actual temperatures of 110 or more for many consecutive days last year. I don't ever remember such a hot summer. I am happy to be saving money, but my bigger concern with my lungs is that on the days that we had actual temperatures between 110-115, my house would not cool and the power company was threatening rolling black outs. I have had too many bouts of pneumonia which has caused scar tissue in my lungs. I need help in cooling my body. There is about $30 of tack on fees that the power company charges including service fee, fuel fees, some recovery fees and something to do with a fee to help update the Texas power grid. Electricity usually runs me less than $50 a month, except for the 5 months of summer which ranged from $95 to $200 with one at $218. It was a very hot summer and I have no trees to give shade to my home. 2 years of drought damaged/killed them. I had to have them removed like many of my neighbors.

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 WOW" It is hot there! every single power company adds on so many fees, that equal to a third of your bill WE even have a poor person fee. 1600sf. I have tree coverage until 10:30 am. So this helps., a bit. I have an underground water supply that allows water for the trees here. We both have added more insulation. I all so put on a temp house wrap. I have a basement area that stays cool. We have to do whatever it takes to keep our bills lower.

Thanks, it is super old, like 15 years old. I wash it several times a year, and it has held up well from washer to dryer. I have a thicker, heavier one I use for cold months.

My brother dropped out at 16, married, welcomed a son, did his GED and joined the military. He went on in life to complete a Ph.D. It was a different time.

My daughter has 2 of them. One in a bedroom and one in her living room that is open to her kitchen for the same reason. Her living room one is a 12000 BTU and her bedroom is a 10000 like mine. She liked all the security features in it to keep people from breaking in or stealing it. She also liked that she could control it remotely from her phone via an app you can download. She only just discovered that it had a heater feature when I put mine in and while learning to use the remote told her about it. She has been very happy with her set up and her electric bill for the summer is half what it used to be with central= fingers crossed I am hoping for a similar outcome. You can get Midea window AC units that are not U shaped cheaper than this one. They are also easier to install and remove for winter months. In googling the midea AC, it would seem that they all have the heat feature as well which is a plus in Texas nowadays after the Valentine Week of 2021 - nice to have a dual function in one product.

I have to admit that I am enjoying being 65. The hard part going forward for an independent person like me is going to be allowing others to help me.

That's IT! Peace lily!!!! Thank you! I just remember as a kid commenting on how much they looked like candle sticks one Easter and reaching up to touch the white flame with my white gloved hand. I hate getting old, so many words don't come to me anymore. Thanks for the name. And welcome to my channel!

I have to l faugh. Thank you for pointing out the error of my ways-- typo, I meant to put 600. I am so very tired that my brain is not functioning properly. Maybe a cross in the yard will help me to have kind thoughts when the neighbor's dog starts yowling at night, but I would need the lights as well. You'll love today's video. I got a free cross for my yard! Who would've thought? A local church made them and brought them to the senior center, for Easter, I guess?

Thank you. I have more than I know what to do with, given that I have high ground in the midst of a flood. Bridge washed out yesterday cutting many seniors off from the center until it is repaired unless they are willing to drive 40 minutes out of the way. I too wish you the best.

Yes

It is funny that you should mention a stain. I am debating a paint wash on them to enhance the wood grain and go more natural. On the farm we did paint washes on wood whereby you dilute the paint with two parts water to one part paint to enhance the grain---or even 1:1 ratio for more coverage. If you want more coverage but still a shabby opaque look then one part water to 2 parts paint. I really don't want to invest in stain, but had contemplated a thin wash to just enhance the wood grain and let it go. I don't really want a paint to take away from the flowers that I will be growing in the pots. I actually like the look of my asparagus bed with it's cedar fence panels. Thanks for your input. I will consider the options and test on the back to see what works best after this round of rain passes. I also have to clean up the top of the wood pile and the secure the tarps. 👍👍👍

Yes, I bought one of those 50 packs from an online company - probably Holland Bulb Company. I like the pink ones, but I think the purple ones are also very lovely. They work well with red canna bulb flowers in a flower arrangement.

