Monsoon storms

The winds always start first around here then the rain came with thunder and of course not long after, the lightening...… it was a loud storm. It lasted for a couple of hours. Early last evening around 6:30PM I decided to get the sump pump and drain the pond...easy and did not take long. Now that the pump[ is out I see where it came apart. Let's hope I can re-attach it with little difficulty. The final bit would be with the shop vac and that would wait until today... not. The rain has cause some real humidity this morning and everything is very wet out there. More importantly my back is aching and near impossible to apply the medicated gel.... need an extra set of hands. The heating pad was helping so maybe back with that today. I will take a couple of OTC pain meds. Too much yard work in one day. It is obvious that I pulled my back out in the last few days. I need a sign in the garden that reminds me that I am not superwoman.

Yesterday morning I returned to the bead shop and sat with them for a few hours … until my back just would not relax. My bracelet is about one third finished... I plan on a 3 wrap. I just love the colors and the process. Using the various beads gives nice texture. I see a few gifts in the making. I very much enjoyed sitting at the shop beading. Zina, the owner is such a great multi tasker... teaching a couple of ladies at another table to make another style bracelet  and helping others pick out supplies and still finding time to answer my questions all the while making sales. When the moment is quiet she tries to work on her own design for a peyote bracelet. I plan to go there for open beading at least once a week.  Vickie who also works there is so pleasant to be around.
Right now though it is time to enjoy my coffee and later to the pharmacy for my prescription refill. Then back to beading. I really need to change out the smoke detectors...but not sure if climbing the step ladder today is a good idea. The pond and garden will need to wait. All about relaxing today. Glad to chat with you. I thank you for your kind words and emails. Thank you also for your friendship.

A new beading project

The morning is starting much cooler than usual and there was rain wind and thunder last evening. More expected later today into the night. So glad that I decided to clean the garden of debris yesterday...less of a mess this morning after winds and rain. The pond water has lowered and I will definitely drain it tomorrow.

Yesterday afternoon as I sat I felt that I needed something to do. What? I have several projects at the ready! No, I wanted...more like needed to be out of the house... so off to the bead shop I travelled. These are the supplies for a wrap bracelet. I have never made one before and this is a really nice project. The owner of the shop, Zina helped me with the bead selection and showed me how to properly get this started.

Here is a close up of my project so far. My button for closure is a dragonfly...of course. I may go today to work on it there. The atmosphere is wonderful there and the owner is very welcoming.
I can see more of these in my future. A great way to use all those extra beads.
I really have been busy with the purging of my stash...

Look at these two old...old knit books! I have been knitting since a child so of course I would have old books. But these must go...as I have not used them since forever.

Here are some cross stitch that are leaving my stash....still more to sort through. Time for all these items to go. If I have not used them by now or already made something then it is time. I hardly ever stitch something twice. I found that I have the complete snowmen of the month collection by Cutis Bohringer. So much to sort yet.
Well, the sun has yet to shine this morning....very dull out there. This brightened my day....

Lisa sent me this picture of herself and the horse she rides...he is beautiful. Lisa loves horses and rides all the time back in RI and that is the one thing she must do each time she is out here. Her smile tells you everything. Speaking of Lisa...she and The Brother Alan will be here soon...39 days.... but who is counting.
Time to do a few household things before beading....I think I will go back to the bead store to work later this morning. Glad to have you stop by and thank you for the kind words and emails. Thank you most of all for your friendship.

A new girl in the house

What was I thinking...well I know what I was doing. Last evening we had another storm....winds ...rain...thunder and of course the lightening. So, I barricaded myself in the bedroom where I can almost completely block out the lightening. The winds rattled everything out in the garden that was not cemented down. So this morning I went out to find and organized the landscape. Filled another trash bag with debris and some tree clippings for pick up tomorrow. There, I feel better about that. I was thinking ...I know sometimes I do not...before going out so I wrapped an ice cold bandana around my neck, had a full cup of iced water and my phone in pocket. I keep a wet bandana or two in plastic sandwich bags in the refrigerator so that when it is hot they are at the ready. It came in handy yesterday when Dianna was here. We took apart the small gazebo and stuffed it into her Kia Soul...off to her back yard now. Then we took down the home theater screen from the living room. As hot as it was we did not feel too bad.

