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Post by Phalon on Sept 18, 2011 8:05:56 GMT -6
Don't give up on your redbud yet, Siren. Trees have an amazing resilience, and pull on reserves to get them through periods of stress. They even have defense mechanisms that will shut down chlorophyll production in order to save energy. In that case the leaves drop prematurely, often without coloring, and even if that occurs fairly early in the season, the tree will often bounce back. A tree can lose up to 2/3 of its leaves as early as June/July and fully leaf out later that same season, or the following spring. I'd say to continue to water your redbud throughout fall...here, it'd be well into November. Because the tree is already stressed, it's especially important that its roots don't go into winter dry.
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Post by Siren on Sept 19, 2011 22:17:47 GMT -6
Thanks for the information, Gams, and the vote of confidence. I hope you're right. Now that the summer heat has passed, is it safe to plant it?
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Post by Phalon on Sept 22, 2011 4:27:49 GMT -6
Oh, I didn't realize it wasn't planted yet. How big is it? It might sound weird, but if it's just a tiny thing, it's better off staying in the pot through winter. Then "plant" the pot (maybe in your Mom's veggie garden) so the roots will be less subject to freeze and thaw cycles which can dry them out during winter. Then dig the pot up again in spring. If it's a tiny thing in a small pot (1 gallon), transplant to a bigger pot now.
If it's bigger than 3 feet, plant the tree now. Fertilize it with a root stimulant, rather than other fertilizers which will cause it to push out top growth; you don't want any new growth this close to winter. On the other hand, stimulating the roots to push out into the existing soil will give it a great start to get it through winter. Most any garden center, nursery, and maybe even a box store should have root stimulant (which is not the same thing as a "rooting" hormone, used for cuttings). Bonide Plant Starter is a well-known brand - all you do is add 6 tbsp to a gallon of water, and water it in when you plant. Do the same a week later.
LMAO, Siren. I hope you weren't expecting a simple "yes" or "no" answer? It's not in my vocabulary. (eye-roll)
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Post by Siren on Sept 22, 2011 21:44:21 GMT -6
Nope - that's just what I needed, Gams. It's about a 10-foot tree, which I got a good deal on at the nursery. No one was buying trees in the midst of this drought, so the nursery had really marked them down.
I will get right on it. Thank you very much!
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Post by Phalon on Sept 26, 2011 6:32:47 GMT -6
You're welcome, Siren.
Today looks like it's going to be another rainy one....and I can't say we don't need it. If this past July was our wettest July on record, our September has to be the driest...until this past weekend.
It rained all day yesterday, from start to finish. I skipped my routine Sunday morning roller-ski, and had to cancel an often cancelled and rescheduled outdoorsy thing a friend and I have been trying to do for months. Got undressed, and spent the rest of the day in sweats, reading and basically doing nothing.
A waste of a fall day spent inside. The rain did seem to brighten things up a bit though - this morning at the bus stop with BP, the puddles on the sidewalk were covered in floating yellow, red, and brown leaves. Pretty, like fruit punch.
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Post by Siren on Sept 29, 2011 20:31:59 GMT -6
I have a different philosophy, Gams. I would LOVE the chance to stay home on a cool, rainy day. Just about heaven for me.
I'm celebrating the season next week with a trip to Colorado, my first in autumn. My cousin - the one who runs a little guest ranch - says the leaves are glorious. I can't wait to see for myself. Will be gone from Sunday to Thursday. Will try and post some pics when I return. Can't wait!!
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Post by quettalee on Sept 30, 2011 12:05:16 GMT -6
Hope you're enjoying your trip Siren....
Autumn is trying desperately to arrive here in the ORV. Yesterday was beautiful--bright sunshine, no humidity--although it did get up to 79. Still just a little too warm for me. Not for just sitting around so much, but I went straight from work to the park yesterday to walk. I had on a black t-shirt and black sweats. By the gods, the sun felt like it was burning a hole in my back when I wasn't in the shaded part of the track! Today was much better. It's in the mid-60s, a little breezy & overcast...a perfect Fall-like day...and...I cut five minutes off my time today!
