Hanging in there. Part 3

Beautiful, We lost power yesterday. Storm went through and not sure what happened but one of the poles down the street cracked it's one with a transformer on it. They had to replace the pole and it was a long job. We went down to Josh's house for the evening and played cribbage, had pizza and come home to a still dark house. Then we went outside for an evening swim. You should have heard the frogs last night they were so loud. Ladyg how are your frogs doing this summer? I know how much you enjoy watching them. Holly

Hey Chris, still here and sending healing thoughts and hugs(((♥♥♥))) It's been one crazy thing after another for me this season, between closing my business, my sons wedding and a severe case of sciatica and the heat wave,I may never catch up!

Despite my sciatica my son's wedding was spectacular. A lovely service and a wonderful reception. Those Italians can really throw a party!

here are the Bride and Groom Joe and Cristina

My baby boy!

LadyG, have a great weekend.

Luvs, those are two beautiful pictures! I imagine there were a few tears shed!

Thanks BP! And I personally was a blubbering idiot! LOL Joey and I have a rare special relationship...and he aint no mamas boy!

Oh Ruby, Your hill is looking spectacular. That is such a beautiful thing to look forward to every year! I know what you mean by trying not to go outside until it's a little cooler. I do that sometimes myself.

Holly, an evening swim sounds delightful. How long was it before you got the power back? Did you get much rain?

We got a whopping 15 minutes of rain yesterday. It came down fairly hard so I am not watering today. But it wasn't enough to really soak the beds. The sun came out immediately afterward. I was out there this morning and this afternoon and no dirt stuck to my shoes. Just 4 miles away in several directions, got horrible downpours and a lot of downed trees, but not us. The temperature is about 3 degrees cooler than yesterday, still in the 90's, but there's still a nice breeze. It's supposed to stay in the 90's through Wednesday.

When my electric bill came yesterday, it said that this month was a daily average of 5 degrees warmer than last year. That's pretty significant, usually there might be 1 to 3 degrees of difference. Warmer temps, a lot less rain in the spring and a very windy spring have taken their toll on my gardens. So far, it has been very windy, even recently.

Ronnie, Joe & Cristina make such a lovely couple. I hope they make each other very happy. Your "Baby" looks nothing like a "Mama"s Boy". Italian weddings are fabulous, and I'm sure both families did their best to make it a really special day for the newlyweds. So sorry you've been dealing with that Sciatica. I know how painful that can be. Long drives will give me a flare up of that.

Chris, you always said that my photos looked good because my beds were always neat and well maintained. LOL, well not this year! Just trying to keep up with the chores so I might get to take some photos, is all that I can do. Just deadheaded the roses, peonies, Asiatic lilies and daylilies. After I rest my feet, I may try for a few photos. Need to treat the roses for blackspot and insects. That will have to wait for tomorrow. Need to start some dinner after some photos. Hope you are enjoying today, and maybe cooking up something good yourself.

Hi Stormy, it's Ric, We had a downpour, the ground was dry enough to suck up most of it. Our power was out for 2pm till 3-4 am today. I'm still on dizzy detention and Holly's off sitting the Grands, Jamie and crew are in Va. beach for a retirement and everyone else is busy, I'm just hangin' out and soaking up the quiet. Ric

LOL, Ric Dizzy Dentention!! I like that. Ric, quiet definitely has it's moments. Holly must be feeling good about your progress if she's left your detention unmonitored. Glad the power wasn't out any longer. That was long enough to be an inconvenience, but short enough that it wasn't a disaster.

I wish we had gotten some of that rain.


Hi, Chris!!!!

No rain here either....

HollyAnn, I was picturing you and Ric relaxing in the dark and forgot to say so! You made the best out of a dreary situation. I'm glad nothing went wrong with you or your house! The frogs would have been the perfect calming end to a busy day.

Luvs, it shows! You are blessed! So is your son and new wife!

Stormy, I'm amazed at how many people missed the brunt of these storms. I'm so glad no one has lost their house, or worse.

