Hellllooooo?

It was very muggy here today. Hot, hot, hot. Sorry to say that we do run the A/C all day but don't run it at night. We don't get much of a cross breeze in the house.
Stay cool all!

Well, when I walked out into the back landscape early this morning, it felt like I had walked into a sauna. Wow, was it muggy.

We have three different air conditioning units. One for the master bedroom, one for upstairs and one for the kitchen/great room area. We have the bedroom air on at night and the rest turned off. But that is because we are the only people living here. The downstairs air conditioner very seldom comes on because the cold air from upstairs floats down. We built the home so we have major over hangs to prevent heat entering the house. We also had plywood on the East and West side of the house on the roof with a high reflective foil to reflect the heat away. In all the bedrooms and our master bathroom we have ceiling fans. That makes it feel cooler. We keep the house at 78 and it is comfortable. We also have very large trees in the front and back of the home and two story homes on the other sides. Our neighbor to the south has very large pine trees that shade that total side of our home. Our square footage is the same and our power bill is $300 cheaper than theirs. But I also invested in new pool and Koi pond filter motors that used less energy.

I also have a portable fan that is blowing on me right now on low just to make me comfortable. I want to spend money on plants, not electricity.

I got 1/4 of the irises planted. The rest are ready to go tomorrow. All the pre work is done. All the tags are sorted so it should not take to long. But I have a hair appointment in the early am and then walking a property with a neighbor to see what ideas I can give her to make her more happy with her landscape.

The first photo I have attached is a photo of tomato I picked yesterday and made DH and myself a great summer sandwich and still had 1/3 left. It weighted 11oz. And was delicious.

Next photo is Hardy hibiscus Party Pink that was blooming this morning.

Last photo is a very beautiful item that was recently photographed in San Diego at the beach.

Beautiful tomato Worms. Love that hibiscus too and that beautiful item in the last photo...priceless!
We have a lot in common, iris and koi ponds...do tell me about your pond filter.
Sounds like your home is wonderful.
Here's my hibiscus. I cannot believe how big it is. (Stupid me posted it on Facebook as a hydrangea...knowing well it was a hibiscus! Thanks Donna for the correction!)
It's 7:45 and still hot. Not going to be a good sleeping night.

Hey Worms, I didn't mean 'beautiful tomato worms." I meant beautiful tomato....Worms!!! Having more and more blonde moments these days!

What is worse, is I understood what you meant. I never grow large tomatoes. this plant was given to me from a grower to try. They are large, mostly all meat, little seeds and delicious.

Jules, that is a great hibiscus. I need to get you a red one so you can have Red and White. I actually have a tropical that has been blooming all summer. But it will freeze during the winter. $26 at a local nursery. Cheaper than a bouquet of flowers. That is always my reasoning when I buy something here that will not make it through the winter. We do not have a bad winter, just a couple of days just cold enough to freeze tender plants. But I love it because sometimes I find plants that live through it and then I am on a roll finding more places to plant them. I need a section. Jules do you realize there are many individuals that do not know what a section is.

A couple more of our neighbors are losing everything. They were big commercial developers and have lost everything. They do not know I know so I am just waiting in case they need a big hug. They are in their mid 50s and I can imagine how difficult it is for them when they go to bed at night. This economy is taking down so many people. My hair dresser closed her shop last week and is renting a station in a shop a few miles away.

Later friends.

See, weegy, that is one reason I refuse to call Sharon, worms. Too easily confusicating?!
Sharon, I didn't realize that most people wouldn't know what a section is. Silly me. I'm a country girl and it just never occurred to me.
This is the wikipedia definition.
"ONE SECTION OF LAND CONTAINS ONE SQUARE MILE OR 640 ACRES."
The capitol letters were theirs, I just copied and pasted.
I hope that clarifies my previous statement.
We have about 47 acres, the city keeps nibbling away at it for streets, and sidewalks. If it makes it safer for our kids and riders (we're still in horse country, and a lot of kids ride their bikes.), I don't mind too much, as long as they let me do the landscaping that they also require.
I would be really nice to have a dedicated left turn lane. I guess I'm going to have to go down to a City Hall Meeting and ask them to,
1) Lower the speed limit on the paved road from 55 mph, to 45, due to all the folks who live on the side streets. It's only a two mile stretch of road, but it would be a life saver.
2) I'd like to know when they are going to actually widen the road. It would have been nice to have that fire hydrant that we've already paid for installed.
I think they haven't done any road work, because they lost matching Federal Funds.
They finally completed one road by Staters. They keep trying to get people to use that road instead of the one in front of our place, but people avoid it because of all the lights and stop signs.
Things are hard economically here too.
I loved the photo of your GS at the beach. It brought back memories of my baby boys at the beach! Love that grin! I also love that Party Pink Hibiscus! Wow!
Is anyone interested in trading Edible Hibiscus seeds for some of those beauties posted above? I'll try to collect seeds from my other Hibbies too. I haven't seen any on them yet.
Sending photo I took today of the Edible Hibbie.
WIB!
SW

