Tom, I got a largish order of pachycauls recently, from the Kilometerstogo feller, and a number of them show green shoots - I just don't think it's the time to expose them to wettish weather in the high 40s/low 50s at night - that sounds like The Reaper would have an appetite for destruction. And I don't know why you would sell them to those SouCal folks - they don't need them, it's the rest of us who do. Mike, I'm going to lift some spirits later, too - agave ambrosia in the afternoon for the gardening help. I figure I'll have earned the wobbly soda by then. I'd like the plants to grow as well as they can up here, and that can be done only by, IMO, the plants growing outside and taking advantage of the (usually) dry heat and long days of sunshine. Karen, I did note that (being a Weather Channel daily watcher). It's been highly coincidental that the good weather's usually occurring during the week and the weekend is wet. Nevertheless, it feels warm enough to put out some plants. I'm going to take your happy thoughts with me as I prepare a table for some outside plants (and these will be in the wild, wild West of the yard - something I have to think about, plants subject to the depredations of bear and deer). Hmmm, bears further thought.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day so far this year at close to 100. I work midnights and sleep mornings if I'm not babysitting the grandson. I usually go out once I wake up and have a caffine shot for energy. Today was so hot that I waited until after 4 pm before I could make myself go out. I roll up a bandanna,wet it, and tie it up around my face and slide it up into the edge of my hair to keep the sweat out of my eyes. I sometimes roll one up, wet it, and tie it around my neck also to help keep me cooler. I want to plant more trees closer to the house to help lower the temp. The drought is really hurting everything. The grass is crispy; the veggie garden is hanging on with soaker hoses; the trees, flowers, and shrubs are hanging in with hand watering. Since we just moved to this place last April (to be closer to the grandkids) most everything is brand new and isn't deep rooted enough to handle such prolonged drought without extra watering. DH is starting to worry about the well since rain has been almost nonexistent this summer. But, I can't bear to see everything drooping. So I water and pray at the same time. We are going on vacation next week and I intend to drive home midweek to water. We are going to mulch deeply and give everything a deep watering the day we leave. Before next year I want to lay soaker hoses and put them on timers. But, I still handle the heat better than I can deal with the bugs. They eat me alive. I even had a fly worry me to death while I was trying to water tonight for Pete's sake!! Can't use bug repellant due to allergies. Still, all things considered, I'm a blessed person and love love love my garden. It is worth all of the blood,sweat, and tears!! Ah, the dreams I have. So many of y'all have such awesome gardens and I drool all over the screen while I'm dreaming and planning. Thanks for posting all of those before,during,and finished pics. That's what keeps me going. Betty

Once again, Funky has cost me money, now that I have just ordered the Tayeka iced tea maker. I love fruity/herbal iced tea -- it is sweet enough without adding sugar but far more interesting than plain water! I do drink lots of water during the day -- I have my two cups of coffee, then switch to plain old water and usually have a glass (actually a plastic Tervis cup) near me for most of the way, refilling as needed. (I stop after dinner, though, so I'm not up all night!) I don't like ice in my water. DH does, so when he's filling water glasses at dinner time, he will put ice in mine...it's an ongoing (silly) beef between us. How hard is it to remember that I don't want ice? My kids are all in the habit of drinking mostly water too, which I am happy about. I don't buy soda but I do buy juice... I haven't thought of adding a splash in my water but might just try that! I never drink juice myself, it's just too sweet for me. Um, unless it's in a cocktail. Then it's fine. I also love Diet Coke but almost never have it in the house, because I know I'd have at least one can a day (only cans...don't like it as much in a bottle). So I only get it as a "treat" when I'm out somewhere. Oddly enough, I love the fizz of soda but I am not a fan of seltzer. I'm a member of the anti-champagne club, too. I do love Prosecco, though. Isn't that weird? Champagne sometimes gives me a headache but Prosecco doesn't. Lots of good ideas here!

I'm not a drinker (mostly). Never was till we started cruising in 2006 and I would only have a couple of fruity drinks on a 7 day cruise. Then occasionally I'd have a fruity drink when we'd go out to eat. Most of the time I'd asked for a non-alcoholic version. Well, a month ago while eating at Outback, I'm looking over the menu and the waitress starts with her "would you like to start out with a drink...." and I was about to say no thank you, when I hear the words horchata, coconut, pineapple, rum (my adult beverage of choice) all in the same sentence. I couldn't say YES fast enough! <lol> OMGoodess! It's a Rum-Chata Colada and it's amazing! To make a virgin one you'd buy a carton of Horchata (Mexican drink that consists of strained rice milk, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon). Add cream of coconut and pineapple to taste. Or you can skip the coconut all thereto if you're not a coconut fan.