Saturday, July 13, 2019

still summer, still hot, still watering, and the skin is still wrinkled


After I quit trimming and no I didn't finish yesterday because I finally went and got my annual hair cut (the last one was end of April right before I went to Portugal for the month of May so it's been over a year), shorter than what I've been getting the last two years and what I had in mind but this has been my summer cut for many years before so that's what I got. You want your summer cut, right, she asked when I told her I didn't want it too short and it was too late by then anyway and it will grow out to what I wanted

I may not feel old but the skin says different

...after I quit trimming, I didn't get much else accomplished that day and I even took a nap! I never take naps, or very rarely.

Yesterday I watered, got my hair cut, cut back the done purple coneflowers, and made a peach pie. I've given up hand watering certain areas. I just can't water enough in the morning for them not to be droopy and the ground dry by late afternoon so I've shifted to deep watering with the hose running on low, timer set, and when it goes off I'll move it over a couple of feet and start it again (I don't water grass ever, it can dry up).

Today my main goal is to make the casting box for the heron box and set up a small log that I cut in half lengthwise for a reproduction mold and get the first couple of layers of latex on. Usually when I buy the latex mold builder I use it for the one or two things I got it for specifically and then the rest of it dries up and I have to toss it. I'm determined to use most of this container up!

All the different gingers are starting to bloom. 


Last year only one stalk of the yellow butterfly ginger bloomed but this year I've counted 11 stalks so far putting out buds and the night blooming cereus has 13 buds on it. Six or seven is the most I've ever gotten in the past and it's usually late August when it  blooms.

The yard is full of tiny toads. This one was about 1/2”


and this anole keeps showing up and peering inside.


Other things blooming...








15 comments:

  1. So pretty!
    Including you, my beautiful friend.

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  2. I love your toads. What is that plant that has the little ring of purple flower inside? That's really cool.

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    Replies
    1. it's a bromeliad. and yeah, the little toads are so cute.

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  3. Those ginger blossoms are other worldly beautiful.
    We have a few of those Home Depot orange buckets. Jim drills a tiny hole close to the bottom and then we fill them up with water. They take about an hour to empty, and since they're putting out a tiny stream of water, it goes deep. It's faster to fill up buckets than to keep moving the hose, which decreases time spent out in the heat.
    I like the summer hair cut.

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    1. good idea about the buckets!!! I'll have to try that. it's always a shock when I get it cut. it was well past my shoulders this time since it had been over a year.

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  4. The flowers in the bromeliad are startling little explosions.
    What is the flower in the very last picture?
    As for wrinkles, it means we're still alive.

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    Replies
    1. that's a bridal bouquet plumeria. the leaves are sort of spade shaped and all the branches grow straight up.

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  5. I just hope the anole stays outside. They show a worrying tendency to get indoors and die, at least in Florida.

    We don't water grass either. Grass is supposed to turn brown at certain times of the year. It's part of the life cycle! I saw ginger blossoms just like those at my mom's retirement center.

    I think your haircut looks great! It must be such a relief to have it short.

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  6. Smooth skin is totally overrated. You look lovely! So do your blooms and toads and friends.

    We started putting a bucket into the shower when we do have a shower and once it's cooled down, water a shrub or a tree or whatever with it. It's a surprising amount lot of water and if you don't use tons of conditioners etc., it'll do fine. We don't have a hose ban (yet) but it's on the cards unless we get massive rain in the next couple of days.
    I am at the two haircuts/year stage incl. snipping my fringe and odd bits here and there. When I retire I'll be down to none.

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    1. also a good idea. most the people in my neighborhood have wells. I'm on city water because the previous owner had the city hook them up when they put in the fire hydrant across the street.

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  7. I'm 64 and my mind says I'm 16 while my body says, you wish.No wrinkles yet though. My mom didn't have wrinkles until she hit into her 80's and she's still going strong. Such beautiful flowers in your garden.

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  8. Your hair cut is great. I cut mine too a couple of days ago and the found out my bestie cut hers on the same day. It must be in the air.
    Ah...the flowers.
    BTW, my internal age is 24!

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  9. I love your summer cut! Actually feeling a little jealous right at the moment (I HAVE TOO MUCH HAIR!). I think you look mischievous, not old :)

    LOVE the little toad! So adorable. That's one thing I miss about our Ohio home - I never see toads here for some reason even though I know they're out there somewhere.

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  10. I agree that you are looking great. I had fun watching for the Friday selfies back when you were doing that. You are looking younger than you did then! I have caught many an anole here in the house. Am a pro at capturing them with a plastic container and thin plastic or cardboard. When I was teaching, we kept one in the classroom for awhile. I made trips to a pet store for crickets for him. Lots of fun for the kids to watch him grow. We let him go after a few weeks. Got my hair cut SHORT Friday. Can't stand how it looks long.

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  11. I like your cut - I got my annual summer cut too, and it was way shorter than I wanted. I blame it on the fact that I get a scalp massage when my hair is washed and I was zenned out and not paying attention. It will grow. What beautiful, exotic flora you have. I never realized that ginger plants flowered. They are beautiful!

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