Coffee...and for July 17, 2006

Hi folks,

You all have been chatting up a storm today. Guess that's what happens when it's too hot to garden.

Went to coffee after Aquafit and managed to share part of the cake. Better shared than all on MY hips.

Dorothy - you about summed it up when you said 5 minutes or so in the garden. I went out just long enough to prune off the unruly side shoots of my tomates. Lots of them I tie up, but they've grown so much in the last week that they were out of control. I've got them all on 8 or 9 foot poles and several are approaching the top already.

woodspirit1 - sorry to hear about the diverticulosis. Also the problems with your stove and toaster. Did you tell us about that at the time? Must have been some storm. do you have a working microwave? Wouldn't help with toast, but could be useful for many things. Years ago when we were building the kitchen and essentially w/o one for aobut 6 weeks, we relied heavily on the microwave.

cece - I hope you get a chance to have a nap. Are you suffering from the heat interfering with sleeping?

Ernie - all that food sounds great, but better be careful about what you say about Linda's pie crust. LOL

Mary - sorry to hear about the riding accident. sure hope that the horse is found all right. Did the rider get badly stung by those bees as well as having arm injuries?

Talking bees/wasps - who was it got stung yesterday? How is it doing today? When I travel, I carry a tube of cortisone cream in my travel kit and it works very well on stings - or at least it did when DD#2 got stung in CA last September. That was a .5% concentration that was all we can get in Canada w/o a prescription, but you can get a 1% concentration in US drug stores.

Susan - sure glad we don't have copperheads up this way. I would have freaked.

Scrubs for gardening. LOL! What a great idea. I'm getting tired of neading help to get the sweaty T-shirt off after a gardening session. Where can you get them?

Ernie - good you clarified the pie crust thing. LOL

Went to the funeral this morning. Very nice service and then to the reception after. Lunch with the other friend got put on hold for another week. Her life seems to be very complicated but they are in the process of moving a 33 yr-old daughter back to Ottawa after a break-up with long term partner.

The 102 yr old was really an acquaintance. Her daughter is my age and a friend and I only met Edith about 1 1/2 yrs ago at Red Hat lunches. But I wish I had known her earlier as there WAS a degree of dementia in her last years. She was a remarkable woman who had taught in 1 room school houses. Another aquafit friend (and member of my bell choir) has known her daughter since they were four and they had lots of stories to tell about Mrs Mac, as they called her. After 102 years of life, you cannot grieve but rather give thanks for a life well lived and the legacy of that life. Her daughter had bourn the brunt of caring for Mrs. Mac over the last few years - her brother, a Baptist minister in town, having offerred little support. As much as Patty will miss her, I'm sure that there must be a certain degree of relief that she will now be able to get on with her own life.

I decided to try the meds for one more day. But if I find myself feeling as bad as I did yesterday, I won't take them again tomorrow.

Just refreshed and found Suzi's message. Sorry to hear about DH of your friend. Re Mrs. Mac, that was one thing mentioned at the funeral - the number of changes she saw in her life. It was a remarkable time to be alive.

Well it looks as though we could have rain - cloudy - but also probably good for getting some garden pics without harsh shadows.

BBL

Ann

Hi, just taking a cool off break here. I had a banana and mellon smoothie for lunch. Yummy!

Patch and I had a nice little ride down the road to the mailbox and back at a walk, about 45 minutes in the hot sun, no shade except 2 trees along the way. It's a mile of low rolling hills. That's all I'm supposed to do with him every day for a week, then slow trotting the same places and distance for another week. BOORRRING! I like going a bit faster and farther. I'm limited on where I can go with him right now because he needs to avoid hills and we have a lot of those. Tomorrow I will take him in the hayfields again for variety.

Breezy's cough is no better after a week on Tri-Hist so I put in a call to the vet and hubby will pick up some different medicine on his way home.

The missing horse from the endurance ride has been recovered unhurt, just hungry and thirsty and scared. He was found yesterday afternoon about 4 miles from where he got into the bees. And that's it for today's horse report.

Hmmm, I see scrubs at the thrift store, maybe I should get some for gardening, they would be cooler than t-shirts. Last time I was at the thrift store I bought a pair of sandals and a pair of canvas tennis shoes, both looking brand new, about $4 for both pairs. There hasn't been much time for bargain hunting since the weather got nice, it is more of a winter activity for me.

