huh????

 Today was one of those days

    The plan was to get up early, finish clean up around the gardens, finish mowing and trim.

    I actually got all of that done.

    But I forgot to feed Beth!  How could I do that? 

    I had eaten, had my tea and was heading out the door when I noticed her food bowl was empty.  That triggered a response.  It was empty because I never filled it.

       Later  I went to the store and forgot my reusable bags, and  my produce bags,   I also forgot my grocery list.  Well, I didn't forget it because I never made one.

    I was planting some little greens in the garage when the Fed Ex truck slowed to a stop in front of the house.

    He backed up and pulled up the driveway.

    He was looking for an address and could not find it, mainly because he was on the wrong road.  I know!!  How does that happen??

    I told him he was not on Flagg Road and that  I thought maybe he had something for me.  He looked on his computerized list and said he did!  I got my new cushions for the porch chairs. 

    Then the rains came.

    I went into the house and sat down for a few minutes.  There was a huge boom of thunder that shook the house.

    Jackie asked where Beth was, because Beth does not like loud noises.

    I went and looked.  Not in the den. Not in the bedroom.  Not in the laundry area.

    I opened the garage door and there she was!  I had no idea she went into the garage.

    Our neighbor told me they had 1.25 inches in the rain gauge from the gusher today.

    It's raining again.

    Julia said she has standing water in her standing water.

    We have a tornado watch until 11.  I tend to get a little excited about those, but so far tonight I am ok.

    But it is early.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

Fireflies!

 I saw my first fireflies of the year tonight

    There were several in the front yard.  I did not even attempt to catch them.

    When I was a kid, I would collect them and put them in a jar.  There would be holes poked in the lid.

    I could sit and watch them for hours.

    Then I would set them free, at least the ones that were still alive.

    I read an article that basically said we may be the last generation to see fireflies.

    Climate change, habitat loss, pesticides..... all are combining to put stress on those little bright lights.

    It would be a shame if they disappeared.

    Years ago my cousin Sally brought her young daughter to Illinois from Alaska for a visit.  There are no fireflies in Alaska.  The little girl was entranced by them.

    I know, people also call them lightening bugs.  and some glowworms.

    But I will always call them love and summer.

    Jackie and I got our new glasses today.  She had a doctor's appointment in Sycamore, and we hit the eye doc and the vet.  Usually what happens is we get a call to pick up something minutes after we have left the place.  So the timing was great.

    After watching the start of the Knicks-Spurs game last night, I am beginning to like New York fans a lot more than I did.  That was a lot of boos.

    I have a little mowing to finish tomorrow.  10 minutes of mowing that will take me an hour.  Pick up will be the chore.

    And I have to get it done early.  Severe weather is moving into our area for the afternoon and through the next day

    I have not started to panic.....yet.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

wet days

 I got very little done today

    Yes, I did 1 load of laundry.   Sheets.  Folded them when they were done in the dryer and made the bed.

    I also cut up some boards from the old garden.  I stuffed 5 of them in the trash can.  Even if I had my new cart I would not put it out with the garbage.  Lesson learned.

    I still have 3 boards to cut.  It should take a normal person about 15 minutes.  I am not normal. After cutting a couple I moved to the garden and checked the crops..  Beans are up, cucumbers are up, tomatoes are doing ok.  I bought a second green pepper plant.  I just remembered that now.  I have no idea where I put it.

    I was cutting and fiddling for about 40 minutes.  Actual work time....maybe 10.

    Around 3 I sat on the porch and tried to read.  But my eyes got heavy and I napped.

    I just need to take care of little things.

    I just can't seem to get started on them.

    It is possible we will  get heavy rains tonight.  No fear of flooding because the ground is so dry it just sucks the rain in.

    You can actually hear it!   Suuuuuuck....... suuuuuck.......burp.

    Or maybe that was me.

    Time will tell.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

drip drip

 This was a hose day 

    I finally set up my garden watering system. It is Bluetooth activated and all  I have to do now is wait to see if the timers actually go on when they are supposed to.

    We had a lot of rain today.  We needed it.

    I did not have anything in my rain gauge except a crack, so I have no idea how much we got.  It had to be close to an inch.

    Emily came over to help with the table and the fountain.  The fountain took about 3 minutes.  I held and she tightened the clamp.  It works nicely now.

