#stock tank planter

[aplaceonthisworld]

San Diego Landscape Design suggestions for a medium-sized, drought-tolerant, full-sun backyard stone water fountain.

[bloodtohold]

Natural Stone Pavers - Landscape

Design ideas for a mid-sized coastal drought-tolerant and full sun backyard stone water fountain landscape in winter.

[wyrm-o-lantern]

Landscape (San Diego)

[angeliqueshelleyartist]

Promotional Video

I was able to compile all my finished assets into a video promoting my project and myself as a practitioner. I am please to formally introduce my Major Study Project: SolarPunk

The complete art book will soon be available here: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lGxddY

List of Third Party Assets

Unreal Engine 5 Level

MYTHRA TECH. (2022). Mediterranean Coast. [Online]. Unreal Engine Marketplace. Available at: https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/3a23dac323e646f38e2c7a744236478e?sessionInval [Accessed 29 July 2024].

3D Assets

Adobe Substance 3D Painter. (n/d). Smart Materials Library. [Online]. . Available at: https://substance3d.adobe.com/assets [Accessed 26 August 2024]. 

AlexDang. (2023). Scud ( Ballistic missile ). [Online]. Sketchfab. Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/scud-ballistic-missile-30cf91617bad4a4bb07d0856ccd55ff0 [Accessed 22 August 2024].

Martinez, G. (2020). FUNCTIONAL PROPELLER FOR PLASTIC DRYER. [Online]. Sketchfab. Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/functional-propeller-for-plastic-dryer-9a614d23ce254e2b8b5f49b1b5ef8 [Accessed 22 August 2024].

snrnsrk5. (2023). Soviet Heavy Tanks. [Online]. Sketchfab. Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/soviet-heavy-tanks-4ef5ac2028c0439b806a1c3fe298e67b [Accessed 22 August 2024].

videoanimateitalia. (2024). jet engine. [Online]. Sketchfab. Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/jet-engine-f5010f64424e415183c110c8e0132017 [Accessed 22 August 2024].

Assets by Quixel (Epic Games)

3D Assets

Binoculars leather case, candle Holders, concrete planter,  Nordic forest rock, Medieval Banquet (all food assets),  metal watering can, old Book, old cushion,  small concrete planter,  stone mortar, stone pestal, wax candle,  wooden stool.

Plants

Boston fern, bracken fern, broom creeper, common coleus,  common fern, crownbeard,  mustard, rhazya, thyme.

Decals

Antique rug

Surfaces

Carpet_pgwfnwp0

Epic Games. (n/d). Quixel Bridge. [Online]. . Available at: https://quixel.com/bridge [Accessed 22 August 2024].

Photographs

Adobe Stock. (n/d). Sky Replacement Stock Images (Auto Sky Replacement). [Online]. . Available at: https://stock.adobe.com/uk/ [Accessed 22 August 2024].

macrovector. (n/d). Realistic set of gun flashes with fire sparkles and smoke isolated on black background vector illustration. [Online]. FreePik. Available at: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/realistic-set-gun-flashes-with-fire-sparkles-smoke-isolated-black-background-vector-illustration_26764910.htm#query=muzzle%20flash&position=4&from_view=keyword&track=ais_hybrid&uuid=f1ce68de-e84c-440c-ab67-7a6e2b2ce4c7 [Accessed 26 August 2024].

Nudaveritas, S. (2023). a river running through a lush green valley. [Online]. Unsplash. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-river-running-through-a-lush-green-valley-1Ez51O4Otsg [Accessed 26 August 2024].

Quinan, M. (2015). Northern lights during night time. [Online]. Unsplash. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/northern-lights-during-night-time-R3pUGn5YiTg [Accessed 26 August 2024].

Walczuk, M. (2017). green aurora. [Online]. Unsplash. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/green-aurora-asc8mCGtSew [Accessed 26 August 2024].

Widodo, P. (2022). The hardest part of being candle is you must burn yourself out to light others. [Online]. Unsplash. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-lit-candle-in-the-dark-with-a-dark-background-sbOnhWT5UGA [Accessed 26 August 2024].

VectorStock. (n/d). Simple green and blue aurora logo modern vector image. [Online]. Available at: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/simple-green-and-blue-aurora-logo-modern-vector-44315782 [Accessed 28 August 2024].

Promotional Video

Busti. (2019). Flip Dot Display Demo. [Audio]. [Online]. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YPhtsflhf0 [Accessed 26 August 2024].

Futurescapes - Sci Fi Ambience. (2023). Arrival: Relaxing Alien Sci Fi Music. [Music]. [Online]. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fu6soG89v8&t=3s [Accessed 26 August 2024].

[prancingmoogle]

Welcome back to yet another house presented by The Prancing Moogle! Our presentation may look different, but our love and passion for housing has not changed. Get comfortable, because this house is quite the treat: another large plot, and the owner of the estate has added some enticing text to the description of Anchora Heights here in Shirogane (ward 20, plot 60 of Brynhildr) that can’t be overlooked. “We’re chewing the fat,” reads the auto-translate text, followed by, “Lalafell. Designed by Chanpelle.” Whether you are Lalafell or any of the other beloved races of this star, Chanpelle’s design can certainly be appreciated.

The exterior entrance guides us with a path of Dohn Trellis. Paths break off to different parts of the front lawn for easy access to the garden and two decks with tables and seating. Picture the light chatter over morning tea and coffee in the garden in such a lovely atmosphere. Also to note is the very clever striking dummy build in the center of the lawn, using a fountain, tree, and aetheryte.

Heading inside, be careful not to trip in the dark. Immediately, I am overcome with memories of Narnia and stepping out of the wardrobe into a manor of antiques, displays, and lots of glowing plants that I know are not edible, but they should be. In the main entrance room, there is much to see, and details that are easy to miss. There are little items tucked away in every corner, and every shelf and display case is filled to the brim with detail and flavor that suggests a story to be told.

Upstairs is a much calmer and more collected layout. The bannisters, planters, and stone pillars bring to mind a classy fine dining experience, while the L-shape sofa entices comfort and casual conversation. Across from this charming arrangement is a cozy bar, and they are very well stocked.

The next staircase is just behind the front counter in the main entrance. It leads to not only a more intimate seating area for two, but another staircase. Before we leave this area, note the moon in the fish tank, which is a lovely idea. This house has proven to be one of surprises thus far. Upstairs from here, there is additional seating, and a message book. A word from the owner: “HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FINAL DAYS OF AMAROUT WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN SIGNING ON FOR A MEMBERSHIP WITH US TODAY?”

This entirely explains the music and immaculate vibes.

While on my way to this section of the house, I discovered another door, which we’ll venture through now.

This is the final room in these final words during these final days of Amaurot, and this is breathtaking. Carpets of flowers cover the entire floor, and in this room there are two floors. On the second floor, there’s even a river and bridge to cross over. This room is covered head to toe in plant life, and even the seating and lights are kept in theme with mushroom stools and glowing flower lamps. Waterfalls adorn the walls and leave a strong, tranquil note to leave on.

