Last Crepe Myrtle to Pop Color in BToS

Crepe Myrtle in back yard - Dated August 9, 2013

I've had this Crepe Myrtle for quite a few years now.  It's a very slow grower and a late popper when it comes to color.  I love the color of the blooms (or whatever the red thingies are called).

I trimmed it back according to directions about 3 years ago and occasionally I still get a compliment now and then on the show it makes.  I think I'm just gonna let it grow from now on and see how big it gets..

The main down side to the bush is the late blooming.  The rest of town is full of color from Crepe Myrtles before mine even considers popping.  I ride down the street and yards and yards are just full of color; then pull into my driveway and come to rear of house and no color yet.  I think the color is worth the wait.

The second drawback surfaces when I mow the lawn.  If you take a good look at that bush you can imagine me trying to get close to go around the bush with the mower.  Typically in summer I mow wearing a T-shirt; thus baring my arms.  Well being the old fart that I am, my skin isn't as tough as it used to be and cardio doctor has me on anti-clotting blood stuff.  I tend to ignore the pain from scratches on the arm and only realize it's still weeping blood when I come in from mowing and have a few blood spots on my clothes.

I should probably be a bit more careful while mowing around the Crepe Myrtle; after all, it's just trying to protect itself from critters, like me!

JD, looking for blood spots on my clothes here in the Big Town of Savage

Costco Gas Purchase - Windy Day

This Google street image of the Costco gas pumps at Arundel Mills Costco here in central Maryland shows folks waiting in line, making their purchase and driving off.

Typically I fill the tank before I put one of my trucks in the garage for its week of vacation.  This morning I looked at the fuel gauge after backing the Toy Truck from the garage and noticed I hadn't filled it last time.  Even though it still had probably another 150 miles range, it was a fairly quiet morning and I had the idyllic scene above in my mind so why not get gas.

I made a stop for some grocery items before heading to Costco for gas and when I opened the door on the Toy Truck, it was almost blown out of my hand.  After returning to the truck with groceries, it dawned on me that the parking lot at Costco is kind of windy, even on a day with light breezes every place else and that the wind today would be horrible there.

Common sense got the better of me and I headed back home without getting the gas.  I'll ride up there early Sunday morning since they open the gas pumps at 6 in the morning, there won't be many folks there...hopefully the wind will be just a breeze instead of those insane gusts we've had this morning.

JD, down on 1/4 tank here in the BToS waitin' for Sunday...

PS - Looks like I should have weathered the high winds anyway.  Gas went up about $.12 since and who know how much more by Sunday morning.  What's that old adage about 'hindsight'...

Is Lawn Mowing Season Here Already?

Out front at 8AM March 22

It's only March 22 and already the grass has gotten ahead of me. Not sure where the time has gone, but I haven't mowed yet this season. Maybe today after lunch if the fog clears and things dry a bit. Can't effectively mow tall, wet grass with a mulching mower.

Out back at 8AM March 22

I made time to change the oil and sharpen the blade on my mower and neighbor lady's mower last weekend in preparation for the new season. Both started and ran well. Now if my old body and the weather will cooperate, possibly today will be the day.

Of course I do have to make my Thursday morning run to the shopping places for supplies. :-)

JD, feeling a little hemmed in here in the BToS

PS - Finished mowing lawn around 6:45 this evening. First time is always hard on my ol' body. :-)

PPS - Second mowing today was also hard on my body. I think it's going to be a long, hard mowing season. (3/27/2012)

Wonderful Winter - No Snow

Today is February 1, 2012 and to date I am loving winter. No matter what ol' Punxsutawney Phil decides about winter tomorrow morning, I'll be able to live with his pronouncement.

We've had one very light coating of my favorite kind of snow this winter. That's the kind where the grass has just the slightest hint of white over the green and the driveways and roads are water covered, shiny black.

Even if ol' Phil comes out and says that winter's over I won't be any happier. The 10-day forecast above shows moderate temps in mid 40's through February 10th. The daylight hours are increasing each day; the sun is stronger each day and little green things are beginning to pop out of the ground seeking sunshine.

I even read a Facebook post from an Atlanta resident indicating they were going out to wash the green pollen off their car. What more can a guy ask!!!

JD, enjoying winter here in the BToS

PS - Yes there's still a chance of terrible cold and violent knee-deep snowfall before winter ends, but after the great weather we had through December and January, you won't find me complaining one little bit.