I'VE BEEN BANNED

In answer to several questions regarding the lack of any kind of schedule on my part in adding postings to my blog recently, I'm going to blame it on the weather.  Yes, those hot days, without any significant rain in weeks, is what I'm going to blame on the lack of time I am spending indoors at my computer.  I like it HOT & the past month has truly been to my liking.

NOTE:  I am certainly aware of the fires in Arizona, New Mexico & Texas this year, as well as the drought conditions & lack of any rainfall, IN MONTHS -- especially in Texas -- which have caused so much  suffering.  My reference to HOT weather is the type we experience each Summer in Arkansas; temperatures approaching 100 degrees/a relentless sun in a blue, cloudless sky/humid days with nary a breeze to be found.  Yes... Summer in Arkansas.

Most days at this point in time find me hauling 200 feet of watering hose to various parts of the yard to combat the dry conditions & make every attempt to keep many of my trees & plants from burning up & dying.  I lost two Japanese Maples due to the weather last year & I am trying to avoid any "repeats".

 I really don't have the time -- or energy -- to go inside & sit at a computer when conditions call me outdoors. The blog "suffers", but it does not wilt or die.

The weather conditions at this time of year do remind me how I railed against all the cold, wet weather this area of Arkansas had this past Winter & early Spring.  We could sure use some of that rain right now however.

It was not so long ago that the creek going through my land was full & flooding.  The above photo reminds me of a time when everything was wet, waterlogged & mostly mud.

Now days, the same area of my property -- like all parts of it -- is a dried out, hard-packed, dusty reminder of just how long it has been since we had rain.

Again ... I am in no way trying to suggest the conditions here are the same as in other states.  No ... they have it far worse than it is in central Arkansas.

Actually, one "problem" I have been facing in this hot weather, has affected me more than others.  It has gotten to my "normal" life style & impacted the way I go about tending to my land & property.

The dryness from all the hot, rainless weather has resulted in the authorities ... instituting a BURNING BAN. No fires.  No open flames.  Not even campfires for cooking at a picnic in the state parks. [Potato salad - Okay.  Cooked hamburgers & hot dogs -- Not.]

So ... "Mr.-I-Like-To-Burn-Everything" would be facing a hefty dollar fine for burning anything right now.

Thus, the burn barrel remains unused & the burn pit -- shown freshly dug out & just begging to be piled high with tree limbs, leaves & other "burnables" -- will have to remain unused until the weather changes & conditions become less dangerous for an open fire. Until then ... I've been banned.

19 POUNDS OF CUCUMBERS

I have always had a "green thumb" when it comes to growing plants.  In my Memphis days I had a good size collection of tropical plants -- bromeliads, orchids, cycads & staghorn ferns. I was always able to grow them to good size & bring to flower the bromeliads & orchids.

Now that I live in Arkansas, I have neither the time or space for the plants I grew in Tennessee.  Oh, I still keep a few plants of each species, but nothing like the collection & variety I once had.  In their place, I have concentrated on shaping & landscaping my current property with trees, bamboo & various plants such as hardy ferns & flowering perennials.

What I have never turned my attention to growing is a vegetable garden.  Never tried it, no matter where I have lived.  Not even some tomato plants in a pot. Zilch.

My Mother always seems to have a bit of land she is tinkering with & growing items to add to the dinner table.  Think tomatoes, beans & squash.  Her green thumb, is in the garden.

While I do not have a garden of my own, I have access to the next best thing; neighbors who do have vegetable gardens -- some quite large -- who kindly share their bounty with me.  It's a blessing which I do my best to return the favor, such as with small gifts -- such as my homemade cookies.

My neighbor just down the road -- "Mr. W." -- has a huge garden.  He was born on a farm & the affinity with the soil is a part of him.  I admire how well he does each year with his garden production. 

This year has been no different in his "sharing".  There is nothing better than a "sink sandwich" on fresh bread. [That would be a tomato sandwich, with salt, pepper & Miracle Whip, eaten over the sink.] Sorry, growers in Florida & Mexico, there is nothing as flavorful & good as a home-grown tomato.

Knowing that Mr. W. often has produce which has been damaged/blemished/fallen into the dirt & all of it not up to "gift giving quality", I asked him this year if I could take some of the "spoils" as well. 

Oh, I'm still getting the good stuff.  The other veggies are for my tortoises.  The tortoises are all growing so fast & large that I am looking for ways to keep them fed & not drain my wallet.  Mr. W.'s garden has been just the answer this year.

