I just read about a self-watering system called Tropf Blumat on the Home Harvest Garden Supply website.
I’m curious if anyone has used this system and how well does it work.
If it works well, maybe I can use it to self water parts of my Square Foot Garden that dries out easily during the summer.
I didn’t do much gardening, but I planted the 6-pack of Green Swiss Chard 
into three half squares in back of the Lemon Cucumbers. I think I will plant either some Bush Beans or another summer greens in the other halves of the three squares.
I also moved some of the Coleus pots I planted a few days ago into the front patio.
Which reminds me… I need to do some research and find out if there are green leafy vegetables that will grow in the summer time… since I believe most greens like Kale, Bok Choy, Mustard, etc. like the cool weather. Any suggestions?
[Update]
I found a couple sites that have some good ideas:
– Veggie Gardening Tips: Top Ten Leafy Greens for Summer Gardens
– Mother Earth News: Spinach Alternatives: Warm Weather Salad Greens
I’m trying to figure out what this plant is.
It’s a voluteer plant that has serrated leaves and a reddish truck and branches. Some people suggested that it is a Brazilian Pepper Tree (Schinus terebinthifolius), but the leaves don’t quite match the photos I’ve seen.
Click below to see more photos.
So after frantically getting everything set for this upcoming month long trip to the Philippines. I’m here at D’s house in Hayward waiting for him to get out of his half-day at work and finish up packing and get all the last minute things done before we have to leave for the airport at 9pm.
My friend D asked me a few months ago if I would like to accompany him to his family get together/vacation in the Philippines. I’ve been wanting to go a while now, but just haven’t worked out… but since I no longer have a job (just freelancing), I figured that it would be the perfect time to go.
This will be my first time back to the Philippines in 41 years (since 1970)!!! We left when I was 1.5 years old, so I don’t have any recollection of my birth place. I’ve just seen the few family photos when I was a baby.
I’m a bit nervous and of course excited… Excited to finally see my homeland and the people, the culture, the food, fruits, plants and all things Philippines. I’m a bit worried, because people have been telling me about pick-pocketer and thieves who will steal things from your hand, but I hope that is exaggerated… but even then, I’m not planning on bringing my DSLR camera to congested places like Metro Manila and the malls…
Oh, I’m, really excited to take lots of photos…
I don’t think I will be able to see any of my relatives during this trip, which I’m bummed about, because D’s family has a set itinerary and it’ll be difficult to stray from that, but I hope that I’ll at least see my Uncle Dave when we are in Manila… Hopefully, I can return soon to Philippines like when my Aunties take a vacation. It’ll be much easier to see all my relatives, plus I’ll have more experience with how things work there.
So… any tips or pointers from anyone for this upcoming trip to Philippines?
I want to get rid of our $40 AT&T land land phone plan.
Any suggestion to an alternative?
My nephew JR washed the dishes this evening so I get to relax and play games on my iPhone :) As he was washing, we saw him painting on Channel 7 News… Awesome!!!
3:14pm My coworker just got a Drobo!!!… I’m jealous… www.drobo.com #
6:07pm Learning how to use Google Analytics… #
6:38pm Any suggestions on a free but detailed website analytics site?… I’m testing Google Analytics, but it’s complicated & not working for me… #
A couple days ago, my Mom expressed interest in playing her exercise videos in our living room TV since there is space there to move around (unlike our family room which is crowded). The problem is that her exercise videos are on VHS tape and we don’t have a VCR on that TV anymore.
BTW… I have been recording the TV program Sit and Be Fit for my Mom… Here she is exercising in the crowded family room. She was so adorable!
I can reinstall the VCR in the living toom, but I’m thinking of getting a DVD (or Blu-ray) Player that will play DVDs. I also want it to be multifunctional… This is what I’m looking for:
– DVD or Blu-ray Player
– Can play DVD-R with burned H.264 video (.m4v)
– WiFi (built in, I don’t want to buy a separate USB WIFI receiver)
– Can play videos (mpeg1, mpeg2, mp4, m4v) on networked computers
– Can play videos on an attached USB drive
– Netflix Now Playing
– Old style composite video output (yellow)
These are some that may qualify. I still need to research further:
LG BD570 ($250) >>
LG BD590 ($380) >>
Insignia NS-WBRDVD ($180) >>
I saw a few of these cans near our storage in our backyard and I like how they look, rusted and all… My Mom has used these as a planter and dustpan.
I was wondering is it safe to use these as planters to grow vegetables? I didn’t know if the rust is bad/unsafe for vegetables and/or other edible plants.