Thank you for joining us on a fun journey through the housing district in our first Tumblr edition of The Prancing Moogle. Of course, thank you to the house owner and the Failing Upwards Free Company for letting The Prancing Moogle write about a work of art such as their estate. Well done to their designer, Chanpelle! Please look forward to more from The Prancing Moogle this month!

[charlettebffxiv]

Prompt #9 Friable

Working in the Greenhouse was a mixed affair on most suns. During the winter, it could be a nice, warm getaway from the harsh cold that permeated even The Shroud. On summer suns though, like this one, it just added to the heat that was constantly pressing down on you. Since mid-morning Charlette had been sweating into her clothes, but by the time she had reached the Greenhouse, she already had wet shadows in her pits. Gods above, she hated suns like this. And now she was staring down several bells in the purposefully hot and humid enclosure, where Bobocufu and the other botanists grew their more exotic flora. Plants from all kinds of far-off, warmer climates sat in different sections of the glass house, each one given the exact setting they needed to feel as home as possible. From Ala Mhigan oasis plants, to Thanalan river plants and even a few exotic pieces that apparently can only be found in the jungles of Gelmorra. All of them precious to the specific botanist that had brought them here and painstakingly raised them to the blossoming health they had now. All of them now in the sweaty palms of one Duskwight novice who had to make sure they all got what they needed.

She swiped a hand across her brow, slipped her arm through one suspender of her overalls, the other hang loose, the cropped tank-top she wore underneath already proving too much despite the scandalous, in her opinion, amount of skin it showed off. But that was enough whining inside her own head, it was time to get to her first bit of work. The lush, Thanalan bush that sat before her was covered in pink flowers, just about ready to start to wilt and form into the real prize it had to offer: Desert Saffron. Maxim swears by the flavour it can provide, and upon hearing it might be available, A’nidreah and her other Sun Seeker sisters had practically drooled all over Charlette’s sleeves. She would be lying if she said she was not looking forward to testing out this fabled spice. But first, she would need to not mess this up. The bush itself sat in the driest corner of the Greenhouse, in a box filled with soil so barren it looked almost like the desiccated bed of a salt lake. However, beneath was moist, clay-like earth that gave the bush the sustenance it needed. And Charlette had to add just the right amount of water to keep it moist, but not wet. She checked the instructions scrawled in chalk on the board next to the planter box, courtesy of Maxim. “Three pumps of water. Sprinkle top soil just over the base. Do not tamp it down. Do not touch the flowers. Do not, for goodness sake, kill my Safforn Charlette or I will spit in your ear!” -  ♥ Maxim A strange threat, but not one Charlette was willing to test. She pulled a level out of a copper drum of water, pressed down and watched as the liquid started to bubble-up between those cracks in the soil. It was being flooded directly into it through piping that ran underneath the packed earth. Bobocufu has spared no expenses, and effort, to make this Greenhouse near perfect. No more than three presses! Then she took out a little garden spade, scooped up Thanalan topsoil from a sack and scattered it around the base of each bush. The planter resembled something you might see out in the Thanalan grasslands, just after a mild rain that had awoken a small river for a bell or two. “How anyone can live in such a dry place, I don’t know. But apparently you do.” she spoke directly to the plant, reaching a hand out, coming very, very close to one of the friable, dry petals. But she pulled just short of touching. She did not break rules, even ones set out by that class clown Maxim. On to the next one. La Noscean Dragon Peppers that needed a little salt water spritzed on their leaves and to have their roots soaked to the point of almost coming out of the soil itself. Bobocufu’s corpse flowers that, really, just needed to be checked to make sure they weren't rotting away, or if that was just the slight, musky scent that permeated the soon-to-bloom horrors. That sweltering heat even started to disappear into the back of her mind, the focus needed to make sure she did it all at the right time, in the right order, to the right amount was wonderful in that respect. It left room for no other thoughts, not even about the drips that keep burning her eyes. Bells passed quickly, and before she had time to really step back and take stock of her hard work, Charlette had reached the final piece. It was her own plot, and she had picked a rather unusual kind of creature to fill it with: fungi. Yes, Charlette had decided that mushrooms were going to be her focus, and the dark little hovels that had been built over the plot she had earned with her moons in service to the Botanist Guild were only just now starting to see their very first spores. Tiny little caps, only just beginning to burst from the bracken laid underneath the humidity-soaked logs promised, at the very least, her first crop was going to arrive soon. Cave Chanterelle, hardly as big as they can get in the caverns below, but then Charlette didn’t have that kind of space, now did she? Still, it had been a long, long time since her family had enjoyed the taste of them in the one dish her mother knew best how to cook. A face she often held over her husband’s head. It was going to be a special thing, Charlette hoped, when she presented them to her mother. She always wanted to take on the cooking, when her father’s nameday comes around, and every nameday it was the same dish. Which he claimed was his favourite, and Charlette saw no reason to doubt him. So it was with an extra careful hand that she moved the stiffening leaves and twigs away and added new, freshly dropped leaves she had picked from the forest this morning. Water trickled across them from the spout of a watering can, not directly atop the shrooms, but over the log. It cascaded down, just as rainfall may have, and eventually soaked into the soil, wetted the leaves, and made everything humid and muddy. Just how they liked it, well, to a point. Charlette wrote the instructions down on her own board, it was Maxim’s turn next and now she finally had time to think of a good threat of her own. A kick in the groin? Threatening, yes, but also so common. Two kicks and a punch in the nose? Maybe, if a bit basic. She pulled up a stool, sat herself down, and set about the task. The sweat dripping down her grey-blue skin all but forgotten, that focus coming back once more.

[sensei-aishitemasu]

2019 Black-Owned Gift Guide!

It’s that time again! This Black Friday, try and support a Black-owned business for all your gift-giving needs. For last years gift guide, click here. For the 2017 gift guide, here. For the 2016 gift guide, click here. For the 2015 gift guide, click here. (This is the FIFTH annual gift guide! Time flies!) 

Similar to 2018, I kept every individual item listed under $100! Click on the links to be taken to the websites in order to peruse more yourselves. Every item and brand has been hand selected and curated. Sustainability has been increasingly on my mind, especially when it comes to fashion; as such, several brands on this list are ethically and sustainably sourced. Several also include donations from your purchase being made to philanthropic causes. 

[And as always, this guide has been split into categories to make it easier to get through, but feel free to mix and match for the person in your life that fits all of (or none of!) these categories!]

