Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Mar 31, 2019 10:16:23 GMT -5
Good day! Last year, we had two threads going for yard art and landscaping and flowers. I can't remember if anyone included veggies, but feel free to do so this year! Let's run one thread this time.
It's spring time, and it's time for planting, pruning, and pesticides.
What are you planning on doing this year for your property? What will it cost? What's the benefit to you? Did you set a budget? Did you stay within your budget? Do you sacrifice other aspects of your household, travel, etc. for your yard?
And by golly, post pictures!!!
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Mar 31, 2019 10:19:32 GMT -5
We bought this guy last week. We’ve named him Harold. He will not live in our kitchen😆. He will live in our fabricated creek. He was $74 at a cute home decor boutique we like to visit. When he’s situated in the creek, I’ll post pictures.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Mar 31, 2019 10:21:28 GMT -5
Oh, and while we didn't specifically budget for him, we used our "Spring Break" vacation funds.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Mar 31, 2019 11:38:34 GMT -5
We've spent $129. 83 on flowers so far this spring.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Mar 31, 2019 11:49:33 GMT -5
Probably like $500...
Need to repaint the deck and fence Need to reseed the yard Buy some more flowers Will start on it next week , maybe a little bit this week (start cleaning and what not).
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Mar 31, 2019 14:20:46 GMT -5
Probably like $500... Need to repaint the deck and fence Need to reseed the yard Buy some more flowers Will start on it next week , maybe a little bit this week (start cleaning and what not). Carl, to reseed the yard, you can rent a machine called a slit seeder. Metal discs cut small slits in the lawn, seed trickles from seed hopper over discs and into slit. This puts seed in much better contact with the soil so you get a much better germination rate and it also protects the seed from birds. If you are going to be painting decks and fences every few years, you might consider buying a small commercial grade airless paint sprayer. Mine was about $300 when I bought it 10 years ago. Reduced the time to stain our 160 feet of fence from about a day to 45 minutes. Put the sprayer and 5 gallon bucket of stain in a wagon to move it around the yard and use a long extension cord.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Mar 31, 2019 14:56:36 GMT -5
Probably like $500... Need to repaint the deck and fence Need to reseed the yard Buy some more flowers Will start on it next week , maybe a little bit this week (start cleaning and what not). Carl, to reseed the yard, you can rent a machine called a slit seeder. Metal discs cut small slits in the lawn, seed trickles from seed hopper over discs and into slit. This puts seed in much better contact with the soil so you get a much better germination rate and it also protects the seed from birds. If you are going to be painting decks and fences every few years, you might consider buying a small commercial grade airless paint sprayer. Mine was about $300 when I bought it 10 years ago. Reduced the time to stain our 160 feet of fence from about a day to 45 minutes. Put the sprayer and 5 gallon bucket of stain in a wagon to move it around the yard and use a long extension cord. I looked for one at the Home Depot (the slit seeder) and they did not have one. I remember using it in MA and renting it from the Home Depot there. I considered the airless paint sprayer 2 years ago when I first painted the fence and deck and was not sure I was ready to make the investment... still on the fence but thinking about another 2 day of painting (or more if I don’t have the week off and have to do it when I can before/after work) I think I might.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Mar 31, 2019 15:20:30 GMT -5
I don't even know where to begin in the flower beds, front and back yard, this year. We had a really rainy winter and the beds look like they are covered with a lawn. Really.
Where these weeds came I have no idea. Spraying with a herbicide will also harm the perennials. Spraying with vinegar will harm the perennials too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2019 16:29:25 GMT -5
I don't even know where to begin in the flower beds, front and back yard, this year. We had a really rainy winter and the beds look like they are covered with a lawn. Really. Where these weeds came I have no idea. Spraying with a herbicide will also harm the perennials. Spraying with vinegar will harm the perennials too. I feel your pain. We had an unusually warm and wet fall/winter/early spring and the weeds outdid themselves. I hand grubbed most and selectively sprayed some. I dislike chemical controls but we're experimenting with a pre-emergent herbicide called "Barricade". This works by preventing seed germination. Unfortunately, many of lovely South Texas weeds spread by runners so just one plant can quickly carpet the beds. At least it will help with the others.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2019 16:37:20 GMT -5
I'm in the middle of hand scrubbing our front and back decks with Simple Green and a stiff broom. Usually I have someone power wash them, but the budget is exceptionally tight and, due to the endless days of drizzle and grey skies., the wood had developed a significant coat of mildew and mold. I have to do an hour or two at a time because it's really tough on my shoulders. Ditto the patio furniture-the glider was actually growing lichen I planted our favorite cherry tomato (Chocolate Cherry) and a plum tomato back at the first of March, and two basil seedlings-one sweet basil and one Thai basil. Got the usual annuals - geraniums, impatiens, begonias, lantana, etc. We removed a large tree over the winter so I had to rearrange some pots to accommodate the change in sun exposure.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Mar 31, 2019 16:49:59 GMT -5
Also almost forgot I want to buy 2 trees for the front, more rocks for the back...
