Hydro Update

Well it's been just about a month since we planted the first hydroponic plants in the greenhouse and LOOK! Red strawberries! I planted 10 more plants today and didn't realize how big the first ones had grown until I saw them side-by-side.

Also, here's a tomato that the guy at the nursery gave me because it was the end of the season and it was not looking very good. Maybe I should go pay him for it.

I dug up a bell pepper and hot pepper from the front yard that started failing because of the season change. They're also doing very well.

Not enough to do anything with yet, but there will be as things get going!

First four ripe (almost) strawberries.

Tomato

Bell pepper (left) hot pepper (right)

"Baby" bell peppers

Happy Hydroponics

A few years back, I bought a little greenhouse for the backyard without much thought as to what I was going to do with it. A year or so ago a new store opened in a nearby city catering to people growing plants hydroponically. This involves growing plants without dirt. I was familiar with this, as I had done some electrical work years ago on some HP farms and even had a little one bucket system 10 years ago or so, but never really did much with it.

So after visiting the new store I got fired up and proceeded to plan and build my system. Well honestly, I started it over a year ago, but time constraints somehow always seem to enter into these kind of projects. I finally got to the point where I had so much invested in it was afraid GM might start getting on me about it. So the last few weeks have been spent making many trips to the HP store and, of course, Home Depot. Things finally got to the point where I was able to plant my first plants - strawberries, which I'm not really fond of, but thought it would be cool to have fresh strawberries and tomatoes throughout the winter.

Here's how it works in a nutshell.

Inside the greenhouse, I built a stand that holds 6" water pipe in which I drilled holes that hold little pots that have slots cut into them.

The pots are filled with a growing medium (no, not a young fortune teller) , in this case these red, round rock-like thingies (Not what they're really called).

Several times a day, liquid nutrient is pumped from a reservoir, through the pipes and back to the reservoir. The nutrient solution is made by adding some of the stuff in these 2 green jugs, along with some stuff to adjust the ph of the solution and 25 gallons of water. This must be replaced every week, but the old stuff goes on the plants around the house, so isn't really wasted.

Mixing the "stuff" the first time.

The pipe system.

This is the tank that holds the nutrients. It sits below ground level outside the greenhouse so that the nutrient can drain back in by gravity.

Heres some of the pots and a newly planted strawberry.

The plants have about doubled in size in the 10 or 12 days since I planted them, and several have small berries and blossoms on them. I waited to post this until I was sure it was working and I guess it is. You can see there is still more to do, but I hope to plant some peppers and a few other things this weekend. There won't be any berries for Thanksgiving, but by Christmas???? Maybe. I sure hope that they are good. I haven't figured it out yet, but I think the first crop is going to cost about $25.00 per berry. Oh well.

I hope there is stuff to taste if you ever visit.

Kyle & Larry River Trip

Well we thought we'd try to squeeze one more trip to the river in this year. That would make two. Not a very good year for getting away, but we've been blessed with lots of work and I can't complain about that.

With our friends Larry & Kyle Wilson in tow, we threw all our stuff in the truck after Church Sunday and headed to Laughlin.

It's a little late in the year for the river, as was evidenced by the lack of people there. It was cloudy, but warm and the water was cool, but not too cold, so we enjoyed a good day of "wave running" around. Nothing broke down, except a boat cover which disintegrated on the way out of town, so that was good for a change.

Getting ready to leave


This picture does not do justice to what we saw. This was a worker at a roadside rest way out on US 40. I'm not sure what he was trying to accomplish, but he would drag this rake oh so slowly for a while, then pick it up and go back and start over. Words cannot describe how slow he was moving and how little he was getting done. Must be a State employee. I'll think of this when I'm paying my taxes next year!


Kyle on the phone Monday morning. I don't know how I happened to catch her on the phone. Just lucky I guess.


Larry waiting for Kyle. I guess he's used to it by the look on his face.


Lee waiting for Kyle.