Ric, LOL! Get yourself better!!

I woke up to.....rain. It started sometime in the night and might have just quit. I am so glad I mowed yesterday. I was going to work on enlarging beds today, since we were drying out so well. Not now. It's going to be in the 90's. I think I'll stay in if I can.

Chris, still waiting for you. I sure hope you are getting back on your feet and catching up on all you didn't get to do while down. Thinking good thoughts for you today!

Big Hug and Big Prayer for you!

This house is at the bottom of the road. We are at the top. They get all our rain run-off. This was from the storm we got Tuesday.

((Just checking back, Chris' third treatment was April 14th. I hope that means 4 and 5 are done, or near. I'm not sure how many she expected to have. Just hoping like all of you that it's over soon and our Chris is feeling better.))

Chris is probably still going to work a few days a week too. I imagine that she is exhausted with trying to maintain her life and wellness regimen.

I'd like to continue sending her our support and prayers, letting her know she's in our thoughts and give her some of the highlights of our endeavors, so she has an easy fun enjoyable read to ease her way back to us, without feeling that she's totally out of the loop. Not that we all haven't felt that way at times.

You see Chris, we are not giving up on you!! We are not a crew that you can easily shake out of your hair!! We cling and fight for what we love, and that is YOU!!! Soooo, you are stuck with us. May your road back be gentle.

Nope not giving up! Um, there isn't much hair to hold on to right now, LOL! How about an ear? We're a bunch of earrings!

Friends for life!

Hoping this makes you smile~Enjoy!

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2355531609459&source=jl999

Ronnie, That was really pretty and sweet! Now we need to find a frog one.

Chris, I hope you enjoyed that, it was cute, even to the power tool guys! Ric

Luv's that was so neat!

77° and still. Rain is headed our way! The mosquitos number 3 to a square foot.

There's a guy a few miles out of town who is qualified to shoot off the big fireworks. I heard the grand finale around 10:00 pm. Expensive as they are, he sets off quite a few over his pond. We aren't friends, but know those who do go out and party.

I picked and cooked some of the beets I grew yesterday. I like them! DH says they smell like a dirty basement, so more for me!

Chris, hoping you are feeling better!!

77! Boy, would that be nice right now. It's another scorcher here.

Thanks, Ronnie. I love Jacquie Lawson's cards. That's a really pretty one.

Chris, I hope you're healing and feeling stronger.

Hot as hades here with no rain in sight...crunch crunch goes the lawn! The sprinklers aren't even putting a dent in the cemented earth! Chris hoping you are staying cool and comfy inside and doing better♥

Ronnie, you're not kidding. I just came in from the garden, but stopped to move one that's been running for 2 hours. The ground around it isn't even damp!!!! Lord, is it hot out there. Have to give the feet a break, but have lots more to do. Just now, a slight breeze has started. It's been very still all morning.

HOW HOT IS IT??????

I spent this morning watering everything in Outside garden at my HD. WHY? Because I was assigned to do it.....
From 9:30AM until 12:45PM-----That was NOT any fun!!!!! it has been like this the last 3 Sundays when I am out there....
I walked inside a couple of times--and it was like heaven! It just drains me of a lot of energy....

Same thing Tuesday---
Same thing Wednesday----

Lady--I know i haven't posted a lot--but you are in my thoughts every day. Same goes for Jill.
I am not the praying kind--so there isn't much I can add to all the other postings.....just loving you in my mind and wishing you a speedy recovery. You are so brave!
Aren't prayers just thoughts centered on someone you care about???? I would think so......

Take it easy and rest.....Gita
(my tall, red Hibiscus)

Gita, Beautiful color on that Hibiscus. You always do such a good job of capturing the reds.

About 4:30, I got into my car, which was parked in the shade. It said that the outside temperature was 99. It was hot, but not extremely humid. It's so strange to have such dry heat here. Tomorrow is supposed to be extremely humid. It's weird to see so much burned up brown grass in June. At least we're not mowing as much. The skeeters are still biting though!

