Stormy weather, Barry, Fred, and a toad

The news is bad out there. I take comfort from my American blog friends who are suffering as well. Things are tense between the USA and Canadian governments. States want us to put US alcohol back in our stores.  Wab Kinew, Ojibway, and Premier of Manitoba, (NDP), you got to love him: "No CUSMA, no BOOZMA!"

de Adder is a great Canadian artist

OK, back to nature. During the last storm, I noticed the down pipe for the gutter wasn't connected. In between storms I shove it together. Wednesday I screwed the two pieces together after I recharged the drill!

It was draining behind the propane tanks. I noticed something moving. A wee toad eating the bugs. Bless its little heart!

A toad in Bala, Muskoka. 2009

 I hadn't ventured here post-storm. It was bad enough on our walking paths. I circled the pond on the far side, and found more damage. 

The frog pond from up above

The top of the white pine tree snapped off.

I found a bone: hmmm. The critters are pretty good at clean up.

 Barry Beaver has been working. Thanks goodness. He has a mess to clean up. Ignore the date stamp. I don't like standing in a bug cloud resetting the time and date!

Auntie Fred has been out. It's been chilly, and I don't know if they are thinking of hibernating! This is where she hunkered down last winter.

The berries attract the birds. A great sight.

I think they've settled in, dividing the burrows amongst them. 

Crumbled Acres

Friday morning I spent sawing up some of the dead pine tree out front. I have two skilsaw batteries, but ran out of juice. Well *I* ran out of juice, too. I got dizzy in the sweat and heat. Covered in bug spray, a few tick bites, and only 3 deerfly bites. How is that for positivity?! 

Before I begin, we've two Freds left, as far as I can tell. At least I had two on camera at the same time. Maybe three, as we've spotted one in the vicinity of the far burrow, #4.

This was in the morning.  The poor pine tree.

I worked on it. This is what I had left to do. I cannot move this. Nor will my Skilsaw manage it. I took a walk down to lot #3, and realized we're going to have to hire someone. Pathways are blocked. I did do the lawn in this area. 

Bruce came and fixed our roof for us, to replace our lost shingles. They fixed us up, but pointed out that the shingles were badly done. They nailed them about 6" too high, missing a sweet spot. We'd hired Whyte's Maintenance for this when we first moved here. This is the third incident of shingles blown off in a wind. May, 2018: A massive windstorm; June, 2026 Shingle repairs, by our SIL.

I don't mind paying someone to do a good job. This will last until we get the whole thing done.

Cherry tomatoes!

Apple strawberry crisp:

Caitlin's still on her concert tour! The choir is giving performances. One in Tallinn, another at the Riga NATO base. This is the 'Green Room' they used at the Tallinn church, plus a relaxing moment with a friend. 

This is one of their venues. This sanctuary in Riga was built in 1234. They've since moved on to Klaipeda, Lithuania for more touristy stuff and concerts.

 

Our grandie, Jordan, got himself a job in Kingston. Everyone is so happy for him. He's doing a summer course at the same time. Aster just visited him, and they had great sibling time! Aster cut their hair at a school year-end party!

Ah, they grow up so soon! 

Muskoka storm

I was sitting quietly on my deck, having just taken a bit of a dunk in the lake. With 30-degree C. temperatures, and a lake at about 23 degrees, it was a soothing break.

Working on my computer, I noticed that the wind had suddenly ceased. Not only that, but the heat had dissipated, and several little blackflies had suddenly attacked my legs. They hadn't been around in the heat lately.

Then, the rumbles...

The clouds were beautiful. Huge white anvils that rolled in. I knew we were in for something. I ran around securing everything I could think of. The angels were bowling and there would be hell to pay.

The poor geese and goslings looking like death was imminent. They hunkered down in the clover, under the tree that had lost a huge limb. Then, after the worst passed, they moved into the garden. The lawn was flooded.

I watched a neighbour rescue his raft. My trusty canoe, bought used when I was 15-years old, was full of water. They don't make them like that anymore!

This wee tree was sent a-tipping. Must take care of that later, but the mosquitoes are quite happy that now their little reservoirs are full, and swamps topped up. Blackflies require running water, but mosquitoes will benefit from the still water the storm has created.

Poor hosta plants. Pea-sized hail have rendered them rather sad-looking. Weary, shredded leaves will come back, but like life's pot holes which make you fight harder, they will fight for their lives.

My poor cucumbers. I wasn't totally convinced that they would survive the geese or Merry Muskrat, but they took some damage, too.

There is a hole in the forest canopy. One branch gone. It could have been much worse. Where has that saw gone?!

This morning I took my coffee and camera down to the lakefront. (Can't live without either!) The sun rose, as always.  Mosquitoes were mercilessly attacking. I took a few photos and retreated. Damage control will take place in full sun, when mosquitoes are taking their afternoon naps.
 

Tornado photos from Gravenhurst

UPDATE:

Tornado confirmed in Gravenhurst

Environment Canada has confirmed that an F0 tornado hit Gravenhurst Aug. 20. An F0 is said to be the least-impacting.
Winds between 60-110 kilometres an hour. Nothing to sneeze at (or in!). Amazing how GR didn't make any news.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I cannot believe it!
I went into Gravenhurst and saw some terrible damage.

As I commented last post - these are only buildings and a shelter can be replaced. AFAIK no one is hurt. You can see how the trees landed on a roof, rather than people. This is a good thing, methinks.

I know the homeowners are in shock. Some are standing around watching crews take down branches and debris. Some have a look of relief on their faces. I can only imagine what it must have sounded like.

I first approached Gull Wing Lake Park. It was totally closed and had numerous HUGE trees down.


Behind the beer store wires were down on the road.

God bless our hydro crews who are now working away at this problem. I was 10 days without power during Ice Storm '98, and I always bow deeply in honour of our hydro crews. They walked on water as far as we were concerned.


Anderson's produce had a stand near the beer store. It had an issue with the mother of all trees.


What is so sad are the houses. But they can be rebuilt. People cannot.


This tree split, with a half of the 'Y' still upright. We have good tree people around who can decide if it has to go or not. Such a shame, these beautiful old trees. Nature is a powerful beast.
This family has 'Peeps', as my son calls them. They know people. Their branches are gather and stacked. The roof is tarped. The insurance adjuster will be along shortly and things will be fixed.
The LCBO will be busy tonight! I wish I could buy a case for our crews. Skills, training and good people in Muskoka!

Deadly Skies: Canada's Most Destructive Tornadoes | CBC Archives

12 May 2008 ... Tornadoes can be the most violent storms on earth