An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

July 30, 2010

Birthday Wishes

Today I am 50. Though considered a fairly significant birthday, the things I want are simple: some floor mats for my car, the new Band of Horses CD, and maybe for someone to buy me a drink later. However, what I wanted most of all is rain, and that gift came a day early. We had close to 5" within about a 2 hour period yesterday evening, and we needed it bad. Mature trees are turning yellow and shedding leaves, the local corn crop is now just silage or being plowed under, and I am seeing so many customers with dead plants, some mere weeks since they were purchased. We had so much rain that my wife and I had to move our cars so that the water did not flood the interiors, and today I will be replacing mulch washed down the storm drain.

Finally!


I now imagine, at my advanced age, that I likely have more years behind me then ahead. But I am OK with that, because I tend to see my glass as half full, and today its filled with rainwater.

30 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday!

    Just look how powerful your wishes have become! Don't wish for snow, or you're likely to get a blizzard!

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  2. Happy Birthday, Les!!!

    Life begins at 50, or for me, 60! I am happy for your rain, although it seems like a bit of an overdo. Maybe it could have spread out over five days, an inch a day. Have a drink on me! Cheers! :-)
    Frances

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  3. Happy Birthday Les. I can't think of a better present then refreshing rain...gail

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  4. Happy Birthday Les! Hope you have a wonderful day and many more to boot. I'm glad you got some rain as well. We didn't quite get that amount, closer to 3 inches here. But it was much appreciated and needed. The garden was sighing in relief. :)

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  5. Happy birthday to you. 50 is the new 30, right? Cheers!

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  6. Happy Birthday Les! We got a lot of that rain as well...got soaked in it walking to my car from work & then again from the car to the house. But believe me, I didn't mind it at all!!
    Hope you have a great birthday & add that drink to my tab!

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  7. Happy Birthday, Les!!! From my own brief personal experience, having turned 50 last year, 50 is nowhere near fatal ... it is FABULOUS!! My grandmother lived to be 105, so I won't pass the halfway point for another couple of years yet. Hope it's the same for you.

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  8. Beautifully spoken, Les. Happy Birthday enjoying your health and rain's refreshment. (hope you get that new CD!)

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  9. THAT is a lot of rain! And most welcomed too what a happy happy birthday!!

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  10. Happy birthday to you! Thanks for all the beautiful pictures.

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  11. Happy birthday, Les! Rain is a fabulous birthday present, and isn't it funny that we all agree? Gardeners must seem a strange bunch to others.

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  12. Happy Birthday Les. Rain is the best present anyone could ask for in July. I hope you get everything else you hoped for including that drink.~~Dee

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  13. Happy Birthday, Les! Many many joyful returns of the day! I'm glad you got your birthday wish of rain, and that there was enough to share about three inches with us here in Portsmouth!

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  14. Happy Birthday! Interesting wish though, mine (birthday) came a week back and I wished for sun. I am used to having a sunny warm birthday and when I don't get it then it just doesn't feel like my birthday! Here's hoping you also get the floor mats, cd, and another beverage, maybe with a little kick!

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  15. Happy birthday Les, if you live as long as my dad did you still have 52 more years left. Live long and prosper my friend.

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  16. Happy birthday Les! Rain is a great gift, and maybe you'll get those other things you've wished for.

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  17. Happy Birthday! I am so glad you got the rain so badly needed. It ranks right up there with well-rotted manure as a swell gift for a gardener.

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  18. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LES!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! You are still so young! Your best years are ahead. MANY MANY HAPPY RETURNS! What a great gift the rain is. Send some of your leftovers our way.

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  19. Thank you everyone, you have made it possible for me to make it another 50 years.

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  20. Hope your next half-century is fun, and that somebody buys you that drink. Five inches of rain in such a short time is not something I can imagine, but your picture with the splash of water halfway up the car wheels tells the story.

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  21. Happy Birthday, Les. Just think about all you can do with the next 50 years and what it will bring. I won't tell you how old I am, but but if I live another 50, 116 does not sound good to me. :) We hope your day was filled with many wonderful moments.

    Rain... we would love some rain. We haven't had a drop in over a month and likely will not see any for another, but our summers are hot and dry.

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  22. Music and rain are the birthday wishes of a very wise person, so you've obviously achieved wisdom and now can relax and enjoy the next 50. Happy birthday, Les!

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  23. Happy Birthday, Les.

    You were showered with your wish!

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  24. Happy Birthday, that a lot of rain on a day that is meant to celebrate, I hope the rain didn't spoil your day a lot. Your glass is half full instead of half empty ;-) Enjoy the years ahead!

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  25. Add a few fingers of bourbon or whatever to the glass of rainwater and I'll raise my glass of Evian to you.
    Many Happy Returns of the Day!

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  26. Late to the party, but have a happy one. I think I enjoyed my 50th more than just about any other. Let it sink in.

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  27. Happy Birthday, Les! How nice to get rain when you needed it. Nature gives the best gifts. 5 inches is impressive. I love your glass filled with rainwater. Cheers!

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  28. Happy 50th. I hiked the Grand Canyon - down and back on my 50th birthday. It almost killed me. But it's a great story to tell people.
    Hope you did something spectacular to remember and mark you half-century.

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  29. Happy birthday! Glad you are happy with the rain as that is a bit much at one time. Still, it makes it an even more memorable b-day.

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