Thursday, August 09, 2007

I Made Rain

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A month or so ago, Susan did this during her drought. I made rain tonight with a soft spray from the garden hose. I have noticed, during the very few rain storms we’ve had, that hummingbirds love rain. They feel refreshed and delighted! Other birds splash in the pond. Hummingbirds need rain, I think. I’ve never seen one on the pond to bathe.



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I sprinkled myself, too, as we had record high temperatures here today. 104 degrees F was recorded but I think it was more like 110 with the humidity. They enjoyed their forty-five minute shower and I did, too. There is a hummingbird in this photo... Poor photos tonight.



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What a generous little soul it is - caring for a cowbird fledgling. I just love this little Chipping Sparrow.

The pigeons are cooing on my rooftop. Their voices remind me of the Mary Poppins movie I saw as a child.

I worry about the birds, rabbits, chipmunks, and all life in this heat. I do my best.


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The water hibiscus is breathtaking. It blooms for a day and I caught it!


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After years of longing for a plant-thriving pond, I finally have one. It’s too full of plants now but I’ll leave them grow for another day or two. The Koi and Goldfish haven’t been fed for several days and they’ll rely on plant roots, only. It’s too hot for them to metabolize pellets.

There’s so much I’d like to talk about tonight but I am dehydrated and tired. My eyes are swelling. I need more rest and water.

Chloe still has the Hershey squirts and vomited yellow bile. What a homecoming I had at 4:30! I’m on my hands and knees again and have officially declared the family room carpet as “destroyed”. I’m working on it! She has never had diarrhea in her life but she seems to be just fine and happy today. I picked up all food. They have water for dinner. She eats too much dirt and whatever she wants outside. I’ll sneak some biscuits to Bella to keep her body fat ratio in up to par. Tomorrow, I will cook some ground beef and rice if Chloe finishes her purging.

I’m so sick of this heat.

I’m sick and tired of cooking dinner when I’m not hungry.

Tonight I accidentally burned a thin frozen pizza. Who cares? Who needs to eat when your hair is soaked with sweat? I prefer ice cream for dinner.

I don’t dare pour a glass of wine tonight but I could use one…instead, I'm guzzling green tea with lots of ice.

I want real rain. I hate seeing my gardens look like a neglected patch of weeds on the corner of a city street.

Husband is snoring in his leather recliner. I have laundry to fold. What’s wrong with this picture?

Oh boy, this post is spiraling downwards. Hmmmpf. Whatever…


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27 comments:

RuthieJ said...

Hi Mary/Maxine,
I get the same way when it's hot and it never gets 104 in the shade here! It sucks to have a sick doggie and a sick computer and everything frying in your backyard and you still have to go to work and try to have a normal life at home. I hope you get some rain soon & it cools off a little.
Hang in there and don't feel bad about ranting, because this is YOUR blog to bitch as much as you want! We are all sympathetic because I'm pretty sure we've all been there in one way or another.

Anonymous said...

Mary,hang on the rain will come! Very cool that you made the rain!! It looks like the hummingbirds were equally happy about the rain! BRAVO! Poor little cowbird!

JeanMac said...

We got rain tonight and I'll try to send some your way. I love the image my mind conjours of hubby snoring and you working!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

How discouraging! Sorry - you seem to be having a tough day and a long stretch of crappy weather. MonArch's right, the rain will come. Just stay cool indoors as much as you can until then.

entoto said...

Mary! I feel you! I am so sorry your girl is sick. Sigh...and making more work for you.

I am here in South Carolina with my family. My poor little Alaska girls and husband are just melting.

I haven't posted before since I am a dork and could not remember my password. Sheesh!

Anonymous said...

Mary! You are back online and even making rain. I can't believe the temps you've been having. It's been warm here, but nothing like the 100s. I remember doing some hand-watering during a dry spell last summer and a hummingbird just flew into the water stream and bathed. Quite a sight! Unlike you, I did not get a photo!

Mary C said...

Great photos of your hummers enjoying the faux rain. Oh, I sure hope Chloe will get better soon. I hear ya on coming home to messes. Not what you want or expect. Hang in there, Mary. I'm sending cooler thoughts your way, and hopefully some rain (not that we've had any!) Sure glad you caught that water hibiscus - did that help brighten your day a bit?

Susan Gets Native said...

Glad you made rain for the hummingbirds. Isn't it fun to watch them fly back and forth? You can almost hear the "ahhh's".
I feel dumb that I didn't notice the house finch was a cowbird. Dur.
Heat sucks. Humidity sucks.

Alyssa said...

Hi Mary - Keep thinking thoughts of Fall - maybe that will help. That was very neat seeing the hummingbirds taking their shower. I had no idea they enjoyed that so much.

The hibiscus is a knock-out! What a lovely red. I just have the white with pink centers - boring..

My little pond looks very much like your big one - almost covered with water plants. The water lettuce (celery) and hyacinth are reproducing like mad - they love this heat. I'm going to fill a big ceramic pot with water and float some in there. I've done that before and they do really well.

