It's like somebody just flipped a switch in S.E. Ohio, and we went from the Dog Days of summer to autumn in the course of three days. I'm like Janis...........this summer was perfect. Long, hot days and I wallowed in it. Everyone I have talked to here are rejoicing at the blanket-covered nights and chilly mornings but I'm not impressed. ;-) I am still drowning in the season's tomato crop, as the fall apple crop is coming on. There are plenty left on the vine to harvest, and they're going out of here in brown paper pokes to anyone whom I can pawn them off on. I alternate what I can each day so that I can keep up with both of them at the same time. The pantry shelves are full and I've started stacking the jars in the kitchen in big plastic tulip crates, two dozen quart jars a crate. The big courtland apple tree I finished picking all I can reach with the pole picker this evening and there is a big bowl of baseball-sized apples on the kitchen counter and half a bushel of them outside the kitchen door. This makes two down and four to go. The Jonathans, Winesaps and Granny Smiths need picked and the McIntosh aren't far behind. Does are bringing their half-grown fawns daily to police up the drops and that's a win/win situation to keep the yellow jackets down. It's been raining butterflies for a month now of all shapes and sizes, but the early species are already gone and their caterpillars are everywhere. A few hummers are at the flowers feeding yet. The night sky has been particularly sharp as it does on cool evenings and we've had some foggy mornings in the dells. The lightening buds just up and disappeared as well as the songs of the tree frogs, but the crickets have taken over the chorus. The little volunteer sugar maple near our back door has brilliant red leaves interspersed against the green, and the dogwood trees are getting purple, as is the celery in the garden. The buckeye trees are yellow and the black locust are shedding already. I had a pumpkin failure this year all but one little fellow who is now bright orange, and the peppers are turning red. We have had no appreciable rain now for at least a month, and at least fall promises the beginning of precipitation. We are never in a hurry to clean our flower beds, as autumn usually brings a second wind to the flowers, but this year they are ratty looking from dryness and we may start dumping the urns and baskets soon. It's soup weather and baking smells fill my kitchen daily and we seem to be attending to repair work outside early. One chimney is getting tuck-pointed and the arborists are here off and on to do tree work. Alls we need now is the smell of wood smoke in the air and the "I's" will be dotted and the "T's" will be crossed.

Good morning. We were off to an early start here this morning. The Magnolia is in its new site! and we really like it, it blocks the main portion of what used to be the old driveway entrance. I took too many pictures of the operation, but the battery konked out before I could get the final one (recharging as I type). We did quite a number on the root "ball", but it will probably be OK even if it does "blink" a bit for the first year in the new place. "NIT", indeed, PM2. :) I rather like the idea of an Idyll Summer Camp; in fact, I think it's perfectly brilliant. Whaddya think, we use the Salon as the bunkhouse, take "Navy showers", and set up "arts and crafts" in the automobile bays, cooking our meals over the grill? Kathy, the picture of the Idyll Moon really touched me. I've been thinking about that Hopi prayer and the great comfort derived from the simplest things that remain constant the world over regardless of how downtrodden we feel at any given moment. I heard that there was a Dodger no-hitter, but not paying much attention to teams other than the Red Sox... well... . But I agree, it's really quite an accomplishment, exciting the same way a 1-0 hockey game is; good defense! The helpmeet tells me Manny is deliverin' the goods for you. He added that the dreds are as yet unpruned... which cracks me up. "Manny bein' Manny"; he's very talented and let's hope LA suits him better than Boston, that's what will define a "good" trade. Marian, you have a handsome family! the girls are looking so grown up, you must be very proud of them. The clock is handsome, the helpmeet was shocked when I sent the works of our tall case clock out to be cleaned, oiled, adjusted. But periodic maintenance is required for them to operate reliably. When the works were gone we found ourselves looking to the empty bonnet nearly daily to check the time! We have only one "plug in" clock in the house. As for two towels/girl, that's easy! one for the lovely long hair, the other for the body. We use our towels for nearly a week here. He has his, I have mine, we are clean when they're put to task, and we hang them to dry out in between uses. We know where the towels have been and neither of us has a problem with reusing them. I'm sorry you've managed to provide housing for some sort of bug... hope it decides to move "out" soon. I especially appreciate your oil lamps. I asked for one for Christmas in 1999 and received a brass Aladdin desk lamp. Whenever the electricity goes out it's nice to have good, reliable light so we may read. There are several in THTTF that were in regular use by my great-grandparents. I need to put them in the car the next time I am there. And lastly (before I foget again) I am sorry to hear about Calliecat. Dad didn't cry very often but the tears flowed freely when one of the pride was delivered to the "happy hunting ground". Nolon did the right thing, but that is cold comfort when the one delivered is gone forever. :( Good to see Wendy "poop" in for a quick visit. Too bad she had to go when "dooty" called. (couldn't pass that one up, sorry). I laughed and laughed at the tale of the Jr. Executive, that's just too funny. Shades of Alex Keaton, huh? The notion that Staples would rank highly as a retail destination slays me; BUT, when my brother was that age he insisted on drawing electrical cords and outlets in every picture he drew involving an indoor scene. I meant to ask about the dry stream bed you posted, Ei. Did you design it to be dry or did you put it there to handle any excess rainfall? I see them used in and around my area and I always wonder what precautions are taken to prevent opportunistic plants from setting up camp and making it "home", landscape fabric? plastic? I really like the effect in your garden, and clearly it was useful last weekend! I also wanted to mention how nice it is to see Norma, again. I forget that DSL and cable internet is not available in many parts of the country. Northern New England, for one! and it's becoming a huge bone of contention because lack of it precludes those areas with people LOOKING for work from being able to participate. It's the same old story from the fewer and fewer companies providing the missing services... "it's not worth the investment". OK... I thought "deregulation" was going to create more competition and open up unheralded realms of opportunity... . (haven't seen my 'phone bill go down since they broke up Ma Bell). Anyway, I sympathize. ;) And I hope the new set-up sees you posting more often. Your gardens are so pretty and I love your pond. T., you've popped into my thoughts periodically as I've been scratching away on the shrub border. I've gone from being completely discouraged by the chaos, to wondering about the finer details of it all, and all in the space of about a month. Getting started was the hardest part. It also dawned on me that you have to contend with the possibility of Elk damage if they break through your "defenses", too, huh? I drove by a house the other day that had a MEGA stroller out front. It was for triplets, one seat in front of another and I marvelled at the forethought and dexterity required to manoeuver that sucker in "traffic". WOW. I think the battery is back "on line" so I'll see if I can't finish up the photo essay. Later!

