Mellow Yellow Monday

Thank you, Drowsey Monkey for bringing us Mellow Yellow Monday each week. It's a bright, happy way to start the week.

August is easy. Lots of yellow flowers in the gardens.

Noisy Morning

They've reached our block. The natural gas line pipes being installed in our area are about to go down our street. I doubt anyone on our block will be going through the expensive process of the hook up, but they are coming anyway. They have reached a point almost at my house.

Knowing how inconsiderate they have been so far, I have no faith that they will notify anyone to move their cars out of their driveways, so I parked mine on the street. They would have to come ask me to move it if they are getting down this far. If they don't get this far by tomorrow morning, I would be able to just drive away. I have a doctor's appointment then, or I wouldn't have bothered. But then I had a chance to speak with them, and they assured me that when they dig it will be accomplished "instantly", to quote them. I will have no trouble.

Well, frankly I'll believe that when I see it, after what I have seen of them so far, but I moved my car back into the drive, and I'm hoping for the best.

In any case, I'm sure the street will be blocked to any through traffic for a day or so. I'll content myself with staying home, except for that appointment.



Other than that "excitement", nothing much going on around here. I've found a critter or two to photograph. And there's the garden coming along very well now. That's about it.








The things I have in planters on the deck are pretty well saturated. We've had so much rain! I've lost a few things. Two of my planters had no drainage holes, and I was relying on rocks and shells at the bottom for that. Didn't work. Not with all the water that we've had. Lisa came yesterday with her handy little drill, and put some drainage holes in for me. Thank you, Lisa!

Think Green Thursday #2

This new meme, Think Green Thursday, is hosted by Gina, otherwise known as The Pagan Sphinx. I think she has come up with a really great idea. Thanks, Gina.

There are so many ways to "Go Green" that are so easy. Sometimes we don't even think of them because they are so obvious. For instance, my friend Lisa works in an office at our local municipality. She is able to scan all sorts of documents and email them. Frequently she is still asked to fax these papers. Why would she have to waste paper like that?

I notice that some of the biggest wasters of paper seem to be government offices. They do not recycle, or at least they do not recycle nearly so much as they should. Don't they get it? Of all people, why government offices?


In our every day lives, we can all save so much. I carry canvas bags in my car all the time, and when I shop, I take them into the store with me. It amazes me how many people at the check out counter still try to put a plastic bag inside of my canvas one. "But it might be soiled." Hey! It's washable.

And there's always the little recycling mailer for your ink cartridge, or you can take it into Staples or wherever, and earn $3. credit with it. So easy.


I must say, these are not exactly soul-stirring photos, are they? They are just reminders of how easy it can be.


I really ought to have something really green to add before I stop preaching.
How's this? I have a new hanging basket, and in the background there is a pot of mums.
I have some pansies, and there is a new little azalea plant.











And then there is a fresh batch of mint. Can you smell it?

THIS AND THAT AND SOMETHING ELSE

I feel all at loose ends today. Can't seem to concentrate on anything.

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There was, allegedly, a meteor shower this morning before dawn. I woke up early, as usual, and remembering what I'd heard about the shower, pulled on my clothes and hurried out to the back deck. Didn't see a thing. Very disappointing.

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I read that Autism Awareness Month is being extended. (Exactly how do you extend a month?) Well, it's a good thing to extend a period of awareness. But then I read that it will give us an opportunity to raise more money. I guess I am incredibly naive. Somewhere in the back of my mind sits the awareness that money is a huge issue in any cause. But I honestly never once gave a thought to money when I was pushing for Autism Awareness. My concern is that people come to a better understanding of the problem and the people.

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I'm growing oh, so weary of the media's pretense at concern over what the antics and the clothing styles of young starlets must be doing to influence the thinking and behavior of our own teenage and pre-teen daughters, all the while exploiting the heck out of it.

Sorry. As I said, I'm just in a mood, and my mind keeps jumping from one thing to another.

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Yesterday I went to the pharmacy to pick up couple of prescriptions. The young woman behind the counter told me, in a completely disinterested tone, that my prescription card had expired, so it would cost around $400. Well, I know that my card does not "expire", I was all paid up on my plan, and my former employer, who is the source of this card, had not changed companies for coverage. She told me that this sort of thing happens when "someone pushes the wrong button" so, did I want the prescriptions or not? - Not - I drove to the former employer's office to find out if "someone pushed the wrong button". They had. It took a while, but eventually got straightened out. But all along the way, no one but me seemed very concerned about the whole deal. My prescriptions were not anything threatening life or death. But someone else's could have been! Why are people not concerned?


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Well, enough of This and That! The weather is beautiful and the flowers are in bloom. I have a pot of calibrachoa on my front step under the hummingbird feeder. The hummers like it very much.


The azaleas seem to be very beautiful this year, don't they?






And the wisteria is just gorgeous!

So maybe I should try to shake off this strange mood and get out there and see what this day may have to offer.