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New Year's Resolutions

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by the maverick phantom wanderer (formerly macoza, nodice, kp, etc.) 1 view

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Every year, I make and (attempt to) keep three (hobby-related) New Year's resolutions. This year is no different.

Though I doubt anyone will care, here they are:
1. Round out my science fiction story collection to ten thousand stories (not books, stories).
2. Finish the 20+ short stories I've written in 2007.
3. Complete the creation of Tseon Cross, a rpg approximately a million seconds (and counting) in the making.

Feel free (if you haven't felt free already) to share your opinion on these resolutions or post a few of your own.

49 replies

by boxfiddler

1. Get a water garden designed and built in order to attract and keep dragonflies in my backyard wildlife habitat.
2. Find something useful and quick-growing to replace the grass in the front yard (an added bonus would be for it to really p**s off the yard nazi down the street).
3. Add some new cannas to my collection (variations on red to keep the hummers happy).

You can never have too much Sci-Fi! While a book, "Rack the Healer" is worth having if you can find it. It's a short book.

by av .

We have quite a few. They scare me because they seem to always follow me around when I garden. I'm just happy that they don't land on me. All I have is a couple of bird baths and lots of dragonflies. Go figure.

I thought the yard nazi lived on my street. There must be more of them. I p**sed my local yard nazi off this year by not raking any of my leaves. If I had $1 for every leaf, I'd be a millionaire. :^0

AV

by boxfiddler

of mosquitos! erm... More properly, their larvae are huge consumers of mosquito larvae, though the adults eat them, too.

And they are so gorgeous. Don't be afraid of them, they are your very good friends!

I don't understand why all the yard nazis don't just get together to live in a 'yard nazi neighborhood' somewhere. They'd be so much happier living in an area where each and every yard was a neatly trimmed, chemically enhanced, wildlife free, anal-retentive haven. They could have Sunday morning 'mow-offs' at dawn and Saturday evening 'weed counts' before the mow. :D

I never rake my leaves until Spring. Nature's mulch!

edit to add a comment

by charliespencer

AV, the solution to the leaves is to run over them with the lawn mower. Don't bag or rake the chopped leaves. Leave (hah!) them in place as mulch; they'll decompose by spring and add needed organic material to the soil.

boxfiddler, how big an area of grass do you want to replace? If it's in shade, you could go with moss; Google "moss gardening". If it's in sun, there are lots of options but the better ones will take a while to spread. Think about monkey grass, ivy, or even low junipers. Of course, there's always Astroturf. I'm not big on grass either, and have let my entire back yard return to pine straw. It took three years to get it covered, but it's an area I'll never have to mow, water, feed, rake, etc. Grass is only good for holding the soil until you can replace it with something worthwhile.

by the scummy one

really. Out here I dont think anyone pays much attention to other peoples yard(s).

I even recently went 2 weeks without raking the front (damned tree)... Nobody said anything.

Out back I made a mistake though. I didnt erad a label (not used to lawns). I got (what I thought) was weed killer for grass ass Weed Killer and Grass were bold, and I was in a hurry that day. What was it, weed and grass killer. Yes, I sprayed the back lawn really really good because the weeds took up more space than the 'new' lawn that the landlord planted (threw some seeds out and scattered a bag of dirt on untilled, un-weeded ground).
Can you guess? It is very yellow out there right now, but the mint that someone planted is doing fine, along with some of the other weeds. The lawn is gone though (bad rooting anyway).
Come spring I may just need to re-plant it (more properly).
But first, total vegatation killer needs to go down (in a few weeks). the mint and these weeds seem to be avoiding death too well.

by tig2

Finally get my living room cleared so that I can move furniture in.

Finally get my office organized so that I can do more than one thing in it.

Start my fund raising work on January 2 instead of leaving things to the last minute.

Lose 20 pounds. Oh wait, that's a left over from last year!

Happy New Year!

by johnjackson1132

Traverse life, without being an arrogant, cocky, egotistical, conceited vindictive life sucking narccist.

Do well in the US Navy.

Budget Better

by tig2

And budgeting better will be a RESULT of doing well in the Navy!

P.S. Ex-wife of a career sailor... :D

by av .

What is Tseon Cross anyway?

I don't know why I bother making some resolutions. Most of them don't last too long, especially the ones involving regular exercise.

This year I want to:

Spend more time doing fun things.

Take a creative writing class.

Try a new strategy in vegetable gardening. I grew some good herbs in 2007, but thats about it.

Start oil painting again. I haven't painted in several years, but when I did it was a very relaxing hobby.

