She's about to... 66... It's summer time!

well, they didn't take the main tube out, it is still draining and her coughing is keeping her awake at night. I hope drs come in today even tho it is saturday. I want to know why she is still so full of fluids. at work, brought my laptop so I could "play" today ( boss is away)

wish it would rain for three days...

No Rain here Debra it has went all around us LOTS OF RAIN CLOUDS NORTH-& SOUTH Of us They are saying cooler weather 79* to low 50's tonight but that is not rain .

Now that I have more time I hope to get many of my boxes unpacked :) day at a time :)
prayers for all

Lovely zinnias - always one of my favs but did not get enough started from seed this year. Too busy fussing over fussy native perennials. Funny - most of them would have started better if I'd have just thrown them out on the ground.

Howdy, hope your day was good and tomorrow better. Especially praying for your Sis. and you Debra.

As for Zinnias, never thought o planting them. Lol, just open hand and blow! or open hand while wind is blowing.
Not told this before but we are waiting (since Thurs.) for Tumor Board to decide on the better way to treat Ray. Radiation was put on hold until this Board could meet. The local Surgeon said (2 weeks ago) he thought there should be more surgery but he was afraid he wouldn't be aggressive enough, and afraid he wasn't aggressive enough on the last surgery. He made arraignments for Ray to see the top surgeon @ Duke Medical Center in Durham. If the Tumor board decides on surgery, it will be big,big and bad. Surgeon said that the surgery would be so aggressive that a Plastic surgeon would be on standby to add a filler in Rays back to fill the hole the surgery would leave. Also that Radiation may be done before, during or after surgery. He didn't know yet. I have known this for over a week and that is what has kept me working outside so much. I'll go crazy if I stop. I'm scared to death. Ray is in constant pain now and is having to take pain pills just to get through the day. Part of this pain may be coming from a Bulging Disc.

Something pretty to end this post. Check the dates on these pics. The same plant and the same Bloom..From white to pink!

The last pic. is for Susan.. Isabella

Faye, so sorry to hear about Ray, Sending lots of thoughts and prayers for both of you! If he has that surgery, will they get it all? Will he have to have radiation or chemo after? (((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

Love those blooms!

Faye , I pray the doctors will take care of Ray in a timely manner, and that you and him will get thru this with flying colors. I am hoping the same for sister.

beautiful brugs, wish mine looked like that.
Susie.... (((( hugs))))

hoprfully it will be low dose of the chemo.. have him eat lots of mustard. the hotdog kind. on everything you can think of. That is what I am asking my sister to do.
I have a few Y's on the brugs outside, buds on the ones inside already. As soon as I brought the potted brugs in and washed them down and fed them, they perked right up. Outside, the ones I have are fighting the heat and mites.

we got a under hald inch of rain last night. I didn't water today, I will have to in the am before work.

Beautiful blooms Debra! Love the bird bath with caladiums! I am going to have to try them next year, they are so pretty!

Lovely shots, Debra. The Goldfinches are feasting on our volunteer Sunflowers. I've tried to take pics of them several times, but they fly away and look like a yellow cloud.

Know how much I love and care about all of you, your families, and despise the health issues many of you are facing or have just gone through. You know who you are without mentioning your individual names.

The lighting in the pic of my 'wall of Caladiums' is poor since it was taken late evening and there's a shadow from the matchstick blind hung on that side of the deck that really helps shield the hot Sun late in the day. There are six pots but could only get most of them in the shot. I always plant the bulbs on my birthday, but had a few extras this year that weren't planted until mid-May. Now you can't tell a smidgen worth of difference. The majority of them came from Bill at CaladiumBulbs4Less.com and others are from you, LK and happ. I adore Caladiums and the bulbs overwinter well stored in boxes of cedar shavings beside my clothes dryer. It's a sad day when it's time to pack them again before our first Frost. There's so many varieties you should try, LK, and the best part is I think they're hardy for you.