I love Fall. It's the easiest time of the year for me to exercise. I love being outside so much when it's cool & the wind is whipping the leaves all around. Not to mention Halloween decor is beginning to spot the neighborhoods...
...long deep sigh...
I may even stoke up the fire pit tonight and start rummaging through the garage to see what goblins and ghosts I can find!
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Post by Phalon on Oct 1, 2011 6:17:34 GMT -6
Siren!! Have a great time, and do post some pictures when you get back. I remember how beautiful your last ones of your cousin's ranch were....I can only imagine what it looks like in autumn! Hubs and I are going on a little trip up north next week too...a belated anniversary. I hope it warms up a bit (it's been in the 50s here)....I also hope there's still colored leaves on the trees there. Here, it seems like the trees lost half their leaves yesterday. Thursday night's storm brought Friday's wind, which started sometime during the night, and didn't let up 'til this morning. Driving through the neighborhood yesterday was a game of zig-zag trying to dodge all the fallen limbs. The trees in my yard, fully mature maples, looked like dancing rag-dolls, and I was sure the 50 foot birches bending nearly to the ground, were going to snap in two. What does one do here during violent wind following a storm? They head to the beach! It was packed down there yesterday evening; with the steady stream of cars and full parking lot, you would have thought it was a clear, 90 degree summer day. LX said when she and her friend went down after school, the Sharkless team of wake and kite-boarders were out, (get it....fresh water kite-boarding; no sharks). They're a bunch of crazies. Most people though, weren't crazy enough to leave their vehicles, and just parked, mesmerized by the waves. Only those taking pictures were on the beach. We left the car, and didn't even get close to the water, but ended up soaked from the spray anyway.  They have the snowfences up already, but they were torn up by the wind.  The seagulls seemed to fly in place, then backwards, before they gave up, and settled on land to ride it out.  The lake on the opposite side of the channel looked even rougher than our side. I've been thinking about getting out some of the decorations too, Q. Good thing I didn't...all the witches, bats, and crows would have flown off way before Halloween! |
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Post by stepper on Oct 1, 2011 19:04:35 GMT -6
I've said before the summer was difficult. Well, the monarchs are starting to migrate through and there's nothing for them to feed on. The news had a picture of a monarch doing something I've never heard of - it was feeding at a hummingbird feeder. I've got two feeders up but if the butterflies will be using them too, I'll put up more.
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Post by Siren on Oct 4, 2011 11:35:40 GMT -6
Oh, Gams - those pics are wonderful! I really,really want to visit your area one day.
Wow, that IS unusual, Step. But it makes sense. I'm glad the butterflies are finding a way to deal with the drought.
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Post by stepper on Oct 4, 2011 20:08:13 GMT -6
Phalon. I don't remember seeing the pictures the first time I looked - glad I checked again. Is that the lighthouse that's for sale? Maybe "we" should all chip in and buy it! It'd be cool saying we owned a piece of a working lighthouse. (I'm sure I've got a fiver round here somewhere. Wonder how much lighthouse sell for these days?)
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Post by Phalon on Oct 7, 2011 12:57:49 GMT -6
Yep, Stepper, that is the lighthouse that's for sale. I haven't heard anything about it in a while though, so I'm hoping the Historical Society came through on the purchase.
Siren - you, and anyone else, are always welcome, (just call first, so I can scatter the dust bunnies).
It has been a gorgeous, gorgeous week here. It feels unseasonably warm in the seventies, after two weeks with highs barely hitting the mid-fifties. I'll have to tell you all about the adventure my friend and I had in the woods last Wednesday; it's been a long time in the planning, and was just a bit nutty.
Almost ready. Hubs should be home soon, and then were off to our first vacation alone since LX was born. I hope he holds up to all I've got planned for the weekend....
....kayaking, and hiking, and biking. Oh, man I can't wait.
See you on the flip-side, Taters. Enjoy the weekend!
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Post by Mini Mia on Oct 7, 2011 16:28:25 GMT -6
Have a fun and safe "kid-free" "couples-only" vacation, Phalon.
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Post by stepper on Oct 7, 2011 18:56:31 GMT -6
Way cool! Congrats and have a great time! Between you and Siren in Colorado I don't know who makes me more jealous. Sigh. Being the newbie at work sort of keeps me from doing much that looks like a vacation - I'm still building up the time off.
