Devonviolet Acres

[Baymule]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I am so excited about getting your purple sweet potato slips!!! And bean seeds too!!! You are awesome'! I was kind of hoping we could get together some time soon. Maybe you could give me the sweets then.

We LOVE green beans. Summer before last we grew them until they were coming out our ears. We froze them, pressure canned them, and even dehydrated them. And we used them all up by the beginning of last summer!


I'm sorry you got that bad cold. It's not easy to get all that work done when you are sick. Please take it easy until you feel better, so your body can heal. In case you didn't see it, I posted everything I do, to get over a cold more quickly, on my LGD Adventure thread. Maybe something there will help you feel better.

Here is a link to my green beans. I have grown them since 2009. I never can, freeze, dehydrate or otherwise preserve them for the winter. By the time winter gets here, I NEED A BREAK FROM #$^&#$#% GREEN BEANS!

http://www.theeasygarden.com/threads/my-2012-green-bean-garden-2013-post-48.11390/

And absolutely, would love to meet in person and hand you the sweets and green bean seeds! I read your other post, the deep breathing and coughing sounds like it would really work. I take my vitamins and drink my apple cider vinegar/raw honey mixed half and half, for colds and general crud.

 

[Devonviolet]

Here is a link to my green beans. I have grown them since 2009. I never can, freeze, dehydrate or otherwise preserve them for the winter. By the time winter gets here, I NEED A BREAK FROM #$^&#$#% GREEN BEANS!

http://www.theeasygarden.com/threads/my-2012-green-bean-garden-2013-post-48.11390/

And absolutely, would love to meet in person and hand you the sweets and green bean seeds! I read your other post, the deep breathing and coughing sounds like it would really work. I take my vitamins and drink my apple cider vinegar/raw honey mixed half and half, for colds and general crud.

DH and I got a laugh when we looked at the easy garden.com thread. The bean seeds that y'all have for us is one of the three different beans we grew in our community garden plot, in 2013. We called them Yard Ling Beans, but we usually picked them at about 12-15" to keep them tender. We LOVE those beans!!!! DH got excited when he realized you were sending your Thai #3 bean seeds!!!

We had a trellis that was about 15 feet long. Since DH is 6'2" tall, he made the trellis 7 feet tall. The beans grew to the top and started back down. We also had Blue Lake vine beans, that we planted before we got the Yard Long Bean seeds. When those started loosing steam, we planted a row late - in July. They came on strong and we had beans until the killing frost in mid-Oct.

Our biggest problem that summer was "Mexican Bean Beetles". They were everywhere in the community garden! Gardens all around us were losing bean plants left and,right! The leaves looked like brown lace. At first we didn't know what they were - sort of looked like a yellow LadyBug, but softer body. Since we do organic gardening, we didn't want to use big spray, so whenever we were picking beans, we squished bean beetles. ICK!!! After a while our fingers were all yellow. But, it worked! We still had lacy leaves, but as the Summer progressed, we had more green leaves than brown, and we still had a bumper crop, while people around us gave up and got no beans at all.

We also planted about six ten foot rows of bush Royal Burgandy Bean - which is purple, rather than green. When you put it in boiling water, it turns green. Kinda cool! They taste very similar to the Blue Lake bush beans though.

Yes, the Cough and Deep Breathe is very effective when done consistently.

That's awesome that you are taking Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and honey. I don't do a lot of sweets. And while ROUH (Raw Organic Unfiltered Honey) - that's row-ooooh is packed full of antibiotic and minerals, I still don't take it much. I used to get a lot of bladder infections, and don't take antibiotics, since they stopped working. Then I learned about talking ACV with baking soda, to neutralize the urine pH and kill the bad bacteria in the urine. I started taking it right away. The bladder infection went away, and I haven't had one since. I usually take 1 Tbsp ACV with 1/4 tsp baking soda and about 8 oz of filtered water. - once a day. I always follow with a filtered water chaser, to rinse the ACV off my teeth, and get the taste out of my mouth - not one of my fav tastes.

 

[Devonviolet]

We have been back and forth two times, since closing on our property last Friday.

On Monday, we were there by 8:30 AM - which meant we left Dallas at 7:00 - to meet a fencing contractor, to get a quote on putting goat safe fencing on part of our property, so we can buy our first goats.

