#aka have been Doing Stuff for three weeks straight no weekends working 7 hours a day 3 days in a row (friday sat sun) and then having to

[friiday-thirteenth]

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[ancientbrit]

Natters # 15 &16   06/09/2015

Subject: MI MG Natters #15 &16, June 9th 2015 Date: June 9, 2015 11:40:00 PM PDT  Friday's clinic, two weeks ago, put us back in the numbers again. A lovely day with just Sam and me in attendance. We had a sudden rush arriving after 5:00 pm - our closing time, but we were able to get them all answered to the clients satisfaction - thank goodness.  One lady from Israel (our second ) had been given some spurious information about growing conditions in Washington State, on which we were glad to set her straight. Her only growing experience to date had all taken place in Israel, which is obviously a wee bit different to Mercer Island. But I was able to reassure her, that yes indeed, Cyclamen do very well here, at which she was delighted. We talked about becoming a MG and she was much taken with the thought and she will be checking back with us at the Farmers Market, due to start on the 7th of June. One gentleman coming out of Rite Aid with an armful of plants stopped to ask if there was anything that would get rid of powdery mildew on zucchini. He had it last year and wasn't able to do anything for it. In fact there were a lot of clients who had experienced the same problem which also effected most of the cucurbits outside. At the time I could only offer the word that a solution of sodium bicarbonate is sometimes effective, although it wasn't very strong.  Then when I was visiting Bellevue Nursery this week, I saw an item labelled 'Green Cure', which uses  Potassium bicarbonate combined with a spreader sticker to enhance the fungicidal properties. It apparently kills powdery mildew & other plant diseases on contact with up to two weeks of residual protection. The literature lists 25 different diseases that are controlled and describes how it does it. On the literature, among those giving enthusiastic support to 'Green Cure' is an Advanced Master Gardener in Brookfield, CT. I am growing pumpkins and zucchini this year, so I am going to try it for myself. What a nice thought to find something like this that actually works. It is odorless, mixes & fully dissolves in water to spray, does not accumulate in the soil, is compatible with many beneficial insects and fruits & vegetables can be harvested an hour after spraying. Jean's favorite tree, Styrax japonica, now in its sixth year, is about twelve feet high and I find to my surprise that it is hugely fragrant. I didn't know that! The scent is fantastic and the whole tree is alive with bees all day - what a bonus. Give it another year or two and I will be able to remove some of the lower branches and it will be giving the shade it was planted to produce. A beautiful tree! This is Clem-a-tis "Romantika - a new one from Estonia I bought earlier this year and in bloom last Saturday for the first time. Although the color here looks great, it doesn't really do justice to the way it really looks. The main color is almost black and that lighter color bar along the center of the tepal is a deep ruby-red with a shimmer that makes it looks like velvet which has been caught here - quite incredible. A beautiful flower. ( I am sorry that processing this way does not allow the production of pictures) My Cardiocrinums are having a strange year. One I planted two years back shot up to about 7 feet high and is now in bloom.  One of three 'pups' from my original, started to move a little after the big brother next door, but it has barely reached three feet high and is also in flower - not exactly a giganteum by any stretch of the imagination. I not sure exactly what I have here, but I will be keeping an eye on it. Looking at them today I had a sniff of their lovely perfume, but there was something else on the air which didn't appeal at all. It didn't smell at all like my compost pile, which only has a vegetable smell. This was quite rank - and then I almost trod on a dead Mole! It was just laid out on my footpath and I have no idea who I have to thank for this nice gesture, whether it was a gift from Pickle or the new cat next door or dropped by a crow - which doesn't seem too likely. Whatever, one must be grateful for small mercies - and I am. This has all taken longer to assemble than I had thought, so I will combine the last Rite Aid clinic with the first Farmers Market clinic on Sunday. Our last Friday at Rite Aid clinic this year was sort of crowded with four of us - Karin, Carin, Janet and myself, but it was a good day. When we weren't satisfying clients we were able to talk about various gardening topics and other fascinating subjects. We find frequently that some RA costumers assume that we are 'with' RA and we get drawn into helping them make choices of plants and I don't feel badly about this - it is about the only way we can really say how we appreciate RA's allowing us to store our stuff there all year - apart from our donating cookies, etc to their lunchroom, which is really appreciated. We always try to place one or three plants from RA's display on our desk to attract our clients. But all of a sudden there appeared a pot of 'Snow on the Mountain' aka 'Bishops Weed'. Karin had placed it there as she knows I cannot stand the stuff. She is the only person I know who has used it and