Good Morning All. Clear and 48° on the SFW estate. Today will be a repeat of yesterday with temperatures in the low 70's and sunshine all day. While things didn't dry out yesterday after the 4"+ rain Sunday, most of the standing water drained off. My pond is now full for the first time in over a year.
Matter of fact, it is slightly overfull due to debris at the spillway. Here's the other end .
Water should not be quite as close to that tree; it's actually around it's base but is masked by vegetation. But so be it. It will recede soon.
Garden survived OK, but some broccoli plants were beat down a bit from the heavy downpour at some point.
They will have no issue with surviving.
The Romaine lettuce looks great despite me picking many outer leaves off Sunday morning. The green looks better than the red right now.
The cabbage to the left shows some signs of damage from cabbage worms, which I picked and squished Saturday and Sunday. It's pretty easy to find them and pinch them, rather than spreading non-organic chemicals around to consume later. The damage is to outer leaves that aren't harvested or eaten anyway. There is an organic one that makes the worms sick and they die, but with no more plants than I have, it's not worth buying a five pound bag to use a teaspoon.
While I was out there looking things over, I spotted the first snake of this season, I had set the camera down, so I didn't get any pictures. About an inch in diameter and 18" long, a common garden snake or as the locals call them, "a chicken snake". It's probably feasting on crickets this time of year. This one could get lucky and capture a small mouse; it's about the right size to do so.
Moving on, I have a stress test scheduled for Thursday and per doctors orders, I have begun reducing the dosage of
one of my BP medications. I haven't had one in about ten years, so it will be a challenge.
Thanks for the many comments and likes for yesterday's ground throw tutorial;
Dave B, Smudge, Patrick, Sherrel, Chad, Hughie, Steve J, Rick, Karl, Curt, Louis, Tom, Guy, Tom O, IB Ken, Jaz, OB Ken.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I made my first real attempt at weathering an engine. I chose the CF7 that I painted the handrails on about two weeks ago. I am using only weathering powders from AIM. Since CF7's were built from '72-'78 and were gone from the roster by '86, they never became "rust buckets", as well as Santa Fe strongly believed in having washed good-looking equipment. So light weathering is called for. Mainly steps, end handrails, trucks and battery boxes.
Looking for suggestions and comments.
Karl - Love the duck picture. One of my neighbors raises Muscovy ducks and every so often, one will fly down and nest somewhere on my property. Muscovies are big ducks and dress out between 5-6 pounds. I generally keep a couple and have him round up the rest of the brood which is generally 16+ ducklings.
Yep! You're about to get hit with the same front that drenched us. Watch out!
Sherrel - Give mine and Arlene's best wishes to Kate in her Covid battle. She shouldn't have any real issue with quarantining at her mother's place if you bring groceries and alcohol.
I'm sitting here getting snockered off of Kirkland's Margarita mix with my added in Tequila while the Spousal Unit is hibernating away from everyone 6 miles away.
Oh Boy - Is she gonna owe me! How long is this going to take?
Yes! But she is probably laying next to the pool with her Margarita!
Dave B - Seven wheelbarrows full! I hope that you have a powered log splitter. I count mine by the piece because I use a "sledge & wedge". But I generally don't have to split much.
I have a lot this year due to a 40 year old tree that I had to remove last fall, but I have all summer to split what's left.
Todd - Human hair is a somewhat good repellent for deer, although they will ignore it sometimes. Also a good deterrent to rabbits as well, is organic Blood Meal. Both animals are vegetarian and the smell of blood repels them. It generally needs to be reapplied after rain though.
Terry -
I went to the bank and ordered the required statements, 60 of them, at a cost of $2 per statement.
That alone should qualify you for Medicaid.
Everybody have a great day.
not because she made me crash my car, but she was not missed I can tell you. I lent her clothes. When she was pregnant and when I got them back most were only fit for the bin as they had milk stains, which is easily avoided! Hmmmm too much info for y ou guys I think….sniggers.