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Post by Phalon on Oct 9, 2011 7:50:05 GMT -6
Everything is in peak color; I can not describe how beautiful it was driving up there - absolutely breathtaking.
Even more so on the return, with the sun lighting the morning mist, making the colors seem more brilliant.
Millions of stars in the sky - I don't think I've ever seen so many. The resort was beautiful - a little village at the foot of the mountain (it's a ski resort).
Too bad we only saw it at night; we arrived in the dark, and left in the dark.
Basically, we drove 400 miles round trip for a late night dinner.
LX: (with indignation) How are you ever going to trust me if you never give me a chance to prove I'm trustworthy?
Friday night was homecoming. BP was going to the game with the neighbors, and spending the night afterward.
LX was going to the game with friends.
Absolutely no one was to be in the house afterward.
I called the house after we arrived at the resort, and after we had dinner (about 11:30pm).
LX: Mom.....?
Me: Why do I hear voices in the background?
LX: Mom....uhm....I screwed up.
The phone was then handed to a very nice policeman who informed me there were about 20 kids lined up on the curb outside my house getting breathalyser tests. Approximately 10 to 15 more "escaped" before they could be rounded up.
LX blew a 0.00; it is her only saving grace.
The weekend should have been soooo wonderful.
I am sooo p!ssed.
And she is in soooooooooo much trouble.
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Post by Phalon on Oct 9, 2011 8:16:52 GMT -6
Headline paragraph in this morning's paper:
"The Historical Society will soon be the proud new owner of the city's landmark lighthouse on Lake Michigan..."
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Post by stepper on Oct 9, 2011 10:50:51 GMT -6
Oops! Um...a lump of coal for Christmas? Gounded for the rest of the week? How do you NOT over react?
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Post by stepper on Oct 9, 2011 10:52:08 GMT -6
Headline paragraph in this morning's paper: "The Historical Society will soon be the proud new owner of the city's landmark lighthouse on Lake Michigan..." Drrrrrat! |
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Post by stepper on Oct 9, 2011 10:55:06 GMT -6
Did you stop for a few seconds and take pictures? We were married in October and it happened to be peak viewing that weekend - the drive on the PA turnpike and up into the mountains was amazing.
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Post by Mini Mia on Oct 9, 2011 19:09:11 GMT -6
Keep this in the back of your head, Phalon. One day she'll get married and go on her honeymoon. Ruin the honeymoon to get back at her.  Or just wait and let her kids ruin her getaway with her hubby. 
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Post by quettalee on Oct 9, 2011 20:21:18 GMT -6
So, sis, this all happened at the beginning of your weekend, right? I'm almost sure I would've had to get right back in the car and travel right back home. I can only imagine how long a drive that was on the return trip. I'm interested to find out what the outcome and repercussions are for #1 daughter.
It's still not feeling like too much Autumn here in the ORV. Pfft. Eighty degrees again today. The leaves are trying to change, but Summer had to actually cut the grass...again today. I can't remember when we've had to cut the grass the second week of October.
Oh well, I hope it's cool by the end of the month. I hate sweating in my costume!
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Post by stepper on Oct 9, 2011 20:23:05 GMT -6
Keep this in the back of your head, Phalon. One day she'll get married and go on her honeymoon. Ruin the honeymoon to get back at her.  Or just wait and let her kids ruin her getaway with her hubby. 
You could knock on the door of her room at 11:30 and remind her about the time you went 400 miles but only had time for dinner...and how that nice policeman is still on your Christmas card list. |
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Post by Phalon on Oct 9, 2011 22:47:04 GMT -6
A couple of hours sleep, followed by a 200 mile road trip helps; time for Hubs and I to think and discuss made for a calm and rational talk with LX, instead of yelling at her, which I'm sure would have been a first gut reaction.
Hhmmm....what was that Mom always used to say when we'd frustrate her? Oh, yeah...."I hope one day your kids put you through the same cr@p you put us through."
This is Mom's pay back time, I suppose.