I'm looking forward to Saturday! mstywoods, I'm saving some dark purple irises for you, as well as the lady's mantle. amester, I'm saving some dark purple irises for you. gjmancini, I'm saving some lady's mantle for you. Skybird, Thanks for the hollihocks! I'll still be bringing those light purple irises.. they're very regal-looking and showy. Also, I'll be bringing some of that catmint. When I thinned out and transplanted my irises last time (Oct 08), I had about a zillion extras, and gave them away to my neighbors and co-workers. Here's a BEFORE shot. Then I dug them all up, washed off their little dirty feet, and separated them. Then replanted about half of them. Here's a RIGHT AFTER shot. And here we are, 3 months ago. Oh....um, oops. As you see, I got some of them mixed up. I think I can pick out the peachy colored ones, if anyone would especially like those. I'll be transporting them the way my momma taught me - bare roots, in a big tub of water. I'll bring ziplock bags so you can keep them wet until you get home. Then, if it will be a day or two until you can plant them, you might want to put them in a big clean plastic bowl with fresh water, just deep enough to keep the roots wet. I'd leave them outside, but not in direct sun. You probably already know the little trench arrangement for putting them in the dirt, but if not , I'll show you on Saturday. Looking forward to seeing all of you!. Betty

Well, the month is coming to an end. All of our beautiful spring flowers are in bloom here so I really enjoy this time of the year. Our local vocational school always has a spring plant sale and I was lucky to notice the sign on Fri. when it was the last day. I found several great plants. One was a pack of tomato plants labeled Tough Boy. I bought them since maybe they can handle our tough summer weather. Has anyone else grown these before? I also got some coleus, a verbena, a geranium and sweet potato vine. I bought some seeds from Baker Creek a few days ago since I noticed they had a special event where they would donate to flood victims based on the sales during those days. My family has been visiting and everyone has headed for home. I sure will miss them. Yesterday we got out to the farm and the granddaughters and I rode my older horse. (The children get led and we all wore our helmets.) I haven't ridden for about 2 years so it was great to ride again and my horse seemed to be happy to have riders! The younger horse got worked in the round pen. I hope to start riding her soon. She used to stay at a walk when I rode her, but I haven't been on her for about 3 years so we'll see if she can still behave. I'll start a FOTESS heading for April where we can just chat and share pictures. More doctor's appointments ahead. I did get the results of my biopsy and I don't have the more serious condition that they were worried about so I guess we keep trying to find out what the issue is --- or at least get it treated to the extent that I may not care what it is. See everyone in April! Jeanne