In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.
~Andy Warhol, 1968
I love it when it rains in the middle of night and gives everything a good soaking. Especially since we’re supposedly heading into another drought and before long our lush green lawn and lovely flowers might not look so lush and lovely. And when it rains in the middle of the night, it sort of gets it over with so the day can be enjoyed at the pool or on the golf course or whatever suits your fancy.
We already have watering restrictions here in Cary so we can only water on certain days. When Jay left for Florida with the kids, he left me with specific instructions about watering the lawn and I followed them to a tee (what the heck does that mean anyway?) He returned home to a still green lawn. But…after going for an extra watering Wednesday night, he forgot to turn the irrigation system off and it kicked on again Thursday morning, not one of our watering days. Jay discovered this around 7 a.m. Thursday when he went to retrieve the paper but decided, what the heck, he’d let the system run its course. After all, what authorities would be out watching at 7 a.m.?
The doorbell rang around 1 p.m. and I was home to answer it. It was a man from the Town of Cary. Yeah, he was out driving around at 7 a.m. and saw that we were watering the lawn and needed to issue me a warning. I immediately began trying to stammer my way out of it. “Oh, my husband’s been out of town and I must have left it on and we do know the correct watering days and I’m so sorry it won’t happen again.” That’s when I saw the people down at the street by the mailbox. “Are those people with you?” I asked. “And why is that guy holding a video camera?”
“I’m sorry,” he replied. “They are following me today, doing a news report on people violating the watering restriction codes.” Then Big Brother walked away and the guy with the camera removed what looked like a tape recorder from him.
GREAT. Here I am trying to cover up for Jay and now they’re putting me on the news as a delinquent in the neighborhood. Which is why I waited until now to tell you. Maybe, just maybe, the report made the news and since no one was alerted you didn’t watch and catch me looking sheepish and guilty. I like my 15 minutes of fame as much as the next person but there is a limit to what I will do to get it. (I suspect some of you are questioning that.) But please take note, it was Jay, the one scamming his way around Orlando, who broke the law, not I.
So with all this rain and good fertilizing, my night blooming cirrus has its first bud of the season. It should open in another week or maybe less. I’ve told some of you about this plant 
and it’s really spectacular. I got mine from Mona, who has since had to get some back from me. They put out these amazing flowers that smell like the tropics and only bloom at night and only for one night. So, if you would like to see it, let me know and I’ll call you over the night it opens. But you will have to be out until about 10:30 or so. But oh, it’s so worth it.
7 comments:
Well I like your new blog page, although green is not my choice of colour but I can live with it. And what are these symbols:
I am very familiar with droughts over here. You wouldn't think so in England. We Americans are led to believe it rains all the time. And when it does rain, It rains for Days until you think suicide could be the answer. The Brits love to talk about the weather. Probably their favourite subject. Its either too hot, too cold, too rainy, snowy etc. doesn't matter, you can strike up the conversation with anyone. No one is ever happy with the weather here. But let me tell you, when the sun is shining, you couldn't ask for a prettier day or place to live for that matter. They may not be Carolina blue skies but pretty darn close.
So last year we had a drought. no watering on certain days, but NO watering at all. UNLESS you used a watering can. NO hoses were allowed. well... my school was in the middle of a hanging basket and gardening competition. what was I to do!!!! we filled our watering cans with the hose and did the best we could and came in 4th place and won £50. Our baskets were dead but they said our effort was unbeatable. At home we have a waterbutt, those big things that collect rain water. no rain is an empty water butt. so we would sneak out and fill ours with the hose. Gardening is a serious passion...they are also predicting another 'very warm summer' this year, although we haven't seen it yet...got to get my plan of action... get my camoflage gear ready. I'm not about to get caught on film!!!
by the way, Jay was in Orlando breaking the law in a halter top wasn't he????
I'm not sure what was breaking the law...wearing a halter top or assuming a fake identity. Either way, I want a waterbutt. Can you bring one when you come?
check out home depot. I bet they have them...
Just came over from your previous blog. I left a comment there.
So - did you make the night news? Hopefully your hair was done.
I think you can get those waterbutts @ Garden Supply too. They call them water barrels over here. Clearly England has the more creative and colorful language.
oh yes, Lucy, and they'll be the first to tell you that as well. "we invented the language" they say. "the Americans have thrashed it"...don't get me started...
This is great info to know.
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