There goes a piece of my heart.

Remember the old saying (?):

If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride;

If wishes were fishes, we’d have some fried.

I wish I still owned my beloved T@B teardrop trailer; I wish I could travel for months on end (as I did in 2010). But I decided it wouldn’t be practical for this old lady to be on-the-road. I won’t document the negative*. So I spend every possible hour in my “yarden.”

Yes, I was out the door before six o’clock. I gave all the plants a sprinkle of Epsoma Organic Blood Meal (“provides nitrogen for flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs”). A mark down, half-price, so it obviously found its way into my shopping cart (LOL**). Pulled some weeds, replenished bird feeders, yada, yada. ~~ I photographed the Bottle Tree box but will not set it up until October or November. (I have a Bottle Tree blog message “under construction” documenting the purchase and acquisition of decorative bottles.)

This morning, I was perspiring profusely before eight o’clock. But I persevered!! Forced indoors prior to ten. ~~ Okay, okay, have patience: In my memory, I thought my T@Bs “departure day” was “7/7” but it appears it was 7/8.

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*(Single woman, old car, you understand.)

**A TV commentator recently said “LOL” stands for “Little Old Lady”–not “Laughing Out Loud.”

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Would you agree that three hours is a respectable length of time to work in my “yarden” (my coined word)?? I thoroughly watered all the plants. I’m surprised how fast they dry out (because I’m faithfully caring for them). ~~ The “sensor” was returned to the tarp shelter, display back inside my trailer home. Little thermometer-clock (likewise) back inside my trailer home. Large thermometer is hanging on its hook on the wall of the storage building. ~~ Bird feeder was filled, a few weeds were pulled, and “dead heads” were removed from Butterfly Bush (the only flowering plant with blooms).

“No, no, I won’t go” outdoors in this heat and humidity!! I’m content to sit at my computer sweating over several blog messages. For lunch, I’ll enjoy fresh-picked salad greens, and homegrown tomatoes and cucumber.

Yesterday, I did an unscientific experiment. I wanted to see if the “mister” made a significant difference in the temperature for tropical plants on my patio. At 3:00 PM, it was seven degrees cooler; at 4:00 PM, six degrees cooler; at 6:00 PM, six degrees cooler.

Excerpt from June 28th blog:

…set up a“Mister.”  Birds–and plants–love a fine mist.

Remember an earlier message when I said I might have sabotaged my garden? The shade of tree limbs was sacrificed for sun for many planters. The tropical plants on my patio are suffering from too much sun. Leaves are turning yellow on the Elephant Ear. I think the mist will make the plants happy. (“Mister” was a North Carolina purchase.)

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<<< Add seven degrees for “feels like” temperature.

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With the exception of thermometer in sunshine, I believe my experiment documents the temperature on the patio, under the “mister,” is six to seven degrees cooler.

My “yarden” (my coined word) needs lots of attention. Numerous hours are spent researching information (and documented on Casual Approach Rejected Entirely). I recently learned the heat may have attributed to fewer blooms on tomato plants. I’m continuing my unscientific experiment today. I want to document the heat under shade cover. I’m using three different sources; perhaps an “average” will provide a reasonably accurate answer to my question??

The temperature is consistent on above three thermometers. Below, the experiment begins (at 10:30).

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satisfaction with my unscientific experiment showing temperature for planters in the shade. Remember, that area is “boxed in” by storage building, tarp shelter and trailer home–and article labeled this as “urban heat island.”

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SNAKE IN MY TRAILER HOME !!

What should I do?? ~~ When I stepped outdoors–about six–a not-so-large snake was clinging outside the door on the “open” edge. It started to enter my trailer home and I slammed the door on it. But it disappeared into the trailer!! It was not killed; it didn’t drop down on the steps or patio. I’m apprehensive (to put it mildly)!! The brief glance I saw of it, probably a “safe” Rat Snake. Maybe the one I photographed earlier??

$64,000 question: Despite extreme heat (more work for the air-conditioner), should I leave the door open  so snake might exit??

It was bad enough that I was cautious in the garden–watching for a snake. Now I’m searching for a snake inside my trailer.

Please see: C-A-R-E-ing about Independence Day.

Postscript, 11:30 AM: Please see the Golf Cart Parade as photographed by a resident in adjacent Rainbow’s End RV Park.

In the garden before 6:00 AM.

9:00 AM: Hot inside my trailer–but I’m not interested in walking out the door into the furnace!!

At the outset, my apology: I didn’t get pictures of  **all**  the many volunteers who prepared a delicious brunch. Sincere THANKS to (in alphabetical order): David, Don, Karen, Margaret, Mary, Roy, Sharon, Sue, and Woody.

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