Boy did I have a rude awakening this morning!! I was prepared to go grocery shopping but the KIA wouldn’t start. “Click, click”  was the response when I turned the key in the ignition. During the course of the morning AAA arrived and “jump started,” followed by arrival of dear handyman/friend “Jim.” I’ll spare you the hour-by-hour; we bought a new battery at AutoZone and Jim installed. ~~ I’m so blessed to have such a multi-talented young man to help “a damsel in distress”!! (Well… he’s almost sixty but [at my age] that makes him “young.”) Next: “Can you help my ailing trailer home refrigerator?”

See Attitude of Gratitude.

…to the fathers of my grandchildren. “They”  do not remember their mother but Mother remembers them!!

Admiring my yard after a young woman neighbor mowed and manicured my yard (yesterday). A big tropical storm is on the horizon so, hopefully, lawn and trees will be saturated. I’m eager for some cooler temperatures!

Remember how grateful I was (am) for the refrigerator I purchased from a thrift store and put in the laundry room? The refrigerator I had to “secure“? Now that refrigerator is my “primary” source to chill my food items. The freezer is working fine–in my trailer home–but the refrigerator is too warm. Food items are spoiling. Next trip to Livingston, I’ll buy a refrigerator thermometer so I can determine the temperature. I haven’t thought far enough ahead to know how to resolve the refrigerator problem. Recreation vehicle (RV) refrigerators are terribly expensive. I don’t think I have enough space (in my trailer home) for a regular house-type refrigerator. I’ll figure this out another day (when it isn’t hot and I’m not so tired). Meanwhile, I’m extremely grateful for the refrigerator in the laundry room!!

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Three o’clock and my day is a BIG fat zero. This morning a rare trip into Livingston to pick up a package at the Post Office. I hadn’t ordered anything but a notice (yesterday) in my mail box. All last evening and all night I looked forward to the trip so I could visit my favorite little cafe for breakfast. I was showered; I was dressed in an attractive outfit; it would be a good day. In Livingston, almost the very last-minute, I changed my mind and changed my route. Very recently, a Huddle House restaurant opened near Livingston and I decided to locate it and “check it out.” For most individuals, the breakfast may have been fine. For me, it was awful!! My favorite little cafe serves wonderful gourmet coffee; Huddle House coffee was strong and tasted like mud. The coffee was pennies less than two dollars; the bill was almost twelve dollars. I left half the food on my plate; I did not leave a tip. 

It was still early; the Post Office wasn’t open yet. I went to Lowe’s and browsed their mark-down plants. Two plants came home with me–and another fifty pound bag of Quikrete. (The bag burst when I was removing it from the car so a big mess!) In the garden department, I browsed–and shuttered–at the prices. Ninety-nine dollars for a Photinia approximately the same size as the one I’ve had in a container for three years. During my yard sale, it was priced at fifteen dollars (and didn’t sell).

The day got off to a bad start so grocery shopping was cancelled. “Home”  was the only place I wanted to be and “home”  is where I’ve spent hours in my comfortable chair in front of the television set. Outdoors/indoors, the heat is miserable.

From recent pictures, have you noticed my patriotic display?? Just in case you missed them, here are new pictures.

Here is “professional” information about growing Calla Lily. In 2016, beautiful blooms; this year, none. I’m a “Johnny-come-lately”  when approaching gardening so need all the advise I can find. See my earlier blog message.

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My kitty-corner backyard neighbor has been working on a “greenhouse.” I’ve watched it “grow.” The “sparkle” of sunshine on the wire (at each end of the structure) always caught my attention. I can’t locate the variety of pictures  😦  . **IF** I had more time for vegetable gardening, I’d utilize my garden tower and small greenhouse. Meanwhile, I’m envious of the one in my neighbor’s yard.

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Afterthought: How often have you heard me say I should clone myself so several of me to accomplish all the projects I have in mind??

“Yours truly” seldom leaves home. Residing on a busy street with many neighbors, lots to see. The backyard neighbor had major damage from recent rain storm. Their new roof finished just prior to the rain storm expected to arrive this weekend. If I owned this property, roof repair might be on my “to do” list. But why speculate? I may have to move in five months; only a one year lease. This recent move has caused me pain and grief!! Another move is one thing (of many) that causes depression.

Exhausted, I figuratively dragged myself indoors. Too bad there isn’t a genie to fix me a bite of supper. I’ll settle for a couple of apples because easy to prepare. The thermometer says ninety-two degrees and I was  outdoors in that heat. Why? In the earlier blog message, I mentioned five months remaining on my lease. The “to do”  list is endless!! This afternoon I emptied soil from no-plant planters and washed planters. (I recycle soil because I always purchase top-quality organic and it can be rejuvenated with coir.) ~~ Two dozen green and brown beer bottles were smashed with a heavy brick. (Bottles collected but will never be used for my bottle bushes. No customers at my yard sale interested in purchase of brand-new never unpacked bottle bushes and free bottles. ) ~~ Watered plants; sprayed Fels-Naptha natural insecticide on infected plants. (Here’s an earlier blog message about my homemade garden products.) ~~ Five large garbage bags are ready for proper disposal. Peculiar items: Empty prescription and nutrition containers I used for “pebbles for planters,” and styrofoam “peanuts”  likewise ideal in the bottom of planters for superior drainage. (So few “gardeners” in my community; I can’t even give away extra planters and garden paraphernalia.) ~~ Frankly, I’ve already forgotten half the things I did because I hop-scotched from one thing to another. “Oh, do this! Next, do that!!”  Bottom line: I’m getting lots of exercise. Oh yes, picked up limbs, too, because dead limbs falling every day. 

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Preparing blog messages is relaxing, and enjoyable.