Apropos of Nothing v.16

Henry is so cute. Does he think that rock is a ball? It would be fun to watch them play together. Mindy avoids him and Amber puts him in his place if he comes to near.

I am so glad I don't have bunnies! Jan, your poor beans!

Ladyfire, hope you do manage to get rid of your crawlies. Crossing my fingers that they don't get down as far as we are.

Pony, I think that your warpage (hopefully) will be slug damage or weather damage.

Willow, your new little playmate is adorable. Lynn is right... he would have great fun with Henry! It is hard to watch the damage happen to the garden, but when you look into the cute little face, all is forgiven!

OK, I know that this is very politically incorrect, but we laughed so hard yesterday that I had to share. To set the scene....

Our business looks out over a busy street and across the way, there is a relatively new super Walmart. The city put up a bus stop right across from our office, and let me tell you ..... there is never a shortage of entertainment with a Walmart bus stop across the street. We also have several homeless men who live somewhere in the area that spend quite a bit of time panhandling at our intersection, so that just adds to it.

We were getting ready to start moving cars into the shop last night, and guess what greeted us in the apron of our driveway?

When's the last time you saw a baby stroller with a bum in it? He was wheeling himself slowly backwards, heading for the bar.......

Julie, I'm sure you've seen the website with People of WalMart? That would be a great addition to the collection!

I was reading about a new dollar store that was coming to a town. One of the residents was quoted as saying that she was looking forward to it because she wouldn't have to get dressed up the way she did if she were going to WalMart. Omigosh!!!

That is hilarious.

No kidding. When I look at the way some people in this area, which is rather rural, dress at WalMart and I think, "That's dressed up???" I just have to shake my head.

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/?page_id=9798

People of Walmart is hilarious... and a little scary at times. hehe. I live in fear of showing up on there! ;p

I broke off the bud that was the most warped and opened it up- no bugs or slug sign. I'm guessing weather is the culprit. Looks like we won't have to worry about too much cold or moisture for a while here... :)

Oh yeah- Willow! I do have both the pink and white of those mallows! The white just started blooming. I thought it was all one plant, but the two of them are all cozied up together.

Just got back from getting the brakes done on my truck. Yay for stopping power! :)

I stopped at Lowes on the way home for some neem, and they had black beauty zucchini and yellow straightneck squash plants- so I bought one of each. They'll take up that small bed where the garlic was. Ooooh I can't wait for yummy squash! :D

I was going to do some work out there soon as I got home, but wooo- it's wicked hot out in the yard, we have no shade whatsoever. I think I'll be waiting 'til this evening.

96 degs.. A/C has been activated. Iced coffee & indoor activities for the remainer of the day. I hate this real hot weather. Bring back the lovely 70's we had last week.

Woah! I think it's only about 85 here...

Probably about 85 here, too. The house isn't hot yet, but I've been home and had the fan on all day, so that has helped.

Our place is heating up now- the sun is hitting the big windows in the back. I have the shades drawn, but it's starting to cook. I wish we had one of those little AC units for this room. Fans just don't cut it in here.

It was 106 here yesterday and over 100 today. We are inside escaping from the heat; DH is only going out to move the water from one parched area to another. A friend stopped by and we're drinking iced tea and eating peach and blueberry cobbler. Cold tortellini with pesto for dinner here.

Ugh. I don't like it that hot. It got like that here last year, and I wound up heat sick. Bleah.

We never had a/c before about six years ago; I don't know how we did it except that we had a big shade tree which we lost about ten or fifteen years ago and that made a big difference. Yesterday when I came home I saw my DH sitting out on the hammock in the shade, watching the river, and I asked him why he was outside. He said, "I pay for this view!" But it did wipe him out.

Yep, I only went out to move water around. It is BEASTLY out there. Over 100 here, also, GG.

I've gotten a cold somehow, Oh, I know how - lots of grnadkin kisses. Didn't know they had something. Their mommy is sick, too. Can't breathe through my nose. I'll be snoring extra loudly tonight, so DH will be out on the couch. ^_^

Added,-- and your view is worth every penny, GG.

This message was edited Jul 7, 2010 5:13 PM

Hopefully tomorrow we'll get a slight break! I'm looking forward to it. Fifty per cent chance of rain on Saturday, too. Here's hoping!

LOL I'll believe it when I see it. If so, I may go out and do a rain dance.

Even the 80s makes me heat sick. I'm not feeling good at all today. And to know that my plants are out there dying in this heat, makes me feel even worse.

Rachel must be miserable right now! She's due any day, isn't she?

Oh, bless her heart!!

It has cooled down to 95 at 7pm. Crazy. Ran the drip system twice today and just got back from some additional hand watering. Sweat balls dripping off my nose! gross/ A cool shower felt great. More of the same tomorrow here.Yuck!

Oy. Being pregnant in summer has got to suck.

Funny- I loved super hot weather back when I was skinny. Now, at 50 lbs heavier? Not so much. :p

I have never liked it. Well, once when I was sitting on the beach in hawaii with my feet in the ocean and an umbrella drink in my hand. But that was the only time.

Ever since I turned 18, I have been like one of those silly fainting goats when I have to deal with heat for any length of time. Walking around one minute, and waking up on the ground the next. My poor brother was the first one that had to experience me dropping like a rock when I got too hot.... it worked pretty good to clear a big area around us on a boat deck though! Now at least I know what the flashing lights in my peripheral vision mean, and I sit down before I fall down...

Julie, it must have been pretty scary the first time. At least you have warning, though, so that's good.

Gwen, I'm with you. The heat wasn't so bad when I was in Mexico and half in/half out of the pool with a drink in my hand. But I'm not much for it under any other circumstances.

I was home yesterday with a sick dog. It wasn't bad at all at my house. I'd had a fan running all day and that seemed to do the trick. The house didn't get above 75. Today I'm guessing will be another story.

Julie, thanks for the warm thoughts :). (Although, I've got lots of those of a different kind here right now. It's around 95 here today. I kind of like the heat, but I don't want to be out working in it! ) Your fainting spells sound kind of scary. It's a good thing you live up in the hills where it's cooler. :)

I've missed stuff again, so here's some hit or miss comments.

My daylilies have had more deformed blooms than any year since I've had them, but lots of buds so I'm still optimistic. Looks like every one is blooming this year, too-finally! I'm wondering if they've been wanting more water than I usually give them.

Holly, this heavy wet spring has been hard on real lilies. They don't like really wet feet and can be very susceptible to botrytis. I've got a number that have been affected. IF all the leaves are brown and shriveled, and they've lost buds, it's most likely botrytis. It's not dangerous to the lily, just really unsightly. Lilies are also prone to viruses. It's said they all carry one or two, but they don't show symptoms until they've got a lot of them. Twisted buds and leaves are signs of it, as is streaky, blotchy leaves and distorted bloom colors or patterns. Lilies that are virused seem to have more aphids too. But, again, with this spring, some could just be stress from the cold and wet. But plan to keep an eye on them to see if you notice anything else like that next season. If you do, you should dig them up and toss them (hard as that is to do.)

Poor Rachel. Does anyone remember if she has A/c? I hope she's found some way to stay cool.

Cute puppy!

Kathy, I hope your sick puppy was nothing serious and he/she is better today!

Fainting when I get too hot has never been scary for me, but I can't say the same for the people I have been with at the time. Fortunately, when you know that it is a problem, you can do a pretty good job of preventing it.

"My boys" (aka the guys that work for me) have spent a lot more time coming into the office to ask questions today than they usually do. I think that it might have something to do with the office having a/c..... The poor guys are just roasting out there. I plan to run to the corner for popsicles for everybody before work's over.

Here's hoping they don't melt before you can get them back to the guys!

Julie, Vana is better, thanks. We were in the ER on Tuesday night - we thought she either had bloat or an intestinal or esophageal obstruction. Xrays to rule out anything life-threatening. Blood tests the next day to rule out anything metabolic. It turned out to be gastrointestinal irritation and nausea. The vet gave her a shot of anti-nausea medication and all the weird symptoms (licking the walls and furniture, trying to eat anything plant-related, swallowing, pacing, panting) went away. She's now getting a special bland diet for a few days.

I, however, need medications for the vet bills . . .

ooh, that does sound expensive. Glad she's feeling better, though. Weird symptoms, I can see why you'd be worried.

Gads Kathy, I don't even want to know what all of that cost. You can't put a price on the health of a furry though..... I am so glad that she is better, I can imagine you were worried out of your mind!

And she has a heart murmur now. But she's asymptomatic, so we'll wait on the cardiac evaluation . . . oh the joys of pet ownership, right?

And it always happens after the vet closes, right? I'm going through a bunch of things right now, so I'm pretty stoic emotionally. I guess that's for the best in these cases. I can go ahead and explode later, right? :-)

Stoic is good, but the explosion comes. Make sure all people and animals are at a safe distance when it does. I had thought that you had been pretty quiet lately... was wondering if things were OK on the parent front. ***HUGS*** no matter what the stress is coming from......

Kathy, I'll be thinking of you, as it sounds like life is dealing you hardball right now on a number of fronts. I'm glad Vana made it through. What a scare! And yes, emergencies rarely happen during regular working hours when help is easy to access, for people or pets.

Hey Susy, good to hear from you. Thanks for the info about lilies. I'll check thing out more carefully to see if I can determine if there is a problem other than the chilly weather/slugs, etc. I hope your mom is still doing a bit better. It is important for caregivers to have a break and rejuvenate.

Julie, yikes, about passing out when overheated. Summertime must be a bit hard on you, as the unpredictable events getting stuck somewhere without access to a nice, cool refuge can happen.

I've been happy to take refuge in the air conditioned public library the last few afternoons, while tutoring a little fellow in reading.

Katie, slow down, too many things going on, I hope all get back to normal for you, Jim

Thanks, all, for your good thoughts.

I'll be putting my old guy, Nick, to sleep tomorrow night. We've had a good 12 years, but his old neck injury makes it almost impossible to get around and he's in a lot of pain. Throw in separation anxiety, and every day is really torture for him. I think this is the kindest thing to do.

And then I'm just waiting on hearing about my mom. She's really a tough cookie, and is hanging on, but she will die any day. I'm so worried about my dad. He's 91 and keeping vigil (she's with him in Assisted Living), but he's completely exhausted, as you would imagine. I don't think he gets much sleep, and he's trying to do as much for her as he can.

It would be easier if they were closer or if I just was able to be down there with them right now. That's so hard for me.

But I do remember that I have had and continue to have many blessings. Thank goodness for my furry family and my neighbors and friends!

This message was edited Jul 8, 2010 10:32 PM

Oh, Katie, too much, too much. My heart goes out to you.

Ah, geez... too much sadness all at once. I'm so sorry. *hugs*