I do not have a yellow one. You are on. But I would rather have a cutting and seeds. I do not do well with seeds.

Sharon,
When are you coming out here again? I move the Hibbie's in the gh for the winter, so they do bloom all year long, and I have flowers all year long. I am not sure how to take a cutting. I found the seed quite easy to grow.
I have another two that are different shades of yellow. I'll either take photos or find photos to show you of them. I love Hibbies, the more the merrier. LOL!
This one bloomed yesterday. It's called a "Brilliant Hibiscus". It is a brilliant red in color.
Got to get an early start on my chores, while it's cool. Weather people lie like rugs. : - |
More later.
WIB!
SW

QG,
I just heard the 11 o'clock news where they say there are fires burning out your way. Hope you are okay. LMK, okay?
WIB!
Jules

Yep right behind us. We were blessed in two ways. One was big - no wind the other that there was still some daylight and not at midnight when no one would be outside. DD saw it we called 911 and it was busy. Caught the AH kids who started it intentionally. Voluntarily evacuated. Packed computers, jewelry, animals and their food. Forgot documents. Using our property as CDF staging area. Can't find phone this am at home. Photos later.

You know if you ever need to evacuate again, QG, for a short time or a longer time, you are always welcome here. My neighbors will help with the horses, they did during the Winchester fire.
Thanks for helping out the fire crew. I was so worried, but can rest easier now. I saw they'd put it out mostly this morning. I didn't know they'd caught the firebugs who started it. I am so glad that I taught my kids that fire was a tool not a toy. I feel sorry for their parents. Then again . . . .
Call when you can, to let me know you be okay?
Don't want to, but can't wait to see the photos. I guess it's our year to burn. Sigh . . .
Oh, I'm glad you are counting your Blessings, good attitude always helps. : - )
God Bless the CDF Firefighters! Those good folks deserve a lot more credit than they get.
: - )
I'll check back in later, in case phone is still among the missing. LOL!
WIB!
SW

SW - wished I had your talent with the camera (then, of course, wished I had thought to use mine). Took a couple shot with cell phone from the area I drove to with house animals. Only a block away, but easier road access and not in way of emergency personnel.
A friend and former neighbor came with her horse trailer. She works for the County in Riverside in the Fire Dept. and although she does clerical work, everyone in the Dept. is trained to respond and they are told they need to come in in case of major emergency. She said if the roads are broken with an earthquake, she can ride her horse in. lol. That would take awhile from Elsinore. Her pass and being with the Dept. is the reason I was able to get back IN when the immediate danger had passed. There was no official evacuation, but the fire, at its closest, was probably 300 yards away.

One elderly lady living with adult children, called this AM to thank me for calling them as the fire got closest to them. They were out in 15 minutes with their 4 vehicles and pets as a fire truck parked in their yard. There was a truck in each of the other 2 neighbor's yards also, and until about 10 this AM. The crews had chainsaws going all night and this AM they stilled had hoses going to cover everything that had already burned. The 'dozers are out right now and only a few trucks are left.

They set up a command post on our property for County, City and CDF personnel. I guess we were safe or they would not have had the command post there. Praise them all, they were fast. It turned dark just after it started and I could see their blue flashlights and helmet lights working in those hills. Here is an article I found and was surprised to see DH quoted.: http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2010-08-19/news/news-alert-firefighters-battling-brush-fire-in-wildomar-area. As it turned out, it was only 25 acres, but plenty enough to scare us - especially hearing the crackling flames. Oh, and while on the other street, I could see more and there was a fire vortex. Very cool looking, all things considered.

I have continued this 'general chat' for us Californians here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1124209/

Catch you on the new thread.
WIB~
SW

This message was edited Aug 20, 2010 1:19 PM