Whew, that is far too hot for this time of year. I wonder how bad it will get this year? Hopefully you'll be on the mountain before it gets too much worse. 
Maybe the rain is on its way... the bulk of it looks to have changed its mind about coming here. A nice switch since it always seems to go out of its way to rain on the weekends here. LOL. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 08:27 am: |   |
Was 77 degrees at 11:30 pm when we went to bed last night...at 9:30 this morning it was 74 degrees...sometime overnight, it supposedly dropped to 70. High for today is calling for 90 and a 10% chance of rain...yippee...right now it looks pretty overcast, but the sun is blazing through. The wind continues to be quite strong at times, but it sure is welcome as it moves the hot air around.
We are actually pretty close to normal temps for this time of year DJ...just glad the humidity is remaining low right now...who needs the sauna?
We had consecutive days over 90 degrees in 1998 that contributed to the wildfires...those 90 degree days that year began I believe around March and continued far into the summer. At least this is tolerable for the moment.
Yeah, I'm dreaming of cool mountain breezes...lol...hoping we get things together soon!!! My hold up is DH, he is the one who will be making the final decision as to exactly when we leave. Me, I'd already have blown this popcorn stand a couple weeks ago...lol, but that's just me. I "visit" the area almost daily online...checking out what's going on, what the weather is doing and looking to see what's coming up that I don't want to miss, since we are going anyway. Here's a link to the area where we will be relocating...love the beautiful scenery everywhere.
http://www.franklin-chamber.com/visitorInformation/ |
Oh! My husband and I went rafting down the Nantahala many years ago. It is gorgeous there. No wonder you're chomping at the bit to get back to that area. I'm a nature girl and places like that always steal a piece of my heart. Love the pics on that website.  |
Saturday May 10, 2008
The day has been heavy with heat. From about 1:30 pm until just after 7 pm, the temps were above 90 degrees. The highest reading I saw was 93 degrees and that remained constant from the times mentioned above. Felt like it was over 90 as well. Our saving grace is the east wind blowing in from the ocean. The gusty winds cooled the heavy air.
Being overcast did not help...it only seemed to make things heavier. Rain is still said to be in the forecast, but until I feel the drops or see them with my own eyes, I won’t hold my breath. Currently, the temps are about 87 degrees and its 8 pm. With the sun setting, it feels much cooler already. But if this keeps up, I’ll be having to turn the A/C on just to be able to handle it during the day...being in a tin can is hated in summer months without the A/C...the house reached over 86 during the hottest part, and even the fans could not keep the damp perspiration from flowing in little rivers down the back of my neck. Oh, for the cooler breezes on the mountain tops...the temps near the property today are in the mid 70’s with lows tonight in the low 50’s to upper 40’s...we’ll be lucky to drop below 80 by midnight.
Been thinking about my granddad the past few days...tomorrow May 11th, marks the 33rd anniversary of the date he was buried...he passed on May 8, 1975 and was buried on Mothers day that year, which happened to be May 11th. So much has happened in those thirty plus years, yet I miss him still as if it had just happened. I’m missing my own Mom as well. This marks the fourth year we have seen Mother’s day without her. For all who have gone, you are missed and still loved...Happy Mother’s Day...
Not sure what our plans will be on Sunday...DH is trying to get my little truck put together, he’s changing the rack and pinion...one of the last things we will be having to replace for awhile. The boys may come out, but then again, we never seem to know when they may show up. The oldest has been here most of the day with the granddaughter... not sure if he will be seeing his mother tomorrow or not...they tend to hang here on most of those kind of days.
The granddaughter is a little tomboy...kid after my own heart...rough and tumble girl who’d rather chase after her papa and daddy than sit...she’s rarely quiet, but does enjoy the books on the porch and playing with the other toys.
She’d rather be out digging in the dirt or riding her four wheeler, flying around the yard...she’s almost five and it’s a “power wheel" four wheeler...won’t be long tho and papa will have to get the little dirt bike up and running for her and she will learn on the same one her daddy learned to ride on. She’s almost tall enough.
