You mean there was rain in Spfld? Sounds like they had a pretty good storm. Us, nothing.
It started to sprinkle slightly about an hour ago, then stopped, still overcast. Sure hoping to get some rain, otherwise I will have to water stuff again today.
Donna

DH and I went to Grishams at Norwood this morning where he buys his dog food and we noticed how green they are around Norwood and Mansfield. We took Highway 5 over to Lebanon and it was nice and green until about Grove Springs. Nice to see what green fields and lawns look like. It was sprinkling when we left Houston and sprinkling when we got home but doesn't look like much happened in between. Maybe tonight..........

Been keeping late hours reading. Finished Forgiving by LaVyrle Spencer and Tara Road by Maeve Binchy. Both are pretty good books but I believe I had read Forgiving several years ago but couldn't remember all of it so read it again. That is what happens as you get older! Have several to pick from to start reading tonight.

gld--I really like rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'. A bright spot of color in the beds and blooms until frost gets it. I feel the same with the pink coneflowers-- you will always have something blooming even though some people consider them almost weeds.

Well, I got the berry patch cleaned out! I look like I have been fighting with cats....both arms are pretty scratched up.
Now, I need to water them very deeply.

I think I will start digging potatoes today. I don't expect too much since I didn't water them very often.

Susy, I love the pink and white coneflowers too. I guess I was expecting the Goldsturms to be larger flowers. Mine are about 3 inches diameter.

I think the weatherman predicted overcast for today....sure hope so. It makes working outside a bit more bearable.

Hoping for rain for all of us,

gld

I have 100 chicken littles!!!! they think the sky is falling!wouldnt even venture outside.
RAIN, wonderful rain is falling, yesterday light, this morning still raining, about a inch so far.supposed to rain off and on for the next few days, we're almost 12 inches behind, but every little bit helps, and lifts the spirits. poor chicks are 2 months old, and never seen rain.
i see howell county was listed in the severe drought area.pastures are gone, we had a lot of hay left over from the winter, but have just about fed up that supply. i see kansas and okla. has had rain, some of the hay around here is trucked from there, wonder what the prices are going to be--getting harder to find small square bales, but thats all we can handle anymore.
gardens are doing suprisingly well, anyone else think their tomatoes are later ripening?must remind myself next year 2 people do not need 100 tomato plants.and to plant more green beans.hope everyone that needs it, gets some of this beautiful rain.

Still hot and dry here in Louisiana too. About all that we received from Dennis was a gentle North-Northeast breeze sunday afternoon that lasted all of a couple of hours, if that long. Not a drop of rain. Having to water the garden and try to salvage what we have in it. Worked in the garden yesterday and put in tomatoe plants,even if it is dry, and hope that we get a good fall crop. Our early spring planted tomatoes were finished so we removed them and will plant snap beans later. The late spring planted tomatoes are still bearing so we will still be able to eat fresh tomatoes for a few more weeks (hope). Love the fresh vegetables from the garden and many people say that it's cheaper to buy them from the store, but there is a difference. I also garden for the exercise and I can tell the difference in how I feel if I am unable to get those exercises. Hope everyone is having a nice day.

Ceresone, I noticed that both of our postings were about at the same time. Hey, there was a time not so long ago when lil chicks here in Louisiana needed web feet to go outdoors. One thing is for sure, it will get wet again and then we (in Louisiana) will be asking for dry weather. Read about your need for small hay bales and that prompted me to respond with what we have found in our area. Most people in the hay business are only doing the large round bales and now they are even getting larger bales than those of a few years ago. A couple of individuals have gone into the small square bale business and what they do is they are trucking in the large round bales of selective quality hay from Texas. They unroll the round bales and reprocess it into square bale equipment. They have this equipment under large sheds and weather conditions are not a problem to them. They get a fair price and are getting more and more repeat customers. The key point for them is that they are selling quality hay and meeting a demand for small operators who do not need the large round bales. Just something I wanted to share with you and it may be beneficial to you if such operations exist in your area.

My Houston High School Class of 1957 has a Yahoo Group site for us. Someone on there this morning mentioned what a blessing the slow, gentle rain we received was, coming from something as destructive as Dennis. I think every drop went where it was needed. Still raining lightly.

ceresone--do you butcher your chickens later? I remember helping my mother process chickens when I was at home. I hated the smell but the flavor of the meat you can't get at the stores today--sorry Tyson. I think soaking the store bought chickens in salt water for awhile helps freshen the taste. And yes, I think my tomatoes are really slow ripening this year. They do better with rain than well water. Something seems to be missing there.

