What would you do ?

[tstex]

Hello to all,

This coming weekend my wife and I had promised to go to her moms house to redo some of her landscaping and power wash her entire back yard area. I also had this planned 3 weekends ago but pulled a deep muscle in my upper mid-rt back. There was no way I could lift that much or esp pull the starting cord on a power washer. Everyone understood.

Well, this weekend it's supposed to be 102 on Fri and 104 on Sat, plus 100-102 Tues on until this weekend and Sun-Tues of next week 102, 104, 102 and 100-99 the next 2-3 days thereafter. I am no longer 20, 30, 40 or 50, but I can take the heat, not just triple digit for too long. Also, putting plants into the ground w ambient air temps of 100-104 for 10+ days before during and after planting, doesn't set up the odds for survival too well. Plus the soil N of Austin TX isn't sandy loam, it's a rocky/soil blend. Her retirement community is also going on water rationing. To fill the truck, it $130 and right under 6 hrs rd trip. I am ok w that part, but the heat, damnnnnn.

So, I am looking for some artillery to postpone until the heat retreats to some extent. I really like my MIL, but not looking forward to cooking outside. The heat index will be in the 114-118 range....and no, plenty of beer isn't the answer

Thanks for your feedback...

 

[newbury]

At those temps in humid Houston you need a cold beer BATH.
When does the heat retreat enough for you? November?

 

[Gee Ray]

Mother nature trumps mother-in-law. Wait until there is good weather. With the water restrictions the land scaping will not live anyway.

 

[true temper]

I came home sick from the heat today . Had to have 2 guys help me to the truck to cool down.

 

[tstex]

"Mother nature trumps mother-in-law."

That's a winner, I'm using it as my theme....and yes, if this was in Houston, there's no way. At least the humidity in Williamson Cty Tx will be a lot less than Houston...It's really getting hard for her to move around so hand watering might not be as easy as it was 2-3 yrs ago when I did the whole yard [front and back], but the big freeze [1 degree there] knocked back a lot of my work...

 

[Thomas]

You be any good to anyone if you're recovering from heat stroke.

 

[Raul-02]

. I really like my MIL, but not looking forward to cooking outside. The heat index will be in the 114-118 range....and no, plenty of beer isn't the answer

Thanks for your feedback...

Beg off. They will understand. Sounds to me like you are the one who won't cut you some slack.

 

[Skeletor]

Screw that!! Everyone can wait at those temps!

 

[Jstpssng]

Beg off. They will understand. Sounds to me like you are the one who won't cut you some slack.

Perfect reply!!! I am also in the camp of wait until the weather is better.

 

[tstex]

I just hate to cancel twice, and she’s really looking forward to our visit too. But, the picture is getting clearer.

Here’s those temps..the circles are my orig wk days

 

[dodge man]

You don’t need my permission to blow off your mother in law. Just go to visit, not work.

 

[tstex]

Well. It’s official. We’re postponing until the weekend after Fathers Day. She even agreed that anything near 100 is crazy, much less 104…

Austin is just 20 mi S of MIL & it’s supposed to be 106 there, so it could even be hotter at her place. Thd high pressure cell is coming from Mexico and will sit on top of central TX. Hope the grid holds up…

 

[tstex]

Think we made the right call…it’s gone up 2 degrees each day…Austin is heading to 108 and prob higher

 

[hornett22]

Better y'all than me. You can have that nonsense.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Go visit. Pay some locals (or split the cost with her) to do the work and you can supervise if you feel the urge. Plenty of locals in wide-brimmed hats that are used to the heat are out there pressure-washing and digging every day.

You don't need to kill yourself to be a hero . . .

 

[tstex]

I agree Ohio. I really don’t mind doing the wk, even when it’s extremely hot (95-98), but 106 ?

It’s also a function of plant survival in triple digit heat. Ground is going to be hard & dry, and w those temps, the heat coming back up from the grd fries new installs that are not established…supposed to be 110-114 heat indexes too…bring on the rains !!!

 

[CH4Ohio]

I agree Ohio. I really don’t mind doing the wk, even when it’s extremely hot (95-98), but 106 ?

It’s also a function of plant survival in triple digit heat. Ground is going to be hard & dry, and w those temps, the heat coming back up from the grd fries new installs that are not established…supposed to be 110-114 heat indexes too…bring on the rains !!!

I get it. I remember my aunt's place in Tucson had colored gravel in the front yard because they couldn't keep grass alive through the summer. That was way back in the 60's. Can't imagine how restrictive water is now.

I've always been hard-core "do everything myself" -- just because I could. Starting to realize that I can't do it like I used to and it takes me longer than it used to. It's hard to find good help, but I'm not opposed to paying someone to do some of the grunt-work that I always did in the past.

 

[tstex]

I agree 100% !

Never opposed to paying for the grunt work, as long as it’s done correctly and doesn’t cause me to back track when trying to move forward.

As the bones, muscles, cartilage and tendons becomes less cooperative, I find my “give-a-shxt” meter breaks down too, esp towards the end of the day. But in winter, I find working longer outside weekend hrs is much easier. My dad is from Ohio. Somewhere in my DNA, if being raised in the N, it would have worked well.

 

[hosspuller]

I'm sitting by the window right now ... I was planning to spray the hay field. Spent much of yesterday preparing the sprayer. BUT Mother Nature trumps my plan. Too windy... Don't want to kill the neighbor's flowers.

 

[tradosaurus]

Your MIL and wife should understand putting off this task until your back heals and the weather cools down in a few months.
If your MIL needs the job done before that she can hire a landscaper.