YES !!!!!

No passing grade without seeing Star Wars...what about Tolkien's Hobbits, et al?

Cold outside, started at 48F. I looked ahead on forecasts, I see no rain for the rest of November, but overnights are dipping more. Hope it does not mean that's it for the rains for us. On the other hand, succulents can bear this better, just cool and dry.

It is blooming time now for my Oncidium orchids hiding indoors, something cheery indoors.

Lots of people up here complaining about the amount of rain we've gotten in October....seems we're never happy....

I think overall, October has been quite rainy this year compared to other years..now hopefully it will come back nicely in time this winter as snow in the higher elevations..for our water reservoirs.

Okay...anyone know what this critter is called? They're all over in my bedroom...LOL...I vacuum them and more appear. They're either from eggs in the soil of a sansevieria or in my bags of seed....look just like little airplanes...

I think I might have seen one of those outside one time but I don't know what they are. It's possibly some kind of crane fly but I wouldn't put money on that.

Yesterday and today I did some house cleaning. I have a lot more to do but will space it out over the month. I tire quickly with all of that bending over. I want to be able to put up the Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations this year. The place is absolutely filthy. I hadn't kept up with it or put up decorations because of depression problems. (I have been receiving TMS treatments. Google it if you are interested. It sounds far out but it is approved by the FDA and insurance will pay their share of it.) Cleaning is every bit as boring as I remembered it to be. DH cleaned once in the meantime and though I appreciate the effort and doing it without being asked, if I had done a job like that when I lived at home, I would have been in big trouble. He moves nothing when he vacuums. He moves nothing when he dusts. He dusts nothing but the top surface of the furniture. He doesn't mop the hard surfaces. Today I had to vacuum twice and mop three times to get up all of the dust and dust lumps and particulates. I can't see DH doing that. He'd probably but the Mop & Glo on over the dust lumps. I just did under the side tables that I will put Thanksgiving decorations on. There was no sense in putting out the decorations then taking them off right away to move the furniture. Now I am waiting for the floor to dry so I can put the furniture back. It shouldn't take long. It is 22% humidity and is probably dropping since it is windy.

They are calling for a high of 84F. This is getting old. My place is usually three degrees hotter than the forecast.

Ah..clean-up..always a chore no matter how we look at it

It is cool and dry here now. I decided to bring out to the growcamp some of my Phal to give it a cold treatment, it is taking its sweet time to do flower spikes. We got into the usual 47F to 50F range overnight. Giving the Phals and Clivia a cold treatment, hope either one tries for some blooms this winter to spring. So far got the Oncidiums in bloom, yippeee, they are much easier as always.

So annoyed with our HOA gardeners, they blew around the leaves into my garden now the mess is in my side

Oh, Tarev. You should complain to and demand HOA Board directors to clean up your garden mess right away... their contracted gardeners should be responsible.

Our HOA here is only active to collect fees..don't even remember when we had our last general assembly. But my neighbor and I we hound those gardeners and give them a dose of our temper. Sometimes just got to be mean.

My experience with HOAs and park managers is that you have to choose your battles. They rarely react unless it concerns themselves. If you run to them with problems often, you are tagged as a pest. If you follow the rules, and don't complain too often, something might get done...especially if your neighbors are also complaining. Talk to the neighbors.

Sadly a lot of the original neighbors have moved already, so I don't even know who is here now. Well except for the one on our right who has always been nice and that other one opposite us which I already complained before for their ugly basketball standard. At least that one I know they got a memo hah!

Carol, you are right I pick my battles with them, if I have too. I think they change the gardeners here too, so you just do not know who is on contract here.

An old boyfriend of mine said that HOA officials are little Hitlers.

They are calling for a high of 90F on Tuesday. It's just not fair. November used to not be a summer month. I was actually looking forward to October ending, but it looks like November will be no better.

Good morning! Uh-oh, that is indeed a blast of indian summer! November sure feels drier than October, but our temps are in the high 60's to low 70's daytime, a real drop from those nasty 90's. Overnights are holding so far, cold but still bearable for some plants, actually I think it feels like Spring for them minus the rain. Some off season blooms showing.

Technically, it can't be Indian summer unless you have first had a freeze.

Ah, maybe on your side there no freeze warnings..I think there are some already on the other side of Cali towards the higher elevations where they got some snow in October. Maybe they get the freeze and your side gets the indian summer feel oops!

We went to one of my favorite nurseries, Alden Lane in Livermore..of course got to have something to take home Saw a nice variegated cast iron plant and also this foxtail fern. It is getting late now, so will just repot them tomorrow.

Lovely day here! Weather mild. Foggy nights, day temps in high 70s for the next few days. Neighbors across the street stayed home so their dogs stayed in. I'm thinking of leaving a note on their door tomorrow to thank them...unsigned. The most peaceful day I've had in months! Only 3 political phone calls , so far!!!