Yes, Yes, Yes Rain at last.

Glad to here you are getting some as well. We have gotten about 3 inches over the last 3 days.

We have not had to ration yet here in Montgomery but some other cities in Alabama have been.

The weather is much cooler as well which helps. It is too late for the farmers but maybe next year will be better.

faye

I am SO GLAD you got rain too. We had several days of it. It is quite cool now. I have been out in the yard trying to implement all the plans I had last Spring. Wet ground sure makes pulling up pecan tree and oak tree sprouts EASY !!

What kind of washer did you get ? I know one day this one will no longer work and I would love to have one so efficient. I didn't know they made any that used so little water.

I would love to see pics of your pool and what you are doing around it for landscape. Is it heated so you can use it into the fall? Ours is pretty cold now but I like it that way.

I am hoping the rains produce well for you and others.

Caroline

Caroline,

We bought the Bosch Nexxt 500. I was in Lowe's HW looking at the 100 for $798. The manager came up and told me that I could get 10% off the 500 and an additional $100 cash rebate, bringing that price down from $998 to $798. I bought it on the spot! They delivered it and we've been using it for one week. Love it so far. We leave the door open based upon all the comments that front loaders hold water in the front gasket and you want it to dry out (like you would want a tile shower to dry) to prevent mold.

We didn't get a dryer. Still using the old one. However, the clothes come out of the washer drier and it takes 1/2 as long to dry them as it used to. Also, the clothes are coming out in good condition and not all twisted up like the old washer.

Our pool is already winterized and covered (just did it this past weekend with the water temp being 68). No heater. Ours is built into a deck, not inground due to soil conditions and height of our foundation. So, I have large potted arborvitae. DS1 and I just worked on the outdoor shower area which is ground level down from the deck. Right now, it's just mulched but I plan to plant it with tropicals (ginger, elephant ears, cannas) as well as a sweet bay magnolia. I stained concrete stepping stones to put under the teak platform and from the steps over to the shower.

Cameron

So glad you guys are finally getting some rain, things should start perking up for you now, our weather is certainly unsettled up here one day it's like summer and the next day it's frosty and cold.
The rain has stopped the last couple of days so have been outside putting frost tender things in the greenhouse and attempting to get some cleanup done, the more I can get done now the less I will have to do in the spring.
I still have some bulbs I have to plant in pots, hope to get that done this afternoon. I planted a Jasmine and a Passion vine in the planter around the Koi pool which is somewhat protected from the winter temperatures, this area is covered by a fiber glass roof, keeping my fingers crossed. It seems zone denial is the name of the game, some I lose but a few I win :o).

Annette

Yes Cameron, we too finally have rain...hallelujah!!

I knew it would start raining once we'd signed a contract to have a new well dug and an inground sprinkler system installed, lol. It could rain non-stop till Christmas here and we might be back at normal levels. Guess I just needed to see all my plants and shrubs crisp up to realize I needed a new well that isn't full of rust. Oh, and the almost $400.00 water bill we had last quarter was a real eye opener. The well driller comes next week.

Your new washing machine sounds wonderful. We replaced our 30+ year old washer (Kenmore)a few years back. We're married 40 years this year and have only owned two washing machines, unbelievable isn't it? Anyway, our new machine (Whirlpool)is not a front loader but I was amazed at how much more efficient it is than the old one. Like you said the clothes come out dryer and in better condition. We got a new dryer 2 years ago (also Whirlpool)and it is wonderful as well. It has an energy saver setting that is amazing and the clothes look great.

Happy gardening and laundrying, Vikki

Yes! We are getting rain too! Two inches so far; so wonderful. First significant rain in three months. Supposed to rain until Saturday morning. You can almost hear the trees taking a deep breath.
Good for you, Cameron, on buying a water-efficient washer. Ours is a Fisher Paykel which has great environmental ratings. We all need to take conservation measures; there are just tooooo many people for this warming,industrialized planet. Ugh.
I wish we had room to store rain barrels so I could capture some of this rain that is falling!

