Hard to believe, but Lowe’s doesn’t stock fungicide for lawns. It’s on their website, but not in stores, and probably half the lawns in Spokane have the problem, after the 5 feet of snow we had this winter.
We duct-taped the front door to try to help Jane’s allergies, and today we got some fungicide from a local store, and Jane applied it, sneaky her: I was going to do it, but she beat me to it. It’s rainy, so hopefully it will get to work. I’m tired of this stuff.
We also got some pumice rock, for the lid of the waterfall filter: we have to get in there now and again, and it’s murder trying to lift chunks of basalt out of the way while leaning at an angle. Pumice is a little paler than we’d like but at least it’s liftable.
Managed to shed a little of the weight I put on under stress: we’re doing a simple diet. Softboiled egg and toast for breakfast, a lunchmeat wrap for lunch, and supper is usually a plate of Veggie Lovers salad mix, for which I cook a mix of chicken (about 4 chicken strips apiece) and veggies of some sort in a skillet, add Thai hot peanut sauce, and then dump same onto the salad…with a little salad dressing. It’s pretty filling. And at least I’m not keeping the weight.
Most of the day I’ve spent at the keyboard. Jane’s sleepiness is catching: I’d about fall on my face given half a chance. We hope that the yard is the source of whatever’s putting us to sleep—it’s usually mold. Don’t worry about CO2 or any such: the a/c/furnace is in good condition. And our allergies are an old, old battle, and it’s harvest season in the Palouse, which can produce its own problems.
How is the thyroid level doing. The recent stresses could have changed that metabolism a bit.
I’m doing quite well so far as I know: a little more tired than I have been, but I’m beginning to have a little spare energy. I take it religiously. And I’m trying to get enough sleep.
CJ, There is black pumis too . Also HomeDespot or Lowes may carry foamed colored concrete decorative blocks . Just a thought . JimL
All thoughts welcome. Basalt is just darned heavy!
HD and Lowe’s also carry cast resin rocks which may be lighter weight, although I’m not sure if the color will be acceptable. I found them when I was looking for an inexpensive source of wood chip mulch, which is NOT Lowe’s or HD!
Also, pumice change colour over time, if my personal experience is anything to go by. So even if it starts out light it will get darker.
And with all the little holes plants can easily root in it, as it’s near the pond: if the pumice gets wet and stays fairly moist from the pond-spray, and gets some shade, it can get covered in moss quite soon. The red pumice stone bordering my garden path turned into lumps of green moss in about two years.
CJ, congrats on the weight loss – that’s hard to accomplish and even smaller changes should be celebrated!(especially in light of the stress you’re still carrying)
Thank you also for resuming the running word count. I eagerly await each new story and it helps reduce my selfish, twitchy impatience to know that progress happens. Though each of your worlds have been lovingly devoured over and over, I am especially delighted that the Foreigner series has had such a continuous presence. Please pardon the greedy ‘more, more, more’ undermuttering…
For those tech-inclined, I finally gave in against my better judgment (did I need it, really?) and bought an iPhone. There are less expensive ways to keep in touch, and it has certainly turned out to be the most subversive, time-consuming toy I’ve ever had.
The point is that, for those yard- and house-deprived persons who nonetheless crave the sound, calm, and peace of a koi pond, the iPhone offers this absolutely charming little app called Koi Pond, which displays a digital pond with koi and lily pads. The water ripples when you stroke your finger across it, the fish dart away, and the sounds of water, wind, insects, birds, rain, etc. can be produced for your pleasure. It can be set to night or day, and it succeeds at being very soothing. When you shake the iPhone, food bits are dropped into the water and the fish grab them and dart away. The most adorable aspect is that, if you leave your finger touching the screen long enough, the fish will eventually congregate and ‘nibble’ at your fingertip (the phone vibrates)!
I would prefer the real thing of course, but it’s restful in the middle of a long day at the office to hide in a conference room and watch the koi for a while.