Gift Guide 2019 Items

For the Homebody:

eLo ‘Gloria’ Cotton Spray, $30

Shea Shea Bakery Candy Cane Candle, $22

Shea Shea Bakery Coffe Mug Candle, $12

Shea Shea Bakery Bowl of O’s Signature Candle, $20 

Shea Shea Bakery Milk & Cookies Bath Set, $16

Shea Shea Bakery Bath Whip - Confetti Cake, $12

Shea Shea Bakery Honey Bear Bubble Bath, $6

Shea Shea Bakery Milk Mates - Salts + Bubble Bath, $16

Shea Shea Bakery Milk + Honey + Syrup Bubble Bath Set, $22

Shea Shea Bakery Cast Iron Skillet Wax Burner, $22

Shea Shea Bakery Sweet Mini-Melt Cinnamon Bun Wax, $10

Shea Shea Bakery Sweet Mini-Melt Peanut Butter Cups, $10

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Amber + Sandalwood Apothecary Jar, $30 (pictured)

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Oakmoss + Amber Jar, $20

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Botanical Garden Gold Travel Tin, $10 

Kicky Mats ‘Don’t Bother, We’re Broke’ Doormat, $50 (pictured)

Jeffrey Manning “You Are” Art Print, $55

Jeffrey Manning “Mellow Bliss” Art Print, $40

Duchess 365 ‘When I Get Home’ Art Print, $23.99 (pictured)

Tactile Matter ‘Safe Space’ Art Print, $45 (pictured)

Tactile Matter ‘Peaches & Coffee’ Art Print, $45

Galerie.la Small Market Basket, $28

Galerie.la Botanica Medium Candle Harvest, $24

Galerie.la Relaxation Rituals Box, $44.95

Galerie.la Botanica Large Candle Nirvana, $32

Galerie.la Rooted Incense Holder In Gray, $68

Galeria.la Calma Herbal Salt Soaks, $20

‘Hypnotic’ Quilt Set by Justina Blakeney, $100 (pictured)

Brass Bette Planter by Justina Blakeney, $ 75

Ida Mirror by Justina Blakeney, $70

Kahelo Black and Gray Rug by Justina Blakeney, $89

Kashmir.VIII ‘The Party’ Pillow, $50 (pictured)

Cards For All People “Angry Moms” Card Game, $17.99

Cards For All People “Black Card Revoked” Card Game, $17.99 (pictured)

Trading Races Card Game, $24.99 (pictured)

Winsults Card Game, $25 (pictured)

For the Foodie:

Zach & Zoe Wildflower Honey, $12  Zach & Zoe Wildflower Honey - Lavender, $15

Zach & Zoe Wildflower Honey - Raspberry, $15 (pictured)

Zach & Zoe Honey with Ginger Root, $15

Soul Fit Grill Assorted Spices, $55.99 (pictured)

Raw Cells Mind Fudge, $15 (pictured)

Raw Cells Calm Cookie, $8

Raw Cells Brain Brownie, $5

Raw Cells Bliss Bar, $7 (pictured)

Chris Cardi ‘H Street’ Apron, $25.03

Cultured Kombucha ‘Flight Glass’ Set of 4, $35 (pictured)

Cultured Kombucha ‘Cultured’ Tote, $15 (pictured)

Kashmir.VIII ‘Ms. Hill’ Mug, $16

Kashmir.VIII ‘Easin’ Mug, $16

Kashmir.VIII ‘We Did It First’ Mug, $16 (pictured)

Kashmir.VIII ‘The Black Power Mixtape’ Coaster Sets, $35 (pictured)

Botanicals on Blush Kitchen Tea Towels by Justina Blakeney, $28 (pictured)

‘B. Smith Cooks Southern-Style’ by B. Smith, $29.99

For the Beauty Guru:

Oui The People ‘The Single’ Rose Gold Single-Blade Razor, $75 (pictured)

Oui The People ‘Sugarcoat’ Shave Gel-To-Milk, $64 (pictured)

Galerie.la Rose Quartz Facial Roller, $28

Galerie.la Jade Mask, $42

Galerie.la Base Coat Nail Polish Vault, $20

Galerie.la Base Coat Nail Polish The Simon Collective, $20

Galerie.la ‘The Makeup Bag’ (Navy), $59

Galerie.la ‘The Makeup Bag’ (Yellow), $59

Galerie.la Mermaid Milk Superfood Moisturizer, $42

Shea Shea Bakery Buttered Pound Cake Body Mist, $5 (pictured)

Shea Shea Bakery Glazed Donut Body Butter, $25

Shea Shea Bakery Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser, $15

Shea Shea Bakery Antibacterial Apple Cider Toner, $6

Shea Shea Bakery Almond Milk + Chocolate Peppermint Moisturizer, $6

Shea Shea Bakery Scar Healing Serum, $23

Shea Shea Bakery Gentle Foaming Cleanser, $8

Shea Shea Bakery Chocolate Coffee Bean Scrub, $12

Shea Shea Bakery Rose Garden Soap Bar, $5 (pictured)

Monie Squared Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Soap, $8

Monie Squared Brown Sugar Fig Goat Milk Soap, $7

Monie Squared Warm Vanilla Sugar Goat Milk Soap, $7

Monie Squared Leave-In Detangling Conditioner in Blood Orange, $16

Camille Rose Naturals Algae Renew Deep Conditioner, $20

Camille Rose Youth Burst Anti-Aging Night Time Elixir, $18 (pictured)

Camille Rose Seedless Skin Pore-Perfecting Facial Exfoliator, $19

Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade, $13.99

Oyin Handmade Boing! All-In-One Coil Styler, $14.99

Oyin Handmade No Ash At All Lotion, $9.99

Hunny Bunny Boutique Hunny Lavender Face Bar, $9

Hunny Bunny Boutique Rose Clay Facial Mask, $8

Bejia Flor Naturals Acai Mango Lotion, $22

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Seven’ Aromatherapy Roller, $18

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Mellow’ Aromatherapy Roller, $18

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Faith’ Aromatherapy Roller, $18

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Tisane’ Body + Bath Oil, $25

Jade & Fox Co. Liquid Gold Facial Cleanser, $15 (pictured)

Jade & Fox Co. Neptune Hyaluronic Face Mist, $15

Jade & Fox Co. Flower Power Toner, $18 (pictured)

Jade & Fox Co. Fineapple Face Mask, $22

Jade & Fox Co. Maui Wowie Serum, $17 (pictured)

Jade & Fox Co. Angel Eyes Under Eye Cream, $24

Jade & Fox Co. Crushed Velvet Butter, $26

Jade & Fox Co. Honeysuckle Spray, $14

Jade & Fox Co. Lust Oil, $15

Jade & Fox Co. Crush Body Oil, $17

Jade & Fox Co. Vixen Oil, $15

Jade & Fox Co. ‘Show Girl’ Body Oil, $17

Jade & Fox Co. Siren Highlighter, $18 (pictured)

Makeup/Beauty/Hair Brands:

Plain Jane Beauty (pictured)

Mented Cosmetics (pictured) 

Beauty Bakerie 

Bovanti Cosmetics 

Colour U Cosmetics

Hue Noir 

Gold Label Cosmetics 

Lamik Beauty

Lip Addyct 

Magnolia Makeup 

Lotus Moon Skincare

The Lip Bar (pictured)

Ginger + Liz Nail Polish

Foxie Cosmetics

Blac Minerals Cosmetics (pictured)

Danessa Lyrics Beauty

Lena Lashes

AJ Crimson Beauty

KSquared Nail Paint

Kinky Curly Yaki

Heat Free Hair Movement

Big Chop Hair

Princess Hair Shop

Haute Kinky Hair

Private Stock Kair

Catface Hair

Mischo Beauty (pictured)

