Beating Selene

Or was it the other way around?  Check this:

Wednesday was nice, warmish & very dry air.  I checked the radar and saw all the radar from Selene.  Forecasts said heavy rain would start after midnight.  I wondered what I could get done before that.

I started at 9:00 a.m. First up, I TWP'd the new framework on the last section of the privacy fence. (See Garden projects page.)  I figured at least 12 hours for the sealant to penetrate would do some good.  

After than I crawled around spreading fertilizer under the evergreens, rhodys and burning bushes.  Halfway through the neighbor boy came over (Spring break) and I gave him $$ to gather up all the down limbs and branches.  That would save my back for other projects.   Like more perennial trimming.

Later that afternoon (after a rest & an Advil), I decided to get the Snapper ready early this year.  After all, the grass never did go dormant and it was starting to take off.  Installed the battery, checked the oil, gassed it up and connected the spark plug.  Vroooooooom.  What a great sound!

I checked the radar.  Selene was still hanging back so I put on the bagger and picked up a ton of the ping-pong ball sized spiky sweetgum tree seeds.  I hate those things this time of year.  It's like walking on ball bearings.  Nasty stuff.

By then I called it a day.  I was pooped.  But at least a lot got done.  Let it rain.  I would do some inside stuff Thursday.

Thursday a.m.  No rain.  Radar showed Selene still holding back.  Overnight a LOT of the daffs opened up and looked gorgeous bobbing in the breeze.  Even half of the ones I transplanted along the golf course just a couple weeks ago where opened. What a nice day.  Not at all what was predicted.

Hmmmm.  At 7:30 I gathered up all the Wednesday trimming hustled over to the yardwaste depot before breakfast (while the depot area was dry, not muddy).  I had the place to myself. *heh*

Selene still hadn't moved an inch eastward, so next I took down all the deer-deterring chicken wire from around the hemlock hedge; rolled up the fencing and pulled stakes.  And, since the Snapper was up and running, I hauled all the stuff up to the shed.  Needed a another (longer) break then.

But by 10:00 I wondered what else I could do before this 'awful storm' got here.  The mower was gassed up.  Yep.  You guessed it: mowed the side and back lawns.  That killed a couple hours.  I found a lot of deer droppings and mountains of mole hills.  Crap.  Another vermin to add to my worst enemies list this year.

Anyway, I was, again, pooped.  I rolled the Snapper into the garage, right in front of the snowblower (really, this time of year it's 50-50 which one will get action next). But, boy, the trimmed lawns really showed off the daffs!  But if this darn storm didn't get here soon, I was going to work myself into a heart attack!  Finally weather intervened.  A little after noon the winds started up and got worse and worse.  Sure it was warm (65ish), but you could barely stand up in it.  Finally I went inside.

Winds howled and whipped all day and then sometime before midnight the huge storm arrived.  By then the front it was long and thin and lasted only about an hour as it drove through dropping a mere .6" of rain.

Weather forecasting.  I want that job.... *sigh*

Anyway, I got so much done.  Yay me.  I've earned some serious sitdowns for a while.  Now everything looks nice so when Mom comes for Easter we can sit out on the deck and enjoy the flowers.  (And some nice ham and scalloped potatoes; homemade applesauce; basement greens salads and chocolate brownies.)

How about you?  Trying to second-guess this year's weather?  How's it going ... extreme warmth? Too much rain?  Under a foot of snow?  Tell me about it....

Happy Easter!

Deluge !!

It was hot and sticky Sunday morning, but I did manage to get some outside chores done.

I cut back the big tomato plants against the fence and tied them up.  I cut off all the spent hostas stalks (front and back beds). Fertilized pots in spaRRows.  Did a lot of deadheading, pulled weeds, tidied up in the swing bed.

Then, since 2 of the 3 garage barrels were now empty, I cleaned them out and made them ready for any rain we might get.

I was hot and sweaty and decided that was enough.  It was going on 3 pm and I was ready for some serious time inside with a cold drink and the A/C.

I checked the radar.  Some small stuff to the north of us. 

No probs there.

About 15 minutes later I glanced out the front window from the couch and saw what I thought was smoke from the neighbor's grill.  Hmmm.

A closer look.

It was all water.

Coming down.

In buckets. 

Checked the radar.  Those little green spots had swelled into BIG RED BLOTCHES and was growing as I watched.

The 2 barrels filled within minutes - the water coming out of the downspout so violently half of it overshot the 3rd barrel.

I stood and watched the rain gauge fill before my eyes.  Within 35 minutes it was just over 2".  (The pic shows less because I forgot to take one after the storm.)

Water raced from the golf course, across lawns further down the hill, almost a foot deep in places.  It surged down the hill, flooded the creek, backed up into the golf course to the east and homes to the west.  

And the thunder and lightning was constant.  Thankfully not much wind.  Then it passed on to the south.  Since it was slow moving, the thunder from the storm was loud and long for almost another hour.  

Then it was over.  

*sheesh*

No damage here except for the fence San Marzano tomatos - beaten over, but not broken; the basement sump only came on once.  Well, the rain barrels are filled again.  What a ride.

Here it is Wednesday, hot and humid again and the 1st rainbarrel is nearly empty again.  Circle of life..... *heh*

Beauty before the Beast

It's just gorgeous outside today:  The sun is dancing off our 3" snowfall of yesterday.

Bright.  

Blue.

Brilliant.

Benign.

And lying through it's icy teeth.  

There's a huge storm rolling down upon us.  A big wet southern storm is making its way north.  A big dip in the polar jet stream is bearing down to the south.  And when they meet up - it's gonna be nothing but trouble.   8-10" of trouble. 

Can't do anything but wait for it.  I'm sure the grocery stores are mobbed today between the coming storm and tomorrow's superbowl sunday parties.  Mom and I are set: food in the 'fridges, furnaces working (check out the current Household Adventures post on the sidebar blog today), books for Mom to read, computers for me to use.

I've also got 2 pots of beans soaking so I can simmer them up tomorrow during the storm.  Nothing is cozier than either a fire or something on the stove during bad weather.  

How about you?  Making any consideration for the storm?  (I mean, have ya checked the radar lately?) Or is just another day for you?
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P.S. One nice note - literally.  The past couple weeks I've noticed the start, and increase of birdsong!  Not just the usual winter *chitter cheap* of birds feeding, but real song in the mix too.  Ah, hope Springs eternal.  

Rocky Tuesday

Rocky swept in this morning and, luckily, the temps are in the mid 30s so NO ICE.  But lots of wind and rain - almost 3/4" so far and more to come.

There's something for everyone with this storm.  I mean - really - how many more colors could we possibly get on the radar?

And here's what it looks like when the primary color is - GRAY.  *glub glub*

For something warm and cozy, however,  click on this bright and bubbly pic.