Grandma Goes Hybrid

I have installed a solar/wind powered clothes dryer. This green machine can run on solar power or wind power or a combination of both solar and wind. It also provides more exercise than merely tossing wet clothes into the electric dryer. In cold weather the freeze-dry option automatically kicks in. A truly amazing eco-friendly upgrade.

Downside: rain renders it inoperable.

Health Care Debate

See previous post

Government is people

Freedom of speech

Elected officials have a responsibility to listen
not to shush people up
not to hide out from the public

Government is in action in these town meetings

Who was telling people to hush during eight years of vociferous Bush bashing???

If you are going to dish it out
you'd better be able to take it

Political Opinion

Government knows best
Government knows all
Government can do all
?????

What is government, anyway?

People

People like the rest of us

Elected people
Hired people

Elected by us
Hired by us

How does that make government more knowledgeable
more capable
more efficient [RFLOL]

than ordinary people, businesses, capitalists, voters??????

government is just a collection of people
different than the rest of us??

Maybe
maybe greedier
maybe more dishonest
maybe more drunk with power

I need to go finish my cup of tea

Return to Gardening

I have always loved raising things to eat.
For years I gardened, canned, and froze until killing frost.

Then the deer discovered my garden
They will eat anything humans will eat
as well as flowers and shrubs.

So there has been a long hiatus from gardening.

Last fall I bought a copy of Mel Barthomew's New Square Foot Gardening. I would provide a link but I've forgotten how! I fell for the concept--equal parts of peat moss, vermiculite, and compost in a frame.
No digging, no weeding, lots of vegies in a compact space. Several crops a year afrom the same space: just add compost when you replant. And compost I know how to do.

To make a long story with many twists and turnings short--

Son and I bought materials, he built the frames yesterday. We have two 3x3 frames: one 6" deep and one 12" deep for root crops. I'm delighted.

Today we mixed the materials and placed it in the frames. Not quite enough compost to fill the deep frame. I will wait a little while till the next batch of compost is ready--not long.

I planted Romaine, radishes, collards, basil, leaf lettuce, and summer squash this evening.

Been making backyard compost for about a year. That's why I'm investigating shredders. No decision on that yet. How badly do I need to speed up the composting process?

Update Thursday Aug. 6

Stuff is coming up nicely.

Various Opinions

There aren't enough "rich" people to pay for Obama's health care plan

If Congress is serious about reducing tobacco use, let them quit subsidizing tobacco farmers

Sotomayer's record of over-turned decisions should disqualify her from consideration

And a question: what is the REAL reason Palin is resigning?

Shredder Advice, Please

I am composting kitchen and yard waste.

I want to get a shredder that will handle leaves, small prunings, kitchen waste, newspapers and cardboard, gasoline powered. Not planning to chip firewood size branches.

I need advice on brands, both recommended and to be avoided, please.

Update:

My brother-in-law, an expert mechanic and all-round fixer, recommends an electric shredder for my purposes.

Wesley Study Bible

I am not a big fan of study Bibles.

I have spent a lot of time reminding folks that the comments at the bottom of the page, the sidebars, etc. are NOT the inspired Word of God.

Have read glowing comments, among Methodists, plugging the new and only study Bible from a Wesleyan (Wesleyan Arminian, to be exact) position.

So I am the proud owner of a Wesley Study Bible.

I like it.

The commentary at the bottom of the pages flows well, and even addresses some questions that I, as well as others, have about obscure passages. Like Genesis 6.

The maps are terrific.

The sidebars with Wesleyan core terms and life applications from a Wesleyan perspective are good. These comments and the sidebars reference Wesley's notes and sermons. This could be helpful for further study. I for one did not know that Wesley had written notes on the OT as well as the NT.

On the downside, there is no concordance, and the size combined with the soft cover make it awkward to hold in one hand (while gesticulating wildly with the other hand as one drives home specific Wesleyan doctrine while preaching to the choir).

All in all, it's a good guide for Methodists who need some exposure to Wesley's thought. For a crash course of concentrated Wesleyanism, immerse yourself in Wesley's Standard Sermons.