Crumbly Rainy Windy Acres

 There was a storm July 1st. I am really glad I cut the lawn before it all happened. Funny thing is, I wrote this the day before, and we had a similar storm on Thursday. 

We are grateful for all those who are helping with the results of the storm(s).  You feel so helpless.

The sunrise was deceiving. 

 It was terribly hot. 37℃ was its peak.

During the storm, it was horizontal rain and winds.

 

 

 The Gardepro showed the shingles flying off.

   

 I went out front and found where the shingles came from.

 

Ottawa had 118mm rain (4"). Here in Lanark County we only had 35 mm July 1st.  We've lost a few branches. That beautiful white pine tree out front. I found a couple of tick nymphs trying to move the branches. Just to add insult to injury.

I could see it coming...

And it hit. Lots of power outages.

Ottawa had 118 mm rain,
lots of flooding.

🌪️   ⛈️ 🌪️   ⛈️  🌪️   ⛈️  🌪️   ⛈️  🌪️   ⛈️ 

UPDATE: Another storm July 2nd. We had another 44 mm. Fred's lower deck burrow was flooded. I hope they weren't in there. Our power went out for a couple of hours. Joe went to Smiths Falls and fetched us some dinner. Good man. 

The tree damage is significant. There are branches to clean up. 

This tree's branches landed in the front yard. I got myself two ticks trying to cut branches up. Lesson learned. 

The wind blew over the deer fence. Lots of the milkweed plants are leaning over.

The shed: 

I went out to check Barry's Aspen trees. Not good. There were two uprooted.

A spot of colour in the chaos.

Fred's burrow

In between storms s/he looked a little wet. 

Then the burrow flooded. I will be anxious to count them today. 

Crumbly Acres

Cinnamon is keeping track of his Freds. I watched him on the deck railing. He's a good uncle, as uncles tend to be.

For some reason, they are running up and down the driveway. Cinnamon likes to watch them, like tennis, back and forth. In this heat, that is probably the best move. 

Nutmeg got into the act! She peeked into one of the burrow exits. Fred was at another opening. 

Walkies demands a deerfly sticky. They are merciless. They tend to land on the back of your head, finding a place to land and take a chunk out of you. This stuff really works.

🐍This is really fun. I noticed a shed snake skin in the front garden. I could not tell what kind it is, but it is 105cm long. 

Later I noticed Cinnamon watching something in the garden. It was a beautiful Garter Snake. Our cat, Dorah, used to bring them up on the back deck. Cinn is a little gentler and just sat down beside the snake. I encouraged Cinn to come with me.

 

I have a lovely hollyhock, new to the garden this year. They aren't as yummy as the hostas, apparently!

 The Freds, especially as teenagers, are amazing climbers. Don't know why the are 'groundhogs,' when they spend much time on the fence, on top of wood piles, generally climbing.  

 

 He seems to like the fence by the deck. More milkweed trimming! 

 

Lots of Hydro workers spent Canada Day fixing up the lines. 

Just for fun, another storm through on Canada Day. We're going to need to find a roofer to replace shingles.

Canada US relations are touchy

 Canadians are really ticked off with the US Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. This was an interesting interview. We aren't rolling over. We are not accepting US goods as we once were. 

 

 PM Carney stood up to a NYTimes reporter.

 

🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day!

 These are my friends, Andrew and Wendy Donaldson. We sang in LPCC Church Choir together in Toronto back in the day. I was in high school, my mom and dad were in the choir, Wendy and Andrew were in university. I attended their wedding in Timmons, Dec. 21st, 1974.

Both amazing musicians.

30 Jun 2025 TORONTO 

An ode to Canada's past, present, and future by Toronto composer Andrew Donaldson, written to mark Canada's 125th birthday in 1992. (Turn on "CC" to view the song lyrics in real time.) 

We had a big storm last night. Tornado warnings on media. Jordan, in Kingston, had one as well. We had 10 mm rain in the day, another 12 mm last night. That's about an inch! 

July 1 morning skies:

I put these bulbs in the basement cold cellar after winter. I ignored them, having brought them upstairs. Lo, and behold! This was taken before Butch came to visit and snapped off one bloom. I put it towards their curiosity, rather than malice. 

Last night, I put the tall one on top of the BBQ. Of course, Butch knocked the little one over. No damage, though.