I wish we would have - we commented on each "scenic overlook" pull off that we passed, but we were in a hurry to get back - she was "released" to the neighbors, and we didn't want to inconvenience them any more than we had.
Not to make light in any way what my child did; she was irresponsible, and knowingly made a bad decision....but it was the neighbor lady who over-reacted, IMO. Close neighbors - we walk in and out of each other's houses with just a knock first, (her daughter, btw, was upstairs getting ready to come to our house). She saw the first kid go in, knowing LX was not to have anyone over. She saw the next three kids, and a short time later, another group. At this point, wouldn't you - I'm pretty positive I would; I know[/b] Hubs would - go over to the house, knock on the door, and give the kid you knew since she was 3 the chance to either clear the house herself, or if not, then tell her you were calling the police because you suspected underage drinking was taking place?
This wasn't a loud, wild party according to the policeman I spoke to Friday night and the full police report I called to get once we got home Saturday....not when they got there anyway; things were just getting underway.
I dunno...maybe overreacting on my neighbor's part, maybe not. What she did next though, was definitely overreacting (again in my opinion) - she kept LX locked in a room all night.
Yep, Q. I tried to call home as soon as we got there, but had no service on my cell (we were out in the middle of nowhere at the base of a mountain), and they hadn't turned on phone service to the room yet. After dinner, I got through; it was well after midnight when everything got sorted out between talking to LX, the police, and my neighbor. We opted to sleep the night, and left about 6am in the morning.
Repercussions are:
She had to clean the house, of course - it was halfway between disarray and trashed.
No phone, headphones, ipod, stereo, or computer for a week.
Housebound, (except for mandatory school activities), with no friends over for the rest of the month.
She has to pay back the cost of gas it took to get up north and back, and our hotel bill. (Surprisingly, this was her idea; we thought about it, but she brought it up first.) This may take a while; we can wait.
Too harsh? Not harsh enough? I dunno; I can't remember the repercussions Mom and Dad doled out when we put them through this kind of cr@p!
Beautiful day here; I'm not minding the warmer weather at all. We took the boat out on the river; it may not have been the kayaking I wanted to do up north, but it was a relaxing way to end the weekend.
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Post by quettalee on Oct 10, 2011 0:23:41 GMT -6
Let me get this out of the way first. Definitely an overreaction on her part. I'm soooo sure LX was feeling such a overwhelming flood of emotions and embarrassment...maybe some shame...that the thought of even getting up to go to the bathroom the rest of the night was dreadful. Especially since she has known the child since she was three. I'm so sure that I would have been knocking on the door. Have you had a chance to talk to her about it like that and ask her why she chose this route? Although, it may prove to be a little jolt to catch LX's attention and help steer her toward a "more productive" way of gaining the much-desired trust that seems so elusive to our teens. The punishment is fair and just (in my opinion). I predict the "no electronics" will be the most difficult for her. When Mary tried to take Hill's phone away, she just got another one. I think she had 3 at one time. The housebound "with no friends" will be the hardest for you to stick to...especially since it's "this" favorite month of ours. Lots of activities going on. I guess this could mean lots of family-time and bond-with-sis time. I'd make her pay the money, even if it means $5 a month until it's in full. Put it in a jar until there's enough for you & Hubs to do something fun or "date-like". Maybe by the time she pays it back, it will be about the time to let her earn some of that trust she's trying so earnestly to gain. Let her know that's what you're doing. It will show motivation. And I do agree TOTALLY that the time to drive back was a blessing in disguise. Time to cool down and talk...and think. This Q wishes the old Q had had more time--many times--to think before speaking.  OK, girl, it's 2:15. Everyday is a learning day. And again, all views are solely the opinion of the writer.  |
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Post by stepper on Oct 10, 2011 10:01:11 GMT -6
Good for you! I'm sure it was less stressful on you that way, and probably a bit more stressful on LX.
I'm with you and Q - that's a bit much. Having brought things to a crashing halt, locking LX in a room borders on doling out discipline. The neighbor may have been inconvenienced, but that's going overboard unless you have previously indicated she can go that far.
I like that idea Q.
Only you and Hubs can make that call Phalon. You know your kids better than anyone else so you know best what will work.
