June Garden. . . . . in New Blogger? NO!!!!

The garden this past weekend.

Yes, as always, I have a garden To Do list but, as of right now, 

there's nothing to do because it's raining again and will continue for days.

'Flaming June' has disappeared - today feels more like winter!

 I tried very hard to create this post in 'New Blogger' but gave up and toggled
 back to old and much loved original Blogger. 

I had a lot of problems and such a slow response to

 anything I was trying to do. . . . . .I gave up. 

Will try again later. . . . . . . perhaps!

Instead I'm off to make pesto, a large batch from the first basil picking.
Sounds like much more fun than blogging!

Wet weather and Blogger questions. . . . . .

 

Not much to say today. The very heavy rain last evening battered flowers, shrubs, 

even the big fig tree. More coming down now and all this afternoon and evening, 

so I'm stuck indoors.

 Not much new with that though. . . . . without the garden I would have been in here

 much more these past 3 months! This afternoon's distanced garden chat planned

 with a dear friend is postponed as we can't sit outside. 

So I'm here with a list of things to do and, in all honesty, none thrill me. 

 I will enjoy emailing replies to some dear friends, but anything else is not exciting.

My questions?  

They regard the new Blogger interface that will be the default for us all come end of month.

If you are a BLOGGER blogger, have you transitioned yet to the new interface?
If so, have you managed it without major problems?
If there were problems, were you able resolve them yourself?
Are you now staying with new Blogger?
Can you still revert to legacy BLOGGER - in other words toggle between the two
 for the time being? 

EDITED - 6-12-20
Here's a link to my friend Rosemary's post regarding her 
new Blogger experiences. It is very informative, and be certain to 
read the Comments which help also.
https://wherefivevalleysmeet.blogspot.com/2020/06/warning.html

Of course, like just about everything else in life in this day and age, these forced

 changes appear to revolve around use of smartphones!

Blogger's statements actually do say things such as, quote -
"Blogger's new responsive design makes it easier to manage your blog on-the-go"
and,  ". . . . making it easier to use on mobile devices."
  
I don't know about you, but I don't want to blog on a phone for several reasons,
the main one perhaps being my eyesight!  It's now just OK with reading glasses
 for a large laptop screen, but getting more difficult doing anything on a phone screen!

Any comments regarding Blogger changes will be greatly appreciated.
Fingers crossed we will all manage to make the change and keep our blogs going
 without too much upheaval.
Before 2020 is over those of us who use PicMonkey - which we love as is -
 will also have to address another learning curve to continue with them.

What a year this is - I feel really old with so much changing/happening, and now
I even have the grey silver strands to prove it! 
Have a great day - hopefully you have sunshine because we certainly don't!!!

Garden green. . . . . and a new visitor!

Well, those expected gentle showers have turned into two days of very heavy

 downpours, especially overnight. Quite a difference in the garden colors, and

 even now, at noon, drenching rain still falls and steady breezes continue to wash

 off the dust and remaining springtime pollen. But enough is enough!  We are still

 looking at one more day and night with plenty more rain which we really don't need!

The hydrangeas love the rain, much cooler temperatures, and no sun to curl the

 edges of their perfect leaves and turn them brown.  The blooms are just starting to

 open, looking small but usually end up huge once all the tiny buds are fully open.

Some of my potted plants I've brought up on the porch, many don't need

 continuous watering for days on end, and seedlings certainly don't want to be

drowned or washed out of their small pots - basil mostly.

Oh, about the new visitor to the garden.  A surprising return of a chipmunk yesterday! 

 We had one named Chippy for several years who disappeared after hibernation

a year ago. This little guy/gal was running along the front porch yesterday morning, 

then headed over to the bird feeders and spent time with the squirrels - who tried

 to chase it away - but got along famously with this male cardinal as they

 breakfasted together.  I think we'll just continue using the name Chippy . . . . .

. . . . after all it may be the same one, just back from traveling!!!!!

Bad squirrel - we have a whole new family this spring and they are definitely a nuisance!

Just another garden wildlife story. . . . . . . . 

See you when it stops raining!

Wet and wetter. . . . . . .

Here it is August and North Carolina appears to have a

 new season. . . . . . . . 'The Wet'. 

Don't remember another Summer such as this with so much rain late July into August.

Waking morning after morning to saturated gardens, pools of water, low and

 threatening grey skies, over the top humidity numbers, and not a ray of sunshine, 

is depressing. Certainly not what summertime is usually like here.

Most outdoor activities have been postponed, especially at the coast where

riptides and storms have curtailed beach visits.

 My garden is literally waterlogged!

Last time I was in 'The Wet' - and it was expected at that time of year - was when 

visiting Vietnam. Somehow rainy days were extraordinarily beautiful there, perhaps

 because the radiant colors of the ancient buildings came to life in the rain.

Me in Vietnam - sandals, plastic poncho and a large umbrella - I was set to go!

Hue, Vietnam 2011

Do you like rainy days?

Green, glorious, cool and wet. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . all expected as we travel through much of Ireland's

beautiful countryside over the next few weeks.

Waterproof boots and jackets packed,

umbrella at the ready!

So dear readers, off we go to the Emerald Isle. Am I ready? No, not quite. 

Will I ever be ready? Not if I stay here blogging!

I'll try to post now and then, and hopefully can share some photos

along the way. 

Yesterday in my garden.
Sad to leave when all is green and blooming . . . . . . . . . .
and the Carolina wrens have just built another nest in the wall basket
 by the front door under the COTTAGE sign.
Our front porch is very popular this Spring.
Sadly I'll miss seeing these new family members as they will most 
likely have hatched and fledged by the time I'm back!

Tonight we fly across the pond to Heathrow, London, then straight on to

 Dublin in the morning ~ returning by the same route beginning of June.

 Will catch up with you then.
Be good to yourselves.