Brown Butter Beauty (pictured)

Her Muse Studio

Elo Lipcare (pictured)

Glam Goth Beauty (pictured)

For The Fashion Conscious:

Galerie.la Abbot Corduroy Knit Robe Berry, $98

Galerie.la Denim Crop Bra, $35

Galerie.la Golden Organic Cotton Crop Bra, $35 (pictured)

Galerie.la Recycled Cotton Baby Tee Black, $39

Galerie.la Alicia Crossbody Brown Bag, $85 (pictured)

Galerie.la Stacking Rings Brass, $25 (pictured)

Galerie.la Diamond Stacking Ring, $25

Galerie.la Petite Arch Earrings Brass, $34

Galerie.la Thelma Top Mauve, $48

Galerie.la Silver Hashtag Earrings, $58

Galerie.la Cascade Dress Charcoal, $59

Galerie.la Petra Jumpsuit Charcoal, $65 (pictured)

Galerie.la Sabbath Cocoon Tunic, $98

Galerie.la Flap Wallet Mustard, $79

Galerie.la Zipper Wallet Blush, $69

Glam Goth ‘Goon’ Beanie (red), $25

Glam Goth ‘Goon’ Beanie (black), $25

Glam Goth ‘Goth’ Cap, $30 (pictured)

Glam Goth ‘The Young Angel’ T-Shirt, $20

Instant Vintage - Azul by Giancarlo Bolero, $55

Instant Vintage - Merlot Veiled Hat, $30

Instant Vintage - Turquoise Velvet Bow with Headband, $45

Instant Vintage - Sweetheart Floral Dress, $48 (pictured)

Sir and Madame Striped Wool Split Back Shirt, $75

Sir and Madame Logo T-Shirt, $40

Sir and Madame 'Madame’ Cropped Tank, $28

Sir and Madame 70′s Script T-Shirt, $45

Sir and Madame “A Better Tomorrow” T-Shirt, $40

Sir and Madame Red Wing Engineer Boot, $75

Sir and Madame Jungle Camo Woven Shirt, $45

A Life Well Dressed ‘Artsy’ Statement Cap, $16 (pictured)

A Life Well Dressed ‘Create’ Statement T-Shirt, $20

Gregory Sylvia ‘Farrah’ Watch, $95

Gregory Sylvia ‘Chandler’ Watch, $78 (pictured)

Gregory Sylvia ‘Rosen’ Watch, $105 (slightly over budget but a beautiful watch!)

Gregory Sylvia ‘Crimson Crave’ Wallet, $69

Tree Fairfax Lois Belt, $40

Tree Fairfax Distressed Wrap Clutch/Wallet, $54

Chris Cardi ‘H St. Nostalgia’ Tee, $30.03

Chris Cardi ‘Bastards’ Tee, $30.03

Sole Rebels ‘The Surge’ Shoe, $90

Sole Rebels ‘The Exodus Ahhh’ Shoe, $100

Sole Rebels ‘The StepUP’ Shoe, $95

Sole Rebels ‘The Exodus RIFF’ Shoe, $100 (pictured)

Sole Rebels ‘TooTOOS Holees’ Shoe, $85

Enbois ‘Jafari’ Watch (Zebra), $85

For the Bookworm:

‘The Water Dancer’ by Ta-Nehisi Coates, $28 (pictured)

‘Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland, $18.99 (pictured)

‘Black Talk: Words and Phrases from the Hood to the Amen Corner’ by Geneva Smitherman, $6.38 (pictured)

‘Talkin and Testifyin: The Language of Black America’ by Geneva Smitherman, $7.77 (pictured)

‘White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue ... and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation’ by Lauren Michele Jackson, $23.49

‘Mules and Men’ by Zora Neale Hurston, $15.99 (pictured)

‘The Black Book’ edited by Toni Morrison, $35

‘Bloodchild and Other Stories’ by Octavia Butler, $14

‘Rebel’ by Beverly Jenkins, $7.99

‘B. Smith: Rituals & Celebrations’ by B. Smith, $35 (pictured)

Rayo & Honey ‘Eat Words, Drink Stars’ Pin, $12 (pictured)

Rayo & Honey ‘Read More, Writer Better’ Banner, $50 (pictured)

Rayo & Honey ‘Books Change Your Mind’ Banner, $55

Rayo & Honey ‘Hundreds of Books Under My Skin’ Bookmark, $8 (pictured)

For the Kids:

Yinibini Baby ‘Trunk of Hearts’ Elephant One-Piece, $29.50

Yinibini Baby ‘My Neighborhood in DC’ Tee, $26.00 (pictured)

Jade & Fox Co. Fantasy Body Lotion for Babies, $16

Duchess365 Framed Art Print [Ladybug], $57.99

Duchess365 Throw Pillow [Lollipop], $29.99 (pictured)

Duchess365 Framed Art Pillow, $47.99 (pictured)

Herbaceutikals Talc Free Baby Organic Baby Powder, $14.25 (pictured)

‘Party, A Mystery’ by Jamaica Kincaid, $17.95 (pictured)

‘The Last Last-Day-of-Summer’ by Lamar Giles, $8.49

‘Puppy Truck’ by Brian Pinkney, $11.38 (pictured)

‘Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten)’ by Laura Veirs, $17.99

‘Little Melba and Her Big Trombone’ by Katheryn Russell-Brown, $18.95 (pictured)

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Mamatoto’ Aromatherapy Roller, $12

KaAn’s Designs ‘Living The Dream’ Denim Jacket, $40 (pictured)

Sir & Madame ‘Sir’ Kids Pullover, $55

Amina Abdul Jillil Kids Velvet Sneaker, $89 (pictured)

For the Masculine:

Gregory Sylvia ‘Durham’ Watch, $78 (pictured)

Gregory Sylvia ‘Grayson’ Watch, $95

Gregory Sylvia ‘Fullerton’ Watch, $95.00

A Life Well Dressed ‘Create’ Sweater, $34

A Life Well Dressed ‘District of Champions’ Sweater, $48

Sir & Madame Scratch Goods Beard Oil, $24 (pictured)

Sir & Madame ‘Sir’ Shirt (Blue), $40 (pictured)

Sir & Madame ‘Sir Shirt (Orange), $40

Sir & Madame Classic Logo Beanie (Gray), $40

Sir & Madame Classic Logo Beanie (Orange), $40 (pictured)

Sir & Madame ‘Sir’ Long Sleeve Black Shirt, $55

Sir & Madame ‘Sir’ Lapel Pin, $10

Instant Vintage - Pink and Blue Plaid Pants, $50 (pictured)

Instant Vintage - Camel Leather Blazer, $90

Instant Vintage - Tan Trench Coat, $60

Enbois ‘The Weekend’ Bag, $60 (pictured)

Enbois ‘Cocoa Collection’ Bracelets, $50 (pictured)

Enbois ‘Garvey’ Watch (Black), $70 (pictured)

