I'm with you Lucy, they will have to wait until it cools down a bit here. Mid 90's today, I did dig a few to send off today, but that's all I did in the gardens.
We had a vicious storm today. Came in about noon -- heavy rain, thunder and lightning. The lightning hit very close by -- felt like it was the roof of the house -- and the power went out. Of course, so did the phones. And the internet. And satellite television. The Hub is on oxygen, so electricity is pretty important. Had a terrible time calling the power company -- had to use the cell phone, and of course all you can get is automated answering which instructs you to press 1 for this and press 2 for that, and tells you to enter the 10-digit phone number for the location without power. I don't know if all cell phones work the same way -- but on mine, once you reach your party, the screen goes black. You have no number pad to press numbers. So -- by the time I fiddle around with the phone trying to get a number pad back, the automated voice has *not recognized* your reply and has moved on to something else. Frustrating in the extreme!!!!
Finally reached a neighbor whose power and phone had NOT been blown -- and he called the electric company for me. Three hours later, power was restored, along with phone service and internet. The satellite television has still not recovered. A call to them tells us that it may take up to 24 hours for the system to reset itself. And if it doesn't, then we'll have to have a service person out -- at $49.95 per hour -- ORRRRRRRRRRRRRR -- we could sign up for an insurance policy so that service calls are free. Free??? How stupid are most of their customers?
I took advantage of the cool (but incredibly humid) air after the storm to pull weeds in Iris Lane. Omigod. There are more weeds than Irises. I spent three hours out there today, and only cleared a couple of small areas. And the Irises are suffering for it. Lots of dead rhizomes that have just given up. The ones that are hanging in there have puny leaves.......I'm very nearly defeated.
It was not a good day.
Every day is a second chance. Every day is precious time.
Oh my Mary Ann, I think I would have told the Satellite company that you would not be sending them any more $100+ per month for their ungrateful service, and put up an antenna.
Perhaps, MaryAnn, you should consider a small generator ? One just large enough to power both Hubby's equipment, and the computer and / or charge cell phones....1000-1500 watts, or so.
I expect my order from Jim Exline, today....and *maybe* a "buddy box", as well.....they will , for sure, wait until morning, to be dealt with !! It's a TERRIBLE day, out there !
That is terrible Mary Ann. Sure is a good thing that it came back on, especially with hubby on oxygen. My power goes out a couple of times a year, and occasionally for a few days at a time. Since we live so far from town, our area is the last one to get fixed. I agree with Arlyn about the generator. We have a small one. Can't run the air conditioner, but can run water pump, fridge, TV, phone, computer, and lights.
Glad it was cool enough to get some weeding done. Those weeds sure do grow fast. It seems like you get them all and then in a week or two they are back and even bigger.
Yeah -- we've got one of those. Purchased during the 100-year-event, the Ice Storm of 2009. It is decent enough size to run most everything that we *need*, including lights and water to the horse barn. Trouble is -- it has a *recoil starter* -- which means that it's a string-pull start mechanism. I can't *pull* the string. The person in the household who could pull the string, is the person who can't do that job anymore. In a worst-case scenario, I could call a friend to come and pull the string. But under normal circumstances, the power is restored faster than I could actually get that done.
Every day is a second chance. Every day is precious time.
We finally got television service yesterday. It required another call to the satellite company, who finally agreed to send out a service tech at no expense. When I explained the bogus information I was given the day before, I was offered all kinds of goodies -- discounts, rate reduction, etc. Had to agree to keep Direct TV service for another year, in order to get them. That's ok with me!!!
The lightning strike did burn out a part of the communication apparatus from the dish to the TV -- so that was replaced. What I also discovered is that the lightning strike burned out the TV in the bedroom. So -- that'll have to be replaced.
Such is life...........
Every day is a second chance. Every day is precious time.
Oh Mary Ann. Funny about those satellite TV companies. I had Dish and was very unhappy with the rate increases. They wouldn't drop my payment so I switched to Direct TV. After I already switched, Dish kept calling me and offering me a big chunk off my bill if I came back, but it was too late. Its almost been 2 years, so pretty soon I can cancel without paying a fine. Seriously thinking about getting a regular TV antenna. I will miss the shows I usually watch, but I can always wait and buy the DVD for those shows, or catch up on what is going on by looking it up on my computer. Those companies are really making out big time on their profits.
Verizon does our TV as well as computer & phone. but while I am not in a city, I am not way out in the country either. When the computer line was installed (fios) the installer said that what we had was not in his town at that time.
That's the problem Lucy -- those of us who live in rural areas have so many fewer options.
Marilyn -- we have a regular TV antenna -- but it only provides three channels, and one of them is *iffy*. Really not a good option. However -- my niece lives very happily with Zulu and Netflix. I have Netflix, but have not looked into Zulu carefully. My point is that there ARE options -- but it requires knowing what they are -- which takes time that I do not have right now. So -- I'm content being joined at the hip with Direct TV for the time being. It gives me time to get acquainted with other options out there. And as time goes by -- there will be more and more options -- for all of us.
Every day is a second chance. Every day is precious time.
We have "cable", but really only get the local channels.....no "premium" ones. We are just far enough from both the Quad Cities (WSW of us), and Rockford (ENE of us), that "antenna" signals aren't good from either of them. We did put up an antenna....pretty high, too, and we got "some" of the locals....but, cable gets them all.
I *may* get my HIPS order planted today, depending on what I hear from Rita.....I'm really not too concerned, as they are pretty "fresh" looking. and they will hold for a while, un planted. I Had made a 'last minute" order to Echo Iris (only 5) , and I received word they have been sent. That leaves Argyle ( their shipment is always a surprise !), Schreiner's, Comanche Acres (some spurias on this one, so it will be 'late'...early September, probably), and the "beardless" part of my Iris City order (also probably late Aug., early Sept.). Probably some from The "Pickle Barrel", and another "buddy box", or two....but, basically ....Done !
I received my order from "Echo Iris", yesterday , as well as a small "buddy box". I have ordered from Echo for , I think, 4 years, and have to say that Ernie's prices are right, and his plants are pretty nice ! I only ordered 5, and he included three bonus plants. It seems to me, that this year, I have received more bonus plants than ever before.....maybe the vendors are "rewarding" their "repeat customers" ? My lap top is in the shop....and that's the one that I *understand* the best, as far as downloading pix from my cameras....but, as soon as it comes home, I need to post some pix of my *temporary bed*.................talk about "crammed and crowded" !!!
I did set myself up for even MORE "buddy boxes", as well....some from a "rescue".......it's a good thing I'm digging potatoes...I NEED THE ROOM !!!
I received my HIPS order today. Woohoo. Thank you to all that contributed and for all the pictures y'all have posted so I could choose better. I thought it is a very well run sale.
I had made myself a spreadsheet from all the offerings (we accountants like to make spreadsheets out of everything!). Then I made notes of which I liked most, added in the info from the Guardian section on which are limited in commerce.
I got:
Anne Newhard
Chantilly
Easter Bonnet
Giant Rose
Gypsy Queen
King's Jester
Lavandulacea
Ma Mie
Ming Dynasty
San Francisco
Sandalwood
Swerti
I also saw a few arilbreds on the list that sold out quickly....my fault, I should have joined the group and had a better chance in the member's rounds. Now I know there are others with exceptional taste!
And Arlyn, I borrowed several of your posted pictures to use in my database until I take my own pictures (hopefully next year!).
Hoping it will cool off some so I can get them planted or potted. No rain in the forecast but we've cooled off to low 90s with the high humidity...heat index usually hits 105-ish every afternoon. I can't keep everything watered enough...daylilies are not reblooming this year and mature trees are already dropping leaves. On the good side...I haven't needed to mow in weeks.
My order from Mid America is coming today and I don't know where I am putting them yet.
The other half is planning on going to town this afternoon, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that he is gone when the UPS guy is supposed to come this afternoon.
Some great choices Ed. I also thought the new sale format worked well.
My Schreiner order should be here Monday as they don't deliver on weekends. Six days in transit! I think I am close to having the space ready, or almost ready, or maybe after doing more weed killing and dirt turning and spreading, or maybe it is not ready? Order is for 34 total, from 1979 through 2016 varieties with 10 SDB's and 1 MDB in that bunch.
Name: Bonnie Sojourner Harris Brake, Arkansas, zone 7 The Magnolia Zone
I have eight small ones coming from HIPS sale but I have not received them yet. I have places all ready for them to live. With this heat and the dry conditions it would be hard to prepare a bed for them now. One or two are really hard to find and a couple are newer varieties. All are SDB's. It is funny how a little hard, dull looking rhizome with drying leaves is more fun to get than a jeweled trinket.
Oldest daughter brought me an iris in a pot, yesterday when she came, so, when things dry off a bit, I need to either get it in the ground....or line it up with the OTHER potted ones I haven't planted yet !
So -- that'll have to be replaced.
!