A very happy, healthy New Year to you and to all on TR.

AV :^0

by av .

I do alot of container vegetable gardening so I can move plants around when they need more/less light or if I think they are too vulnerable to being eaten by the deer and gophers.

That worked for the most part, but the biggest mistake I made in 2007 was using the Miracle Gro soil with Miracle Gro already in it. It says that you shouldn't have to fertilize for 3 months, and I didn't, but that soil is no substitute for regular fertilizing during the growing season. Nothing I planted in it did all that great, except for my basil plant. That was a bush. I'm not going to use it for anything but my basil in 2008.

My new strategy is to mix a bunch of my own amended potting soil instead. I'm going to go with fish emulsion (I know it stinks for awhile) instead of Miracle Gro as a fertilizer on most things.

I tried growing string beans that were actually doing modestly well until I tried to get them to grow up a flat trellis. They hated it and died. This year, I'm going to get tripod shaped trellises for them and see if that works.

I am going to use a raised bed complete with a screened in bottom (to deter gophers) and my homemade potting soil mix. Around that, I'll have a wire fence that is tall enough to keep out the deer.

I have a love-hate relationship with the deer. They're so cute until they eat my plants.

I have found a couple of things that work in confusing them. I use artificial flowers and plants around the real ones. I also "hide" plants within other ones that I know they don't eat. It throws them off a little. I actually had real mums this year (nestled between fake ones) that did not get eaten. The year before when I didn't do that, my mums lasted 2 days.

Deer, especially the fawns, do not like scarecrows. I found that out last year when I put up a fall display in my front yard. They were afraid to go near it. I'll try that approach again in 2008.

I got inspired about raised beds after watching this show on HGTV called Gardening by the Yard. It looked doable. If you're into gardening, check out that show. It offers alot of practical advice and ideas. There's a website, too. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_gby/

I guess I'm going on and on, so anyway, thats my strategy for '08.

AV

edited for typos

by sleepin'dawg

New Year's Resolutions -- Over Time

2004: I will get my weight down below 170.
2005: I will watch my calories until my weight is below 200.
2006: I will follow my new diet until I get below 220.
2007: I will work out once a week.
2008: I will drive past a gym at least once a week.

2004: I will read at least 20 good books a year.
2005: I will read at least 10 books a year.
2006: I will read 5 books a year.
2007: I will read some articles in the newspaper this year.
2008: I will subscribe to a good humor e-mail list this year.

2004: I will pay off my bank loan promptly.
2005: I will pay off my bank loans promptly.
2006: I will be totally out of debt by next year.
2007: I will try to pay off the debt interest by next year.
2008: I will try to be out of the country by next year.

2004: I will sponsor a disadvantaged foreign child this year.
2005: I will sponsor a disadvantaged domestic child this year.
2006: I will sponsor one kid for lunch at McDonald's this year.
2007: I will sponsor one of my kids for lunch at McDonald's this year.
2008: I will endeavor to remember my children's names this year.

2004: I will cut my smoking down to no more than one pack a day.
2005: I will cut my smoking down to two packs a day -- OK, three.
2006: I will try to stop smoking pot this year.
2007: I will try to stop smoking crack this year.
2008: Now that I've quit smoking, I'll try to stop shooting heroin and meth
this year.

Make 2008 a Good One if not a Great One and may we all get our just deserts.[i](Maybe that's not a blessing so much as it's a curse)[/i]

[b]Dawg[/b] ]:)

by the maverick phantom wanderer (formerly macoza, nodice, kp, etc.)

are not to be divulged to the uninitiated (or to certain talkative members of my family).

Tseon Cross is only my (not completely serious) view on sci-fi and fantasy stories of the past. The protagonist of the game is Halor, who was cursed to walk the realm of the living until he finds the Tseon Cross. In his search, which span several millenia, he plays key roles in events on several worlds.

Unfortunately, that's all I can really say about Tseon cross for now.

P.S. My yard won't even grow weeds.
Zero Agent Leon

by av .

And they're beautiful. I wouldn't care, except they seem to be attracted to me. I like to look at them, but thats it. If they land on me, it freaks me out.

I wish all the yard nazis everywhere (you know who you are) would find their own neighborhood, too. I'm sick of listening to their lawn tools for hours on end and, honestly, after they're done, their lawn doesn't look any better than mine, that I did nothing to.

My leaves are glued to the lawn because it snowed on them. Boo-hoo.

AV

by charliespencer

Paul James is a hoot. The only problem is that it's broadcast at a late morning hour on the weekends when I'm ... gardening.

