One More Detour on the Writing Road

Ooookay...

2022-10-29T17:37:33Z

...I am almost certain that my last post here was later than February. But this year has whipped by so fast that I can't swear to it.

It's Autumn already. The foliage was stunning, but now we're at the mow-mulching stage. The tree folks did a boatload of trimming and tree removal a couple of weeks ago, which saved me some work but not a lot.

We've had some unseasonable chill here in NE Illinois, which I am not ready for. I need to have a new back door installed next month, which should be interesting. During the summer, I need to worry about an influx of flies and wasps getting in through the opening; in colder weather, I need to worry about mice. Do not like mice.

The birds, meanwhile, are pecking through the suet cakes and seeds at a record rate. Some of the smaller squirrels managed to weave through the squirrel-resistant--stop laughing they pretty much do work--suet cages to get at the cakes, so now I have to coat the things with cayenne powder and then make sure to wash my hands thoroughly and NOT TOUCH MY EYES EVEN AFTER I DO SO. Not for a while, anyway.

Soon I'll be bringing in the container plants for the winter. The gerbera daisies. Probably the mini-roses. Sometimes the warmth tricks them out of dormancy and they continue to bloom. Bright spots of color amid the brown and white.

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::spla::

2021-10-23T23:51:14Z

Not sure why I'm so tired. I think the allergy meds that don't cause drowsiness except when they do caught up with me, along with two days mulch-mowing the yard and cleaning up a bit. I still need to plant a potted nishiki willow--grew it myself!--and move a euonymous that's getting crowded by the Drought? What Drought? fragrant sumac. I wanted to do that before tomorrow's rain, but I ran out of gas.
Could get 2+ inches of rain tomorrow into Monday. Where were you in August, dammit.

I also took down the deck brollie for the season. Most of the dahlias are kaput, but there's one that's still blooming, a pretty tangerine one, and I am tempted to try and save it. The Gerbera Daisy That Could has one flower. Last I looked, no more were forthcoming, so it may be shutting down. I put out the fall wreaths and the wire scarecrow a few days ago. Trick or treat isn't until next Sunday--I'm thinking candy will go on sale by week's end. I never get many kids, and last year, I didn't get at all. So I had better get a bag of something I like.

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So Here I Am

2017-04-09T23:22:40Z

Everything has imported from LJ according to DW, so I am here now. I won't be crossposting over there, and am working up the nerve to delete what's left behind. Feels strange, because I was there for so long.

An unseasonably warm weekend--high 60s yesterday and 70s today. Grass is greening fast. I spread the corn gluten fertilizer/weed suppressant yesterday, and am hoping that I see some improvement in the creeping Charlie control in the backyard. It's going to take a few years to hit the 80% control level that organic stuff usually reaches, but this is Year 2 and so I am hoping.

First daffodils opened today. They'll pick up as the crocuses wind down. It's supposed to drop back to the 50s for a few days, but I don't really mind. As long as the trend is up.

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One thing makes a post

2011-08-02T03:25:44Z

It's August already. Next month is a -ber month.

Where in hell has the year gone?

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Signs of summer's end

2009-08-22T14:05:01Z

My late summer allergies are kicking up...fall clothing catalogs...the lawn has lost its emerald green *oomph*...acorn remains raining down from the oak trees, courtesy of the squirrels...that certain sensation on coolish mornings...the occasional overfly of ducks in a V-formation...back-to-school ads.

It went by so fast.

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