Ta Da Tuesday PWYC

[Nancy]

It's cool enough I had broth and pea soup one slice of toast for my lunch.
I have moved bags to behind the trailer and brought the can back from the street.
3 bags went in the can to reboot it for next week's pick up.
Did a bit more writing.
Set up a comp note book for next month did that on the deck it was sort of fun.
Put some weeds in the wagon from what I pulled yesterday.

Looked for a bird bath I want but not in stock.

[Lady Maverick]

I thought lantanas was one of the best flowers to grow in our climate and I have been adding them here and there. Lantanas thrive in the heat, do not require much water and blooms nonstop all summer until frost. Once established they return every year.
What I didn't know until today is in addition to beautiful flowers that last all season, lantanas also produce what appears to be blackberries. I just noticed the berries today and *almost* reached out to eat some while mowing but my hands were full so I didn't. I just researched them and found out they are toxic! ARGH. Now I am considering if I want to grow lantanas anymore. I don't want those berries to accidently be picked and eaten by grandkids, visitors or pets. hum....what to do? pulled them or leave them and make sure everyone that comes near them knows to not eat the berries.

[CathyS]

Change in plans for food/menu...

Tonight we will have the BBQ ribs, cornbread, coleslaw and potato salad. I also bought a strawberry rhubarb pie because it's my favourite.

Tomorrow night will be the BBQ chicken, pasta salad, bean salad and watermelon.

I just don't want to heat up the inside of the house.

It's Very hot and very windy here. 45% chance of rain.

I also bough lemonade and iced tea today.

[CathyS]

LadyM pull them!! The last thing you need is having to worry of your dh might try them even if you do tell him not to.

[Kittykatt]

Lady M, I'm not familiar with lantanas, but when the flowers die after blooming, could you pick/ cut off the dead heads? That way you would still enjoy the flowers, but avoid the risk from the fruits.

[Twins' Mom]

I'm back downstairs after a lovely afternoon upstairs. A little stamping, a little genealogy. Walked the ddog in 105 "feels like" heat and was okay. Of course, that was one lap.

Chicken breasts and thighs are marinating for the grill, I went out and picked a bunch of my little cherry tomatoes and basil for a caprese salad to go with chicken. No cooking inside! And I cut some zinnias for the first time. Unfortunately, it appears that when I made the "life and death" decision and thinned them out, I got pinks, at least so far.

I got two notices today for houses that are closing soon on the other street of our little subdivision. So will need to do that in a.m.

Nothing on calendar for tomorrow.

I've never noticed "fruits" or seed pods on lantana. I had some on our porch last year when the geraniums pooped out early.

I'm hoping Harriet's appointment out went well today.

((Nancy)) I'd love a bird bath but we have these neighborhood kitties. I don't want to lure birds into a trap, but I think a little low bird bath would look spectacular alongside our azaleas at the base of the crepe myrtle. I need to be working ahead on my planner too.

Lucylee, I don't know? Here's a long link to "Why don't my hydrangeas bloom?" https://www.google.com/search?q=why+do+ ... e&ie=UTF-8
Seems like it may be pruning, late frosts, or too much shade. I try not to prune mine at all, just cut as many blooms as I can during the season because I'm never sure when is okay and when isn't. I love to have them inside when in season. Some of the blossoms are huge! And my bush is on the north side of the house so I don't think it gets all that much sun?

Oh Mystery! Attic in the heat? Go early in the a.m., but I bet your roofer will want to see it himself. The joint between the roof and dormer is always a point where water wants to enter.

I got the combination padlock on the front gate of the cemetery yesterday. This entrance isn't used but the lock probably hadn't been opened in years and years and the lock wouldn't open. And I've deferred getting a locksmith for the mausoleum until maybe next week? The mausoleum hasn't been opened for a very very long time, so there's no hurry.

[Twins' Mom]

I've got to do some planning/working ahead because we have houseguests next week. They come here on Monday, leaving Wednesday, possibly Thursday. So we'll have friend A and V and houseguests here for dinner on MOnday p.m. Dh is going to do salmon on his "Big Green Egg" grill I hope. But...tomorrow I need to sheets off the guest room bed and wash them. Dcleaning lady will make it up on Thursday. Need to spiff up the guest bedroom...maybe run Roomba up there?

She also loves my crafts and cards and wants to go to my crafting area and play. So I need to get that room cleaned up. I pulled out a bunch of photos and memorabilia when dcousin J passed away. All that needs to be put away.

"Feels like" temp is down to 102, LadyM, what is your feels like temp? Do you have humidity too?

