After the storm, I “expected” to do a lot of clean up. Before the day was over, I had a totally unexpected project. I reached for the Christmas Cactus planning to gently carry it to the CARE Center. I was afraid blooms might fall off if I waited… and then carried it to the Center. The planter broke away from the three slender plastic pieces of the hanging basket. The Christmas Cactus hit the ground, upside down, with soil scattered all around. 1) I lovingly picked it up and put it back in the planter. 2) I gently added more soil around the edges. 3) Now I wait to see if it will recover–and bloom. The “unexpected” meant I should attempt to save the broken pieces of Christmas Cactus. (I’ve been told it is easy to start….) Time will tell whether I eventually have many more.

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The rain-soaked bird seed was caked, like cement, in the feeders. It took a considerable amount of time to clean seven feeders. I “expected” to put the “feeding station“ back in place–with heavier supports–but ran out of energy. Tomorrow, Lord willing, I’ll get “a round tuit.”

…is the caption on David Wolfe’s business card.

David has a very long list of people anxious for him to work on their specific project. To trim an overgrown hedge was a departure from building porches and decks, and repairing slide-outs. I believed I could speed up the process if I picked up limbs. However, by three o’clock I had to admit that I was just too tired to finish the cleanup. David said he wasn’t tired (I should be so lucky). ~~ Click each picture to enlarge for better viewing.

The year is speeding past.

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No leaf raking today; still raining (lightly). At my first opportunity, a lot of debris to clean up. Also, time to organize the area under the shelter for planters. When TV meteorologist’ predict freezing temperatures, I’ll move smaller planters under cover. Others (too large) will be covered with recently purchased (CARE garage sale) old sheets. Oh, woe is me, active gardening is coming to a halt!!

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One branch of the Mandevilla/Dipladenia was broken when I purchased the $4.00 plant at Lowe’s on May 16th. I wanted the plant because it revealed the color of the blossoms. Maybe the broken branch will “root”?! ~~ Parent plant looking good on June first.

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More details on an earlier blog titled Indoor Project. On a chilly, rainy November morning, I am entertaining myself with “indoor projects.”

Honestly, this plant won’t join “the parent” until next Spring (after all danger of freezing temperatures).

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See my earlier blog with pictures of eight “slips” from a beautiful bush in another yard. One-by-one the plants dried up and died (despite my pampering). I have one surviving plant–but I’m questioning its longevity.

For nineteen months, I watched this Christmas Cactus suffer through the seasons–and it never bloomed. On Tuesday, May 12, 2015, I spirited it away from the CARE Center with hopes to coax it to bloom for the holidays. The first picture reveals the plant after a night with gentle rain. It was transplanted into a larger planter, with fresh soil. ~~ On June 8, 2015, I could see tiny new growth. On June 15, new growth was very visible. ~~ The plant has thrived in a planter hanging in the shade. I expect flowers before Christmas!!

You’ve seen all my pictures?! The camera is never very far away!! Everything on CARE site number nine could disappear quickly in a tornado **OR** in a matter of hours when Maintenance removes the fruit of my labors.

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I grabbed my camera and ran out in the rain to take pictures of a rainbow. It has been raining lightly for hours but when the sun came out I suspected there might be a rainbow. Not very vivid but a pleasant sight to see. ~~ Approximately three-quarters inch of rain since twelve-noon yesterday.

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Hard rain all night. I took several pictures from my doorway–of “Lake Lorraine.”  Lightening and thunder so I turned off the computer. Later, when I rebooted the computer, I had a parade of unknown features checking (and re-checking). Finally I had my familiar “desktop.”  But I could not log into my g-mail account. It took at least an hour of trial and error. It was so frustrating!! Today is “Nightmare at CARE.” (No Elm Street here. Just Dove, Wren, Hawk, etc.) To add insult to injury (lol) I couldn’t access my pictures on Picasa. The following pictures had been uploaded to Picasa before I turned off the computer. So-o-o, it took several minutes to access these. ~~ Ghosts and goblins have invaded my computer?! ~~ OMG, when I attempted to “publish” this blog, more changes!! Believe me, this old lady does not appreciate numerous changes on the computer. I’m a creature of habit. ~~ Bummer: 1) I searched for a clip art picture of ghosts and goblins, 2) saved it…, but 3) cannot retrieve it!! ~~ Repeat: NOT a good morning!!

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“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

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Postscript, 10/31/15, 3:00 PM: Pray for me?! I’ve tried to prepare another blog message (more pictures) and my computer deletes it as fast as I “save” it. I’m really discouraged!!!!

Another postscript, 4:00 PM: On the positive side, this morning the TV news showed pictures of RVs overturned by a tornado that struck the Danbury, Brazoria County, Texas area early this morning. Oops, sorry, that’s negative. The “positive” comment I want to express: Gratefully, no RV or building damage in our little community!!