The New Misfit Island Resort, make your reservation today!

[skiingfast]

So jealous! I don't think I'll get a single day on my snowboard this season.

You will get more rides on Space Mountain than me. The jealousy can go both ways.

 

[Gisele]

Yes, and the grass is always greener right? Until you learn that the lawn has fire ants.

~~ I love you Phil, and you will forever be with me! Forever my very best and most special friend! I love you to no end. ~~
​

 

[Gisele]

~~ I love you Phil, and you will forever be with me! Forever my very best and most special friend! I love you to no end. ~~
​

 

[skiingfast]

Yes, and the grass is always greener right? Until you learn that the lawn has fire ants.

Unless the nieghbor is growing corn.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Heatwave over here. Grass is not greener....everyone's lawn is going brown.

 

[skiingfast]

Heatwave over here. Grass is not greener....everyone's lawn is going brown.

Is it a dry heat? Does anybody water their lawns there?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Is it a dry heat? Does anybody water their lawns there?

Usually its a dry heat.

We've just come off a 9 year drought. We've had water restrictions for the last 6 or 7 of them where no watering of lawns allowed. Garden watering only allowed by hand on certain days a week (depending on what your house number was)....no using a hose to wash your car (bucket washing only); and you needed to seek council permit to fill up your swimming pool. The permit was granted only if you installed a rain water tank of a certain size.
These restrictions were eased in November last year. We can now use automatic sprinklers again between 6 and 8 am in the morning and hoses to wash the car....and water the lawns. Most people still haven't gotten back in the habit of watering their lawns.

 

[skiingfast]

Drought restrictions are tough on the yards.

Do lots of people have cisterns?

 

[PrincessInOz]

I assume you mean a cistern as in water tank and not cistern as in toilet.

More people did install water tanks in the last 4 years. The government did provide a rebate for anyone installing water tanks to save water. If you had one put in just to water your garden, the rebate was $150. If you put one in and plumbed it into a toilet or your washing machine the rebate was $300.

Surprisingly, the cost of installing and plumbing a water tank went up $300!

We have a small water tank. It holds 1600 litres of water...I think that's about 400 gallons? We've had it for over 8 years (no rebate for us! ).

We've also installed a grey water system at home 2 years ago. The run-off from the washing machine and bath is pumped into the garden. We have low/no-phosphate liquid for washing and garden friendly products in the bathroom. This one is less common than the water tank.


Despite what Kermit says, it can be easy being green.

 

[skiingfast]

How often does it rain? Enough that the tank never goes dry?

 

[PrincessInOz]

My tank got down to 1/4 of itself during the summer 2 or 3 years ago. And then I went easy with it. I use it for top-up watering in my garden.
On the dry restrictions, I was allowed to water on Tuesday morning and Saturday morning with a hose.

In summer, that's not enough if it gets super hot. So, I was using the tank on Thursdays as well; just to give the garden the extra drink on the hot weeks/days.


My best friend installed 5,000 litres (more space for the tanks in her place). She uses the water for one toilet, her washing machine and to water her garden. They have yet to run dry. She probably does about 4 or 5 loads a week? possibly more?

 

[skiingfast]

As environmentally forward as California is I think they forgot the 80's was a ten year drought. They got a ton of rain and snow drought was over with flooding and land slides and dry wasn't on thier mind anymore.

A lot of yards were switched to waterless. Lot of gravel only yards in some neighborhoods.


I wonder if rain catches would help, but the rain is so seasonal, it may be dry at one point anyway.


For me, of course there is a lot of water around and while it gets dry in late summer, there is a big river just a little ways away. It seems we would never run out of water.

 

[ssuriano]

You will get more rides on Space Mountain than me. The jealousy can go both ways.

Touche!

 

[skiingfast]

Touche!

Lucky you to get a novel lift to ride today.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Good morning misfits!

 

[skiingfast]

Good afternoon! I'm still thinking about that darn cat.

 

[PrincessInOz]

So am I. No sign of him still.

 

[skiingfast]

Does he hunt? Bring home rats and birds?

 

[PrincessInOz]

He brings home mice and birds. But I suspect he's hurting by himself right now. Two or three hours to go until dinner time.

 

[skiingfast]

He brings home mice and birds. But I suspect he's hurting by himself right now. Two or three hours to go until dinner time.

Sounds like dinner got to him. Will he sleep in a Kennely tonight?