"D" IN CHEMISTRY?

I HAVE TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS THAT ARE BOTH DOCTORS, I BET NEITHER ONE OF THEM EVER GOT A "D" IN CHEMISTRY, AND BOTH MY KIDS GRADUATED COLLEGE ON THE DEAN'S LIST TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THEIR ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS, BUT, YES I GOT A "D" IN CHEMISTRY. I HAD TO FINISH OUT MY SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS TAKING ROCKS AND STARS (GEOLOGY & ASTRONOMY).

PLUS I RAISED MY FAMILY IN RURAL IOWA WHERE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND AGRONOMY ARE HALF HEREDITARY AND HALF ENVIRONMENTAL SURROUNDINGS. GEES, WHEN I MOVED TO FRANKVILLE I DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HERBICIDE AND INSECTICIDE.

SO HERE LIES THE PROBLEM. I NEED TO MIX MICRO NUTRIENTS IN THE PROPER PROPORTIONS OF MILLILITERS PER 1000. LUCKY FOR ME THE KIT ONLY HAS THREE DIFFERENT BOTTLES TO CHOOSE FROM. YOU OUGHT TO SEE THE STORE SHELVES IN A HYDROPONICS STORE FOR ALL THE CHOICES YOU HAVE.

I ALSO HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER pH OF MY GROWING SOLUTION. OH OH, HERE COMES A pH TESTING KIT......

DAMN-IT !!! WHY DIDN'T I READ THAT COLLEGE CHEMISTRY TEXT BOOK AND PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS. I DESERVED THE "D".

WATER FARM

WILL HYDROPONICS WORK ON THE LOWER DESERT? THAT'S WHERE I LEFT YOU HANG'IN YESTERDAY. ONE WAY TO FIND OUT, IS TO TRY IT!

THIS IS THE STARTER KIT FOR HYDROPONICS 101, IT'S CALLED THE "WATER FARM".

I LEFT THIS PICTURE LARGE, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG ON THIS EXPLANATION, SIMPLY CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR A LARGER VIEW.

"A" IS THE WATER RESERVOIR, WHERE YOU STORE THE WATER AND CHEMICAL MIX OF MICRO-NUTRIENTS.

"B" IS THE GROWING CHAMBER, WHERE YOU PLANT YOUR PLANTS.

"C" IS A PUMP, ACTUALLY IT'S AN AIR PUMP LIKE YOU USE IN A FISH AQUARIUM, IT FORCES THE WATER (MIXED WITH NUTRIENTS) UP AN INTERNAL TUBE TO THE DRIP RING.

"D" THESE RED ROUND ROCKS ARE CLAY. THEY ARE INERT, AND ARE USED ONLY TO SUPPORT THE PLANT BY IT'S ROOTS MUCH LIKE SOIL. THERE ARE MANY MATERIALS YOU CAN USE FOR THIS, GRAVEL, PERLIX, SAND, ETC. WE MADE THIS DECISION BASED ON WHAT WAS SUPPLIED WITH THE KIT.

"E" THIS IS THE DRIP RING. IT DRIPS WATER AND NUTRIENTS DOWN ON THE CLAY ROCKS THROUGH A SERIES OF HOLES ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE RING.

"F" THIS IS MARY'S BARE KNEE, SEE I TOLD YOU WE WEAR SHORTS AND T-SHIRTS ALMOST ALL THE TIME. (INSERT "SUNNY & 80" LINE HERE)

HERE IS PICTURE OF THE "WATER FARM" WERE IT SITS OUTSIDE, NEAR THE 110 PLUG FOR THE PUMP.

THIS IS THE TOP WHERE THE PLANTS WILL GROW. IN THE BOTTOM OF THIS GROWING AREA IS A SERIES OF HOLES THAT LETS THE SOLUTION DRAIN BACK INTO THE BOTTOM TO BE RECIRCULATED.

HERE YOU CAN SEE BETWEEN THE TWO CONTAINERS WHERE THE GROWING SOLUTION IS STORED AND DRIPS BACK INTO THE WATER RESERVOIR.

BEFORE I GET TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THE SERIES ON HYDROPONICS, I MIGHT POINT OUT THAT I GOT A "D" IN CHEMISTRY AT LUTHER COLLEGE IN 1968.

HYDROPONICS

GOOD GRIEF !! NOW WHAT!!

HYDROPONICS IS WHAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT WHEN YOU WENT TO EPCOT AT DISNEY WORLD IN FLORIDA. THE EXHIBIT WAS CALLED "THE LAND" AND THE CORPORATE SPONSOR IS KRAFT FOODS.

HYDROPONICS IS THE GROWING OF PLANTS USING ONLY WATER AND NO SOIL. IT'S NOT A NEW CONCEPT, HISTORIANS BELIEVE THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON WERE HYDROPONIC GARDENS.

WELL WORKING AS A "FR" EARNING MINIMUM WAGE, THE ONLY THOUGHTS ABOUT WORK I HAVE WHEN I PUNCH OUT AND LEAVE THE PROPERTY ARE, IS THIS THURSDAY PAYDAY OR IS IT NEXT THURSDAY? MY MIND HAS LOT'S TIME TO DAYDREAM AND THINK UP CRAZY TOPICS.

MARY REALLY ENJOYS HER HERB GARDEN WHILE WE'RE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS IN THE SUMMER TIME, BUT WHEN WE RETURN TO THE LOWER DESERT IT JUST BURNS UP AND DIES OUT IN THE SUN. DO YOU THING HYDROPONICS WOULD WORK IN THE DESERT?

Joseph Daniel Saucer

We waited all day for word on the new Saucer baby and just heard moments ago. Although Amy went into the hospital on Monday 8-6-07, Joey had other ideas. Joseph Daniel Saucer officially entered the world at 12:07 AM, Tuesday August 7th. He is 9# 12 oz and 22 inches long. A BIG BOY....he might NOT be the little brother. Amy said he has a head full of curly hair. She is understandably exhausted!!

Pictures will be posted as soon as we get them!!!

Congratulations to the Saucer family!!

BABY PICTURES

(DON'T THE BROTHER'S LOOK A LITTLE CONFUSED?)