| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 08:14 am: |   |
Woke this morning to heavy misty fog laying across the yard...the air is cool and fresh at 8am...the sun is just beginning to break through the fog...orange/red glow showing just through the tops of the trees. When I first looked out the window, it looked almost like heavy smoke laying over the yard.
93 degrees is the expected high today...more steam to follow...the temps last night remained at 79 degrees even as late as 11:30pm. The steam had left the air by that time so the windows and porch door were left open all night. I hate having to run the A/C at night. Currently at 9:45 am, the fan is on low, the windows and porch door are open...the steam has begun, but so far isn't too bad. Usually I wait until the A/C kicks on before I start shutting things...the A/C is set at 80.
Another of the Cannas has opened...they are so pretty with their Yellow and Orange blossoms. Now if the skeeters would just leave me be I think I might be able to enjoy them....from the back door to the chicken pen and back inside, I'm covered with over two dozen whelps from these flying teeth!!
Three does decided to wander in through the back pasture this morning...just nibbling and grazing as they make their way into the back yard and come closer to the back porch...I really don't want them in this close because of the plants...so I raised and shut the window pretty hard to spook them towards the back pasture once more...if I really want to see them run, I only have to open the back door and allow Mojo and Bear to give chase...both were prancing and dancing as if to say..."we want to play". I know there is a young fawn in the area as well and I don't want them to injure it. So far, it looks as if the white flags around the Hibiscus might be helping...haven't seen any further damage to the bush. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 01:42 pm: | |
3:15 pm...the day has only grown hotter and more muggy...temp outside is 97 on the porch and about 90 according to the local weather...no breeze, just heat smacking you in the face if you are brave enough to walk outside.
Made a trip into the grocery...needed dog food, and chicken feed (stopped at the feed store on the way home)...geez...a gallon of milk, box of cereal, hair shampoo and conditioner, coffee on sale, and dog food...just under a hundred bucks! By the time I got the feed for the chickens I've blown just over a hundred dollars...didn't even buy food for us!!! and our politicians say we are in a RECESSION????....UHHH...'scuse me, but I believe that should read DEPRESSION.
Sure sucks when you start having to decide whether you want a roof over your head or food on the table...and our local animal shelters are crying about all of the poor animals people are having to give up because they can't afford to feed them any longer...I just dropped twenty bucks for a forty pound bag that will last my guys for almost a month....the same bag that was only costing 15 bucks a few weeks ago....its the same with the feed for the chickens...scratch feed is running just over thirteen dollars for fifty pounds and the layer feed is just over eleven dollars for fifty pounds...scratch was running just over six dollars a few months ago.
At this rate, we should really be struggling by the end of the year...just got the property tax papers today for NC as well as for my DH's business property tax...went ahead and paid both before I let it slip my mind...as I am very prone to do!! Usually wait until I get the delinquent notice before I remember to pay these things....SIGH...guess that's what happens when too much stress becomes part of daily life...
Still haven't been able to deal with the issues at hand where DH is concerned...the longer I keep my mouth shut...the more he seems to think he can rub my nose in this situation...I am ready to explode at this point!! Just haven't figured out how to get him to understand what this is doing to our relationship... |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 09:03 am: | |
Another night of running the A/C...the steamy air hung heavy well past sundown...at 11:30pm, the temps were still hovering in the mid 80's...seems like about every couple of nights I'm leaving the house closed with the A/C running. One of the few nice things about having the rains move through...drops the temp and knocks the steam out of the air. Rain isn't forecast to be back in the area until the weekend...sounds like a normal FL summer.
Bertha has been downgraded to a category 1 hurricane...still being tracked but not expected to make landfall...she's close enough that swells are expected to affect our beach, especially this weekend.
The morning has begun with sunny skies and a light breeze...the temp at 7:30am was about 76...steamy already...but not unbearable yet.
By 10:30am, the A/C is on already and the house closed up once again...just too steamy now. Went out long enough to check on the chickens and give them more feed...even they are feeling the effects of the heat...each of them has a wallow spot and seem to spend a good portion of the day down in the dirt wallow. Red hasn't laid for the past two days and Ms Piggy is holding her eggs like they are gold...so far, she's only laid the three. Red usually lays daily, but I'm figuring the heat is a HUGE factor there...I wouldn't be laying either with the temps in the 90's...too hot to do much of anything with the humidity being so high as well.
