We almost made it through August without a second thread... LOL.
Stephanie, your bouquet is gorgeous. I especially like the dark red one with the purple edge that appears to glow. Nice dogs too.
Pooch, glad your daughter made the trip safely. I hope she's enjoying the southern California weather. It's been rather hot last couple of days. Did you see my dahlia question on the first August thread? I love the shape of those Impression Fantastico, Jack O Lantern, and Facination. I think I need some.
My kids are off to school... my DW can breathe once again.
Hope everyone if well.

{{gwi:1238356}}

Hi all,

My pal sent me a special gift this month. I get to shop for iris from Schreiner's. I'm already plotting and planning how to use their specials and her gift and something of my own to make a big splash. Thank you pal. This is so much fun.

We are off early for a day on the boat sailing in the hospice regatta. No hope of winning really but its for such a great cause. This year our crew will be my son and his family. They don't know beans about sailing but it's gonna be a rather calm day so Ken and I will be able to take up the slack. We went out for a practice sail last week and the wind and waves were so fierce that we had to wimp out before the race began.

Have a great weekend everyone.
Lil

Stephanie, nice picts of your flowers and your poochies. It looks like they'll have great fun/mischief together.

Lil, I don't know didly about sailing, but it sounds like fun with the family as long as it is calm.

We had an auuuu interesting storm yesterday afternoon. It got really dark, and started pouring so heavily it was hard to see while driving, due to the rain and winds. We had a few small limbs come down around us wihle in the van. Our flag was flying and evidentally the pole was bent and broke (it was a 20' aluminum I think). We'll have to see if the company can replace the piece that broke or we'll have to spend more $ on a steel one.

When I got back home, it started to calm down some but there was still some wicked lightening. It looked really neat to see this really thick bolt of lightening, that even if you blinked you wouldn't have missed it as it lasted longer than the usual quick streak. It was barely sprinkling when I went out to get our garbage can lids out of the street. Before I got back into the house a bolt came down to the west of us (about 250-400 feet if I'm estimating right). I didn't like that much... it's neat to hear the crackly zapping sound but also a bit unnerving. It reminded me of when I was a teen and was visiting around Chicago. A friend and I went out to walk her dog and out of the blue a thin streak came down close by and it smelled different and had a loud fire cracker pop. Needless to say, we high-tailed it outta there ASAP.

On the positive+ side, we got rain!!!Yeah!!! I'm not sure how much and I wish it wouldn't have been so hard and fast, but hey, it is moisture.

Wow, I nearly got lost trying to find the thread- lots of swaps and such opening up it seems.

Stephanie you are in trouble if you're falling for the lure of dahlias. Waterlilies are the type you like, I bet, and they are splendid. Easy to deal with in a bouquet, not too big, not too small and they come in all manner of colors.

Paul, the three you referred to are "collarettes' named for the little ruffles surrounding the center. I have seen naked collarettes, that bloom and have no collars. I think those are just a passing one time deal though on a plant, future blooms would be collared again.

DD is loving southern Cal heat and all! Fitting in great with school, meeting people hand over fist. A California gal gave her no end of grief for bringing her favorite lined winter jacket LOL "What were you dreaming of?" she asked DD. It was 95 in the shade that day.

Lil/Ruth, once again Bon Voyage and for such a good cause too!

Gina, I miss a good rip roaring thunderstorm- not quite the intense rainfall, but thunder I love. It rarely happens out here.

Back to chores..

I received my box for August from my pal.
I've been computer shopping....what a chore. I finally picked one out and now I can get back to my life!

My pal sent me the neatest stuff!
Some ceramic mushroom stakes....they are so cute. A beautiful stained glass ornament to hang in my window. A can of drink mix...can't wait to try it. And a big package of water balloons to throw at my boys!

Thanks pal....Your box really hit the spot!

Becky

Has anyone heard from Number One Angel since she got moved?? Jeanette where in the world are you? Shall we send out the search dogs?
I do hope all is well and you are just having TOO MUCH fun to be wasting time writing to us. LOL
Stephanie the dahlias look great. I have just one blooming but still might get adicted by looking at the pictures.
Paul and all whose kids are off to school enjoy the break and then, get ready for the homework to start.