Yolanda, that is interesting info about reprocessing the hay bales. Small square bales are not as prevelant here now as it is less labor intensive to do the big bales. I remember how hard it used to be to get a hay crew and get the bales in the barn before it rained. That was when we still had rain!

Good evening
We got some glorious rain finally. Started yesterday afternoon and was slow and gentle all night and my rain gauge showed 2-1/2 inches this morning. Wonderful. Really soaked in good.

My tomatoes are green and seem to just stay that way!

Have some glads starting to bloom. Now, maybe I can pull some weeds easy tomorrow.
Donna

I am glad you neighbors who needed it the most finally got rain.

We are still very dry. I watered again yesterday and need to do some more today.

I suggested to DH that he move the cattle to a field where they will have to drink out of the pond and not from the well. He is going to do it today. I decided that was wasteful.

I finally have a tomato starting to turn......I am watching it like a hawk because of the terrapins. I am getting enough cucs to do a few garlic and dill pickles (1 jar at a time), they are my favorites...dh won't touch them.

I dug a couple of rows of potatoes....they are very small because I didn't water them like I should have. So far, the Yukon Golds are our favorites. They are delicious.

Flowers still look good (with watering). A plant that was supposed to be a fall aster is just another phlox, but one I don't have. It is purple with a white eye.

All for now....been very quiet on the farm lately.

gld

We finally managed to get some much needed rain. Recorded 2&1/2 inch yesterday and more predicted for the next several days. Garden took on a new life with the good soaking. It is not as hot either as it has been. Glad to hear that tomatoes are starting to ripen for some of you. As stated in earlier posting I transplanted 20 + plants in the garden. Have a few more that I plan on putting in containers. And while on the subject of tomatoes have any of you ever planted "Mortgage Lifter" tomatoes. I have a pkt. of seeds that I plan on trying next spring. This year I tried Brandywine and was not sure that I would repeat them again but ended up with good tomatoes and they were very tasty and I will plant them again next year. I have started planting at least two new varities each year in addition to my standard tomatoes. I would appreciate your recommendations on what tomatoes are great for you in the Ozarks.

We got 2/10" of rain yesterday.I am thankful when we get even a little.Seems even a small amount helps the watering situation.I planted Big Boy and Better Boy tomatoes for years.Tried Parks Beefy Boy a couple of years ago and now that's all I grow.Do my own from seed but this year I bought them.They are 5' tall and loaded with tomatoes.Everyone seems to like the flavor.They get large and don't have a green core.They are yummy on a sandwich or in a salad or just to eat.I dug-pried out of the hard ground-some plants (flowers)for my sister.Made me realize how dry it really is!Have been watering when I don't do laundry-our well isn't great so we are careful about watering.Tomatoes and some of the flowers are mulched thickly with shredded leaves-helps lots.Cleaned out the hummingbird feeders this morning.They were full of ants and bugs-yuck!Picked 5 tomatoes yesterday.Something had been eating a half ripe one at night?I put some metal bread rack trays in the paths-will deter a lot of critters including my cat from scratching in a new planting.I always use them on new seed beds until I get good germination.Posy Pet

Still hot and dry here. Just doing routine maintenance chores, watering and the occasional weed. Yolanda, I couldn't really recommend a good tomato since I haven't really had good luck with any kind since we moved to this farm. I am currently growing as main crop Park's Whopper and paste tomato Viva Italia and a couple of Early Girls. I always get blight and the tomatoes loose lots of bottom leaves......spray doesn't seem to help much.

We took a drive down to Mt. Home, Arkansas today. DH used to travel there every week when he was working in town. We went on through Yellville, Flippen, Harrison and took a short detour to Omaha to stop at Roberson Orchard for some peaches and then on through Branson to home. He was amazed at how much everything has grown since 1968! They looked about as dry as we are.

I finally picked a couple of ripe tomatoes today. My yard is past the mowing stage.....if it doesn't rain.

Have a good week.

gld

Not much going on here....98° and dry. I went out around 6:30 this morning and weeded some and pulled a row of onions. Set the sprinkler over the strawberries and part of the corn. Will just move it East one day at a time until I have finished.

I found more Japanese Beetles on some roses and dusted them (again) with Sevin.

My zinnias that I just dumped to get rid of the seeds are starting to bloom. Of course, they are in places that I can't see until I walk behind beds, but that's ok. Some of the cosmos came up also. I still haven't gone through the seeds and pitched them, but need to.

The yard will only need mowing where the sprinkler caught it while watering the flower beds.

I am just in a holding pattern with this weather....waiting for fall.

gld