[Lady Maverick]

It is with sad and heavy heart that I have decided to pull all the beautiful lantanas and dispose of them (not in the compost!). There is a 12' x 12' patch of them growing by the gazebo which is near the shop. This is area that DH walks in every day. Cathy is right in that it is dangerous to have toxic berries near DH because he won't remember they are toxic. This morning DH went to get another drumstick (ice cream) from the freezer, so I asked him if he was aware that was his 3rd one of the day. He paused and said "No, this is the first one I've eaten today". He typically only eats one drumstick a day so I was fairly sure that he did not have any memory of the first 2 eaten today.
Also the lantanas are growing in the same beds as the vegetables which is not acceptable. I go to so much effort to make sure no chemicals are applied to the garden so growing berries that are toxic is an absolute NO.

later.....
After reading about lantanas, I don't think removing the big patch of them by the gazebo will be easy because of the roots involve. I'm going with Kittykatt idea to deadhead and remove the fruit. At least there won't be any blackberry looking berries to tempt DH to eat them.
However, I am declaring war on the lantana plants in the vegetable garden. They are not staying. Because they are in raised beds with loose soil, I think their roots will be easy to remove. ***hopeful***

[Nancy]

I have been in the kitchen tried making tortillas again,
sort of edible burnt em learning as I go with these...
reminded me how mil used to burn stuff like pork chops.
Any way ddoggo is set for treats with the left overs and she
is not complaining! LOL! [ I have the fans on. ]
Did up the dishes and spiffed up the kitchen for the most part.

Someone kicked at my door more of a tap tap tap
I was on the phone & ddoggo was going off!

The guy wanted to speak to the home owner or person that does the cleaning and to give me some soap or cleaning product, said just a min. while I deal with the dog. As I walked to try to put the doggo in the kennel . I did not have a good feeling, turned around left the dog out
and opened up the door, said not interested I had allergies. You just never know these days.

Then called my dsis back and told her what was up.

[lucylee]

Nancy, good for you in trusting your gut. I have got to get a little more careful myself. I had ds install the ring doorbells, but twice I have opened the door because the young man standing there looked like a nice guy. DS and DDIL really fussed at me about that just this week, and I remembered that Ted Bundy "looked like a nice guy." The two I have talked with have both been selling pest control services, lawn treatments, etc. And, interestingly, they both rolled up on little stand-up scooters. I don't know where they parked their vehicles -- they both represented businesses at least 25-45 miles away! One said he was working for my neighbor -- who keeps his yard looking like a golf course and dgd asked me why he mowed every day, LOL.
I just told both those guys I had a termite bond and a regular pest control service and I was not in the market for any additional services.

LadyM -- good for you in getting rid of the berries. I was thinking you had no problem with children until you mentioned dh! YES -- good to remove them from tempting him! And of course, you do have a LOT of teenage visitors -- who knows what they might do when faced with tempting berries?
BTW -- question for your ds --
The mechanic called today, says my brakes look fine -- rotors might be showing some wear but it is not time to change them... he replaced the headlight for free, had one in the shop... and he can't replicate the problem with the lock. (I didn't think he would, so I'll just wait till it completely goes out, I guess.) All this makes me think he is a trustworthy young man and he usually gets my vehicle out in less than a week. This time was unusual, but he told me when I first called that he had been backed up after being on vacation.
The question is -- he said my "engine mount" was wearing out, he hears a "clunk," when he first puts it in drive and starts down the road. He said this is a common problem with Tahoes this age, (8 years) and when I asked how much it would cost to repair that, he had to look it up (so he had not already been prepared to tell me it was urgent, I assume) and then said it would be about $485, parts & labor.
I asked how long it could wait, as I had just put a new roof on the house and I was trying to get my finances a little more stable.
He said I could go a couple months, he thought, it wasn't going to fall out of the car or anything, but it was "not good to have things shifting around in there."
I think I know what the sound is that he is talking about -- I thought it was the transmission, shifting out of first gear. It started about a year after we had our transmission replaced. I may have been blaming the transmission man when it had nothing to do with him!
SO -- does your ds agree this can wait, and does that price sound ridiculous to him?

Thanks for the tips on the hydrangeas, Twins. I haven't read the link yet, but I will. Mine are on the north side of the house also, and they get a lot of shade from the house and the larger shrubs. I am scared to death to prune them or do anything, so they get nothing except what God gives them. The new gutter above the porch steps seems to be a great water fountain for them -- the water drips from it right to them.

I ate a double "smash burger" with bacon and onions for lunch/supper around 4:00 pm. I dusted the bedroom and den and then fell asleep in the recliner. I may have trouble sleeping tonight, but I am heading to the shower and the bed. See you girls tomorrow!