Were there pigeons on the roofs in Mary Poppins?? I'll have to watch it again.

Chrissie said...

Oh Mary, so warm! No wonder your poor Chloe is feeling a bit off colour. Love your pond though, it looks as if it has been there for much longer with so many plants, they must help to keep your fish cool. Great post :-)

Mary said...

Hi Mary
Hope you get some rain and cooler weather soon and the doggies feel better.

Jayne said...

I'm right there with you girl. It's hot. Blistering hot. So hot you can't breathe out there hot. Hope Chloe feels better soon. Love the hummer rain! Hang in there!

Ruth said...

Maxine is great! That hummingbird is so happy. Our dog has the same symptoms, for the first time in his 9 years. We cleaned the rug the best we could last evening, and then didn't eat dinner! He had a heart worm pill the day before and had just finished his antibiotics from his dental work. Who knows? Hope your baby is better.
ruth

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Sometimes I wonder if we should take a hint from the animals when the weather gets this oppressive. We try to carry on with our lives and responsibilities as usual--and it's tough! I long to be out and about--hate to feel cooped up inside, watching the world thru glass. But, I know fall will bring renewed activity and added obligations. Maybe this heat is a time to rest and ready for what's to come?
Sip a cool drink and just sit.

thailandchani said...

Cute Maxine print there! LOL

Yeah.. I remember that heat in Maryland. (And people think Thailand is bad! HA!) Anyway, I do hope you're able to find some relief because it's just plain miserable!

I lived in Tucson where it was 103 degrees at 3.00 am ~ and it wasn't nearly as bad as Maryland!


Peace,

~Chani

Q said...

Good Morning Mary,
It is too hot for you! Plain and simple, too hot! It is too dry for you too! Rain must come! I shall speak with the rain gods about this! It will cool down one of these days! Rain is an entirely different situation. Dryness zaps my spirit.
Chloe, sweet baby, feel better.
Oh,,, no fun for you having sick pup! Darn it donut!
If it is 90 degrees or over we have tomato sandwiches. No cooking.
None.
Wonderful rain for the Hummers!
You are good!
I am going outside now and shaking my finger at the rain gods, hands on the hips, no messing around here, Mary needs rain.
Cool, clear, water, water, water!
Green tea and cloudy days,
Sherry

Mary said...

Hi mary
Its me again. i have awarded you the Nice award. Have a look at my blog for more details. Hope it is cooler there today. We have grey skies and light rain again.

kate said...

well at least you could make some rain! It sounds positively awful there. I hope you get some relief - like real rain soon.

Go Maxine ... she's great.

kate said...

oops ... I meant to say, too, your water hyacinth blooms are gorgeous. The pond is looking wonderful = wish mine looked so good!

Merisi said...

I came over from "Mary Contrary", and I love your post today. Sorry that you are suffering under the heat, and I sure hope your dog has recuperated by now.
Looove your rain picture with the hummingbird, and all the other ones are beautiful also.
Here in Vienna, rain poured down heavily for several hours last night, and temperatures have been lower today. A nice break after the heat of the past weeks.

possumlady said...

Oh, I hope Chloe feels better today. It's always such a worry when our fur family members get sick and we don't know why.

Here in the DC area we finally got some storms yesterday afternoon that cooled things off a bit. My house felt cooler when I got home which put me in such a better mood. I know my cats really appreciated that.

I think you should sit in bed tonight, eat some ice cream and read a good book.

NatureWoman said...

Oh Mary your rain looks wonderful - I'm glad you made it rain even if the sky doesn't want to behave for you.
Your water hibiscus is gorgeous.
I'm sorry it's soooo hot and humid for you there. Cooler weather is on its way.
Your Maxine comic is making me ROFL!

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

I have a very soft place in my heart for Sparrows. I love your site. Nita

BirdingMom said...

How kind of you to "make rain" for the birds! I find I'm changing the "nectar" in the humming bird feeder every other day - it ferments in this heat!
I love your pond ... some day that is my dream too ... just a little one (the trouble is every time I bring it up my husband starts designing this elaborate pond-stream-waterfall thing that will cost to much $$$ - so it never happens.

LostRoses said...

Mary, if it wasn't so hot, you could set up a roadside stand and sell water plants. The bounty of your pond! And a "water hibiscus"? I didn't know there was such a thing.

I'm so glad you're making rain. Be sure and post a pic when you start walking on water!

P.S. Green tea? Try popsicles for the heat!

Jess Riley said...

I have a heat beater for you! Try "pickle-sicles." Yes, it is frozen pickle juice. Come on, I dare ya!

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Cathy said...

BIG HUG! (How come, no wine? - I think you deserve it, sweetie) If it's a hydration thing - just chase it with water :0)

Oh, poor little Chloe - let us know when she's feeling better. Sure brings back memories. Ugh.