Hope, you didn't say how you are feeling today. Better? You've been sick and hurting way too long.

Maria, enjoy the cool weather, salmon, etc. My hubby and I were both born in northwest Washington, he in Anacortes and me in Tacoma. We lived all around Puget Sound for our early married years and child raising. We both got tired of the rain. You are visiting at an ideal time of year. Ernie can tell you that winters are dreary and the sun is something that appears only rarely and briefly. I remember one winter when we finally had a clear starry night, and when I looked up and saw the stars they surprised me. I knew it was time to get outa there.

Snakes, oh yes, good and bad types. We do have rattlers and I don't think twice about killing them, got my first for the year on the highway coming home from town about a week ago. One of our neighbors got bit a few years ago and nearly lost his arm in spite of getting to the hospital within an hour. Cattle and horses get bit and if it is in the nose or throat could suffocate the animal, otherwise just makes a 1000# animal real sick for a while, but calves, sheep, dogs and cats die from it. We had a rattler in the yard under a bush about 15 ft from the back door a couple of years ago, buzzing with the cat watching it. That one was quickly dispatched with a .22 shot shell loaded with birdshot. We call that our snake load, it does a real good job at about 8 feet. There will always be rattlers. We also have bull snakes that are marked almost identically to rattlers but have a pointy tail. Whenever I see one I first think "rattler" and then make sure what it is, cautiously. I've also got no qualms about killing coyotes, feral dogs or cats that are causing trouble or obviously sick. Oh, and sage rats, another pest.

9kitty, I have a friend in Louisiana who lost a cat to a copperhead just a few days ago. I hope you get all of them before your kitty goes outside again.

Welcome to Karen, I hope she will come back soon and tell us a bit about herself.

I need to make furrows for the vegie garden irrigation water. The first planting of corn will pollinate better if the water stays on the ground instead of in the air rinsing the pollen away. Sprinkler is better to get seeds to germinate, but when the corn gets tall the flood method works better. Off to do that job now, plus it is a weed as I go job. Lots of weeds. Take home all you want if you come to help pull them.

See you later. What's for dinner? we need more hot day ideas.

Mary - maybe Breezy and I have the same cough. LOL

Mary ... I was so sorry to hear about the horse even though I didn't comment. As far as supper is concerned ... was sure hoping Meezers would fix me one of those yummy sounding salads she's famous for. Doing balsamic roasted tenderloin with shallots and steam broccoli. At least the tenderloin doesn't have to cook long and am steaming the broccoli in the microwave. :-) Of course we always have a plate of fresh ripe tomatoes and cucumbers these days. Not sure what else, but just help yourself to what's there.

And I'm sorry but I'm just plain scared of snakes! LOL

Oh Ann ... tooo funny!

Elaine, I just ate dinner - and uninspired can of salmon and steamed broccoli (on the stove top). You put me to shame and it sure does sound good.

Ann

I was going to post something clever, but Antiques Roadshow came on........

I cooked pasta earlier and tossed it with spinach, tomatoes, olives, mozzarella cubes, and balsamic vinaigrette. I put it in the frig so it was nice and cold. I live on cold stuff when it's this hot.

Well, gosh, it really is hot outside, no I haven't been out, but can tell by all the talk!! Everybody stayed in and has been chatting.

I cleaned closets, drawers, put away canned goods, did laundry, changed sheets on the beds, cooked supper, just this and that today, as it was so hot out, couldn't take much of that. May go out and pull a few weeds before it gets completely dark.

Criter, My summer sandwich of choice is a large still warm from the garden tomato, Miracle whip, and white bread. No cukes for me.

I0l, Weather is strange. Not long ago, we stood and watched it rain across the road, and not a drop here!! Gosh your meal tonight sounds really good.

Kittymom, glad Snowcone is better, but yuk about the sack. And eeeek about the snake.

ves, Aren't our gardening styles different? I like an orderly one, but have a friend who has a cottage type,and it drives me nuts.

Woodspirit, an article in the paper this morning told of a yellow jacket nest someplace in alabama, that was the size of a VW. My choice of garden apparel, is the least I can get by with, without getting run out of the neighborhood.

cc sorry about the school being a waste. Can't you look in a related field?