never regretted the choice. She had it planted between two concrete strips along her driveway and it filled the space in nothing flat. I wouldn't trust it not to insinuate itself under the concrete into the rest of the garden, but as Karin was moving she wasn't too worried. I am still amazed that this thug is allowed on the market as it is almost impossible to remove once it gets a grip. The plain green version is Ground Elder and in England, it is a legal requirement that it be removed. Its reputation precedes it and house sales have been known to fall through when this plant is seen growing in the garden. At the Plant Sale, there had been numerous flats of a particular plant that looked okay when first divided and potted up. However, just before the actual sale, when plants were being checked, 28 of these plants had to be dumped because they were infested with Bishops Weed! There is a plant that secretes an oil in its roots which kills this darned weed. It is called Tagetes minuta and is so named for the tiny flowers it produces. The plant itself grows to about 3 feet high and is planted in and around the infestation. If left, it becomes apparent that it is working, as a roughly circular patch of dying plant appears around the Tagetes and when you check, although the weed stems are still there, they are hollow and very dead. This last Sunday was our first Farmer's Market of the season and I was joined by Joan & Janet. The weather was lovely and we were under a canopy with a constant breeze blowing through. It also seems that we have been rewarded with a permanent canopy location - right at the end of the street on the north side, with our backs to the parking lot. 'Couldn't be better, so I hope that Patty maintains our permanency there.   It is always a pleasant clinic here as we get clients returning from previous years - it is quite like old home week. One couple returned to tell me that the ivy clearance that we had recommended last year was almost completed and they were interested in growing all sorts of things from cuttings etc. I mentioned air layering in which they became very interested, so I will be bringing them some information next week. They also had grown a type of African gourd last year which they brought to show us. It had been emptied and dried and is used as a musical instrument - rather impressive as they know how to play it. I told them about the small, different shaped gourds I used to grow in England. When they were ripe they were dried, varnished and polished and Jean used to display them in a fruit bowl. They looked quite attractive. A couple of friends came to visit one weekend and they were keen gardeners but not too knowledgeable. When my friend's wife went into work the following Monday, she told her friends about their visit and about her friend 'who grows turds, which he dries and polishes and his wife displays in a fruit bowl!'  She has never been allowed to live this down! Then on Monday Becca had arranged for a load of MGs to visit Pat Roome and take a tour of her garden, which I found to be fantastic. Her veggie garden had two stands of peas, one of them about seven feet high and covered in plump pods.  Her tomatoes were up to about five feet high with fruit about 2" in diameter. Apparently, Pat had sown the seed in February and planted them out in April when she judged it unlikely that there would be any more frost - 'really got that right! The thing that really impressed me however was the number of plants she had which are the same sort of thing that I grow - just way bigger. For instance, I have a Pineapple broom which I grew from seed I took from a mature bush in Yorkshire, at the RHS gardens there.  Mine is about seven feet high - it has spent a few years in a pot which slowed it's growth somewhat! Pat's is taller than her house by several feet and is covered in blooms. I have a Chilean fire tree I bought at the F & G show, which is now five feet high. Pat's again is probably about 35 feet high with the topmost branches covered in scarlet blossoms, being visited by loads of hummers. And so it went, but how nice to see what I might expect to get in a few years' time.  One plant that she has which appealed to everybody was a perennial Nasturtium. It has a neat arrangement of five leaflets arranged somewhat like an Akebia and it was growing up the side of a large evergreen hedge. At the top it turned over into the sun and was covered in scarlet blossoms. Pat had several rooted cuttings in her greenhouse and they all were picked up by some of the MGs. Unfortunately, we had to scoot a little before the tour came to an end as we had carpooled and Bev, who was driving, had another appointment, but the whole trip was well worth it and quite honestly I don't know how Pat manages it all. I am writing to thank her for her generosity in giving her time to us all. This first Farmers Market clinic was not as frenetic as last year when Bev and I literally didn't stop the whole day, clocking about 75 clients. This year we took 40 which I thought was a nice score. People were out in force and the Market looks all set to be a constant success. Hopefully, we can increase the numbers when we get the new sandwich boards in place. We had quite a lot of people who stopped by but didn't know we would be there apparently. I am not sure why they wouldn't know as we have been there constantly since it started, but there you go. Your fearless leader, Gordon

