Aurora's Blog
Aurora's Blog
Last Post 11 hours Ago
Jul 6, 2008 | 7:50 AM PST
I know we need the rain, but these thunderstorms can stop!
Woke up this morning to having the decorative iron trellisis on the shed having been blown down- damaged a clematis and knocked down the baptisia. One of my sunflowers was knocked down in another bed, as well as one of the unidentified plants and crocasimia *really angry*.
That was not the only damage. When the trellis' fell they also put the plug for for the pond pump into a big puddle. That of course tripped the GFCI for b oth the shed and the exterior receptacles. Now the fountain isn't going and the pool pump is off. We can't reset the outlet at all, despite having unplugged everything and resetting all the breakers. Not sure exactly what the problem is. What's worse is my husband doesn't know either, and he's an Electrical Engineer!!!
Needless to say, I will be spending the day repairing damage to the plants, while hubby works on the electric. That is, we will be doing that in between yet more thunderstorms and rain. At least all of my other plants are really happy!
Have fun gardening :)
Jul 5, 2008 | 2:20 PM PST
Tags: fireworks , tomatoes , peppers
Hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th!
I've been really busy the last few days getting ready for the in-laws coming and our 4th of July party. We got the yard looking wonderful, the house was spotless, and then boy did we party!
We invited all the friends, neighbors and their kids. Invited several of the brand new neighbors, so got to make even more friends :) A neighbor smoked a turkey for us, I smoked babyback ribs, and made lots of other food too. The turkey was a huge hit, and everyone had lots of fun. The kids all had a great time swimming and running around and watching our fireworks show. The adults all had a wonderful time too- party went on until about 11pm, when kids were falling asleep on the floor LOL! Thankfully no one had to drive home, they all lived at most a block away.
Steve and friend Dave were our firworks technicians. They did a great job of coordinating multiple bottle rocket launces, roman candles, whizzy things, and the few larger ones that we had bought. Hearing the kids "Oooh, Aahh" made the whole thing so enjoyable.
We were very lucky in the timing too. As the firework show was going on, we began to see lightening (took us all a while to figure out what it was LOL) Afterwards we had a nice storm hit, so everyone came back in. Then we didn't get another storm until after everyone went home. I believe we had about 2 other storms after that too. Much needed rain to water the plants, and put out any smoldering fireworks remnants :)
Today we got another storm, it was raining like a waterfall for about an hour, and we're supposed to get more storms tonight and tomorrow.
This morning I found 4 more baby tomatoes, and some baby peppers too WOOHOOO!!!!!
Until later, Have fun gardening :)
Jul 1, 2008 | 9:00 AM PST
Or should I title this "Cleaning, Cleaning, Cleaning"? LOL! I would most certainly rather be out in the garden!
I watered everything last night with the "Non-odor" fish fertilizer. When you put it on just a few plants it doesn't smell at all. When you water all of your beds it is pretty rank haha. I think I really upset the neighbors, and scared off the icer cream man LOL! Everything really seems to have enjoyed it though.
I'm really getting frustrated with my peppers and tomatoes. They have lots of blooms- but just won't set fruit! I have no idea why. They are all HUGE. Maybe I need to add more potash or potassium... The ornamental beans are blooming like crazy, but the blossoms fall off before growing a bean. They are supposed to be edible, and I want to collect for next year. Oh well....
The parsley is setting seeds like crazy. I'm going to have loads to trade. Organically grown parsley seeds anyone? The plants are 4 ft tall!
My Four O'Clocks are blooming like crazy too. I really like them. I'll definitely be collecting those seeds!
Well, gotta go collect the seeds from the skullcap, and then get back to cleaning.
Have fun gardening :)
Jun 30, 2008 | 1:13 PM PST
Been doing housework. Have the kichen and dining room cleaned up- still have the living room, guest bedroom, and Megan's room to do. Good thing the in-laws aren't getting here until Wedsneday LOL! Really do need to get back to it though....
Today started of rather pleasant. Now it is plain hot and miserable. I am so over this smoke! My throat has been hurting for the past week and a half!
I think we got some rain last night. When I went to bed there was a lot of lightening and thunder, as well as a slight drizzle. The ground was damp this morning anyway. I need to water though. Maybe I'll actually water everything with the fish fertilizer.
I better get going, I need some coffee if I'm going to stay awake for the next 30 mins!
Have fun gardening :)
Jun 29, 2008 | 5:35 PM PST
It's 8:30 pm here, and the temp is still 92 degrees! I took a bunch of flower pictures today- I just have to get them off the camera. I'll hopefully get around to that tomorrow :)
I didn't water today- we have a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms and rain tonight so I figured I'd play the odds :) Looking at the radar just now, I think I made the right choice- there are some really wicked looking storms headed our way- probably why we are in a Severe T-storm watch until midnight
I splurged on myself tonight- I bought myself a fishing rod. I am so tired of having to steal a few casts with one of the kids' rods LOL! Too bad I won't have the chance to try it out for the next couple of days, I'll be too busy doing housework in preperation for the in-laws and our 4th of July party.
Jun 29, 2008 | 6:42 AM PST
After the rain a couple of evenings ago I went and weeded a little bit. I was also treated to a female hummer visiting every single one of my crocasimia blooms. I stood there watching her for about 5 mins.
Yesterday was a little more weeding. Except for the tangled mess of Mexican Eve. Primrose and bermuda grass, I have gotten all the beds weedfree for now. Then it was off to a party held by one the people in Autocross. He has such a gorgeous property- 11 acres with 2 ponds, huge house, 4 car garage with apartment above, a barn with apartment above, pool. It was so nice. The kids swam for a while, then we went fishing in the one pond. No sooner did their lures hit the water when they had caught fish. The kids just loved it (I did too- I finally caught fish too LOL) Later a live band was playing. Megan danced the entire time.
Today we have all slept in. I need to get the grass mowed. Then it's off to neighbor's house to measure windows for the curtains she wants me to sew for her. I am so looking forward to that :)
The clematis cuttings I took a few days ago are doing well- no leaf wilt at all at least. It would be great to have at least one actually grow. The passion flower cuttings are doing pretty well too. I really want to have those grow wonderfully :)
That's all for now- I'm sure I'll have more to add later.
Have fun gardening :)
Jun 27, 2008 | 2:15 PM PST
As I write this, we are finally getting some very much needed rain YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!! For once I won't have to water tonight. My plants are just so happy :)
Yesterday the smoke held off until late evening. Despite the 101 degree temp I did get some gardening done. I tied some fishing line onto the clematis trellis so they would have an easier time climbing. I did a little bit of weeding, but with the dry soil they were practically impossible to pull.
Then I did more beetle hunting while the kids and one of their friends swam in the pool. I should have gone in the pool with them LOL!
I have some strange rash all over me. Steve thinks it might be poison ivy, probably a bunch has been burning in those fires, and the oils are blowing here in the smoke. It doesn't really feel like poison ivy though...
Well, I better get going- the power has really started to blink with all the close lightening strikes.
Have fun gardening :)
Jun 26, 2008 | 3:57 PM PST
First I would like to thank everyone who commented on the injured dove. I came to the conclusion to let nature go on. I really don't want to take the responsibility of caring for a wild bird for the rest of it's life. I haven't seen it at all today, but I wasn't looking for it either. I am hoping that either the fox or the feral cats will take it soon to stop it's suffering. I just can't bring myself to end it's misery.
On a different note, I spent much of today picking beetles off of my plants while the kids played in the pool. I must've got about 100 of them! We all came in for the afternoon as it rached 101 degrees. The weather was saying that the humidity was only 25 percent, but I swear they were lying LOL!
About to head out to water again. I watered really well last night night, but the plants were literally wilting in the heat today.
Have fun in your gardens :)
Jun 25, 2008 | 4:45 PM PST
Tag: injured dove
I believe I had mentioned in one of my other blogs about the dove with the head injury. Well tonight while watering I saw it again. I got a much closer look, it doesn't have any eyes!! It let me stroke it, but it flew off as soon as I tried to pick it up. Poor thing, I don't know how it flies!
I just don't know what to do for it. Part of me wants to build a small outside enclosure and keep it, the other part says to just let nature take it's course. It is such a difficult thing to see an animal suffering, and I know my grandfather would have kept it. He was always helping animals in need. I believe he's the one who sends them to me, the lost dogs, hurt birds...
Jun 25, 2008 | 6:13 AM PST
Gonna be another hot one today. I was planning on doing some more weeding today, but we're getting the smoke from 2 NC wildfires today. Visibility is forecast to be under a quarter mile. This stuff makes me feel so yucky- tummy gets sick, headaches, and makes it really hard to breathe. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be outside much today until it goes away.
I hate to say it, but it's looking like it will take a tropical storm or hurricane to put these fires out! The peat is burning, and nothing they do can get it out. I really feel for those who live much closer to the fires than we do...
Happy gardening!
Jun 24, 2008 | 1:34 PM PST
I really wish I could find where Steve put the camera- I have some gorgeous flowers blooming right now I would love to get pics of! Did more beetle picking today- I think I got 40 of them Mu-hahahaha!!!! They are just destroying my wisterias and witchhazel :( Also found an injured dove- looks like something attacked a young one, leaving all sorts of nasty wounds on it's head. It can still fly (sort of) and I haven't been able to catch it to take to a re-habber. I really don't think it can be saved though *cry*
We actually got some rain last night WOOHOO! I didn't think we would as all the storms and rain kept going to the east, south, or north of us yesterday. The weather really teased us with rumbles of thunder- then nothing. I'm still going to have to water tonight- I haven't been able to use the drip system yet this year because 1.-I have far more plants than emitters, and 2.- I put a few holes into the main line with my cultivator. Hopefully Friday I'll be able to get the stuff I need to get it working again.
Better get outside, the kids are playing in the still green pool. At least it isn't as bad as it was 2 days ago LOL!
