Red Dandruff on my Pine Tree

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I’d been noticing some red flaking under my pine tree, on the dog wash table, for weeks. I’d been thinking it was from some squirrels eating something that made a mess. Cleaning didn’t help. The specks were always there. Today, I stopped looking up the tree, and instead peeked in front of me.

Sure enough, the trunk itself was full of red fuzzy stuff that turned into Pine Tree Dandruff (PTD) when it fell. I have another pine tree which isn’t exhibiting this strange phenomenon. But that one is healthy. This one is in a weakened state to start off with. Eeegads!

Did I stroll out to see the squash and pumpkin vines this morning? No. I ran. And there was no miracle. The “bug” these plants have is going strong, and to make matters worse, one of my sweet potato vines now has holes in it.

Baby’s pretty much disgusted with this mess, too. She was looking forward to the squash fest we were going to have. Not to mention the Great Pumpkin pumpkin patch for the fall. Shoot! The good news is the T-touching, essential oils, Wobenzym, Platinum Performance Plus, and the massaging I’ve been doing has helped Baby’s old rickety body (don’t tell her I said that) come around. She was back to wanting to stay outside to look for varmints this morning, and last night she sprung on the bed like a kangaroo. I swear! That was a big difference from the previous two nights in which I had to lift her. I wonder if she could smell any lingering cat aroma in the garden from the cat visit from last night.

Meanwhile, I sent pictures of both these problems to some extension departments. For some reason, my local extension department no longer lists e-mail addresses, and only has a form to fill out on the website, which you cannot attach pictures to. However, even before this deterrent, I found that above all, the Lee county extension department rules in South Florida. They are the most responsive and friendly of all that I’ve e-mailed in the past. So now I wait for an answer or two from those I did e-mail.

When I planted my vegetable garden, I was happy for rain storms. Now I’ll have to go back to that dredded, “Oh shoot. This rain just means I’ll have more weeds to mow” state of mind. Yep. The perspective shift has started.

I think I have a toothache, but I’m trying to think otherwise.

Helen

Goodnight Pumpkin and Squash

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I let the FDSP out and everyone did or didn’t do their last-outing-for-the-day jobs. I’d gone outside rather cranky. I was doing research on why my squash suddenly woke up nearly dead. I got really irritated when I read this excerpt from an article you can see in its entirety by clicking here.

“What makes vine decline so bad is that it comes with little warning — and after growers have spent a lot of money to care for their crops. Vines wilt, leaves appear scorched, and fruit rots. All this can happen in a week.

The cucurbit leaf crumple virus blotches leaves and weakens the plants, and the cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus slows plant growth.”

Maybe one of those three viruses unique to South Florida is what is getting my squash, but I’m not convinced. What I am convinced of, this thing is bigger than me, and I am in no position to stop it. Almost all my squash and pumpkin vines are nearly deteriorated or on their way. It’s very disheartening to watch, so I came inside and said, “God and Goddess, this is bigger than I am, so I’m releasing it to You.” I feel better now. I also copied this link here so you can click on it to see what ominous squash news is there if you want, but I’m through trying to figure this out. I am. I still have my sweet potatoes and corn, and unfortunately, I have some new pumpkin vines popping out of the ground, which I must not get hopeful about. Why should I? So my hopes and me can just fall flat down on our faces when we wake up one morning to a vine full of death when the day before they were looking lively and perky? Not gonna fall for that one a second time.

Meanwhile, I saw something on top of the storage shed as I was going back inside with the family. I thought it was a possum. I put all inside, and took a closer look. No, not a possum. It was a possum looking cat. Maybe that’s the creature that’s run through my garden and smooshed my chamomile. Mother Nature’s set it up, I believe, where you choose. Are you a bigger plant or animal lover? I’ve had plenty of plants demolished by the dogs. I still have my dogs. So I’m on the animal side of the equation. And if that cat is there to undo the rats, that’s OK with me. I know there is another rat around. I found its poop in my shed! I have 3 set traps in there.

