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madgardener 07-02-2006 12:13 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
I had a wonderful day just tooling around today....................We got an
unexpected message from Squire's job wanting him to drive 468 miles to get
his new semi-truck and get him back to work, and after making all the
appropriate arrangements for transporting son, whose taxi is his mom, I
slipped the dawgs, left them bewildered and with "daddy" and headed down and
out into the countryside and towards the town nearby to conduct some last
minute preparations for the trip.

This is going to be a wonderful adventure, as I'll be able to see one of my
gardening newsgroup friends, Pottingshed, aka Bev. She decided a few years
ago after reading some of my posts, that she just HAD to meet me, and
snarfed up her granddaughter who she kept alot for her daughter while she
worked, (the girl was 6) and came down to Tennessee from Virginia for a
week's visit and a sleep on my futon. We had a blast and made fast friends,
proving my theory that almost all gardeners are really neat people. (I've
had the blessing and pleasure to meet a few of the friend's I've made over
the almost 8 years I've contributed and learned from rec.gardens. I
consider them life friends!)

After the go-ahead from Pottingshed that me and the dawgs were welcome after
I kick Squire out at the terminal, I realized there were a few small things
to take care of before I flitter off. Oil change for the van, collar's for
the beasties for their leashes. Sméagol has such a thin neck, and the
Dollar Store has nylon collars that snap for $1, and Sugar despite her being
paranoid, needed something that didn't slip off her neck either.

On the way down my favorite route and winding country road towards
Morristown, I saw pastures near woods that had numerous flocks of tightly
huddled and pecking wild turkeys. One pasture had at least 60 of them as
they scratched near a roll of hay the owner had left for his horses. It
lifted my heart to see them, and made me laugh as I realized they were
totally oblivious to cars passing just a few feet from them below. (the
pasture I saw these in rose from the road).

The day was overcast and gray, and the feel of it was a cool late winter
day. 45oF and comfortable, but needing a coat in case the temperatures
dropped, I wound my way down the road, which stretches about 12 miles from
my house to the small hidden parkway. Everywhere I saw green growth poking
up thru tan grasses and landscapes, and noticed individual homes where the
owners had been mulching little beds with concrete edgers around trees and
such. The spring fever was evident as I saw several yards that had been
obviously tended to and had a small pang of guilt as I realized I should
have been home ripping Vinca............

I'll tell ya' what, though, the Vinca is more tenacious and evil than I ever
imagined. I found a large clump of it intent on conquering my woods near
the northeastern drop off the other day that took me completely by surprise.
I have way more to tear out than ever I thought. But enough of that. I
accomplished the mechanical portion of my errands, hit the bank on my way to
get myself a rather large container of sweet iced tea with extra lemon
slices (in the South, you can almost always buy sweet iced tea at any time)
for my "fuel", and then decided to go back to the Lowe's where I used to
work to see if I could find a small pot of "Brasil" variegated philodendrum
to take with me.

I should never have stopped. I had forgotten that February is the time they
pull the old stock and put it on racks and reduce the price hugely. I
specifically wanted to also replenish the thistle seed for the finches, as
the little buggers have discovered both feeding stations I've made for the
winged warriors.

Once I got into the greenhouse and perused the plants, I realized they
didn't have what I was looking for, but oh lordy...........there were three
green racks over six foot loaded with reduced stock like fertilizers,
rooting hormones, bonemeal, tomato blossom spray, Camelia and Rhoddie
fertilizers and such. Up top of the rack, I spotted some Organic granular
fertilizers for Flowers and Vegetables marked down to rediculous, and not
having a cart, decided to take the plunge and take all they had. That was
five bags of three pounds each bag of granular fertilizer for $3. Marked
down significantly, I might add making it a bargain.

I got the thistle seed, resisted the urge to get the larger bag, after doing
the math and figuring out I wasn't saving money, and moved towards the
greenhouse. Tippy toe and snag the bags, and heard my name called, and
turned to see former co-workers working and moving new stock who had spotted
me and my orange garden hat with the white flowers. We greeted and hugged
and I got the usual questions....where you been? whatcha been doin'? We
miss you....you coming back?? things of that nature. Then I bowed out to
let them get on with their scrambling as pre-Spring is madness around Lowes.

Then I made the wrongful decision to go outside into the deserted garden
center and see what was on the tables. Shouldn't have.............nope.
ALL their glazed ceramic pots of various assorted sizes were marked down
50%, as well as iron trellises and iron hooks and such. They do this every
two years for the new line of merchandise, and the last time I made out with
bargains, I was new and just working there. This time it was heavy, clay
glazed pots, no fiberglass or coated styrofoam ones that were outrageously
expensive when they first came. I spotted a beautiful deep blue five gallon
one that I thought would be just perfect for a home for the reblooming
lilac, 'Jocee' and hefted it up. Resisted the urge to get a couple of iron
trellises, despite that I needed them for Clematis, and as I was rounding
the middle aisle, I heard a very thick accent (German? Polish? Swedish?)
coming towards me from the wall racks that held the pots and saucers down a
bit.

I looked and saw a small, dark haired woman who was dressed in a really
bright and colorful jacket standing in front of the clay and concrete pots
near the back end with a quizzical look on her face. "Do Vu Vork heeere??"
she called out to me, smiling.......I grinned back at her and replied, "I
USED to, can I help you with something?" And she wagged her head, the dark
curly hair flying all over, and she said "ya, ya, I needs somevonne to hep
me reach this BEOUTIFUL planter that izz so high uup" I had a laugh and
said no problem, and left my cart and went to her. The nursery employee
wasn't anywhere to be seen, and knowing hours were cut and he or she was
probably doing other things inside for the inside lawn and garden
department, it wasn't a problem.

She pointed to a cast concrete container that had a green patina and
exclaimed "DIS IZZ SOOOOOO GEORGIOUS!!!! Is a shame it's made in China, no?
But I loves it verry muuch. It's verrry heavy please be ____ I can't spell
the word she said, I suspect it was careful in her native tongue, but I was
just enjoying myself. It never fails to amuse me that this is what I've
always done. No matter if I work there or not. If it's a plant question, or
helping someone, I just jump in and do it and have a blast doing it!

She proceeded to small talk in her very thick accent as I reached up to the
shelf above me and carefully pulled the container down where I could get a
good handle on it. Then as she took it from me as I got it to a more level
position (I'm only 5' 4" tall, she was MUCH shorter! LOL) I asked
her......"do you have a blender?" When she nodded and said she used hers to
mix her husband's juices, I laughed and told her that if she knew where to
find some growing moss (and she nodded again and said her woods where her
house was had mosses growing and she'd just taken a walk to see what was
waking up and the mosses were greening nicely) and get some buttermilk at
the grocery store, (she nodded again and said that buttermilk wasn't the
same here, and we both agreed on that one, but I assured her the lower fat
buttermilk didn't matter) she could throw the moss and buttermilk into the
blender and puree it up all smooth like a green milkshake and get an old
paint brush and paint the outside of this pot with the stuff and she'd have
moss growing on it for real instead of just the greenish patina. She was
thrilled...........and said the store was her next stop. LOL

We parted as she thanked me profusely, and I made my way back to my cart to
leave before I succumbed to purchases I had no business making. All thru
the store I kept running into former co-workers who greeted and hugged me,
making me feel happy and sad at the same time. There are really good people
at this store, but there are also some things going on that make decent
people a little bit nuts......I left for my own reasons. But everyone of my
friends asked the same thing.....was I returning. sigh.............no, but
you never know, if I can get past the politics of the place and some of the
bullshit that I seem to be getting too old for lately....................

I found myself checking out behind this little woman and she perked back up
and asked if she could hug me, which I never turn down a good hug, and we
swapped a nice affection, and she told the cashier (who used to be one of my
bosses) that "this voman, she is remarkable, she leaped up and helped me to
reach this pot and she doesn't even vork here!" We had a nice chuckle, and
the cashier said that this was one of the reasons they missed me, that I
still had former customers that inquired about where I was even months later
since I'd left there.

I made out pretty well on the fertilizers and pot, more than I figured on,
and got two more hugs on my way out the door, and made my way towards the
van to put my booty inside. The little lady was struggling with her stuff
at HER car, and I asked if I could help her again, she laughed and said if I
would, she'd be most grateful, and she couldn't believe how kind and
friendly people were in Tennessee. I told her that a lot of us are this way,
but not all, and she said where she came from, people sometimes
were.......was the word suspicious? and I said it probably was....but she
said my nature was most refreshing. That made me feel pretty good to think
that I am still the ol' madgardener or Maddie that people wonder about. I
helped her lift the heavy pot out of the cart and I passed it to her where
she got it into the back of her vehicle, then we said our goodbye's and she
said she hoped she'd see me again, whereupon I assured her we'd probably run
into each other when the plants came in during true spring.

The ride home was reflective, and as I drove almost automatically, the same
route I had run for two and a half years (and actually more, as this route
to town was one of my more favorite ones that I've written about now for
several years) I realized there was all sorts of spring sign. Evergreen
trees had new candles on them and new green on the tips, I could see tufts
of various green's of mystery plants that would later reveal themselves as
Mom Nature revealed them. The day was waning down and I passed more
pastures where more turkeys were grazing and scratching around for food.
Their helmet shaped bodies were closer together, and it was easy to spot the
old Tom who was watching over his hens.

