Hurricane Sandy giving us ‘more’ rain

Good Thursday afternoon. I started this post by hand sitting out in the screened porch off the kitchen. It is cooler out here than inside, although very damp to say the least. We are getting rain from Hurricane Sandy.  More is expected through tomorrow. Saturday is supposed to be much better and Sunday beautiful.

The Bahamas are being blasted by this hurricane now. It was 7 years ago at this time, that we were blasted by Wilma, and then were without power for 13 days. I’m sure glad that is not the case this time. I do hope no lives are lost, and that property damages are minimal for all those in this storms’ path.

Skies this morning.

While sitting out here I notice that butterflies are still fluttering about, even in the rain, birds are singing and the windchimes are making their sweet music. I am thankful for those blessings. I have been discouraged, worried and depressed lately so these little glimpses of God’s goodness are wonderful.

As to our a.c. ~ I pulled it out of the opening little by little as it is a heavy monster, and once out far enough I propped it with a couple of things gathered for that purpose. I got the top off, looked at the fan motor and there are NO oil holes. DH suggested just squirting oil on the rod at both ends of the motor. It started but didn’t last for long. Sheesh!

It’s in the east wall of our kitchen. Our cottage is around 700 sq. ft. and a unit this size has kept us comfortable for about 21 years now. This is our third Friedrich’s. The first one lasted about 12 years, the next one 6 and this one only 3. This is a company with a good reputation, but something doesn’t look right with these figures. Quality must be getting poorer. And, the warranty is parts =1 year, and the refrigerant part = 5 years. What good is the compressor without the fan???

We let the thing sit like this for a couple of days, then I thought to try it again before shoving it back into the wall, as there’s nothing we can do with DH’s neck healing slowly and his not being able to do anything. Well, the fan started right up, sounded great and ran smoothly, for 50 minutes, then stopped. Oh poo, to put it modestly! DH wants to check something with it, but when he’s feeling better, if that doesn’t work, I’ll shove it back into place. At least it’s not the start of summer, the weather has cooled down a tad, and cooler temps into the high 50’s during the night, is expected in the next week or so. That will be so nice.

Monday I did errands by myself, and what did I do but lock myself out of my car. I just wanted to bawl. I called DH and told him and he said he’d be there as quick as he could. At least I was relatively close to home, but it was still painful for him to drive, but my ‘knight in blue jeans’ rescued me and said it happens to the best of us. This made me want to cry all the more, but I still had one more stop to make before heading home.

Monday afternoon I mowed as I knew rainy weather was coming, and I hadn’t been able to do it last week. Tues and Wed mornings I worked in my main garden trying to get things caught up there. I still have more to do in my primitive cottage gardens but at least I made a start. Paths were horribly overgrown and weeds were taking over.

As I sit here I am amazed at the butterflies fluttering about in the rain. It doesn’t seem to bother them at all. I on the other hand am heading back inside as the rain is starting to blow in on me, wetting me and the paper I’m writing on. It was a nice reprieve.

Now for some photos of what’s happening down here in our tropical cottage gardens.

Skipper butterfly on porterweed.

Zebra on porterweed.

Gate into secret garden with Alamo vine flowers.

Philippine violet

Unknown orchid.

Excuse the overturned bucket which I was using to sit on to pull weeds, and excuse the weeds that are coming up through the path material. I was too pooped to do anymore.

The garden still needs work, sigh.

The rain barrel is behind the lattice. I’ve not planted any vines to grow up it yet, as I’ve just not had the inclination to do anything lately. Every since we set up this rain barrel earlier in the year, we’ve had rain and more rain so that I’ve hardly had to use the water in the barrel.

Kathleen.

Prosperity

Sunset on the 18th.

That’s it from down south. Be thankful for your many blessings. Don’t take anything for granted. Things change in an instant.

FlowerLady Lorraine

***

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning