Cooler weather finally!

I had to turn the water heater back on last week as my showers were getting a little nippy. Not so bad when it was just a shower without washing my hair, but when it came to hair day, just too darned chilly. And I almost turned on the heater in the bathroom yesterday morning when I was getting ready for work. Just last week I was using the fan!

The AC has been off since Thursday (?). $$$$ in savings! Yay. I'm starting to feel a little bit of motivation and ambition finally. Although it still isn't the greatest for working outside.

I have had a long work week. Everything is making me cranky and people are pissing me off. It is definitely time for vacation. If it hadn't been so hot, I would have taken it sooner. But it isn't much of a vacation if all I can do is sit indoors because it is too hot to be outdoors. 

I have no money, so I won't be going anywhere. The fall big bills have started rolling in, so I need to concentrate on getting those paid and the money for my annual dues in February. Unfortunately I am back to living from paycheck to paycheck and every month my bank account gets smaller and smaller. I hate that. I also hate that I have to work so damned hard for what little money I do earn. That is just wrong. It gets rubbed in too every time someone uses an EBT card, they eat better than I do. But don't get me started on that rant.

Lots and lots of little green things coming up in the garden since I planted last week. I do need to change out the sprinkler. The one I used just wastes way too much water and makes a lot of noise. I want to suspend the new one from the ceiling so the water goes down instead of up and hitting the roof. Less noise and hopefully less waste.

I was thinking about draining and putting the cool tub away today, but looking at the forecast, I will probably wait another week. Looks like some more high 90's coming our way. I did haul out my big fleece bathrobe and flannel nightgown and am washing them, getting them ready. I may switch to the flannel tonight, and use the robe as needed. 

It has been a long summer.

Planted the fall garden

Got the garden planted yesterday. Here are some of the things I planted...
Mesclun
spinach
turnip greens
beets
carrots
radishes (both red and white)
swiss chard
tomatoes (three types, one is cherry tomatoes from the grocery store)
peppers (two types)
cukes
asparagus
rhubarb
hubbard squash
acorn squash

There were another green or two that I can't think of at the moment, but am hoping for a good return.

I don't know why I bother with cukes, I have never been able to grow them, but I keep trying.

The tree tomato I am starting in a tray along with lemon and mandarin orange. I also started the asparagus in the tray as I am not sure where I am going to put them if they grow. The rhubarb I started in the garden as it transplants fairly easy. I left the two back corners for extras. I'm always adding something. The last time I tried to start the citrus, they didn't do anything. That was in the spring and it got too hot to fast. Same with the rhubarb and asparagus.

I set up a sprinkler for the top watering until the plants get established. After that it will be just the buried soaker hoses with an occasional top water from the hose. I didn't want to have to water by hand on a daily basis.

The transplanted desert willows did not like being moved. Both of them lost all of their leaves. I have had to cut them back. The smaller one has put out new leaves, but nothing from the larger one yet. Still hoping. 

Patio and garden

Well, it has been a couple of weeks. The lost furniture was delivered last week - it came on a 48 ft mack truck. I contacted Walmart and told them it finally arrived, it is up to them to re-charge me for it since I had already gotten a credit. I did my part.

Of course, assembly required. Took a little over an hour to get the set together, but it is a nice set for the money.

For now, I have the two sets split. The larger section of the patio got the new table since it is too big for the smaller half, and each section has one old chair and one new chair.

I finally got the bales of pro-mix and peat into the garden last week. Making it ready to plant. It also freed up quite a bit of space on the patio where I had stored it. 

It has already settled some since last week, but am hoping it won't go as low as last year. It made reaching the back very difficult.

I transplanted both desert willow seedlings, and both promptly shriveled and dried up. Lost all their leaves, branches died. But the little one has started with new leaves, and I just trimmed back the larger one hoping it will also put out new leaves. It had a huge root and should come back. I hope.