The temperatures were dropping, but it was still pleasant enough that I put
the passenger side down halfway and enjoyed the brisk wind that whipped thru
the van. Once I got to the hilltop that drops down thru the woods and leads
towards my dead-end road, I coasted around the hooking curve, watching for
signs of our own turkeys that resided between the woods and pastures that
surround me, and shot up the asphalt road. The sad knobby remains of the
ancient Forsythia's were quietly waiting for warmer days to astonish the old
man who had whacked them so brutally, and I slowed down to park and walk
over towards one of his side pastures to greet the old donkey he has.
Barney came up to me and voiced his recognition of me, and allowed me to rub
his rough muzzle, and I spoke quietly to him.

Ever since I helped him out of the tangle of the front woods one day when he
broke out and went AWOL, he's been friendlier towards me. He doesn't like
Sugar, and seems to like Sméagol better, but today he didn't have to look
out for either dog. He seemed to love the extra attention, and after a bit,
I told him I was off, and climbed back into the van. He voiced his protests
by braying at me forlornly as I headed homewards.

I always stop at the top of the ridge where the paved road ends at Miz
Mary's house and the incredible view, and gazed towards English Mountain.
The clouds were slate gray, and the ridges and layers of the Smokies were
all thick with white. Yesterday they had received several inches of snow,
and it wasn't over for them yet. All week we're in for high's of 40's and
low's of 20's and chances all week of snows. Those upper elevations will
get any chances while I'll probably just get cold and flurries. The blue
gray clouds slid greasily around the treetops and hillsides and headed
further eastwards into North Carolina, and as I swung around the circular
driveway that Miz Mary has with the wonderful island garden with the
dogwoods, azalea's, candytuft, phlox,tulips and assorted plants and shrubs
(in true spring), I did what I always do.....I put it into reverse and went
the several hundred feet backwards down my driveway, slowed at the gate and
tired Zebra grasses and then aimed the van to the second "doorway" of my
side western yard, where I popped open the side doors and unloaded the booty
of fertlizers onto the shelves that my other gardening friend had helped me
organize last late spring.

The heavy glazed pot I placed carefully on top of the large retaining wall
I'd built around the BBQ fountain garden next to the squat clay pot planted
in colorful Bolero pansies that are shining brightly in the only colors
there are besides greens and tans. The blue was refreshing. I find myself
thinking I should have gotten TWO of them for the price of
one.............shame on me LOL

As I get in, the dogs catch wind and sounds of me and start howling their
greetings at me thru the walls and at every door, and as I park in front of
the eastern end fairy bed, I head Sméagol voicing his pleasure that "mama's
home!!!!". I grabbed the mail (new Fine Gardening magazine! woo hoo!! and
wonderful seed catalogs from Peter Sutton (thanks! Peter!) that already
threaten to drive me nuts just enjoying them..... get the 'Jocee' lilac that
is quietly sitting under the Sorbaria and baby dogwood that has FIVE
BUDS!!!!! (this will be her FIRST YEAR TO BLOOM!!!!!!!!!!and I can't wait to
see what color her blossoms will be...) the Cornelian Cherry has opened a
few blush balls with the overloaded sulphur yellow fairy flowers, despite
the cold temperatures. It's always the first to bloom, even before the
Hellebore.

I carry 'Jocee' to the western side and put her gently inside the glazed pot
just to sit until I can fill it with rich compost later on, and turn to see
Sugar's head poking out of the cat door. It always tickles me to see the
dog's head sticking out like mounted dawgs.......Rose started it, and Sugar
caught on quickly when she came into the family, and once Sméagol figured it
out, he too, sticks his head out to sniff and see what's going on. I spoke
to her and she popped back inside, to be replaced by Sméagol, who clunked
his pointy little head in excitement as he ran towards the front door to
meet me first.

Squire was in his comfy chair (OH NOOOOOO, not the COMFY
CHAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and remarked that my torture of the dawgs was most
impolite, as they had been moping about the house ever since they discovered
I'd given them the slip. I handed him the new collars and decided he could
put them on the "kids" as I took off me coat and got another glass of tea.
Discovered back in my nook that there is a tiiiiny little bit of green on
the stubb of the 'Green and Gold' oxalis that Pester's broke off in one of
his more menacing feline moments when he discovered that my nook window was
southwards and warm one day. Once he broke it off and I wailed about it, I
feared I had lost the plant. But Logee's assured me I should give the plant
and little stick that was left a chance to regenerate and sure
enough.....weeks later, there is the smallest sign of life, I may not have
to replace the plant after all. But Pest is grounded and restricted from
enjoying this spot from here on. The other oxalis, "Rubra" resembles a
small Redbud tree and the 'Green and Gold' looked for all the world like a
small silver and green variegated shrub that produced more yellow trumpet
fairy flowers than the 'Rubra' did (whose own flowers are yellow as well,
and most handsome with the burgundy heart shaped leaves).

The Rex Begonia had perked up from the watering with fish water and I
checked on the other Rexes and they too were responding to the fish water.
Settle down with my iced tea and here I am.......reporting that all is back
to normal, I'm packing for the trip up east and looking forwards to a visit
with a great garden buddy. Who knows? Maybe we can get into some "bare
nursery" trouble while I'm up there! LOL

Thanks for letting me share this little moment. I am looking forwards to
updating you on Fairy Holler since now the Hellebore are waking up and
setting more and more blossom buds.

madgardener, up on the cold ridge, back in Fairy Holler, overlooking English
Mountain in Eastern Tennessee, zone 7, Sunset zone 36

Broadback 07-02-2006 09:04 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
madgardener wrote:
I had a wonderful day just tooling around today....................We got an
Snip
Who says that Americans speak (or even write) English?

madgardener 07-02-2006 11:20 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"Broadback" wrote in message
...
madgardener wrote:
I had a wonderful day just tooling around today....................We got
an
Snip
Who says that Americans speak (or even write) English?

I speak Southern.......................................... ......g
madgardener

Janet Baraclough 07-02-2006 11:34 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
The message
from "madgardener" contains these words:

Then I made the wrongful decision to go outside into the deserted garden
center and see what was on the tables. Shouldn't have.....

Maddie, that excuse is never going to stand up in court. You knew
what would happen, we all did. Extensive research carried out in scores
of deserted winter garden centres has proved time and time again, in
front of independent witnesses, that the addict will always find some
way of gratifying their cravings.

Janet. (doing cold turkey)

Callen Molenda 07-02-2006 03:04 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
Hey Maddie, are you going to be in Virginia?

Callen in VA

"madgardener" wrote in message
...
I had a wonderful day just tooling around today....................We got
an
unexpected message from Squire's job wanting him to drive 468 miles to get
his new semi-truck and get him back to work, and after making all the
appropriate arrangements for transporting son, whose taxi is his mom, I
slipped the dawgs, left them bewildered and with "daddy" and headed down
and
out into the countryside and towards the town nearby to conduct some last
minute preparations for the trip.

This is going to be a wonderful adventure, as I'll be able to see one of
my
gardening newsgroup friends, Pottingshed, aka Bev. She decided a few
years
ago after reading some of my posts, that she just HAD to meet me, and
snarfed up her granddaughter who she kept alot for her daughter while she
worked, (the girl was 6) and came down to Tennessee from Virginia for a
week's visit and a sleep on my futon. We had a blast and made fast
friends,
proving my theory that almost all gardeners are really neat people. (I've
had the blessing and pleasure to meet a few of the friend's I've made over
the almost 8 years I've contributed and learned from rec.gardens. I
consider them life friends!)

After the go-ahead from Pottingshed that me and the dawgs were welcome
after
I kick Squire out at the terminal, I realized there were a few small
things
to take care of before I flitter off. Oil change for the van, collar's
for
the beasties for their leashes. Sméagol has such a thin neck, and the
Dollar Store has nylon collars that snap for $1, and Sugar despite her
being
paranoid, needed something that didn't slip off her neck either.

On the way down my favorite route and winding country road towards
Morristown, I saw pastures near woods that had numerous flocks of tightly
huddled and pecking wild turkeys. One pasture had at least 60 of them as
they scratched near a roll of hay the owner had left for his horses. It
lifted my heart to see them, and made me laugh as I realized they were
totally oblivious to cars passing just a few feet from them below. (the
pasture I saw these in rose from the road).

The day was overcast and gray, and the feel of it was a cool late winter
day. 45oF and comfortable, but needing a coat in case the temperatures
dropped, I wound my way down the road, which stretches about 12 miles from
my house to the small hidden parkway. Everywhere I saw green growth
poking
up thru tan grasses and landscapes, and noticed individual homes where the
owners had been mulching little beds with concrete edgers around trees and
such. The spring fever was evident as I saw several yards that had been
obviously tended to and had a small pang of guilt as I realized I should
have been home ripping Vinca............