So maybe 1k this summer.
Not counting the money we just spent on the basement, money to re-do the pantry and my wife wants the whole house painted....
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Mar 31, 2019 17:03:18 GMT -5
We bought this guy last week. We’ve named him Harold. He will not live in our kitchen😆. He will live in our fabricated creek. He was $74 at a cute home decor boutique we like to visit. When he’s situated in the creek, I’ll post pictures. Oh, I really like that idea! I am going to look for something similar!
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Mar 31, 2019 17:55:26 GMT -5
I just went outside to move the car. It's snowing! I can't even think of planting yet.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Mar 31, 2019 21:06:08 GMT -5
I just went outside to move the car. It's snowing! I can't even think of planting yet. What Come again?
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Apr 1, 2019 7:50:56 GMT -5
I missed that Harold was standing on the counter until he was re-posted so I was thinking he was a giant, but I still like the idea and my kids would get a kick out of something like that.
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ohmomto2boys
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Post by ohmomto2boys on Apr 1, 2019 8:25:54 GMT -5
We had a sprinkling of snow on the ground this morning. Flowers will go in at the end of May, along with mulch. Will spend about $300. I would like to get an outdoor rug for the front porch - 5x7. I need 2. I have been looking but haven't found exactly what I want. Willing to spend about $100-$125 total. Need a small side table as well - maybe $30.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Apr 1, 2019 8:28:34 GMT -5
I have a bird like Harold, but he is just brown. He stays in our dining room, and doesn’t have a name.
He gets pushed around by Roomba.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2019 9:55:02 GMT -5
I have a bird like Harold, but he is just brown. He stays in our dining room, and doesn’t have a name. He gets pushed around by Roomba.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Apr 1, 2019 14:16:13 GMT -5
I don't even know where to begin in the flower beds, front and back yard, this year. We had a really rainy winter and the beds look like they are covered with a lawn. Really. Where these weeds came I have no idea. Spraying with a herbicide will also harm the perennials. Spraying with vinegar will harm the perennials too. I have one particular flower bed that keeps getting overrun with Bermuda grass. I don't like using herbicides around the perennials but by the end of summer I have a grassy, weedy spot with a few limp perennials sticking out.
This year I tried to grub up all the Bermuda grass runners, laid some extra thick landscape fabric and a bunch of mulch in the places where I don't want anything, and then planted what I hope will be a fast growing ground cover around the perennials. I'll water and fertilize the crap out of it. Plus the nursery gave me something that is SUPPOSED to only kill grasses. I may try that.
Also planted some hollyhocks. The English peas have sprouted, the Kennebec potatoes are planted and not yet sprouted. I saw some nice tomato plants at the nursery but still a little early for them. Plus I always screw them up, but I still try. Next project is to rig up my new raised bed sprinklers to try to save the veggies in the blazing heat of summer.
Also, I got some papyrus to put in a pot near the veggies, because what the hell.
Wish I knew how to post photos, our nursery has a 10 foot garden gnome for sale. He is adorable and scary, both.
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chapeau
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Post by chapeau on Apr 1, 2019 19:14:58 GMT -5
I don't even know where to begin in the flower beds, front and back yard, this year. We had a really rainy winter and the beds look like they are covered with a lawn. Really. Where these weeds came I have no idea. Spraying with a herbicide will also harm the perennials. Spraying with vinegar will harm the perennials too. I have one particular flower bed that keeps getting overrun with Bermuda grass. I don't like using herbicides around the perennials but by the end of summer I have a grassy, weedy spot with a few limp perennials sticking out.
This year I tried to grub up all the Bermuda grass runners, laid some extra thick landscape fabric and a bunch of mulch in the places where I don't want anything, and then planted what I hope will be a fast growing ground cover around the perennials. I'll water and fertilize the crap out of it. Plus the nursery gave me something that is SUPPOSED to only kill grasses. I may try that.
Also planted some hollyhocks. The English peas have sprouted, the Kennebec potatoes are planted and not yet sprouted. I saw some nice tomato plants at the nursery but still a little early for them. Plus I always screw them up, but I still try. Next project is to rig up my new raised bed sprinklers to try to save the veggies in the blazing heat of summer.
Also, I got some papyrus to put in a pot near the veggies, because what the hell.
