Where do Senior Citizens go to find a date? That question came up this week and I've been wracking my brain to think of an answer.
When I take into consideration that a generation or more of time has passed since I last dated, the whole world has changed in the meantime!
Going to church is one of the suggestions. Well, even when I was going to church on a regular basis, I was not into the social cliques there, so going back will not improve my outlook in any manner.
I've never been a party person, so the nightclub scene is out.
I like an occassional drink of wine, but don't appreciate the atmosphere of a bar. So, singles bars are probably a last resort. Plus, I don't tolerate cigarette smoke.
There are many cultural events I'd like to attend. I'm sure there would be neat folk to meet at such events. I have a problem. I don't like to go alone. Catch-22. How can I meet people to go out with if I don't have a date to get me there?
I love to camp and do so all alone. I've been told that camping is a good place to find others. Well, I'm alone and they are in family or couple groups. Where do the singles go camping?
Emotional support basis are not easy to build. I'd like to broaden mine.
Any suggestions?
Friday, June 26, 2009
Who Cares?
Who cares for me?
I spend my life caring for others.
Now, in the later years of my life, there is no one to care for me.
How do I change this?
Be more social, I'm told. Well, I'm not social! I love my solitude!
But....I'm lonely.
My social circle is very limited.
Is that what is happening to you, too?
Where do you turn to find more friends and broaden your social connections?
Church, clubs, interest groups, dating services?
Well, some of that might work.
Why not? Give it a try. Step out of my box and adjust my sights on something further from home base.
Scary? You bet!
I've lived all these years in my little isolated world and now you expect me to venture out into the great black unknown?!!
Yes, I need more people in my emotional support group. I provide that benefit for others, now it is my turn.
Come join me!
I spend my life caring for others.
Now, in the later years of my life, there is no one to care for me.
How do I change this?
Be more social, I'm told. Well, I'm not social! I love my solitude!
But....I'm lonely.
My social circle is very limited.
Is that what is happening to you, too?
Where do you turn to find more friends and broaden your social connections?
Church, clubs, interest groups, dating services?
Well, some of that might work.
Why not? Give it a try. Step out of my box and adjust my sights on something further from home base.
Scary? You bet!
I've lived all these years in my little isolated world and now you expect me to venture out into the great black unknown?!!
Yes, I need more people in my emotional support group. I provide that benefit for others, now it is my turn.
Come join me!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Eat from your garden the year around
Eating out of the garden all year is my constant goal. Some years I manage at least 10 months. Some years the frost gets me and I only manage 9 months.
I live in the upper part of South Carolina. Technically in Zone 7b, but we do get some unusual weather here that is more like Zone 6 at times.
I plant 3 gardens every year.
My first garden goes into the ground from the middle of February to the end of March.
This is when I plant potatoes, peas, onions, greens, carrots, & beets.
My second garden is for the warmer season vegetables. I plant these from mid-April through May.
Beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, herbs, okra, peppers, squash, & tomatoes.
Then, when it seems that nothing will grow in the heat, I plant my 3rd garden in August. I have to pay attention to keeping things watered, but it is well worth the time and effort.
I put in second plantings of such things as beets, cabbage, carrots, greens of all kinds, onions, peas, and of course, radishes.
I love the results! My frig stays stocked. Nothing beats the flavor of fresh vegetables, right out of the garden.
I've posted a more complete planting list on our website. www.justplantssc.com
Enjoy.
I live in the upper part of South Carolina. Technically in Zone 7b, but we do get some unusual weather here that is more like Zone 6 at times.
I plant 3 gardens every year.
My first garden goes into the ground from the middle of February to the end of March.
This is when I plant potatoes, peas, onions, greens, carrots, & beets.
My second garden is for the warmer season vegetables. I plant these from mid-April through May.
Beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, herbs, okra, peppers, squash, & tomatoes.
Then, when it seems that nothing will grow in the heat, I plant my 3rd garden in August. I have to pay attention to keeping things watered, but it is well worth the time and effort.
I put in second plantings of such things as beets, cabbage, carrots, greens of all kinds, onions, peas, and of course, radishes.
I love the results! My frig stays stocked. Nothing beats the flavor of fresh vegetables, right out of the garden.
