Nope, didn’t work for me!! Recently our local Walmart (now the subject of controversy) had 5-hour Energy on sale. I bought three… and this morning was my first time to try the product. Nope, it didn’t work for me!! This is the sixth–and final–day of our CARE Garage Sale and I hoped for a burst of energy to get me through the final hours. Oh well, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” First: this blog message; second: some work in the yard. It is a gloomy overcast day and more rain is predicted. Major, major flooding in Houston, and Huntsville (made the “major” NBC Today Show weather news). Seventy-two degrees outdoors so a pleasant temperature to work in the yard. Bird feeders need filling; downed limbs need to be picked up; “dead heads” (flowers) need to be nipped. My yard looked good a week ago but is a disaster today. OK–with waning energy–I’m off to work in the yard.

… how does your garden grow??” Very well, thank you!!

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Plants received (in the mail) less than two weeks ago are taking root. The Strawberry plants are doing so well I separated them into two planters. Hummingbird-Trumpet Vines have progressed from bare root to leaves. Blue Geranium from bare root to leaves. ~~ “Tommy” survived the Winter and has rewarded me with delicious tomatoes.  ~~ “Mary, Mary, quite contrary” because I didn’t stick around the CARE Center to pack up the items donated to other non-profit organizations. Just too tired!!

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Is it my imagination?? I think the tomato plant grew a lot–in rain–in just fifty-five hours.

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Three weeks later.

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Postscript, June 2, 2015: Too much rain!! “Tommy” probably will not survive.

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Slowly, but surely, I am “downsizing.” In my humble opinion, the picture frames were “too nice” to sell for fifty cents at our garage sale. I specifically requested they go in the CARE Gift Shop.

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Now I need to package, protect, and store the wool blankets and afghans–at my doorstep–for next October CARE Garage Sale. Linen table clothes, napkins, embroidery, doilies, etc. (in white plastic container) will go to the appropriate shop (near Huntsville) and bring a substantially better price than our “garage sale” prices.

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Only a few more hours ahead of us–for CARE garage sale. Tomorrow (Saturday) is different: Customer buys a large bag for $5.00 and can stuff it full. I refuse to let wool blankets, and beautiful afghans, go into a $5.00 bag!! So I’ll store items until next October.

I’m eager for time to work in my yard.

“Lake Lorraine” is lapping at my doorsteps. Major rain storms, off and on, for two days. ~~ I’ve had an exhausting day working the CARE Garage Sale!! ~~ I had planned to joke about “changing my mind”… but all seems so insignificant after reading information–and speculation–about the closure of our local Walmart and numerous other Walmart stores.

Yesterday I bought a nice new shopping cart for $4.00 (at our CARE Garage Sale). At first I planned to transfer the cucumber planter to it but “changed my mind” and moved the tomato plant instead. The plastic clothes drying rack will serve as a trellis; the red tray will go under a planter. I’m always shopping for things for my garden.

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Half the bedding items sold–in my corner of the CARE Garage Sale. Despite serious rain storms, we had lots of customers and consider it a very successful day. One-and-one-half more days….

…living in my tiny T@B travel trailer.

Check my T@B Teardrop Trailer Travels–April 2010. Dear to my heart, the Biltmore Estate at Asheville, North Carolina.

Four years ago (living in my tiny T@B): Wycliffe Bible Translators, Orlando, Florida.

Nostalgic: If I had the money, I’d be preparing for the 2015 Blue Ridge Rally near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Yes, I am “three quarters and counting” (80 years old) but I don’t feel “too old” to travel.

Pictures tell the story?! I’m too weary to explain….

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Our semi-annual CARE Garage Sale. All this… donations in the last six months!! ~~ Sale: Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

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Postscript: Two Aleve at 5:00 PM Monday, April 13.
Two Aleve at 12 noon Tuesday, April 14.
Two Aleve at 6:00 AM Wednesday, April 15.
If you recall: I am not a prescription drug or over-the-counter person.
 

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015: Exhausted!! Only a few more pictures.

Our local Walmart has closed–no warning. There are a lot of comments on-line. This is a major blow to our community!!!! I’m grieved for the Associates–especially Mary, the smiling friendly “Greeter.”

There’s more to the story than we currently know.

The Livingston, Texas, Supercenter is one of many closures.

…still no stormy weather. It was supposed to be 70% chance of rain today but not a drop so far (3:45 PM).

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This is the temporary veggie garden area. When the weather gets hotter, I’ll move the strawberry plants and cucumber vines (via my hand truck). The “giant tomato“ can climb on the makeshift trellis of former handicap “potty” seat, and handicap bed rail. If the tomato plant lives up to the hype, I will create a rope trellis between the two upright galvanized pipes. The Scarlet Runner Bean vines will climb the yet-to-be-available trellis at the tongue of the 5th-wheel. Note on the web link that  “Lots of folks also use it as a nectar attraction for hummingbirds and butterflies.”  (That’s why I planted… in North Carolina, and saved some bean seeds.) One day soon, I’ll plant lettuce, radish, green onions, etc., seeds in long slender shallow planters (and eventually move them in and out of the hot sun). Frankly, that ugly old battered picnic table–in the shade–may be the best place for my veggie garden!!