Wish I knew how to post photos, our nursery has a 10 foot garden gnome for sale. He is adorable and scary, both.
How much is the gnome? I’d love one, although I’d probably have to get a slightly smaller one. I think I’d need a zoning variance for a 10-foot gnome. Several years ago, when my sister’s dog was a puppy, the puppy dog a “big” hole in my sister’s garden, then sat in the hole. My sister sent pictures, but didn’t have a way to show how big the hole really was. So she stuck her regular size gnome in the hole. We now refer to that gnome as “standard gnome” and measure all kinds of things with it. Patios, couched, height of trees, dimensions of garden beds. Yeah, we’re weird. (Fortunately her gnome is exactly 12 inches tall.) DD was very excited when she was 3 standard gnomes tall—that was big enough to ride most of the rides at our favorite amusement park.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Apr 2, 2019 7:08:09 GMT -5
I have one particular flower bed that keeps getting overrun with Bermuda grass. I don't like using herbicides around the perennials but by the end of summer I have a grassy, weedy spot with a few limp perennials sticking out.
This year I tried to grub up all the Bermuda grass runners, laid some extra thick landscape fabric and a bunch of mulch in the places where I don't want anything, and then planted what I hope will be a fast growing ground cover around the perennials. I'll water and fertilize the crap out of it. Plus the nursery gave me something that is SUPPOSED to only kill grasses. I may try that.
Also planted some hollyhocks. The English peas have sprouted, the Kennebec potatoes are planted and not yet sprouted. I saw some nice tomato plants at the nursery but still a little early for them. Plus I always screw them up, but I still try. Next project is to rig up my new raised bed sprinklers to try to save the veggies in the blazing heat of summer.
Also, I got some papyrus to put in a pot near the veggies, because what the hell.
Wish I knew how to post photos, our nursery has a 10 foot garden gnome for sale. He is adorable and scary, both.
How much is the gnome? I’d love one, although I’d probably have to get a slightly smaller one. I think I’d need a zoning variance for a 10-foot gnome. Several years ago, when my sister’s dog was a puppy, the puppy dog a “big” hole in my sister’s garden, then sat in the hole. My sister sent pictures, but didn’t have a way to show how big the hole really was. So she stuck her regular size gnome in the hole. We now refer to that gnome as “standard gnome” and measure all kinds of things with it. Patios, couched, height of trees, dimensions of garden beds. Yeah, we’re weird. (Fortunately her gnome is exactly 12 inches tall.) DD was very excited when she was 3 standard gnomes tall—that was big enough to ride most of the rides at our favorite amusement park. I meant to ask the sales clerk last time I was there - I only remember to ask when I'm walking out of the store. (He stands right outside the door). The only sticker he has is just a bar code, not a price tag. Probably one of those 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' things.
Standard gnome size sounds about right! I have metal garden pigs instead of gnomes, one that is about a standard gnome long, one that's probably 1 and 1/2 standard gnomes long, and my whopper flying pig, which is about 3 standard gnomes long and maybe 2.5 standard gnomes high, pig foot to wing tip.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Apr 2, 2019 8:11:17 GMT -5
My gardens are desperately in need of attention. The ones by the house suffer because I won't use wood mulch - had termites before in my life, so rubber mulch only, and I never get enough. Just Preened everything, though, which should help. Had to give up on vegetables completely, including potted tomatoes, because squirrels.
My front garden is an horrendous disaster. The front yard started with two very large and stately Norway maples and one red maple. The Norway closest to the house was struck by lightening and had to come out. The red maple was dying and got taken out a couple of years ago. The garden under the maples was English ivy, which I really dislike, and it all died when the maples went. Now the last Norway is one its way out. I had an arborist come out and confirm. To remove it and grind down all the stumps will cost about $3000. Then I need to have a landscaping company/nursery come and renovate the garden, beginning with a design. That will cost approximately $1500 - $2000 I think. Want to replace the trees with a pair of lovely shade trees, not too small. Our house faces due west, so need the screening.
Lots of money and it's overdue. Will get there this year as soon as I can figure out financing.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Apr 2, 2019 15:41:54 GMT -5
My gardens are desperately in need of attention. The ones by the house suffer because I won't use wood mulch - had termites before in my life, so rubber mulch only, and I never get enough. Just Preened everything, though, which should help. Had to give up on vegetables completely, including potted tomatoes, because squirrels. My front garden is an horrendous disaster. The front yard started with two very large and stately Norway maples and one red maple. The Norway closest to the house was struck by lightening and had to come out. The red maple was dying and got taken out a couple of years ago. The garden under the maples was English ivy, which I really dislike, and it all died when the maples went. Now the last Norway is one its way out. I had an arborist come out and confirm. To remove it and grind down all the stumps will cost about $3000. Then I need to have a landscaping company/nursery come and renovate the garden, beginning with a design. That will cost approximately $1500 - $2000 I think. Want to replace the trees with a pair of lovely shade trees, not too small. Our house faces due west, so need the screening. Lots of money and it's overdue. Will get there this year as soon as I can figure out financing. There is something that gets at my cantaloupes right when they get ripe and eats a chunk out of them. Might be a squirrel, or possum, or raccoon. BIL suggested maybe even a deer.
