TWENTY FIVE YEARS

 No words today...

...just quiet reflection.

Twenty five years later.

GETTING THE GARAGE ATTIC ORGANIZED

It was rainy and overcast, so I figured it was a good weekend to get up in the garage attic and get our holiday decorations put up there.  Still hot but at least it was a bit cooler.

I sorted the containers (our color coded ones) on the garage floor and went to work.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

It took a couple of hours but I got them sorted and then it was time to get them up into the attic.

Put most of them at one end of the attic.  This was before I got more in but you get the idea.

At the other end (closest to the pulldown attic door) we put all the Christmas stuff. The several Christmas trees we have are laying on the sides of the attic across the rafters (but still on the floored part).

We got it all up there so it was out of the barn and garage and is semi-organized.  For the most part it's done, but when it's cooler this Fall/Winter, it will be easier to get up there and move things around to fine tune it all.  Feeling a bit more accomplished.

WE ARE STILL HERE

 Sorry for missing everyone this week (at least since Monday).  I just realized I had some posts scheduled to automatically go (as I sometimes do when we get busy) and I used the right date but used 2027 as the year, oops!  It'll be here soon enough, we sure don't need to rush that, ugh.

Boy we dodged a bullet with Edouard.  Wow, look at those totals!  Some areas over TWENTY INCHES of rainfall over the last few days.  We were so lucky.

It stayed on its forecasted track and moved inland and for a couple of days it didn't rain at all out here. 

 

Now of course, today, as I post this (we're both off today by the way) it's raining. As ominous as it looks, it's a nice steady slow rain.  Will be good for watering everything and maybe save me from having to do that this weekend.  

As we look at the forecast, it's 70% today, 50% tomorrow and 70% Sunday. 

So much for outdoor plans this weekend.  

But there will be a post or two...WITH the right year!

MOWING DONE JUST IN TIME

 I FINALLY mowed.  Well mostly, ha. 

I was going well, I edged everything first, which is a great way to start.  It was hot, "feels like" of 103 but I had to do it.  More on that momentarily. Anyway, I was finished with the back and sides and most of the front when I went to do the driveway.  The grass was pretty heavy, and it bogged down the mower blades.  Normally that's not a big deal, just turn it back on.  But I did that and the mower blades wouldn't engage.  I knew exactly what it was.

A clod of grass was wedged in between the end of one of the mower blades and the edge of the mower deck housing and it wouldn't turn so it automatically shuts off. That's happened before over the years and usually I just have to get under there and dig/pull it out and it works fine.

I drove it to the driveway and laid down and spend a good 40 minutes trying to get that. Scissors, pliers, a spray bottle of water, nothing could dislodge it.

I had this patch of grass left and I looked at the time, my heartrate, the heat and said to myself "I'm about 90% done, I think that's good enough, it's not worth risking it".  Drove the mower to the shed and put it up.  I am hoping as it dries, in a week or two (whenever I have to mow again) it will be easier to remove the dried grass/dirt.

Didn't cover as much as usual, but like I said, close enough, ha.  And best of all, it's DONE for now which is what I wanted because...

...we are on Tropical Storm watch!  It's not yet a named storm (as this posts) but if it does, it will be "Edouard".  They are expecting landfall tomorrow.

It will most likely be only a rain event, no heavy winds predicted, though that can change as a storm spins up into something bigger if it slows down.  At this point though, just rain. 

 Most of the heaviest rain misses the farm but if it wobbles a bit, we could get that.

Fingers crossed.

GOOD FOOD AND KITTY CAT SUNDAY

Another hot weekend.  Today will be some yard work in case we have some rain later this week (that's in the forecast).  But it will be done in stages, ha.

A good hearty meal is always good.  A salad to start and then some pan seared pork chops and fresh green beans, shallots and mushrooms.  Yummy!

Babygirl says hello.  She's a sweetie, still a little aloof but coming along.

Everyone stay cool this weekend!