Jun 23, 2008 | 5:54 PM PST
Here's the links to some of the videos we took at Disney for whover may want to watch :)
http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=Zuq-zFRD9Nc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=K4FPFSaUX9Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=k7nrlPb6v_8
Jun 23, 2008 | 5:29 PM PST
Today was spent weeding. Amazing how many grow in a week's time! I found a volunteer portulaca in the one bed. Very strange since I have never planted portulaca at this house LOL!
I also collected the seeds from the really pretty blue-eyed grass. Since most of the pods had already opened I'm sure I've had plenty self-sow for next year. Have plenty for trading too :)
Also continued the battle with the beetles. I must've picked about 30 off of a few of my plants. Unfortunately there were a ton of them on the wisterias way above where I could reach *sigh*.I'm going to have to buy that milky spore this year- hopefully it will help a little for next year.
It was fun to see what all is blooming after a week of being gone. My crocasima Lucifer is blooming for the first time since I planted it 2 years ago. It is gorgeous! I'm going to have to get pics of it tomorrow. My daylillies are just full of blooms and buds. The hostas, agastache, catmint, obedient plants, gloriosa daisies, liatris, a sunflower, and four o'clocks are all blooming too. The end of June is always the height of my garden. The heat and humidity of July and August are just too much for most of my plants :(
Jun 22, 2008 | 6:57 PM PST
I guess I'll start with our arrival in Orlando. There had been a thunderstorm (that we missed) and waiting to greet us was a gorgeous rainbow. The colors were very vivid and it arced across the whole sky. Too bad the camera was in the back LOL!
We spent our first day at Magic Kingdom. The kids eyes must have been as big as dinner plates taking it all in. They got to meet Stitch while we were going from Buzz Lightyear to Space Mountain. Both kids are tall enough to ride everything, and they went on everything, mostly :) We were there from open to close.
The next day we went to Hollywood Studios. First ride we went on was Aerosmith Rockin' Roller Coaster. They were giving out Dream Fast Passes. (A fastpass is a card that gives you a time to come back to the ride, example is 1:00 - 2:00, and you don't have to wait in a really long line. The catch is you can't get another one for any other ride until the first one expires) The Dream Fastpass is a fastpass for every fastpass ride, with no set times to return between. It was wonderful. Especially since after riding the Aerosmith coaster Megan decided she didn't like ANY rides that were dark. That caused a whole set of problems, with Logan being the lucky one that could ride everything twice (for the rest of the trip). Anyway that coaster was AWESOME!!!!!!! Went upside down, 0-60 mph in 2.2 seconds, and pretty much completely dark except for road signs. Logan loved it, and probably rode it about 4 times LOL! It was also a Star Wars weekend, which was great because we all love Star Wars.
Then it was on to Animal Kingdom for the third day. They have a great "safari" trip through their zoo. You can tell that there is nothing between you and the herbivores, excluding the elephants and white rhinos. You are right next to hippos, gazelles, impallas, black rhinos, giraffes, etc. And the barriers between you and the carnivores, elephants, etc are hardly noticible. The nice thing about this park is it's mostly in the shade. Lots of wonderful shows, and another great roller coaster- Expedition to Everest. Megan wouldn't ride that one, but the rest of us loved it.
Fourth Day: Epcot. Megan wasn't feeling well, so was pretty grumpy, but still soldiered on. They got to meet Donald Duck. Had a lot of fun, but decided to leave early since we all needed an early night. Soarin, Test Track, and Mission Space are great :)
On the fifth day it was back to Animal Kingdom. Watched a lot more shows. Went to Dinoland this time, really neat stuff there! Kids got to meet Micky, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald again. As well as Pocahontas and the little gorilla from Tarzan whose name I can't remember.
Sixth day was Epcot a second time. There they got to meet Snow White, and a couple of others I don't remember right now (the days are running together LOL) We missed Jasmine, but Megan got to belly dance with a real belly dancer! I think steve put the video on Youtube, but I don't know what he called it. It was really cute :) I'll post the link when I find out what it is.
Seventh and last day was the Magic Kingdom again. Megan had an appointment at the Bibbity, Bobbity Boutique in Downtown Disney at 12:20 to become a princess. They did her hair, dressed her in her choice of gown- she chose Belle, put on make-up, crown, shoes, and wand. Then it was off for her photoshoot. She looked absolutely beautiful. Then it was back to the Magic Kingdom. All of the park employees would bow to her- she didn't know quite what to do! She had all of her princess photos in her gown. Belle was wonderful and danced with her. Megan was so happy :) We have photos of them all, plus the pics from the Disney photographers. I'll post them tomorrow. While Meg and I were doing all of that, Steve and Logan were having a great time. They had lunch with the Winnie the Pooh characters, and rode lots of rides. Stayed until after the fireworks again.
We had so much fun. I really hope we can get there again soon. The kids just loved it. Gave every character a BIG hug that just melted your heart, and made everything so worth it. They were the perfect age- the whole thing was so magical to them.
Jun 22, 2008 | 7:18 AM PST
We got back back home last night. Had a fabulous time, will post more later... My mom did a great job with my gardens- They must've grown 2 feet!
