Judith Browning

so disappointing but you are right that's not 'chicken of the woods' with those gills...maybe jack o lantern?
this video show four kind of similar ones to chicken of the woods.

I would love to find one...have not had a taste in years...


...I love the mysterious small door at the base of the tree in your photos

I don't have an answer...we have two recent stray kittens that overlapped with our fifteen year old cat briefly and being seventy also I see what you are thinking.  These kittens gave us no choice though

Our Vietnam vet neighbor has three dogs, two cats, some of them very recent rescues in addition to his old timers and his health is failing.  He is starting to ask around for someone to look out for them if something happens to him...quite a large group to need homes suddenly.

Luckily Paul had the dullest American Scythe in recent history.

 I tried the peening jig until I figured out it wasn't helping and that the edge was so blunt (or incorrectly sharpened in the past) that the stone wouldn't even touch the edge.

It's good that you gave up peening this blade if it is truly an American scythe blade?  
Only European ones are peenable and peening will damage an American blade.

Jack Edmondson wrote:

Judith Browning wrote:
We don't want to add to the toxicity of what I call the 'lead zone' right around the house where paint has been falling for decades.

Shellac is all natural and non toxic.  It is safe enough it is recommended for wooden children's toys, and cutting boards.  It will leave a natural or 'organic' looking finish as it ages.  

Thanks Jack!
I love shellac although I think it's not an exterior finish?

Has anyone used this https://www.realmilkpaint.com/shop/oils/outdoor-defense/ on outdoor pine board and batten?
I like the company and what they have for sale...it will be a big investment though.

This exterior oil is made with 100% Pure Tung Oil, Pine Oil, and Zinc. Use it as a raised garden bed, deck, fencing, or pergola wood finish. Also works well on concrete, stone or any absorbent material for exterior finishing. Keep the natural look of your wood while protecting it from the elements with this oil treatment.  

Outdoor Defense Oil is a great Non-Toxic and high-quality way to finish – or refinish – your outdoor projects. It’s made with 100% Pure Tung Oil, Pine Oil, and Zinc. We all know about Zinc in sunburn skincare products. The zinc helps to prevent mold and mildew while also offering UV protection. Use as an outdoor wood finish to protect the beautiful wood grain or on concrete, stone, and any absorbent material. This also works great as a cedar garden bed oil and it provides decking protection.  Generally, 2 to 4 coats give moderate protection. More coats only if the wood will accept it. The Outdoor Defense Oil does not build up on the surface but absorbs deep into the wood pores. This leaves a natural texture to the wood surface. Will provide a matte finish. Do not apply directly under the hot sun, as the oil will polymerize very fast and leave a frosty, rubbery surface. It does not need to be thinned with a solvent . Ready to be used right from the bottle! Hang rags outside separately to dry before disposing of.

We've been reading and have asked the company a couple questions....if it spreads as far as they say it will be possible for us to afford.

We could do nothing and just continue to spray the siding with the borax solution but really want to retain color and protect the wood for as long as possible.

channel morphing you mean?

will we find a hat on the cat?

...are you all 'channeling' Dr. Seuss?

We are just starting to dig this years sweet potatoes...they have just a little frost damage and more expected this week although it was a balmy 70 here this morning at dawn.

We've kept this cut leaf variety going for a long time now and only last year noticed that in this new garden we are getting some scurf...still fine potatoes to keep and eat but I don't share anymore.

These in the pictures are some of the later slips that I always stick in where ever there's a little room, usually in the beds out front among the bermuda grass and blueberries, roses, iris, figs and peaches, etc.  Last year one of them produced twenty pounds of potatoes, one plant! This year the best one had eight pounds...still better than the garden ones.  I think next year I'll use the garden space for something else and plant more out front....the vines spread out over the bermuda and creeping charlie nicely.

Mk Neal wrote:Thanks for posting this!  I love tempeh and making my own is on my to-do list.

Mk, you are welcome!
If you've only had store bought you are in for a real treat...homemade is even better.

There are a lot of ways a batch can go wrong.....too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, not mixed well, not enough hulls removed and beans split, bad starter,....and all easy to avoid with a thermometer, a practice run with the 'incubator', towel drying, covering to prevent moisture loss, stir, stir, stir in the starter, crack the beans in a grinder.....and buy starter from a reliable source.

Looking forward to hearing about your experience....