We’ve had some nice rains today, and the mosquitoes have had their fill. So not only am I cranky, but I’m itchy from all the mosquito bites. I need to make an essential oil insect repellent. That is made with drops of several varieties of oils and distilled water. Citronella is one of them. Eucalyptus may be another. There’s one I can’t remember because I can’t spell it. So that’s the recipe! Bahahahaha! I’ll have to look through my notes once I get over this demise-of-my-squash-and-pumpkin day and get uncranky.

I did make an olive oil and essential peppermint oil mixture and rubbed it into Baby’s sore spots and massaged her back. She liked it, and the rest of the FDSP were interested in the goings-on. More or less, they all seemed OK with the massage idea, and if it had to include “smelly stuff,” they’d sacrifice to get a doggy massage.

I don’t expect to have much left on the vines of the squash and pumpkin when I take my morning walk to have a look-see tomorrow. Maybe I shouldn’t even do the look-see part. If not for wanting to take more pictures, probably I wouldn’t be compelled.

Helen

Letters to God from the Dog

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TO: GOD
FROM: THE DOG

Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers,but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog?
How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the ‘Chrysler Eagle’ the ‘Chrysler Beagle’?

Dear God: If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?

Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID’s, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths.
What do humans understand?

Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good dog.

1. I will not eat the cats’ food before they eat it or after they throw it up.

2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.

3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.

4. The sofa is not a ‘face towel’.

5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad’s underwear when he’s on the toilet.

7. Sticking my nose into someone’s crotch is an unacceptable way of saying ‘hello’.

8. I don’t need to suddenly stand straight up when I’m under the coffee table .

9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house – not after.

10. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.

11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.

12. The cat is not a ‘squeaky toy’ so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it’s usually not a good thing.

P.S. Dear God: When I get to Heaven may I have my testicles back?

Aromatherapy

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Last night, I rushed home, fed everyone their dinner, which I made at lunch, and rushed out the door to get to an Aromatherapy class for pets. It was put on by the Whole Foods Market nearby, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially after the big rush to get there.

This WF has renovated the building next door for the purpose of having a classroom. Wow! It has a complete kitchen where they’ll offer classes on cooking, an opened floor to set up as needed, and a very friendly director of these classes/services who introduced the wholistic vet to us. The veterinarian’s name is Dr. Carol Falck, and her website’s here.

Dr. Falck had a very interesting Power Point presentation, and gave us handouts that coincided with them. After she gave her portion of the presentation, another person came up whose business card lists Essential Oil Classes as one of her specialties, and with her cat, showed us how to use the oils and what certain ones would do. The cat took it so well. She’s a senior cat and very fragrant now that she’s been oiled!

Essential oils have thousands of properties that can help everything from arthritis to insect repellanta to strengthening the immune system – and so much more. The list is extensive. These oils work through the skin, which goes into the bloodstream where the properties of the oils can work as fast as seconds to two minutes! As a novice, the best way to start is by mixing a couple drops of the essential oil with a carrier oil such as oilve, wheat germ, or almond oils. They can be put on the paw pads, or as in Baby’s case for her arthritis, rubbed in a the area of her arthritis. Through the air, they can be inhaled and have effects on the body through the brain and olfactory membranes. Amazing!

I’m going to order a few essential oils for Baby’s arthritis through my favorite site, mountainrose.com, and I’ll also purchase a diffuser, so the whole Fort Doberdale family can enjoy the effects of the oils. I used to use eucalyptus when I arrived in Florida. I couldn’t sing without coughing. Not that I am anything but a singer in the rain or in the car, but it was bothersome. The eucalyptus really helped clear out my vocal passages.

The center at WF is going to have a grand opening Thursday evening. They will be offering all sorts of classes, and if you want to see what sorts, then click here.

All in all, I had a very nice evening at the Aromatherapy class. I’d only known about it from a participant at the T-Touch seminar.

Helen