VIP~Saturday, August 19

[plantdoctor]

[plantdoctor]

Good morning everyone.  It is 62º and a chilly wind coming in the computer room door.....it feels good.  Later we are to be in the lower 90s and at that time this cool breeze would certainly be welcome.  It looks like 6-7 days in a row in the 90s for us this next week.  I know many of you have temps much hotter than that, but it's too hot for me.

Yesterday Lair and I went to the wound clinic and then the grocery store.  When we got home I had to force myself to mow the rest of the yard, but hearing the weather forecast last evening, I am so glad that I did.  When I finished mowing I did the chores at my friends' house and then did my own watering.

This morning I plan on washing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen and then decide what to do next.

Gayle...I am sorry to hear that you have a decision to make about Chelsea.  That's always a tough call to make.

Karen...I hope today's family get together is nothing but fun and laughs!

Melissa...Enjoy the Vikings game and your visit with Mom.  I bet you will find a project to do for her while there.

Happy Saturday to all and wishing everyone a great weekend.  Charlene

[flowerpowerz5]

Good morning a bit chilly this morning 59 and going up to the mid 70's. I put a sweatshirt on this morning quite a breeze blowing. 

I will probably get the lawn mowed this afternoon after dries. I still have standing water in the side yard but it is slowly receding. 
I went to the mall yesterday and got some dress pants for work. I have enough blouses that I don't need to buy anymore right now. 

I did want to move some Iris this week but the weather hasn't cooperated. I will check today and see if it's dried up where I want to transplant them to. Ydd said she would take some. It's sad to think the growing season is ending soon. Seems like it just started. 

Gayle so sorry to hear about your dog. He's been a good companion for you. 
Karen good luck with your family event. Don't stress to much. 

Have a good day.

[luvmyb_b]

 Just stopping by while I catch my breath. I just got done cleaning and cutting up fruit. The whole time was a battle with the freakin' fruit flies! We haven't had fruit flies in AGES! It would figure today that would change. Anyway, that is behind me. I need to tie up loose ends around here and head to the store for cups and napkins. I thought I had more cups than I do and forgot about buying napkins. In the middle of the night, I was in DSon's room gathering some of Mac's things for the littles to play with if they don't want to swim. I'm still on the hunt for a Frisbee. I could have sworn there was one in DSon's room. After that, I have to clean DH's bathroom as best I can. It is a total wreck that I don't really bother with all that often because he just continues making it a wreck the minute I walk out. I won't have it in perfect shape, and I refuse to let another human in the room, but it will be better than it usually is. 

I was surprised that DH took the news as well as he did that we won't be able to make a funeral home visit for an old family friend and political colleague of his. It is from 1:00 to 4:00. My family is to arrive at 1:00 and we don't have an ending time. I told DH he could go if he hitched a ride with someone else. I just couldn't go. He is content to get cards for the kids and take them to the funeral home for them to send to the family. Works for me. 

Well, I need to keep moving. It'll be so nice to have most of the family together. I got a call late yesterday afternoon that DU and DA will both be coming. Her heart catherization went well and she doesn't have any restrictions on her activity today. That news made me really happy. DM and her DB don't see each other often enough these days. 

OH, I do want to tell Gayle how sorry I was to read about Chelsea. 💔 When we were where you are now, Gayle, the advice we got from the vet was when the bad times are outweighing the good times it is time to let them go. Our niece who is a vet agreed with that. Hugs & prayers! I'm heartsick for you.  

Have a sensational Saturday! 

Thanks, Charlene and Sandy on the kind words! They are appreciated. I'm about to the point where there isn't more that I can do but have fun.  

[mnwildflowers]

Good morning. 62 with a high of 88. You can tell its going to be warm as it just has that feel about it this morning. Its beautiful out right now tho. Thankfully we will drop back down to 58 by morning and then low 70s for most days tho Tues/Wed low 80s. I won’t complain because I see Charlene is going to be pushing 100 those days and temps in the low 90s when I’ll have low 70s.

