Yes, it's raining buckets here as well! We had a 4 hour power outage yesterday. Had to get all the candles lit. This weather sure is reminiscent of fall. We won't see another sunny day until Sunday, the day that I'll try to get out there to spray for blackspot. I'll make-believe it is still summer until the bitter, cold, end. P.S. Pete41, Not all of us Michiganders are NASCAR fans! I prefer instead our 10 minute drive on a crisp, sunny, Saturday down to "THE BIG HOUSE" if you know what I mean? Here's a hint: GO BLUE! Betty

So sorry to hear that Wendy. I've been watching the weather reports from across Canada and your province has undoubtedly been deluged with rain this summer as have our friends in the north eastern states, but for some reason, we've had a decent summer here. Usually we get what both those regions dish out. I hope things perk-up so that you can enjoy some of the late bloomers face to face and not just looking down at them. :O) PS. I planted all of your red Lupines except for one which I kept in a pot. It bloomed - RED. So you did send reds after all. :O)

Melissa, We went to Tulsa today and it was raining when we left and raining when we returned. My husband said he is now suffering from hydrophobia. The worst part was from Afton toll gate to almost Big Cabin. Cars and truck were pulled over on the shoulder because the visability was so poor. South of there it was OK. My husbands sister lives in an assisted living home in Colorado and she normally comes once a year for a visit. She likes to take the bus because she can go to the first relatives in Arkansas, then they take her to the next, then we pick her up. She was scheduled to leave Joplin today. Of course, I couldn't get any info from Joplin but finally did get a recording that said there was no service from there. So we took her to Tulsa and she is on her way home. Craig county is getting it worse than we are and mesonet has recorded 9.63 inches since midnight. Our mesonet reading is 4.58 since midnight but we have been in the donut hole a few times with the heavy stuff not coming right across us. We are getting heavy rain right now but it looks much worse down in Cherokee and Adair county, so I think they will get a lot of rain tonight. The Cheapo Depo area was OK when we passed, but we didn't go down the street by the park. You can probably fish the park from the McDonalds parking lot soon. LOL I checked the lake level this morning and again tonight and it has come up a little over a foot with 9 gates open. The flood control pool is only at 26.68 percent so that looks OK. There is not much coverage of the tornados that touched down in Delaware county because all the reporters seem to be covering Joplin. I have seen several different reports of damage in Cleora, West Silome, Zena, and some more structure damage on 412. At first they were saying Flintridge, but I never heard that confirmed. You guys be very careful because I think we have another night and day of this. There are flash flood warnings everywhere in NE Oklahoma and NW Arkansas. My plan is to be at home until it is over.

I am happy for the rain! I have added some plants to my yard though. Several Rhodedendron's 2 wild ones, like those up in the mountains growing wild, with Large leaves, and get tree sized. They are local, but if you want to buy them, they are AT LEAST $35.00. If you try and dig one up in fall, they are free, but you get a small tree, with small root system, that is TINY for -ever! Or you fork over the $35.00 plus shipping $40.00 + for a 2 ft shrub, and be happy you got it at that size, and the price is fine once you realize you have a decent size shrub/tree for the price. I also got some cheap Rhodies at Lowes. Cheap but beautiful anyway's.