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Post by Phalon on Aug 3, 2020 5:36:34 GMT -6
It's been since mid-July since we've had any rain except for a few sprinkles for just a minute or so here and there, but the last couple of nights have been splendidly rainy. Saturday morning, at 3:30ish am, I heard the ping-ping-ping of sprinkles falling on the porch overhang outside our window, and when it became a steady rain, I just had to get up and go sit outside on the porch to watch it fall for a bit. Blissful.
It's 64F outside now, and has sort of an early fallish feel. I don't know what's in the forecast, but I'm hoping the gross hot and humid days have passed...and if not, I intend to enjoy the cooler weather while it lasts; could and probably should do a million things inside the house today, but there's just as much to do outside, especially on a day like this!
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Post by Mini Mia on Aug 4, 2020 0:34:07 GMT -6
We have hot and humid days into September, and sometimes into October. I'm enjoying the cool days, but it's just the beginning of August, so it isn't going to last long.
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Post by Phalon on Aug 23, 2020 7:34:37 GMT -6
Hard to believe August is nearing its end! It's been pretty un-August-like weather here for a good part of the month - cool nights and days in the 70s; just the kind of weather I'd order if possible. One morning, at a gorgeous 51 degrees when I got up just past 5am, I just sat on the back porch for over an hour, enjoying the dark coolness, and was entranced watching the shadowy figure of an owl, swoop through the ravine, then dive to get its prey. Bunnies? Mice? Squirrels?
Those perfect temperature days and nights were peppered with unbearable heat - enough 90 degree days to remind you that it's really August. Throw in humidity, and even pleasant temperatures turn ugly - Friday and yesterday it was in the low 80s, but the humidity was near 96 percent. We all felt sluggish at work, like moving in slow motion through air that felt thick and wet.
Day off today, and I want to get a lot done outside...need to start while where I need to work is still in the shade. It's pleasant now; not quite 70 degrees yet.
Maybe one more cup of coffee first though.
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Post by Mini Mia on Aug 23, 2020 23:19:39 GMT -6
The nights have been fairly cool, but the days are pretty hot. I'm wondering if September will be cooler this year, or if it will be more like a normal August usually is.
I've been going out with Mom's dog the last few weeks. Normally, I let her go out on her own. I've even been putting a harness and leash on her. She doesn't mind tinkling with me tagging along, but she draws the line at doing more than that. I'm trying to decide if I should keep her on the leash, or let her go and hope for the best. She doesn't use potty pads, and I can't make her stay in and hold it all night. The coyote were out and about after the sun had come up, so I don't think it would be a good idea to keep the dog in the house for up to twelve hours.
Internet said they were most active from midnight to four. Total BS. I've heard them howling in my front yard at around 10:30pm/11:00pm. And my brother-in-law has seen them in the fields around his house when he goes to work, at around 5:30am/6:00am. And soon it will be getting dark at around 5:00pm ... so do I keep her in from 4:30pm to 7:00am/8:00am/9:00am?
There has been a lot of shooting in the neighborhood the last few weeks, so the coyote might be more skittish now. The ones that are still alive. Not that I'm aware any of those gunshots were at coyote. It could just be target practice, for all I know. I miss the days before they moved in. Life lived on the edge of a game reserve. It wasn't so bad before the coyote decided to call it home.
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Post by Phalon on Aug 28, 2020 5:20:28 GMT -6
Oh-my-god, the humidity! This week it's been draining, slogging through the days soaking wet all the time - sweaty just standing still, much less working in it. Come home, clean up, eat diner, and basically crash for the rest of the evening. Even the nights have been humid - I took the dog out last night around midnight, and it felt like we were living in swampland in the deep South somewhere - it sounded like it too with all the singing, chirping, screeching, and rustling of the night creatures. Dang, it was loud!
Speaking of dogs and night creatures...have you figured out what to do about taking your dog out with the coyotes around? What if you banged pot lids together, or get an air horn to scare them away before letting the dog out? A long term solution might be a dog run fencing to keep the dog contained and the coyotes out when you let her out at night.
We've been having problems with wildlife pests too, but of a different kind.
The tourists! HA! No. But yes. I went to get gas Monday evening so I wouldn't have to stop on the way to work Tuesday morning, and WTF?, the gas station was completely out of gas. It wasn't all the gas stations that were out; only the one on the way out of town before you get on the highway, so is the obvious choice for tourists on their way home. Was able to get paper towels this week at the store (off brand only, which fall apart to shreds with the slightest bit of moisture), but toilet paper was scarce. Long difficult summer, and sooo ready for tourist season to be over.
It's actually the yellow jackets though, that are the pests giving us problems. They've built a huge nest under the siding on the house - watching them go in and out is like being at a busy airport with planes landing and departing nonstop. There's a steady stream of yellow jackets flying into and out of a gap where the siding meets the concrete foundation of the house. It's in an awkward place to get to, and when Hubs tried to spray it a couple of weeks ago, he got stung three times - two days later his hand was the size of a baseball mitt, and was so swollen it looked like his skin could not stretch any further. We've called an exterminator who was supposed to show up Wednesday, and then when he didn't, promised he'd be there Thursday; now we're supposedly going to see him next Tuesday. Meantime, the yellow jackets are clear for takeoff and landings.
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Post by Mini Mia on Aug 28, 2020 13:03:44 GMT -6
My Brother-in-law doesn't think they will mess with her. She's too big to carry off. I'm still going out with her, with my baseball bat, but she is without leash and harness. She likes to go to the barn to do her business. The barn has an outside light that stays on, but it's on the front of the barn, and doesn't help me see her. I walk down my driveway, staying in the light, and wait for her. I try to take her on several walks before it gets dark, to try and get her cleaned out for the night. I take her after her meal too. Sometimes she pukes after she eats. (Probably when she has eaten grass.) It's always on my carpet, never on the linoleum, so I try to get her out the door asap.
Laura came for a visit. My tiny section of the world appears okay. I haven't turned on the news to see if all around me isn't as nice as what I'm seeing here. Last night seemed fairly stuffy. Not miserable though. Yesterday, when the wind was picking up, it was super nice outside. Prelude to the beginning of Autumn. Which I'm not going to think about. I'm just going to try and focus on 2021 getting here soon, and being tons better than 2020 has been. I had a woman tell me this would end after the election, and I told her that I hope so. I really do hope it does. I told that to my brother-in-law, and he said it might depend on who won ... it could get worse after the election. I just can't see the whole world faking a virus over a US election. But I would be super thrilled if this went away after the election. (I'm just not gonna make any bets on it. And I'm still gonna wear a mask, even though others around me don't.)
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Post by Mini Mia on Aug 28, 2020 13:07:30 GMT -6
Oh. Niece's dog gets released from prison on Monday. She can't wait to get him out of her house. Ha. The vet had him listed as a Border Collie on their website ... so now I know what breed he is. He seemed to enjoy the ride home in the photo my niece sent me ... it would be nice if he would calm down enough to let her take him for vet visits. She could get him fixed, and have his heartworms treated. At least he found himself a good home where he isn't abused.
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Post by Mini Mia on Aug 28, 2020 17:34:07 GMT -6
About the paper towels. I couldn’t find the good stuff either, and had to get the cheap stuff. I got five packs from four different stores over several trips. I decided I would stock up. I also got three packs of toilet paper from several stores. I already had two at home from another time.
I want to try and stay on top of it should hoarding happen again. I’m not going to add more though. I’m only going to replace what gets used. And when they’re out, I should have enough to get me through until the stores are restocked. I do feel a tad guilty, but there was plenty left after I got mine, so it isn’t like I left anyone empty handed.
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Post by Mini Mia on Aug 30, 2020 4:16:04 GMT -6
Yikes. At the end of this week, and beginning of next week, the nights are going to be in the 50s. It’s too soon.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 1, 2020 5:11:43 GMT -6
Between you and I, fifty-degree nights are like dark chocolate - you think it's too bitter, and I think it's perfect! I love cool mornings!
We had a few - a heavy rain storm Friday night brought down the temperatures to daytime temperatures in the 70s and nighttime in the 50s, made all the more heavenly because it erased that horrid humidity.