When you put the soil in your raised bed, put a soaker hose on the surface before you put down your mulch. You'll use less water overall, won't lose as much to evaporation when you do water, and will reduce diseases by not getting the plant leaves wet. Plus, if you have drought and wind up with watering restrictions, no one can tell if you're watering when you shouldn't be.

by av .

I'll have to be creative about the hose though because the hose would have to run across the front lawn. I'll find a way.

AV

by boxfiddler

I've been plugging holes with creeping charlie. But it is shady, oak tree shady, and probably too acidic for charlie to be happy. Moss might fit the bill!

by charliespencer

You're too far north for azaleas or camellias, but a low spreading juniper or other evergreen should do well. Have you asked the county extension office or Master Gardener association for suggestions?

by boxfiddler

white and salmon and red, and rhododendrons, too! Orange and yellow! There are some absolutely lovely varieties of azalea/rhododendron that are hardy to zone 4.

Camellias though, NO. They'd never make it through the winter.

Am allergic to evergreens. Hives. Moss a better idea if it can take the acidic.

Nah, I haven't asked anyone. I don't much care about the front yard - which is the only place any grass is left. The back is all garden. Sooner or later I hope to have some dogwood and maple in the front, and be able to mess with ferns everywhere.

by boxfiddler

I enclose most plants in 6 foot kennel fencing to keep the squirrels (mostly) and birds (again mostly) out. I cut 2 or 3 holes just big enough to get my hand through. It works pretty well.

Here' a link to my favorite organic help zone. I use quite a few of their products. And I use kelp like nuts for micro-nutrients. I have 4 foot iris foliage every year!

http://www.gardensalive.com/Default.asp?bhcd2=1199235982

by the scummy one

I have been buying things (and receiving lots of mailers with tips) from them for several years.
I get pots from another place though.

by boxfiddler

I love their tips issues. I don't get pots or soils from them either. But I use the heck out of both kelp meal and liquid kelp. And a few of their other feeds and botanicals. Those freaking beneficial nematodes can't be beat, nor can the bt (for mosquitos).

by av .

I used to use a product called Liquid Seaweed and it looks like they have it there. I'm not into using any pesticides.

AV

by the scummy one

that I was trying to start a 'community' for "Sunday morning 'mow-offs' at dawn and Saturday evening 'weed counts'"
Are you reading my mail? :^0

Ok, you obviously missed the Chem-Tuesday and malathion Friday.

by av .

You're one of "them" aren't you? ;\ You probably believe that man's best friend is his lawn mower.

People where I live are still mowing their freaking lawns. Why, I don't know. The grass isn't growing and its about 20 degrees here. It must be part of the weekend mow-off.

AV

by w2ktechman

I dont own a lawnmower.
and I dont care what the neighbors do with their yards. Except when ant trails, or fleas end up in mine, from across the fence....

by the scummy one

I know, I do a lot of container gardening (almost completely). I always had a hard time with the veggies, until I put them in the ground.
Once in the ground they took off, and then got eaten by every bug imagineable.
I gave up on the veggies myself, cause I had to spray every week with strong pesticeides, and then the next week, a different bug was attacking in full force.
I tried corn, peppers (several types), red carrots, broccoli, and a few others.

Many herbs do well in containers, but better in the ground. The ones that I had no problems with were tarrqagon, oregano, sage, thyme, and several types of parsely. The parsely and sage grew exceedingly well in containers. In fact, when I did the parsley (without pesticides) I went all summer without needing to buy any.
Onions do well in very large pots, same with chives and garlic.

Most herbs need to be cut back often though, unless large pots are used (not deep, but roomy on top). Most veggies need decent room on top, but need deep as well. Then watering becomes a real hassle.

Just some of my experiences.
However, I should add that my specialty are succulents (Aloe, Cacti, Agave, etc.).

P.S. -- Miracle Grow soil is fine, but I rarely use it. It costs too much and fertilizer is still needed for many plants. Just pick up some Miracle Grow for watering and you should be fine.
Also, depending on what you are growing, I usually mix in bone meal and lava rocks with the soil (aeration and feed).

by charliespencer

The problem with herbs in the ground is most of them spread very quickly and can take over. While they don't do as well in pots, they still grow acceptably and are much easier to control. Rosemary can grow into a rather nice shrub 3-4 feet tall and wide and is very tolerant of trimming, topiary, etc.

by w2ktechman

didnt I mention that veggies should go in the ground, but most herbs do fine in containers (roomy on top, not deep)?

Yup, most herbs are like weeds if planted in the ground.

by av .

