Hail Storm

It was VERY cool today with the temperatures not up to 70. This afternoon it has been raining on and off. We were looking at the Food Network around 3:15 when it really got dark and thundering. Suddenly it rained and then there was hail... large hail.

Thankfully I had the camera ready and stood under the eves on the upper deck and took pictures. Here you can see the decks and plants covered. Don't think I lost any plants but they have a heavy layer of ice on them.

Really strange!!! and now, at 3:45 it's raining again - just rain at this point but very heavy.

Summer Living

I'm outside on the deck and this is my view. My poor tomato plant looks a bit drunk. Since we had the deck fixed we didn't want the pots just sitting on the deck which could be bad... so I put pieces of Styrofoam under the pots. I guess the piece I used for this pot is too small as it is listing to one side... I'll fix it later.
What a nice day! I've been working at the library "overtime" this week as we are having a sale Saturday and I wanted to get all the hard back books out. I first look most of them up on Amazon and some I list to sell. I generally only post a book if I feel I can get the $5 or more price -it does not pay us to sell books for less so there are many I don't list. Those get priced (most for $1) and put out on the shelves. We have soooo many paperbacks I am not even pricing the new ones as we are selling all paperback fiction books two for $1. A good deal After I got home, we ate lunch and then worked outside. B used the blower to clean things off - this pollen has to be over soon. I finished planting the basil and coleus I had gotten and am now DONE planting. So, after making a pot of tea which is steeping and will be iced later, I got a large glass of ice water and came out here. Slight breeze, I'm in the shade with the sun blocked by a nice large tree behind me. And I'm looking at the picture above - the two chairs are now in the sun. The nice thing is there is always some place in the shade.

Yep, this is where I'm sitting. This laptop is great - and I have a wireless network and so I'm able to work just about any where in the house. I also take the laptop to the library as they have a wireless network. Makes my job of looking the books up relatively easy. So, after I post this, I'm going to go get my book and read. As I said - summer living.....

WOW it got hot

Well, we really got hot today. We were down in South Jersey for a quick trip to see friends from our boating on the Chesapeake days... and then down to Atlantic County to a retirement dinner for two very special teachers.
Boy, is South Jersey ever crowded... and while I enjoyed it, I was really glad to get back home. One reason I wanted to move up here was the increased "hustle and bustle" of the area... and it has only gotten more so. Yes, there are so many stores to shop at and so many choices that we don't have up here, but there is also the rush rush rush that I can really do without.
We did enjoy spending time driving around and seeing the changes - new building and homes and Senior living places that weren't there a year ago. Much faster pace than we have up here.
And we got home Friday afternoon and after unpacking and eating a light dinner we kinda collapsed.... nice to be home.
And then we got hit by the heat wave... it was SO muggy that around 4 PM we decided to put the air on... and we really don't usually do that but it's to be hot tomorrow and Monday and maybe for another day or two... and really it is much more comfortable!!!

Summer has started

Memorial Day always marks the start of summer in our house. The gang (B's brothers and sister and their families) come over for a cook out. This year we started a bit earlier as it is still cool in the evenings. We had a great time! A tree had fallen down the other day and one of B's brothers cut it up and we burned it... we generally wait to long to make the fire so we started early. However, it was warm outside and we didn't need it to keep warm. It did look nice. We just sat around, ate and talked. A very nice day!






With B's help, we moved the geranium planter up on the deck. After the little suckers ate the geraniums on the lower deck we were rather sure then would move on to the larger ones. So, we moved it.

It's a beautiful day out today but cool - temps were in the low 70's and it's windy. The sun is shining and yesterday's rain cleared the air. The pollen has been bad and we both are "suffering". However, it's not as bad as when we were in Jersey! The trees are shedding little seeds and I think that marks the end of the crud from the trees. Sure hope so as B has had to blow the driveway and decks every day.

Who Ate My Flowers????

You know, it really is woman against the animals!!
I'm still planting flowers and herbs. And the other day I planted some long planters on the lower deck - geraniums petunias and marigolds. And this morning.... THE GERANIUMS WERE GONE!! And I don't need CSI in here to tell me - the varmints ate them!! Grrrrrrr Well, I was upset. Now, I realize that when you think about all the problems in the world, that is no big deal - however, it was my problem and I was pissed!!! I have another planter on the drive way that also has geraniums in it and so I had to do something. B suggested checking the garage for spray to keep critters away. I found one for deer and rabbits. OK, sounds "good". I don't do this but, I had no choice. I sprayed my plants. WELL (as Jack Benny would say if you are old enough to know who he was) I can see why no self respecting critter would come near the plant. This spray is black in color and STINKS. I sprayed the plants, then came in and put the stuff away and washed my hands. Then I went into the living room and SMELLED the spray! WOW, does it stink. Let's hope no critter would come near. However, the smell is in the house. After spraying Freebreez all over I have lit several candles... and can still smell the stuff. Well, let's hope that the result is that they leave my plants alone...