tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25580651322947484112024-10-06T21:31:32.740-07:00Various thoughts of mine over many topics that interest me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-4398839615218491912015-11-28T10:36:00.001-08:002015-11-28T10:37:42.881-08:00

Nearly a month ago, I started a little composting project: composting coffee grounds.  I know, nothing major or earth shattering.  I don't get a whole lot of time to tinker anymore with things that interest me.  However, this I could easily do without too much invested time.  Weeks before, I would get any coffee grounds I could from my favorite local Starbucks up the street

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-46754728818529590732015-10-24T09:25:00.001-07:002015-10-24T09:25:10.603-07:00

I'm still alive and kicking! I'm a little bit more busy these days with my career and all the traffic I have to sit through. But I got stuff to say and will get to posting them shortly. Until then....

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-31332057308274852712013-07-06T23:58:00.001-07:002013-07-06T23:58:56.914-07:00

I really like this guy's idea on a rain catchment system and how it finds it own level.  I am thinking of implementing something like this for my own needs.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-41321184131301984312013-07-03T06:27:00.000-07:002013-07-05T06:37:14.967-07:00

My new WEEDEATER lawn mower. The other day, I picked up a used lawn mower for only $20 dollars from a man out in Spanaway. It has a very nice bag that came with it and plenty of power to cut through grass. I admit, it's a Weedeater re-brand of a Poulson, however, it does what I need it to do.  It was a complete fluke that I found this on Craigslist when I did because I had just

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-75572555510291986732013-06-24T15:00:00.002-07:002013-06-24T18:40:48.278-07:00

Compost Pile & Garden Box of Potatoes. (June 12 2013) Since I have been finding it down right impossible to find work since last September, I decided that I would re-start my own business. I already have a business license from my short-lived business in 2004 so all I need to do is change the business name and type with the State.  I am offering services for rental & foreclosure

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-50015763958474605052012-12-31T19:29:00.001-08:002013-01-02T00:24:13.516-08:00

Well, it is the end of another year with 2012 coming to an end.  I cannot say that 2012 flew by, but it kind of did too.  This year has felt like it was a hundred years long to me, but I could not say what all happened either. What did happen is that I bought a new truck for myself, which is freaking awesome! She's not new as in model year, but new to me. I am very appreciative that I

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-35780322639906054802012-11-20T01:12:00.001-08:002012-11-20T01:12:15.948-08:00

Another one of our cats suddenly fell ill and died yesterday.  Getting really tired of that.  He was not terribly old,  but never really well either.  Too many strays in the neighborhood that are sick too.  And they always feel the need to die in the yard or underneath the house. Luck for me, the last one did not. Oh, ya ... lets not mention my dog.  Grr!!!!!!

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-22814636489264413792012-10-28T20:15:00.001-07:002012-10-28T20:15:34.203-07:00

I was afraid this would happen when I returned to full-time work.  I went from having plenty of time to do all of my hobbies to no time except for eating and a small bit of sleeping.  So now that Summer is officially over and Fall has set its cool, wet teeth in asses I thought I should get back to doing my blog. Actually, I am off of work again thanks a lull between my old

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-3475353489901092472012-07-17T13:32:00.003-07:002012-07-17T13:32:57.235-07:00

It works! The master bedroom now has lights and outlets. Well, minus two outlets but I will put those in shortly.  I am by far no where near done yet since I still have to reconnect power to most of the living room still. (Another long, sorted story.)  Just wanted to post an update. :)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-57408803091637287882012-07-13T23:05:00.003-07:002012-07-13T23:05:41.756-07:00

My how times flies…. I have been so damn busy with various projects that I have not had much of a free moment or two to put anything down, besides now obviously.  My main project right now is the electrical system in my house. The warm weather has allowed me to work on the electrical system and finish it up before my permit runs out. The electrical system in the house is a nightmare

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-85714795961283341912012-06-20T18:43:00.001-07:002012-06-20T18:44:55.299-07:00

My mom holding up one of the beauties. Just a small sampling  of strawberries from my garden. They are sweet and very juicy, which means I need to use them damn soon.  Damn good haul I am going to have this year.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-67260173528250601082012-06-20T12:39:00.003-07:002012-06-20T18:39:04.537-07:00

Connor's long, sexy & furry back. (Just look @ that sexy spine! lol) Yes, dog porn. Connor typically hates cameras and usually attempts to photo-bomb his own photos, so getting him to actually do this with a camera on him is a miracle in itself, but not unheard of. Every now& then, on a blue moon, in a very distant solar system far unknown to us, he will ... do doggy softcore

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-71292092034836489952012-06-12T12:20:00.001-07:002012-06-12T12:20:09.894-07:00

This is quite the dilemma for me. I need to come up with either special program -- which I still have the skills for, or build a spreadsheet for some calculations. If I were to build an application for myself, I would need to sit down and plan it out thoroughly. On the other hand, spreadsheets require much less to nearly zero planning. They are all finished much sooner, quicker than an

