Another storm!

 That was a storm. Joe Brian and I were sitting on the back deck reading. I was butterfly and bird watching, and then getting back to my novel: by Ruth Ware: Zero Days. Note to others, don't read the dust jacket for the plot summary, just dive into it. 

I found another caterpillar. It is an Orgyia definita, or Definite-marked Tussock Moth!

Leaf hopper!

The clouds rolled in. To the west storm clouds, to the east blue sky, which slowly clouded over.

The Phoebe nest is right under the deck. Cinnamon likes to watch them from above. He is so funny. 

Eventually, he gets tired. He can't reach the nest, but it's like watching TV through slats.

It began to rain, but Cinnamon headed down onto Fred's deck. Then, it really rained. And hailed! Now, see the plants on the bench ↑? This is where Cinnamon ran to during the storm. He was howling, as the rain was pouring off the eaves. I had to go out and bring him in. Then I had to change out of my wet dress.

I recaulked the aquarium. It seemed better just to add more caulking on the one corner. Here it is in the rain. And Hail.

We ended up with 38mm (about 1.5") and it was a lot. Nothing like the sound of a good rain. Hail is a different story. I had to pull the camera over and under the eaves. 

 

July 6 storm from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The poor Catalpa tree's leaves don't look too happy. The Brown-eyed Susans gave up and bent with the rain.

The other Catalpa tree looks fine.

Back in to watch Wimbledon Tennis. There are 18 courts, and it is impressive. What an infrastructure. Unfortunately, tennis is limited by the heavy rainfall, like ours! 

Look at all the courts they had to cover. Only courts 1 and 2 have a roof. 

After we visit the bank to sort out more of the bank account fraud issues, I'll have to do the lawn. I could have yesterday afternoon but resisted the urge! It looks like Beryl will bring us some rain.

I like September!

 Here we are, September. The plants have nearly run their spring/summer cycles. I'm putting together another Fall Chores post. The year unfolds as it should. We've still a few cherry tomatoes. Soon, with first frost, my outdoor plants will die off, their year done. 

The Perth Fair is on this weekend. There is a display contest, top prize $175, 2nd = $100 and 3rd place = $75! I figured that out after being out driving and seeing these! 

After their morning run, in the cats come for breakfast. The horse chestnut tree, in the background, is beginning to lose leaves. It was chilly yesterday.

I knew the morning was going to be sunny, so I did laundry early and hung it out. Sitting on the back deck to process some photos on my laptop, it began to rain. Happily the clothes were nearly dry. I hustled and brought it all in.

August 2022 <= rain totals! They were decent.

On Wednesday, the day progressed. I did some much-needed weeding. The clouds rolled in, and then a big storm. Well, not so big, but spotty. Very isolated. The tree frog in the bathroom sensed the impending storm and began to chirp. I still cannot find it.

Thunderboomers everywhere around us, as well as power outages.

Ontario Hydro posts outages, hopefully you can access it with a cell phone if your home is without power. People were back up by the next morning.

The rain stopped, but there were warnings for the kids in Ottawa. They were out picking up a grocery order. Happily they made it home safely.

Ottawa Hydro also shows a map of outages, Caitlin texted that theirs was out. They had power back by 9:30 p.m.! 

Whew!

Goodnight sun!

COVID with the Grandies – Week 18 Monday

We woke up Monday to power. That was a good thing. We've some tree branches down. Rain and snow were anticipated. Although central Ontario has snow, it'll change to rain when it gets to us.

The birds at the feeders have been frantic for food. It's as if they know a storm is coming. Blue jays, goldfinches in their winter clothes, chickadees. One pair of cardinals. Lots of mourning doves.

The goldfinches have turned olive. I had trouble getting a photo. Mind you, I was pretty lazy, and sitting in my arm chair, but any closer and the birds take off. The video camera is pretty lame.

Up on the hill, there were two bucks. One older one, the other I couldn't see behind a tree. It was too dark for a photo at the time. We lost a branch in the storm.

Grampa was up early. He has garbage to put out, and a physiotherapy session at 8 a.m. The cats are a bit tired.

Isabelle and I were working on breakfast. I was refilling the cat food crunchies container. (It's pretty loud!) This is Daisy supervising, in 2014, just so you understand the process. 

Isabelle said, "To the cats – that must be the sound of heaven. It may as well be the angels singing!" 

After breakfast, some play time. Unfortunately, the paddles were scraping off the hardwood finish. I moved them to the kitchen.

Clip0 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I set the girls off at 8:48 to log on for 9. Isabelle couldn't see all the images of the classmates. The Internet isn't working well for her. I think it might just be the wind moving our tower extension. I don't know. She couldn't see all her classmates. We'll keep on it. 

Eventually, the faces began to pop up as the wind slowed a bit. 

Also, there are kids with multiple zoom images. Iz says it's because they have more than one tab open. She was quite disgusted, as if the screen isn't busy enough! The teachers can close them, but she didn't seem bothered. 

Caitlin sent me an email memo from virtual school powers-that-be. It was information that the teachers are going to teach the kids a Shutdown protocol. If there is a medical emergency, the staff member will say "SHUTDOWN" three times, and students are to log out. I imagine there was a medical emergency somewhere, sometime, and it's not something kids should view.

These are some of the pages the kids work from. It's rather interesting.

At 9:30 I went downstairs for my workout, satisfied that all was well. 

Grampa returned from physio. A bit of panic. Grampa is taking in the car for snow tires on Tuesday. He couldn't find the lug nut (AKA wheel nut). We looked everywhere. Even Josephine was enlisted for help during her lunch break. I did find our lost flip phone! 

Then, Josephine needed a protractor. I looked everywhere. In my office, desk, cupboards. Nada. Finally, a brilliant thought, I asked Isabelle. She had one in her geometry set, which she'd been told to bring for this week's math. Whew!

At the afternoon break, (1:45 – 2:30) we went outside while Grampa napped. It was just at the right time. It was cold, Josephine had to go in and get my coat. Then, back for asynchronous activities until 3:30. Both worked until 4 p.m.

Jos was too cold, and went back into the house for my raincoat.

When we got back into the house, hail!

Momma had left us some pineapple for snacks. I broke the container. Sorry Momma!

After another 45 minutes of work, Isabelle did her run around the house. Grampa bought us a stopwatch, she ran around twice in 52 seconds.

Dinner went over well!

At dinner we were talking about 'the pot calling the kettle black!'

After dinner, we vegged watching TV. Border Security is always fun. They are all reruns. I like the role models. Well, in the staff, not the perps! A sniffer dog always amazes us. It's wonderful seeing women in these jobs!

Buried Worlds with Don Wildman. Oh my. Witches, spirits. Dr. Dee's Shew Stone.  

Disasters At Sea, as well. 

Finally, I'd taped a 7-minute tribute to Alex Trebek, showing him in various sitcoms, and walk-in parts. Josephine really likes Jeopardy. We finished off the day watching Monday's show while Isabelle showered. "It's kinda sad," mourned Jos. But a great life, I replied.

I couldn't find Isabelle, after the shower. I went downstair, no Izzy! She was in her office, writing poetry!

She was tucked in for 8:30, Jos read until 9.

A good day for all of us.