Visitors on a Beautiful Day

My granddaughter (L) and her cousin (R) drove here from upper NY state and we had a great visit. It was a three hour very scenic trip one way but they didn't stay over. I haven't seen her for several years due to the pandemic and then her uncle (my son) and his lady came to visit as well - a two hour trip to here! She had never met him in her lifetime as he is the brother of her deceased father. Another visitor stopped in! It was her aunt - my local daughter who has recuperated from the virus, and has had recent hip replacement. It was her first time driving herself. She does have to use her cane hook to help her move the leg in and out of the car, but was determined to visit. Of course she brought homemade applesauce for me and the last of her garden tomatoes to share with us.  

I was too busy to take pictures but here is another shot of my granddaughter and her cousin, the driver!

My granddaughter is the mother of four adult offspring, and the grandmother of two young boys with another baby due in her family next year. Her cousin is the mother of three and they all keep really busy. 

Later in the day, after things calmed down and NY went on the road to home, my son and his lady took a long buggy ride. It was perfect! He had picked up something on their way here that he wanted identified. I knew what it was but researched it anyway for them. We used to call them "horse balls" but I don't know why. I did know that the trees have long sharp spikes and were used as fence lines to retain farm animals. I took a picture of his find and then showed him the results of the research.

Osage Orange Horse Apple Monkey Ball Maclura Pomifera Tree.

The “hedge apple” is the yellow-green, softball-sized fruit of the Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera).  The Osage-orange is a small- to medium-sized tree.  It commonly grows 25 to 30 feet tall.  The Osage-orange is dioecious. Dioecious plants produce male and female flowers on separate plants.  Small green flowers appear on trees in May or June.  Female trees produce 4 to 5 inch diameter fruit that mature in September or October and fall to the ground.  Osage-orange fruit are also called “hedge balls.”  The common names “hedge apple” and “hedge ball” are derived from the widespread use of Osage-orange trees as hedges by farmers in the mid-nineteenth century.

Link to another research site here:

"Horse Apples"

Gifts were exchanged and great camaraderie prevailed all day! I was so happy to see them all together. 

Rejuvenated!

Today was a day of joy for me. My friend from HI came to visit when she was in PA visiting her sister and brother and their families. I haven't seen her in several years due to Covid. Unfortunately we stayed out on the front porch because she had a feeling of sniffles coming on and neither one of us wanted to take any chances of closer contact. It didn't matter as we reminisced and enjoyed time together. Yes, it was brisk! She brought me two lovely gifts. One a pineapple ornament and the other a hand soap pump with nourishing and botanical ingredients. It smells GREAT!

Then my local daughter and her husband unexpectedly arrived! They have both recovered from serious cases of Covid and she is working on ambulating after her recent hip surgery. They had been to the orchard and brought me Macoun apples! My VERY favorite! The ladies of course knew each other as they practically grew up together when they were younger. Wonderful that they stopped in!

After they all left I was feeling ambitious so got myself together with determination to get those empty windows covered with the clean curtains. It was difficult with only one arm that can reach up, but with the help of a flashlight, two clothespins, and perseverance I got 'er done! Made a difference. That's one long flimsy rod! See before and after.

And....the plant is still in attack mode! I wonder why it is acting so much like humans by threatening others!!!!

Just bloom and get it over with!

It is only 50° and raw out. No buggy rides for another few days, I guess. I plan for it to leave home November 1 for winter storage. 

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Learning Curve Yesterday!

GOT MY GUMPTION UP THIS AM!  Figured out how to clean the AC filter & the dehumidifier filter! Yay! Then got brave and lifted the seat on the golf car and plugged in the one line to a HD extension cord that I had plugged into the socket on the carport pillar. Then I propped up the seat with the board that is stored in the back basket and found the cord with the plug that goes into the panel under the seat bench where driver's legs would be when sitting.  A green light came on near that socket and I knew it was charging. The charger is carried under the seat when it is down - not at all like the set up we had at the beach, but I had watched the Mister do it several times and now I think I can again!  This charger is very different from the beach ones! I haven't been for a ride yet, but plan to soon. I also had to dig out my bottle of CLR mold and mildew stuff to remove all of the mold that was starting to permeate the backrest. There was a lot! I had to use my vegetable brush and almost a whole roll of paper towel. Satisfying morning. Pooped me out! 

Tomorrow I plan to attack the vacuum cleaner. I do not like the new one he bought because he thought it would be lighter and easier to maneuver. I will use the old clunker Oreck. It needs an overhaul. The new one is a PIA to clean the stupid tube. I know how to change the Oreck bags. Some day I'll enlist a friend to take it to the store in Vestal for an overhaul because it IS hard to push now. Probably just stuff stuck around the ends of the brush thingy. Not gonna try it!

Missy came today and did some fishing and swimming. No rain!  I sent her home with some suspenders as she was saying that her husband needs them. Just starting to clean out a few items like that.

Two neighbors with golf cars (gasoline) stopped by when I was out on the porch and we all had a small chat session. Things are starting to normalize if there is such a thing! 

There was a beautiful and very large lonely doe browsing my beachfront last evening. I grabbed the camera, and was about to get a great shot when the low battery light came on and it shut off! She moved on and gobbled up my neighbor's Hosta flowers! Then she sauntered up into the woods.  Lost that opportunity! I'll have to keep my eyes out for her again around dusk.