I finally got to see one of my orchids bloom.

Shirley

Dearest pal, Thank you for asking about the box you sent. School has started and has again taken over my life. I thought I had posted, but I see I did not. PLEASE forgive me as I was again overwhelmed with what you sent. I especially want to thank you for the wonderful plants. The siloam double classic daylily looks like it will be gorgeous. I have planted it with the rest of the daylilies that you have sent me. Daylilies have become my newest passion. The zebra iris and the red at night iris also look beautiful. I have also started a new bed of iris so I have added these to it--Yours are specially marked to remember you in the years to come. I have done the same with the DL's. I also found a place under the trees on the edge of the property to plant the lily of the valley. It will be a great place for them to start to spread themselves and be very pretty one day. I want you to know how very thankful and appreciative I am, dear pal. I hope you will forgive me for my blunder. God's blessings to you, Mellen/Mary Ellen

Hey people! It's nice to see more of us posting again. Sorry I haven't been around as much but for some reason I've been feeling the need to spend some time in the evenings with my DH. I can't imagine that, can you? lol

I hope Katrina was kind to all of you who live in her path. I've experienced the wrath of Carla in my time and it was very mild compared to most I'm thinking. God bless you all who have lost or been harmed in any way.

Beth, I got your email and will answer it as soon as I have time. I have to make a cake tonight to take to work tomorrow so I'm trying to hurry now. Be on the lookout for the mail carrier. ;-)

YaYa, I am still planning to send you another card. I guess I'm just being lazy these days.

I'm going to MS this weekend to my grandmother's birthday party. We're celebrating her 99th. Tonight I am going to try and get everything ready.

The pictures are all beautiful as usual. I love your babies Stephanie.

Teresa, I hope you and baby Gabbie are doing well now.

Shirley, your orchid is gorgeous!

Ruth, have fun with your crew/family on your trek through the vast waters. I wish you beginners luck with the Regatta! I live on a huge lake and just saw a fantastic Regatta a couple of weeks ago when out on the lake swimming.
I've only been in a tiny sail boat once and it capsized and we lost the sail and pole! lol Nobody I was with knew what they were doing and the boat was borrowed so we replaced what we lost. It was fun until that happened and that was really funny in retrospect. I hope someday to get aboard a large one and see how it really is to sail the deep waters.

Pooch, I'm happy to hear that DD doesn't plan to spend every moment studying and can spare some for the beach! Now that is my kind of fun or at least in my younger days. Ahhh, to be young and slim again. lol

I took a trip to Little Rock to the Rheumatologist today and had a pretty good checkup so all in all I am in good shape for the shape I'm in.

Wishing you all the best there is,

Nancy

Things are kinda slow around here lately. Maybe we are all just in shock at the devastation wrought by Katrina. Was there anyone in our group affected by the storm beyond 'just' the rain?
Our regatta was a bit of a disaster. We got slammed by another boat approaching a mark. Wow! The impact tossed me about a little and I'm not an easy person to toss anywhere.
Luckily, no one was hurt on either boat and the damage is above the waterline. It may be awhile before the insurance adjusters can get around to us. I'm sure they've got their hands full at the moment.
The air is cool and clear here this morning. I'm making plans to over-winter the coleus' my DIL and I have and also started the seed gathering for fall swaps and winter sowing.
I've ordered the iris from my pal's August gift and am wondering whether to plant them among the other perennials in the garden or start a bed all of their own. What do you guys think?
Shirley, the orchids are just wonderful. How long do you expect them to last?
I'm wondering if my pal got her package. This is the first time I've used delivery comfirmation and so far nothing is showing for a package sent August 23 priority mail. Now what?

My pal sent me a fantastic (August) package. It's this adorable puzzle with a little girl wearing a plaid jacket that reminds me of Sherlock Holmes toting an enormous pot of geraniums. It's been really fun putting it together and helps me stretch out the books I rent from the library- I can only go once every two weeks. Thanks again, Secret Pal. And I can't wait to see what this "special" surprise for Sep. is.