This is what happened: I was looking at the pine one afternoon and it looked like something bug-wise was maybe munching on it. So I sprayed it all over with a bio-pesticide called neem oil. I think what happened is that it needed watering and with the excessive heat on the patio, it essentially baked in the oil. When I got home the next day it was wilting badly and all oily. So I transplanted it and watered it like crazy and washed it down as much as I could with lots of water in a watering sprinkling can. Over the last week or so, a lot of the needles and limbs have turned brown and are pretty obviously not going to survive.The only good news is that the areas that are still green now are putting on new growth. So I have some hope that enough of the tree is going to survive for it to come back . . . again! This poor little tree has survived an unbelievable amount of abuse from me. I really hope it makes it.
In other news, the house has done it again. Tuesday I replaced the entire AC/heat system in the house. Last weekend I was sitting here working on this computer and the outside compressor part of the AC began making a horrific noise. The system kept the house cool over the weekend, but I called and had the AC guys come out first thing Monday. They told me what I essentially already knew - the AC system in the house was original to the house, roughly 18 years old. It may keep limping along, or it may quit tomorrow. All I could think of was going out to Utah on vacation next month and the system quitting while I was gone. So I had them replace it.
The new system runs so quietly I can't tell when it's running. I hadn't realized how loud the old system was. Plus I had them redo the duct work while they were up there, so the three front rooms now get adequate AC and heat and are the same temperature as the rest of the house. Plus the system is on wifi, so I can log in from anywhere and change the temp in the house or switch from AC to heat or whatever. Nice! It's actually a relief to not have to worry about an old system any more, especially when I'm out of town.
This morning the cat-girls went to the vet for their annual physicals and vaccinations, so they're currently pretty unhappy with me. Especially poor Addy. The vet knows she's had reactions to her vaccinations before, so she gave her a shot of benedryl first while Addy was having her blood work drawn. Then later when the vet and I were discussing whether to give Addy any vaccinations, due to her age and being an indoor cat and her reaction to them, Addy started throwing up everywhere. It looks like Addy is now allergic to benedryl also. So she didn't get any vaccinations, although they had to finally give her another shot to stop her vomiting. The vet is going to put "no vaccinations" in her chart. She's also going to email me a letter that says that Addy doesn't need her rabies vaccination under the circumstances. So it was an eventful day at the vet.
The good news though is that both cats are in good shape for their ages. Addy actually gained a little weight. The last couple of years she's weighed less every time I've taken her to the vet, so I was happy that she put on a little. Zoe's still 16 pounds. The vet will call me next week with the results of the cat's blood work. I have it done because I'm keeping track of their kidney function.
Zoe has a little patch of dry brittle, fur on her back and the vet and I were talking about her diet and trying some vitamin supplements when Addy began vomiting. We got side-tracked and never got back to Zoe's dry patch, but since the vet was talking about diet supplements, I'm figuring it's not something serious that needs to be treated.
That was my eventful day, and last week or so. I don't know that I'll post again until I get back from vacation, but I may get one in.
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