Put a cage around my rosebush Sunsprite...thought when I moved her to the porch I’d be done with that. But, Spike is getting awful stupid in his old age, he continues to jump into the pot, in spite of the fact that he has been smacked, sprayed and caged for doing this. I’d love to zap him and see if that cures his butt. So for now, the cage is back in place and hopefully little Sunsprite will begin showing signs of life again. The cuttings that I put in the water are continuing to show life and even appear to have a bit of growth showing...still keeping a very close eye on them to see if they will root...
No watering the gardens today. I left the soaker hose on overnight and barely could tell it had been on...I hope it is doing some good. There was a small puddle of water around one of the firebushes so I know they are putting water on the ground. Just so very dry that every drop is greedily sucked up by the parched earth.
To DJ, glad you are familiar with the area and also that you enjoyed the link...I too am a nature girl and those mountains are part of my soul...been visiting them since I was very young and as there is said to be Cherokee in my ancestry it makes sense that I have always felt such a strong connection to them. My mother could never understand my love for that area until I began doing the family genealogy and discovered the connection on Both sides of the family tree...both families came through that area and settled...later moving on into Georgia, Kentucky and Indiana and beyond. One day I’ll get back to getting everything in order for my grandkids...perhaps once we get to the mountain...
Happy Mother’s Day DJ and may you always know the love your son has for you.  |
Sunday May 11, 2008 ~~~~~ HAPPY MOTHER”S DAY
The morning is starting off quite nicely...temps are in the low 70’s...the sky continues to be overcast, yet the light breeze is very nice and cool. Expected highs for today are again around the 90 degree mark.
Have tried to log in at GB, but keep getting an error message...tells me I’m either not online or there might be a problem with the site...well, I know I’m online cause I can go to other places, just not GB. 
The cuttings from Sunsprite continue to amaze me. Both pieces are holding up well in the vases. Each cutting is showing leaf buds and the larger cutting is actually beginning to open a new group of leaves!!! YES! I am excited.
The potted Sunsprite continues to fight to live as well. I have returned the cage to Sunsprite’s pot in an effort to help protect her from Spike...we shall see if the cage deters him....this little rose has two tiny nubs of green showing on her crown, there WERE four or five of these.....SPIKE!!!! 
Got little baby cukes about an inch long so far...loads of blooms on all three plants...finally got the center plant a cage and it sure looks happier. The tomatoes have slowed down a bit...should have a couple more about ripe. I went through and trimmed all of the tomatoes back a bit a week or so ago. Still have tons of blooms there as well...probably just need to water a bit more.
Too bad the heat will be suffocating on the porch later...at the moment, the gusty breeze is making things feel very nice. Still overcast, but the sun is shining brightly through the clouds...won’t be long before the heat makes itself felt once more...
 |
4:15pm...Mother's Day has gone well, both boys and the granddaughter have been here and my son in Indiana called earlier this morning...
so far the gusty winds have helped to keep the heat from being so heavy...it only remained at 93 degrees for a few hours today, its currently 90 with very gusty winds. The sky remains heavily overcast although the sun continues to blaze through.
I have put the soaker hose around the tomatoes and cucumbers in the vegetable garden...looks like it will do well there. WOOHOOO...got a pretty decent size cuke on the largest plant!!! These are a pickling variety, so I don't expect them to be monsters. Won't be long now!!
Got a couple more tomatoes that are ready to be picked, and several more that will be ready in the next couple of days. The broccoli looks like crap...not sure what needs doing there...oh well, I'll probably end up pulling it out and giving it to the chickens...doesn't look like its doing much.
Turned the soaker hose on again in the half moon garden...it is really dry. The front beds are holding the moisture well now that I have begun watering it heavier. It will be able to go a couple days easy between waterings now...seems I wasn't watering the areas deep enough to penetrate the mulch.
The cage around Sunsprite seems to be detering Spike...added a bit of eggshell to the soil around her this morning.
DH has been working on getting the rack and pinion installed on my Dakota, its going well, just very hot and windy. The job is almost complete....Woohoo...the core money will finally be reclaimed on Monday!! |
| Seil Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 04:40 pm: | |
Happy Mother's Day Karen. I hope it cools down and rains for you real soon. |
Thank you Sharon...Hope your Mother's Day has been special...the way the wind is gusting today, the heat hasn't had a chance...LOL...keep hearing distant thunder off and on and in the past hour or so, the air has begun to feel cooler as it blusters through the open windows. Come on rain... |
Maybe that's just Spike's way of complaining about the heat. LOL!