Yesterday was the most productive I have been in the flowers for a while. I watered pots then tossed a couple tired looking ones. Swept the patio and rearranged pots after moving a couple out. Watered, weeded and deadheaded on the hill bed then pulled a tired nicotiana and prepared the soil to plant one of the daylilys I got this year. I dug out the top layer of soil which has been amended but is still hard and not the best. I have a bulb digger that goes on the drill I used to loosen the soil first. I then got another bucket and went down further in the icky clay and dug that out. Then I put amended soil back in before planting. I also moved a pulmonaria to a more shady spot and then planted my lst potted swamp milkweed. I removed a landscape timber and replaced it with rocks along that bed as well. I spent 3 hours working and as I was cleanjng ip to come in I noticed the damn wind broke my big tithonia off in the middle. I was so mad since I just spent all this time doing stuff and it happened right as I finished. More work to clean that up. By the time I hot in and made lunch it was 1.

After lunch I had to deal with tomatoes. I had enough for 2/3 of a batch of salsa. So then had to pull onions, pick peppers, jalepenos, and get everything chopped up. Got that in the oven then back out to water more. Decided to cut off all the heliopsis as its been infested with red aphids. And BAD! They didn’t even flower and looked terrible. Even my house is black from them. I filled my wheelbarrow with soapy water and as I cut I placed them in that. Filled the whole thing with them and it was gross. I plan to dig out all of them as its been a reoccurring issue but this year was the worst ever. After dinner I got the salsa in jars and in the water bath. Dh watched that so I could water the flowers. Got 8 pints of salsa and they all sealed. Tasted really good, sweet and spicy. It was a busy but productive day.

Today we head to Mpls. Dhs mom had a melanoma on the bottom of her foot. They removed some of it a couple months ago in the office but when it came back cancerous they had to schedule surgery. They were worried she’d have to have a skin graft but were able to avoid that. She had surgery Th and should get home today. Because of location she can’t walk on it at all, no weight bearing. So she’ll have a scooter and a walker both. The walker to just get up and the scooter for moving around. Dbil will stay with her this coming week and dh next week. Hopefully by then she’ll have it figured out. She has to stay off it for 8 wks.

Gayle-Sorry to hear of Chelsea’s decline. At some point we have to consider quality of life and then decide if we are keeping them alive for them or us. It sucks. I know Cooper is 11 so its only a matter of time. Hugs to you.

Well I need to go water a couple smaller pots. That wind yesterday did dry things out and since it will be hot today they will need it. Ds2 will be here but not the most reliable plant sitter. Lol. We will be at the Vikings game tonight then have some shopping to do before heading to my moms tomorrow to celebrate her birthday. Will be a fast weekend. Hope yours is good.

[plantdoctor]

Sandy...I also have some things I want to transplant this fall, but will wait until September when it cools down some.  Back to work for you on Monday?

Karen...Glad that DU and DA will be able to attend today.  Take a deep breath and enjoy the day...you got this!

Melissa...Yes Tue/Wed look horrible with temps probably reaching 100 here and feels like of almost 10 degrees more....plus very humid!  Not my favorite type of weather.  I also have a surplus of those red aphids this year.  I wonder why?  I was wrong. I thought you were headed to your Mom's but now I know it's Dylan's Mom's house.  Sorry to hear about her surgery and hope all goes well for her.  Charlene

[grandmazn8]

Good morning. I've been out watering but just enough to keep things alive till I get back from DS's. I had to hook up the old hose from the back that kinks really bad to the newer one but it was plenty long enough that I could keep the old one stretched out to avoid kinks. It could have even reached farther than the farthest bed so that's what I'll keep doing until I can fix the front faucet. I need to clean up and head to Walmart for a few things and to put gas in the car. I don't plan to leave for DS's till mid afternoon. His 2 youngest are at oldest son's house today because he is in Charlotte with the oldest for a wheelchair rugby clinic. I'll probably get there about the time they get home. Tomorrow I'll keep the girls in the morning for him to work and then sometime in the afternoon we will go to my niece's for Sunday supper. They are just going to pick up pizza since everyone needs to get the kids all settled to be ready for the first day of school tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be too late when I head home. Before I leave here today I need to do laundry and pack an overnight bag.

