Magnificent morning!! However “Fall” weather won’t arrive for another few days. I was forced indoors about 10:30. I was able to upload my pictures to Picasa, and personalize them, BUT no WiFi connection. Off, and on, I’ve struggled for hours to get the connection to the CARE Center. There is a problem with my three-year old, Windows 7, laptop computer. That should be my next major expense: A new computer?! It’s 3:00 PM and I finally have WiFi.

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Believe it or not, I “worked” this morning. With our heat, the plants still demand water!! I shuffled planters; I swept the sidewalk; I cut “dead heads.” With my faithful Canon, I documented the explosion of seed pods on the Yellow Butterfly Vine, and large number of purple blooms on the Mexican Petunia. I admired the vivid colors of new leaves on the Coleus. (Oops, too many “perpendicular pronoun.”)

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Next year “yours truly” may be able to harvest Lavender, Ginger root, and Turmeric root.

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At 4:25 PM, Houston TV meteorologist said “We many never see ninety degrees again this year.” That’s music to my ears!!

“Yours truly” is so tired she is cross-eyed (almost). Not too tired to sit at the computer, in the air-conditioned trailer, and prepare this blog message.

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Yesterday and today, very productive!! Confession: I can “live” with clutter in my crowded trailer home but I dislike clutter in my “yarden.”

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Now I can encourage folks to come and visit. This past week, with all the clutter, I was constantly apologizing!! “Almost… but not quite” because more less dramatic projects awaiting my time and attention.

“Yours truly” gets more curses than compliments regarding her garden!! When someone visits me, and admires my garden, I am ecstatically happy!! Former CARE employees came for a several-day visit, and smothered me with love and compliments about my beautiful flowering plants. Mary admired the Cape Honeysuckle and I said “Would you like one?” Yes, she would like one. She liked the Mexican Petunia. “Would you like one?” Mary also liked the Hummingbird Trumpet Vine, and Turk’s Cap, so I gladly presented those also. The idea of a Texas Lilac thrilled Mary but I do not have any “starter plants” (yet). I was able to give her Texas Lilac seeds. Mary and Tom made my day!!   🙂   🙂   🙂

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Before, and after, Tom and Mary’s visit, my focus was on my tomato plants. They have grown but did not produce (due to miserable hot, humid summer temperatures). Previously, I performed “radical surgery” and now in the process of trimming, and eliminating….

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This message is another “late” publication. The (13th) Tarp Shelter Remodel wasn’t published until 9:30 PM Friday (14th) so no time or energy to prepare the 14th day’s thoughts and pictures.

Thursday 13th news published on Friday 14th. “The old lady” ran out of energy so yesterday’s activities weren’t published. Yes, I could back-date but “a day late” is a “talking point” (lol). ~~ I’ve become infatuated with “bottle bush” displays. Truthfully, setting up the bottle display was a very small part of my day. Hours–and energy–spent on tarp shelter remodel.

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Postscript, Friday morning, ten o’clock. I confess: I love to sit on my patio, with a cup of coffee, and admire my “yarden.” I couldn’t resist another picture of the hanging vases. I’m contemplating red, and green, bottles and/or vases for Christmas. They would be attractive when the trees have shed all their leaves?! (Bottles and vases–at bargain prices–from local thrift stores. I already have “green” displayed as “bottle weeds.”)

Postscript, Saturday, Oct.15, 2016: After dark.

…prior to Winter weather!!

Granted, we still have temperatures in the nineties, with humidity, but “we” (three) tackled the remodel in mid-October. (And I need to grab the handymen while they are available!!) I have forty-three pictures of the day’s activities and will post them as “thumbnail.” You can click each picture to enlarge for greater detail. ~~ Before Jim and Roger arrived, I moved planters, etc., on the West side, and raked pine needles, and cones, on the East Side. Volumes of garden stuff removed from inside shelter. ~~ Why so many pictures? Because Lorraine thinks the process was interesting. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

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Below: Two pictures before the remodel. Hopefully, that will never happen again.

An out-of-ordinary day!! It’s four o’clock as I reflect on the activities. Psychologically, I recognize that I’m “feeling” much better because of the diversion.

(1) A former CARE resident contacted me last week and suggested we go out for lunch. I countered with the suggestion she (and her husband) join us for lunch in the dining room. “No, select a Livingston restaurant ….” They arrived about 10:30 and visited with many of their former neighbors.

(2)  For me, it was a BIG treat to eat (for the first time) at Joe’s Italian. Attractive atmosphere, awesome food, excellent companionship, entertaining conversation.

(3) Back at CARE, my friends wanted to check my “yarden”–and see the watermelon vine.

(4)  Furthermore, my friends wanted to catch up on activities, and residents. We visited the recently added resident social center labeled “The Saloon.”

(5) Then I was introduced to “Geocashing.” One is located on the CARE/Escapee property. Who knew?? It has been there for years because the notebook records (friends) MJ&ES visited the site in 2013. ~~ The popular new 2016 game (with smart phones) is Pokémon GO. Perhaps “Geocashing” is passé?

“Learn something new every day.”

James Dobson: “Trump hasn’t been impeached for his lies.”

One of the “basket of deplorables“ (yours truly) suggests the reader do a Google search for Dr. James Dobson. Read his statements. Check the Internet; there is so much valuable information available. Don’t believe everything you hear from the TV media.

I plan to pray, fast, & vote.

Recently the weather has been lovely and, this morning, a brief rain. I’m grateful for cooler temperatures and fresh scent in the air. I was vacuuming-mulching leaves when the light rain started. The interruption dictated that I enjoy the rain with a cup of coffee, from the comfort of my rocking lawn chair (under the awning).

Unscheduled, handymen Jim and Roger arrived with the sheet of insulation and completed the project. (“Unscheduled,” but appreciated!! Regrettably, former handyman, David, was unreliable but undeniably very very appreciated.) Next week, weather permitting, Jim and Roger will “winterize” my tarp shelter.

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