East Coast Happenings

Diane Amberg · May 24, 2013, 02:51:00 PM

So it turns out Al's "attacker'' was a 17 year old girl who had just had a fight with her boyfriend,was driving her father's car, distracted by the boy friend thing and as an inexperienced driver didn't start stopping soon enough. Her father came to the scene and apologized about 20 times. When she realized she had hit a fire fighter she was just inconsolably upset. Fortunately, no phone,or texting or drinking or drugs...just not paying attention to her driving. It's going to cost $1,200.00 this time to fix us.Her front end was very badly damaged. I hate to think what it will cost.

So you all sent us your hot, humid, storm remnants last night, Lots of wind and rain with some damage to trees,poles and wires and an amazing temperature drop sucked down from Canada. It got to 54 this afternoon,back down in the 40's tonight. I may never get my beans in.

Diane Amberg · May 30, 2013, 05:33:10 PM

I might finally get the beans and rest of the garden in tomorrow.. Right through the weekend it's supposed to get up to close to 90. That should do it.
On Saturday, June 1, we have Newark Day, our annual street fair. We take back the town when the UD kids go home. Or so it used to be. Now they have decided to have a homecoming weekend right near us on the UD Green. So now lots more will be coming into Newark and it won't be just locals after all. So much for returning to a little quiet town. Aetna always does a fire safety tent with lots of activities and give aways, but this may bust our budget and we might run out of stuff. The heat might keep some folks away though. It's going to be fun no matter what.

Diane Amberg · May 31, 2013, 06:11:22 PM

Around 90 today and very humid.I'm not used to it yet and started feeling bad. I'm back inside where its cool and fine again.
I'm watching the weather channel and watching your tornadoes again. Be safe all. Had some storm chasers over run with some injures apparently.

Ms Bear · June 01, 2013, 09:21:20 PM

It was hot here today, turned the a/c on yesterday and it really feels good.

I mowed the yard when I got back from vacation and am going to have to mow it again Monday, already high enough for the dogs to get lost in.

Found a snake this morning, first one I have seen in the yard in three or four years. It was a good snake though, it was dead. Don't know if the cats or the dog killed it. I thought it was a worm, about three inches long till I saw that it had eyeballs. Am watching much closer because there is probably a nest of them close to where that one was.

Diane Amberg · June 06, 2013, 04:22:26 PM

Al saw our garden garter snake recently. It snuck under the black plastic back by the toms. I wonder if it likes slugs. We're in for some reckless weather over the next few days. The left overs from your storm are coming in this evening and later in the week Andrea is expected to bring very heavy rains and possibly tropical storm force winds up the coast. Several days worth..and even more rain. We are on flood warnings already. I'm afraid my newly planted seeds will wash out since they don't have much root system yet. The local police agencies are doing a very long run for Special Olympics tomorrow .They may drown.
Our local orchard, Milburns, in the country just into Maryland is to open tomorrow too.... free cider donuts, but it's going to pour.

Diane Amberg · June 07, 2013, 08:24:50 AM

Glub glub... it's here... lots of rain but no wind yet. It's 68 but I thinks that's warm enough for the garden. I'm almost afraid to go see if the seeds washed out, but the toms and peppers will love the water...I hope. If the wind comes the toms and peppers are all caged and staked so they should be alright.Al made 6 ft. tom cages for me from hog wire in 1972 and we are still using them.
I'd been havng ant problems in the house and I think I finally found the main nest in the big composter out behind the shed. I saw a busy trail of them going in and out and when I opened the door...Yikes! There had to be thousands in there. I know they have their place, but not here! They are no more... I hope.

Judy Harder · June 08, 2013, 07:38:33 AM

Diane, I am usually fighting ants. Several years ago, forgot how many, I was groaning to a friend about them and she
gave me a start of Tansy and said this will get rid of them.

It took awhile for the plant to get started........remember I live in the apartments here at Longton.......and I would bring in sprigs
of it and lay where the varmits would come in.......and this year.........after moving the plants around to different areas of mine as well as other units here I am not seeing as many as there use to be.

Not saying they are gone. But, life is more peaceful this year. The smell isn't a bad smell........really reminds me of bug spray in a can but is a natural herb? Good luck.

Diane Amberg · June 08, 2013, 03:31:10 PM

Thanks. I'll try some Tansy too. We got 4.5 inches of rain from that first storm. I went around and dumped all my outdoor plant saucers into my watering cans. More due on Wednesday.

Ms Bear · June 08, 2013, 04:00:20 PM

I was hoping that you were okay. That is a lot of rain but hoping you didn't have a lot of wind with it.

Have you tried putting boric acid down along the outside and inside of the walls where the trails are at. Bugs don't like it but it doesn't hurt the plants you will be using the composted materials on.

Diane Amberg · June 10, 2013, 03:29:56 PM

I've tried Boric acid with some success but right now the many rains keep washing it away outside and inside seems to be OK for now.
It seems to be our turn now ...two tornadoes just south of Newark proper, but in our fire district. About a dozen homes with severe damage, reports of people trapped. We've been on tornado warning for about an hour now .We have our bug out bag and are headed to Station 8 as the tornado is headed NE...toward us. We can go around and come in the other side. More to follow.