It seems to be short-lived though - yesterday was glorious, but the temperature didn't drop much overnight, and this morning when I got up, it was still 71 degrees, and very sticky feeling outside.
The full Corn Moon is tonight. A bit of trivia - September's full moon is typically the Harvest Moon, because it's the closest full moon to the autumn equinox. Every third year though, there's a full moon in October that's closer to the equinox, and that one is the Harvest Moon; September's full moon then becomes the Corn Moon.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 2, 2020 1:12:51 GMT -6
We've gotten a lot of rain today, off and on. Thunder from time to time. Still have my lights though, so yay!
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 5, 2020 10:41:15 GMT -6
The next few days is 80s/60s, and then it becomes 70s/50s. So no lingering Summer this September. But, then again, temps could go back up again. Feels nice at the moment though.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 6, 2020 7:32:09 GMT -6
Glorious weather this past week. We've had some nice rains earlier in the week, which was much needed despite having a storm late last week. Gentle rains are soaking rains; rain storms when a lot of rain fails in a very short amount of time, generally just creates runoff. The grass is green and growing again; we actually had to mow the lawn for the first time in 3 to 4 weeks, though I mow the ravine weekly (which I need to do very soon because it's supposed to storm here in a bit).
Nights have been cool, and days pleasant. With the goldenrod, black-eyed Susans, grasses, and asters starting to bloom, the meadows and fields on my drive to work are gorgeously decked out in late summer-early fall garb.
Had a customer the other day come in, and approach me brandishing a dangerous weapon. "Whoa....can you please stop waving that thing in front of my face", I asked calmly, while still taking a step back."
The "dangerous weapon" was a plant growing everywhere in her yard, and she wanted to know what it was - it was ragweed! And it was in flower! And all in my face now, spreading its hayfever, allergy causing pollen.
I'd love to turn off the air-conditioning and sleep with the windows open during these cool nights, but as Hubs pointed out, I'd "wake up a stuffy, sneezy, watery-puffy-eyed, sinus headachey mess" - it's hayfever season. As it is though, wearing a mask daily at work has greatly diminished my allergies this year; I'm still a bit congested, but my allergies are nowhere near as bad as they typically are this time of year.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 6, 2020 21:42:21 GMT -6
I've been having sore throats, sneezing & coughing ... and of course my first thought is I have the virus. I haven't taken an allergy pill in eons, but I guess I should start taking them again until the seasons are done switching over.
A couple of the days that were going to be 70s/50s, are now 60s/50s. NOPE. Just now checked, and they changed it to 80s/60s all this week, and then the beginning of next week is in the 70s/60s. There is no more predictions for 60s/50s. It will change again, and then again ... and a lot of times it goes back to the first predictions being correct.
The field corn has very little green in it. It shouldn't be long now before it gets combined, and I'll be able to see the road, and a few neighbor houses. And soon, when the leaves are gone, I will see I'm not all alone ... that there are others all around me.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 7, 2020 12:47:10 GMT -6
Now the beginning of next week is 70s/50s. The hotter the days, and cooler the nights, the worse my sinuses get. Oh joy.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 7, 2020 19:25:45 GMT -6
I watched three V formations of geese flying over, headed towards the bottoms. They were flying really low, just above the treetops. I don’t recall geese flying in this early, and now I’m wondering what that means. Is the cold close behind them? Brrr . . . Halloween might be frigid this year.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 8, 2020 5:06:17 GMT -6
Canadian geese fly in V-formations over the house all summer, so I haven't noticed if they're flocking more than usual for this time of year. I did watch though, a huge swirling flock of blackbirds go from one roost in the tall white pines at the nursery to the farm fields across the road last week.
It was cool enough yesterday to put on jeans instead of shorts, and looks like it'll be the same for most of the week here with highs predicted to be in the 60s.
