99 photos!!!! I don't think I took half that over five days in Tahoe!

Hwy 71 is closed in two places. Finding best alternate route home. Already windy. Watering again before we leave.

Be safe, there are so many wildfires, probably egged on by that wind.

Finally home. DH decided we would just go home the usual way, reasoning the hwy would surely be open by now. 'And that if it wasn't open, we'd see a sign where Hwy 281crosses Hwy 71 letting us know the hwy ahead was closed. Nope, no sign. Yep, hwy closed ahead. We had to double back quite a way and take 281 to 290. I never once said, "I told you so..." Good to be home.

We're so glad you made it home safely, Sandi!!

Thanks, Marylyn. Good website too.

I don't how many of you are into getting the badges by our names, but I bet most of you appreciate good service.

Trish was having trouble finding Quik-crete for a garden project in her small town hardware store. She mentioned that the clerk special ordered it for her. Our ATP member, Horseshoe, thought we should all send the guy a postcard to acknowledge his good deed. It has mushroomed in a good way! If you send Randy (the clerk) a postcard, you can also get a badge for it. Not sure what Dave will come up with, but it's just another fun feature of being a part of this grrrrreat big group! If you think you'd like to participate and send Randy a postcard, I'll copy the address over here.

Can you imagine this guy's smile when he starts getting postcards from all parts of the country thanking him for such good service?!

About the missing newspapers...I eventually got a call from the new newspaper carrier one day...who did sound like he was having trouble figuring out the rural route, but said he definitely delivered the paper the morning of his call (which wasn't there when I had checked for it). He remembered the sign I put out by the road. So afterward, I tried to get out really early to get the paper, then started planting an old newspaper in the bags they often use and leaving them out for part of the day. So far, several of the "old" newspapers have disappeared. I suspect a dog did it. I have my suspicions about one particular dog, but not sure. Keep in mind, my house is not real close to the road...as driveways go, ours would be considered really kind of long. So it would be very hard to watch for the newspaper thief, especially with all the trees in the way!

Maybe you can catch the dog and tie a message to his collar saying, "Here's your bill for the month of August newspapers your dog delivered!"
Our way up the street neighbor taped a snotty note to all our doors saying she didn't want our little doggies stealing her newspaper every morning and pooping and peeing in her yard...but she didn't sign it. She also sent it to the neighborhood asso. I called the newspaper and asked them if any crackpot was complaining about not getting their paper! They knew exactly who it was and gave me the name and the address. I called her and asked her why she would put an anonymous note on all our doors, not knowing if we even had a dog. And did she realize she also putting a note on the door of neighbors who were in Switzerland for a month with that note taped to their door flapping in the wind. She was squirming.
Guess what? She now has a dog...and walks it early morning and late at night so no one can see it doing what she was so incensed about (except stealing newspapers)!

If it's the one I'm thinking of, I wouldn't even try to get close to it...it barks threateningly just seeing me out by the road!

Linda - up north a lot of the rural communities put something a box next to their mailbox for newspaper delivery. Maybe you can do something like that? It would remove the dog stealing the newspaper...and if it isn't the dog, this will narrow down the suspects!

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Sandi, isn't it crazy what some people will do?! Do you think she walks around after her little angel, picking up all that precious poo?

Nope, 'cause our computer room is the front of the house. I can see both her and her husband at times. It's okay though, it usually catches up with people that do that kind of stuff. She knows we know....not worth getting an ulcer about it, and it was quite a few years ago. I've moved on to trying to get even with the squirrels! I looked out to see one of them eating the succulents off the top bowl of the limestone fountain I entered in the flower show earlier this year. I'm gonna get 'em and take 'em to the farm! BTW, we were talking to our cul-de-sac neighbors at the top of our hill. One of the wives said she has had coyotes, raccoons and foxes in her yard during the daytime lately. She also said she's shooting them behind her fence in the greenbelt.

Wow. I'm sure the coyotes are visiting much closer to us too. I know the raccoons have been much thicker. I'm seeing little footprints all over the place. I had to take down my hummingbird feeder because of the squirrels. I think they went after it to punish me for not filling the water bucket in the front yard. They're spiteful little buggers!

I'm more concerned about the neighbor shooting behind her fence. I took my grandson walking in the greenbelt behind that fence early this year when it was nice and cool. We only stopped when I heard about the coyotes using the same trail. We have hikers and bicyclists back there too. I don't think that's a safe place for target practice.

I re-potted some brugmansias yesterday afternoon after the back patio was shaded. It was still hot, but I really enjoyed doing "something outside" besides watering! In spite of the heat and the sweat, it felt rewarding. I accomplished a chore I've put off too long.

Oh, yes that is definitely an issue. First rule of projectile weapons "never aim at something you don't intend to shoot." Your neighbor better hope no law enforcement sees him. Pretty sure that's highly illegal for several reasons.

Congrats on getting some work done outside! You're doing better than me.

The gun shooting neighbor is a "she." I did mention to her that I had been taking our grandson hiking behind the houses in the greenbelt until the coyotes showed up.

Reminds me.....have you seen the guy who walks around S. Lamar and Loop 360, near the mall that dresses like an Indian, wears feathers in his hair and hat, and has squirrel tails hanging out of his back pockets? We'd not seen him up here, but some of our neighbors across the street had seen him on our street several times. It was odd that he'd be out this far walking. Finally, someone saw him going into the greenbelt at the end of the cul-de-sac. It was getting to be fairly routine....

The gun toting neighbor, during the same conversation as above, asked us if we'd spotted the skinny guy with the feathers that was going into the woods every day. We said no, but others had. She said she heard her dogs barking again, walked out, saw him and yelled at them something like, "Is it a fox or a coyote you two are barking at? I have my gun. Let me see if I can hit him." She said the guy called to her and said it was just him and he was walking into the greenbelt. She said he hasn't been back since. Really?

You can't make this stuff up!

Hey! The plant database is up and running! Click on the Plants icon at the top of the page. You can browse and add to the database now. It's going to be BIG!

She actually threatened to shoot him? On what grounds? See, that's when the 2nd amendment fanatics really go to far. I'm all for protecting your turf, but good grief!

I'll have to start wandering through the plant database. I can't wait to see if fill up!!

Well, I think she was just talking aloud about the "fox or coyote" to her dogs, but she could see the guy .... I don't think she'd shoot a person intentionally, but I don't know her very well either. Her DH has been very ill and I think she just wanted to vent....period.

Hope you're getting some rain over at the concert. I just texted my neighbor, "either your house just exploded, or it's thundering!" I think we've had a couple drops of rain so far.

The concert grounds got a decent sprinkle. We hit a nice shower right around Mabry. I don't think we got much of anything at the house.

Well, that is a little different - stress can make people do and say crazy things. Still a little off the wall, but we'll give her a pass.