I actually take the pots in in the winter and have fresh herbs all winter. My basil dies out every year, but thats ok. I use large pots with a water resevoir on the bottom. Walmart has some good pots like that cheap.

I have no luck with veggies in container pots either which is why I want to try a raised bed. I did grow red onions in the ground this past year which were small, but tasty.

I've never really amended my soil in the past accept for adding Miracle Gro, so this will be a whole new thing for me.

AV

by w2ktechman

soil amendments add a whole new set of rules to it all. Get a ph test kit, and start playing as well. I had to when several Aloe species were giving me a really hard time, then I found that they only do well in neutral soil. So I had to start amending the soil. Then other ones do best in acidic soil, so again, more amendments.
Soon they were all happier and less diseased.

As for the raised bed, yup. Good thing for veggies. Just remember, do not plant them too close together.

The only container that I used well with veggies is a home-made pot. Stood 3.5 ft. tall and 4 feet long and 2.5 feet wide. It worked great for the 3 years that I had it. Then it rotted... :(

by boxfiddler

Kelp meal is my standard yearly amendment. It improves soil tilth and adds micronutrients and is significantly easier to deal with than is messing with compost.

by av .

They are literally stuck to the grass. I hope mowing works. If they decompose, even better. I thought they would smother the grass.

AV

by w2ktechman

"They are literally stuck to the grass"

Dont wanna know whats been going on out there :0

by av .

Hi Techman, how ya been? I have a regular leaf orgy here. About 2 acres of unraked sugar maple leaves. Exciting, huh?

AV :^0

by boxfiddler

only stuff we don't want and didn't plant.

Personally, I keep a large variety of weeds in yard to feed the birds through the winter.

by boxfiddler

My local yard nazi needs to meet your local yard nazi so that mine can see how lucky he is! :D

by w2ktechman

"I have a regular leaf orgy here"

Didnt I say too much info?

LOL

Anyway, doing just fine. I didnt realize I was using this account, thought I was still on Pond Scum...
Ok, I guess W2k isnt dead as PS has suggested the other day...

by w2ktechman

the tree roots stick up and all. But the landlord planted it AND has someone come by to cut it every 2 weeks.
I cut his workload in half by killing the backyard lawn though.

However, before the LL planted it, I said not to, cause I dont like maintenance from lawns. The LL put it in anyway, so all I do is water it (sometimes, when I actually remember). The sad part is, every time I have watered it, within a day it has rained (talk about wasted water)...

by av .

It was a Jewelweed. At first I thought it was a miniature Lady Slipper or a (poisonous) Pitcher Plant. It was really unique looking. I hope it comes back cause I don't think you can buy it anywhere.

AV

by w2ktechman

a weed is any plant that wants to dominate, that is unwanted in an area.
herbs want to dominate their area, and spread. So yes, they do grow like weeds, not staying nice and confined to any area they were planted in.

In AV's case, it is not a weed, as it is wanted.

Also note: Most weeds are considered herbs in other regions. So what you may consider a weed (and unwanted) many people are probably planting elsewhere (and buying them). the reason they are herbs is because they were plentiful and uses were found for them many, many years ago.

so, to sum up -- herbs are weeds usually, and weeds are herbs occasionally :) I hope that clears it up

by boxfiddler

jewelweed is pretty. If my experience with weeds is any indication :D, it will be back.

Looks like it is a member of the impatiens family and is reputed to have medicinal properties. Looking into weeds for awhile, seems most of them are reputed to be of medicinal/nutritional value.

by av .

This might be my year to get a lawn maintenance service as. My poor hubby is very tired. My approach to a lawn is if its green, it stays. :^0

AV

by boxfiddler

I'm reminded of Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine" and the kid who thinks he's helping out by getting rid of the dandelions!

Wish I had enough sun for a lawnful of dandelions. I'd try fiddling at dandelion wine, an also be sure to regularly blow those seeds to the yard nazi's yard! :D

by the scummy one

Perfect Example
Dandelion is considered by many in the states, to be a weed. But throughout Europe, it is a beneficial herb.

The reason that many herbs and spices carry a 'medicinal' tag is due to thousands of years of use. If a plant is in abundance in a region, it was used for food unless it was dangerous. As trade started, these plants were traded and spread as well.

Since they have been in use by humans for sooo very long, there have been adaptations and it has become beneficial.

my theory at least.

by w2ktechman

WOW. Inkept grass just awaiting to be maintained. Hey, if I clean it up, can I sell some :0

Hmmm, grass and weed! Lots and lots on 2 acres...

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