First part of every "river day". Getting gas and ice (and snacks. Very important. Snacks)


Me taking a picture of Lee taking a picture of Larry. This happens a lot.


Almost in the water, a self timer job. Came out pretty good, I'd say.


Another self timer




Nice hair GP!






A bird resting on "New Blue"


On the sand bar for a snack



Why we keep coming back to this area. It's beautiful in Topok Gorge!


Larry doing the robot (I think)


Larry's new $2.50 shoes. Kyle got pink ones!





There's only one reason GM would get in this cold water. You figure it out.



Larry doing handstands. I think he said there's some reason he can eat more by doing this. I didn't think it was worth the try.


Rest stop on the way home. Lot's of pictures we were not able to get, mostly with GM's new friend in the casino. You'll need to ask her about it.

Lot's of fun, food, and friends! Bye river till nxt year. I think we need to find a MUCH larger boat for our next trip!

40 1/2th Reunion

No, you're not having a flashback. Yes I did previously blog about my 40th HS reunion. It was, in fact, my first blog. The first reunion was held a fair distance from where our school was. I think that, plus the fact that the word didn't get out very well, compelled the folks that organized it to try again. So this reunion was held closer to where we went to school, and was held at a restaurant owned by my good friend and the quarterback of our football team, Dale Yoshihara. I believe that there were about 75 here as opposed to 35 or so at the first one.

It was fun seeing old friends again. Some of my best HS buddies that couldn't attend the first reunion were there and we had fun catching up.
1969 Saga (Yearbook)

GP's Yearbook Picture

First stop - food, of course!

GM and I have gotten pretty good at using the timer to take the pictures we use to immortalize our trips

Well, I guess we still need some practice! I thought the picture was already taken and was rushing to the camera to see if it came out o.k.

I'm glad GM is getting a good laugh out of this!

This is in front of the hotel where we stayed and Dale's restaurant was just upstairs from there. Very handy!


Dale's place



Horse's overies - very yummy!

My good friend Gil Sakima and his wife Yvonne. Gil was a very special friend of mine in school. We, of course, played football together, as well as cooking chicken for the Colonel (you know the one). Gil and I lost touch for several years and spent some great time, although not nearly enough, trying to catch up. It was great to see him and to meet Yvonne.

Me and "cartwheel lady" You'll need to ask GM about that!

Dick Ames and date.
GM & GP
Mike Flood. One of my all time favorite HS friends. He used to clip newspaper articles about floods and hang them on his bedroom wall. "Flood forces hundreds to flee" stuff like that. He was all league as our center on the football team.
He's one of the funniest guys I knew. We were on the 'Lance Staff' (school paper) together, as well as Dale & Gil. We spent many hours abusing our press passes. In fact, our mantra was "forgive us our press passes." (I guess you had to be there). He's now retired and plays golf almost every day. Good job buddy!

Dale & Vicki
Dale will be down soon to visit a daughter he has @ UCSD. Also a Lance Staffer. Quarterback of our team senior year. I love Dales sense of humor. He's quiet, but really funny.
Great job on the food Buddy!
GP trying to remember how he knows someone
Yvonne, GP & GM at dinner.
Rex Mosley - 2nd string QB.

I love the expression on Gilbert's face. There were lots of these looks. "Yea, I'm sure I remember you" "Well, your name, anyway!"
Mike & Dale
Dick, Dale, GP & Gil Sunday morning after breakfast.
Before we drove home Sunday, GM made me go on about a million mile walk. Like our pink outfits?
We stopped at Morro bay for a yummy fish dinner. A little out of the way, but worth it.
One of the few pictures of me from HS.
As head of the drum section (Sophomore). And no Kyle , it's not the gay marching band.

All-in-all a very fun trip. Lot's of driving - 1000 miles from Sat morning to Sunday night.

Word is, this is going to became an annual event. GM made it pretty clear we won't be going next year (or the year after), but I hope to get back soon just to visit with friends.