Vee + Co. Beard Mist, $12

Vee + Co. Beard Oil, $20

Vee + Co. Beard Wash Shampoo + Conditioner, $18

Mr. Blackmans Bergamot & Spice Beard Balm, $11.99

Scotch Porter Nourish & Repair Hair Conditioner, $24.99

Scotch Porter Hydrating Hair Wash, $24.99

Scotch Porter Charcoal & Licorice Moisture Defend Face Lotion, $19.99

Levi Fisher Balm Diggity Softening Beard Butter, $12.99

Levi Fisher Smooth Operator Detangling & Conditioning Beard Serum, $9.99

Levi Fisher Go Tea Herbal Grooming Spray for Short Hair and Beards, $9.99

Sole Rebels ‘exodus Traveller ‘Shoes, $100

Sole Rebels ‘stepUP Ed. 2′ Shoes, $95 (pictured)

Sole Rebels ‘the SURGE any’ Shoes, $90

For The Technologically Savvy:

Enbois Case iPhone 7/7plus/8/8plus/iPhone X/iPhone XS/iPhone XR, $12 (pictured)

Enbois Walnut Case iPhone 6/7/8, $8

Enbois Rosewood Case iPhone 6/7/8, $8

Enbois Power Bank, $15 (pictured)

Enbois Grip Socket, $3 (pictured)

Embrii Shop Iridescent Macbook Case, $49

Embrii Shop Matte Gold Messenger Laptop Sleeve, $39

Embrii Shop Champagne Gold Glitter Macbook Case, $49

Embrii Shop Emerald Tartan MacBook Case, $49

Chic Geeks Black Faux Crocodile MacBook Case, $78

Chic Geeks Emerald Faux Crocodile MacBook Case, $78

Chic Geeks Grey Marble MacBook Case, $68 (pictured)

Chic Geeks Rose Gold Keyboard Cover, $12 (pictured)

Chic Geeks Space Gray Ombre Keyboard Cover, $12

Chic Geeks Emerald Faux Crocodile iPad Case, $78 (pictured)

Chic Geeks Unicorn Sparkle iPad Case, $68 (pictured)

Chic Geeks Emerald Glitter MacBook Case, $58

Chic Geeks Black Marble MacBook Case, $68

Chic Geeks Gray Marble iPad Case, $58

Puku G8 Earphones, $29 (pictured)

Khristian A. Howell Fig Life Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99 (pictured)

Khristian A. Howell Deuces Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99

Khristian A. Howell Buffalo Plaid Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99

Cards, Stationery and Gift Wrap:

Greentop Gifts Clarence Claus Candy Canes & Trees Gift Wrap, $7.50 (pictured)

Greentop Gifts Clarence Claus ‘HOHOHO’ Gift Wrap, $7.50 (pictured)

Greentop Gifts Clarence Claus Close Up Gift Wrap, $7.50 

Greentop Gifts Clarence Claus Gift Bag, $4.50

Sweet Potato Paper Red Plaid Gift Wrap, $9.95

Sweet Potato Paper Yellow Triangles Gift Wrap, $9.95

Sweet Potato Paper ‘Can Swim’ Gift Wrap, $9.95 (pictured)

Sweet Potato Paper ‘No Worries’ Notecards, $10.50

Sweet Potato Paper ‘Sunny Thanks’ Thank You Cards, $1.25 per card 

Sweet Potato Paper ‘Audio Thanks’ Thank You Cards, $1.25 per card (pictured)

Sweet Potato Paper Blotting Paper, $1.25 per sheet 

The DynaSmiles Stationery & Gifts Assorted Christmas Cards Bundle, $28

The DynaSmiles "Fro La La" 4x6 Sticker Sheet, $3.50 (pictured)

The DynaSmiles "Santa's Beard" Christmas Collectible Mug, $20 (pictured)

Addie Rawr ‘A Room Full of Dolls’ Adult Coloring Book, $15

Addie Rawr Fall Dolls Stickers (Die Cut & Sticker Sheets), $6.50

Midnight Reflections Melanin Prima Ballerina Ceramic Ornaments, $15.99 (pictured)

Midnight Reflections Kwanzaa Wrapping Paper Kit, $15.99

Midnight Reflections Black Santa Gift Bag Kit, $18.99

Midnight Reflections Black Angel Wrapping Paper Kit, $8.99 (pictured)

Midnight Reflections Black Santa with Snow Flakes Wrapping Paper Kit, $8.99 

Khristian A. Howell Rosey Holiday Gift Wrap, $8.99

Khristian A. Howell Rosy Twinkle Gift Wrap, $8.99

Khristian A. Howell Ansley Park Gift Wrap, $8.99

Kashmir.VIII ‘Maya’ Notebook, $11 (pictured)

Kashmir.VIII ‘The Marathon Continues’ Sticker, $9-$20

[bwwhitney]

Finished the new planter for the deck. Last year I finally gave up and admitted defeat in the battle to keep the various critters from devouring anything remotely resembling a vegetable that was planted in the ground. Hopefully this will give us a fighting chance. The container is a stock tank I painted. The stand is made from reclaimed barn beams. The nighttime temperatures are supposed to start staying out of the 30s F so we might even start planting stuff.

[tinypumpkin27]

How it started:

Vs how it’s going:

Pictures of my “first” tank back in 2010. I had a 3 gallon betta tank when I was a young kid for a year. This was a simple 29 gallon with 2 goldfish, Dale and Allie. I bought three and named them after characters from Tucker and Dale VS Evil. Tucker only lived for a couple days and had issues before I even brought them home. I used river rock, had no live plants, kept the water at 74 degrees (at least there’s that), and rinsed the filter cartridge in hot water every 2 weeks 🤦🏻‍♀️ I had these two for 3 years before I released them in a local man made pond that had some other goldfish in it.

I’ve had quite a few tanks and different life in between then and now, various Bettas, ADFs, and Amano shrimp have been my favorites. I’ve done gravel, sand, river rocks, and bare bottoms. I’ve done planted and unplanted. I’ve learned a lot as I’ve gone along, and it’s been fun to test out different things. But, I really want to try the modified version of the Walstad Method that Father Fish on YouTube uses. I’ll probably try it with a 75 when I get one in the next year or two when/if I take the plunge on getting a little turtle. Someday when I get my two 120 acrylics one will be using that method modified with a mix of dark water techniques and I’d love to have some Discus if possible. The other 120 is going to be my first saltwater and that’ll be a whole other adventure.

Anywayy

Currently, I have 4 tanks running since I took down my little guppy quarantine tank.

First, a 6 gallon with 3 inches of Seachem’s fluorite gravel. Plants are Amazon Frogbit, Hornwort, an Undulata, and a Green Wendtii. I keep the water at 78-80 degrees. The filter is a 10 gallon internal filter with extra floss behind the carbon. The tank is stocked with 2 Nerite snails, a 1 1/2 inch Bristlenose Pleco, and a male betta.

Second, a 10 gallon with repti carpet for my axolotl’s temporary housing. It has a 10 gallon HOB filter with extra floss behind the carbon. Kept at 64 degrees. Nitrate eaters are 4 Pothos cuttings (silver satin, marble queen, a darker golden, and a variegated golden), a strand of Hornwort, and some green hair algae glued onto the ledge. I’ve been gathering hair algae as I go along cleaning tanks at work and might cut up my Marimo to fully carpet the ledge if I want it done faster.

