Weather folks here have noted the unusual absence of hurricanes at what is statistically the height of hurricane season. We've had a remarkably wet summer and cooler than usual, for which we are grateful but I think most of us figure we'll pay for it later in some dreadful way.

This morning's trash included an old broken soaker hose that had loitered on the property in case I wanted to use it to construct a short link in a watering system, but for now I'll stick with the oscillating sprinklers and not run soaker through the garden. Of course I cut off the end of it because it can be used to repair a regular hose (I bequeath all of my hose ends and pieces to my children when I'm gone). When I get back home from cat sitting (there now, tablet in hand, as I wait for the appropriate time to administer kitty chemo, an every-other-day event) comes the okra fest.

Today also starts the work on those decorative iron (except they're aluminum) window covers. I've chosen the kitchen window as my first target because it's smaller than the others but it's also one I look at and out of most often and will be reminded I need to do all of them (because it looks so good - fingers crossed).

Charmion, how many floors are finished now? I think you said you're just doing the upstairs? Does that house have a basement? Any sump pumps to tend to in rainy weather?

Dorothy, where are you in the potting and planting and house revisions in all of the places you travel between?