Pretty Pollen

The pollen counts are outrageous here in southeastern Arizona as the trees, grass, and weeds have begun to sprout. Particularly problematic are the mulberry and ash trees, which coupled with the desert winds and Arizona dust, make for an especially severe allergy and asthma season. Despite the fact that the dust and pollen make me wake up sputtering every morning, the desert in bloom is a beautiful sight. On my morning constitutional today I came across a tree in full bloom, heavy with chains of purple flowers. If you happen to know what type of tree this is, please post a comment. (Hint: It's not a lilac bush.)

Pruning Oleanders

Well, yesterday I began the great oleander pruning project, which turned out to be a gargantuan task. The bushes were terribly overgrown because they receive an ample supply of water from the leak in our broken irrigation system, which the landlord refuses to fix. Because the past winter was colder than usual, the oleanders were severely damaged by frost and in need of a drastic haircut.

It took a great deal of doing to prune them back and remove all the frost-damaged foliage. So far, I have only pruned two out of three bushes. Working in the hot sun feels good, but my fibromyalgia ridden body protests in pain. So I pace myself carefully, always bearing in mind that tomorrow is another day. There's no point in getting exhausted, which ultimately results in a fibro flare.

We are supposed to have high winds followed by a cold snap over the next four days, so the remaining oleander will have to wait until next week. See how much better the two bushes on the right look? It's amazing how something so poisonous can look so pretty! Notice the lovely rivulet of water from the leaking irrigation system? Well, at least the mailman has nothing to complain about anymore.

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning has begun! Today I thoroughly vacuumed the living room, including the carpets, furniture, and lampshade. Then I dusted the blinds and window frames, and vacuumed the window sills. After all that, I was exhausted. These days I can't do too much housework at one time due to the pain and fatigue from fibromyalgia. I have to pace myself and remember that tomorrow is another day.

For dusting, I like to use my handy-dandy "One Wipe Ultimate Duster" cloth. This waxy feeling cloth because it picks up and traps dust better than anything else I've ever used. Also, it's washable, so I feel like I'm doing something positive for the environment.

Later this week, I'll need to prune back the oleander bushes, which are totally out of control. They have grown so much since last year that the view from the front window is obstructed and the mailman is having problems pulling the truck up to the curb to deliver our mail.