The Pinto Ranch/ error? them's black eyed peas, like em even better

 

Plants left picture are 4 days old. Plants right picture are 18 days. Still have not determined if it's bush or vine plant. Got close to 50 additional plants starting to pop out of the ground

Turkey Berry also known as Pea Eggplant, great raw,in curries, in stews and healthy

Plants last for two years. just drop some berries into the soil and you have plenty more

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After the rainy season comes the Bug Season

right video narrated in German                                  left video narrated in English Filmed  at the Sakon Nakhon market                         Southern Thailand Many people are quite keen on eating bugs, not me. Keep in mind that you're getting the entire bug, so don't be surprised if your breath smells like CRAP.  Saw a couple roaches approach my abode. Best solution is talc (baby powder). Roaches and other crawlers tend to stay away. Of course Dish soap is a handy and safe alternative

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Just a quick reminder

As the temperatures continue to cool.   Now is the time to plant some of those vegetables which would not survive the  rainy and extreme hot season.

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Gardening is healthy both physically and mentally

Covered walkways are a blessing during intense sun and rain Must wait for those green berries, love em with curry That hanging plant wasn't doing too well, now on the ground it's expanding into a green carpet and bugs don't seem to go near These trees are a nuisance, reproduce like a weed.  Now I'm letting them grow to a certain size, dry out the stems and add them to my HO railroad.

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Look what's on the menu

There's couple more trees which will be ready for harvesting in a week or two

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Homegrown tastes best

Been a few days since I've seen a heavy downpour. I had to water the garden.  I'll have a green bean salad for lunch. I prefer them before they grow to footlongs. I enjoy bananas. This is too much at once.  It's going to be shared. Luckily the other banana trees will take a bit longer before they mature. Many of my papaya trees did not fare well as a result of the recent flood.  They have very shallow roots. just a few survived.

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Don't want them bugs in your house ? Perimeter defense !

Misuse of talc powder on your skin can become a health hazard, it can lead to various cancers.  Stand upwind when applying outdoors, avoid inhaling the dust. Most crawling bugs won't cross when talc is powdery. Talc absorbs moisture and becomes solid, every day or so loosen the talc with a broom or brush.  Add as needed. Applied powder immediately after the flood waters receded and ground dried, a lot of bugs where looking for dry places to homestead, but decided to look elsewhere.  My experience with dogs and cats, they seem to recognize to keep their distance.

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Clean the bathroom with toothpaste

I'd read about it, but never considered it.

My bathroom was getting to look pretty dirty.  Black grout, soap scum on tiles and mirrors. Finally tried some toothpaste with my scrubber.  Grout is white, tiles and mirrors are clean.  Toilet looks clean.  The whole bathroom smells fresh.
Didn't even have to scrub very hard

Getting rid of black moss

The best way to get rid of it when it's thoroughly soaked.  The rainy season is ideal.  Then pull out your favorite garden tool, the pressure washer.  After that I just splash some pool water (contains chlorine), to keep it from regrowing. You want to keep chlorinated water away from your plants. Chlorine dissipates fairly quickly.

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Welcome to my garden and Sakon Nakhon - Live

Collect beans a couple times a week.  Unfortunately they seldom wind up in the pot, since I love em raw or with a bit of apple cider vinegar and a dab of honey.  Thinking of expanding the bean fence. If the world gives you limes ... ... pick em up and make juice I should have plenty mangos late in the year, over 20 trees started a month ago A few pineapples bananas and other eatables, some not pictured Thailand gained internet access in 1995 wikipedia Facebook website was launched on February 4, 2004 wikipedia Sakon Nakhon - Live website  began in December, 2005 Christmas Dinner Party at Colin's restaurant  On 19 January 2009 I quit the pay website and began blogging

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Not the kind of pet I want to keep

Heavy rains yesterday afternoon  Drainage worked great One of my trees fell over during the heavy winds and rains Replanted it, seems to have survived Tree fell on a  pineapple, so that is propped up  When I stepped out of the house in the late evening, I almost stepped on a scorpion.  That was the second one this week, in fact the second one in 13 years around my house.  Whacked it with a shovel.  Scorpions are nocturnal creatures.  They hide in dark places during the day and forage for bugs at night.  Not the kind of pet I want to keep

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"ilike" to see where I'm walking at night

Been wanting Solar lamps for my garden.  Had some before and they lasted a couple years. They were more expensive then.   Testing out this inexpensive solar unit. Seems quite bright.  Lasts all night. After a trial period I may decide to disconnect and replace night perimeter lights. One consideration:  Theft proof installation !! Had some ripped off years ago

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Just add cowpies and watch things grow

Planted the bean seeds about 10 days ago, can get a handful almost daily now.  I prefer to pick em before they get too long and leathery Big lime harvest.  The leaves are popular for cooking Later this year I should have an unending supply of Papaya.  Had a dozen trees, just planted 15 more today I'm done with the gardening, time for brunch

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Dead at 14 and off to the trash heap

The water pump lasted 14 years and has daily use watering the garden and adding water to the pool on an as needed basis. During extreme hot days it also pumped water onto the roof to cool down the roof and supply me with hot water.

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Prepare now hot season ahead

Sakon Nakhon 'Valley' is in the eye of a meeting of cooler temperatures from the north and warm temperatures from the south. Eventually, probably Friday, warmer weather will prevail. Time to prepare the pool area for the inevitable hot season ahead. I'll be spending some time with my new toy washing the walkways and exterior house walls. Most of the north walkway is tiled (non-slip). Got tired of moss growing on the exposed cement. It also serves as the pool shower area The east walkway is protected from the sun.  Some more shade plants are still needed. Much of the wind arrives from the east, the shade screen also limits the dust On the other side of the screen there's an indication it's time to make lime juice.  I always add a bit of vodka as a preservative

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