    But we did not move the table.  

    It was still a little tacky and moving it would probably not have been an ideal thing to do.

    Maybe tomorrow.

    She also showed me how to use my Walmart app to get a discount on gasoline.

    I grilled in the rain.

    It wasn't raining when I started, but did drizzle while I was burning meat.

    The rain must have been the magic touch, because the meat tasted pretty dang good for road kill raccoon.

    After all, beef prices are up!

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

almost

 I have  several things in the almost done stage

    And it is the little things that frustrate the hell out of me.

    For example:  I have a fountain on the porch.  Every time I connect the hose to the pump and lower it into the water, the hose disconnects.

    I found a tiny, tiny clamp I can put on it. but I can't hold the clamp and screw the tightener at the same time.  I tried several times before giving up.  I just need a third hand.

    My patio table is ready.  But I can't move it by myself.  Hopefully one of the girls will have about 10 to 15 minutes to finish both tasks.

    Emily said she would drop over tomorrow sometime, so I should be able to get those 2 things done.

    Took a whole bunch of stuff to shred day at a local bank.

    Surprisingly, there were not a lot of people there. One of the guys said they were busy earlier, but that had slacked off.

    They do this once a year,  Another bank is doing one in 2 weeks.

    Seems to me they need to coordinate better and spread the days farther apart.

    Not to get political, which I seldom do in this little missive.  

    But what is being done to the White House is simply outrageous!

    The People's House used to be a beautiful icon of our country.

    Now. the Rose Garden is gone, the East Wing is a pile of debris, and worst of the worst is whatever the hell is being built to host ultimate fighter matches.

    What an embarrassment.

    You know who is going to have to pay for all of this.....you, me and countless others who never wanted their White House desecrated in such a manner.

    End of my rant.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

It has begun

 The summer of our discontent

    Cubs playing terribly.  Dry, hot weather burning up yards and stressing trees. 

    The war at home.

    No, I am not talking about Iran.  I am talking about The Thermostat War.

    We have 2 settings for the AC:  Too hot or too cold.

    Set it at 74 she says.

    Too hot.

    Set it at 72 she says.

    Too cold.

    I like it at 72...she sits with a sweatshirt on and complains it is too cold.

    I think it is funny how our body reacts. 

    In the winter 72 is quite comfortable and at night sleep seems best at 68.

    But it is too cold in the summer with those temperatures.

    Jackie has allergies, so opening windows at night is not an option.  When she could still walk, I sometimes would go into the other bedroom, open the windows, and sleep in there.  That stopped when Julia came home.

    Now I can't because with my lousy hearing I would never be able to hear her in the middle of the night.  Or Beth either.

    The problem is the house gets so hot at about 4.......no setting seems to be the optimum at that time of day.

    At least no one gets hurt in The Thermostat War.  

    Just sometimes a little cold.  Or hot.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

A mental trip

We went to the South Pacific today 

    Well, not the South Pacific, but the musical currently at the Paramount Theater in Aurora.

    Jackie, Emily, Renee and I made the matinee after a nice lunch at a restaurant almost next to the theater.  I think it was the Art Box?  But maybe not.

    Anyway, South Pacific was written in 1949 and was a smash hit.  (Thanks, Wikipedia)  A movie was made in 1958 and I do believe my mom took me to see it at the Music Box.  I think.  I know I saw the movie and loved the music.

    In high school, I remember the chorus singing Some Enchanted Evening in concert.  

    And VCCT did the show in Atwood Park several years ago.  I was much younger and had a small role.  

    The Paramount production was great!  The set, lighting, performers.....I was pretty impressed.

    Two of the main characters were talking about the women they loved but marriage was not in the cards because of cultural issues, such as marrying someone not of your background even though you loved them.

    I copied the lyrics from one of the songs.

You've got to be taught

From year to Year

It's got to be drummed

in your dear little ear

You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught

To be Afraid

Of people whose eyes

are oddly made

And people whose skin

Is a different shade

You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught

Before it's too late

Before you are 6 or 7 or 8

To hate all the people

your relatives hate

You've got to be carefully taught

    Written in 1949, the lyrics still run true today.

    Some things we need to stop teaching.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace