Rain, lovely rain.

It's been rain, rain, raining most of the evening. This is very good. It probably won't be enough to elevate us above drought status, but the two + inches we've received since 8pm (most of it in the first hour) have definitely done us good. Of course, they'll do the most good to cities downstream, but I can't complain. My garden will probably shoot up because of it. :)

We watched the lightning for quite awhile earlier.

This system is supposed to stall over us for awhile, so we should see rain off and on for several days. *smile*

Actually, I just read that up to six inches of rain has fallen. There is probably flooding in portions of the county. I hope folks were smart enough to avoid driving down those roads.

how does my garden grow?

explodingcat cleared out the gutters today. Having trees, it's a four-season event: branches, leaves, pollen, pollen, pollen.

I decided to work on pruning our monster corner (quince + creeper), but he yelled down from the roof that I needed to go in and wait for the Adelphia guy to call.

Adelphia guy was a no-show.

Came back out after the time slot had passed. I go back to work. I realized boy is stretched out on the roof, watching me work. I inform him that he's welcome to come down and help.

Prune, prune, prune. Shovel, prune, rake, prune. I've decided that the quince must go, mostly because it's the only way I can actually clear out the winter creeper. I hate that stuff so much. It's almost enough to make me consider round-up, except that I can't use that crap (poison, neurotoxic, evil) and there's no point, since winter creeper laps it up just like water. After the quince, the azalea will be trimmed (cuttings), dug up, and transplanted. That will leave the corner open and maybe, just maybe, we can park in the driveway. We still need to pull out all of the russian olive. And the rose will come out, perhaps transplanted, perhaps just tossed Mmy-ward. And more of that damn wintercreeper. It's evil, I tell you, pure evil.

Prune, prune, prune. I think we need to go buy some heavy duty garbage bags. Creeper can't be chipped or composted, since it will spread for many seasons from cuttings. Evil, vicious, nasty winter creeper.

Anybody want some groundcover? }:-)

aw, poop.

Monday: krasota notes that the Buick will need a serpentine belt soon. Notes this for the inspection. Also notes need for new tires. Checks oil, adds a quart, makes note to get oil changed. Drives Crown Vic rest of the week.

Friday: krasota takes car to Sam's for new tires. Stops at Jiffy Lube for an oil change. Thinks about having belt replaced, but decides to let Finley's do it next Wednesday.

Saturday evening: krasota screws up when drilling a hole, has to run to lowe's for a longer wood screw (don't ask). krasota and explodingcat hop into the Buick and go to Lowe's, Kroger, and Whole Foods.

Saturday night, almost 9pm: Battery light comes on while krasota is driving down Preston, power steering suddenly goes away. Hot smell. Aw, crap, says krasota as she nudges the car around the corner onto Madison and into street-legal parking. Smoke shows up. krasota and explodingcat hop out of car and wake for smoke to go away. After many hijinks (no phones, no business cards for Lethal, nearby college boys with phones), krasota realizes that the serpentine belt has gone. Much cursing. Much praying that it doesn't take the compressor with it this time. Much kicking of new tires. Much more to the story not being written. Eventually, tow truck driver arrives in rainstorm, car is towed to Finley's, forms are filled out.

*sigh*