Wednesday, September 1st, 2004

Did you folks see the date I had to type in? How can this much of a year be gone so soon? But it has been a good year so far. Many tasks we needed to do have been done so I can look back with satisfaction and ahead with contentment.

Yesterday I really got busy in the yarden. I actually got next to nothing done on Monday. Too tired from Sunday afternoon's activity. Yesterday I moved some 12 year old peony plants that were getting smaller every year. Quite the opposite of what they are suppose to do. Also rescued some iris that were being badly affected by the excess moisture we have had this summer. Even some in a raised bed were rotting! One small piece of peony that I had dug up 3 months ago and never got planted because I thought it was really probably dead turned out to be very much alive so I got it planted in a better spot. I had left the roots lying on top of the ground and had stuff piled on and around it so I hadn't noticed before doing some cleaning yesterday that the roots had some nice healthy buds on them. I also spread some mulch and pulled/cut off/dug out some large weeds and clumps of grasses. I'll call my employers in a bit and see if I need to go in and wash dishes today or if I can go out and get really dirty again.

I talked to our daughter in Richmond,VA late last night. Their area still has power tho they have moved a sickly friend without power in with them for the time being. They had to leave the friend's pets at home tho but can get to them easily to feed water, etc. But this person can't handle heat well at all and needs AC which Sheila and Mel still had.

Jack and I are still debating on what kind of tree to plant to replace the big Maple we had to remove. There are lots of tiny Maples from it's seeds all over the yard and we may just move one of them into the proper place. I'll do some measuring to make sure it is a safe distance from the house when it is mature. A smaller tree can act as shade closer to the house and sort of be an understory tree to the big one. I'm thinking a Mimosa or Redbud up close and the Maple way out in the yard. We need both of them to be fast growers as there is now no shade at all on the south and west sides of the house. We have lots of Mimosa and Redbud sprouts in the yarden already so there is no need to buy any if we decide to use them. I've also considered another Mulberry three tho I don't think Jack will go along with that at all. Somehow I have a feeling I will have to make this call myself with little if any help from Jack other than stupid remarks and suggestions.

I just talked to my employers and will go in tomorrow after my doctor appointment(just a post surgery check-up with my primary care physcian)and get everything cleaned up and maybe even some prep work done for Friday. 3 of the staff will be leaving right at 8 Friday evening so they don't want a lot of left over cleaning to be done that day. So I can go out and get dirty today.

Please, folks, pray my pet rat can just die today. She has been struggling with this death since late Sunday. I keep her comfortable, hydrated, and fed thru an eye dropper so she isn't suffering. She just can't seem to let go of life. I think maybe she has had a bad stroke that has affected her co-ordination and balance.

GOD bless and keep each and all of you.