Spending At Home Depot

Yesterday morning, I had to go into Gallup to go to Home Depot to pick up a new garden hose. The old one was worn out and leaking.

As it frequently happens when shopping at Home Depot, I ended up buying more stuff than originally planned. I got the hose, but I also bought a cactus plant to go on the deck. The cactus was not priced, so I asked a couple of workers to check out the price. 

They came back and said they couldn't find anything, but they did ask it $12 was okay. Having seen cacti like this one priced much higher, I jumped at it and immediately agreed to it. I bought a few other items, including a pot for the cactus and potting soil. When it gets bigger, I'll have to transfer it to a bigger pot.

Here's the cactus:

Well, Blow Me Down, Olive! COVID-19 Vaccines Through Spinach

For those of you wimps out there who refuse to get an injected vaccination, scientists are working on getting the vaccine into you through spinach, lettuce and other edible plants.

According to a Gateway Pundit article:

Millions of people who have refused to get an experimental mRNA vaccine may soon be forced to consume the gene therapy in their food.

Researchers at the University of California were awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation developing technology that infuses experimental mRNA Covid-19 vaccines into spinach, lettuce and other edible plants.

The team of nanobiotechnology experts is currently working on successfully delivering DNA containing mRNA BioNTech technology into chloroplasts, the part of the plants that instruct its cells’ DNA to replicate the vaccine material.

The researchers are tasked with demonstrating the genetically modified plants can produce enough mRNA to replace Covid jabs and infuse the plants with the right dosage required to eat to replace vaccines.

If this works, not only would you become as strong a Popeye the Sailor, you will get hair on your chest (well, that's what parents used to say) and get vaccinated!

Well, blow me down, Olive!

To read more, go here. 

Much Greener

Above, the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The area in Jamestown, New Mexico is greening up from all of the rain we've been having.

When I got home from the Wells Fun Run yesterday, I noticed a lot of plant growth in the front yard and at Barking Spider Acre. There was very little plant growth in the yard before I left last Thursday.

Above, Barking Spider Acre is much greener. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But there's a lot of it now. As soon as things dry up a bit (whenever that will be), I'll have to get the mower out and mow Barking Spider Acre. I'll have to cut the growth in the front yard with the string trimmer.

Above, the front of the house and garage today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mini Jade Is Making More Progress

Above, the mini jade plant today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My mini jade plant is showing more signs of progress in its revival after being damaged by the extreme freezing weather two months ago. I just got done watering it.

The dead parts have broken off and just some are left. As they break off, I've been tossing them into the trash.

It will remain in my bedroom for the duration until spring weather begins next year. Maybe by then it will be regrown back to its former glory.

The Mini Jade's Revival

Above, the mini jade today.

Back on November 9, I wrote about my mini jade plant getting damaged by the freezing temperatures outside.

At the time, I was unsure whether or not the plant would be able to revive itself after I brought it into the house.

Above, the mini jade plant on November 9. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since then, it has been in my bedroom near two windows to give it plenty of light and the indoor temperature is maintained to at least 70°.

I am happy to report that the mini jade plant has revived and has new growth.

It looks like it will stay indoors until the outside temperatures warm up and bring it back in when next autumn starts.

My Poor Mini Jade

This morning, I discovered that the subfreezing temperatures damaged my mini jade plant that I keep on the deck outside.

After reading about what to do with plants damaged by subfreezing temperatures, I bought it inside where it will stay to revive. I placed it where it will get lots of light. Since it wasn't totally damaged, it should recover. Once we get back into the warmer months, it will go back out (if it has healed).

According to SF Gate:

Tropical and subtropical plants such as jade plant (Crassula argentea) don't possess the tolerance to survive extreme temperature drops, and suffer severe injury and even death if exposed to a hard frost. Jade plant grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11, where it requires daytime temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees. The survivability of a jade plant left outside during an unexpected frost largely depends on the duration of exposure to freezing temperatures. Exercise patience and care when helping a frost-injured jade plant. 

If desired, you can leave the damaged jade plant parts untouched, allowing them to fall off naturally after the plant heals. This is actually the preferred method of frost damage care for outdoor plants because the damaged plant material provides protection to the rest of the plant.

To read more, go here. 

Fall Colors Have Started

While relaxing on the deck after putting up the sign, I noticed that some of the trees on the property are changing into autumn color mode.

So I went inside and grabbed the camera.

Some of the pictures I took:

Above the oak trees have turned. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the crabapple tree in front of the house. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the driveway and house. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the oaks from inside the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Just Shutterbugging

Above, the front of the house. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The plants and trees at the homestead are starting to flower.

Above, could this be a flowering crabapple? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I don't know what kind of tree this is, except someone said it is a flowering crabapple, but the blossoms are getting much bigger than a week ago.

Above will be a bright contrast to the rest of the foliage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have no idea what this plant (above photo) is, but its flowers are a brighter yellow than what the photo shows.

Above, the view from the street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Sierra relaxing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the mesas this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Too Cold For Meteor-Watching, Etc.

Above, the mesas at dusk. I should have gone out earlier. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I woke up at 3:00 thanks to Sierra hogging the bed. But I was planning on getting up early to see the Lyrid meteor shower anyway.

Above, the sun already got below the horizon when I went outside. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I went outside in 36­­° temperatures. The night sky was clear and full of stars. But I saw no meteors. Then again, I only spent ten minutes outside before the cold drove me back into the house (not that I've never seen meteors before).

Above, the new jade plant and pot I bought yesterday. The bear planter stand I
gave my mom about a year or two before she passed away. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The temperature continued to drop and is now at 32° (freezing). So I went out again to switch on the The Beast's holding tank heaters. I lingered a bit and still saw no meteors.

This wasn't the only dud during the past 12 hours. I was planning to shoot the mesas across the valley at sunset last night, but I got outside too late as the sun was just dipping below the horizon. I was planning to send the photos to Asya to look over for the painting. If it is clear outside this coming evening, I will try again (and get outside earlier).

I did take a few shots outside last evening anyway and they accompany this post.

Afternoon In Gallup

Above, the jade plant on top of the black bear planter stand. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The better part of the afternoon was spent in Gallup today.

First off, I headed to Home Depot to pick up a few things such as a hose nozzle, a planter, trowel, a jade plant and potting soil. I had a jade plant back in Tarzana, but I gave it to a neighbor when I moved. I was getting tired of seeing my mom's black bear planter stand just sitting with no pot on it. I rectified that today.

Jade plants supposedly bring good luck.

Following Home Depot, I went to look at some storage sheds/garages for The Beast. There are some promising possibilities.

After looking, I headed off to Zen Steak and Sushi restaurant for dinner.

As it was still daylight and temperatures in the 60s, I went ahead and potted the jade plant. The pot looks good on top of the bear.