Sunday, October 28, 2012

Retrograde and Frankenweather


It nearly hit 80F on Thursday and I spent almost 9 hours working on leaves and other outdoor chores, trying to get the basics done before Frankenweather set in.  

Friday morning got to 62F, but then the wind shifted and I worked the rest of the day in dropping temps (low 50s) and cold wind.   About the last thing I did before I gave up the ghost was to clear off the deck.  I didn't get anything put into the shed (just stacked pots, benches, etc. in front of the deck for later moving), nor did I get the geraniums into the basement (I just schlepped them into the sunroom while they were all still nice and dry). 

I DID get all the leaves from the front/side lawns onto back beds.  By 5:00 I was totally toasted and hit the showers.  I'm done. I'm done (well, for now - ready for weather), I chanted.  Alas, fresh from the shower my nabe Todd rang the doorbell.  "Hey, you said you needed more leaves.  I blew up a pile from my place for you."   And, dang! if he didn't.  I had to laugh.  No way was I going to be able to do ANYthing with leaves for nearly a week (according to the weather channel).   So we mounded them up (me in my PJs) and covered them with a tarp. 

Then Friday, midnight-ish the front came in from the west and dropped temps and 3/4" of rain by Saturday a.m.  Talk about timing.  I spent Saturday on the couch.  After 5 days of non-stop heavy lifting, I couldn't lift anything heavier than a mug all day.  *moan*

We were dry for about 8 hours last night, then FrankenSandy bumped into our front and pushed it from Pennsylvania BACK to OHIO.  Yikes.  I realized the gutters hadn't gotten cleaned, so early this morning I climbed up a long ladder and cleaned out my south side (2nd floor) gutters, then clambered out the upstairs windows out onto the sunroof and cleaned  both the upper and lower gutters.  I was pretty soaked when I was done.

WAS I done?  Heck no - I drove over to my mother's and cleaned out HER gutters because she never thinks about them.  Back home, I've changed clothes, contemplated a cup of hot tea, but have, instead, opted to break into my last bottle of cider.   Oh, if anyone ever deserved a good slug of alcohol this early in the day (just coming on noon), then it is most decidedly - ME! 

OK.  I think I'm ready for Frankenweather.  I just hope the forecasters have overstated the danger of this monster hybrid combination of full moon/high tides, cold front, Atlantic low and Hurricane Sandy.  But I think it's going to be a bad one.

Everyone - stay safe.  Fingers crossed....


11 comments:

  1. Well, I've been so worried about those folks along the coast, I had no idea Frankenweather was going to hit you there in Ohio, TOO! Gosh, be careful, OK?

    Meanwhile we sit here with no rain. Go figure. Had to water yesterday. Got two 28ยบ mornings in a row. The zinnias, Morning glories, gourd and hyacinth bean are toast. Some other things don't look too bad.

    Stay in, stay warm and dry, stay safe. Hugs, Ilene

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    1. If you check a radar map, Ohio is totally under rain already....

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  2. Waiting here in central NY for it to hit too. We had good weather Thursday and Friday but because I have to work - darn, I couldn't get outside until after work. Turned on the outside lights and stayed out until 8:00 each night. I think I'm ready for the storm - we're supposed to get it sometime on Monday. I too am hoping they are over-forecasting. Keeping my fingers crossed!

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    1. Hi, Bonnie. Well, the Cleveland forecasters have UP'd the wind forecast (40s ~ 70s). It's now even scarier than yesterdays warnings. I still hope they are overstating, but *sheesh* I'm not happy right now. Take care -- stay safe.

      Sorry you couldn't make better use of the nice weather while you had it. It WAS gorgeous. :-D

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    2. Listening to the wind and hearing bangs and clangs but I don't want to venture outside to see what it is. Not much rain here, just a lot of strong wind. I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight - so far our power has not gone out, just flickered. Supposed to fly to Las Vegas Thursday - I will be very upset to lose my vacation!!

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    3. Lots of wind here, too. Howling, in fact. Lights flickering... a thump or two. And one of the windows has loose flashing so it is vibrating/keening like a banshee. Driving me nuts. I don't plan on much sleeping here tonight either.

      I hope you still get to Vegas. Warm and dry - doesn't it sound lovely!

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  3. I wish you could bottle some of that energy along with the cider....I could use a lot of both!

    It sounds like you are ready for the good rains now. That has to be a good thing with winter looming ahead.

    I am so impressed with those gorgeous geraniums. Maybe a blog telling us in detail how you raise them so successfully?

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    1. Winds should gust into the 70s. It's been raining since Friday midnight and what with the ground saturating, we're worried about the winds bringing down trees. Like most weather, there's either too little rain (this summer) or too much (like right now). We're keeping our fingers crossed that the power stays on for the week.

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  4. Your cider would have been excellent with my carrot cake. We need to plan get togethers around our crappy weather. :o)

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    1. Ooooooo. Cider and carrot cake. I'll take that action any day! Let's hear it for crappy weather! ;-D

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    2. P.S. Check out the Chef's page blog - I'm making my OWN cider...

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