Stormy--

I IS HOT and HUMID here!!!!! Like--You need a towel just to walk outside!

The month of July seems t be (pedicted) to be in the high 80's and night-tome lows in the high 60's.
I can live with that!!!!!

Gita

Chris--I sure hope you're feeling some pleasant lake effect breeze and seeing the end of this road, to better times ahead and lots more gardening!.

I'm almost afraid to say how cool and nice it is this early morning. We are going to have a nice cool week too. High pressure is centered over us. I sure feel for you guys tho, and I can't walk the flower beds without 6 mosquitos trying to bite at the same time. That's just in one spot. The bed is 80' long and 16' wide. I do not linger!

LadyG, we ended up at DD's house last night and the kids were splashing in a clean, warm swimming pool. If I had known, I would have taken extra clothes and hopped in! I'm hoping to work outside today. The ground is so wet, I might have to try enlarging the beds under the greedy maple tree. There seems to be more sand in that yard anyway. If I water the honeysuckle on the arbor, a five gallon bucket is immediatly soaked up. No run-off. It has to be sand.

I hope today is a good day for you. I can't inmagine how tired you must be. Praying for a good outcome for all this trouble you have had.

Hugs and prayers!

Boy it was a busy weekend. I babysat Lily & Lucas at Jen's house. I picked them up at daycare on Friday and took them over to my parents house for an hour or so. Sat morning Josh came to help me take them to swim lessons. Jen came home on Sunday morning then Sunday afternoon the whole family went to a family reunion. Ric made the shredded roast pork which was the main meat course. Today is kick back and rest day as I will be getting the little ones Tues, Weds & Thurs as their sitter is on vacation. Hope you all had as much fun over the weekend as I did. Ladyg, have a good rest today. Holly

Another hot one today~I can smell the lawn cooking! Already watered the patio and driveway area, on to the back end of the yard. My hose hasn't been put away in weeks it seems...We celebrated my oldest son's birthday on Saturday with pizza and pasta salad~Yum! I swam for a bit Saturday night with the grand-girls and don't think it helped my sciatica any but they had a blast so it's worth it. Sunday we celebrated my nephew's 16th birthday but no swimming this time.A big food eating weekend...yikes and I can't go to the gym to work it off! LOL...I am going for a consultation tomorrow to possibly have an epidural for the pain.

Chris I hope you are doing well and reading along with us and smiling at our tales!! ♥

Last night--the skies grew "ominous"--the wind kicked up and I just KNEW we were going to get some serious showers......NOPE!!!!! Cheated again!!!

This afternoon (Monday) around 3PM--same thing.....a lot of dark clouds and breezes wisping through the trees.....
I went to play Volleyball--and when i came out of the Center--there were rain drops falling.....HALLELUJAH!!!!

Cheated again! The sun is out and the 96* heat is still there......We have now had 3 days straight with 100* temperatures.....A record---and the Summer is only a few days along......

They are still saying that tonight (Monday) we will be having serious T-Showers and high winds....
We need rain SOOO badly!!!!!

I have to get up tomorrow at 4AM to be at work by 6AM. to water all the trees and shrubs in the Garden.
I hope I won't have to stand out there for 4 hours--hose in hand--in the blazing sun to do all this....
It is SOOO exhausting!!! I drink and drink my water bottle (24oz) about 3x filled.....and never go to pee.
It all comes out as sweat!
The temps are supposed to drop by 15-20 degrees by Tuesday night. I sure hope so--but I no longer believe it!!!! Been cheated too many times lately!
I am so grateful of how cheap water is in Baltimore COUNTY! In Baltimore CITY it is a whole 'nother thing!

I have been sprinkling almost daily just to keep my beds watered, as well as all my big pots...

HollyAnne, busy and busier! I'd find kick-back time too!

Luvs, I'm so sorry for your pain. It makes it hard to enjoy anything. Sounds like family time is keeping you busy. I hope you get rain soon. Is this usual for you to be dry?