The front yard has become so overgrown in just one short week...I didn't mow last week and now the grass is well above ankle high...snake haven in my yard. The paths from the driveway to the porch and flowerbeds are also needing attention as I have not had the weedeater out for several weeks now. So many things needing attention and yet its just too blamed nasty hot to do much during the daylight hours. Right before sundown isn't as bad, but we've been having rains late in the afternoon, so the yard is usually way too wet to attempt to cut before dark.
Another of the Cannas has opened blooms...looks like they are all going to be competing for attention as more begin putting up bloom spikes. My GF said they were the first thing that caught her eye as she pulled up to the house the other day...at least they are bright enough to stand out in our "sea of green" that surrounds the yard...LOL. Usually only the reds or oranges are the only things that really show well. The two Firebushes that are in pots are also in full bloom right now...the foliage is still a bit leggy looking, but they are filling in better than I expected. These were the two that we weren't sure were going to live because they were broken badly during the demolition job. The others out in the half moon garden seem to be holding their own, but have not grown near as much as the two in the pots.
My large Crape Myrtles in that area are now in bloom...finally...the one at the end of the trailer has been in bloom for weeks already...we have Lavender and White in the half moon garden and a Red at the end of the trailer. Had a third one in the half moon that didn't make it after being transplanted...would have probably been another red.
The flags on the Hibiscus seem to be keeping it from being chomped...glad that worked. DH brought home the wire for our electric livestock fence...figure if the flags don't work I'm ready to zap the little darlings to keep them off my Hibiscus.
The deer must be coming into season around here...we've seen the Buck several times and have had the does wandering closer through the back pasture than normal...they usually hang in or near the woods and in the dry ponds heading towards the fish farm. Can hear their "bark" close to the house sometimes at night. The dogs seem to ignore them for the most part...but my spoiled brats stay inside at night, hogging the A/C vents and hanging out on the furniture after we go to bed. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 09:27 am: | |
A few pictures to share from what I managed to save from our mountain trip...lost a great many when the computer crashed and I had already cleared the disks...ah well, such is life...
These butterflys were hovering over this depressed area next to the river...
The Cullasaja river...
shot from under the bridge...
 |
Those butterfly pics are really great, and I'd like to sit in that river right about now. |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 10:28 am: | |
Love the butterfly shots; I love butterflies. I was cutting grass at my parents' farm last weekend & a teeny butterfly landed on my arm. I let him walk onto my hand & it rode in my hand for awhile while I cut grass   |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 12:20 pm: | |
A few more of the butterflys
the Blue Butterfly...
The blue butterfly coming in to visit the others already on the ground...
Never did quite figure out what was going on here with the butterflys...when I first came under the bridge to the river, there looked like several dozen flitting around this area....as I approached, they all took to the air of course...sitting there watching them for several minutes it appeared they may have been laying eggs possibly...now and then I could see a white substance excreted by some as they seemed to "pick" through the loose dirt....thought the ones with the blue were somewhat unusual...especially with all of the yellow and black ones. I do adore the butterflys, even when they seem to be acting odd...this river swells to within inches of the bottom of the bridge during heavy summer rains upstream. It is a very popular local place to go "tubing" down the river. Most days it is fairly shallow, only about waist deep (I'm 5'5"). I have seen it myself though when it was raging from storms...looks so very different during those times...
The water is pretty icy as most mountain streams seem to be...but so very enjoyable on a hot summer day. In some areas of this river, trout fishing is allowed and even supplemented by local hatcheries. A nice relaxing way to spend a summer day...hanging out on a super size inner tube...floating lazily down the river...only drawback...either park below where you plan to end the journey or face walking back (uphill of course)to wherever you left your vehicle.
Some of the sights along the river road in our neighborhood...
The Cullasaja River dancing in the sunlight
Shots of the river from the road...this area is "below" our road heading back towards town
These are shots along River road near Peak's Creek area which was so devastated during Hurricane Ivan in 2004
We decided to drive from Peak's Creek Road and River Road to the other end of River Road which comes out at the Main Highway 64 heading into Franklin....Peak's Creek is up the mountain from us towards Highlands...just about five miles from our road. So glad that we changed our minds about heading up to that area when Ivan was threatening...would not have been a very pleasant camping experience with all of the dogs. |
Karen, those are such nice pics. I like the greenery and all of the water. The hills are great, too. Love the blue bfly.
