Time Passes

My, how time flashes by.  It doesn’t seem like a month, but it has been.  Well, lets see what’s been happening and what’s new…

I have a very kind gentleman who mows my yard for me when he mows the church’s yard (the Baptist Church is my neighbor).  And I’ve been very happy with him until this last time he mowed.  I know he thought he was being helpful, but he mowed down my mint and weed whacked my trumpet vine.  Sigh!  Oh well.  (I did notice, today when I was watering, that it looks like it’s starting to grow again.  I need to get some sort of barrier so they don’t get knocked down – again.)  He isn’t charging me, so I can’t complain too much, but I will ask that he not mow by the front of the house any more.

As for my other plants, my sister swiped my watermelon plant.  Well, actually Mom said to give it to her.  Out numbered, what can you do?  Never got around to planting my corn, but I do have marigolds and a new mint plant (planted in a barrel so it won’t get knocked down).  All of my tomato plants have flowers and tomatoes on them, I’m so excited!  My rosemary is growing great and the heat finally got to my columbines and bleeding hearts.  I keep watering them so they’ll be back come next spring.

The rains have finally stopped.  Well, they stopped almost a month ago, and it’s been in the 90s and 100s almost every day since.  Now we are back to Red Flag Warnings when the wind starts blowing.  (Red Flag Warnings, for those who don’t know, are warnings that wildfires could be possible, the conditions are right for them to occur.)

We had our bi-annual (every two years) Family Reunion.  It was so great to see everyone.  Some I haven’t seen in 4 or 5 years and some I haven’t seen in 10 years or more.  Mom was so happy at the turn out.  I was so glad for her.

Well, I think that’s about it for now.  It’s hot outside, I’m inside with both air conditioners running and a cold drink where I can reach it.  Meow-Yen Kitty is curled up under the desk, watching me closely.  She’s “in time out” right now.  She figured out how to open the screen door this morning.  Not a fun thing to do at 6 in the morning, chasing her back into the house.  I guess I just have to learn to deal with a scary smart kitty.

Have a good rest of the week, all.

Wow…

We have had one heck of a thunderstorm.  Continuous rumblings of thunder for close to 2 hours.  Lots of rain, pea sized hail and the tornado sirens went off twice.  I know tornadoes were spotted on the ground, just not really sure where.  It’s just raining now, with an occasional rumble of thunder.  Meow-Yen has come out of her hidey hole and is curled up, sleeping, and snoring, on my feet.  Don’t mind at all.

Got some of my plants in the dirt.  A super sweet 100 cherry tomato, rosemary and a bleeding heart.  Those got planted yesterday.  Today I got 3 more tomato plants, given to me by a friend who has a farm and has too many tomato plants for the space they have.  They are labeled.  Two are “F” type tomatoes and 1 is a “J” type tomato.  Have no clue, but they will get planted tomorrow.  As will my sweet corn, some beets, some marigolds and maybe some watermelons –  if I have enough pots and dirt.

I noticed, today, that all the rain has helped my two vines out immensely.  The wild grape ivy is about 10 inches high.  The trumpet vine is about 5 inches high.  Need to figure out how to get a net up so the vines have something to grow on.  I also think my mint is starting to grow, too.  Can’t find my poor little rose bush, but I’m seriously thinking of buying one or two full grown rose bushes for that corner.  With lots of thorns, for anybody who thinks they can just knock them over.  (Long, angry story that I’m not in the mood to go into just now.)

I need to trim my red cedar bush, but I need to get a good, sharp, heavy duty pair of clippers.  My red cedar tree lost a branch in the last storm (not the one that just ended).  That made me sad.

Well, that’s all for now.  On a personal note,  I am getting better everyday.  Still working on the stamina part of recovery, but I feel better and breath easier every day.  Does make me very happy.

On to some projects – finally

Looks pretty good, doesn’t it.  Different angle, but the roofers did a really good job of repairing the ceiling.  And a great job on the roofs.  And the roofs are guaranteed for 30 years.  I like that part.  Now, I can put things where they belong in the back rooms and re-start the projects I had just got started on over a year ago.  I have plans for making this room into my own botanical garden, of sorts.  I have several shelves that will go in and I have an avocado tree growing (needs to be transplanted to a bigger pot), start a citrus tree, and move my tomato plants inside when it gets cooler to see how long I can keep them growing.  As my corn plants fell over, and the roofers all but killed my mint and roses, I will be planting mint inside, along with rosemary, sage and thyme, and trying to grow corn again.  I also have several flowering plants I want to try to grow.  I’m really excited to get started – again.

I still need to replace my seed starting trays and all that stuff, but I can use egg cartons for now.  I also need to figure out a way to compost inside and add a couple of grow lights to the “darker corners”.  (I will still leave room for an eventual washer and dryer, it’s actually a pretty good sized room.)  I have ferns that will just love being out there and white butterfly plants and a Norfolk Island Pine and a golden pothos that’s trying to take over my kitchen.

There is still some cleaning I need to do (That’s why the angle is different), and stuff and things I need to get (soil for one, fertilizer for another, seating), but I’m really excited to start – again.