It was a gorgeous day, with temps in the 60's and the sun shining bright. We took a coffee pot with us, so we made some coffee and sat on the front porch enjoying the sun. As I looked around at the beautiful scenery, I got tears in my eyes, because I am so grateful, to God, for all the blessings he has bestowed upon us!

We also met with two different painting contractors to get quotes on painting the entire inside, of the new house, before we move in. We have not heard from one of the painting contractors yet. But, one of them sent us a quote today, that was painfully high. I was shocked that the labor was so much, and it is way out of our budget, for this project. So, we won't be hiring him

We have yet to hear from the fencing contractor, or the othe painting contractor.

We had originally been told we could close by the first of December, and had wanted to be moved into the house before Christmas. But, considering that closing was rescheduled several times, and now the quotes, for painting, are taking longer than we thought, it appears we won't be moving into our new home before the first week of January.

Today we were at the house to have the washer and dryer delivered, and to drop off some boxes, of sch-tuff, from our storage closet, here at our apartment.

I took photos, of the house and poultry, on Monday, but the camera was set to a setting I know nothing about. I didn't realize until I got home and uploaded the photos, that they all came out way too dark. So, when we were there today, I took more similar photos - although it was damp and overcast, due to impending rain. I will try to get the photos uploaded, from my camera, so I can post some.

On Monday, after realizing that the turkey hen was posturing, to scare us away - even though it was so darn cute, and made me laugh. I was not sure I wanted to go into the chicken yard, with her. Although, DH went in there to fill the feed and water, and there was not sign of aggression. So, I ventured in with some treats. I wish I hd my camera with me. After giving them some treats, I bent over to pet the turkey, and as I was stroking her back, she actually squatted down and closed her eyes, staying there so I could pet her. I think she actually liked it!

Today, when we got there all three of them came running to the fence, to get treats, and there was not posturing. Just a bit of snipping, on the part of the rooster, to keep the turkey away from his treats.

We will be building a new, bigger coop, for our chickens, as soon as we get settled into the house. We want them to come when we lock them into the coop at night, so I started calling, "chook, chook, chook", when I was feeding them treats. The rooster has this really cool sound he makes when he is eating his treats. It is almost like a little song. I love it! I also love when he crows. DH said he thinks it will get old. And it may just do that. But, for now, I am just loving listening to him!

 

[Hens and Roos]

with getting a reasonable quote for painting, labor always seems to be the most expensive part! Maybe your realtor knows someone

We've had chickens for 6 years now and still enjoy hearing the rooster crow...since we have neighbors close by we don't open the coop up super early on the weekends during nice weather...

 

[Devonviolet]

with getting a reasonable quote for painting, labor always seems to be the most expensive part! Maybe your realtor knows someone

We've had chickens for 6 years now and still enjoy hearing the rooster crow...since we have neighbors close by we don't open the coop up super early on the weekends during nice weather...

Thanks Hens and Roos! I asked my realtor, for referrals and he said go to Sherwin Williams. But I need zero VOC paint, and their zero VOC paint is so expensive! I just hesitate to go there, because it could get very expensive very fast!

We got three referrals from our local lumber/hardware/paint store. One didn't even bother calling return my call. The one was exhorbitant and the third met us at the house and said he would give us a quote, but never called with the quote. Finding reasonable, reliable contractors is very difficult these days. I do have one more option, but he isn't a painting contractor, so I don't know the quality of his work.

I'm glad to hear y'all haven't gotten tired of the rooster crowing in six years. For me it's like music to my ears. And the little song he does when he is pecking at my treats, is just heaven for me.

 

[Baymule]

Getting reliable help is almost impossible, especially when you are new to an area and don't know, "Oh, don't use THAT guy!" or "So-n'-so is the BEST for painting!"

I have to inject praise for the Sherwin Williams paint. First I bought paint from Lowes and got the expensive stuff. Miserable fail. Took it back. Went to Sherwin Williams, it was $150 higher for the same amount of paint. It was only a slight fail, but I could work with it. Not either paint's fault, it was my screwy walls. But the Sherwin Williams manager actually came out to my house to see for himself the problem I was having. We concluded that it was an unknown factor, but he gave me a free 5 gallon bucket for a 2nd coat anyway. It was not low VOC, and I am chemically sensitive, I did the painting and it didn't give me headaches or make my face feel like it was on fire. But of course, I did work myself half to death, getting it done and promptly got sick.....

