Thursday, May 28, 2009

I Can't Get no...Satisfaction...

Ah the tunes from my youth...the Rolling Stones, whom I discovered when I first heard Satisfaction, still remain a favorite. For the life of me though, I can't tell you why. Mick has not aged well...he (like so many of us) has just aged. But that song still stays the same, and it seems as though these days, I can't get no satisfaction. While I am just thrilled with how great everything is looking in the garden, I'm quietly wishing the rain would stop. While we don't have it nearly as bad as our friends in certain parts of Florida, say, still and all it has been raining here for two weeks. Enough is enough. Or as my pal Bubbles (Violet Loxley) used to say, "fun's fun, but damn a pantomime!". Today we have been teased by the sun. It has come out three times. Of course it lasted no longer than five minutes at a time, so that means the garden is still saturated with water and Mac can not go out and play. If he could go out and play, I could finish getting my work done rather than answer myriad questions on why I'm doing what I'm doing and how long it's going to take me to finish it.

But like I was saying...this time last year we were well into our third year of drought. The fruit trees bore little dried up fruit which soon fell to earth inedible to even the birds. The garden dried up and the tomato plants refused to cooperate so I'd have lots and lots of tomatoes to freeze and can. When the rain first started, the ground was so rock hard that much of it just rolled downhill and into the creek. This made the creek swell and overflow it's banks, but luckily not enough to do any harm. Now the ground has become a sponge and is retaining water much like I was once wont to do. It hasn't started to regurgitate or refuse to accept any more water yet...but I'm afraid of the word "yet". I don't want that to become the operative word.

This morning we picked a large basket of plums off one plum tree. The other plum tree is loaded, but has yet to ripen. I'm afraid they will swell to bursting and just fall, green, onto the ground. I have big plans for those plums, that includes jelly making. The sun was just out. But I see by the shadows on the windows that the clouds have rolled over it's face like a hawk on a mouse...lasting less than the prescribed five minutes. I hear Mac's boots on the porch. Guess I'll go play twenty questions.

38 comments:

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I know what your mean Sandi. We have been in that same drought for 3 years and now we are officially out of the drought. But it has rained and rained everyday! I hope my poor tomatoes don't get water logged....
Hugs,
Penny

Akelamalu said...

We were promised sun today but it hasn't materialised at all. However the heatwave starts tomorrow, according to the weather forecasters! :)

Pam said...

I know what you mean. It's really getting humid here already and thos eafternoon storms are becoming a regular event, so it seems. I'm not complaining too much because we really have had such dry summer the past few years. I was out doing yardwork and commented that it was nice to walk on a soft lawn rather than the cruch of dried up grass.

Cheffie-Mom said...

The Texas summer heat has arrived here. We will probably be begging for some rain soon!

Sally said...

Plum jelly sounds plumb good!! The weather, yes, has been crazy everywhere. A couple of times this week, we've seen the devil beating his wife. :)

Country Cottage Chic said...

I love plum jam - I've eaten all of the batch I made last year. Do you get damsons in the US too?

Our weather is warming up nicely now - about time!

Diva's Thoughts said...

We've been getting alot of rain here in MD too and I am so sick of it.

Nessa said...

Hmmm. Fresh plums. My mother would take plums and wrap them in potatoe dough and make dumplings.

Maggie May said...

Lovely plums. Sounds like there'll be plum pudding for dessert! Or jam being made!
Gluts of fruit take me back to my childhood.

Carol Murdock said...

I hear ya girl! It finally quite here and the weeds have flourished but so have the veggies and flowers! We'll be begging for it in July and August ! I bet God thinks " they can't get no satisfaction " for sure!!!! :)

Love Bears All Things said...

So far today, it hasn't rained. But the day isn't over yet. It is cloudy now and much cooler than yesterday at this time. I'm going by how hot it is in the garage where all the boxes are calling my name. I only unpack a few each day, fitting in some play time, as well. Today, Daughter came over and helped me hang 7 pictures. Progress is being made.
We'll be crying for rain before summer is over, my friend.
Mama Bear

Dr.John said...

But the sun will come.It always does.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Not much sun here today. Plum jelly sounds soooo good!!...m.

Lee said...

We've been getting a fair bit of rain too, Sandi. Yesterday we had thunder boomers on the way to work. Sunshine will come! Just in time for the weekend. And you and I can share a grumble or two about not getting any satisfaction out of that either. LOL

Hugs!
Lee

Expat mum said...

Is that Roy Orbison singing "I Drove All Night?" Can't be. I still prefer the original version by Cyndi Lauper, back in the 80's. Even when Celine Dion covered it with her massive, elongated vowels it didn't come close.
Anyway, it's the end of May and bloody freezing here. What is going on?

Hilary said...

Last year the darn raccoons got to all of my plums.. and there were tons. Serves me right for taking off for a few days.

I hope you have wonderful sunshine soon.

Woman in a Window said...

I'm just glad we don't have snow!
The rain, I can take. And the cool, anything to be in jeans and long sleeves. The heat, don't want it. And the snow, shoot me now.

Now gimme some toast and pass the jelly, please.

jazzi said...