Lisa, that is funny that the bfly helped you mow. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 12:38 pm: | |
Thanks DJ...they at least can bring a bit of cheer to me right now....glad you enjoyed them.
The rains are beginning to move in now...its 2:30pm...skies have grown dark with cloud cover, the wind has picked up and thunder is booming quite close by. Hope it will cool the air enough to shut the A/C off for the rest of the day...I really hate to have to close the house up because of the heat...its bad enough I have to close it up during the cold months...SIGH...just no pleasing me. |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 01:07 pm: | |
LOVE IT :)
sounds like a good workout! |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 01:44 pm: | |
Oh it is!!! Especially since the river flows for miles below us...unfortunately once you have bounced across a few boulders, and struggled through a small amount of "whitewater"...one is usually pretty whipped by the time you haul yourself out of the water...should I also mention...STARVING...lol...the hike back uphill after cooling off in the river makes you want to head...well, right back into the water!! It looks pretty calm in the shots I got, but there is a definite current as the Cullasaja river flows towards the Little Tennessee River...really depends on how high the water is as to how fast the current flows...not too low, not too high...just right or else you end up wiping out on the boulders in the river instead of going over them...loads of fun in any event!! We usually put in around Peak's Creek area above us and then come out below the campground which is about five miles below us...its a good hike for sure...guess I should have also mentioned when you have to hike back up the mountain, you are also having to haul the huge inflated inner tubes as well...they don't sound like they weigh much, and they really don't...but, the black rubber draws even more heat as you stagger uphill...we use the ones for Semi tractors...they are the best! |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 01:57 pm: | |
3:40pm...the rains have come and now are easing on away from us...was a pretty intense storm for about fifteen minutes or so, dumping rain and blowing very wildly...poor Spike gets so disturbed by the thunder...he's been following me around staying as close as possible during the hardest part of the storm.
Barely spitting rain at the moment, I'd guess we got close to 1/2 inch or so...blew rain threw the screens on the porch again as usual and we now have a small area of standing water in the driveway area.
The temps dropped from right at 90 to 74 in less than ten minutes...what a way to cool the day!! Of course that just puts the mowing that much further behind...the dog pen area has grass almost to the top of the fence and the yard closest to it has grass coming close to mid calf already...I JUST mowed it two weeks ago today as a matter of fact... looks like a chore for the weekend...of course it will probably have to be between raindrops as we are forecast to have rain all weekend. |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 02:36 pm: | |
That would be me, lol
It sounds like a great time. Do a lot of people around there do this? |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 03:00 pm: | |
During the summer months when the area is full of tourists the river is full of people on tubes...the bridges are used by the local kids to jump into the river below...scares me silly knowing how shallow the water truly is!! But many people who live in the area do go tubing down the river as well. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 03:07 pm: | |
4:52pm...the rain continues to fall once more...an update on the amount...we got 1 1/2 inches the first round...my truck bed once more is where I measured...a friend down the road called after the first round and said his gauge was reading two inches...so I figure 1 1/2 inches in my truck is pretty close to accurate.
The temp remains a comfortable, cool 76 degrees on the porch...just a hint of breeze as the rain now falls gently across the yard...no black clouds, just grey cloud cover showing bright patches from the sun shining behind.
Had two adult turkey hens wander through the yard for a quick look around the bird feeder as the rains began to fall a bit heavier...didn't stay long and they silently slipped across the neighbor's pasture fence as quickly and quietly as they appeared in front of my porch. |
| Growit Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 03:59 pm: | |
That sounds like heaven. Wonderful pictures Karen. I feel pretty relaxed and chilled out just by looking at them. Love the butterflies. The blue one really is something sprecial... well...actually they all are. We do not have swallowtails in UK anymore, or at least if we do they must be pretty rare as I have never seen one.