So maybe in the long run, the money spent for better paint will be money saved. And you could always ask the SW manager for a recommendation for a painter. I went back to SW to tell them that the 2nd coat worked and asked about finishing the floor. Told him that I wanted a whitewash or pickle finish. He offered to open a can of stain and try it on a scrap piece of wood floor before I actually bought it. Who does that? I love Sherwin Williams! Seriously, ask your SW manager for a painter.

I am glad that ya'll are so happy with your new place! You will have to get chicks in the spring to repopulate the coop. Unless you have a particular breed in mind, you might want to get one or two of several breeds, just to try them to see what you like best. I have a mixed flock and it is like a chicken bouquet of flowers! Next spring, I do want to start with a Delaware flock, for meat and eggs. The good part is that I can get a RIR rooster to put with the Delaware hens to produce Red Stars. I have some Red Stars now and they lay big brown eggs.

I am leaving this afternoon to go to my DD's house. In the morning we will start laying the floors and on Saturday, her husband will help too, then I'll come home Saturday night. I figure next week, being Christmas, will not be a good "work week" LOL. I can't wait to get the floors finished! I made a lot of extra work for myself by buying unfinished pine, but none of the pre-finished stuff knocked me off my feet, unless it was the $$$

I dropped a couple of the purple sweet potatoes in a glass of water for you. They are not sprouting yet, but they will and it will give you a head start. They are the ALL PURPLE from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. I also have 4 clippings from the vines I cut right before a killing frost and they are not sprouting, but have produced a mass of roots. So either way, you and I will have purple sweets for the spring!

We have pushed our move date from January to February. EVERYTHING is taking so long! (not that I am trying to discourage you) It seems that nothing and nobody is on my timeline, which is NOW or YESTERDAY! So, I feel your pain on all the delay stuff, but it will happen, just hang in there!

 

[OneFineAcre]

Well maybe you will at least find one whose employees don't steal from you.
After we moved, we repainted our old house before we listed for sale. Use the same painter we had used for years. I had left a few things in the garage. Well, at first I noticed my ladder missing. Then my driveway edger, gas leaf blower, and shop vac.
Talked to the painter about it and he said no way his guys would have taken it.

Well, we let it go. One day a couple of weeks later, got a call from the sheriffs department. Seems they had taken a camera from another one of his customers and he reported it. Well one of the guys "rolled" when the deputy interviewed him. Admitted stealing our stuff to. Told him what pawn shop they had taken it too.
Surprisingly, we got our stuff back.
Now, I'm looking a new painter to work at our new house.

And FYI, we paid about $6 per foot for our fence. Square treated posts and 2x4 woven wire. And, that was the best price by far from multiple quotes.

We moved to 5 acres in July. We fenced in areas 1 and 2

 

[Baymule]

Have you found a painter yet? It is so frustrating on how S.L.O.W. things move. Even when you get everything all lined up, it takes so much time to get anything done. I got some of my flooring done, updated that thread.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/threads/mobile-home-goddess.16253/page-8

 

[Devonviolet]

Have you found a painter yet? It is so frustrating on how S.L.O.W. things move. Even when you get everything all lined up, it takes so much time to get anything done. I got some of my flooring done, updated that thread.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/threads/mobile-home-goddess.16253/page-8

WE FOUND A PAINTER!!!

On our way to the house yesterday, we stopped at Lowe's and asked if they could give us any references for painters. We were told they can't give references, but if we went to porch.com (a Lowe's site) and put in our zip code, we could find a list of local contractors to try.

So, when we got to the house, I called the first one on the list, and told him what we needed. He said, "You have called the right place!" They are between jobs and would be able to finish it in plenty of time for us to move.

Since they were only ten minutes away, they met us at the house, so they could give us a quote. Within the hour after they left, they had sent us an estimate that was within our budget, AND they can have the job finished by the first of the year, giving the paint time to dry and off-gas and then give us time to move out of our apartment before the lease is up on January 12th.



GOD IS GOOD!!!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

He sure is! Happy that things re falling into place for you!