I'll tell ya' what, though, the Vinca is more tenacious and evil than I
ever
imagined. I found a large clump of it intent on conquering my woods near
the northeastern drop off the other day that took me completely by
surprise.
I have way more to tear out than ever I thought. But enough of that. I
accomplished the mechanical portion of my errands, hit the bank on my way
to
get myself a rather large container of sweet iced tea with extra lemon
slices (in the South, you can almost always buy sweet iced tea at any
time)
for my "fuel", and then decided to go back to the Lowe's where I used to
work to see if I could find a small pot of "Brasil" variegated
philodendrum
to take with me.

I should never have stopped. I had forgotten that February is the time
they
pull the old stock and put it on racks and reduce the price hugely. I
specifically wanted to also replenish the thistle seed for the finches, as
the little buggers have discovered both feeding stations I've made for the
winged warriors.

Once I got into the greenhouse and perused the plants, I realized they
didn't have what I was looking for, but oh lordy...........there were
three
green racks over six foot loaded with reduced stock like fertilizers,
rooting hormones, bonemeal, tomato blossom spray, Camelia and Rhoddie
fertilizers and such. Up top of the rack, I spotted some Organic granular
fertilizers for Flowers and Vegetables marked down to rediculous, and not
having a cart, decided to take the plunge and take all they had. That was
five bags of three pounds each bag of granular fertilizer for $3. Marked
down significantly, I might add making it a bargain.

I got the thistle seed, resisted the urge to get the larger bag, after
doing
the math and figuring out I wasn't saving money, and moved towards the
greenhouse. Tippy toe and snag the bags, and heard my name called, and
turned to see former co-workers working and moving new stock who had
spotted
me and my orange garden hat with the white flowers. We greeted and hugged
and I got the usual questions....where you been? whatcha been doin'? We
miss you....you coming back?? things of that nature. Then I bowed out to
let them get on with their scrambling as pre-Spring is madness around
Lowes.

Then I made the wrongful decision to go outside into the deserted garden
center and see what was on the tables. Shouldn't have.............nope.
ALL their glazed ceramic pots of various assorted sizes were marked down
50%, as well as iron trellises and iron hooks and such. They do this
every
two years for the new line of merchandise, and the last time I made out
with
bargains, I was new and just working there. This time it was heavy, clay
glazed pots, no fiberglass or coated styrofoam ones that were outrageously
expensive when they first came. I spotted a beautiful deep blue five
gallon
one that I thought would be just perfect for a home for the reblooming
lilac, 'Jocee' and hefted it up. Resisted the urge to get a couple of
iron
trellises, despite that I needed them for Clematis, and as I was rounding
the middle aisle, I heard a very thick accent (German? Polish? Swedish?)
coming towards me from the wall racks that held the pots and saucers down
a
bit.

I looked and saw a small, dark haired woman who was dressed in a really
bright and colorful jacket standing in front of the clay and concrete pots
near the back end with a quizzical look on her face. "Do Vu Vork
heeere??"
she called out to me, smiling.......I grinned back at her and replied, "I
USED to, can I help you with something?" And she wagged her head, the
dark
curly hair flying all over, and she said "ya, ya, I needs somevonne to hep
me reach this BEOUTIFUL planter that izz so high uup" I had a laugh and
said no problem, and left my cart and went to her. The nursery employee
wasn't anywhere to be seen, and knowing hours were cut and he or she was
probably doing other things inside for the inside lawn and garden
department, it wasn't a problem.

She pointed to a cast concrete container that had a green patina and
exclaimed "DIS IZZ SOOOOOO GEORGIOUS!!!! Is a shame it's made in China,
no?
But I loves it verry muuch. It's verrry heavy please be ____ I can't spell
the word she said, I suspect it was careful in her native tongue, but I
was
just enjoying myself. It never fails to amuse me that this is what I've
always done. No matter if I work there or not. If it's a plant question,
or
helping someone, I just jump in and do it and have a blast doing it!

She proceeded to small talk in her very thick accent as I reached up to
the
shelf above me and carefully pulled the container down where I could get a
good handle on it. Then as she took it from me as I got it to a more
level
position (I'm only 5' 4" tall, she was MUCH shorter! LOL) I asked
her......"do you have a blender?" When she nodded and said she used hers
to
mix her husband's juices, I laughed and told her that if she knew where to
find some growing moss (and she nodded again and said her woods where her
house was had mosses growing and she'd just taken a walk to see what was
waking up and the mosses were greening nicely) and get some buttermilk at
the grocery store, (she nodded again and said that buttermilk wasn't the
same here, and we both agreed on that one, but I assured her the lower fat
buttermilk didn't matter) she could throw the moss and buttermilk into the
blender and puree it up all smooth like a green milkshake and get an old
paint brush and paint the outside of this pot with the stuff and she'd
have
moss growing on it for real instead of just the greenish patina. She was
thrilled...........and said the store was her next stop. LOL

We parted as she thanked me profusely, and I made my way back to my cart
to
leave before I succumbed to purchases I had no business making. All thru
the store I kept running into former co-workers who greeted and hugged me,
making me feel happy and sad at the same time. There are really good
people
at this store, but there are also some things going on that make decent
people a little bit nuts......I left for my own reasons. But everyone of
my
friends asked the same thing.....was I returning. sigh.............no, but
you never know, if I can get past the politics of the place and some of
the
bullshit that I seem to be getting too old for lately....................

I found myself checking out behind this little woman and she perked back
up
and asked if she could hug me, which I never turn down a good hug, and we
swapped a nice affection, and she told the cashier (who used to be one of
my
bosses) that "this voman, she is remarkable, she leaped up and helped me
to
reach this pot and she doesn't even vork here!" We had a nice chuckle,
and
the cashier said that this was one of the reasons they missed me, that I

still had former customers that inquired about where I was even months
later
since I'd left there.

I made out pretty well on the fertilizers and pot, more than I figured on,
and got two more hugs on my way out the door, and made my way towards the
van to put my booty inside. The little lady was struggling with her stuff
at HER car, and I asked if I could help her again, she laughed and said if
I
would, she'd be most grateful, and she couldn't believe how kind and
friendly people were in Tennessee. I told her that a lot of us are this
way,
but not all, and she said where she came from, people sometimes
were.......was the word suspicious? and I said it probably was....but she
said my nature was most refreshing. That made me feel pretty good to
think
that I am still the ol' madgardener or Maddie that people wonder about. I
helped her lift the heavy pot out of the cart and I passed it to her where
she got it into the back of her vehicle, then we said our goodbye's and
she
said she hoped she'd see me again, whereupon I assured her we'd probably
run
into each other when the plants came in during true spring.

The ride home was reflective, and as I drove almost automatically, the
same
route I had run for two and a half years (and actually more, as this route
to town was one of my more favorite ones that I've written about now for
several years) I realized there was all sorts of spring sign. Evergreen
trees had new candles on them and new green on the tips, I could see tufts
of various green's of mystery plants that would later reveal themselves as
Mom Nature revealed them. The day was waning down and I passed more
pastures where more turkeys were grazing and scratching around for food.
Their helmet shaped bodies were closer together, and it was easy to spot
the
old Tom who was watching over his hens.

The temperatures were dropping, but it was still pleasant enough that I
put
the passenger side down halfway and enjoyed the brisk wind that whipped
thru
the van. Once I got to the hilltop that drops down thru the woods and
leads
towards my dead-end road, I coasted around the hooking curve, watching for
signs of our own turkeys that resided between the woods and pastures that
surround me, and shot up the asphalt road. The sad knobby remains of the
ancient Forsythia's were quietly waiting for warmer days to astonish the
old
man who had whacked them so brutally, and I slowed down to park and walk
over towards one of his side pastures to greet the old donkey he has.
Barney came up to me and voiced his recognition of me, and allowed me to
rub
his rough muzzle, and I spoke quietly to him.

Ever since I helped him out of the tangle of the front woods one day when
he
broke out and went AWOL, he's been friendlier towards me. He doesn't like
Sugar, and seems to like Sméagol better, but today he didn't have to look
out for either dog. He seemed to love the extra attention, and after a
bit,
I told him I was off, and climbed back into the van. He voiced his
protests
by braying at me forlornly as I headed homewards.

I always stop at the top of the ridge where the paved road ends at Miz
Mary's house and the incredible view, and gazed towards English Mountain.
The clouds were slate gray, and the ridges and layers of the Smokies were
all thick with white. Yesterday they had received several inches of snow,
and it wasn't over for them yet. All week we're in for high's of 40's and
low's of 20's and chances all week of snows. Those upper elevations will
get any chances while I'll probably just get cold and flurries. The blue
gray clouds slid greasily around the treetops and hillsides and headed
further eastwards into North Carolina, and as I swung around the circular
driveway that Miz Mary has with the wonderful island garden with the
dogwoods, azalea's, candytuft, phlox,tulips and assorted plants and shrubs
(in true spring), I did what I always do.....I put it into reverse and
went
the several hundred feet backwards down my driveway, slowed at the gate
and
tired Zebra grasses and then aimed the van to the second "doorway" of my
side western yard, where I popped open the side doors and unloaded the
booty
of fertlizers onto the shelves that my other gardening friend had helped
me
organize last late spring.

