Kitty Condo
It has been a busy day here on Stauffer Avenue. With the tremendous amount of rain, it was only prudent that we pay attention to the plywood floor in the patio porch. There obviously had to be water that had flooded the concrete floor, how could it not when the entire area around it had two to three inches of rain waiting to abate. There were air holes drilled into the plywood flooring for air circulation as well as the areas at each of the door sliders. Last night we picked up the carpeting as best we could, put fans on and let the air flow to make sure drying can be going on the best as we could down under the floor. How long do you think it took for the cats to realize . . . a new toy! This is a new design on the usual kitty condo. Snuggles and Harriet soon found paths under the lofted carpet. Tabetha chose several spots to try out.
This morning I awoke at 6:30 and took my time getting up. I said my prayers and with the coffee pot going off it was time for the feet to hit the floor. Regardless of all factors that might present themselves, I was going to hit the square garden and get rid of some weeds. My next door neighbor commented yesterday how easily the weeds pulled for as wet as the ground was. I put on heavy jeans, long socks that went half way up my calf, and Dennis’ heavy chambray shirt. Coffee cup in one hand and a can of mosquito spray, I headed to the square garden. I put spray on my hands and then circled my neck, behind my earls, swabbed my forehead as well and the cheeks. I wore a pair of shoes that I knew I could wash off under the faucet. I headed in and the cats sat in the doorway and watched. The first fist of weeds I grabbed let loose a gray swarm of mosquitoes. Head down I kept on. Yup, the weeds really pulled easily. The largest challenge was not loosing my shoes as they progressively got heavy with mud.
I had gone half way through the square garden and the heavens opened with rain. What the heck! I was dirty, I was muddy and I pushed on. I could feel the butt of my underwear was getting wet through the jeans via all the bending over. I kept going until the lightening strikes were intimidating. I took the time to take all the piles of pulled weeds that were within the garden and put them next to the fire pit so they would dry out enough to burn them. That may happen sometime about the 4th of July. I knew when it was raining hard enough that the water was standing on top of the dirt that I was S.O.L. The bug spray was washing into my eyes and I could taste it. I had checked the weather radar and this rain had come from nowhere. I marched right to the water faucet on the east side of the house and let the clean water wash over my hands, pant legs and garden shoes. Looking once, looking twice, I stood at the back door of the house and began peeling off the soaked muddy clothes. Yuk. Smart ole cowboy just watched from afar knowing when to hold it and when to fold it.
On a very bright side . . . I received a text and photo from Carrie. The photo was of Megan on her first day of working in their church café. She had her protective hat on with her latex gloves and best of all . . . was the smile as she was assisting some of the parishioners. Priceless!
So here we are at the end of this Sunday. My muddy clothes have been washed and they are ready for me to try this weeding project again. The worst part is starting, just as in any less than desirable project. This weeding was the first time this summer I had gotten in there. There seems to have been a good amount of carry-over of the Preen of last year. The weed I was pulling is the wild version and similar to what the greenhouses call Wandering Jew. One base root with a lot of flowing greenery. I checked . . . no indication of webbing in between the toes. It has been raining off and on all afternoon with intermittent sun that brings the humidity with it fast and hard.