Gayle, I'm sorry to hear about Chelsea. She has been a good dog for you and I know it's a hard decision.

Charlene, I'm with you on not tolerating the heat. We have mid to upper 90s all week. Tuesday could hit 100. I will have to drag myself out of bed at the crack of dawn Monday because I seriously need to do some weeding. Everything is absolutely being taken over by weeds and grass.

Karen, enjoy your day with family. Just don't stress over what isn't done.

Better get busy. Have a good day.

[tasty]

Good morning - just!
Last night I was really tired so headed off to bed before 9.30 and pretty much slept untill 6.30 this morning, just waking a couple of times 😴.  I have got a couple of loads of laundry done and have a dozen blueberry loaves cooling on the counter, ready for tomorrow's market.  Hubby and I will take them to the market early tomorrow and do what shopping we need while we are there.  Now I am resting.  Not sure what the rest of the day holds.

Our canning group has been hit medically this week quite badly.  One lady broke her wrist and another was diagnosed with pnuemonia this morning 🤔 so our working numbers for Tuesday will be quite small.  Oh well, we can only do what we can, but I think it means I will spend the whole morning with them, taking breaks as needed.

Karen, have a lovely get together with family today.  Relax and enjoy 🙂.

(((Gayle))), I'm so sorry to read about Chelsea.  It's a tough decision - may her days be peaceful.

[Marlene]

If I hurry, I can still say "Good Morning".
Heat wave warning with "feels like" temps reaching 102º today.  Tomorrow a small cool down.
Karen, have a fun time at your gathering.  Always nice to see friends and relatives.
Gayle, sorry about Chelsa.  Pets become like family.
Melissa, hopefully everything will turn out well for DH's mother.  It is nice that family can take care of her.
Leslie, school starts early in your neck of the woods.  Here in MN, it is after Labor Day.  It is hard to believe that that time will soon be here.
Tasty, a question - do you have market every day?  
Stay thankful.
Marlene

[grandmazn8]

Marlene, 3 of my grandchildren started August 3rd. That is way too early. Summer was gone for them before it got started good.

The schools here started on the 7th I think. So the rest of my grandchildren are actually starting later than most. I think they are easing in to a year round school.

[Gayle]

Good morning,

We4 are cool today.  Started @ 74* & 80 right now.  Plenty of sunshine.

TY all for the kind words about my baby. She seems a little better this morning but we are making some changes. To get her to eat more I have decided to feed her twice a day.  Morning & evening (usual time was evening) half in AM & half in PM.  So this morning she ate about half of what I gave her but when I added some chicken she ate some more.   A couple of mouthfuls left so I will just add to that this evening. I've been helping her up on her bed at night for quite a while but letting her do the couch in the LR & chair on the sunporch on her own.  Starting today I'll be helping her with those if she wants to lay on them.  Trying to hold off on the aspirin or maybe just give half if she seems to really need it so I can give her a regular dosage tonight if she  seems to be in any pain.  Last night she stayed on "her" bed in the BR for several hr & slept.  I think that is the most comfortable spot for her.  She got down (she can do that) & came out in the LR just as I was getting ready to go to bed.  So back to bed she went & slept through the rest of the night.   I usually have to rouse her in the mornings to go out but have decided to let her sleep there as long as she wants to.  She'll get up & come in the LR or kitchen (wherever I am) when she's ready. I'll still have to rouse her on the days I work.   I didn't think she could hop through the doggie door anymore & was trying to figure out how to handle that but she did it this morning on her own. And we took a short walk, just to the corner & back with no problem.  Went down the ramp in the garage & out through the back yard instead of trying to manage the front steps.