I am so glad that you had a nice Mother's Day with the family. It's a bit late in the day, but I wish you a continued Happy Mother's Day.  (and thank you for the Mother's Day wishes!)
Oh, boy, that was very teary. (((  HUGS))) |
Don't think so...he's just a BRAT ... thinks he's part cat is the problem. Spike is the climbingest dog I've ever known. He sleeps on the back of the loveseat, or chairs...
Thanks DJ...(((HUGS))) to you as well. |
Goodness!! The below 70 temps this morning actually feel cool. For the moment, the wind has calmed. This is bad...
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD0 1051208.htm
I'm hearing that currently there have been almost 1000 acres burned at this moment...
In addition to this fire which is north of us, actually about 10 miles...there are several others burning out of control in the county south of us...Fires really freak me out.
This is like deja vue...very similar to the fires we had in 1998...and once more, we are planning to travel...same as then. At this point, I don't think I'm willing to leave just yet for the mountain. When we go, we will be having a friend come in to take care of the animals...but the fires have me concerned...I'd never be able to live with myself if something happened while we were gone.
Just showing that they have closed I-95 N from US-92, which is the main road off which our road sits...its on the North end of us. The interstate is being closed from the south as well... oh how I hate this high anxiety that comes with the smell of smoke. At least I don't have to go that way to go into town. DH's brother lives fairly close to that area...only on the other end. Won't worry too much unless it crosses I-95...
So far, not smelling the smoke on this end... |
LOL!
As for the fire article... no rain in the forecast? How typical! I remember seeing scorched areas when we lived in St. Pete. It was always shocking to see because one day it would be all green and tropical-looking and the next it would be all black with the skeletal remains of palmetto trunks everywhere. That was usually from cigarettes thrown out of car windows, though. It's hard to imagine your humidity being so low. I don't really remember any days like that. LOL! Well, I really hope it stays away from you. I've seen that tin cans (LOL!) go up in smoke before you know it. I'd hate for you to be asleep when something happened. I wonder... do the air alarms sound when there's a fire in the area? |
If you are referring to something like the "tornado warning sirens" then no...we don't even have those for tornados...our warning is a reverse 911 call where they call the people in the affected areas...ok, so now they need to figure out how to call if the lines are all out because of the fires...according to the news, several of the huge power lines are currently burning also..the last update I heard says the fires have jumped across LPGA to the north side and are burning along 95 N as well... there are still scars from the fires of 1998 all through our area...some has been cleared to make way for new development, but there are signs all over the area from the old fires... we do have smoke detectors in the house and with the windows open all the time, I'm convinced that the smoke detectors could warn us...of course they could also become a nuisance if the smoke becomes heavy because of the wind shift...sigh..just one more thing to cope with.
So far, the smoke remains north of our area...the news channel is showing it blowing to the east...so sucks for those folks in that area...several hospitals in the smoke path... if it jumps further south...won't be pretty.
I had wondered yesterday late in the afternoon when the winds were so gusty why anyone would be foolish enough to have the helicopter out... thought it might be the hospital life line or even the sheriff's chopper...neither are unusual for us to hear...but in all that high wind I was very surprised...then when we saw the news it all made sense. |
That's the term I was looking for. Thank you. LOL!!
Eek!
Or for people like me who keep the ringer off. Or are connected to the Internet all day and only have the one phone line. Doesn't sound like they thought that one through. LOL!
Oh, great, sounds like things are moving right along, and not in a good way.
Ah! Very good. (They could also go off from pollen. That's what happens around here and it scares me half to death every time.)
Ooooh, yeah. Ugh. Scary. |
They are just now beginning to install the warning sirens...for the life of me I can't figure out why they haven't been using the old Civil Defense sirens to warn of tornadoes like they do in the Midwest and other areas...my god, you can hear those sirens for miles...just another way to waste taxpayer dollars I guess. So far only a couple of the counties have installed the new warning sirens...this coming after two years of tornadoes hitting the Daytona area hard during different times of the year...one at Christmas and one in February the following year...