I also finally got my water filter changed last week. I guess I need to do it a bit more often, but the replacement filter is over $100. This is the first time I have replaced the filter and I bought the system when I was living on Alder Street in IP. I can't believe I was drinking the water from this slimy thing. The flow had been reduced to about half and it took forever to fill a gallon jug or my coffee mug. It wasn't as hard to change as I thought it was going to be. It actually took longer to read the instructions than the actual act.

I will have to set up a reminder for this time next year.

I bought my trash can for the bale of pro-mix that I saved for potting. Getting the pro-mix into the trash can will free up quite a bit of space in the shed which desperately needs to be cleaned. I still need to drill some breather holes, but might get that done today. The soil, not the shed.

I bought the last of the decorative cardboard boxes at work yesterday and want to use them on top of the cupboards for my seasonal coffee mugs. I had been putting them in bags to keep them clean, but the boxes will look a lot nicer. I just hope they fit. I also have a set for the living room. Half price is a good thing. 

I moved the candle holders from the patio uprights to the new sitting area, and also mounted the clock on the wall. The dragonfly was a half price purchase this weekend as well. The clock was a half price DG find last year. It had a stem and base that I snapped of to hang it on the wall. 

The candles are battery operated, they go on and off by themselves. I originally found those at DG my first Christmas here when I was still in the motor home. I have since bought a bunch of them after season when they go half price, and have them spread around the house. They light up the sitting area nicely. The holders were a Salvation Army find a couple of years ago. 

There are so many things I would like to do today, including planting the garden. But I am exhausted from all the extra hours I worked this weekend. I will probably just relax today and hope that tomorrow I will have more energy. I would like to go out to eat with someone or do something fun - but again, not a lot of energy. The job just drains me.

The temps have cooled some. Nights are comfortable now and the days aren't quite so hot. My AC isn't coming on as often, so that means a lower electric bill finally. The countdown is on to my vacation. Two weeks from today I will officially be on vacation. I have so much to do and hopefully the temps will be even better. The shed is a priority, as is the drawers and closet in the bedroom. I am hoping to have something to offer for this year's fall yard sale. I know I have stuff stashed, and there are chairs I need to get rid of, a bunch of stuff that has been dropped in the shed..clothes, maybe even some craft stuff. We'll see when the time comes.

Guess that catches me up for the week. I'm trying to post on a more regular basis, but there isn't much to write about when all I do is work, sleep and wait to go to work. And I don't know how much of my mundane life interests people. But then again, if you aren't interested, you don't have to read it, right?

Lost shipment

Someone, somewhere, lost my patio set. How do you loose a patio set? I am disappointed, but got a refund. I am also disappointed that they just sat on it until I complained. Not the best customer service. If they knew it was lost, they should have sent another. Oh well, I am getting my money back and will look for something at another time. Wonder if it got washed away with Harvey....

Since I am not getting the patio set I moved one of my recliners to the new sitting area and moved one of the folding chairs to the old sitting area. I can only sit in one chair at a time, so it works for now. I will just keep my eyes open for something else.

I caught one mouse so far. I had put out the enclosed traps last week with no results so I bought a package of the old fashioned wooden snap traps. First night, first mouse.

Gonna set another tonight. I disposed of both mouse and trap as I didn't want to mess with it. Rodents out here can carry the Hanta Virus. Easier just to toss the whole thing than try to reuse the trap. They are cheap enough anyway. I can't decide if this is a kangaroo rat or a pocket mouse. Kind of big for a pocket mouse, and it has the tufted tail. So most likely a kangaroo rat. I guess it doesn't really matter what it is as long as it is gone.

Nothing new here. Still too hot to work outside. I am getting so sick of being stuck indoors. I hate not having any energy or ambition, so many things to do, and it is just too hot. Even indoors it is too hot to do anything. I am fine as long as I am not moving around and have the fan blowing on me, but if I get up and move around, it is too hot. All I do is eat, sleep and read when I am not working.

I need to get the garden filled and ready as I should be planting in a week or so. But again, too hot to plant or haul bales of soil. 

I requested the first week in October for my vacation. Still don't know what I am going to do, but will figure it out at some point.