I've posted a more complete planting list on our website. www.justplantssc.com
Enjoy.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
When To Plant Evergreen Trees or Shurbs
Fall is the best time to plant Leyland Cypress and other evergreen trees and shrubs
Protect your new plants from heat and drought
Plant trees and shrubs in the fall to take advantage of good root-growing weather. Newly planted trees like cool weather. As long as the ground is not actually frozen, trees and shrubs are setting on new roots.
Here in South Carolina, (Zone 7) we experience a lot of open weather in the fall and winter. The ground seldom freezes for more than a few days and then, only down a few inches. This is ideal for new plantings to settle in and put out good root systems.
Leyland Cypress especially enjoy the benefits of fall or winter planting. The long months of cool weather gives them time to become established before hot weather hits. Add a good layer of mulch around your plants and give them even better survival chances next summer.
Protect your new plants from heat and drought
Plant trees and shrubs in the fall to take advantage of good root-growing weather. Newly planted trees like cool weather. As long as the ground is not actually frozen, trees and shrubs are setting on new roots.
Here in South Carolina, (Zone 7) we experience a lot of open weather in the fall and winter. The ground seldom freezes for more than a few days and then, only down a few inches. This is ideal for new plantings to settle in and put out good root systems.
Leyland Cypress especially enjoy the benefits of fall or winter planting. The long months of cool weather gives them time to become established before hot weather hits. Add a good layer of mulch around your plants and give them even better survival chances next summer.
Affordable landscapes
Do you need to landscape your yard, but are on a tight budget? Here is a way to do it for less. Buy smaller plants. No, I don’t mean that you should look for types of plants that grow small. I mean, look for plants in smaller containers.
Who says your landscape has to look fully grown when you plant it? Remember, that little starter plant is going to grow, too, and will fill your yard with beauty. Yes, it may take an extra year, but your pocket book will love you.
Explore plant stores and nurseries and find starter plants in small containers. Ask about ‘liners.’ A liner is a young plant that has been grown in a small container and is ready to ‘line’ out in rows. Large nurseries start thousands of plants in cell-flats and when these starts are well-rooted, line them out into the ground to grow larger before selling the bigger plants to you.
Naturally, the larger plant is going to cost the nursery more money and they pass that cost on to you. Short-cut the extra expense and buy liners for your landscape. They frequently survive better than larger plants and give you the same landscape satisfaction as larger plants if you are willing to wait that extra year. They make exactly the same growth in your yard as they would in the nursery field and you don’t have to pay the difference.
Who says your landscape has to look fully grown when you plant it? Remember, that little starter plant is going to grow, too, and will fill your yard with beauty. Yes, it may take an extra year, but your pocket book will love you.
Explore plant stores and nurseries and find starter plants in small containers. Ask about ‘liners.’ A liner is a young plant that has been grown in a small container and is ready to ‘line’ out in rows. Large nurseries start thousands of plants in cell-flats and when these starts are well-rooted, line them out into the ground to grow larger before selling the bigger plants to you.
Naturally, the larger plant is going to cost the nursery more money and they pass that cost on to you. Short-cut the extra expense and buy liners for your landscape. They frequently survive better than larger plants and give you the same landscape satisfaction as larger plants if you are willing to wait that extra year. They make exactly the same growth in your yard as they would in the nursery field and you don’t have to pay the difference.
More Compost Pointers
More compost pointers
Remember, you do have junk mail! Newspapers. Cardboard.
Use it!
Works wonders for long-term soil recovery. Keeps down weeds. Holds moisture.
Gets rid of land-fill.....and so many other good things.
Grass clippings do marvels. If you have any lawn to mow, get a grass-catcher for your mower.
All the leaves you rake in the fall are pure gold.
You may not have a large amount of any of the above, but pick a spot and start building one small area at a time.
Years ago, my hubby used to go out early in the morning, ahead of the trash pick-up truck, and gather up bags of grass clippings and leaves. We turned a garden that looked like cement into deep, fertile soil in 2 seasons.
Roam around the country side and spot old bales of hay rotting in the field. Ask. You might get a bargain. It does help to have a pickup or a utility trailer.
Check out the land-fill. Do they have a recycle center for yard waste. Some municipalities have free or inexpensive mulch.
Hair from the hair salon will compost nicely in your garden.
You name it, if it will eventually break down, use it in your composting projects.