I saw a property about an hour from where I live that has 6 acres, and I seriously considered cashing in everything to make the move. What stopped me? The fact that I have finally made 65 which will freeze my property tax this year. I am also unsure that I could manage such a large property, but the idea was certainly tempting. When I moved here, 3 out of 4 of my neighbors were very nice elderly women. I have invested so much in my home to make it economical that I just can't afford starting over. Good luck with your move.

Thanks. I will look into getting some. Knew I wasn't going to throw it away without trying a fix. Thanks for sharing.

Given that it was one third off, I saved a little over $60 on my purchase totaling $123.

Good luck. They are restocking the shelves each day, and trucks are still arriving as they unload their warehouse, so check back daily if you missed something.

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 Thanks! I am going to try to get over there this week.

You might be better off going in the evening as the weekends are very busy. My daughter got some really awesome deals going near closing time as the cashier just rang it all up at a larger discount==== x number of items at such and such price in order to deal with the line at closing time. I can't promise it will happen for you, but she got more than 30 percent off. @@TUKByV

@@rusticgardenretreat4892 Thank you very much!

Sad, I heard the same thing on the news last night. We will be having rain here. I feel bad to say it, but I need the rain more than the eclipse.

We do not have a specific yard waste day here. We have large garbage days periodically. They give notice with the water bill on what day it will be-- usually last day of the month every quarter. I always keep my eyes open on my walks. I would love to find free plants. I found two lantana's growing in the ditch this morning outside a vacant lot and went back to get them as they will soon be mowed when the city mows ditches. I put them in a pot to keep them from spreading across my whole yard. 🙂

For a long time, I did not do as much roadside/dumpster salvaging as I am recently doing. I make it a point to never bring something home without a purpose in mind. Usually, I just collect wood and cardboard for the garden. I hate to see any kind of wood go to waste. I am sure you probably agree. I passed on a lot of stuff on large garbage day. I was quite amazed at stuff people just sit out on the road instead of donating to the local charity shop that funds a food bank.

Sometimes I feel like the Lord is leading my morning walk. Happy gardening from Texas!

Thanks for watching. I have tried a lot of things to discourage cats from my yard from sweet gum balls, cayenne pepper, and cat repellant powder. I purchased those little pointy things you put in your garden to discourage pets from digging, but your plants get caught up in them. The only thing that works for me is fencing them out of each bed with netting. I believe it is only one cat which is only attacking the one bed, for whatever reason. Happy gardening to you as well.

Thank you!

Amen. I do thank the Lord, and I feel so sorry for our children who don't know how to make money stretch and not toss things that don't work out as planned. I thank my parents as well who took time to teach me. Have a wonderful day!

Wow! I did not know that! Thanks! I had not had an issue with my butternut squash and cantaloupe last year. Guess the Lord blessed me? I had thought that I could plant the spaghetti squash or the butternut squash on the trellis and the melons- cantaloupe on the ground. I will have to research and reconsider where to plant what. Thanks for posting. I knew melons and cucumbers had to be planted apart. Learn something new everyday. Thanks again! Maybe my daughter and I will just divide the plants by species instead of sharing/planting a variety. Happy gardening!

Welcome.

That is good to know. In the past, I have grown cucumber on sticks with twine ran between them near my chain link fence. Last year I grew them on a chicken wire trellis between my outdoor light post and some strange metal post in my yard==I don't know what he was for, but getting him out is more trouble than I care to exert. This year, I am thinking of growing cucumbers over my unused clothes line. I am trying to get everything in my yard pushed towards the sides and out of my yardman's way as he is aging and our extreme summer heat is taking a toll on him. Happy gardening and thanks for sharing. I may install more cattle panels in the future as I have to admit I like the visual of it. Experiment this year and stretch next year. Again, thanks for sharing.

Thank you. I am very pleased with the look of it and can't wait until summer to see how it looks with vegetation.