Third, a 20H with 1 inch Seachem’s fluorite gravel capped with about 3 inches of aquarium sand. The filter is a 20 gallon with you guessed it, extra floss, only a tiny carbon in this one though because I’m moving away from using carbon. It has a large piece of drift wood, and many plants, Valliseneria, Hornwort, Subwassertang, Anubias, Water Sprite, what I’m assuming is a broad leaf Java Fern I’m working on propagating, and my favorite the Ozelot Sword. This tank is overstocked and my groups aren’t complete, just waiting on the 29 to finish cycling so I can move Nyko out of the 10 and put some fish and the Mystery Snail in there. Stocked with 6 female Bettas, one Reticulated Hillstream Loach, 1 3 inch Bristlenose Pleco, 2 Pygmy Cory Catfish, 3 Julii Cory Catfish, 4 Celestial Pearl Danios, 1 Ivory Mystery Snail, and 1 Nerite Snail.

Fourth and lastly, Nyko’s future home, a cycling 29 gallon with 2 inches of pool filter sand, and a planter with 3-ish inches of Seachem’s fluorite sand. A good piece of Mopani wood with Java Moss anchored with cotton thread onto it as well as four varieties of Anubias (Anubias, A. Hastifolia, A. Nana, A. Nana Petite). Floaters are Guppy Grass and Hornwort. Planter so far: Madagascar Lace, Moneywort (probably will end up floating honestly), and a Rose Sword. Stocked with some pre-quarantined guppies that will be my breeders/snacks for Nyko. Filtration: 40 gallon Aquatop sponge filter on a 20-50 gallon Aquatop air pump, and a 30 gallon Hagan AquaClear with sponge, ceramic, carbon, and yep that’s right, extra floss from a cycled tank. See why I put extra floss in the filters? I can move some bacteria around whenever I need to without making much of a dent in the biological filter on any of these tanks now. Plus, more space for bacteria to colonize undisturbed is always a bonus when you have a heavy bio load like I’ve got going on in most of these tanks right now.

Phew, that went on longer than I intended. I wish I had someone to talk to about this stuff lmao. You’d think working at a garden and pet shop I’d get to talk fish with people a lot more than I do. When I’m in the petroom mostly I talk rabbits, rats, and ferrets with some herps, a little invertebrates, and fish thrown in. Not much time for fish talk, and especially not MY tanks fish talk, usually it’s a customer’s tank that’s the topic because of course they’re picking out plants or fish for their tanks. This fall I’m hoping to switch shops for another exotic pet store that doesn’t sell pet mammals and has some epic saltwater aquariums. That’ll be fun because I won’t just be working with only one other person who’s into exotic pets and aquariums.

[bespectacledbookworm]

Houseplant Update

First, the Newbies!

This is a pink syngonium, and unfortunately, that’s all I know about it. Hopefully it does well. I think it will. Just potted it into another container because the roots were coming out the bottom, so it’s got a good headstart!

Another pothos! I forget which on it is, but I know it has way bigger leaves than my other one. I’m going to see if it does well in my room, once I can hang up the planter. Probably by the fish tank, where the humidity is greater. 

I can’t remember if I showed ya’ll this one? It’s a string of hearts! And it LOVES it by the door, so I may have to leave her there :”) She was in my room for a few days though, and she seemed fine? All those vines/runners are new growth too! So I’m very eager to see this plant reach it’s potential. 

These are the cuttings from my first pothos. They’re doing really well! We did have an accident when I tried a hydrogen peroxide concoction to kill the fungus gnats. It made the soil swell like crazy and I had re-pot it and clean my bathroom... I need to buy mosquito bits. 

This is my mother’s pothos! I help to take care of it. It’s actually lost quite a bit of fullness, but it’s vining nicely. I hope she doesn’t go too bald... 

This is my pothos, and also my first houseplant! She’s definitely lost some fullness, but gained some of it back when I trimmed the vines. I’ve been moving her to the window every morning to get that good sunlight, and I think she’s responding well! I can’t for this spring to REALLY kick start that growth. 

And now onto the Terrariums!

I finally moved the tank to my room, where it can get some residual aquarium light on the floor. Unfortunately, the maidenhair didn’t make it. I don’t think she got enough sunlight, and the moisture overwhelmed her. The other fern likes though, but you can see it’s getting leggy in the corner-- probably reaching for more light. I’m going to trim it down in hopes of keeping it bushy. And I’m going to add a mini creeping fig if I can find one on line, and I’m just waiting for lowes to stock up on some more heart fern. I thin kit would do REALLY well in there. 

The moss I added into the carnivorous plant bowl didn’t make it either. I think this one WAS over watered, but luckily it’s dried out a bit-- I’ve been opening the top and wiping off excess moisture. It’s died back some, but I spotted some new growth, too, so I’m eager to see what’s gonna happen here.

All of my plants are watered with the aquarium water from my goldfish tank, except for the terrariums that I water with distilled water to keep the glass clean. Also, most carnivorous plants prefer distilled water. Thanks for lookin’!

[pumpkin-patch]

If growing inground isn't an option do you have any suggestions as to what kind of above ground set up could best accomadate pumpkins?

Whatever you use, the key is depth! Pumpkins want as much space and as much soil depth as you can possibly give them. Most guides recommend 2-3 feet. I’ve grown them in anywhere between 1 and 4 feet of soil and can absolutely confirm that the deeper they can go, the better harvest you get. So whatever your setup, every extra inch of root depth you can possibly give it is worth it - if you’re going to cheap out, don’t bother (I’ve tried). I’d consider 1 foot to the absolute minimum soil depth that’s even worth bothering to plant a miniature variety in that you might get a pumpkin or two. 2 feet gives you a better shot and some more small-standard varieties are on the table. 3 feet starts to get kind of unrealistic but if you can manage it somehow, great.

Pots, planters, stock tanks etc. that deep do exist, but can be expensive (especially considering this would be one vine per pot). A few bloggers have reported ok (not great) results with big cloth grow bags.

If raised beds are an option that’s much better.

Quick distinction: with a pot/planter, the roots would be contained entirely inside it, and you could set this on your patio or balcony. 

A raised bed can be built directly on the ground, with no bottom, allowing roots to grow down through the bed and extend into the ground however much they can - so typically you would dig and amend what few inches of ground you can before building the bed. Thus raised beds don’t need to be as tall as the soil depth you’re aiming for, if they are an addition to some more ground depth.

You can build nice raised beds out of lumber, interlocking blocks designed specifically for that purpose, corrugated metal, cinder blocks, or there are lots of pre-made kits on the market. 

If you don’t care about it being pretty or long-lived, you can get more creative. Kiddie pools always pop up as a suggestion (you’d need to cut out the bottom).  I’ve seen people arrange hay bales in a square and fill the middle with soil. There’s a guy I like on youtube who grew pumpkins in old tires and another guy who just cut holes in both sides of a big bag of commercial soil, plops that on the ground, and plants in that. You could use a heavyduty trash can or storage tub with some holes drilled in the bottom (be aware something made of plastic won’t hold up to years in the sun). Really, anything that can hold a large volume of soil without falling apart would potentially be fine.

