My blog is my journal; I love to document my activities with pictures. This is my venue; I’m not a fan of FaceBook.
Today, yesterday, and two day’s ago. Yo-yo weather!!
Today, yesterday, and two day’s ago. Yo-yo weather!!
It was a reasonably nice morning (a reasonably nice day)!! Yours truly was very anxious to prepare a cement base for another Bottle Tree (it’s a gift). The thermometer was “deceiving” because a rather cold wind blowing, and occasionally fifteen or twenty sprinkles of rain. It’s weird (I know) but I enjoy the strenuous task of stirring the concrete.
When the concrete hardens, I’ll spread the branches slightly and spray on a clear protective coat of Rust-Oleum. When third section is added, total height of Bottle Tree will be over six feet. Sadly, only twelve “branches” for twelve bottles.
I said “sadly” because forty “branches” on my Christmas Bottle Tree. (The $5.00 “display rack” converted to a Bottle Tree.)
I’ll “rob” the other Bottle Tree of the third section so I can add fourth section to enlarge this “tree.”
If you are considering a unique purchase for your garden, check the large variety at Hopfrog Market. I’m impressed with the quality of the products–and (imho) they are less expensive than other vendor websites I’ve visited. Tell Mr. Dave that Lorraine sent you?!
“Concern” about temperature(s), and plants, makes me exhausted!! I went back to bed and, gratefully, slept until 8:45. ~~ Hard to believe, we’ll see seventy degrees before the weekend is over!!
In preparation for the next freezing weather, I’ll buy a heater for the tarp shelter. I’ve now documented numbers indicating under the tarp shelter is as cold as outdoors. Furthermore, actually colder when the sun is shining.
Today, I’m questioning my sanity: “Why am I involved in so many physical and mental projects?”
Postscript, Saturday afternoon: Lowe’s was one, of several, stops during a few hours away from home. This heater was inexpensive but appears very durable.
Yours truly is so grateful to report no freeze so no damage to my plants.
Now, this is very confusing!! Is it actually eighty degrees inside the greenhouse?? It is in full sunshine so **possible** but looks strange to me!!
“Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back.” For comparison, I put another thermometer in the greenhouse and expected identical numbers.
Today, I repeatedly checked temperatures and documented the drop in temperature. At 6:40, the meteorologist said “Freezing from midnight ’til nine.”
Just before eleven, I walked outdoors, into the woods, to take several pictures of the porch and ramp in their “final resting place.” 
I was wearing a coat and hat but got chilled to the bone!! I checked the covers–over the plants–and many need more clothes pins to hold the sheet (or tablecloth) in place.
AccuWeather says “Real Feel” is thirty-eight degrees.
Even indoors, with the thermometer reading seventy-five degrees, I’m COLD!!
YESTERDAY, before the “colder” temperatures, I covered the large plants. I’m so “wimpy,” I didn’t want to approach the task with the temperature in the forties!! (Forty-three degrees outdoors, at 8:30 AM, as I prepare this message but “Real Feel” is thirty-seven.)
YESTERDAY, I took pictures while the guys dismantled the porch and ramp, and hauled it to the “graveyard” of old porches and ramps. I paid for the remodel, in September 2015, so felt like “my” porch and ramp was going “bye bye.” (These are barely a few of the dozens of pictures taken.) This explains why I was too tired to prepare this blog yesterday. Not that “picture taking” is so strenuous but time-consuming– plus the task of covering the plants.
It felt so cold but I was determined to secure the coverings over the plants.“Good” wasn’t good enough; I had to do better. I felt like an icicle… but had/have the satisfaction that coverings are (temporarily?) secure.
Because the heat lamp bulb does not appear to warm the tarp shelter, I covered some of the plants.
“Never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better best.” Do you know that old saying?
Above is a piece of Thanksgiving Cactus that survived–and thrived. I hope, and pray, I can keep it alive for another year (or two) so I’m rewarded with a plant like the “mother” or “grandmother” plant (right).
Because the weather is so cold, I didn’t want to leave it in the tarp shelter. I brought it into my trailer home.
Below, Hazel’s Christmas Cactus now receiving admiration in the CARE Center dining room,
Three Quarters & Counting 