There and Here

I bid my farewell to Queen Elizabeth II this morning. I admit to being emotional while watching the funeral procession on TV. I have always admired this lady in so many ways. 

Life goes on here across the pond. Remember the volunteer sunflower that grew in front of the cabin all summer? Well, here it is on August 19. 

I have never grown one before, but I do remember my dad bringing large heads home from farms he worked at when doing his milk testing job. They were very large and he showed us how to pull out a seed and crack it open and enjoy the insides! There were several dried heads in our garage and we kids sure ate many seeds. Now I know why the birds like them!

Yesterday I had the yard guy cut off the top of mine as it was really hanging its head low and leaning. Look!

Now it is indoors and resting until completely dry and then I'll attempt to remove seeds. I'll probably save a couple to plant next year.

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Nice Friday

I finally got up enough energy to see what is new in the neighborhood. My volunteer sunflower has bloomed. The one in the back had its top blooms bitten off but is recovering with more lower blossoms opening. This one is in front and seems to be a different variety - only one blossom. I have never had sunflowers in my gardens all these years. Maybe it is there to support Ukraine.

The Mullein still has not opened but the top is stretching up higher.

A lady from our neighboring lake took a short video of a buck swimming in their lake! We wonder if is the same guy. No closeups to compare though!

I rode around over there and saw a large track excavator in action scooping some of the black mucky stuff from an old dried up pond this morning. I wonder if it will be used for gardeners. It must contain a lot of nutrients, I'm guessing. I liked watching the large machine in action scooping and dropping the black gold into a heap.

Two of these things do not belong!

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A Drama to Unfold

Well, I call it a drama, but maybe it isn't really one. Yesterday was when it started. 

I flushed toilet after nap and it overflowed all over the bathroom. I went outside and the sewer box wasn't blinking or the alarm ringing. I called the plumber, who was here replacing a part in the toilet tank in June. He came almost immediately and determined that the sewer was definitely the problem and the grinder pump (installed 2009) wasn't working at all. Neither was the alarm system.

He called the number I had for such emergencies and left a message telling of his find. I have called two hours later again. No reply yet.

 

In the meantime, I mopped up the water mess (thank goodness just water) and plumber's young son hung out soaking towels for me. Plumber emptied water from toilet bowl and told me not to use it at all and not to put any water down any drains either.  I do have a commode that was for the Mister here so can use that pail in the bowl. I can wash up in a different plastic pail and throw water outdoors. 

I'm wondering if all the vibrations of the road machinery vibrated something off. Plumber said not probable because the sewer pump has not been working for a while, and must be full, though the alarms didn't warn.

Never a dull moment down at the farm! Hope he calls or comes soon! 

I called and left message 8pm. Third call so far…..

Today I waited until late morning and called again. Left message. Neighbor stopped by and emptied my dishwater bucket. She called for me and left message.  That was helpful. I sit here waiting still....

In the meantime, I saw that my sunflower has opened so I took a ride on the buggy and got pictures. I do see what I think might be three more buds! The main stalk is a bit bent and leaning. It is determined to reach the sun. Today there is sun but later, much-needed rain is predicted and again for tomorrow. 

If you enlarge image you will see 4 new buds!

Along the Road....

I just thought I'd take short ride to see if I could find something extraordinary. Well no, I didn't, but here are the results anyway. The first color that caught my attention was some Joe-Pye Weed at the edge of the woods. We have a beautiful and large growth of it at the beachfront here, but these were pretty.

The bind weed is seen wrapping around all of the thimble berry bushes. These bushes are now bearing fruit but the Japanese beetles and the birds get them before I can - at least within my reach! There are many wild blackberries along these roads, but this year they are very small and not quite ripe. I saw some elderberries coming on as well.

The local farmer has planted sunflowers between the corn rows. There seems to be many as far as I could see, but they were looking for the sun (of course they were) when I passed by. The field corn is almost 8 feet tall! REALLY!

One seed with a wild streak got away and grew in a very different place on the edge of a lower road. The awful thunderstorm and gulley washer two days ago beat and battered it, but it stayed strong. Shaggy is pretty too!

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Good read link here:

Corn & Sunflower Friendship

Power Flower

These Oriental Stargazers are on my list to try to grow in NE Pennsylvania. I will try.  

The bud from yesterday has opened and there are 12 more buds!

Behind a fence I saw more Dog Fennel growing tall and one lonely sunflower!

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