[artificialqueens]

Uprooted, Chapter 2: Tree's Company (Branjie) - writworm42

A/N: IT’S FINALLY HERE! Last chapter, Brooke and Vanessa hooked up to celebrate Vanessa getting a new job. This chapter, Vanessa and Brooke find out that they haven’t seen the last of each other…

I super apologize for the wait on this chapter, guys. It’s been tough balancing my personal/work life w the 283972 multichaps and 47382 one-shots I have going on LOL. I’m going to be putting things out more slowly for the next while, but I hope to be posting things at least once a week!

Thank you to holtzmanns for beta-ing <3

No matter how many times Vanessa visited, West Nurseries was never anything short of breathtaking. It was the largest nursery in the state, and had been Vanessa’s dream workplace ever since she was a five year old girl playing hide-and-seek with her brother behind rows of planter pines. West Nurseries was where she had first fallen in love with the waxy smell of leaves in the summer and the damp crunch of soil under her feet and squelching through the soles of her shoes. It was where she had traded her first wad of lawn-mowing money for a sapling of her very own, and where she had returned almost any chance she could get to ask for advice on how to nurture it.

It was where she had felt her first pang of nostalgic loss, driving away from town four years ago, knowing she was leaving something so safe and familiar behind, something that might not be there when she got back.

Thankfully, though, when she pulled up into the parking lot on her first day, everything was still exactly as she’d left it. The owner, Nina, still came to the gate to open and wave at the early-morning customers, and the rows of flowers were still organized by type and colour. There were still birds nesting in the rafters, and the sound of sprinklers whirring still reverberated off the walls of every greenhouse. Nina chatted Vanessa’s ear off as they walked through each area of the nursery, explaining in detail all the ins and outs of not just caring for trees, but of teaching others how to do the same. Vanessa absorbed everything with divided attention, half mentally noting every fact, figure, and tidbit, and half still as awe-struck by the facility as the first time she’d stepped foot in it.

Finally, they reached the arboretum, and Vanessa’s heart sped up with excitement. Once again, everything was exactly how she remembered it—the pines were still arranged in neat rows, and netting and fencing still marked off different types of saplings and planters. Ornaments and bird-feeders still hung in the corners, beckoning customers to look, to smile, to take them home.

The only thing that was different was the tall blonde potting saplings in the corner. The tall blonde who turned around when she heard Nina’s voice, only to freeze with a look of horror on her face as she caught sight of Vanessa, whose own heart stopped.

“Vanessa, this is the arboretum manager, Brooke.”

Oh, fuck.

–

“Pharmacy, really?” Brooke pulled Vanessa into the storeroom after mumbling some excuse to Nina about showing her the process for keeping inventory, her voice low and furious.

“Well excuse me, Mary, but this ain’t sales either, so–”

“What do you mean, it isn’t? We’re selling trees, aren’t we?” Brooke huffed, crossing her arms over her chest indignantly. Vanessa narrowed her eyes.

“You ain’t wanted me to think that and you know it.”

“Whatever.” Brooke rolled her eyes, dropping her posture to an almost drooping slump. “Doesn’t matter. Either way, we’ve got to work together, so let’s just… Make it work.”

“It was only a one-night stand anyway.” Vanessa agreed, watching as the words re-inflated and settled Brooke. “We ain’t gotta make it a big deal.”

“Right.” She nodded, “Not a big deal.”

Before Vanessa could say another word, Brooke was gone, retreating back outside to the larger area where customers were beginning to file in.

It was only a one-night stand. A blip on their radar, some meaningless fun that had been nothing to worry about the next morning. It was not a big deal, not a big deal at all.

So why was Vanessa wet?

–

As it turned out, working alongside Brooke was a very, very big deal.

It wasn’t that Brooke was an unfair boss–quite the opposite, in fact. She was direct and kind, and always seemed to walk the line between strictness and perfect understanding. It was that same professionalism, though, that made working with her torture.

How was Vanessa supposed to focus when Brooke was so careful with her work that she potted and re-potted plants without getting a single smudge of dirt on her cheek? And how in the world was she supposed to put the customer first when she could instead watch Brooke interact with them, freeing Vanessa to remember just how much of a way with words the blonde actually had?

The worst part, though, was that in all of Vanessa’s watching, wishing, and wanting, Brooke had done her best to freeze Vanessa out. She kept her responses to Vanessa’s questions short and to the point, and always seemed to disappear at lunch instead of eating with everyone else. At staff meetings, she made sure to sit as far from Vanessa at possible, and whenever Vanessa was scheduled to work stock, Brooke quickly rearranged things so that she herself was working the floor.

But that didn’t mean that Vanessa didn’t notice the looks Brooke flashed her, lingering and full of need and fascination. And Vanessa was far from oblivious from how when they did talk, Brooke’s face seemed to fall a little every time they had to end their conversation. Not to mention that sometimes, Vanessa swore she could hear her name being whispered, only to look up and see Brooke beet red while her friends giggled around her.

Brooke was a professional; she would never let a one-night stand come between her and her job.

Fortunately, Vanessa didn’t hold herself to the same standards, and the glimpses of interest she got from Brooke only made it more tempting to push her limits just a little.

“How does Brooke feel about me?” Vanessa cornered one of Brooke’s friends, Plastique, after their shift one day, arms crossed in front of her chest as if to hide the insecurity she felt snaking into her chest. To her relief, though, Plastique just laughed.

“Girl, she’s like, completely obsessed with you. Like honestly, I’ve never seen her so into someone.” Plastique rolled her eyes. “Honestly I’m like this close to locking you in the stockroom until you make out.”

Vanessa breathed out deeply. If that really was the case, then she should have no problem giving Brooke a little encouragement.

She started out slowly, going out of her way to talk to Brooke and ask her questions with a coy smile. Bit by bit, though, she got a little bolder; one day, she’d wear a tank top that would get her in trouble anywhere else under her apron, savouring the way Brooke seemed to suddenly fall out of focus when looking at her. The next, she’d ask Brooke to help her lift something she didn’t actually need help with, watching with glee as Brooke blushed at a purred compliment about how strong and helpful she was.

It was the most impulsive of these decisions, though, that finally brought things to a head.

Brooke was too detail-oriented not to notice the smudge of soil on Vanessa’s cheek; Vanessa was well aware of that. And she was too kind, too motherly, not to take care of the smudge herself, especially when she saw how equally dirty Vanessa’s hands were.

Vanessa would be lying if she said she wasn’t counting on that.

“You have such soft hands, mommy.” Vanessa whispered under her breath as Brooke’s thumb grazed her cheek. “But we both been knew that, ain’t we?”

“Vanessa, I—“ but Brooke never got a chance to finish before Vanessa’s hand was curled around her wrist.

“I think we might wanna take this somewhere more private.” Vanessa rose up on her toes to whisper in Brooke’s ear, letting out a husky laugh when Brooke responded with a whimper.

