Here We Are

Well, here we are on day FOUR of our severe weather outbreak.  This has been one for the ages, I'm telling you.  We've avoided the worst of it here in Central MS so far, but I can't say the same about the northern counties.  But even they haven't been hit as hard as Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri. 

I think MO is getting the worst of it all.  My friend Peggy lives there, and has had two pretty good sized tornadoes pass relatively close to her house, and now they're getting flooded.  She posted this morning that they're getting water in their basement, and it's still raining as I type this.  

We're supposed to be getting storms this evening, and the wind is already picking up a bit.  

Again, the worst of it is supposed to pass to the north of us, but we could be in for some severe weather this evening. 

Wonder of wonders, they did give us the day off today, and I said the first thing I was going to do was sleep past 4:30.  Alas, somebody didn't get the message, and I was awakened by yowling outside my bedroom door.  I put her outside, then got back into bed.  It was soon apparent that I would not be going back to sleep, so I got up and started a load of laundry.   I've been keeping myself busy today pulling weeds, digging up wild garlic, and just puttering around the house and yard.  

By the way, I did not look at window units at Walmart yesterday, mainly because I couldn't find the silly things.  I did, however, finally find my Nasacort, which was a relief because I think for the last few days, I've been squirting fumes up my nose.   I'll be so glad when they've finally finished remodeling so I can finally learn where everything is again, at least until they rearrange here in another few months.  

I'd thought about running up to Batesville this morning to go to their Walmart, but decided against it when I saw how hard the wind is blowing.  Whatever I couldn't find can wait until next week.  Or month.  

Afterward, I came home and mowed the front and side yards, which were getting out of hand, and I figured I'd better get it done before this evening's expected deluge.  The hardest part was getting my stupid lawn mower to start.  At one point I even threatened to throw it in the garbage and buy a new one -- which I might still do.  On the other hand, it'd be much cheaper just to replace the starter assembly.  Anyway, the yards look much better now, even though I'm pretty sore this morning.  I left this little patch, 

because they appear to have some volunteer Bachelor's Buttons in them.  I want to hire someone to do my yard this year, so I'll have to put some sort of fence or something around them so they don't get mown down.  For some reason, everyone I hire to mow ends up cutting things I don't want cut.  And some people I don't hire just come and cut my stuff down on their own.  Another valid reason for a privacy fence.  

Speaking of, the little yellow flowers in my back yard are coming back!

Those are one of the things that guy cut down last year that I was so upset over.  I don't know if they're annuals or perennials, since I've never been able to positively identify them.  I was concerned he'd cut them before they'd been able to reseed themselves, which wouldn't be a problem if they're perennials, but as I said, I don't know. 

While I was out there, I found this one that looks very similar, but the leaves are different. 

According to Google, it's a bitter sow thistle.  All I know is that it's pretty, and I want to keep it.  Also, I have a pretty good patch of violets out by the road that I was able to skirt.  

When I was a kid, my dad never mowed until after the violets had done blooming.  Lest you think I only have flowers in the yard, my Whatever Cacti are blooming again. 

This right here is the the best thing I've seen these last few days. 

Do you know what those are?  OK, yeah, one is a cat, but I'm not talking about her.  I'm talking about those little brown wormy looking things.  Those are oak tassels!  The Pollening is almost over! And look at my tree leafing out. 

 Soon I will have a canopy of shade to sit under...if these storms ever stop, that is.  I still need to call a tree guy to cut out the dead limbs and stuff.  That's the issue.  Someone had posted in one of the Grenada groups about how these contractors, etc, have families, too and not to bother them at night or on weekends.  So, when am I supposed to call?  I have a full time job, too.  I can't call while I'm at work, so when can I?  

On a similar note, I decided not to up-pot my little seedlings just yet, even though I'm anxious to get my next batch of seeds going using my new hydroponic sponges.  I want to give them at least one more week to get a little stronger before I uproot their lives.  

Uproot...he he he.  I crack myself up. 

OK, moving right along...

I reckon I need to get off of here so I can put Reed on the computer -- Ryan already being on the TV.  I suppose I ought to get the safe room prepped.  And by safe room, I mean my hall bathroom, and by prepped, I mean to put my blankets, cushions, and helmet in there. 

Just in case.