The Lake waters have been rough for a couple of weeks now, with waves ranging from 4 to 8 feet, and the red flags flying indicating dangerous riptides. Still, a week ago rescue crews had to pull three people from the lake here during the weekend, two children were rescued last week, and three more people on Saturday. It's posted everywhere - the red flags mean STAY OUT OF THE WATER. Sadly, people ignore them. Those eight people were rescued. Tragically, on Sunday another person was not - an 18-year old was pulled under by the riptide and (is presumed) drowned. The beach has been closed, and last I read, they were still looking for the body. Despite, the beach being closed, roads barricaded, and signs posted warning against trespassing and that violators will be prosecuted, still the rescue crews had to be called in to pull people out of the water.
It reminds me of wearing masks to prevent spreading the virus - some people will always do whatever they want, despite warnings, and putting other people at risk.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 8, 2020 23:37:45 GMT -6
Some people are determined that they're going to do as they please. The weather people can't make up their minds what the temps are going to be. The 70s/60s became 80s/60s, and then it changed again. It's still hot and humid here. Went outside with the dog an hour ago, and I broke out in a sweat. I hate when the nights are still stuffy. Being hot and sweaty in the sun is one thing, but at night it's just so wrong.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 11, 2020 23:31:40 GMT -6
The 70s/60s & 70s/50s keep staying just out of reach. They're at the end of the week, then the beginning of next week, then the end of the week, then . . . always out of reach. It's been in the 80s/60s, but the feels like daytime temps has been in the 90s. So, Autumn weather isn't here yet. It popped in for a wee bit earlier, but it didn't hang around for long.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 14, 2020 7:09:24 GMT -6
Here it seems like Autumn is settling in to stay. Some rainy days with cloudy skies last week may have made it seem chillier than it probably was (a couple of the days felt downright cold!), but temperatures have definitely dropped - highs in the 60s/low in the 50s. It seems like those temperatures will be holding this week for the most part according to the forecast - a couple of days it's supposed to creep into the 70s, but drop again by the weekend, with nighttime lows dipping into the 40s.
Some of the trees too are thinking it's autumn; I see hints of orange, red, and gold on my way to work. The hour-long drive south yesterday to LX's was gorgeous - they are warmer down there, than we are here, and the sun was shining. Though the fall color hasn't started on the trees yet, purple asters and goldenrod are in full bloom, soybean fields were a gorgeous golden, corn fields are a mix of green and tan, and with all of it against a backdrop of green tree canopies, the color contrast was spectacular.
Dang, I love autumn!
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 15, 2020 2:14:18 GMT -6
The corn in our fields has turned brown. It shouldn't be too long before it is combined. September is half over, and unless we're having a warm beginning of Autumn, the days should be getting a lot cooler over the next couple of weeks. Sometimes it stays on the warm side into October, but it tends to be cool by Halloween. The nights are growing longer, and I hate it being dark by 7:30pm. I wish they would stop doing the time change this year. Well, actually, I guess they have to do the Autumn one, since that will put us back on standard time. It's the Spring time change that needs to end next year. I hate the drastic change in daylight overnight.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 18, 2020 5:14:28 GMT -6
I never much minded the time changing, although it takes me what seems like an abnormally long time to adjust my sleep pattern...like how can one hour screw up my sleep for weeks?
Did you happen to see the moon a few nights ago? OMG, it was too cool! When I got up at around 5:30, grabbed my first cup of coffee and went outside with the dog, the moon was just the tiniest sliver of bright, glowing orange. It looked exactly like the Cheshire cat's grin, especially when viewed through tree branches.
Highs today in the 50s, and lows here overnight in the low 40s maybe into the 30s; we could get our first frost tonight or tomorrow night. There's a freeze warning north. Our tomato plants are still loaded with fruit....all of it green. This could be the end of homegrown fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes. And dang, I never did get around to having a BLT this summer!!!
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 19, 2020 21:54:08 GMT -6
Nope. I missed out on the moon. Either it was behind the trees, or behind the house and trees, or I didn't go out at the same time it was in the clear space between trees.