I was chatting with a fellow at the local Ace Store about the rain barrels. Around here, HOAs will have to change their covenants to allow these. They are very specific about gutters and downspouts. At our previous home, we had splash blocks. Two years after living there, the HOA threatened to fine us if we didn't install pipes to run underground from out downspouts, fitted with pop-ups on the ends about 10 feet from our house. We might be able to hide one rain barrel here from the neighbors!

Has anyone heard from the folks in Georgia? They were getting desperate with the drought.

Here in the middle of SC we got a little less than a quarter of an inch. That is disappointing but they do predict a chance of more rain tomorrow. The weatherman said that it would take 37 days of rain like today to make up our 17 inch deficit. Well, that's not likely! But we are grateful for every little bit! It smells so nice and sounds so lovely.

In fact...I think I'll go back out on the porch for a few more minutes before I turn in. We've waited so long for the rain!

Think I'm doing my part of water conservation, in fact, I know I am. Being a 'onesie' household, I use very little in the grand scheme.

Have had a front loader clothes washer for years, and being a bit of a recluse, I don't generate much laundry. I do all the right things - no partial loads and since I hate unloading the dishwasher, I run that as infrequently as possible too. As for the running water while tooth brushing .... I grew up in a conservative post depression era so don't even go there with me ! (Besides, I use a Sonicare double time and sit on the bed watching tv while my four minutes winds down!)

As for outdoor/garden watering - I've only watered when absolutely necessary all summer, on 'their' scheduled days, but not just because it was 'my day'. My yards are established and I don't waste time, energy or water .... most everything has survived nicely. I am overthinking late fall planting - have a dozen or so pots that need to go in the ground now. This rain may give me the courage to tuck 'em in.

Only other consideration is my beneficial nematodes - with a later calendar shipment than usual, I have 6 million little 'todes in my fridge now ready for installation. This rain has been a real blessing. The 'todes need watering in and dodging the 'water gestapo' to do so was going to be a challenge ......... Thank you, Mother Nature!

Thank you for the info on the washers. I haven't had to shop yet but the details you both give are a big help.

Yes they got rain in GA. My son lives in Atlanta and he said it was pouring on Wednesday. They got what we got here in Central Al. I am glad for whatever the skies see fit to give us.

We got two inches as of yesterday and it is STILL raining. So wonderful. My garden looks lush and green. I have the windows open so I can smell it. Boy, a drought sure makes you grateful, huh?

I'll say I'm grateful for the rain! It's been raining here all day and it's wonderful. Supposed to rain again tomorrow, thank goodness. Everything in the garden sure looks refreshed.
Vikki

This is our first pool, so we just learned something interesting and valuable about pool covers!

The 4 inches of rain fell and was contained on top of the watertight pool cover. We used the submersible pool pump to pump the water off into rain barrels through a garden hose! We are still pumping, but now the water is going directly into the gardens. We planted some more osmanthus today and filled up the water buckets from the rain water on the pool cover. Never would have thought about it.

Cameron

I am sooo glad y'all finally got rain.

I am so glad you folks are getting rain at last. We have had a good year rain-wise (don't count the ice storm and the tornados) and it came after a three-year drought. I can really empathize with you on how wonderful it is to hear and see the rain coming down after drought!

Let's all hope next growing season is better for all of us.

It looks like our drought is over. We've had rain off and on for days now and our gardens are so green and becoming more jungle like, especially after my neglecting them during the heat and humidity of summer. I hope some of you will get some more rain from Noel as she skirts the East coast this weekend. We've had winds and rains for days, today we've had a lttle sunshine, but it's still windy and right now the sun is shining and it's also raining as another band of rain comes in. The sun won't be shining for long.

FlowerLady

Noel isn't supposed to bring us rain this far inland. Perhaps on the NC coast. Hope your weather works out for you in the best way.

Cameron

I never fully appreciated rain until living in D4 conditions for 2 years. Water is life, pure and simple.

I now catch rain water in used gallon jugs which I store in the garage. Perfect for watering plants or to use in an emergency. After living in drought conditions, rain water is like liquid gold and I'm not going to waste any of it if I can help it.

Wishing you lots and lots of rain! :-)

Marilyn