So sorry to here the news on Ray Dahtzu and your sister Debra. Such a helpless feeling waiting but it sounds like you have good doctors and they are making sure they are doing the best.

We were suppose to be in the 80's this week but we are going over 100 every day so much for weather guessers. They are saying rain 50 percent chance I so hope so.

Awesome caladiums Froots! I have trays of bulbs in the garage that I didn't even plant this year. The one pot my Mom convinced me to do is finally looking good. I have been such a bad gardener this year.

Do have an awesome moonvine blooming now. 5 huge blooms last night the size of small dinner plates. It has completely entwined itself in my tree hibiscus and that is fine. I'll figure out that mess when it is time to bring it all in.

Love all those blooms and your Caladiums are beautiful Susan.
Ray's update: I posted that the Tumor Board was to meet last Thursday to decide how to best treat Rays latest Cancer. We expected to hear from the Dr. on Fri. That didn't happen. Ray called Dr's office on Mon., left message and the Dr. called him back mid morning to say that they couldn't get to Ray's case last Thursday but would do it this Thurs. I wonder how they expect us to know..why don't the Dr's call regardless of the info.

dahtzu - what I find wrong is that "they couldn't get to Ray's case last Thursday"! It seems to me that they should deal with all the patients who need it instead of having some sort of schedule and if they have more patients than fit in, too bad. So they couldn't work a little overtime! Oh well, you can tell my opinion of many doctors and this is coming from someone who worked with doctors for 37 years at Duke Medical Center. It also is inexcusable that no one called you - they all have secretaries, nurses, PAs, etc. I bet when one of them is sick, their buddies call them. Okay, I'll be quiet. Wishing you and Ray the best.

me too. I was very upset at the lack of information and non disclosure of anything to my sister. She finally called the surgeon who did the procedure to close the plureal lining that was suffocating her which is why she went to the hosp to begin with, and he finally told her that there was only time to buy with chemo. she is out, got her chemo and is glad to be home, but she still is in pain and can't breathe. After a wasted 9 days of what is left of her life, I am discusted with the medical industry.

Sorry to hear your still waiting Faye! You too Debra, waiting to hear things you need to know is not fun at all!

Faye I think I need to drive down to smell that brug. Unbelievable!!!

Thank you all! Dr. called this morning. Ray will have Radiation for 6 weeks Mon-Fri. then he will have another scan, then he will go to Duke to have the location pinpointed and marked for surgery 4 weeks after radiation is complete. I'm almost panicky, the cancer is growing and feels like nothing is being done, or not fast enough.
Wish you all could come smell the fragrances in my yard. Back yard, side yard and front yard. All beautiful with "Angels" As pretty as I've ever seen. All the pictures I've shown are Angels that came back from last year. Didn't plant any new ones in ground this year, all of last years came back.
This one is at the front porch.

Beautiful Angels Faye! We will all be with you every step of the way, in prayers! Please let us know if you need anything!

Thank you Linda Kay. I really do need that. ( to know we will be in thoughts and prayers) Think I have to go back outside, must stay busy so Ray doesn't see my fear.

Hang in there girl, your a strong lady, and you can get through this.

We're all here for you, Faye and Ray, and for you and your sis, Debra. Sending loving, prayerful, healing thoughts. The unknown is scary but you will get through this. Like LK said, be strong from within and don't hesitate to let us know what we can do for you.

Are any of you growing Purple Moonflower Vine? I'd love to try a couple of seeds next year and either imagined I had them or have given or traded them away.
Debra, what's the neat spiky flower in pic 3 with the purple blooms?

Thank you, all and fruity, I sent yo soe of those lav moon vines, but can send you and LK some more, I have them everywhre, you could start them inside on the window sill for a fun thing to do in winter, as long as they have some light, they will vine and grow., that purple is *ahem* Obedient plant, it doesnt obey well, I have yanked so much of it out it just grows more.. hummers, bees and butterflys do love it tho. will bloom until freeze now.