We've had a couple of nights cool the house enough that the a/c didn't kick on all night. Last night it got pretty chilly inside. The days had still been fairly hot and humid, but today had an Autumn feel to it. Just as the 70s/60s & 70s/50s kept moving further into the future, now the 80s/60s keep getting put off, and moved into the future. I'm wondering if the days will ever get back into the 80s. I'm sure it could happen, but it might be a rare thing. I've been hearing machinery all around me, so it sounds like some fields are getting combined. So, I'm expecting to be able to see the road and neighbors from my front porch pretty soon. I can't wait.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 21, 2020 0:00:41 GMT -6
I saw the grin tonight. It had an orange tinge to it. I was at my sister's house, heading home. The trees blocked it from my front porch.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 22, 2020 5:11:54 GMT -6
There's not your typical rolling eyes emoji, but are you being sarcastic when you say you can't wait? I thought I remember you once said you felt exposed when the fields were cut.
We've had a few cold nights and mornings in the low 40s, but the days have warmed up and have been glorious. Even the 40s though, didn't seem as cold as they feel in spring when there's that dampness in the air. I broke out my winter jacket once, when I left for work and the thermometer read 41, but shed the jacket soon after. Glorious sunny weather means we're still very busy at work - more so than is typical even for this time of year. It's been such a weird season - the virus seems to have made everyone suddenly a gardener.
Just a couple more hours of summer. Fall starts at 9:30am. Happy first day of Autumn!
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 22, 2020 6:25:32 GMT -6
I don’t mind the fields being combined. The leaves on the trees still shield me from the neighbors. I won’t be too thrilled when all the leaves have fallen off. I prefer being able to see the road. I hate when I hear vehicles going up and down the road and I can’t see them.
The shade is nice, but not so much out in the sun. It’s definitely Autumn. The nights are pretty chilly. I haven’t turned the heat on yet. I would have had it on back before hot flashes though. I’ve been trying to pay attention to my thoughts, to nip any of the depressing ones in the bud. They tend to sneak up on me when I’m least expecting them. Probably when it’s dark around 6pm. It will be even more noticeable than 7pm.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 22, 2020 14:25:24 GMT -6
The pandemic must be getting to me. But when the corn is gone, I’ll only be able to see the neighbor’s line of trees they put along side the road. I can see a bit of their driveway, but most of their house is blocked by the leaves. I love seeing the trees. And I’ll get a better view of the Autumn colors when my view is open.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 24, 2020 4:55:38 GMT -6
Though I've never lived amongst the corn, I think I'd prefer being able to see the neighbors rather than have them blocked by cornfields. Cornfields kinda creep me out - not during the day, but at night. All those drives up to the college and back, alone, late at night, with cornfields on either side of the road, and my mind always wandered. There were lights though, every so often - from houses, or street lights at crossroads, and the route was well-traveled.
The drive to LX's and The Boyfriend's though, is completely dark at night - very desolate, and creepy at night, some parts heavily wooded, and others with cornfields surrounded by woods. With only headlights, sometimes it can be creepily disorienting.
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 25, 2020 0:12:59 GMT -6
Yeah. The crops can feel a bit claustrophobic at times. It isn't the same as trees. There's no space to walk through. Well, you can the corn, but it will cut you up pretty badly. Still, walking through the crops could get you lost and wandering. Well, me anyways, as I'm not much taller than a kid. -- The trees can keep their leaves, but an empty field is very nice.
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Post by Phalon on Jun 22, 2021 5:09:51 GMT -6
I'm not sure if the first day of summer was Sunday or yesterday; I've got two calendars, and one said Sunday was the first day of summer, and the other said yesterday was the Summer Solstice. What's up with that? Regardless, Happy Summer!
It doesn't quite feel like summer weather this morning - it's 46F outside. But guess what? I've got coffee this morning! And electricity! Yesterday the power was out due to a storm Sunday evening that dumped 2.25" of rain! I made coffee on the stove yesterday morning by boiling water on the stove, but it wasn't quite the same as brewed in a coffee maker.
Spring here took a weird turn at the end, with a series of strange events that started Thursday evening with a double-decker pig truck, and continued into the next day with a high-speed three-county police chase and a shower of cell phones, a highway full of spilled milk, a multi-car multi-accident pileup, and traffic in front of the nursery that was nearly at a standstill for six hours.
I've spent too much time outside in the cool morning air with my hot coffee though, to stay here any longer. Got to get moving.
Enjoy the day!
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