Texas Lilac Vitex information. More Texas Lilac information.

When I first read about “Texas Lilac,” I was intrigued and eager to add it to my yard. I checked Lowe’s numerous times but never found one. I asked questions of acquaintances  in the adjacent RV Park (permanent residents with large landscaped lots), hoping to find someone who could give me a slip or volunteer plant. I resorted to ordering one via the Internet, from Nature Hills (in Omaha, Nebraska).

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It is 2:00 PM and my inclination is to rush outdoors and prepare to plant the Texas Lilac. However, it is much too hot and I’ll postpone the project.

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Postscript, Sept. 16, 2016: Until I receive another extremely large container (free from the farm store), I’ll test this location. Will it get enough sunshine here? FYI: The Texas Lilac is in its original nursery container sitting inside the decorative planter.

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Postscript, Tuesday, September 20, 2016: How exciting; a bloom on the Texas Lilac.

From here and now, I hope I can write “case closed,” and anticipate I can “set it and forget it.”

“It” being my air-conditioner.

~~~~ Counting the days. ~~~~ Bewitched, bothered and bewildered. ~~~~ Negative fifteen!! ~~~~ Grateful for CARE volunteers!! ~~~~

I want to give David “the benefit of the doubt” but it has been more than forty days since he started the air-conditioner project. It has been more than ten days since he phoned. OMG!! This whole scenario has been very upsetting!! I’m happy to report the air-conditioner is working fine, and furnace “check” proved (when needed) it is working.

Went shopping (which I rarely do), at Walmart (which I almost never do), and spent in excess of $223.00 (in four stores). I didn’t buy a dress but I bought two long skirts (which I don’t need). When “out in public,” you’ll see me wearing long skirts and an attractive color-coordinated blouse. Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t compliment me on the outfit I’m wearing. Truthfully, I didn’t “need” another skirt (or two) but “it made me feel good” and that was the reason I left home today. 

First stop was the Senior Citizen’s Thrift Shop where I found–and purchased–half-a-dozen attractive bottles, and vases, for my Bottle Tree. At Walmart I bought Perrier just for the green glass bottle. I selected Walmart because I wanted Sterno, and other items, for “evacuation necessities.” (I may be the only resident going to all the work–and expense–of “being prepared.” Houston TV news is urging hurricane preparedness; our CARE Facility Director urged preparedness.)

Before I left home, I received an email from the RV sales and repairs (in Florida) that sold me the new air-conditioner. They want their parts returned!! I’ve been conscience-stricken for weeks but had to wait for the air-conditioner thermostat installation before I could return the “wrong” parts. It was the RV sales and repairs mistake; I ordered all the correct parts. Never-the-less, I’ve felt bad about having the correct parts (uninstalled) and unable to return the wrong parts (installed). Does that make sense?

I hadn’t put away groceries but was asked to move the plants from a resident’s deck to my patio. Helen fell recently and broke her hip; she’s in a local convalescent home. I’m “foster parent” again as my shady patio is filling up with more plants!! Today: Three large, attractive Coleus, three Mosquito plants, several “unknown.”

Forgive me; this blog message is just idle chatter. My trailer home is wonderfully cool and comfortable; broiling hot outdoors (3:00 PM). Gratefully, I sense the air-conditioner is operating efficiently!!

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Postscript, Thursday, September 15, 2016, 8:00 AM: Comparison photo. Yesterday, late afternoon, versus early this morning. Neither picture shows the vivid colors of the three Coleus plants.

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Even though hot and humid outdoors, it was preferable to being indoors!! After watering all the plants, I removed the screen cover (and miscellaneous). After filling bird feeders, I pulled weeds, and pulled weeds, and pulled weeds. The watermelon vine has been pampered but few blooms and no watermelon. Time to tidy that area?!

The “Kissing Bugs” are swarming and are extremely annoying!! I told Roger they were biting but he said “No, the mosquitoes are biting!!” It was an outdoor day I’d rather **not** repeat!!

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At long last, the thermostat was installed. (Four contractors turned me down [after David failed to return] so “roof repairman” Roger tackled the project.) It was (as usual) a hot and humid day. Intentionally, the breaker was “off” so my trailer home was hot as a sauna!! “Thermostat was installed” sounds simple but it required electrical connections for air-conditioner, fan, heat strip, and furnace. No small task!!

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Below, the email message I received from a lady-friend I worked with at Vernacular Media, JAARS (Wycliffe Bible Translators), Waxhaw, North Carolina.

Bev Staley’s name could not be found on Facebook (and web search). However, I found Paul Cloisis, another co-worker.

A couple days ago, on television, I watched the movie Angel in the House (aka Foster).

It is an adorable movie; I loved it!! No guarantee but I think it is available (free) on the Internet.

Copied from AARP Bulletin, Sept. 2016, Vol. 57, No. 7, p. 42.