LUNAR ECLIPSE AND HEAVY RAIN

The other night was a lunar eclipse.  Living in the country now, we were hoping for a great view of these kinds of events.  It was a little overcast but we were NOT disappointed!

Check this out!  I took about two dozen photos hoping I'd at least get a good one.  I think this is a pretty good one, ha.  I told 2nd Man I might just need a telescope one of these days...you know, Christmas, birthday...

Just sayin'

Then yesterday afternoon, we had a HUGE pop up thunderstorm come right over us (the star is our house).  It dropped almost an inch of rain.  The ground was so dry it absorbed most of it but of course, still some standing water.  Not sure I will be able to mow today and that WAS the plan.  I may edge later this evening and then hope it's dry tomorrow.  

Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

IN MEMORIAM DOLLY PARTON

Wow.  What a loss. 

When our phones started blowing up today with the breaking news, even in my office, we had to stop and take a breath.  Dolly seemed like one of those people who would just always be with us.

She lived a life of many colors, that's for sure.  Singer, songwriter, actress, business owner, philanthropist and just an all around beautiful and kind person.

As a kid, I was obsessed with Dolly.  Loved her.  Had posters, bought every album, watched every movie.  She's been performing for the better part of 70 years.  

The one place we've never been to is Dollywood. 2nd Man said we should add that to the travel list.

Her nephew said it best in the official statement on her sudden passing:

"My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family, whether you liked it or not. Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever."

INDEED...RIP Dolly.

TOO HOT TO DO ANYTHING OUTSIDE

Dog (and cat and racoon and everything else) days of Summer are here with a vengeance.

And the toll on the last minute bucket veggie garden has been extreme.

Both tomatoes look like this, despite regular watering.  I'm guessing they were just planted too late in the heat as young plants and struggled to survive.

The jalapenos on the other hand, they did at least produce some peppers.  This was the other day, 5 growing well.

And a week or so ago, we snagged three more!  Not too bad.  It shows the bucket method works, just need the right weather.  And this ain't it!

Check these out:

Saturday at 4:40pm.

Sunday at 4:10pm.

It's those feels like temps that are horrible.  You go outside and start sweating in about 2 minutes.

Mowing and edging just isn't happening right now.  Sure it needs it but nope, no one except us will see it so there is no point in risking the heat for that.

As for veggies, we aren't giving up on the bucket garden, it was just too hot too quick for too small plants.  But a FALL bucket garden, now THAT is doable!  We have about another month of these temps before we get our first cool weather so that will work!

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY

Why did the cow cross the road?

Maybe it was the heat!

Was coming home from work yet again and this time, there was a person standing at a blind curve warning people about this ahead of them.  A cow, exploring life outside the fence.  I asked the man who was warning people (kudos to him for doing that by the way) and he said he had already called the owner and they were coming to guide the wayward cow back home.

It's hot.  We are, for the first time this Summer, under an extreme heat warning this weekend.  Debating whether or not to mow/edge this weekend.  It's been three weekends now. It's tall but not crazy since we haven't had rain.  We'd be ok if it turned beige, ha.

Stay cool wherever you are!

PUTTING UP BBQ PORK RIBS

Last month, we posted about our usual tradition of BBQ ribs for our 4th of July.  We used the extra rack to chop up the meat and used it in a meal the next day.  It was so good, we thought, "let's do this again and put it up for later!"

They were on sale ($1.24/lb) again so I bought two more and seasoned them and cooked them as we always do.  Then I let it cool.

The fun part was sliding out the bones.  Since it's "fall off the bone tender", sure enough, you just grab one and pull it out.  After doing that multiple times, I put the now boneless rib meat onto the cutting board...

I sliced it one direction...

...and then the other direction.  I put on some gloves and tore it up into smaller pieces.  Lastly, I divided it all  into equal portions and...

...vacuum sealed it all up!  We ended up with three bags of a little over 2 cups each.  Enough in the freezer for a stir fry or a casserole or some pulled pork sandwiches!