Sweeeet!

Behold, the rain comes.  After getting pretty dry while watching all they rain pass us by it was finally our turn.  We collected an inch and a quarter over several days, cool days, I might add, so that the moisture was able to soak in good.  And we avoided the hail and high winds that afflicted other parts of the High Plains.  SA, which was already greening up pretty well in spite of the dearth of moisture  turned green almost overnight.  Yesterday there were mostly clear skies so the sunshine helped in that process.  It was an ideal time to pull and spray weeds and I took advantage. Continue reading “Sweeeet!”

Outflow boundary

We’ve had some dust storms up here on the High Plains lately. There was one nearly a week ago we didn’t know about since it happened at night. Joyce’s walking buddies told her about it but we were oblivious since we’d already gone to bed. I remember the house creaking as the wind picked up out of the north but thought nothing of it. Then Sunday night just before bedtime a thunderstorm in the area sent all kinds of crud whirling through the air. Joyce switched on an outside light and it was remarkable how much dust and debris there was illuminated by the floodlight. Judging from the windows there were just enough rain drops to put a nice earthy tint on the windows. Continue reading “Outflow boundary”

Ducks are back

They first showed up on March 14. I don’t remember them being here earlier. Then they absconded for a week or two, perhaps checking out other venues. Now they seemed to have moved in and made themselves at home. When I first saw them on the 14th, there were two drakes and a hen. All three seemed comfortable with me being in the area. Now it is just a single drake and a hen. They must be the ones that have been coming around for several years because they seem at ease with me, Chris and anyone else I suppose coming into the enclosure. They keep their distance, of course, but act nonchalant. Saturday Chris spent quite a bit of time in the enclosure messing with his bees and that didn’t seem to trouble them. They are helping me control the moss. Continue reading “Ducks are back”

Easter snow

Easter snowWe woke to several inches of snow Easter morning but it was gone by the Easter egg hunt in the afternoon.  The snow started Saturday evening as we were gathered at 2005 for dinner.  Abigail played in v-ball tournament that day, which kept her and her mom busy from early morning to late afternoon.  Dinner was a little late but worth the wait.  Anyway, big flakes started falling sideways north to south and quickly covered the ground in spite of the temperature being in the 40’s when it started.  It was a wet, sticky snow and I don’t know how much moisture we got since it fell at an angle and thus none accumulated in the rain gauges.  Sunday morning there were at least three inches piled up on the yard lights.  Let’s say there was a tenth of an inch of moisture per inch which would give us 3/10s of an inch, which is probably about right.  We need more but we’ll take what we can get.  Continue reading “Easter snow”

Civil war

It was spring break for some but not all last week.  Joyce and I stayed behind to hold down the fort while the neighbors spent spring break in New Orleans.  As we go to press I haven’t gotten the skinny on their trip.  In fact, I haven’t seen them since they returned Saturday evening but if any were missing I’m sure I would have heard about it.  I was in charge of Tino the dog’s health and happiness while they were gone and that wouldn’t have been a problem except we have acquired new cat Cookie Monster, aka Oreo, aka Big Mean Kitty.  Early after Cookie took up permanent residence on SA Tino made the mistake of chasing him up a tree.  Since then Cookie has stood his ground against TIno, nay taken the initiative.  I tried a couple of times to let Tino out while I was working around the place so he could get some exercise and fresh air.  Trouble is, Cookie likes to hang around and watch me work and the two of them went at it.  I hoped they would eventually sort things out and call a truce, but no, it was constant bickering.  Cookie would chase Tino while spitting and spewing like an old steam engine.  Tino would run but then as soon as Cookie stopped he would be right back in his face barking.  I finally had to chase Tino down and drag him back into the house with Cookie nipping at his heels the whole way.  Made me swear. Continue reading “Civil war”