 Above is a photo of some of the melons & tomatoes, not "perfect" for human consumption -- as a farmer, Mr. W. has pride in his vegetables -- but certainly good enough for my shelled friends.

This morning I got a phone call from Mr. W. to come over & get the latest load of goodies for the tortoises.  A HUGE load of cucumbers for my reptiles & half a watermelon for me. The blue carry-all -- with just the cucumbers alone -- weighed in at 19 pounds !! 

I am blessed to have such good neighbors.  We should all be so lucky.

THE (OUTDOOR) TORTOISE COMPOUND

Late Spring through early Fall, the weather conditions in Arkansas allow me to place a number of my larger tortoises outdoors.  The benefits for the reptiles include more room to move about & get exercise; a more varied diet; access to sunlight & it's benefits.

 The area they occupy -- "The Outdoor Compound" -- is a large concrete pad -- probably used by a previous home owner to store their stacks of firewood -- which I have had enclosed in chain link fence. [I decided a topping of razor wire would be a bit extreme.]

The photo above gives some idea of the dimensions. [The empty cattle tank -- which has a hole in it -- is eight foot long.]  The enclosed are is about 15 x 17 feet.  The "compound" is also a location for a number of tropical plants to "vacation" in the warmer weather.

 I have re-mounted a number of Staghorn Ferns this year & they hang on the outside of the fencing.

The tortoise have various "shelters" they can crawl into, but piles of leaves -- especially Bamboo leaves -- are more "natural" & appealing to the tortoises.  I place the leaves in the corners of the compound & the tortoises -- like little bulldozers -- begin the process of digging through the piles, both as shelter & a source of moisture to keep cool in the Summer heat.

 The tortoises are not always hidden.  Above is a Red Footed Tortoise among a grouping of Sansavaria plants.

 The tortoises recognize me as their food provider & come quickly when it is feeding time. Yes ... they can move fairly fast, especially when food is involved.

 Today's treat is a plate of bananas. The top left tortoise is a Black Mountain Tortoise from Indonesia. The other two -- feeding at the plate -- are Red Foots from South America.  The turtle to the right, feeding on her own piece of banana, is a Central American Wood Turtle.  Yes ... turtle, not tortoise.

 This tortoise was skipping lunch when I took these photos & instead was enjoying the cool mud where it had dug a small hole.

And of course, above is Precious.  There is no reason for her to appear in this posting, other than to let everyone know she was comfortable under the truck on a warm day & is still a fine young lady who believes in being mellow at all times.

That was a view of my Outdoor Tortoise Compound & it's inhabitants.

YANKEE DOODLE DAD

Years ago -- well, MANY years ago ... long before everyone was driving around in their car talking on their cell phones while driving -- lots of folks had CB radios in their vehicle.  It wasn't just for truck drivers any longer.

I can recall -- those MANY years ago -- my parents had a CB radio in their car & a "base unit" in their home. They lived in Honeoye, New York & my Father commuted five days a week to his job on the outskirts of Rochester, a round trip distance of about 60 miles.  Add to the length of the drive, the potential weather conditions -- not just the snow of Winter -- and a CB radio was a good tool to have while driving, to stay up-to-date on road & weather conditions.  It also came in handy to report home on any delays or problems making the drive each day.

I found the stories of the CB radio my parents had to be quite interesting.  At the time -- remember ... this was MANY years ago -- I was living in Memphis, Tennessee.  I observed the CB first hand on several visits, listening on the base unit to people calling each other as they drove along the highways. 

Most interesting was every one's "handle"; the CB nickname each person used to identify themselves as they communicated across the airways.  I remember that my Father's handle was "Yankee Doodle", which was appropriate, since his birthday was July the 4th.

Today would have been my Father's 93rd birthday.  He passed away over 20 years ago, after he & my Mother relocated to the warmer confines of Florida.  It was a smart move on his part to put the snow & cold weather behind both of them & my Mother is thankful to this day for Dad's foresight in moving.

Even though I spoke with my Mother on the phone yesterday, I called her again today, as I know she still to this day misses my Dad & can get melancholy at this date on the calender.  I like to think my phone call at this time makes her feel a little bit less lonely.

Above is an old, black & white photo of my Dad -- taken MANY, MANY years ago -- appearing not to have a care in the world, enjoying a can of suds on a warm Summer day in his hammock.

On the 4th of July ... I remember my "Yankee Doodle Dad". I hope he's still relaxing somewhere, sipping on a cold one.