fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread

[fuzzi]

I puttered.

While checking for eggs I saw my cabbage transplants were wilting a little. I use a coffee canister to "spot" water, but I needed to use the hose to fill the reservoir.

Hmm. Got the hose dragged over to the gardens, why not fill the two rain barrels that don't have a downspout?

Hmm. Rainbarrels are icky, stinky with pollen, why not rinse them since I have the hose, and they're almost empty, easy to dump?

Hmm. While the first barrel is filling why not get the pliers and remove the cheapie hose off the spout of the second barrel?

Hmm. I can't get the cheapie hose off with pliers, while the second barrel is filling why not go get the minihacksaw out of the shed and saw it off?

"puttering"

This issue is why now I only buy hoses with real brass fittings...the alloys used in the cheap hoses actually will meld/weld to the spigot/faucet. I've had to do this before. I have a thread fixer tool to recut the threads if they get damaged by the hacksaw.

But that's all the puttering for today.

 

[farmerjan]

And due to the lime and mineral content in my well water... I have gone to PLASTIC fittings... because they do not draw the minerals and they do not get corroded.... I was getting the same reactions as you with the cheaper "metal fittings".... and just started cutting off the ends of the hoses and putting new ends on them that were the heavy duty plastic ones and they are not getting corroded.

 

[drstratton]

Last week was kidney stone(s) week.

This week has been allergies/"cold" week. Had a fever and chills all day Tuesday, but it broke Wednesday. Been dosing myself with homemade bone broth from the freezer, drinking fluids, and just resting. I have NO energy, but the cough became productive and I'm not concerned about bronchitis or pneumonia, I can feel I'm on the mend.

But it's fair, mild, perfect yard and garden weather, and I'm stuck recovering inside. I can do basic chicken chores, and have had assistance walking Caleb, but...


BTW, Caleb hasn't had more than yard walks since Monday, with one exception (last night) and he has been very good.
View attachment 127193

Glad you're starting to feel better.

What a sweet face!

 

[Finnie]

These are my favorite hose connectors now. Melnor brand. This picture happens to be from the Meijer app, but I usually get them from Menards.

The main drawback is that freezing in the winter makes them spring leaks. So I try to leave older ones on all winter and then switch to good ones for the rest of the year.

 

[fuzzi]

And due to the lime and mineral content in my well water... I have gone to PLASTIC fittings... because they do not draw the minerals and they do not get corroded.... I was getting the same reactions as you with the cheaper "metal fittings".... and just started cutting off the ends of the hoses and putting new ends on them that were the heavy duty plastic ones and they are not getting corroded.

My water is the opposite, extremely soft. I test it for hardness and it scarcely registers. I add sea shells to my aquarium, where they dissolve over the course of a year. Without the added calcium from the shells any snails in the aquarium would die, as their shells dissolve. Soft water, indeed.

 

[farmerjan]

@Finnie ... have to see if Rural King carries them... TSC does not and Walmart does not.... might try a couple of them....

 

[Baymule]

You are getting better to putter like that. Next week will be better!

 

[Finnie]

@Finnie ... have to see if Rural King carries them... TSC does not and Walmart does not.... might try a couple of them....

I didn’t see them on the Rural King website. Amazon has them, but looking at the photo, I see now that they aren’t all the way plastic. There is metal inside for the thread part, so they may still corrode and fuse in place. I like the flip lever for ease of turning on and off.

One year Aldi had a version in their store brand that had these flip levers. But then I never saw them again. It’s really hit or miss with Aldi because they get a shipment of something once a year and if you don’t happen to be in the store before they sell out, you never even know they were there.

 

[fuzzi]

This is what I purchased about five years ago, as I was tired of leaky plastic connectors:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/garden/water-and-irrigation/hoses-and-accessories/100404-y-shut-off-valve

Yes, it's not cheap. The first one did leak, and they sent a second one, no charge, no need to return the old. I like the quality. I don't know how many plastic ones broke or leaked over the years, and I am very happy to not have to deal with replacing it every year or so.

I recently bought a pair of pruners that are engineered to reduce the strain on arthritic hands, and love them.

I enthusiastically recommend this seller.

 

[fuzzi]

DS finally mowed, with grumbling but I ignored it.

I can see my elderberries now! Big one on left is two years old, one on right was a twig I bought online and planted a year ago. It'll catch up.

The blueberry patch is behind the left elderberry, but you can see some of it.

Caleb's area, where he hangs out while I am working in the yard:

Now that it's short it will be simple to clean, and hopefully he won't pick up ticks as easily.

Yarrow (thanks @canesisters !)

One of the JPW I bought last year is definitely showing life!

And I saw this potted plant, couldn't recall what it was, or where it came from:

It's BEAUTYBERRY!!!


Two of the three Rose of Sharon bushes I also got from @canesisters are looking good, as is the obedient plant, and the irises. Some are going to bloom already!

Happy yard.