Maria ~~~~~ to you, sounds like you are having fun. Hope you don't have to referee while you are there, Ernie seems like he might get beaned by Linda!!

Ernie, "fat not stupid" I bet you are neither one of those, with the way you work, you couldn't be fat.

Oz, yeah, I'd kill anything that bothered my pets.

Hope, How are you feeling?

Critter, the only snake handling done around here is by others, not me.

Podster, what kind of snake is that in the pic?

Susieq, sorry to hear about your co-workers DH, they will be in my T&P.

Viann, just think about the changes Mrs. Mac saw in her lifetime. A great long life.

Mary, good news about the horse. We have coyotes here, and have not a moment of hesitation in dispatching them.

Somermoon, Welcome, if you are a friend of Ernie's you are welcome here. Tell us a little about yourself.

dmc, that sounds like a great dish.

To all of you who chanted for me today, thanks, it must have worked. He brought lunch, and ended up buying the gun from me for $500, much more than I paid for it. I am not an expert on guns, and besides it was being held as colleteral on a loan made many, many years ago. He |(my DB) is 68, and told me today that he is dating a 50 year old, who has never been married. My DB, has been married so many times, I have lost count. Every Christmas, I must check to see what name to put on gifts or invitations, I hold the record for DSIL's, and I only have 1 DB!! Anyway, am anxious to meet her, just to see what kind of person she is. May be nice, who knows?

Well, it is dusk, so gonna go out and check to see if I can work awhile in the yard.

Will be back later.

Slightly cooler but not enough to shut down the A/C...we went out for a burger but ended up ordering an appetizer and a side of fries. More than enough. I watered all the pots and hanging baskets, put the sprinkler on the front, and watered the sides and back with the wand. Not much likelihood of rain.

I'm hopeful that everyone is healing and feeling much better. V'ann, sometimes the meds make you feel worse than the ailment, maybe you could get a different prescription? I can't believe anyone is working in this heat. I didn't step out the door once today, and I didn't do much inside either. DH was planning to golf after work but changed his mind. Didn't let me know so there was no dinner...thus the trip to the restaurant. He's outside now planting a $20 pear tree he picked up. I hope I'm not around when it starts bearing fruit and attracting yellow jackets!!

Mary, I'm glad your weekend went well and you got to ride, and they found the frightened horse. It must have been pretty steamy, looking at the weather maps, it's all over, east west,north south everybody is getting roasted. One of our stupid weathermen said "It's good we all have air conditioning" I don't know what kind of a bubble he lives in.

Good visit from your brother, Bonnie, is he selling the gun? For more than double what he paid you? (suspicious minds never stop wondering). Does his new girlfriend know how many predecessors she's had? That would make one stop and think....LOL You sure kept busy today. Dh and I differ in gardening styles, you can always tell where he has done the planting. I tend to plop things in bunches, and hope to have enough greenery and flowers so you can hardly see the dirt, he likes orderly rows and space in between.

Yes, Dmcd, cold salads are just the thing for a heat wave. I can hardly stand to have the stove on, to cook the pasta! If I'm smart that day I'll make enough for two meals. I thought I'd have some leftovers last night but they cleaned out the bowls! The one I threw together at the last minute went first, and DGS finished off the last serving of potato salad. Dessert's all gone too.

Suzie, most people forget that NJ is known for it's farms and gardens. It's not all Soprano territory. Isn't it called the Garden State? I'll take any fresh tomato from anywhere. Mine are growing like crazy in this heat, and I see lots of babies.

Snakes, and wasps, and bugs that eat my roses, and bunnies that munch on my tender hosta, I show them no mercy. There seems to be an endless supply of them.

Poor snowcone, I hope he's feeling much better. I'm sure being cooped up is hard on him, since he's used to roaming at will.
Olivia is driving me nuts, everytime I sit down at the computer, she wants to helpwith the keyboard, or chase the cursor....or get petted. Not one bit spoilt. Uh Uh. Some plastic has a chemical odor that is attractive to cats, mini loves grocery bags. Except when she gets caught in the handle and chased.