Look at this cutie. Dianna brought her to me and although she isn't really southwest, she is sitting on the shelf next to my computer where I am greeted by her each day. She is holding basil from my garden and when it dries it will hand down from the pot she is holding. Dianna has a duplicate of her....we do share several pieces of identical things. Dianna always thinks of me. We are sisters from different mothers!
Now about the pond. this is just a temporary set back. This pond is important to me and my garden. I probably did not re-attach the tubing tightly enough....the way Don did. I cannot and will not leave it empty...cannot take it apart as it is cemented, built into the ground and attached to the wall. I would not want to have an empty pond. When sitting outside it is a delightful sound listening to the waterfall trickle down. The birds and lizards depend upon it of their water and baths. I depend upon it for relaxing sounds. When we moved here 13 years ago Dennis put a lot of work into getting it operating... it was a thing of pride to him. Many nights The Brother Alan and Lisa enjoy sitting out there with a glass of wine and hearing the sounds.... I do too. So, yes it would be simple to just let it go, but no, I can not....I need it. Now that I can empty it in minutes since I found the sump pump! it is not difficult. Over the weekend I will get it back to running. Thank you for visiting...thank you for the kind words and for your friendship.

Two steps back....again

Another humid day with fairly decent morning temps. The expected temp will be around 103.... The sun is not so bright with the clouds overhead and that is fine with me. I just went out to open my back gate...and what do I find? First sign of trouble was not hearing the waterfall....as small as it is you can hear the water. The pump has disconnected from the waterfall connection...you do know what this means...yes, I will need to let the pond evaporate again or drain to re-connect.
Honestly it is easier to use the sump pump and drain it and then just do the job. Unfortunately for me with the humidity I am not sure that today is the day. Have no clue as to why this happened...maybe I did not connect it as well as I thought.

Sorry I am not too cheerful....just frustrated.

Yesterday Glenda and Don stopped by to check on the irrigation system and that at least I did do correctly and the blinking is not an issue. Don did change the length of time that it will run for me. Good friends and good neighbors. They will be moving in the near future...in the same neighborhood just not that Glenda and I will be walking to visit! Not sure what my day will hold now..... do I cave in and work on the pond since the temp will not be too hot? or do I wait until early tomorrow morning. I spent time going through cross stitch patterns and have removed a lot. If I have not stitched them by now …. so feeling good about that but I have so much to go through yet. Waiting for Dianna to stop by so off I go.

Thanks for listening...thank you too for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

One down one to go.....

So, almost 6 am and when I went out to check the pond to see if the screening was still in place....

Yes indeed it is and working! I was able to get it in place yesterday evening and found 4 rocks to keep it from floating. It is 2 foot by 2 foot and did I mention it has sharp edges...not to worry I was careful and did not get cut. I did not even fall in....I allowed the pond to evaporate for a couple of days so I did not have to drain it. Around 3 am the winds were furious and the leaves were floating this morning. Easy to skim out. This means only monthly (maybe) I would have to wet vac the pump! I am pleased with this.
But...you knew there was a but.... the irrigation system is working but evidently I do not know how to program the start time correctly. Time to hire someone to do it and this time I will try to pay better attention with the how to part. I did what the instructions said but somehow it is not right. Yesterday the temps were around 115 and the same is expected for today. Just the few minutes I was outside "doing something" I could feel the heat ( temp is already 92) with my breathing. I keep telling everyone that I am delicate. While the leaves and such were blowing in the wind....makes me think of Bob Dylan... I also thought about the rain gutters....I probably need to check them for debris. I have yet to try to replace the smoke detectors...got my work cut out for me. In the meantime, glad we had a visit and thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Your friendship means so very much to me. 

Feeling accomplished

The irrigation seems to be back on track.  I did go to Ace Hardware and one of the guys suggested that I try hardware cloth...which is a galvanized mess for the pond. So the plan is to allow water to evaporate these next few days and with the heat is not difficult. The temp will be around 112 for a couple of days and then by Wednesday to the end of the week possible storms again. Ideally it would be good to get this mess in place before that. Again they say we are in a heat advisory...like we do not know this?! Once the water is low I should be able to get this in place..... without falling in.

The magazines eliminated from my collection are now up to 19.... this covers beading, quilting and cross stitch. I had already started on patterns and leaflets so this is an accomplishment for sure. Still have more to peruse. Problem is  that I start looking and then reading something and before I know it I have taken too much time.
I have a quick 2 errands then I hope to have need in hand or maybe the shuttle.... it has felt good not to think that I have to be doing something. Relaxing is good for the soul as well as the hand.
I do need to trim back the Firecracker and Memory bush but unless I can get out there at 6 am it is not going to happen. I borrowed Don's long handle trimmer. Saw one in Ace  that I may purchase. Dennis would just use the ladder and we know that I cannot nor will I get on the ladder. They have reached around 8 feet in height.  The winds have picked up as they seem to do each evening sounding the chimes and buoy bell. Too bad it is hot air. With that I will say adios. Nice to have a chat with you. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.
Are you keeping count? There are 44 days until The Brother Alan and Lisa are here.....