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. 

Wednesday Storm

My massage therapist had a cancellation, which I snapped up. I realized I hadn't been there in a year! 

 We had fair warning. We expected a storm, winds, and a flash freeze. I headed home to hunker down.

The storm approached: lightning, winds, rain. The lake effect snow coming in behind was amazing. 

The lightning map was confirming what we were hearing!

Feb 28 storm from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We hunkered down to watch TV, hearing the wind outside. I was watching the thermometer. I was fascinated in the change: 

Temperature drop Wednesday

• 2:30 p.m.    16℃
• 3:00            14
• 4:15              9
• 4:25              8
• 4:38              7 
• 4:48              6
• 5:00              5
• 5;15              4
• 5:32              3  
• 5:45              2
• 6:08              1
• 6:45              0
• 7:11              -1
• 7:55              -2
• 8:34              -3

As I watched, the power outages accrued. They worked on it quickly, and the next morning there were about 23,810 without power. 

MTM - no power, no phone, no Internet

Well, usually I am up and ready for MTM. However, we were 11 hours without power on Sunday. The warm temperatures of +10 a few days ago melted water on land and at the lakeshore. The ice flow was several inches thick and the winds forced the ice up on the shore. The previous day was warm. But, at a few degrees above zero C. today, we achieved a point spread of 30 degrees from last week to this. It is a bit of a shock. The snow, for the most part, has gone. The poor plants need the protection. The lakes and rivers are swollen with snow melt.

There were 230,000 Hydro One customers without power yesterday in our province. The Toronto Star article headline states, Trailers flip, windows fly, thousands lose power. Hydro staff pointed out that there are many without power up here who didn't know there was no power! Many cottages are only 3-season access. Some come up here for Christmas or Thanksgiving, and I presume they would just go back home!

We are grateful to have gone back on grid last night (Sunday). However, we had no phone or Internet until late Monday night. I had a couple of things on the go, related to my family, and felt a bit strange being so isolated electronically.

There are still 90,000 without power today, according to CTV news. The Globe & Mail (I have to read it on-line, we can't get it here in town!), explains that the high winds set crews back. We saw a helicopter go by as they sought to

It was the wind that shocked us all. Over 100 km across our province. The trees bent, some broke. I was at the window when I saw one of my favourites go over. With it went nests and habitat for many critters. There are many holes in the tree and it was only a matter of time.

It will make more room in the forest, and open up our space and give the smaller shrubs, trees and brush more light. It is a crooked tree trunk, and, as I watched, it just fell over across the neighbour's driveway. It was tricky trying to phone someone to get it cut up and I totally failed at that. Many of the locals who are good with a chain saw also work for Hydro One! Fortunately, a neighbour helped hack away at it with a small chain saw and our other neighbour can get in her driveway.












Fortunately, we had invested in a generator, after the 2006 hurricane winds, and kept warm and dry, and with a few outlets could make coffee and toast.
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My Town Monday Posts created by Travis Erwin...he's on holidays!

MTM posts in December are co-hosted by e-cuneiform & Junosmom...