The heavy glazed pot I placed carefully on top of the large retaining wall
I'd built around the BBQ fountain garden next to the squat clay pot
planted
in colorful Bolero pansies that are shining brightly in the only colors
there are besides greens and tans. The blue was refreshing. I find
myself
thinking I should have gotten TWO of them for the price of
one.............shame on me LOL

As I get in, the dogs catch wind and sounds of me and start howling their
greetings at me thru the walls and at every door, and as I park in front
of
the eastern end fairy bed, I head Sméagol voicing his pleasure that
"mama's
home!!!!". I grabbed the mail (new Fine Gardening magazine! woo hoo!! and
wonderful seed catalogs from Peter Sutton (thanks! Peter!) that already
threaten to drive me nuts just enjoying them..... get the 'Jocee' lilac
that
is quietly sitting under the Sorbaria and baby dogwood that has FIVE
BUDS!!!!! (this will be her FIRST YEAR TO BLOOM!!!!!!!!!!and I can't wait
to
see what color her blossoms will be...) the Cornelian Cherry has opened a
few blush balls with the overloaded sulphur yellow fairy flowers, despite
the cold temperatures. It's always the first to bloom, even before the
Hellebore.

I carry 'Jocee' to the western side and put her gently inside the glazed
pot
just to sit until I can fill it with rich compost later on, and turn to
see
Sugar's head poking out of the cat door. It always tickles me to see the
dog's head sticking out like mounted dawgs.......Rose started it, and
Sugar
caught on quickly when she came into the family, and once Sméagol figured
it
out, he too, sticks his head out to sniff and see what's going on. I
spoke
to her and she popped back inside, to be replaced by Sméagol, who clunked
his pointy little head in excitement as he ran towards the front door to
meet me first.

Squire was in his comfy chair (OH NOOOOOO, not the COMFY
CHAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and remarked that my torture of the dawgs was most
impolite, as they had been moping about the house ever since they
discovered
I'd given them the slip. I handed him the new collars and decided he
could
put them on the "kids" as I took off me coat and got another glass of tea.
Discovered back in my nook that there is a tiiiiny little bit of green on
the stubb of the 'Green and Gold' oxalis that Pester's broke off in one of
his more menacing feline moments when he discovered that my nook window
was
southwards and warm one day. Once he broke it off and I wailed about it,
I
feared I had lost the plant. But Logee's assured me I should give the
plant
and little stick that was left a chance to regenerate and sure
enough.....weeks later, there is the smallest sign of life, I may not have
to replace the plant after all. But Pest is grounded and restricted from
enjoying this spot from here on. The other oxalis, "Rubra" resembles a
small Redbud tree and the 'Green and Gold' looked for all the world like a
small silver and green variegated shrub that produced more yellow trumpet
fairy flowers than the 'Rubra' did (whose own flowers are yellow as well,
and most handsome with the burgundy heart shaped leaves).

The Rex Begonia had perked up from the watering with fish water and I
checked on the other Rexes and they too were responding to the fish water.
Settle down with my iced tea and here I am.......reporting that all is
back
to normal, I'm packing for the trip up east and looking forwards to a
visit
with a great garden buddy. Who knows? Maybe we can get into some "bare
nursery" trouble while I'm up there! LOL

Thanks for letting me share this little moment. I am looking forwards to
updating you on Fairy Holler since now the Hellebore are waking up and
setting more and more blossom buds.

madgardener, up on the cold ridge, back in Fairy Holler, overlooking
English
Mountain in Eastern Tennessee, zone 7, Sunset zone 36

Kay 07-02-2006 05:26 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
Callen Molenda writes
Hey Maddie, are you going to be in Virginia?

Please can you snip!! Not everybody opens posts individually and sees
just the top bit.

There's no need to repost all of that just to add one line - in fact,
there was no need to repost any of it since it wasn't at all related to
what you added.
--
Kay

Callen Molenda 07-02-2006 05:59 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
Oh, for goodness sake. I top post one time and forget to snip, and the net
police come out.

Don't worry, I'll snip uk.rec.gardening next time I feel so egregiously
inclined.

Callen in VA

"Kay" wrote in message
...
Callen Molenda writes
Hey Maddie, are you going to be in Virginia?

Please can you snip!! Not everybody opens posts individually and sees
just the top bit.

There's no need to repost all of that just to add one line - in fact,
there was no need to repost any of it since it wasn't at all related to
what you added.
--
Kay

Kay 07-02-2006 11:22 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
Callen Molenda writes
Oh, for goodness sake. I top post one time and forget to snip, and the net
police come out.

That's a bit of an over reaction isn't it? My request was perfectly
politely phrased. You're very welcome here, but in-line posting and
snipping is the convention of the group. Unless you've followed the
group before posting, how are you to know unless someone tells you?


--
Kay

[email protected] 08-02-2006 03:32 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
but it isnt in rec.gardens, so stop cross posting solves the problem.

Kay wrote:
That's a bit of an over reaction isn't it? My request was perfectly
politely phrased. You're very welcome here, but in-line posting and
snipping is the convention of the group. Unless you've followed the
group before posting, how are you to know unless someone tells you?




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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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AND I DID NOT AUTHORIZE ADS AT THE OLD PUREGOLD SITE

Broadback 08-02-2006 09:27 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
madgardener wrote:
"Broadback" wrote in message
...
madgardener wrote:
I had a wonderful day just tooling around today....................We got
an
Snip
Who says that Americans speak (or even write) English?

I speak Southern.......................................... ......g
madgardener


Guess I should have placed a smiley after my comment. I am fascinated by
the differences in American and UK English, not just the spelling but
the words. Blacktop, pavement, elevator, f**ny and finally jeet. All
words in an American/English dictionary written by a Brit when we worked
with the Americans many moons ago.

Beverley 09-02-2006 01:55 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
yes, I am here now...........Pottingshed (Bev) just WON'T Let me leave! LOL
maddie
"Callen Molenda" wrote in message
...
Hey Maddie, are you going to be in Virginia?

Callen in VA

"madgardener" wrote in message
...
I had a wonderful day just tooling around today....................We
got
an
unexpected message from Squire's job wanting him to drive 468 miles to
get
his new semi-truck and get him back to work, and after making all the
appropriate arrangements for transporting son, whose taxi is his mom, I
slipped the dawgs, left them bewildered and with "daddy" and headed down
and
out into the countryside and towards the town nearby to conduct some
last
minute preparations for the trip.

This is going to be a wonderful adventure, as I'll be able to see one of
my
gardening newsgroup friends, Pottingshed, aka Bev. She decided a few
years
ago after reading some of my posts, that she just HAD to meet me, and
snarfed up her granddaughter who she kept alot for her daughter while
she
worked, (the girl was 6) and came down to Tennessee from Virginia for a
week's visit and a sleep on my futon. We had a blast and made fast
friends,
proving my theory that almost all gardeners are really neat people.
(I've
had the blessing and pleasure to meet a few of the friend's I've made
over
the almost 8 years I've contributed and learned from rec.gardens. I
consider them life friends!)

After the go-ahead from Pottingshed that me and the dawgs were welcome
after
I kick Squire out at the terminal, I realized there were a few small
things
to take care of before I flitter off. Oil change for the van, collar's
for
the beasties for their leashes. Sméagol has such a thin neck, and the
Dollar Store has nylon collars that snap for $1, and Sugar despite her
being
paranoid, needed something that didn't slip off her neck either.

On the way down my favorite route and winding country road towards
Morristown, I saw pastures near woods that had numerous flocks of
tightly
huddled and pecking wild turkeys. One pasture had at least 60 of them
as
they scratched near a roll of hay the owner had left for his horses. It
lifted my heart to see them, and made me laugh as I realized they were
totally oblivious to cars passing just a few feet from them below. (the
pasture I saw these in rose from the road).

The day was overcast and gray, and the feel of it was a cool late winter
day. 45oF and comfortable, but needing a coat in case the temperatures
dropped, I wound my way down the road, which stretches about 12 miles
from
my house to the small hidden parkway. Everywhere I saw green growth
poking
up thru tan grasses and landscapes, and noticed individual homes where
the
owners had been mulching little beds with concrete edgers around trees
and
such. The spring fever was evident as I saw several yards that had been
obviously tended to and had a small pang of guilt as I realized I should
have been home ripping Vinca............

I'll tell ya' what, though, the Vinca is more tenacious and evil than I
ever
imagined. I found a large clump of it intent on conquering my woods
near
the northeastern drop off the other day that took me completely by
surprise.
I have way more to tear out than ever I thought. But enough of that. I
accomplished the mechanical portion of my errands, hit the bank on my
way
to
get myself a rather large container of sweet iced tea with extra lemon
slices (in the South, you can almost always buy sweet iced tea at any
time)
for my "fuel", and then decided to go back to the Lowe's where I used to
work to see if I could find a small pot of "Brasil" variegated
philodendrum
to take with me.

I should never have stopped. I had forgotten that February is the time
they
pull the old stock and put it on racks and reduce the price hugely. I
specifically wanted to also replenish the thistle seed for the finches,
as
the little buggers have discovered both feeding stations I've made for
the
winged warriors.

