SA Times – Page 18 – rakeeter.com

Wet spell

Over the last couple of weeks, poor ol’ SA finally got the rain it so badly needed. We’ve gotten nearly seven inches so far in a month that averages 1.30. That will go a long way toward reaching our yearly average so that someone looking at yearly averages in the future would think 2018 was an OK year moisture-wise, when it definitely wasn’t, there being over six months from October last year to May this year when less than half an inch was accumulated. Over an inch fell on Friday evening before we left for Utah on Sunday, which was gratifying. Then I got a text from Chris on Monday saying 2.85 inches fell during the night. Another 1.65 fell closely on the heels of that and since then the weather has been cool and cloudy. There have only been three days in the last two weeks that there was no rain and this past Friday we got another .54. Yes, I know much more rain has fallen around the state, too much in fact, but here on the high plains a wet spell such as we’ve just had is just what was needed. Continue reading “Wet spell” →

Seventieth birthday

by rakeeter

We’ve had a busy week around here. Tuesday evening there was the volleyball game in which the Rebels thumped the Herford Whitefaces, or the “Herd” as they call themselves. Our favorite Lady Rebel put on a show, including a kill shot that closed out the win in the first game for her team. She was wreaking such havoc on the visiting team that the coach, in her infinite wisdom, chose not to play her in the third and final game. Continue reading “Seventieth birthday” →

August wrap

by rakeeter

Yesterday (Saturday) evening we had real rip-roaring downpour accompanied by lots of wind. The dry creek bed in the front ran like a mighty river. It was fun. I emptied 1.15 inches of rain out of the gauge this morning and others living farther south we talked to at church didn’t get half that, which I’m sorry for them, but so many times this summer it seems like it has been the other way around. We would get some but south of I-40 would get significantly more. A couple of weeks ago the weatherman reported that five inches of rain fell south of Perryton (northeast Panhandle), which just goes to show it’s a crap shoot whether any one area gets significant moisture. We nearly made our average for August (2.91 vs 3.07) and with last night’s frog-strangler we have nearly made our September average (1.15 vs 1.97). I should be out annoying the weeds right now but, what the heck, life is short and tomorrow is a holiday so they’ll just have to wait till Tuesday. Continue reading “August wrap” →

Bye bye July

by rakeeter

Finally, my efforts to make the lily pool look good have begun to pay off. By draining much of the water out every couple of weeks or so (putting it on trees) and refilling it, the clarity has improved to the point that the fish are easily visible. For the first time all three lily colors, white, pink and yellow, have had a blossom at the same time. It has been well over sixty years since I asked my long-suffering father to build the lily pool for Mother’s Day and I’m confident it has never looked better. Continue reading “Bye bye July” →

June wrap

by rakeeter

Mickey and Mammy
Mickey and Mammy
Mickey and Mammy

I ran across the remnants of a bird nest the other day. There were a couple of cigarette butts, no doubt from the strip along the street, included in the construction. Must have been a grovite bird nest. Continue reading “June wrap” →