Conophytum Calculus from seed

As an alternative to my ugly cactus/succulent collection post category I have also started some conophytum calculus seeds just sprouted today. The first members of my cute cactus/succulent collection. Photo of seedlings later. For now here are the beauties at Huntington gardens in LA. I rename them funny little smiling face cactus (tho not technically cacti)

Started them in the same way as the pseudolithos in the previous post. 

My knowlage of succulents, limited though it is, comes from  The Timber Press Guide to Succulent Plants of the World: A Comprehensive Reference to More than 2000 Species and Toms blog Theatrumbotanicum

Pseudolithos migiurtinus from seed

Bought some Pseudolithos migiurtinus seeds on ebay. 

This is the newest member of my ugly cactus/succulent collection. 

I have them controlled for temp, light and humidity using a light bulb for heat, my LED grow lamp for light and plastic bags for humidity. Heat is easily controlled by checking the temp and moving the light bulb. As for soil I started with a commercial cactus soil. 

Here they are just sprouted about 5 days after planting them: 

On DOL 3 transfered one to a more appropriate soil: 

-one part commercial potting soil (baked in oven to sterilize) 

-one part perlite

-one part washed play sand

My knowlage of succulents, limited though it is, comes from  The Timber Press Guide to Succulent Plants of the World: A Comprehensive Reference to More than 2000 Species and Toms blog Theatrumbotanicum

Homemade ginger ale recipe. Syrup method for SodaStream.

Ingredients for ginger ale syrup:
1 quart water
ginger root
1 lime
1 lemon
1c white sugar
1.5c brown sugar
0.5 cup honey

You will also need to buy soda water or make your own soda water.

Zest the lemon and lime. I did this with my new hand held citrus zester
Juice the lemon and lime.
Peel and then grate the ginger.
Mix the juice and zest with the rest of the ingredients in a sauce pain and simmer for 30 min.
Allow to cool.
Strain with a tea filter.

Finally mix the syrup 1:5 or to taste with soda water.

Take it one step further and make your own soda water. Or carbonate with fermentation. My previous recipe for self carbonated spicy ginger ale . More recipes for soda in this great book Homemade Soda: 200 Recipes for Making ....

Alico summit backpacking boots review

Review in progress.....Took these sweet new boots out for 4 hours in the hills in moderate terrain. Legit old school boots. No doubt more heavy than a more modern style/material boot. I appreciate the real full grain leather. Seem to be very durable. Comfortable, but stiff out of the box. Updates to follow. I got mine at Sierra Trading Post. They often have the best prices, but availability is sporatic.

The best prices on this and all outdoor gear at Sierra Trading Post (when available)

still life with octopus wallpaper (in progress)

Help me make the wallpaper look more real? more texture? a seam? peeling? any other tricks?

How to hang a picture on a brick or concrete wall

This is a DIY guide to hanging photos and pictures on a brick or concrete wall the cheap and easy way. 

Lightweight (5lbs or less) such as photos, records are easily hung with stick on hooks

Your lightest items can be hung without screws, nails or any tools at all.
You will need: stick on hooks
How to : Simply clean and dry the surface well before applying the adhesive sticker.
Removal: These can be pulled off. They may require some cleaning to get of residual bits of adhesive.

Medium sized items (~30lbs or less) such as pictures, paintings can easily and quickly be hung with concrete and hardwall plastic hooks. 
This is by far the easiest and best way to hang picture or most anything on a brick wall.
You will need: a hammer, concrete and hardwall plastic hooks
How to: Carefully measure where you want to place these as they can be only placed once. Hammer the four pins part way in then check positioning again. If you are satisfied with the placement hammer them the rest of the way in. 

Demonstrated holding up a larger framed piece: Liza Jones- Optimist 

To hang heavy items such as mirrors, large framed paintings, photos or posters masonry anchors are needed.
You will need: powerdrill at the minimum but preferably a hammerdrill is needed. You will also need a screwdriver, and a masonry bit (the size is determined by the size of masonry anchor used). It is easiest to get a set of masonry anchors that come with screws and the drill bit.

Drill the appropriate size hole with a hammer drill
. 

Hammer in the plastic anchor.

Screw in the screw most of the way and hang your piece.



For very heavy objects such as construction projects require a lag bolt and shield
Similar to my recommendation for heavy items this will require a hammerdrill, socket wrench as well as the forfeiture of your damage deposit. The process is the same as above but with a 1/2" hole. 

Lophocereus schottii monstrose; the real christmas cactus

The first member of ugly cactus collection.