Once I got into the greenhouse and perused the plants, I realized they
didn't have what I was looking for, but oh lordy...........there were
three
green racks over six foot loaded with reduced stock like fertilizers,
rooting hormones, bonemeal, tomato blossom spray, Camelia and Rhoddie
fertilizers and such. Up top of the rack, I spotted some Organic
granular
fertilizers for Flowers and Vegetables marked down to rediculous, and
not
having a cart, decided to take the plunge and take all they had. That
was
five bags of three pounds each bag of granular fertilizer for $3.
Marked
down significantly, I might add making it a bargain.

I got the thistle seed, resisted the urge to get the larger bag, after
doing
the math and figuring out I wasn't saving money, and moved towards the
greenhouse. Tippy toe and snag the bags, and heard my name called, and
turned to see former co-workers working and moving new stock who had
spotted
me and my orange garden hat with the white flowers. We greeted and
hugged
and I got the usual questions....where you been? whatcha been doin'? We
miss you....you coming back?? things of that nature. Then I bowed out
to
let them get on with their scrambling as pre-Spring is madness around
Lowes.

Then I made the wrongful decision to go outside into the deserted garden
center and see what was on the tables. Shouldn't have.............nope.
ALL their glazed ceramic pots of various assorted sizes were marked down
50%, as well as iron trellises and iron hooks and such. They do this
every
two years for the new line of merchandise, and the last time I made out
with
bargains, I was new and just working there. This time it was heavy,
clay
glazed pots, no fiberglass or coated styrofoam ones that were
outrageously
expensive when they first came. I spotted a beautiful deep blue five
gallon
one that I thought would be just perfect for a home for the reblooming
lilac, 'Jocee' and hefted it up. Resisted the urge to get a couple of
iron
trellises, despite that I needed them for Clematis, and as I was
rounding
the middle aisle, I heard a very thick accent (German? Polish? Swedish?)
coming towards me from the wall racks that held the pots and saucers
down
a
bit.

I looked and saw a small, dark haired woman who was dressed in a really
bright and colorful jacket standing in front of the clay and concrete
pots
near the back end with a quizzical look on her face. "Do Vu Vork
heeere??"
she called out to me, smiling.......I grinned back at her and replied,
"I
USED to, can I help you with something?" And she wagged her head, the
dark
curly hair flying all over, and she said "ya, ya, I needs somevonne to
hep
me reach this BEOUTIFUL planter that izz so high uup" I had a laugh and
said no problem, and left my cart and went to her. The nursery employee
wasn't anywhere to be seen, and knowing hours were cut and he or she was
probably doing other things inside for the inside lawn and garden
department, it wasn't a problem.

She pointed to a cast concrete container that had a green patina and
exclaimed "DIS IZZ SOOOOOO GEORGIOUS!!!! Is a shame it's made in China,
no?
But I loves it verry muuch. It's verrry heavy please be ____ I can't
spell
the word she said, I suspect it was careful in her native tongue, but I
was
just enjoying myself. It never fails to amuse me that this is what I've
always done. No matter if I work there or not. If it's a plant
question,
or
helping someone, I just jump in and do it and have a blast doing it!

She proceeded to small talk in her very thick accent as I reached up to
the
shelf above me and carefully pulled the container down where I could get
a
good handle on it. Then as she took it from me as I got it to a more
level
position (I'm only 5' 4" tall, she was MUCH shorter! LOL) I asked
her......"do you have a blender?" When she nodded and said she used
hers
to
mix her husband's juices, I laughed and told her that if she knew where
to
find some growing moss (and she nodded again and said her woods where
her
house was had mosses growing and she'd just taken a walk to see what was
waking up and the mosses were greening nicely) and get some buttermilk
at
the grocery store, (she nodded again and said that buttermilk wasn't the
same here, and we both agreed on that one, but I assured her the lower
fat
buttermilk didn't matter) she could throw the moss and buttermilk into
the
blender and puree it up all smooth like a green milkshake and get an old
paint brush and paint the outside of this pot with the stuff and she'd
have
moss growing on it for real instead of just the greenish patina. She
was
thrilled...........and said the store was her next stop. LOL

We parted as she thanked me profusely, and I made my way back to my cart
to
leave before I succumbed to purchases I had no business making. All
thru
the store I kept running into former co-workers who greeted and hugged
me,
making me feel happy and sad at the same time. There are really good
people
at this store, but there are also some things going on that make decent
people a little bit nuts......I left for my own reasons. But everyone
of
my
friends asked the same thing.....was I returning. sigh.............no,
but
you never know, if I can get past the politics of the place and some of
the
bullshit that I seem to be getting too old for
lately....................

I found myself checking out behind this little woman and she perked back
up
and asked if she could hug me, which I never turn down a good hug, and
we
swapped a nice affection, and she told the cashier (who used to be one
of
my
bosses) that "this voman, she is remarkable, she leaped up and helped me
to
reach this pot and she doesn't even vork here!" We had a nice chuckle,
and
the cashier said that this was one of the reasons they missed me, that I

still had former customers that inquired about where I was even months
later
since I'd left there.

I made out pretty well on the fertilizers and pot, more than I figured
on,
and got two more hugs on my way out the door, and made my way towards
the
van to put my booty inside. The little lady was struggling with her
stuff
at HER car, and I asked if I could help her again, she laughed and said
if
I
would, she'd be most grateful, and she couldn't believe how kind and
friendly people were in Tennessee. I told her that a lot of us are this
way,
but not all, and she said where she came from, people sometimes
were.......was the word suspicious? and I said it probably was....but
she
said my nature was most refreshing. That made me feel pretty good to
think
that I am still the ol' madgardener or Maddie that people wonder about.
I
helped her lift the heavy pot out of the cart and I passed it to her
where
she got it into the back of her vehicle, then we said our goodbye's and
she
said she hoped she'd see me again, whereupon I assured her we'd probably
run
into each other when the plants came in during true spring.

The ride home was reflective, and as I drove almost automatically, the
same
route I had run for two and a half years (and actually more, as this
route
to town was one of my more favorite ones that I've written about now for
several years) I realized there was all sorts of spring sign. Evergreen

trees had new candles on them and new green on the tips, I could see
tufts
of various green's of mystery plants that would later reveal themselves
as
Mom Nature revealed them. The day was waning down and I passed more
pastures where more turkeys were grazing and scratching around for food.
Their helmet shaped bodies were closer together, and it was easy to spot
the
old Tom who was watching over his hens.

The temperatures were dropping, but it was still pleasant enough that I
put
the passenger side down halfway and enjoyed the brisk wind that whipped
thru
the van. Once I got to the hilltop that drops down thru the woods and
leads
towards my dead-end road, I coasted around the hooking curve, watching
for
signs of our own turkeys that resided between the woods and pastures
that
surround me, and shot up the asphalt road. The sad knobby remains of
the
ancient Forsythia's were quietly waiting for warmer days to astonish the
old
man who had whacked them so brutally, and I slowed down to park and walk
over towards one of his side pastures to greet the old donkey he has.
Barney came up to me and voiced his recognition of me, and allowed me to
rub
his rough muzzle, and I spoke quietly to him.

Ever since I helped him out of the tangle of the front woods one day
when
he
broke out and went AWOL, he's been friendlier towards me. He doesn't
like
Sugar, and seems to like Sméagol better, but today he didn't have to
look
out for either dog. He seemed to love the extra attention, and after a
bit,
I told him I was off, and climbed back into the van. He voiced his
protests
by braying at me forlornly as I headed homewards.

I always stop at the top of the ridge where the paved road ends at Miz
Mary's house and the incredible view, and gazed towards English
Mountain.
The clouds were slate gray, and the ridges and layers of the Smokies
were
all thick with white. Yesterday they had received several inches of
snow,
and it wasn't over for them yet. All week we're in for high's of 40's
and
low's of 20's and chances all week of snows. Those upper elevations
will
get any chances while I'll probably just get cold and flurries. The
blue
gray clouds slid greasily around the treetops and hillsides and headed
further eastwards into North Carolina, and as I swung around the
circular
driveway that Miz Mary has with the wonderful island garden with the
dogwoods, azalea's, candytuft, phlox,tulips and assorted plants and
shrubs
(in true spring), I did what I always do.....I put it into reverse and
went
the several hundred feet backwards down my driveway, slowed at the gate
and
tired Zebra grasses and then aimed the van to the second "doorway" of my
side western yard, where I popped open the side doors and unloaded the
booty
of fertlizers onto the shelves that my other gardening friend had helped
me
organize last late spring.