For having so many transplants in the area, you'd think SOMEONE would have thought of the warning sirens way before now.
teeheee...mine would go off from the steam coming from the bathroom shower.... |
The tortoise and the hare... slooooowwww, but sure. LOL. Actually, I bet they were threatened with a lovely lawsuit because of those two years. LOL!
LOL!! I can tell you what doesn't set them off... smoke. LOL!! Last week, I was boiling a big pot of water for pasta. It sent up quite a stench for a good long while before I realized that a potholder on the stove had worked its way onto the burner and was glowing and smoking. LOL! |
Monday May 12, 2008
The trip into town brought the smell of smoke... from the news, they think there is a good chance of the fire burning along the southbound side of I-95 as well as the north side...the fire has only been 20% contained as yet.
The memories of the wildfires of 1998 seem to be on everyone’s mind. Being south of the fires at this time, my eyes are constantly on the watch for the telltale haze of smoke...my strongest memory of the 1998 fires is one of driving southbound on I-95 back into Daytona as the interstate was being closed...when I reached the LPGA exit, the western sky was a gruesome red tinged black/grey as the fires consumed the dry brush... the fires were burning on both sides of 95 and on the west end of LPGA...we were only a few miles from the fire at that time...smoldering ashes dropped into the yard and the heavy smoke filled air made breathing difficult. The high anxiety caused by the proximity of the fires kept me pacing for days until it was under control...I had hoped to never endure that anxiety again. Being on constant alert for evacuation is not my idea of fun....especially when the entire state was burning at that time.
Today’s weather has been relatively mild compared to the weekend...here it is almost 2pm and the temps remain in the low 80’s...the humidity is very low as well which has resulted in the red flag warnings as well. So far, the wind remains much calmer than the weekend...only an occasional breeze today...this should help with getting the fires under control....we shall definitely be watching for more updates. Th sound of the helicopters is very distant...must be using them to help with the fires...nothing like yesterday when the sound was almost like that of a war zone when they zoomed past. Wet smoke smells are beginning to drift our way now...hope the fire stays north of 92...way too many pines out south of 92 heading towards us... some days I do not understand the logic of how the fires are fought here... seems for the most part the theory is one of if there are no homes close, don’t worry about putting it out...and then of course it becomes a major firestorm, jumping through the treetops and closing in on homes...just put it out already. Only those who stubbornly refuse to evacuate seem to keep their homes from burning to the ground...this was evidenced during the 1998 fires...people stood their ground and kept their homes from being destroyed even tho the firefighters would have let them burn. Crazy is the only way to describe it.
Haze from the smoke is beginning to fill our skies...makes it look overcast, but that is not the case....the grey haze is directly above us as well as behind....behind is the north end of the property, the direction of the fires...I worry about smoldering embers being carried by the wind...our back pasture and the pasture to the east of us is tinder dry...didn’t realize how crunchy it was until I went to check on the berry patch...haven’t mowed out there for over six weeks, but the weeds aren’t even able to grow without rain.
Guess I won’t allow myself to worry unless I begin to see the red glow in the night sky indicating that the fires are moving our way. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:15 am: | |
BRRRRR....chilly this morning compared to the hot weekend!! Woke this morning to an inside temp of 60 degrees...I had shut the fans off last night after the sun went down as the air began to have a chill. DH actually shut the window and turned the heater on in the bathroom when he went to shower...(snicker)...usually its ME who is the popsicle! So far, its only about 80 degrees at 12:30pm... way big difference than just a few days ago.
The fire that was here in Daytona has finally been brought under control as of about 10pm last night. The wet smoke haze was drifting over us a bit earlier this morning and the smell of wet burned wood was very strong. Now, the air seems to have cleared and the smoke has blown on out. No homes were lost in our Daytona fire, or lives...South of us in Brevard county is a much different story...the fires are being compared to the fires of 1998 and many have said they have never seen fires reacting like this one...so far the last I heard was about 70 homes lost and several firefighters being treated for minor injuries such as heat and smoke...many are in evacuation centers and some have lost everything except each other. One of those fires south had burned to the edge of the river and they were trying to keep it from jumping the river this morning. We saw that happen north of us during the fires in 1998...everyone on beachside felt safe because of the river between them and the fires...until the fires jumped the river...where are you going to go? The ocean? Since then, that false sense of security has been tossed...