Remember, you do have junk mail! Newspapers. Cardboard.
Use it!
Works wonders for long-term soil recovery. Keeps down weeds. Holds moisture.
Gets rid of land-fill.....and so many other good things.
Grass clippings do marvels. If you have any lawn to mow, get a grass-catcher for your mower.
All the leaves you rake in the fall are pure gold.
You may not have a large amount of any of the above, but pick a spot and start building one small area at a time.
Years ago, my hubby used to go out early in the morning, ahead of the trash pick-up truck, and gather up bags of grass clippings and leaves. We turned a garden that looked like cement into deep, fertile soil in 2 seasons.
Roam around the country side and spot old bales of hay rotting in the field. Ask. You might get a bargain. It does help to have a pickup or a utility trailer.
Check out the land-fill. Do they have a recycle center for yard waste. Some municipalities have free or inexpensive mulch.
Hair from the hair salon will compost nicely in your garden.
You name it, if it will eventually break down, use it in your composting projects.
Never Build Another Compost Heap Again!
Quick Compost
Never build another compost heap again!
There are many ways to build up the fertility of your soil. Some of them are very time-consuming. Short-cutting the compost pile and going directly to the soil builds fertility just as well and takes much less time and energy.
Here are several short-cut methods that have worked well for me.
1) If you live out in the country, raise chickens and throw your kitchen garbage into their pen every day. They will love your veggie scraps and give you beautiful eggs in return. Clean the chicken pen now and then and apply the results to your garden or flower beds.
2) Spread leaves and grass clippings directly on the garden. Time will compost them for you and you never have to touch them again. An added benefit is weed-control. Fresh grass clippings are Nature’s manure. Spread them only about 6 inches deep or they will get too hot as they compost and you will loose much of the value of their nutrients.
3) Dig a short trench in your garden (several feet long). Only the width of your shovel and no deeper than the shovel blade. Lay the dirt you dig right beside the trench. Every day, bring out your kitchen garbage and dump it into the beginning of the trench. Dig the next shovel full of dirt from the far end of the trench and use it to cover the kitchen scraps you just emptied into the trench. The garbage rots right where you need it.
4) After every meal prep, put all your veggie peelings into the blender or food processor. Use enough water to allow the blender or processor to chew up all those scraps. Pour the resulting slurry directly on the area you want to enrich. You may need to throw a bit of grass clippings, leaves or other mulch over the veggie water to discourage flies.
Reminder: Please do not use any meat scraps or left-over meat in your compost. It attracts too many critters you don’t want in your garden.
Your ground loves you! You have eliminated smelling land-fill garbage. You have better soil. And best of all, No Back Ache!
Never build another compost heap again!
There are many ways to build up the fertility of your soil. Some of them are very time-consuming. Short-cutting the compost pile and going directly to the soil builds fertility just as well and takes much less time and energy.
Here are several short-cut methods that have worked well for me.
1) If you live out in the country, raise chickens and throw your kitchen garbage into their pen every day. They will love your veggie scraps and give you beautiful eggs in return. Clean the chicken pen now and then and apply the results to your garden or flower beds.
2) Spread leaves and grass clippings directly on the garden. Time will compost them for you and you never have to touch them again. An added benefit is weed-control. Fresh grass clippings are Nature’s manure. Spread them only about 6 inches deep or they will get too hot as they compost and you will loose much of the value of their nutrients.
3) Dig a short trench in your garden (several feet long). Only the width of your shovel and no deeper than the shovel blade. Lay the dirt you dig right beside the trench. Every day, bring out your kitchen garbage and dump it into the beginning of the trench. Dig the next shovel full of dirt from the far end of the trench and use it to cover the kitchen scraps you just emptied into the trench. The garbage rots right where you need it.
4) After every meal prep, put all your veggie peelings into the blender or food processor. Use enough water to allow the blender or processor to chew up all those scraps. Pour the resulting slurry directly on the area you want to enrich. You may need to throw a bit of grass clippings, leaves or other mulch over the veggie water to discourage flies.
Reminder: Please do not use any meat scraps or left-over meat in your compost. It attracts too many critters you don’t want in your garden.
Your ground loves you! You have eliminated smelling land-fill garbage. You have better soil. And best of all, No Back Ache!
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