Just another problem....

When I woke this morning I had the irrigation system on my mind...I think it has not been working and the reason why healthy plants have died. So, out I went to check and sure enough it was blinking. A week or so ago we lost power during the night and I never thought to check the system. Stupid on my part....so, after several tries of doing what Don had showed me a couple of times, it seems to be working. Of course I will be out there early in the morning to be sure it is still working. I feel bad that I was not thinking and because of this I lost 6 beautiful plants. I will replace them as soon as I can in a few weeks. Just when I though I had a grip on the garden this is where I failed. On a positive note, the pond issue may be working so that is good. I really try to accomplish these tasks on my own and not bother or have to depend on others to do for me. I have been lucky with the help of Don and Bobby with the house and garden but they have their own to do. I thought I might try to replace the smoke detectors on my own...seems like it is not too difficult except I may need to drill new holds for the mounting plate. That will require more thought. For now they remain in the box.

Right now I am so frustrated and so very warm from being outside with the humidity I think it is time to rest my brain and back. The recent wind storms have caused the lanai to fill with debris so I did sweep that out...I will leave the rest of the cleaning for another day. Yesterday I did manage to remove 6 beading magazines from my collection. Now on to the quilting and the cross stitch magazines. This I can do while I sit with my feet up and an nice glass of iced Gatorade Rain drink and the tv set to watch Father Dowling Mysteries.

Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Thank you also for your friendship.

Just me and the pond...again

Last night another monsoon storm rolled in....first the winds which were around 60- 80 miles per hour!, then thunder with rain and lightening. I once again put myself in my bedroom where I can hide from the lightening...maybe it should be sound proof too. The thunder felt like it was on my roof. I shut down all my electronics and kept the flash light at hand when the first flicker of the lights happened. Did not loose lights but the storm rattled on for some time. I really expected to have more debris in the garden but not so. Since it was just about 6 am when I went to check and the sun was not around yet....

I did find the morning moon so bright white against the blue sky. I thought well why not try the pond idea. I know you are saying~~~ "oh no" and you are right. Yesterday I went to Home Depot to get AC filters and the new smoke detectors and I bought a pond plant basket. I know it is not the right size but I just want to see if the idea works. I will check on line to order a larger one.

The idea is that it is covering the well area and will trap most of the larger debris so the pump does not clog and the perforated basket will allow the water to circulate. We shall see how this works. In the meantime.....I thought I should go back in and put a pair of shorts on and my garden sneakers....should not work on the pond in pajamas and my Nike slides. Of course I was right....I slipped at the pond edge...you thought something like this would happen didn't you? All the while a hummer was buzzing about and a few bees.

So, I took a one leg bath! The pond is very slanted from the edge to the center....I did know this. So, the pond is back on and I have showered and it is only 6:45 am. While I was visiting HD I looked at the refrigerators…. saw a couple that liked. My friend Bobby (Dianna's hubby) was working so helped me pick out the smoke detectors. Of course the mounting for the new ones is different than the ones up now. I think it will not be my task to climb a ladder and replace these. Not sure if the AC filters need to be replaced but I will check that today. 

My wind sock and the Dragonfly dangle are all caught up from the winds....the tomato plant broke and now is in the trash....but that is all and not bad to deal with. The temp will be back to 107-ish today and of course some humidity. We expect this with the monsoon season....June to September. I have no errands so I will be sitting inside keeping cool. I think today is a--- look at the craft books and magazines kind of day. I have had enough excitement for the day. Glad you stopped by and I thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. A cup of coffee would be nice...….

Clouds in the garden and Hershey kisses in the shower...

The morning began at 6 AM with lots of clouds and the temp was below 100.... so out to the garden I went. The disaster was getting the better of me. I hate to see  our garden looking such a mess. The pond is as good as it will be at the moment until I solve the debris in the pump well. I began with the broom and rake and before I knew it I had clippers in hand and filled a yard trash bag...39 gallon size. Now I needed to get into a shower really quick.... I had tidbits of this and that stuck to me and in my hair. Usually the shower runs hot to warm...today it was on cool and it felt really good. Then it happened.... you knew something would didn't you!. I had not eaten at all and had been out of bed since 3:30AM so I began to fell unwell....okay hungry. That feeling you get when you should have eaten hours ago feeling. So there are Hershey with almonds in the bedroom candy dish.... a quick sugar fix. I am feeling much better but still will need to eat and have a cup of coffee but the garden is mostly clean before the next storm arrives. It may very well be tonight.