My sis told me this morning that the wooded area directly across the street from her house had been on fire over the weekend as well. Fortunately, it was quickly extinguished and only the underbrush was affected. She wasn't even aware of the fire until one of her boys had stopped in to pick up the grandkids!! He called 911 to report the fire...she had to go outside to check it out, simply because she couldn't believe that a fire was that close and she had no clue! Scary stuff for sure.
The rose cuttings were potted up last night and look pretty happy this morning...I'm going to try a bit of something with these cuttings and see what happens...I used the new dirt DH brought me for the flowerbeds, and added some of the dried chicken manure and then finished filling the pots with Miracle Grow potting soil...added a couple handfuls of my pinecone mulch to the pot and mixed it all together well...put the cuttings in, watered well and put a layer of mulch across the top...
This morning, they are still looking nice, the new growth is still leafing out...I have placed them near the beds on a step ladder that has several other pots on it...this way I can keep an eye on them and they can soak up the sunshine most of the morning...by afternoon they will begin to get a bit of shade.
My experiment for the roses is going to be using Manure tea to see if that will help them grow...will be using chicken manure to make the tea...I've used horse manure tea on some of my plants before and they seemed to respond nicely...got it, might as well use it!! LOL
Now all I have to do is find the container to use...that could be tricky around here as DH is known for taking every bucket available for whatever....even broken bottom buckets get used for parts and stuff...just lets the water drain out...lol...now I'll be on a "mission" for a container before I go clean out the chicken coop again....will have to be one with some type of lid or I'll never be able to keep the silly dogs away from it...eeeewwwww.
Several baby cucumbers on each plant...WOOOHOOOO...they are looking good!! Tons of blooms as well...pictures soon!! The one little one that didn't have a cage is now perking up and trying to catch up with the other two...gave it a cage the other day and now its happy!! Even it has baby cukes showing.
The rhubarb continues to hang on...finally putting a second leaf up, only the leaf that's been around looks chewed on ...but looks like at least its still alive and trying!! It is near the chicken pen, so when I water the chickens, I water it as well...usually about every two or three days since we are so dry.
Moved the pineapple plant from the back porch to the end of the flowerbed out front...it is in its own pot, but....I have neglected to water the poor thing...looks pretty good considering this...figure if its out front, I'll water it when I water the flowerbed...can't believe I forgot about the poor thing...I started it from a pineapple top one of the guys I work with gave me...he grew the pineapple....it was yummy...can't wait til this one grows a pineapple!!
Also potted up the newest Hibiscus starts DS brought me a few weeks ago...they were ready and are looking great. Hoping to get the big pots ready for the Hibiscus starts in the bucket...I know they are more than ready!! |
| Stormdancer Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 11:13 am: | |
Temps remaining very nice...another early morning house temp of 60 degrees...currently at 1pm it is 79 degrees with a very light breeze...what a major difference from the past weekend temps of 90's!! The skies are clear and filled with sunshine...still no rain.
The fires to the south of us are being investigated as arson...loss of houses is around 160 and I've heard that around 10,000 acres has burned in that area.
Sunsprite is really looking good...the new growth continues on the main plant and the new sprouts are continuing to do well outside in their pots. Crossing my fingers and toes that the cuttings will develope roots soon and possibly even have a few blooms before fall.
Ran the new weedeater last night until my hands were numb...finally ran it out of gas...lol guess that's one way to end the weedeating! Getting ready to pick up another on as Lowe's had them on sale...DH agrees that a second one would be a good thing...that way we have "his and hers"...yeah, like that would ever happen in real life....giggle. |
| Valia Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 05:46 pm: | |
The fires and arson investigation are receiving big play in our little newspaper way out here in Southern Utah. If they catch the rotters who are setting these fires they're going to need an army to keep the residents from stringing them up.
Anne |