The heavy glazed pot I placed carefully on top of the large retaining
wall
I'd built around the BBQ fountain garden next to the squat clay pot
planted
in colorful Bolero pansies that are shining brightly in the only colors
there are besides greens and tans. The blue was refreshing. I find
myself
thinking I should have gotten TWO of them for the price of
one.............shame on me LOL

As I get in, the dogs catch wind and sounds of me and start howling
their
greetings at me thru the walls and at every door, and as I park in front
of
the eastern end fairy bed, I head Sméagol voicing his pleasure that
"mama's
home!!!!". I grabbed the mail (new Fine Gardening magazine! woo hoo!!
and
wonderful seed catalogs from Peter Sutton (thanks! Peter!) that already
threaten to drive me nuts just enjoying them..... get the 'Jocee' lilac
that
is quietly sitting under the Sorbaria and baby dogwood that has FIVE
BUDS!!!!! (this will be her FIRST YEAR TO BLOOM!!!!!!!!!!and I can't
wait
to
see what color her blossoms will be...) the Cornelian Cherry has opened
a
few blush balls with the overloaded sulphur yellow fairy flowers,
despite
the cold temperatures. It's always the first to bloom, even before the
Hellebore.

I carry 'Jocee' to the western side and put her gently inside the glazed
pot
just to sit until I can fill it with rich compost later on, and turn to
see
Sugar's head poking out of the cat door. It always tickles me to see
the
dog's head sticking out like mounted dawgs.......Rose started it, and
Sugar
caught on quickly when she came into the family, and once Sméagol
figured
it
out, he too, sticks his head out to sniff and see what's going on. I
spoke
to her and she popped back inside, to be replaced by Sméagol, who
clunked
his pointy little head in excitement as he ran towards the front door to
meet me first.

Squire was in his comfy chair (OH NOOOOOO, not the COMFY
CHAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and remarked that my torture of the dawgs was
most
impolite, as they had been moping about the house ever since they
discovered
I'd given them the slip. I handed him the new collars and decided he
could
put them on the "kids" as I took off me coat and got another glass of
tea.
Discovered back in my nook that there is a tiiiiny little bit of green
on
the stubb of the 'Green and Gold' oxalis that Pester's broke off in one
of
his more menacing feline moments when he discovered that my nook window
was
southwards and warm one day. Once he broke it off and I wailed about
it,
I
feared I had lost the plant. But Logee's assured me I should give the
plant
and little stick that was left a chance to regenerate and sure
enough.....weeks later, there is the smallest sign of life, I may not
have
to replace the plant after all. But Pest is grounded and restricted
from
enjoying this spot from here on. The other oxalis, "Rubra" resembles a
small Redbud tree and the 'Green and Gold' looked for all the world like
a
small silver and green variegated shrub that produced more yellow
trumpet
fairy flowers than the 'Rubra' did (whose own flowers are yellow as
well,
and most handsome with the burgundy heart shaped leaves).

The Rex Begonia had perked up from the watering with fish water and I
checked on the other Rexes and they too were responding to the fish
water.
Settle down with my iced tea and here I am.......reporting that all is
back
to normal, I'm packing for the trip up east and looking forwards to a
visit
with a great garden buddy. Who knows? Maybe we can get into some "bare
nursery" trouble while I'm up there! LOL

Thanks for letting me share this little moment. I am looking forwards
to
updating you on Fairy Holler since now the Hellebore are waking up and
setting more and more blossom buds.

madgardener, up on the cold ridge, back in Fairy Holler, overlooking
English
Mountain in Eastern Tennessee, zone 7, Sunset zone 36

Kay 09-02-2006 08:22 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
Beverley writes
yes, I am here now...........Pottingshed (Bev) just WON'T Let me leave! LOL

Pleas, please, please! If you're only adding a small bit to a long post,
please don't re-post the entire thing!
--
Kay

madgardener 12-02-2006 04:05 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"Kay" wrote in message
...
Beverley writes
yes, I am here now...........Pottingshed (Bev) just WON'T Let me leave!
LOL

Pleas, please, please! If you're only adding a small bit to a long post,
please don't re-post the entire thing!
--
Kay

gezus krist on a cracker, Kay, I was at Beverly's (Pottingshed) house, she
has a regular mouse, I was just reading a few posts in a moment of internet,
and it was just easier to answer and send it and I didn't give it a thought
to cut out the text that night. I mean, driving for hours and all, I did
good to even do what I did! lighten up on me! LOL I'm spoiled and have
a roller ball mouse that makes maneuvering very easy on the hands and wrists
and it's nothing for me to cut text
out

Now that I'm back, I'll not be freaking you out by not erasing text before I
reply.....sheesh some people's kids................................g

madgardener up on the picturesque ridge that is sugar coated with fluffy
snow, back in a magical Fairy Holler, overlooking English Mountain in
Eastern Tennessee where there's a hint of wood smoke in the air along with
the crispness of new fallen snow that has scrubbed the air

madgardener 12-02-2006 04:09 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"Broadback" wrote in message
...
madgardener wrote:
Guess I should have placed a smiley after my comment. I am fascinated by
the differences in American and UK English, not just the spelling but the
words. Blacktop, pavement, elevator, f**ny and finally jeet. All words in
an American/English dictionary written by a Brit when we worked with the
Americans many moons ago.

no harm, Broadback......jeet? you mean slang? yeah, I speak in
slang..........I don't do the King's English much......but I also don't do
"ebonic's" either........gbseg there will be more rambles in my tongue
later on, feel free to red pencil it, I never mind ! Heck, I do good now
to put spaces between the thoughts and paragraph it. When I first started,
I was one long, free thought....................................thank
goodness for Zhanataya begging for paragraphs, sentences and spaces for her
"old eyes!" LOL

maddie

madgardener 12-02-2006 04:20 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"K" wrote in message
...
Oh. i wondered what was at the end of all that but CBA to scroll down
any more and just deleted the item.

Glad I didn't waste my time.

I'm glad you didn't waste your time either, Rusty............I was just on
the internet at a friend's house just checking posts as a curiosity. I
would normally not have done it. I was visiting after all and it wasn't the
time to indulge. I just thought it would be neat to answer quickly that I
was at Bev's house, and as tired as I was, and with her old fashioned mouse,
which I am not used to, I just quickly answered and sent it not thinking of
maneuvering and erasing it before sending. I'll go as far as to apologize
for being tired and not attentive..........


I've given up and added a rule to kill long posts. Means I won't see Mad's
posts, but at least I won't see the three repeats too.

--
Kay

and you have that perogative, Kay. I hate that you won't see my posts, but
then, you might not miss anything there either.....I do tend to wax poetic
and ramble on, and I wouldn't want you to be charged for bandwidth that is
unnecessairy and repeticious. If I ever get organized and put together the
book of essay's, I'll have someone to let you know and you can wait until it
comes out in paperback to save money on wasting on a hardback LOL

seriously, I'm sorry you have to go to such extremes because I forgot once
to cut out a post. And I also realize that it's not just me, it's others
who forget who don't have their internet usage regulated by the amount of
text. I was under the assumption that as sophisticated as the internet and
wireless capabilities, satellite and providers and browsers had gotten, it
didn't matter like it did seven years ago. Now excuse me while I climb on
the bicycle and pedal enough electricity to generate enough power to send
this out to you and the two newsgroups.....

maddie up on the ridge, back in fairy holler, overlooking English Mountain
in Eastern Tennessee where I actually have INDOOR PLUMBING !!
roflmao......g

madgardener 12-02-2006 04:40 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"La Puce" wrote in message
oups.com...

madgardener wrote:

(snip)

I'm very hard on myself, but over the years, after being sizzled by
internet strangers, I still feel the sting of criticisms. I just don't
let
them sting me as badly, is all.

The story of many on usenet I think. Rhino skin I call it ;o) And if
you don't mind, I took you to lunch today, in a steamed up tiny curry
cafe in central Manchester, and your text ended up with a bit of my
parsee dish and some drops from the sag prawn juice on it.

hmmmmmmm, that sounds interesting........I am thrilled that you took time to
print me out.......and since going to a tiny curry cafe in central
Manchester on printed paper might the only way I'll ever do it......then I
am thrilled that you considered me worthy enough to share me!

Tonight,
you're being shared with Kath, my horticulture teacher. She's from
Buffalo Minesota, left home for England around 30 years ago and like
you she says dawgs, and I just love it when she says bugs. I think
she'll appreaciate a bit of compatriot's warmth.

I hope so. If she's from Buffalo, Minnesota (two n's.....g) are you sure
Buffalo, Minnesota and not Buffalo, New York:?? gbseg then my zonal
musings must sound like tales from Florida. Her growing zone was more like
zone 4 with massive winters and beautiful lakes abounding everywhere, and
topsoil I've heard tales of that is FEET THICK!!!!!!!! I just love the
magic of internet that allows me to share a piece of myself........one day,
as I've repeated myself saying, I will find that one gardener who has
quietly read my stuff and for whatever reason, saved it in a little file of
text labled madgardener or whatever they've labled it and they'll come outa
the corner and tell me for postal fee's and paper or cd replacement (since
burning cd's is far easier than a floppy disk and I don't have a floppy
reader, anyway) they'll send me everything I've ever written since
discovering the magic and wonder of these garden newsgroups and the internet
and getting my computer. Before this, I wrote to my friends with a manual
Royal 440 typewriter!! PAGES!! Yes, my friend, Dian, out in Denver used to
get "Marilyn novella's" in the mail along with seeds, roots, tubers,
rhizomes and whatever else I packaged along at random times, regardless of
the season or time..

if that dream ever happens, THIS TIME (last time my mother board fried and I
lost a sweet lady's efforts to send me all my writings up to that time, it's
been a few years since, and I've tried to save my stuff better since then,
but even now I haven't saved everything onto disk like I should........) I
will make sure Squire saves every piece onto disk (I almost bet all my stuff
from all the years on wreck.gardens would fit onto two cd's.......) so that
I can print it out onto paper and put it somewhere until I can find a
publisher......(I say this while Maggie, my little 'Xena' female kitten is
settling into her favorite spot I've allowed her to make in front of my
monitor and behind my ergonomic keyboard....) off to wax on some thoughts
before going off to bed, hafta take Squire to his semi-truck tomorrow in the
wee hours of butt crack o'dark thirty to get him on his merry way towards
Illinois............
maddie

K 12-02-2006 11:58 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
madgardener writes

seriously, I'm sorry you have to go to such extremes because I forgot once
to cut out a post.

