Hi - guess I've been holding out - but inspite of 5 days of almost constant rain and flooding, the veggies are thriving in my back yard. We are still on the established every-other-day water rationing schedule, but guess that is one chore I won't have to worry about - maybe for at least a month or more. The ground is saturated, but cutting lots of lettuces, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, bibb and romaine types. Earlier - the end of summer - we had so much cold weather, that I thought the peppers would surely die before they turned red - but with patience - they survived and managed to get enough warmth in Oct/Nov to do so - and are still hanging on for daily picks. The mandarin orange tree is loaded - as usual, with many harvest for the freezer, and a Christmas dish of mandarin, pineapple, fruit cocktail and whipped cream is planned. The banana tree looks a bit forlorn, but holding up strong against the south facing concrete block wall, and maybe I will enjoy some fruit this year. It has sprouted 2 or 3 pups and maybe I can find room to start a plantation (perish the thought), although have very little gardening space left. According to the locals - the beach was only habitable for 2 days this summer - although our usual influx of "zonies" (Arizona summer birds) were only too happy to visit and find respite from their unbearable summers. They bought lots of warm weather jackets to withstand the beach chill tho. Some seedlings of cabbage and broccoli are still in their cups, being hardened off, waiting for the floods to recede, and hopefully some warmer weather. The fruit trees are sadly in need of dormant spraying, but just like last year, the rains kept coming and they didn't get it. Funny thing, we had a bumper crop of apricots, peach, almonds, plums, etc., last year. Stay dry and if you come to Ca., bring your water wings! Bejay

So it is a girl!!!!! I wouldn't have guessed yellowthroat but now I see the females lack the mask. Yellowthroats seem especially vulnerable to window crashes.

Hi there, and welcome. Congratulations on both your new married life and getting started on your new home. Be sure to check out the kitchen and bath forums too for lots of great advice over there, and don't be shy about asking questions and looking at the galleries of past projects. People love to 'show off' their completed projects and help with new ones around here. Gardening is my love too and I've learned by doing and made many mistakes along the way - comes with the territory I have discovered.

Thanks Yachter, I will make sure I look for that shop. Since I have never been there before, everything will be new to me. One of my other friends told me there is a big antiques/gift/craft store by the highway so I want to look for that too. We got reservations in a park within walking distance of the main drag. That should help us avoid some of the traffic--if we can take the heat! LOL I love it when they put your purchase in a bag with the tissue paper. Tried to get the owners at the antique/collectibles shop where I worked for awhile to do that, but they said plastic bags are cheaper! Amazed me that she was so into doing great display vignettes and couldn't see why nice bags would add a little touch of class and make the customers feel special. Do you already have new homes for all six puppies? That would be so great. I take it this is not the first litter your dog has had. I know they are a very popular breed. So are you going to miss the yard sales this weekend? Oh no, I always look forward to seeing your great finds. I just walked down to one my neighbor was having--not much left, but I did get some baby clothes for my great neice's baby--almost like new from my neighbors twin GD's. Luvs