When will Sarv and Maria be back? I hope it's not so ghastly hot where Sarv is camping. We know Maria is cool and comfy,Ernie keeps telling us...!!

Elaine, your dinner sounded delightful, are you doing your P.T.?
I think you end up doing less watering with everything in pots, but they do dry out quickly. I have a pair of tiny clay planters under the front windows and they need frequent drinks when it's hot. I haven't noticed that the diaper fiber has done much to help the bigger pots, but it's hard to compare.

I'm about ready to crash...but I'm going to hold out until ten, so I don't wake up at four thirty.

See you all in the morning, and ~~~~ to everyone.

Sheila

Meant to post a nice long, respond to everyone type message, but it's just altogether TOO hot! Grilled hamburgers on the hibachi for supper tonight (big treat for us as we usually buy 93% lean because of my mother's low fat diet, but maybe once during the summer, we buy the 80% stuff and pig out. LOL!

Didn't get very much accomplished today and they tell me that tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter. Arrrggghhh!

I am about to go hide in the bedroom where there's air conditioning. I'll catch up with you all tomorrow.

Always enjoy lurking & reading. Hot hot here today 108. & supposed to stay above 100 thru Thursday.
Hope, how are you feeling. Fought bad teeth for many years, due to my fear of the dentist. Came from a very bad experience in a dentist chair when I was young. Got up & left & my parents found me at the library.
Worked 10 hrs today, lot more than the 6 or 7 I try to keep it down to. My Grandson-in-law was helping with the phones while the other dispatcher was gone to work, fixing myself a sandwich homemade whole wheat bread with cream cheese & fresh out of the garden cucumber. He was a watching & asked him hadn't he ever ate a cucumber sandwich before. Nope, but it sure does smell good.
He can be so funny to work with. Can keep things hopping.
Past my bedtime so ~~~~~~~~ to all. Stay cool.

Hi all : yes I'm feeling better thank goodness only liitle sore but no problem.. I'm so glad to.. Snakes ugh.. they are pretty some them.. only spider i like is daddy long legs, and think tarantulas are neat but do not want around..
Susan hope kitty is getting all better..

I love tomato and mayo sandwiches..

I thought heat was horrible here today, if gets to 108 i will see if can get into refrigerator shut door..lol.. did not think Kansas got that hot..

Thanks everyone i'm doing ok finally so better now.. i appreciate it so much... blessings all.. take care everyone.. i have not eaten since early morning so get bite lay down to.. Have great Tuesday all..

Twyla

dmc - I love pasta salads too but you need to be home early enough to get the pasta cooked and refrigerated (though I've been know to chill itin ice water). Anyway, that's on tap for tomorrow. The varieties are endless; so we might have it for the rest of the week with a different variation every day.

Sheila - I took the meds and didn't feel so bad today; so either I'm getting used to it or something else was bothering me yesterday.

Hi to everyone else. DH is already in bed and I'd better join him. Have to take my car in tomorrow as the power steering pump finally came in.

Hope you all have a good night.

Ann

Okay, I know it is fairly early, but this body needs a bed. Follow me over to tomorrow's forum: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/627757/

Well, I am going to go ahead and post on this one since it is about today.

I Had to go to the dentist for a routine cleaning. Now they have decided I have periodontal gum disease and need to have three treatments. At $197 a pop!! I really don't have the money right now but I don't want to lose my teeth. Thank goodness for credit cards. :( It will be $700 before all is done.


The Cone is doing better today and I couldn't keep him inside. He would not stand for it. I don't see how any of them stand it out there. It is brutal. I have started putting those frozen ice things that you use in coolers to float in the water pan. I can't do it for the dogs though, cause they would retrieve them and chew them up.

The kitties like it though. I have a window fan in the window in the garage to stir up the air and I noticed tonight that it is almost clogged up with dirt and bugs. I will need to take care of that tomorrow and maybe it will move more air in there. Strypurr stays in the bathroom sink in the garage most of the time. It is right under the fan and is probably the coolest spot out there.

The future is not good as far as the heat predictions go. I hope we all live through this and no one gets sick. I include all of you in that hope as well.

Well, I need to go work on some SPCA accounting stuff, I always intend to do that and then I get on DG and never get 'r done.

Susan
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