I didn't realise it was you! I just saw Bev's name quickly as I spaced
down. If I'd realised it was you I wouldn't have posted, since I know
you are aware of the need to snip and wouldn't deliberately not snip.
Sorry!

And I also realize that it's not just me, it's others
who forget

Absolutely - there were three repostings of that one piece!

I was under the assumption that as sophisticated as the internet and
wireless capabilities, satellite and providers and browsers had gotten, it
didn't matter like it did seven years ago.

There are some urglers who are still on dial-up, and pay according to
the length of the call, so it does still matter for some.

However, it's not bandwidth from my point of view (I'm on broadband) -
it's wear and tear on my wrists. Mousework gives me RSI, so instead of
clicking on posts I want to read, or clicking on the 'next unread'
button, I simply hit the space bar, which takes me, in sequence, to the
next screen of that post, the next unread post in the thread, the next
unread post in the next thread, the next newsgroup ... I think several
other urglers do this too.

So it is awfully annoying to have to hit the spacebar 12 times just
because someone has added one line!

I wondered about whether it was fair to ask others to snip just to save
my wrists, but in Turnpike it's not necessary - you can just highlight a
small fragment and 'quote selected' - in other words, in Turnpike at
least, I'm not asking people to go down 12 screens selecting and
deleting. I don't know if OE and all the various access routes have the
same facility. And, I suppose, the bottom line is that that in-line
quoting and snipping is the convention in this group, so it's not
unreasonable to ask newcomers to do that.


--
Kay

La Puce 12-02-2006 12:26 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

madgardener wrote:
hmmmmmmm, that sounds interesting........I am thrilled that you took timeto
print me out.......and since going to a tiny curry cafe in central
Manchester on printed paper might the only way I'll ever do it......then I
am thrilled that you considered me worthy enough to share me!

Good dog yes! Just finished a fantastic book and cannot find anything
to follow such a superb story. So go girl, get writing will ya ...!!

I hope so. If she's from Buffalo, Minnesota (two n's.....g) are you sure
Buffalo, Minnesota and not Buffalo, New York:?? gbseg then my zonal
musings must sound like tales from Florida.

(snipette)

Off course you're right!!! New York it is. I've no idea why I said
minesota. She tells tales of lake Eery when she was a girl she couldn't
see the bottom of it until they started realising how polluted it was.
Now she says she can see the bottom of the lake which is only a couple
of metres deep!! She now lives in Radcliffe ... quite a strange place
to be from Buffalo, but there it is :o)

I just love the
magic of internet that allows me to share a piece of myself........

(snipette)

I like to archive - a habit I picked up from work I suppose - but also
I like visiting people I've met on the net. Last year we visited a
writter who I had met virtually, he was larger than what I imagined him
to be on usenet. It was a fantastic time and it turned out that he has
lots of novels in our book shops! So I got a couple signed and very
much enjoyed his swimming pool too, so did the kids ;o)

(snip)

Ergonomic keyboard hey, and a lil' kitten nearby. Well there's some
coincidence indeed! My young pub, Beulah, has just returned from a long
walk and is atm eyeing me. What she's waiting for is a robust rub with
her bath towel. Even when it doesn't rain, she asks for it.

Where does the name Sméagol comes from?

JennyC 12-02-2006 12:39 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"La Puce" wrote

I just love the
magic of internet that allows me to share a piece of myself........

(snipette)

I like to archive - a habit I picked up from work I suppose - but also
I like visiting people I've met on the net.

(snip)

Ummmmmm. I've met a couple of people in RL that I'd 'met' on the
net..........and it's not always been a pleasure !

It's funny how some people write really well and then turn out to be pretentious
or boring in the flesh!

No names mentioned just in case they come across this post in googles archives
:~))

Jenny

La Puce 12-02-2006 03:07 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

JennyC wrote:
Ummmmmm. I've met a couple of people in RL that I'd 'met' on the
net..........and it's not always been a pleasure !
It's funny how some people write really well and then turn out to be pretentious
or boring in the flesh!
No names mentioned just in case they come across this post in googles archives
:~))

I've found that it's within the first posts that I know who I'd like to
meet in RL. You quickly get the age of the person, what they like etc.
and if you're going to like them. I've taken part in a few 'meet'. The
first time I was surprised how many bearded men there was! Once I met
someone, a lovely woman, with whom we started off on usenet by talking
about how hard it was to get clothes that fitted us. I didn't know she
was a big girl, nor did she know I was minute. We both assumed the
opposite and when we saw each other for the first time, it was so funny
as we kept saying 'is that *really* you?!' and we got on even more. We
still write to each others :o)

madgardener 13-02-2006 02:22 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"La Puce" wrote in message
oups.com...

madgardener wrote:
hmmmmmmm, that sounds interesting........I am thrilled that you took time
to
print me out.......and since going to a tiny curry cafe in central
Manchester on printed paper might the only way I'll ever do it......then I
am thrilled that you considered me worthy enough to share me!

Good dog yes! Just finished a fantastic book and cannot find anything
to follow such a superb story. So go girl, get writing will ya ...!!

I have some words bouncing around in me head as I sit here........g and I
ain't snipping this response, so if Kay doesn't like it, she won't see it!
LOL apparently she's blocked me........sigh......

I hope so. If she's from Buffalo, Minnesota (two n's.....g) are you
sure
Buffalo, Minnesota and not Buffalo, New York:?? gbseg then my zonal
musings must sound like tales from Florida.

(snipette)

Off course you're right!!! New York it is. I've no idea why I said
minesota. She tells tales of lake Erie when she was a girl she couldn't
see the bottom of it until they started realising how polluted it was.
Oh yeah, older, first settled area and glad they cleaned it up. My best
friend and her husband grew up in Buffalo, her mom was Russian immigrant, I
forget she's first generation here. she corrected me years ago about "when
you speak of the Civil war, you must remember my people were being chased by
the Czar when yours were dodging bullets of different kinds". Her husband
and partner in life and father of her four children has family that is
actually part of the Cornwallis family, but they changed how they spelled
it.................hmmmmmm.

My own current and LAST husband (28 years, but not my first hubby) grew up
nearer the other huge Great Lakes, he knew and loved Lake Michigan a huge
portion of his life. I met him in Denver, where I also met the life friend
from Buffalo who remains my friend still despite the miles. (and now she
resides in Oregon, and is twice as far and we still are great friends)

Now she says she can see the bottom of the lake which is only a couple
of metres deep!! She now lives in Radcliffe ... quite a strange place
to be from Buffalo, but there it is :o)

I just love the
magic of internet that allows me to share a piece of myself........

(snipette)

I like to archive - a habit I picked up from work I suppose - but also
I like visiting people I've met on the net. Last year we visited a
writter who I had met virtually, he was larger than what I imagined him
to be on usenet. It was a fantastic time and it turned out that he has
lots of novels in our book shops! So I got a couple signed and very
much enjoyed his swimming pool too, so did the kids ;o)

that's so neat! So far I've met a few gardening friends from rec.gardens.
I know Pen from down under is always threatening to come up and kick my arse
for being unable still to get my Clivia to bloom. (she has even sent me a
seedling baby of a yellow from one of many she hybridizes and sends to
nurseries around the world) through a nursery somewhere up in Michigan.
It's struggling along. One day I hope to honor her and get my silly plants
to bud for me, including the yellow. (you should see the picture of the one
she named for her daughter.....a soft peach/yellow/salmon/soft sherbet
orange one that leaves me drooling)
(snip)

Ergonomic keyboard hey, and a lil' kitten nearby. Well there's some
coincidence indeed! My young pub, Beulah, has just returned from a long
walk and is atm eyeing me. What she's waiting for is a robust rub with
her bath towel. Even when it doesn't rain, she asks for it.
Maggie is the newest feline addition. (there are four curmudgeon males of
neutered characters. All wonderous and individual. I had a great Aunt
Beulah, one of my dad's sisters...she worked the cotton mill until she was
released from having lung problems....from working the cotton mills....being
Southern, the women who didn't pick up the bad habit of smoking (no lady was
seen smoking, although they did, but those women were considered
tramps.....) the others did something more refined, but by my standards,
horrible.........Beula dipped snuff. She'd put a pinch of ground tobacco
between her lip and gums and would upon occaison need to spit. My
grandmammy also dipped, as did my grandpap........I can still hear my Great
Aunt Beula talking with that tight lipped drawl....g nothing like having
to locate the coffee can that served as the "spit cup" as a
child.................LOL


Where does the name Sméagol comes from?

that was Golum's true name before the ring of power from the Dark Lord in
Lord of the Rings changed him when he stole it from his brother, Dweegol
several hundred years before the quest. Gandolf brought to Frodo's
attention that once Sméagol had been a hobbit not quite unlike him, but the
ring had changed him over centuries. The puppy grumbled and ate voraciously
when we first got him, and since we were in the middle of the second movie
when we got him, we just decided to name him thusly. He still grumbles in
his throat. A vocal dawg......the hound is obvious at times of duress.
Sugar Dawg is Border Collie and Black Lab, but she and Sméagol are medium
sized dawgs.

thanks for hollering back at me! I am about to embark on a few thoughts.
maddie

madgardener 13-02-2006 06:14 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"K" wrote in message
...