[365-money-diary]

DAYS 195 - 201

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE

8:30 AM - Boyfriend’s alarm thankfully wakes me up. I was konked out pretty hard.

9:00 AM - I grab two packages and leave the house, stopping at the post office on the way in. I mail the packages out but charge the funds to my ecommerce bank account and won’t count this as a personal expense.

9:20 AM - I arrive at work and pour myself a toddy. I’m not hungry yet so I hold off on the toast.

10:15 AM - Ok. Now I’ll eat toast.

11:30 AM - My friend Q is going through a divorce. He is trying to get back on his feet financially from spending 9 years as a stay at home dad, and his soon to be ex-wife is trying to take them away from him. Since he has no money and she hired a legal team, he had to too. I offer to pay to refill his retainer and I assume he’ll pay me back whenever he is able to (hoping by next summer). I am pulling this money out of the side goal where I’ve saved up for for my car. $2,737.52

12:00 PM - I stop by Sprouts and buy kale and cucumber. I also see some nutcracker brittle chocolate and cave to buy that too. $5.16

12:00 PM - I also buy vitamin b-12 spray. There goes Garden of Life getting all my money forever. The cashier tips me off and says they’re going to do their vitamin sale later this week, so I will definitely stock up on probiotics in a few days. $11.04

12:15 PM - I polish of the rest of that soup (container 1 of 2) from Costco for lunch with a kale salad. I also eat a couple chocolate squares and share some with my colleagues. #treatyoself.

5:00 PM - I head out from work and stop at Sprouts on the way out. I buy hummus, a lemon, and a can of organic chickpeas. $5.57

6:30 PM - I meet BFF for beers but he’s an hour and a half late which is super shitty. He treats me to beers and also tells me he’s moving to Seattle. I am crushed.

9:15 PM - BFF drops me off at home and I make veggie gyoza Trader Joe’s and drink a La Croix. At some point DJ friend stops by to borrow a speaker and my folding table. I also prep my lunch for the next couple days which involves making a hummus dressing and roasting chickpeas on the stove with buffalo sauce.

11:00 PM - I cry over my BFF leaving and boyfriend comforts me. We watch the Simpsons and fall asleep.

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE TOTAL: $2,759.29

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-SIX

8:55 AM - I grab my chickpeas and dressing and head to work.

9:30 AM - I arrive at work and make myself a piece of toast and pour myself some toddy. I check my account and see that my check from DJing has cleared. I transfer the funds to my “Rane 72” goal in Simple. $991/$1800 saved up! I have officially hit the halfway mark. My assistant also sent me $6.50 for coffee. I keep that in my Simple account.

11:30 AM - I stop at Sprouts and buy some naan bread and a bag of green chile potato chips. $5.57

12:00 PM - Using the naan, I make a wrap out of the rest of the salad ingredients I bought on Monday, the buffalo chickpeas, and the hummus dressing. It turns out pretty good! I skip the chips today and eat the rest of the chocolate bar I bought yesterday.

5:30 PM - I arrive home from work and eat some chips and hummus. I barely start watching the latest episode of Scientology and the Aftermath when my friend/also a local concert promoter who booked me for Halloween calls to go over deets for the show. I am going to help by making a montage of 90s movie horror flick scenes to project behind us and send him ideas for what kind of candy to pass out.

7:00 PM - We watch the end of the Cavs vs. Celtics game and low key fight about what to eat. Boyfriend finally decides on leftovers which was my idea an hour ago. I heat the pasta up for us on the stove. I pair it with a glass of red wine and a La Croix.

9:00 PM - After tirelessly trying to stream the GSW vs. Rockets game, we give up and head to the bedroom and then realize we can totally watch it on the TNT app. Boyfriend falls asleep during the game, but I don’t and the Rockets win because PJ Tucker sunk his free throws! He’s my favorite NBA player and I am so happy for him and this win!

12:00 AM - iSleep.

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-SIX TOTAL: $5.57

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN

8:15 AM - I wake up feeling pretty good I decide to weigh myself and I feel even better because I am under 140 pounds today! I haven’t showered in a million years so I hop in and even feel inspired enough to shave my legs.

9:15 AM - I roll into work eat a slice of toast and pour myself a toddy. I take my time doing my vitamin b-12 regimen this morning and slowly look dive into today’s work.  

11:30 AM - I walk over to Sprouts to take advantage of their “Vitamin Extravaganza.” I buy a bottle of vitamin d3, a women’s multivitamin that will last me for 3 months, and a chocolate bar for my mental health. $74.28

12:00 PM - I come back to the office and make my buffalo chickpea wrap for the day. This recipe rules.

1:30 PM - I open the green chili chips that I bought yesterday and have a few. I also eat two squares of chocolate.

5:00 PM - I head home and package the order that I received from Etsy yesterday. I also eat a shitty grilled cheese and a handful of almonds before heading out to the Suns game.

6:15 PM - My friend Q gets dropped off at my place and we head out to downtown Phoenix. It takes us a little longer because we take the freeway but we make it to the game in time for tipoff. My boyfriend has tickets with another friend in the fifth row, but our tickets are in the suites. We locate him and smile and wave.

10:00 PM - Welp, that was the worst game in Suns history. We lost by 48.

10:30 PM - I drop Q off and head home.

11:00 PM - Boyfriend picked up Del Taco on the way home. I’m not hungry at all but I watch some Forensic Files with him on the couch before turning in.

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN TOTAL: $74.28

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-EIGHT

9:00 AM - I arrive at work and do the toddy / toast / vitamin thing. It’s amazing how much better I’ve been feeling lately by taking 10x the recommended daily dose of B-12. Haha.