“My place, tonight?” Brooke’s voice was weak and breathless with need, and the contrast between this Brooke and the one who had been pinning her down and making her forget her own name was too fun not to play with.

“Sounds good,” Vanessa loosened her grip, letting her fingers linger and trace a burning trail on Brooke’s skin as she pulled away. “See you tonight, mommy.”

She knew everyone in the arboretum had heard it, and the thought of how she’d pay for it later was enough to keep her buzzing with want and excitement until she was finally knocking on Brooke’s door.

[aviculor]

Next week, I’ll go to Home Depot and pick up soil and mulch. I’ll have to see what plants they have in stock...I saw that Shop Rite’s putting out vegetables and herbs and it’s almost May so with any luck I’ll be able to grab a thing or two there. I also want to take a look at their fencing, arbors, stepping stones, and edging rocks just to entertain a train of thought. I try to make as few trips from home as possible, but when the website has almost nothing available for shipping or it’s only available in hundreds of dollars worth of bulk...

I arranged some cinder blocks into makeshift planters that I plan on filling with herbs, that should be pretty interesting. I have a bit of a vision, but it’s going to take time. Time and mulch. Lots and lots of mulch.

I wonder if any of their mulch could be used as snake bedding, that would save me time and effort on the annual Deep Clean of Ebony’s tank. After all, the substrate I use for my tarantulas is just top soil and this is just wood chips. It’s got to be the same difference as long as I check the bag to make sure it’s not full of manure or pesticides.

I could easily do it on a workday provided I get up early enough, but it’s nice to have something to look forward to on my days off. And it would really suck to run out of spoons before work.

[preppernewstoday]

Every Prepper should set goals and create short-term and long-term plans to be ready for any eventuality. The SurvivalBlog editors will be sharing their weekly prep activities and plans for the next week. These include gear purchases and healthcare, as well as gardening, bug out bags fine-tuning and food storage. This is similar to the Retreat Owner Profiles but written in increments and in details throughout the year. We welcome your success stories and wisdom to be shared in e-mails. Many of these - or excerpts thereof - are posted in this column, the Odds ‘n Sods column, and the Snippets section. Let's get busy and be prepared! Jim Reports: I have been concentrating my indoor work because of the snow on the ground and the temperatures in the 20s. I have been focusing on the interior of the workshop now that the wall insulation has been completed. It's a low-budget alternative to plywood that has a random pattern that looks almost like it was created by Salvador Dali. Although it is stronger than particleboard, it is less expensive than plywood. It will work well for me, as most of the area will be covered with Masonite pegboard. It is a utilitarian building and not a contest. My Inner Scotsman has advised me to save a lot of scrap lumber, ranging from 2'' to 6-foot widths, to make the OSB's "nailer" backing boards. My Inner Scotsman has also recommended that I work in the shop without running a heater. It is usually around 30 degrees. Just a thick coat, insulated boots, and a cap are all I need to keep me warm. I have a lot of fun in three to five hour sessions. If the temperature inside the shop drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, I may consider turning on a small space heater. Outdoors, I adjusted a stock tank heater as well as a heat tape. I did some snowplowing. After the next storm, plowing will not begin in earnest. I have confirmed that the Western brand plow works properly. Now, let's move on to Lily Avalanche Lilily Reports: Dear Readers This week's weather was cloudy and snowy at the beginning of this week. Between Sunday night and Monday night, we received four inches of fresh snow. The temperatures plummeted to the single digits, like a rock. Brrr. It's unbelievable how November begins so early. To protect them from the severe cold this week, I brought seven trays of greens from my greenhouse into my house. I brought in Winter lettuce and spinach, Swiss Chard, Beans, and two trays with seeds that are barely sprouting: Water Cresss and Thyme. In the greenhouse, I also covered many trays with clear plastic totes. Then I placed plastic hoops over the plastic. There are three layers of plastic surrounding them. According to Eliot Coleman's book "Four Season Harvest", each layer warms you up by one degree. They may not die, but they will continue to grow throughout the winter. In late February, their growth will resume and give us early greens. After the cold weather had passed, I went outside to inspect everything in the greenhouse. Even under all those layers, the cold-weather hardy greens were all frozen and slightly droopy. They are still viable, just in a dormant form. The few potatoes and peppers that I left were dead, however, are still alive. They will soon be taken out of the greenhouse. In preparation for spring planting, I plan to fill up many planter seedling containers. Although I may be optimistic, and maybe even silly, I did plant three Mango seeds, ginger roots, and turmeric in small pots. I put them on our kitchen windowsill. If they do not grow in our warm Great Room this winter, I will plant them in the greenhouse the following summer. Then they will return to the house the next winter. They will be kept at a manageable size. I also began to water-root a few Avocado seeds. I cleaned the Hen House. I frozen the last tomatoes that had ripened in my house. I also kept seeds from different varieties of tomatoes. I placed seeds I had been drying in envelopes:

butternut squash, spaghetti squash, Hubbard pumpkin, Delicata squash, Butternut squash red and yellow onions, more Hungarian bell pepper, red sweet pepper and Paste/Cherokee. Miss Violet was presented with her medical supplies for career this week. They have been shared with us and we have discussed their use and potential applications. This week I cooked one meal on the wood stove, and another Borsht soup. I also made a white loaf of bread for my family, and baked it in a cast-iron pan in the wood stove's oven. All reports said it was delicious and baked beautifully. Although I don't eat bread anymore, I did taste it to ensure that I was getting an honest review. It was delicious. Cross Country skiing was not possible after the snowstorm. The snow was too thick and wet on my skis. Grrr! It was the middle of the week when a cold front moved in. The snow was so soft and cold that it made Cross Country skiing possible. I did some loops around the ranch. Nice! In the last three weeks Miss Violet and myself have been very disciplined about lifting weights, sitting ups, and stretching. I discovered the benefits of stretch bands and bought two sets. They are very useful and I have already noticed an improvement in my muscle strength. Because the weather has turned colder, my life has slowed down. I'm resuming scripture study and working my way through the book Isaiah in Hebrew. We wish you all a blessed and safe week. - Avalanche Lily, Rawles o o o Please share your successes and wisdom with us by sending e-mails. We will publish them in the "Snippets” column next week. We would love to hear from your.

[peachyposhcloset]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Back to the Roots Water Garden Duo: Hydroponics/ Aquaponics Ecosystem.

[muddyriveragricultural]

We have In-Stock and ready to deliver the Focus 6.35 TD!!

Corn Growers, Canola Growers, Peanut growers, this is for you!

Horsch Strip Till - one pass fertilize and seed.

Heavy tyne shatters hard pan.

Low disturbance points leave clods below.

Put fertilizer up…. down or 50:50 up and down.

8000 litre tanks with 60:40 split.

Large wheels firm the loosened strip to plant into.

Configure with or without precision planters.

Strip Till - one pass fertilize and seed.

Phone one of our territory managers

VIC TAS SA Jason Lummis 0459575566

NSW WA Steve Robertson 0408609444

QLD NT Shane Christian 0429953290