Something eats some of the tomatoes, too, but it's picky - it likes the fat beefsteak tomatoes but ignores the little cherry ones.
Each year I've tried more protection, stronger fencing, fencing re-enforced with poles - and still, things get in a rob me blind.
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plugginaway22
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Post by plugginaway22 on Apr 3, 2019 6:18:21 GMT -5
I live all year for this season! Here where we are in the mid-Atlantic, the season is from about mid-May to Oct? Last year the squirrels were horrible and mocked me all summer. Took a bite out of every tomato that was just ready to ripen. What finally stopped them was putting bowls of sunflower seeds near the garden for them to just snack on.
I spend a lot on plants, soil, mulch...our yard and garden is my therapy when I come home from my FT stressful job. Last year I bought a potting bench that was such a joy, and it kept everything organized. Excited to be inspired, going to Longwood Gardens this week.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Apr 3, 2019 7:23:16 GMT -5
I live all year for this season! Here where we are in the mid-Atlantic, the season is from about mid-May to Oct? Last year the squirrels were horrible and mocked me all summer. Took a bite out of every tomato that was just ready to ripen. What finally stopped them was putting bowls of sunflower seeds near the garden for them to just snack on. I spend a lot on plants, soil, mulch...our yard and garden is my therapy when I come home from my FT stressful job. Last year I bought a potting bench that was such a joy, and it kept everything organized. Excited to be inspired, going to Longwood Gardens this week. Hmmm, that's a thought.
I provide free squirrel seeds in my bird feeder, but putting it out next to the garden would make it easier for them to get. Of course, I might end up with 100 squirrels living in my back yard.
I found a hole about 3 inches in diameter right up next to one of my raised beds this weekend. Wondering if it's a snake hole or chipmunk hole or what else might live underground. It's something that's stationed itself adjacent to it's favorite snacking site, I'm guessing. Maybe just mice?
There is another creature living under our propane gas tank. It's dug itself a den. Probably the same animal that is digging little holes under the bird feeder. Woodchuck? Rabbit den? Most horrifying possibility - skunks?
Probably I need to get a big dog.
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Apr 3, 2019 7:49:54 GMT -5
I just planted peas and carrots on Monday. I need to plant lettuces soon. It’s still a little chilly for tomatoes, so will wait awhile on those. I got some sweet Anaheim pepper seeds, so I’m thinking I should get those in soon.
My front beds are a mess due to all the work that was done last fall with the sewer line break. Half my front yard was dug up all the way to the street. The plumbers even tore out one of my shrubs when digging. They will pay to regrade and lay new sod, but it’s up to me to replant the flower beds. I will get an azalea to replace the shrub and need to get some annuals to brighten up that area as the daylillies were killed too.
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chapeau
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Post by chapeau on Apr 3, 2019 7:57:57 GMT -5
Maybe just a visiting dog would work. I’ve had good luck discouraging squirrels and chipmunks with cheap red pepper flakes sprinkled liberally in and around my garden. It has to be reapplied after rain, so super cheap is the only way to go. A friend baits the little thieves up a board and into a plastic bucket, which they can’t climb out of. He didn’t mention driving them out to the country, so I’m pretty sure there’s some water in the bucket to drown them. They would go away over the winter though, if they weren’t bring fed...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2019 8:30:44 GMT -5
I just went outside to move the car. It's snowing! I can't even think of planting yet. What [img src="http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/idunno.gif" src="//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png" class="smile" alt=" "][img src="http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/idunno.gif" src="//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png" alt=" " class="smile"] Come again? It's Canada, not exactly spring there yet. We got an inch of snow yesterday in MN and it's supposed to snow tomorrow too. Then 60 and rain on Saturday. Last year (or maybe the year before) we got a huge snowstorm in May. You can't really think about planting here until Memorial weekend.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Apr 6, 2019 10:54:29 GMT -5
I'm about halfway through my tulips from my cutting beds. It's been a good crop this year. I've brought in about 70, and I have about 30 still working on blooming.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Apr 6, 2019 11:41:13 GMT -5
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