12:15 PM - I have been in meetings for most of the morning and I finally get a chance to eat. I make the last buffalo chickpea wrap. I enjoy it while browsing the internet for various 90s candy for the party I’m throwing this halloween at Rebel Lounge.

5:00 PM - I arrive home and stuff a handful of almonds in my mouth.

6:15 PM - I stop on the way to downtown to mail a package. Money comes from my e-comm account.

6:40 PM - I meet my friends downtown and we head to the fair. I spend $10 on admission, $16 on food and water, $13.20 on a margarita, and $40 on rides. The fair is so expensive! $69.20

11:00 PM - I arrive home and ZZZzzzzz immediately.

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-EIGHT TOTAL: $69.20

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-NINE

8:30 AM - I roll out of bed and head to work. I stop for gas on the way in. Once I arrive, I skip the toast because I’m still full of fries and go straight for the toddy. $26.30

11:45 PM - My colleagues and I go to Daily Dose for lunch. I get a grilled veggie sandwich and a side of butternut squash hash. $12.26

4:00 PM - Boss lets us out early! Hurrah!

5:45 PM - Boyfriend takes a nap. I make ramen? AKA some noodles in a broth made with miso, no beef base, ground ginger, garlic, tamari, & sesame oil. It’s ok!

8:00 PM - Boyfriend wakes up and goes to Lost Lake which is happening all weekend. I didn’t have much of an interest in the lineup, so I slowly get ready, drink a glass of sparkling rose and eventually make my way to PV.

10:00 PM - PV is okay. I drink two ciders and catch up with some neighborhood friends. $12.00

11:45 PM - I head home and pass out pretty fast.

DAY ONE HUNDRED HUNDRED NINETY-NINE TOTAL: $50.56

DAY TWO HUNDRED

8:45 AM - Boyfriend wakes me up and asks if I want to grab coffee with him before he prints posters in Ahwatukee. I slip on some clothes, and walk to the living room to meet one of his coworkers. The three of us grab coffee but both of them forget their wallets. I pay. $7.50.

9:15 AM - I arrive back home and start cleaning like a madwoman. The couple I went to the fair with are coming over today to help me pull videos on youtube for a visuals for the DJ set I’m doing on halloween.

11:45 PM - I finish cleaning and feel really really gross. I haven’t eaten yet and I have no food here, so I head to Einstein’s and grab a bagel. $1.46

12:00 PM - I head to Sprouts and grab a plethora of things: potatoes, carrots, Big Sur burritos, tortilla chips, vegan sour cream, olives, jalepenos, cilantro, tomatoes, avocados, red onion, bread, salsa, vegetarian refried beans, almond milk, ginger ale, coconut yogurt, and a bottle of wine. $60.25

1:00 PM - Using most of the ingredients I purchased at Sprouts, I make a vegan nacho bar for my friends who are coming over.

2:30 PM - My friends come over. We all eat nachos and get super tired at staring at our computers for three hours.

5:45 PM - Friends leave. I pour myself a glass of wine and boyfriend heads out to Lost Lake again. He has to work the Lil Jon afterparty and run the meet n greet.

6:15 PM - I offer to feed ASU Grad Friend leftover nachos. She accepts. It’s a great excuse for me to eat more nachos too, so I double down.

9:45 PM - ASU Grad Friend leaves and I watch two episodes of Scientology and the Aftermath.

11:45 PM - I fall asleep.

DAY TWO HUNDRED TOTAL: $69.21

DAY TWO HUNDRED ONE

11:00 AM - Wow! I wake up. I am the grossest person ever and have a film of filth on myself so I jump in the shower.

12:00 PM - Coffee and bagels with bae. I grab the bagels. $7.56

12:30 PM - We head to AZ Mills to play pinball. I use up the last of the credits on my card and will have to reload it next time we venture out.

3:45 PM - NACHOS.

5:00 PM - My friend Q calls and we talk about money and his divorce. We make a plan that he will fork over money to me and I’ll keep it safe in an account for him and won’t spend it at all and if I have to pay his lawyer, I will do so on his behalf.

7:00 PM - I’m starting to get hungry again but I’m not sure if I can eat nachos for the fourth meal in a row. I hit up a DJ Friend to see if he wants to grab a drink. We meet at Casey’s. He buys me a beer and then I buy him and me “Froses.” They’re very good but I can tell the sugar is gonna get to me. $14

10:00 PM - Boyfriend meets up with us and walks me home. On the way, we run into two Cartel friends and hang with them for a little bit.

10:30 PM - We arrive home and I’m starving. I heat up a Big Sur Burrito and top it with salsa and vegan sour cream.

11:45 PM - We fall asleep watching Suns basketball. They’re soooo bad. It’s embarrassing.

DAY TWO HUNDRED ONE: $21.56