Bogieblog

Odds and Ends

Congratulations to the Portsmouth NH little leagers for making it into the World Series!

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The deed has been done. It was hard to watch, but it is over with now. Saturday, Jimmy came over and helped WS take down the fruit trees. In another month, we will have an excavator here to take out the stumps, build terraces and build up a driveway to the back of the property.

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Both WS and I could swear that we saw a broad tailed hummingbird at the feeder on the deck. That feeder is only 7-8 feet away from the kitchen window and he was sitting there for a long time. Although it looked somewhat like a ruby throated hummingbird, this one had a lot more black, less green, white streaks on the wings and the throat patch was not really red unless he turned just right, However, it is nigh on impossible that it was a broad tailed since the live west of the Rockies. Must have been a strangely ruby throated that hasn't been around before.

Have to get going and get ready for pet-sitting before I go to work.

Quick Garden

Okay, so I lied, the next pictures are more gardening pictures and not of places we've been recently. Blame my pet-sitting customer who called me up at the last minute to take care of her cat - doesn't leave me as much computer time.

Last month I put in a quick little garden. It's not really a flower garden but more of a shade garden. It rests on the southwest side of the house that is in shade most of the day. I hear the questions, "but the southwest side should be in sun all day, Bogie. Have you lost your mind?"

Well, yes I have, but that is an entirely different subject. See, the southwest side of the house is very close to the woods, so it is shaded by those trees in the afternoon. In front of that side is also a grove of lilace, so it doesn't get evening sun. As for morning sun, that portion is blocked by the oil tank and its protecting structure. Ergo, we have a shady southwest exposure.

So, here is the before picture:

Yes, I know, it looks sunny - but it only gets sun from about 10 until 11. The section I worked with was between the concrete pad and the moss to the left; an area about 6 feet long by 2 1/2 feet wide. I dug down a couple of feet so I could put in some good growing medium, then went to Agway to get some plants.

Tips for the Heat

I was thinking along these lines the other day - from the New Hampshire Union Leader, 8/7/06 edition:

Joe McQuaid: Apparently the world's experts think we're all a bunch of idiots

By JOSEPH W. MCQUAID

Monday, Aug. 7, 2006

I LOVE IT when the news media — this newspaper included — quote experts explaining what I am supposed to do when it's hot out. Apparently, none of us has ever been in such a situation before or, if we were, the heat so addled our brains that we forgot what we did to survive.

So I am grateful for the reminders. Otherwise, I might sit like a melted lump and wait for the lady of the house or the kindness of strangers to stick an IV into me and cart me away.

My favorite tip is the one that urges me to "drink more liquids." If not for this reminder, I would most likely do one of two things. Either I would attempt to drink a solid, which could be harmful, or I would not think to drink at all, and perish.

Notice how the recommendation is never merely that I should "drink more." My theory here is that government agencies, the Red Cross, etc., feel it politically incorrect to urge people to "drink more." This sounds like an invitation to crack open a Miller Lite or something.

In fact, the helpful hints go on to specify what kind of liquids I should drink. "Juices and water" are about it. No carbonated beverages (what used to be known in these parts as tonic), no alcoholic drinks (what I currently and lovingly refer to as gin and tonic), and not even anything really cold.

I should also turn on an air conditioner, something else that never would have occurred to me. And if I didn't have one, I should "seek the lowest point" in my house. I think that would be my kitchen. At least, that's the lowest point in my wallet right now.

Some of these heat tips are themselves behind the times. Hip people don't "drink." They "hydrate." It is important, in the heat, to "keep hydrated." Makes it sound like we are all plants, don't you think? But plants don't wear light and light-colored clothing, which is another tip, without which last week I would have likely dressed up in a wool scarf, hat, mittens, and my dark overcoat.

If I do feel thirsty, I am told, it's probably too late to "hydrate." I am probably a goner. They may as well stick a fork into me. I'm done.

Speaking of hip, did you know that the latest hip fad among teens consists of covering someone's lawn, roof, car, etc. with plastic forks?

Apparently, this is the 21st Century version of tossing rolls of toilet paper. I'm not sure I like either one, so I will await instructions from the experts.

Meanwhile, the only tip I have to offer you is to stay out of the hot sun. Remember, it's not the heat, it's the stupidity.

I posted the whole thing as these things tend to go to the archives rather quickly.

RIP

Susan Butcher, Iditarod icon, has lost her battle with leukemia.

Concern

About 5 yesterday afternoon there was an ambulance at our neighbor's house (I saw it as I was going pet-sitting). At 9, I went and let their little dog out then put her in her kennel. I left a note explaining what I had done and letting them know to call us if they needed anything.

Hope everything is all right.

UPDATE: Mr. Neighbor called and said that his wife had had tightness in her chest and trouble breathing. They took her to the hospital but the doctors did not believe she had a heart attack. She was kept at the hospital overnight as a precaution. After testing yesterday afternoon, which came out negative, they released Mrs. Neighbor without any restrictions.

Making Cookies in the Summer

Want to bake cookies but don't want to heat up the house? Or maybe you're at work and don't have access to an oven?

Never fear, good old Yankee ingenuity is here!

Individuals Bloom

Well, that didn't work out quite the way I expected it too. Anyway, here are a couple more pics:

This is a Blue Moon rose. It isn't actually blue but a lavender-pink. If this rose makes it until next summer it will be the only non-rosa rugosa that I have ever had live for more than a year.

This is a very dark purple iris (it looks even darker when viewed from a short distance). I don't remember the name of it, but the one plant bloomed continuously for about 3 weeks.

This is a peony that a friend gave me out of her garden - no name was ever given.