My older brothers are twins. One of them responded to being talked to best, the other one only responded to being spanked. You do what you gotta do.
You've got to be doing something right - look at her grades and who she really is compared to this one incident. I am curious about one thing though. I'm wondering if ex-boyfriend figures in on this in any way, even if it's that they split up.
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Post by Mini Mia on Oct 10, 2011 16:30:23 GMT -6
You might also consider who she invited. What usually happens is someone home alone invites a handful of close friends and then word gets out that no parents will be there and the other kids invite themselves and their friends. That is outside of her control, and what she should have done was call an adult to come over and get control, because she's just a kid and there's no way she'd be able to run off the uninvited kids. I suppose you could also punish her for not taking responsibility in seeking help from an adult. 
I know when kids invite themselves to an un-parented home they tend to do a lot of damage, so I hope the cops got there before the trashing and ransacking started.
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Post by Phalon on Oct 10, 2011 23:03:17 GMT -6
That's pretty much the story, Joxie, and with texting, the news spreads like wildfire.
I don't know, Stepper. I do know that he wasn't there. I also know she's had a rough year. Saturday was a year to the day that her friend got killed in a car accident; it was also the night she met the boyfriend, and they started going out a few days later.
She left the home Saturday after we all had our talk, because she said, she needed some time alone to think. I let her go, and gave her twenty minutes before I drove to where I had a hunch she'd be. I was right - I found her at Kyree's grave, crying. I'm not making excuses for her, but I think the time of year may, (or may not, of course), have something to do with her maybe feeling like she wanted to have some fun to get her mind off things.
Thank you all for your suggestions, and for letting me vent. I've always talked about what's on my mind here, and my family, naturally, has the starring role in my life. Some of you have "watched" LX grow up through my posts; she was in 2nd grade when I first started posting at O2 - she'll graduate high school next year!
I didn't mean to high-jack the thread, but since you're an extended family, I felt comfortable getting it off my chest here. Thanks again for your help.
On to more autumnal things...
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Post by Mini Mia on Oct 10, 2011 23:53:17 GMT -6
I know she's a smart girl, so I doubt she'll mess up in this way again. She should have seen this coming though ... hasn't that girl seen enough teen movies/shows to know if you invite anyone over when the parents are away it skyrockets into a huge bashing party that's so wildly out of control the police have to come and break it up?
But ... but ... that's fiction! She knows differently now. 
I don't miss being a teenager one little bit.  I don't miss being a parent either.
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Post by stepper on Oct 11, 2011 18:33:15 GMT -6
That’s a long time to grieve, but maybe she was just overwhelmed by everything and that seemed a good place to let it out. It’s one of the things about cemeteries – sometimes it feels like you can talk to the person buried there. You know they’re not going to actually answer, but you can still talk and get things out; leave your problem buried there behind you. Okay...moving right along
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Post by Phalon on Oct 12, 2011 6:35:31 GMT -6
Funny....
LX, the week prior to us leaving, again with indignation: Mom, I'm not dumb. We're in the middle of town; Miss Kathy's watching the house. Do you think I'd really have a party while you're gone, and the neighbors wouldn't notice? Do you think I'm stupid?
Uhm....
That's exactly what I think she was doing.
BP and I went for a bike ride later that afternoon, and yes, the cemetery, with its rolling hills and winding roads, was where we ended up. There was a kid there....riding his bike, which coincidentally looked exactly like the bike left on our back porch after the party, that was suspiciously gone when BP and I left for our ride - the bike's unusual color made it very recognizable.. He passed us and said "Hi". I was about to say something to him teasingly about the bike he was riding, until I saw he was headed to Kyree's grave, where he sat. He was still there when BP and I left the cemetery grounds, sitting and talking to perhaps no one in particular, but himself.
Walking to the bus stop this morning, in the just breaking day, BP, my Moonbaby, pointed out the moon still hung bright in the sky. Huge, it was, and glowing orange. Sun rise to the right of us; setting moon to the left - what a beautiful morning!
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"There are people you meet, who move in and out of your life, like ghosts-- and after they're gone, you find that they've left a part of themselves with you.