My new Fire Line cutters arrived yesterday...they are perfect. They are Xuron 9180 and specifically for beading line.  I have ruined scissors trying to cut thread when beading. Nice sharp points and easy to cut. The Fire Line that I ordered from Fire Mountain  is much thinner than what I have been using and by the time I finished the first half of the Santa earring I felt comfortable with it. We shall see when I bead the next half.
Well, my friends I am feeling a little light-headed...not much up there some days… so I think I had better find something to eat and put the feet up for awhile. Glad you came to chat today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. Still counting the days until you know who arrives. 

An evening monsoon storm

Well, it came with a fury...the evening storm. First the winds began to whip everything here and there and then thunder followed by lightening. My fear of storms and being alone was high. I decided to go into my bedroom where I could pretty much block out the lightening...but alas, the thunder had me sitting tall. All of a sudden the rain began to pour down and sideways and like a whirlwind we were having a storm. Yes there was damage....

This is one of 2 trees from across the neighborhood which is now blocking the road. So no in or out directly.

This is the 2nd one in front of the other. At first thought...sorry but it is not our expense to clean up...but then look at the front of  our community....

This tree was healthy and gave nice shade to the homes out front...
Amazingly we have a tall dead tree that we are planning to remove and it is still standing.

This is yet another of our trees... a smaller one. There are shingles from someone's home all around...thankfully not from our community. Then this...

our flag pole took a fall...almost to the ground. So we did get damage and now for the clean up. The entire Valley was hit with this storm. Some lost electricity...we were lucky to keep ours. Of course the garden and pond have debris...didn't I just get it all clean? ...in the heat and sun?! with me getting a bit of heat fatigue?!
The air is humid and I will not be going out to clean anything this morning. The temp is around 81 and the humidity is 73% and projected temp will be around 107.... so, indoors is my plan. Aw... guess it will be beading and tatting today.
I visited with my pharmacist yesterday... his recommendation for my incision is to use Mederma Oil. Unlike Vitamin E this will help with scar tissue. I have been awake since ...early ….and need another cup of coffee..... I just heard on the news there may be more storm activity this evening... just what I need. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words.I value my friends and always have time for them whether near or far. Thank you for your friendship.

What was I thinking

Sometimes I do not think...I know you find that difficult to believe! Yesterday morning around 10 something I decided to go to CVS but stopped in the garden first. Mistake...well not really but I should have just gone to CVS. The sky was cloudy and the temp did not feel too bad....still not in the 100+ yet. So, I said to myself ---why not work on the pond just for a few minutes. Get it at least cleaned out …. that led to well let me get the pump re-connected....that went quickly!

Then I thought why not plug it in and add just enough water to see if it will flush through....it did so why not just fill it. While the pond was filling (going to take a few minutes) I picked up the rake and broom and cleaned an area....then picked up a few items that blew around during the previous nights winds...then I felt it. The heat. I felt hot and my breathing was telling me time to get inside. Really, I only planned on ….well, I was not thinking. As soon as I was back in the house I drenched my face and neck with cold water. Then I grabbed the ice pack and held it to the back of my neck. My head finally stopped spinning and I began to cool down. A couple of glasses of iced water also helped. But...the pond is full and the water is falling and it is clean. Still a little work to do around it.. the "grass" pieces are still not in and the ducks are someplace.
My reward for the hard work when I looked out the front window was....

This Robin was one of 4 that paraded around looking for food. We do not get to see Robins too often. Back East we had them all the time in the garden and at the feeders and birdbath. I have never seen them at the birdbath here. I do not hang seed out so they must scrounge the grass area.
I never did get to CVS to talk with the pharmacist. That is for later this morning. Some of you feel Vitamin E is good and a few others did not. I think I will check with the Michael at CVS then decide what to use on the scar. I am not looking to make it disappear...it is 2 inches after all and will be with me forever...just want the area to not be so dry. Guess that is it for now. Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. Thank you most of all for your friendship.

"A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines"

Benjamin Franklin