I planted a purple moonie Frootz, but no blooms so far. The white ones are enveloping Boot Hill right now.

I would like some lav MV seeds,anyone have a yellow Ones ?

Hey Susie, how are you doing? The pecans you asked for will have to wait till the fall harvest, right now they are not ripe. But as soon as they are, I will send you a huge box full!

I didn't know mv came in different colors, I have only seen white. I planted one in the barrel in the city, it has bloomed but I have not seen it, since I am not there in the city at night, but it is planted across from the community center and I thought people attending events would appreciate it. I am going to have to go up there one evening because I do want to see the blooms.

I also planted a datura in the same barrel and it is loaded with buds, can't wait until it starts opening, but for the life of me can't remember what color it is...so it will be a nice surprise.

Weather broke and it is absolutely beautiful this morning. I am excited about this weekend I can actually go outside and not be 105. So I will be back working on my potting bench hard and heavy. I am enclosing the sides this weekend and going to put doors on it so the snakes, frogs, mice, and spiders will have a nice home this winter...rofl. I think I have decided to paint it the grey like all the buildings and house, so I am matchy matchy...rofl.

you guys, remember the seed packets I sent you all? There were lav and white and yellow and red and orange mgs in those packets. I will start collecting more as soon as we get blooms. we are still vining here ..

I have them blooming now, but no red or orange have bloomed yet.

I have not luck Happ with any moonflowers except the Evening Fragrance White. I've traded seeds for the double purples and yellows, bought seed from several places and I can't get them to grow taller than a couple of inches. Don't know what the problem is.

Mine still Vining here also No Blooms Just on the ones That have been Popping up here for years :) MG's That is No MOONvines
Just waiting for it to dry out a bit then off to pull some weeds :)
LK I Figured it would be later before they were ready Just let me know the size box you want to send i will send you the postage .

Well Just so you all Know why I'm not on as Much right now I'm On a MISSION To Loose 40 LBs So My Doctor Has Put me through a few test & Has set me up with a Meal Planner & Exercise Routine Like I Don't Get enough Exercise in the gardens bending & Pulling .
I have to do this, findly SOMETHING For me :) So 3 days a week I Have to be gone. away from computor. JUST WISH ME WELL:)
I start this week TUES-WED -THURS . I will have more info on Monday .
Have a great weekend

Good luck Susie, you can do it!

go Susie, go! We know you will exceed your goal.

susie you are going to find you really enjoy it and it will make such a big difference in your life. You need to take time for yoursef it is very important!

rvnsbrk guess I am glad I planted the white it is vining really well and seems to have alot of buds.

weather is in the 80's and beautiful, if everything wasn't burnt up and so dry and ugly it would be beautiful...rofl. You know something odd is my roses are doing well....don't have a problem with black spot....LOL I really haven't watered them but they just keep blooming.

let us see some pics, Joyce. I need eye candy. My back yard and patio is green and lush, can't say same for front, I still can't wait for water bill. Joe asked me tonight on way home from our Movie Date what will I do when they put us on water restrictions here, I told him I will get a filter system for the washer water to drain out side. He laffed. He does bottle it up for me, but I want to filter it a bit. Any ideas of a cheap way to filter laundry gray water? Susie, my daughter has been on weeight watchers, she has lost 70 pounds. she has a bunch of new friends and has a ball. I bet you will to. Sister got some prednisone tablets to help her feel better and she said she is breathing better and got a good nights sleep last night. .Chemo makes her sick about three days after she gets it.

Debra, when my friend Katie was going through chemo, she got chemo treatment one day, then next day she had to go in for a shot. She found out half way though the treatments, that it was that shot that was making her sick, so the Dr. Told her to take Claritin, and that helped.

Ray will start radiation Mon. He will go for 6 weeks Mon.-Fri. Then wait 4 weeks and have surgery.

We will be saying prayers for him everyday Faye! ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))

Amen, to what LK said... (((hugs)))) to you both, Faye.