The Storms were Due, Rain Barrel!

The Ridge

On Tuesday, June 16th I heard Bill get up and checked the clock. It was only 5:30 and I had no where to be so rolled over again. Gibbs went out for his piddle and after getting his feet wiped, came back to bed with me. We got up to say goodbye to Daddy at 6:30 and stayed put.

Good morning!
The doves joined the breakfast club
this morning.

Next I saw the clock, it was a couple minutes to 7. I did my stretches, with Gibbs stretched across my chest, and got up and made the bed. 

Clouds illusions, I recall.
Yup, a 60's tune right there.

It was a warmer start than yesterday but still jeans weather for me. I had my tea and oatmeal this morning and played my word games online.

I have been waiting for you!
There are 8 buds still waiting to open.
I hope not all at once, I like them
to last.

Still not sure what I wanted to do, I delved into the 3rd story in the Between the Plums book by J.E. What light hearted story telling! I love her writing. I got a message on MarketPlace from the fellow who is selling 55 gal. rain barrels. We've been going back and forth for over a week.

There is a forecast for storms
this afternoon.

He was bringing me one with a lid from Shelburne, about 45 min. away, to Flesherton/Kimberly. It was still a 25 min. drive but I wanted one and the price was right. I got washed and headed out around 9. A quick message to Bill about my plans and I followed my gps.

I could have taken a quicker route,
but this was such a lovely quiet drive.
I quite enjoyed it.
Look at the view in the right hand
photo.

It took me a longer route, but a lovely drive towards the Beaver Valley area. Stunning views and lots of curvy roads and steep hills. Black Beauty and I took our time, there was hardly any traffic the whole way and that is good when one doesn't exactly know the route.

It is exactly what I wanted.
If it doesn't fill quickly enough,
we can get a bladder of water
from the Acreage.
The walking onions and garlic
are now taking off.
No enhancement needed on the pictures
with this greenery!

He was pleasant and we chose a good clean barrel before I loaded it into the back seat. Coming home was more straight forward but I didn't want to come back UP those steep hills. I am tickled that I got one and carried it up to my garden area. We are expecting rain this afternoon.

These clouds are never as attractive
to me, although interesting.

I worked on the puzzle for a while after Gibbs came inside and then came in for lunch myself. A poached egg on toast hit the spot with a coffee. I'd planned burgers for supper and even made a strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert. It would be baked on the Weber.

I have to admit, this pie looks
delicious!

 Around 1 pm, the winds picked up and dark clouds surrounded us. Hmm, no warnings other than some thunder and heavy rain at times. 

I was telling Bill yesterday
that the Orioles had not visited
the hummer food yet.
Today, he came to check it out.
So curious.

Bill was on his way home shortly after 1:30 and after I ran out and closed things up, reconnecting us to power, the sky cleared. It was beautiful by the time he pulled up the lane. 

This book contained 3 stories.
Plum Lucky, Plum Lovin' &
Visions of Sugar Plums

Nothing lasts long, it seems, as the storms came and went 3 times since then. We had quite the heavy rains for about 10 minutes with small hail and strong winds from the southwest. Then nothing again. 

FedEx has added new trucks
to their fleet.
That's a happy pilot right there.
💕

I looked for a rainbow but nothing yet. I finished my book of 3 stories while my boys snoozed.

I laugh every time he sits like this.
How can it be comfortable with
his butt sliding down?
💘

Bill got his delivery from FedEx shortly after he got home, airplane 'things', so he's a happy camper again. 😂 I got out my electric frypan for the burgers and the pie will wait until tomorrow, hopefully a better day. 

The first bout of strong winds
brought no rain.

As soon as I did that, it looked clear enough so Bill was able to grill outdoors. Yay!

The second storm brought
winds plus hail and heavy rain.

They were good, and a much easier cleanup than a fry pan. I worked on my blog and Bill took his goodies down to the Hangar. 

I watched the small family
come up from the pond but as soon
as Gibbs saw them, he barked and
they made an about turn. We don't
want them up here, too poopy!

I walked up to peek in my rain barrel and have about an inch already. It's a start! I'll tie a rope to a small bucket for scooping the water when it is full enough.

Round three, just dark clouds that
passed all around us. No more
rain this time either.

While Bill grilled our supper,
Gibbs found a frog.
Can I keep him, Mom?
No, leave him alone.
He did. 

A great day here in the neighbourhood. The storms were due to come, after all the talk about them yesterday and this morning. 

The gravel up here is softer than
in the lane, maybe?
She didn't finish.

Delicious Angus burgers
with Bill's touch, of course.
🤭

My plants are crazy tall and all is good. We reached 22.2C/72F and that was very nice. A video of our hail. Volume up, it is very loud but, thankfully, not damaging.

Good night! Thanks for stopping by.

A Lovely Day After All

The Ridge

On Monday, June 15th today started us into the second half of the month. Hard to believe. The weather is still being typically 'screwy' with last night's low temperature. No windows open for us and this morning, it was long pants and jacket weather.

Good morning!

