Apropos of Nothing v. 2

Aren't magpies one of the Jay family?

I hate the word "should" - you SHOULD do this, you SHOULD do that. I think no other word produces such angst. So guilt producing! Lately it seems that I hear this word several times a day. You SHOULD get a physical every year, not every 18 months. You SHOULD wear sunscreen every day, even when it's cloudy and rainy. You SHOULD visit your parents in Ca for Thanksgiving, even though you'd rather kick back at home and be with friends. You SHOULD not drink Pepsi. You should ride your bicycle to the market, even when it's raining. !!!

And every once in a while you SHOULD have a good foot stomping, fist clenching, steaming earred rant!!!! Go girl go - it does the soul good!

I'm trying to think of the clinician who coined the term "THE TYRANNY OF THE SHOULDS" - isn't it a wonderfully descriptive phrase - got it, it was Karen Horney.

Judi, may i recommend "Guilt-Away"? Spray it on, all guilt rolls off, teflon-like. I love it! And no aftertaste...

It just started raining cats and dogs here! Glad I made it to the farmers market & got some pruning done before it started.

"THE TYRANNY OF THE SHOULDS" ..... I love it! It is nice to know that you are not the only one that suffers the guilt and frustration of "SHOULD".

Katye, love the "Guilt-Away" idea...does it come in industrial size?

Bea, you are lucky you got chores done before the rain! I have put my outside clothes on twice now, and it has started dumping both times. It is balmy and wonderful out if it would just stop dripping! I finally feel comfortable planting some of my things that have been hanging out since roundup as it has been just too dry to take the chance!

We were just going to go outside, but it thundered really loud, and then started dumping. We need to go get 30 or so bags of cement to finish the new GH foundation, but not in the big rain. Sprinkles are ok, but not cow pee rain.

I found a frog in my GH. Will he live in there, or should I try to catch him? I don't want him to die.

I am a long way from being done. Just got some of the cosmos cut down as they fell across the sidewalk with the winds yesterday. The season seems late this year as I still have a lot blooming and hate to cut it down. I am sure the storm today will take out a lot. I clipped some roses to bring in the house. Feisty cat loves rose. I should know better by now. She chomped on some of the leaves and threw them up shortly therafter. You would think she would learn. Wonderful! Between my two Chihuahuas who have forgotten that they are housebroken and the cat..i have gotten a lot of use out of my carpet cleaner this week!!

Julie the calla lilies you gave me are doing fantastic. They have gotten so big! Hopefully some pretty blooms are just around the corner.

Lynn, I find frogs in my GH every so often and leave them there. I have never seen a dead one there, either. I hope they take care of some of the pesky bugs that are really hard to get rid of.
Bea, those callas look so healthy! Mine are very late in blooming this year. I don't even know if I will get flowers as they do turn to mush after a first frost.
Well, time to don the rain gear and get to planting. I also have RU stuff and also the fuchsias and shrubs I acquired on my trip to Oregon a couple of weeks ago.

Poor Karen Horney, coiner of the term "Tyranny of the Shoulds" - she has a most unfortunate last name but if she wrote a book I will buy it! There are "understood shoulds" like you shouldn't eat yellow snow, but the ones that really get me are the shoulds uttered by those who are giving unsolicited advice and have no concept of your life.

Laurie I tried stomping and steaming but I felt pretty ridiculous so I took Koka for a walk in the rain. So refreshing!

I am not sure my yard will know what to do with all this rain; it has been such a stranger this year.
I have a question for all of you die-hardy gardeners in this climate. HOW do you garden in the rain? I think my latent Midwest persona (read, "spoiled" because it doesn't rain like this back there) will never adjust to doing things in the rain and cold and mud...... :(

LFS: here, one gardens by putting up with it, or, anticipating weather forecast & meshing that with a schedule. Priorities are determined by the time of year/ low temps for me. Not sure how others do theirs.

Without a GH, necessary duties take precedence. I can garden in drizzle, but not with the wind going or a steady rain. I prefer not to mess with my soil when it's that soggy.
Also - I break tasks into bite-sized pieces, to allow work outdoors during the 15 minute rain-breaks we sometimes get. Diminishing light fuels the pace, too. Dividing tasks - an example:
- decide placement of X
- dig hole & amend for X
- plant X & create berm/basin around it

This allows me the opportunity to actually accomplish things, which may or may not occur on the same day. But at the very least, I am moving through the process. When one works full-time, it's a p*sser, and easy to get discouraged due to the lack of light & periods of "WetCold". I had to find out through trial & error what works for my disposition. Frankly, I'd like to be completely done. HA! like that's a reality.

Autumn is much busier for me than Spring. BTW, I don't cut anything back - I let the birds have at the seeds all winter. That came in handy last year for them. I do try to eliminate as many weeds as possible, but I am one of those that likes to rip the weeds out of the soil to prevent their offspring. A cup of coffee & I'm good for a few hours of weed-removal.
In the Spring, it's the same, but with a different type of energy for a different list of to-do's. Much depends on what the size of your garden is, what type of gardening & whether you've got help or not. Some of us are Staff of One; that presents another challenge.
Must get through the tunnel of Winter, first.

RJ - Guilt away IS available in the Industrial size. Highly effective against "guilt-gifting" and thwarting invitations to dance with those that bear this type of gift.
Self-induced guilt is a different matter. I only suffer from the latter & mildly so. The benefit to kicking oneself in the rear does produce smaller, stronger gluteals. A positive outcome, to be sure.

This message was edited Oct 17, 2009 2:27 PM

Don't know how long you have been in the PNW, ladyfiresign, but after several years you learn to just ignore our typical rains. Please note, they are NOT usually like the dumping stuff we have been getting this week.
I also came from the Midwest, but do find the very extended gardening season here is helpful, particularly in the procrastination area. I have learned that you usually just continue on with your plans, and usually only get slightly damp in the process. Two items I also use are a polar fleece hat and a pair of Muck Boots. The boots I wear nearly all year as they keep my feet dry in the dew as well as the rain. The hat keeps your head warm and relatively dry.

Apologies: forgot to mention adult beverages.

Ah, yes!!!! The promise of a brandy to warm you up when you have accomplised something and are ready to rest is definitely a good motivator!

Sharon - thank you! Brandy & coffee go so well together, IMO. =:0)

Magpies are in the crow family, though this says that their names are used interchangeably.

This is a neat article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magpie

And I like this poem said to be associated with Magpies

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
And seven for a secret never to be told.

I find that the most difficult part of gardening in drizzly weather is setting your foot out of the door. Once you're out, it's kind of fun. Like playing in rain and puddles when you were a kid. Hot coffee or chocolate with a dash of Kahlua.

Well, I took some fall color shots today during a lull. There were people out golfing. ^_^

Hostas in the courtyard

My new maple tree.

Up the side yard. The neighbor contributes most of the color.

On the other side.

This message was edited Oct 17, 2009 6:57 PM

The berberis

Can't see it. Oh the elves

This message was edited Oct 17, 2009 7:00 PM

Gorgeous pics, Willow... should put them in the Garden shots thread too!

I have the same little gnome as you- the one standing next to the door. :)

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