I hope things get better with you and the hub and you stop feeling so down.  Life is too short for cold wars. I tend to shout it out loud enough for all the neighbours to hear.  |
| Stormdancer Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 06:56 am: | |
Thanks Moira...glad you liked the pictures...as for shouting it loud enough for the neighbors to hear...that is MY normal mode....get it out and get it over with...if it takes making the entire county hear what I have to say, at least I know that DH should have heard it. But after 17 years of this and him continuing to act as if I've not said one word...well ok...I see no reason to continue wasting my energy...which is why I am now only speaking when spoken to...its hard...way hard...but even though I did end up going off the other night, it was very brief and to the point, he's still acting like nothing has happened between us. So it continues...I don't know what else to do shy of filing for divorce. That's not what I want to do. I do love him even when he makes me want to choke the livin life out of him!!! Just wish he could see where I'm coming from on this. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 07:14 am: | |
Did a search on the Black and blue butterfly...turns out it was probably a female, which makes sense that they may have been laying eggs or doing some similar mating related ritual along the river bank.
8am...the day sure is beginning with grey, grey and more grey...the air is beginning to feel sticky, but so far it isn't steamy. Guess we will be seeing rain today. Morning temps are holding around 76...got the windows open and only the fan running. Hahaha, bet that doesn't last long!! |
| Stormdancer Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 09:39 am: | |
11am...the A/C has kicked on...have closed the windows, well at least most of them...the A/C was set at 76, so I kicked it up a touch...its only 84 outside at the moment, but the steam is beginning as the sun breaks through the cloud cover. In just a bit I'll have to let the A/C run to keep the humidity from becoming a sauna in the house.
Another Canna has opened...these are the ones with orange throats...I thought I had some of the solid yellows last year...something is really munching on the leaves. The larvae I saw could be from what is called a Lesser leaf roller...some type of moth larvae...at least the description is close to what I saw in my own plants. I'm sure the obvious chomping is from those darn Lubber grasshoppers...I don't use chemicals, but they don't respond to much anyway once they are adults...SQUISH is the only method of true control at that stage.
The yard remains too soggy to mow for now...might end up putting it off until early in the week at this point. Got a call for a tractor mowing job...WOOHOO!!! A friend has recommended us to someone wanting their pastures cut. Now to see where and how large of an area...at the price of Diesel in our area being just under $5/gallon...our prices for mowing are having to go up to meet the expenses...the vehicle we use to pull the tractor also uses diesel...SIGH...not an easy way to make money any longer with the fuel increasing almost daily...we've tried to keep the prices the same for the past fifteen years...DH enjoys running the tractor and so our minimum price has been $100 for an average 2-5 acre lot without many obstacles. Figure that pays for the fuel generally and gives us a couple dollars. But now...its running $100/week just to fuel the truck so DH can get back and forth to his job...let alone do any type of side work. If its fairly close, and no larger than our place, should be able to keep the price reasonable for the gal. My GF who recommended us hasn't considered that we gave her more of a "family" price when we did her pasture a few weeks ago. I've got the number so will find out soon enough.
Too hot at the moment to do much...the steam is increasing rapidly and I'm ready to finally run the A/C.  |
| Greth Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 10:40 am: | |
Stormy, are things any better with DH? I read back a bit and it didn't look too good. I've had a lot of probs with my own DH, but he has decided to be a good citizen and father now, trying hard. He isn't perfect, but I would give him 6/10 for what he is doing now.
We have gone thru everything, I've had a few black eyes, lotsa arguments about money, he even tried to hang himself once - I had to cut him loose, while my young son ran for the phone for the ambulance.. Don't wanna remember that, but its gone now, he is a better person. So spill if you need to talk about anything, sister.
Money can be a hard issue anywhere, and with mortgages and petrol prices and groceries going thru the roof, it is harder than ever. My DH has cut down his spending and found some machinery he can sell. He is helping me mind the kids more than before, cooperating on projects which I think will help us in the long run. We do enjoy working together, it was when we were running separate lives that we grew apart.
I'm running around paying all the bills, trying to provide clothes and food and toys and stuff for the kids, and he was wondering why there wasn't money left for his personal entertainment!
Don't be afraid to charge customers your full cost, plus a goodly amount for profit. You certainly can't afford to work at a loss, or for nothing! If they don't like it, let them find another person who will work for less than the diesel cost. Pfft. |