Bill had the garbage bagged and ready to go, using up 3 of our tags by cleaning 'stuff' from the Bunky, garden shed and Hangar. They are useless after today and no refund on the tags. 😒Next garbage day, the bags will just go into the green bins for pick up by the truck.

When I got home, Gibbs goes out
and takes his position on the steps.
Two feet up and two feet down.
Surveying.

I followed Bill out the lane about 10 minutes later and drove to town for cleaning. It was still cool, not quite 10C/50F until I was on my way home 2 hours later. I cleaned the lint from the big dryers and swept the office and washroom. They don't get done often, seldom used.

A couple of customers were in when I arrived and one gentleman commented on how he was impressed by how thorough I was. Now, that's nice to hear and the that is the second time this spring I've heard positive feedback. Any feedback, for that matter. It's nice. 😉

The irises in the dreaded corral
garden are blooming.
In the fall, I'll move them.

I went to Foodland to pick up some of the Montana's Angus burgers that are on sale. A box of 6 - 1/3 lb. - burgers for $17.99. That's a huge savings from the regular price. If I had room in the freezer, I would have bought 3 boxes to prepare for our Canada Day dinner.

Right outside the window where
I craft. Not clear through screened windows
but I'm happy they found it!

Back home, it was still feeling chilly with the wind and clouds played tag until almost noon. I disconnected from power once the sun returned to let the solar do its thing. Gibbs and I stayed inside until about 11:30 when we went out and filled the 3 bird feeders.

I walked up to see my veggies.
Gibbs in 3 positions here.
Security first.
Hiding from Mom second (left)
Time for tummy rubs third.
He got them, of course.

Then I quilled. My new project will be a butterfly, using blacks, oranges and yellows. As I was sitting there, I was tickled pink to see a hummingbird visit the new feeder I attached to our back window. It is in full view when I'm sitting there. They are frequenting both and I'm so happy!

For being a turtle, they
sure get around - and quickly.
Here she is coming up the lane.

At noon, I just had a plate with zucchini, cheeses, meat and yogourt. My coffee around 10:30 usually helps to fill me with the creamer I add. I'm never very hungry. Donna messaged that she and Gerry were headed to the Acreage. 

There is an infatuation
with goose feathers. Mostly, he
wants us to try and take them.
He carried this one up from the end
of the lane. He knows it can't come
in the house and will drop it at the
door.

We forgot things there yesterday so I was going to retrieve them and get a couple more tomato plants. At 1:30ish, after Gibbs and I walked down to bring the recycle bin in off the roadway, I put his bark collar on him and we hopped into Black Beauty. 

I was so pleased with him today on our drive.
This is taken in 'selfie' mode.
Maybe he is looking for our home?

I was so impressed with the little guy. Yesterday, he was a holy terror (not quite) in the truck. Barking and whining and when he saw D & G, went crazy to get out of the truck. Today, I hit the warning button on the collar remote once when he barked and that was it! 

Even when he got out of the truck
and ran to Gerry. No barking.
💗

No barking, the occasional whine but he was amazing! Good boy! I made sure to give him a treat when we arrived at the Acreage and since he was the same all the way home, the collar came off and he got another treat. 💕 What a switch.

Gibbs is not bothered by 
Mrs. Yertle. She doesn't run from him.
🤭

Bill had phoned that he was on his way home too. That's nice. I went out and transferred the 6 or so garlic plants from the two flower pots into the ground where they'd have a better chance. Also, I got 4 more tomato plants from Donna today so put them into the pots. They will go up on the hill.

Two kinds of tomatoes in top pix.
Rutgers and San Marzano
The garlic in better earth beside
the rhubarb that doesn't grow much.

Interesting how as some flowers die off, the phlox, peonies and daffodils, others begin taking their place. Irises are popping out in all my gardens, the evening primrose are getting taller and showing new buds. Hostas are spreading their leaves too.

Oregon Cranesbill or Oregon Geranium

Dahlias are stretching up at a remarkable speed and the Moonflower plants are budding and blooming. I noticed today that the winter geranium has flowers on it as does the Oregon cranesbill/geranium. I guess purple is my colour!

Winter Geranium

Bill returned and when he and Gibbs had their snooze, I went out to the puzzle. Some progress is being made, it is a challenge finding all the little Elvis faces. 🤭 Bill went to the Hangar when he realized he didn't have enough gas for the weed trimmer. That man has to keep busy!

The puzzle is coming along.

Supper was tacos, messy ones too. We both enjoy the hard shell and when Bill still felt hungry, he made himself a sloppy joe with some of the fillings. Good idea! I tend to forget that what fills me is not enough for a working man. After cleanup of the one pot, he made his lunch and moseyed down again.

The tacos were good.
This packet came with a sauce.
Added a new taste.

This was a really nice day after all. When the sun came out, it warmed up considerably to a pleasant 19.44C/67F and will only drop to 10C/50F overnight. We like that! More rain expected this week but hopefully not a washout.

Looking for a memory from this day,
I found one from June 15, 2017.
I picked Mom up and we went to visit
Wendy at Grey Roots Museum in Owen Sound.
Such a great memory!
Good night!

Thank you for your visit.