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-75458530409978601002012-06-09T18:22:00.002-07:002012-06-09T18:22:33.307-07:00

Okay, so my Aunt’s pile is freshly turned & aerated.  It looks to have about another 1 to 1 ½ weeks till it is technically finished, barring any more heavy rains since I cannot really cover it.  That will be just in time for a garden project that my Aunt and a Friend of hers will be doing together.  Not to mention the one project I was have talking about earlier this year

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-37730199443010982262012-06-09T15:14:00.001-07:002012-06-09T18:24:01.545-07:00

My Aunt and Mother have both told me with much excitement that her pile is steaming big time. With all of the passing showers we have had in the last few  days, hopefully it is not too saturated with water since I do not have a cover to put over it. To be  continued.... *EDIT* Continued at Another Turning Day, Continue

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-26027944678316659672012-06-04T18:50:00.002-07:002012-06-05T23:46:30.829-07:00

Turning the piles on the outside into the center. Grass & straw on the left, horse manure & alfalfa hay on the right. I have just returned from my Aunt's property where I turned her two compost piles into one massive one, again.  No, you read that correctly and now you are thinking, "Did you not just make her a new pile the other day?"  Yes, I did.  But now I

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Tacoma, WA, USA47.2528768 -122.444290647.1666548 -122.6022191 47.3390988 -122.2863621tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-7974940703721636222012-06-03T19:28:00.002-07:002012-06-03T19:33:39.419-07:00

They're all up! All seven slips that I received three weeks ago and are growing pretty rapidly.  I am so stoked!  Enjoy some pics.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-16386443529182577542012-06-03T17:51:00.000-07:002012-06-09T15:05:48.617-07:00

The other day I had posted about finding some in-wild Russian Comfrey in a development plot nearby.  I just harvested some earlier tonight on a walk with my dog.  I got a good five pounds worth which oddly enough, I harvested less than a fifth of the plant.  There are two so I will be back to grab some more tomorrow or so.  I am going to make a comfrey compost tea for my mom

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-33764194106983106002012-06-03T13:12:00.000-07:002012-06-03T19:55:24.336-07:00

You heard me.  That huge compost pile I was talking about the other day... well I just turned it.  Damn, it was tiresome. Took me a good hour to turn it all with my forks, although very worth it.  I pulled off the plastic covering on it to see steam race towards the overcast sky.  You did not have to dig to feel the heat of the pile. It is an easily 150-degrees.  So I

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-19005438582985333572012-06-02T19:20:00.000-07:002012-06-03T19:20:21.291-07:00

I spent the day with my Aunt mucking horse manure from one of her neighbor's barns.  Boy, was there some manure to harvest.  We are using it to start another pile next to her already large pile that we started a week or so ago. Sadly, I am fresh out of straw for the time being so I will be using shredded  cardboard and paper for my carbon. With that said, that is going to be a

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-44466458069052420282012-05-30T22:15:00.001-07:002012-05-30T22:15:20.719-07:00

While walking my dog today, I discovered two Russian comfrey plants growing in a grassy area.  It is in an area that was being developed until the Housing Bubble stopped it.  It looks to be Bocking #14, but I'm not completely sure. The area use to be one huge farmstead until it was sold off sometime during the early 2000's.   Probably because Tacoma said you cannot have any

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-19761433235200932412012-05-30T00:58:00.002-07:002012-05-30T01:12:24.792-07:00

It's called hugelkultur.  And I want to try this out badly!  Watch the video. Here is another video, but part of a series. PS -- if it sucks up so much nitrogen in the first year, just plant a nitrogen fixing plant.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-51093320793828328592012-05-29T21:13:00.001-07:002012-05-29T21:13:50.696-07:00

I am thinking about implementing a lasagna garden between now and July.  Not sure where I might put it, but I am thinking of putting it on the southern boarder of my property.  I have some seeds that I need to plant sooner than later.  Hmm... not sure which way I'll go just yet.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-14924862953577086412012-05-27T22:15:00.000-07:002012-05-29T21:14:00.714-07:00

My mom watering the piles. As I have stated before, my Aunt has a large piece of property that includes a creek pretty much cutting it in half.  Yesterday, we started two compost piles in her pasture area on the other side of the creek.  At the time, I did not have a solid idea on how to add water to the compost piles.  My mom who was helping me was grabbing a few buckets

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2558065132294748411.post-64202046047938835042012-05-26T22:22:00.000-07:002012-05-27T22:39:18.172-07:00

I spent today across from my Aunt's place raking up grass clippings from her neighbor.  The resident of the property said that we could have it since we intend to use it to start a pile or two for my Aunt.  In fact, he was a bit surprised that we wanted it.  He has about two solid acres of nothing but tall, tall grass that he usually just cuts down and leaves it as mulch.  So

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0