I didn't realise it was you! I just saw Bev's name quickly as I spaced
down. If I'd realised it was you I wouldn't have posted, since I know you
are aware of the need to snip and wouldn't deliberately not snip. Sorry!


I apologize too for my unwittingness. but I was teasing you in my last
responses, I hope you realize! lol too often people respond shocked or
appalled or horrified at things, and I just want to lighten up and smile
about it and move forwards. As tired as I was and it was strange to be
reading and checking rec.gardens from somewhere else. And the older style
mouse was a bit clumsy for me. That's the main reason I didn't scroll down
and erase the excess post before replying. Beverly was one of the original
posters in the newsgroup, back with Victoria who is quiet lately but I know
is still there. Pam (grdngal) is busy with her life too, and a few have
been lost due to AOL dropping newsgroups like "the other Marilyn" from Ohio,
I see Paghat upon occaison, a rare siting of Zennie, I wonder sometimes how
Toni down in Louisiana is doing since the devistation from the hurricane's.

And I also realize that it's not just me, it's others
who forget

Absolutely - there were three repostings of that one piece!

I saw that!

There are some urglers who are still on dial-up, and pay according to
the length of the call, so it does still matter for some.

However, it's not bandwidth from my point of view (I'm on broadband) -
it's wear and tear on my wrists. Mousework gives me RSI, so instead of
clicking on posts I want to read, or clicking on the 'next unread' button,
I simply hit the space bar, which takes me, in sequence, to the next
screen of that post, the next unread post in the thread, the next unread
post in the next thread, the next newsgroup ... I think several other
urglers do this too.

So it is awfully annoying to have to hit the spacebar 12 times just
because someone has added one line!

I wondered about whether it was fair to ask others to snip just to save my
wrists, but in Turnpike it's not necessary - you can just highlight a
small fragment and 'quote selected' - in other words, in Turnpike at
least, I'm not asking people to go down 12 screens selecting and deleting.
I don't know if OE and all the various access routes have the same
facility. And, I suppose, the bottom line is that that in-line quoting and
snipping is the convention in this group, so it's not unreasonable to ask
newcomers to do that.


--
Kay

and you're right. the newbies need educating like I was once educated, and
occaisonally forget. I'm doing better, though.....I haven't lost that flamed
ass look for posting the jpg on the newsgroup for someone who innocently
asked me and like some idjet, I said "SURE!" and as soon as I hit send, I
realized I should have marked it OT. I got flamed and rightly so. I now
only send jpg's (reduced of course, since I don't have a website and am
still learning about photobucket) to those who want them and can download
without problems and post a few on the pictures binaries newsgroup. I don't
go there often though. sorry about the snafu.
madgardener

La Puce 13-02-2006 04:43 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

madgardener wrote:

(grand snipage)

thanks for hollering back at me! I am about to embark on a few thoughts.

We're all waiting ;o)

K 13-02-2006 05:37 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
madgardener writes

and I ain't snipping this response, so if Kay doesn't like it, she
won't see it! LOL apparently she's blocked me.

You're going to have to try better than that if you want to talk about
me behind my back! ;-)

I haven't blocked *you* specifically - I've blocked long posts.
--
Kay

Sacha 13-02-2006 05:53 PM
A wonderful day just toolingaround.................................
 
On 13/2/06 17:37, in article , "K"
wrote:

madgardener writes

and I ain't snipping this response, so if Kay doesn't like it, she
won't see it! LOL apparently she's blocked me.

You're going to have to try better than that if you want to talk about
me behind my back! ;-)

I haven't blocked *you* specifically - I've blocked long posts.

Maddie's posts are long but I really do hope you don't miss them. Have you
been getting them because I think they're right up your street?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
)

K 13-02-2006 07:17 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
Sacha writes
On 13/2/06 17:37, in article , "K"
wrote:

madgardener writes

and I ain't snipping this response, so if Kay doesn't like it, she
won't see it! LOL apparently she's blocked me.

You're going to have to try better than that if you want to talk about
me behind my back! ;-)

I haven't blocked *you* specifically - I've blocked long posts.

Maddie's posts are long but I really do hope you don't miss them. Have you
been getting them because I think they're right up your street?

Yeah, I have been getting them, but I've been getting fed up of getting
reposts of very long posts from people just adding a line or two, so
have decided just to block long posts. I think I'm getting too old for
the internet.
--
Kay

Sacha 13-02-2006 10:43 PM
A wonderful day just toolingaround.................................
 
On 13/2/06 19:17, in article , "K"
wrote:

Sacha writes
On 13/2/06 17:37, in article , "K"
wrote:

madgardener writes

and I ain't snipping this response, so if Kay doesn't like it, she
won't see it! LOL apparently she's blocked me.

You're going to have to try better than that if you want to talk about
me behind my back! ;-)

I haven't blocked *you* specifically - I've blocked long posts.

Maddie's posts are long but I really do hope you don't miss them. Have you
been getting them because I think they're right up your street?

Yeah, I have been getting them, but I've been getting fed up of getting
reposts of very long posts from people just adding a line or two, so
have decided just to block long posts. I think I'm getting too old for
the internet.

Not you! Never. Hell's teeth, Kay! If that's the case, not only am I older
than you but - well, never mind! It's not THAT big an issue, is it? Really?
Irritating, I'll grant you but not life-changing. IME, American groups
don't snip as much as UK groups do because of the different phone line
charges thang. It's not malicious or selfish or unkind - it's just
different. So - to our visitors in rec.gardens from YOUR visitors in
uk.rec.gardening, may we Brits request that you snip when crossposting to
urg because to some of us, time is money, truly. Thanks.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
)

K 13-02-2006 11:07 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
Sacha writes

Yeah, I have been getting them, but I've been getting fed up of getting
reposts of very long posts from people just adding a line or two, so
have decided just to block long posts. I think I'm getting too old for
the internet.

Not you! Never. Hell's teeth, Kay! If that's the case, not only am I older
than you

You're as old as you feel ;-)

but - well, never mind! It's not THAT big an issue, is it? Really?

No, it's not. I'm just losing my tolerance. Which is why i reckon I'm
getting too old. I should just go and hang out on my own, occasionally
emerging to mutter and wave my stick at passers-by.

--
Kay

JennyC 14-02-2006 05:11 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 

"K" wrote in message
...
Sacha writes
On 13/2/06 17:37, in article , "K"
wrote:

madgardener writes

and I ain't snipping this response, so if Kay doesn't like it, she
won't see it! LOL apparently she's blocked me.

You're going to have to try better than that if you want to talk about
me behind my back! ;-)

I haven't blocked *you* specifically - I've blocked long posts.

Maddie's posts are long but I really do hope you don't miss them. Have you
been getting them because I think they're right up your street?

Yeah, I have been getting them, but I've been getting fed up of getting
reposts of very long posts from people just adding a line or two, so
have decided just to block long posts. I think I'm getting too old for
the internet.
Kay

I'm inclined to agree with Kay!
I'm sure that madgardenersposts are lovely, but I don't have time to read long
posts either.......

Jenny

K 14-02-2006 08:03 PM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
Sacha writes
And MY stick is ebony and silver topped, so shoogle over.

But *mine* was hand carved by a friend as a gift. So nyer!! ;-)
--
Kay

Sacha 14-02-2006 11:03 PM
A wonderful day just toolingaround.................................
 
On 14/2/06 20:03, in article , "K"
wrote:

Sacha writes
And MY stick is ebony and silver topped, so shoogle over.

But *mine* was hand carved by a friend as a gift. So nyer!! ;-)

You're just SO annoying! ;-) Actually, my stick is made out of heaven only
knows what but has a Jersey badge in the top. A builder who worked for me
found it and gave it to me - all it lacks is a ferrule and I'm trying to
decide what to go for. Hollow tipped? Carefully sharpened?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
)

madgardener 15-02-2006 04:49 AM
A wonderful day just tooling around.................................
 
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
"K" wrote in message
...
You're going to have to try better than that if you want to talk about me
behind my back! ;-)

I haven't blocked *you* specifically - I've blocked long posts.
--
Kay


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