Gita, we had a year like that and it got to be so depressing. All the rain went either side of us. I don't complain when it rains a lot now. Wow, now that is hot!! I hope all of you who need rain get that break. It takes rain to make rain.

We are finally having June weather. I got up and put on a jacket as it's 60°. We actually got to have windows open yesterday. Our dirt has dried out already and I FINALLY planted the callas, glads and 4 O'clock tubers that have been sitting in the garage....sprouting.... They are so forgiving. I watered them in as I covered them. This is after about 9'' of rain all month. I have sandish soil, but even I was amazed at how workable the dirt was. We hoed and DH pulled the worst weeds in the asparagus, grapes and around the edges. Crab grass begins!

The daylilies are just opening up ''daily!'' Not all of them are out yet, but I have some color. They should have plenty of water stored so I should get a good show even tho I divided the largest last year. I see so many ''mistakes'' as everything grew to top height. Flowers are buried and some don't compliment each other. I never had a chance to move things this spring.

Chris, get well! Prayers for the best for you! Mentally sending strength out to all who are not up to par!

Well once again, the promised rain never appeared!! Gita, same thing here, lot's of dark skies and then a big wind, but no water!! It is now very humid. Was extremely hot yesterday. I treated the roses with systemic feed & disease control and gave them some epsom salts. Figured, before the rain was a good time to do it. Ended up watering it all in by hand. Divided and moved some daffodils. Cleaned some late daff and tulip foliage out of half of one bed.Cut down a lot of Allium stalks, but threw the seed heads back into the bed. Then, watered, watered watered!! Did this all by hand as I ran the sprinklers almost the entire weekend.

Chris, I finally found one small Glorioso Daisy seedling from the plant you gave me last year. A little bit further away are a few more seedlings that I suspect are the same. Hooray!! Hope your day is going well.

Hello Chris, hoping you are having a good day♥

We had about 15 minutes of rain last night, not enough to do anything but better than nothing I guess. Real dry for us compared to last year when we had one of the coolest wettest springs and early summer that I can remember. Doesn't feel as humid today and there is a nice breeze blowing our way, feels like a typical summer day! Billy I wouldn't be happy with 60...that's downright cold for me! LOL

I found a wren nest in one of my window boxes with 5 eggs, seems like so many for a tiny bird. I'll have to snap some photos.

Chris, your chocolate drop coleus is doing great for me again this year. The butter daisy (Melampodium) is startin to bloom too. Thanks again!

Chris, Hope your getting some of this cool to enjoy, it 66*F here, and dry. Hope you have a good day. Ric

This was fun reading. I like to hear all about the weather and everyones gardens. Central Virginia is also having the horrible heat and lack of rain that others are talking about. I mostly stay indoors during these really high temped days. Hallelujah that we are supposed to have three days of heat reprieve starting today. I will take it.

Luvs, I thought your son's wedding pictures were great. Thank you for sharing them with us. I would also like to thank so many of you that I feel I know a bit for continuing to participate in this thread. I love reading about everyones goings ons.

Take care and for those of us who need the cooler temperatures, I hope that you enjoy the next few days.

Ruby

Good Morning Chris, I hope you are enjoying these beautiful sunny skies! It's actually a bit chilly for me...headed to the Poconos for a few days and it's supposed to be even cooler there...Yikes I better pack the flannels!

Hoping to see a post from you by the time I get home that you are feeling better! Take care and everyone have a great 4th!!

Nice picture Luvs, I have been pretty busy Dad's in the Hospital, getting better and should be home in a few more days. I have been running up there between babysitting the Grands ( I have them 3 days this week) and doing all the shoping and running as Ric is still on Dizzy Detention. LOL Getting ready to pic up Lily & Lucas today is the last day I have them and don't pick them up until 9:00. Take care Chris we are all thinking of you. Holly

Hey Chris hope you have a beautiful day and are able to get out and enjoy the sunshine.

Absolutely beautiful out cool breezes and sunny, Hope you get to enjoy it Chris. Ric