Results of Drama Event

After waiting for our phone calls to be returned after messages sent  five different times, I pursued further as I was very annoyed. I called the Bridgewater Twp. Municipal Authority (where the monthly sewer payments are sent) and talked to the lady there. She told me that the person we were calling for help with my problem was no longer working for them. The @#@%$#^%&* could have at least called back to tell me he was no longer working for them!  She gave me the name and phone# of the person to call for assistance and offered to call him for me. Great! He called back after lunch and I explained my event and situation. He said someone would be here to check it out late this afternoon. He also said the other guy was fired for not responding to messages for assistance. Well, how was I supposed to know that?

End result:  The call came, Joe replaced the grinder pump and made sure all was working before he left. He said it is possible that the @#@%$#^%&* alarm guy I had about a year ago when the warning signal was beeping probably just disconnected the alarm and drove away because my plumber found it disconnected and didn't touch it. 

I'm back in business!

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!

Ants

As much as I hate the carpenter ants that we have to spray and eliminate every year, I love my funky curtains and tablecloth that I made many years ago for the cabin's summertime decor! This is a red and white checkered picnic print with monster-sized ants crawling randomly all over. The first image is a close up of the exact fabric.

It is a novelty cotton set that has been lovingly stored for many years and I pulled them out today. I didn't plan to put up the side panels as I like to look out the window without them. It was a project as I had to iron the old things, and I don't have an ironing board anymore! A towel on the kitchen counter worked OK, though. I'll just bet you don't have a 36 year old steam iron like mine! The cord was 8 feet long, thank goodness! Vintage Black & Decker Light 'n Easy Steam Dry Iron 1986. Found one on e-Bay to show you. Exactly like mine.  

So.....Here is my summer dining decor.

Patriotic Ants!

Looking Back 8 Years

When I was able to walk through the woods! 

Topic: Thimbleberries. From old blog.

If you're lucky enough to have these delicious scarlet berries in your area, here is an easy jam recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Thimbleberries
• 2 cups sugar

Preparation:

Do not wash the thimbleberries—pick them over to remove debris and insects. Mix the sugar and berries, then bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars and seal at once. The thimbleberry, unlike other berries, contains a natural pectin.

An excellent native bramble shrub with thornless stems - a treat for berry lovers, but not as much of a treat as the taste! Thimbleberry grows rapidly and forms dense thickets of upright 4-6' stems.The large, downy maple-like leaves are 4-8" across. The tart, red, edible fruits tumble into your hand when ripe. Birds love these berries and often it is a race to see who gets the first taste!

The pink thimbleberry flowers resemble a wild rose. The flowers borne are white or pink and are usually found in clusters of two to six. The thimbleberry fruit is not a true berry but an aggregate fruit. The fruit is larger, flatter, softer and with more seeds than other berries. This soft red berry plant is a species of Rubus genus. This species is botanically known as Rubus parviflorus, and also by many other common names such as western thimbleberry, mountain sorrel, western thimble raspberry, etc. Native to western and northern North America, the berries are used for making jam. This plant is not cultivated widely for its berries as they are soft and prone to damage but they are very sweet. The berries turn from pink to scarlet when fully ripe and are soft, cup-shaped and full of tiny seeds. It is easy to know when to harvest them: when ripe they tumble effortlessly from the branches at the slightest touch. They ripen extremely fast–just a few hours on a sunny day can turn a hard, pink berry red, soft and ready. These grow on the steep bank beside the dirt road. They should be ready for picking soon. 

please click on image to view larger

Sunny Day!

I took a ride around our neighboring lake and see that the yucca are in bloom. Remember the snakey-looking spikes? Well they are pretty nice to see now.

The sweet pea tree is covered. I wonder how many more years it will live with its parasite flowers.

I don't know what these are but are delicate and 'kinda' pretty.

Back home the elderberry bushes are blooming with many already producing tiny berries. No photos, you know what they look like. I retired from making jellies and syrups with them, but did many batches in the past. THEN! I spotted the flowers of the thimbleberries! Now, if I'm persistent, I might be able to pluck some before the birds and beetles get them - if I can reach! They are a bit rare in this area.

Closer to home I see the mullein is doing fine. Soon there will be many yellow blossoms.

And the sunflower in my pipe pot has a blossom! 

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Next Year...

..... IF I'm still here ..... I want to find an old rowboat, canoe, crib, tub, put it in the side lawn and fill it with good dirt. THEN ..... I want to plant poppies and zinnias!

I want—I want— SO, I have prepared. I bought seeds! I wonder if the flowerbed will work for me.  ..... IF I'm still here ..... we will see pretty poppies and zinnias. Why choose them ?  Just because I want to. Methinks I might want too much but, I DO WANT. 

After reading all about them I understand that the poppies will be a challenge to germinate and grow. 

MOTHER OF PEARL

Product Description:

Papaver rhoeas Subtle hues in a mingling of silvery gray, blushed rouge, white and elusive, bluish pastels. Rising to 12-18 inches, each ethereal bloom is unique, but all have delicate, crepe paper-like petals and bear a coal-black ring at their center. This elegant and graceful strain was developed by Sir Cedric Morris.

SENORA

Product Description:

Zinnia elegans Guaranteed to be a drop-dead gorgeous, focal flower in your garden. These spectacular blooms command attention with their ongoing display of vibrant, blazing coral-pink color. Huge, cactus-type flowers open to 4-5 inches across with a mix of semi-double and fully double form and mix of petal shapes. The sturdy plants reach up to 40 inches tall and produce loads of flowers for a spotlight in the garden and in very long-lasting cut arrangements.

Free

Did I ever tell you that I don't subscribe to any of the photo applications that are offered for photo manipulation or artistic endeavors? If I find one and it doesn't have a FREE download of my work, I just enlarge the picture, take a screen shot of it, and have it on my desktop. Then I can do more and love to experiment. I know I could have more options by subscribing but I really like pushing my ability to do my artwork using other means. Today these are examples:

The next two are just starting to develop. 

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A Special Pot

My potter friend, Al Wayman has outdone himself with his new project! He has hand thrown, shaped, inscribed and fired a series of 20! He was inspired and dedicated to this new endeavor. It is his Dead Sea Scroll replica-type pots with Hebrew text on the sides. This collection of jars and vases was created for the Gallery41 show in Owego New York and inspired by the ancient Dead Sea Scroll Jars and by the biblical Hebrew texts of Isaiah concerning justice.

Each jar or vase has a small section of text out of Isaiah inscribed on the side. The name of the piece is the name of the reference and both the Hebrew and English translation is provided along with the dimensions. He has always enjoyed studying and reading Ancient Near Eastern literature and also biblical literature.  

From his display card: "This special collection of Isaiah "Line Upon Line" of jars and vases were made by my own hand on the pottery wheel and fired and refined in the gas kilns at Creek Road Pottery in Laceyville, PA along the cold Tuscarora Creek. All Hebrew texts were also inscribed by my own hand on the work. I do hope a few folks to enjoy the collection. Special thanks to Rabbi John Herbert Ludermann for his guidance and advice with this project."

"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.." Isaiah 28:10 

Let me tell you I was inspired and chose one! I won't be able to receive it until after July 31. 

The one I chose is entitled: Isaiah 28:6 with the Hebrew inscription on the piece: וּלְר֖וּחַ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט לַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט

"And for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment"

The pot I chose has a lid and is 8.5 inches high and 4.5 inches wide. I can hardly wait to touch it!

PLEASE tap on image to view larger!