Flaming Iris
Jul. 5th, 2007 10:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threadwalkerHappy 4th July.
We were visited by the roaming fire-work brigade last night.
They pulled up in front of our yard and used the patch of side-walk and street infront of our yard to use "safe and sane" fireworks. They still managed to set our front yard on fire; specifically, my irises were on fire and the flames were reported to be 5ft high. Highly aggitated neighbors were on the spot and put them out (with our hose! yay for initiative!) while others were banging on front door.
Apparently the fire department made a visit, too. How exciting. I missed the whole thing (at gym.. where else?). But I got home and, after hearing all this, I was highly agitated. I have NEVER set anyone's property on fire and when I did set stuff on fire, I put it out. Humph. First I got humorously huffy with the hubby: Why wasn't he patrolling the fence line and beating back follow-up fire-cracker brigades? (I got the flat stare). I suggested he take a lawn chair, a beverage, and a gun and plant himself in the middle of the lawn. (I was asked when I became a hick.) So I pronounced to the hubby I'd be planting myself in front yard with lawn chair, hose, and maglite. Roaming fire-cracker brigade beware, I've got a hose and I know how to use it.
I was out there for about an hour. I ended up chatting up all the hose-bearing neighbors and demonstrated my florentine mag-lite routine. I use it for scaring away people who park next to our fence late at night for hanky-panky. They were impressed and we started talking about doing a neighborhood watch. I don't think it will take off, but we all look out for each other regardless.
The neighbors had their own horror stories. My across-the-street neighbors have some back-side neighbors that were setting off bottle rockets, M-80s and some high-tech stuff that shot up in the air and exploded in decent fire-cracker blooms. The horror-part is that they are completely careless in how they set stuff off, which is why my commiserating neighbor and his family were out past 11pm with strategically placed hoses. His adult daughter came running up at one point to say that she's been listening over the fence and heard "Them" discuss opening another package of bottle rockets.
Chorus of rolled eyes.
I did not meet the guy who ran our hose, but I spotted him moving about the street like a wraith when I pulled up from the gym and before I got the whole scoop. He was peaking around his own fence and around large bushes planted on the side of the street, watching the folks about a block away (other side of the canal) set off roman candles, etc. He was visible in the dim light for his white tank top and white burmuda shorts and white socks and shoes. Definitely not "sleauth-wear". It was kind of surreal to be watching a neighbor spy folks and he's always been super-reclusive, so I kept my distance. However, after hearing about his quick-thinking hose action in our front yard, I'll have to see if I can thank him without scaring the heck out of him.
As far as my Flaming Irises go, most of them are still intact (I have lots). The ones that burned are so trampled and drowned in water, it's hard to tell if they are still planted or just a heap of torn up leaves or what. I'll pull the area clear this weekend. I really see this as an opportunity for the purple and whites to intermingle some more.
I am suddenly glad we were not out of town for the 4th this year.
We were visited by the roaming fire-work brigade last night.
They pulled up in front of our yard and used the patch of side-walk and street infront of our yard to use "safe and sane" fireworks. They still managed to set our front yard on fire; specifically, my irises were on fire and the flames were reported to be 5ft high. Highly aggitated neighbors were on the spot and put them out (with our hose! yay for initiative!) while others were banging on front door.
Apparently the fire department made a visit, too. How exciting. I missed the whole thing (at gym.. where else?). But I got home and, after hearing all this, I was highly agitated. I have NEVER set anyone's property on fire and when I did set stuff on fire, I put it out. Humph. First I got humorously huffy with the hubby: Why wasn't he patrolling the fence line and beating back follow-up fire-cracker brigades? (I got the flat stare). I suggested he take a lawn chair, a beverage, and a gun and plant himself in the middle of the lawn. (I was asked when I became a hick.) So I pronounced to the hubby I'd be planting myself in front yard with lawn chair, hose, and maglite. Roaming fire-cracker brigade beware, I've got a hose and I know how to use it.
I was out there for about an hour. I ended up chatting up all the hose-bearing neighbors and demonstrated my florentine mag-lite routine. I use it for scaring away people who park next to our fence late at night for hanky-panky. They were impressed and we started talking about doing a neighborhood watch. I don't think it will take off, but we all look out for each other regardless.
The neighbors had their own horror stories. My across-the-street neighbors have some back-side neighbors that were setting off bottle rockets, M-80s and some high-tech stuff that shot up in the air and exploded in decent fire-cracker blooms. The horror-part is that they are completely careless in how they set stuff off, which is why my commiserating neighbor and his family were out past 11pm with strategically placed hoses. His adult daughter came running up at one point to say that she's been listening over the fence and heard "Them" discuss opening another package of bottle rockets.
Chorus of rolled eyes.
I did not meet the guy who ran our hose, but I spotted him moving about the street like a wraith when I pulled up from the gym and before I got the whole scoop. He was peaking around his own fence and around large bushes planted on the side of the street, watching the folks about a block away (other side of the canal) set off roman candles, etc. He was visible in the dim light for his white tank top and white burmuda shorts and white socks and shoes. Definitely not "sleauth-wear". It was kind of surreal to be watching a neighbor spy folks and he's always been super-reclusive, so I kept my distance. However, after hearing about his quick-thinking hose action in our front yard, I'll have to see if I can thank him without scaring the heck out of him.
As far as my Flaming Irises go, most of them are still intact (I have lots). The ones that burned are so trampled and drowned in water, it's hard to tell if they are still planted or just a heap of torn up leaves or what. I'll pull the area clear this weekend. I really see this as an opportunity for the purple and whites to intermingle some more.
I am suddenly glad we were not out of town for the 4th this year.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 06:33 pm (UTC)Which, I'm sorry. I can't help typing. And I can't help saying it either. It's become my new mantra.
them: "How was your weekend?"
me: "FLAMING PALM TREE!!!"
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 02:50 am (UTC)It's just. FLAMING PALM TREE! It sounds like something the wondertwins would say. :->