You know, Mick's face may not have aged well, but the man has energy and stamina like there's no tomorrow. I got to see him in concert a couple of years ago, and he didn't stop moving, jumping, dancing and singing for 2 hours straight. I couldn't have guessed him to be in his 60's at all.
Keith Richards may be a different story...

Jeni said...

Always loved that song too by the Stones -also, "She's So Hot" -well, I think that's the title anyway but I might be wrong but there was something about that song that always hit me and set my foot to tapping!
The rain, the drought, the garden -boy, a lot of similarity here to what you've having, what you had in the past too. For a couple years here, we were often on the short end as far as water input went. This spring -this past month especially -it's been a lot of rain although not a flood possibility where I live but that is a real threat from time to time in areas fairly close by to here. But today, I finally got outside and put in furrow in the soil/mulch my sil put on top of the kids old sandbox and then planted a couple rows -leaf lettuce, carrots, beets, sweet peas, two kinds of green beans and cucumbers! Came in the house with so much sweat poring off my forehead, streaking down across my glasses making vision really difficult, that I thought heck, I could have maybe used that sweat to water those seeds. But not to worry about that -we had rain, some really heavy complete with thunder and that darned scary lightning along with it and I was sitting here wondering if the heavy rain might end up just washing my seeds all down to the end of the garden box! Let's hope not but being realistic, one must remember this is my garden. Me -the one with the totally black thumb and that's not from playing too much in the dirt either!
Here's hoping things begin to equalize a bit -or a lot -with respect to rainfall vs droughts, huh? I'd like to be pleasantly surprised and have a few of the things I planted break through the soil in a couple of weeks!

Mary said...

Hi
Jumping Jack Flash was my fav and I'm singing it at top volume as I type!! We has SUN yesterday and it is a lovely morning here today as well so maybe it will travel to you later.

i beati said...

plums yummy - I bet every day you are out in the sun and Springness, you are ultra grateful for being well now..

the song hits its mark..sandy

Anonymous said...

My Quince tree had hundreds of flowers this year, then they dropped and tiny fruit scattered the tree. Last night came a gale and this morning, all gone, covering the grass with their fruity promise. Now the sun is out too late. Boohoo!

ancient one said...

Grass and weeds growing like crazy around here... but I dare not complain... the last few years were so dry....

CatHerder said...

Yep..raining here again today....still waiting to get outside to finish my bike and put it back together..then hoping it wont rain all summer so i cant ride it lol!
Plums? lucky you..my sister has a plum tree...plum tarts mmmm!

Debbie said...

We used to have plum trees but they got this black knot disease and looked worse than Mick!

Suldog said...

Wish I had a plum tree...

Donna said...

My prayer:
Dear Lord..Please make the Sun come out for Sandi and also please give me those plums...all of them...Yes Lord...this was a totally selfish prayer...
Hahahaa....
Hope your still doing well sweetie!! Happy weekend!hughugs

Jeanne said...

We've been getting some much needed rain this week. Thankfully don't see the extreme droughts you see in your part of the country.

��Radio Mihalis Thalassis - Athens Greece said...

Good morning, I send best chares.Michalis

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

Send a little rain our way!! Soon, I'm going to post pics of our tomatoes...the ones we planted in pots on the driveway. They are so delicious.

Aunt Julie said...

My sister, who lives in California, has a great drought-busting idea. She uses an environmentally friendly laundry detergent, and catches the water in buckets when the clothes go thru the rinse cycle. Of course it wouldn't be feasible for an entire orchard, but it would help a little with your garden!

jay said...

And here we are having to water our garden because we've had nearly a week of sun!

We have a water butt so we can water without a hose, although I can't lift the watering can. I do save water in the kitchen though, in a 2L jug, and I use it to water houseplants. I even save herbal teas for them, and none has died yet!

Jan said...

Ah Sandi, I often lament about the lack of rain here, but then I remember my friends who are getting too much rain. Living in AZ I suppose I must be content with the occasional drip and drop here and there. Enjoy the rain for it will make you appreciate the sun all the more! : )
Jan

NeereAnDear said...

Doesnt it make you wonder just what is going on?

The 90 degree weather during the winter.... the rain coming in buckets.... we had a lot too... some of my herbs died because they were so saturated that they got root rot... I have not had to water but a little bit with a watering can instead of a hose...

I do hope you get some sunshine... keep sining the song from Annie...

"THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW!"

Maybe it will help...

LOTS OF HUGS
JO

Count Sneaky said...

Congratulations on your book, Sandi.It sounds like you are fully recovered and back into your wet garden.The Count, who is older than any of the Rolling Stones, is slowly recovering from the back operation. Strutz the cat sends his regards and leers to Batgirl. I don't know exactly where that stupid cat is now but he has promised details soon.My best. Count Sneaky

myonlyphoto said...

Sandi I love plums, hope all works out for you. We had some rain too, sun came back but we are still in 18 C, a bit cold for June. No complains though as we don't have to run furnace or the air conditioner, saves us a bit of money. Thanks for sharing your story and good luck with your gardening. Anna :)

Jamie Dawn said...

When it rains, it pours, and when it doesn't, it doesn't.
We had a great deal of rain a couple of weeks ago. It rained for over two weeks with little reprieve.
Mother Nature needs to balance things out a bit!

:-)

Mick has not aged well. This is very true.

finance jobs said...

i just hope they will get well soon :-)