I think Karen's vet advice is good.  When more bad days than good, it's time. But I know it wont be long now.  It's a day to day decision.

Karen, I hope you have a great time at your pool party today.

I might go get that Daylily bed finished while Chelsea's sleeping.  She likes me nearby these days.

Melissa, I used to have one of those augers for the drill but living in TN. with the hard Georgia clay it would about twist my wrist off when it hit bottom so I never really liked using it.  Enjoy the Viking game & good thoughts to Dylan's Mom for fast healing.

Leslie, August 3rd is really early to start school.  Will the year also end early.  Maddie starts 8/28  but she will miss Friday the  1st of Sept.  Her parents are leaving that day for a tip to Italy.  A working vacation for Mike but only a couple of days so Marianne is going along for the vacation part. The plan,subject to change, is for Maddie to come spend a few days with me, with her dog (a tiny little Pomerian; my cat is bigger) & I will take her back on Monday the 4th (Labor Day) as she has to go back to school on the 5th.  I have a feeling traffic is going to be horrendous on that Monday.  Everybody will be leaving the beaches & heading back home.  Will be just as bad on Sunday as some people have to work Monday.  So I hope if I leave here really early we can miss most of it. If Chelsea is still with me, I'll come back home Tues & she will spend her night with their friends across the street until her parent get home on Sunday.  The 2 couples are best friends & they have a daughter the same age as Maddie & one a couple yrs. younger.  Maddie & Ari (their DD) shared a nanny growing up.  I Might possibly take Chelsea with me but she doesn't really like to ride & I'm trying to make her life stress free right now.  Still working all this out.   Glad you got the hose thing figured out.  At least for now.

I'll sign off & check back later.

[mnwildflowers]

Gayle-My soil is also clay and hard and I know the wrist twist you are referring to. It has happened. I find I have to control the speed and pressure and that helps.

[plantdoctor]

Our school starts this coming Wednesday...August 23.  That day we are to be 100º, so I expect an early out.  The schools now have AC, but the buses don't so they often have 2 hour early release on the super hot days.  Charlene

[tasty]

Aug 19, 2023 11:30:28 GMT -5 Marlene said:

Tasty, a question - do you have market every day?  

Marlene, we're at our local town market every second Sunday morning and once or twice a month, we go to a market on Saturday morning in a neighbouring town.  As almost everyone in the group is noticeably over 70, this is often enough 🙂.

[SunshineFL10a]

Good afternoon between evening. Currently 92° and sunny. We had a cooler morning so I got alot done outside until 11, then went to the pool. I may go back this evening if I'm not too tired to change into my bathing suit. I've never had so many showers and wardrobe changes since I moved here. Reminds me, I need to do a load of play clothes this evening.

I've been rearranging some plants in my gardens and moving pots around. Some of my pots and baskets I'll stick in the ground where I moved the bromeliads from. That way I'll have less loose things to move if we get a hurricane warning.

My very first attempt at gardening was planting bromeliads from a neighbor's yard under my front live oak with the hopes it would quickly fill in. Two years later they have some but, not enough to not see weeds. So, I moved the dark red ones from under the other oak tree and put them in between the green ones. I like the effect and it looks fuller. When I planted the red ones which my friend Ruth gave me, I had no idea I'd be trucking in dirt and planting a flower garden there instead. I'll finish transplanting on a morning. Probably Monday. The sun has really shifted already so I have more shade now where I had full sun. I wanted to start more zinnias and try tithonia but although they will grow, I don't know if they'll bloom in November. Then it will be time to plant poinsettias again.

Gayle, glad to hear Chelsea is doing a little better. I never gave Roxie aspirin. I always gave her glucosamine for her joints..She had shoulder surgery as a puppy and that's what the vet prescribed. Towards the end I did have to use steps to get her in the car. I also started having to let her out the side door so that she wouldn't have to do steps. Sounds like your handling it very well.

Now it is evening and I'm going to rustle up some supper.

It's good to see Leroy back. Have a nice evening and peaceful night all!