Tag: weather

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Thunder storms and gardens

This morning I woke up to one of the loudest storms I’ve heard in a very long time. It was about 5:00 am when it started and actually one long crack of thunder and the lightening flash, seems to  have hit right by my bedroom window. Needless to say, it scared the heck out of me. (I actually jumped out of bed in one bound, that didn’t make my neck and back feel very good) The storm lasted for about 45 min. The light show was really awesome once the initial wake up shock was over.

After the storm the sun came out and so did a lot of my flowers in my garden that weren’t blooming last night. It is pretty awesome to see. I can’t wait to get into the new planting of more perennials and annuals.

After it being so chilly and not having more than a couple really nice days in the last three weeks, it felt so good to walk outside at nearly 5:50 pm and not be cold. It smells so nice outside. Cut grass from yesterday, ground that has been dug up and burnt straw from last years bale gardening. Going barefoot was the absolute best feeling. I’m really looking forward to summer!

 

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The comfort of sheepskin products

Ever since I was a young girl, I have always loved the feel of sheepskin products. Having grown up on a farm the stables and barn were the places you most likely would find me. Even my horse’s tack had a lot of sheepskin that protected my horse from rash and injury to the skin. I think this is where my love for sheepskin and also realization of the comfort it afforded both my best friend and I as we grew.

When I got old enough to move out and afford my own place, the first things I bought for myself, were a few sheepskin rugs. I was fortunate enough to have rented a wonderful old cottage with a fireplace. Of course, that was about the only form of reliable heat I found out, so that was were the rug went. In the winter I spent more time sleeping on that rug than I did in my bed, and it kept me off the cold floor, warm and toasty. Plus it was so comfortable to sleep on, I ended up putting two large rugs on my bed.

At first when my mom got me sheepskin seat covers for my truck, I was a bit unconvinced that I wouldn’t roast sitting on them in the summer. I was totally wrong. On the contrary, I didn’t stick to the seat and the covers weren’t warm in the hot summer to sit on at all. I love all sheepskin items. I won’t even buy slippers or house boots unless they are lined in sheepskin.

 

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Digging up the beds

While going out to the mail box this morning, I stood in the middle of my front yard and took a good hard and long look at my flower beds. They are pretty, but I need a change. I know I’ve been planing my flower beds all winter, but truth be known I went for all perennials, since I have loads of annuals in the gardens.

After looking at some of my annual beds, I’ve decided they look tired and need a whole new look. Without even really giving it a thought, I went straight to the garage and grabbed a shovel.

For the rest of the morning, and even into the early afternoon, I dug up plants and transplanted them in every available space, until I refresh my soil, build up some beds and then put the plants and herbs back, in a different look and order. To say that I’ll ever be satisfied with my gardens and that they will remain the same for at least three years running, is never going to happen. I’m still not finished up digging up and rearranging beds, but got a good start today. If it hadn’t started raining, I would have stayed outside longer.

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Saving money by rain harvesting

Talking to a lot of farmers that live in my area, and I know personally, have been telling me about rain harvesting. I personally think it is an awesome idea. We pay a water bill here now, when before the township decided to pipe “city” water in, we had well water. I am a firm believer in having a well, and also I make sure my cistern is clean and it always fills up with water from the rain. I used to depend on it for my gardens.

Rain water barrels, I’ve decided will be one of the ways I’m going to start collecting rain water.  Sometimes, thinking about it and what is now in the atmosphere, it’s kind of scary what I’d be using, but memories of my Papa washing my hair in rain water, since he had harvested rain, won over thinking about what might be in my rain water. Besides, it serves at totally useful survival tips.

I have a feeling, like the farmers I’ve talked to, that we are going to be in for some rough dry weather around mid summer. This makes watering the livestock really costly. Plus with a large family and using so much water now, I’m going to start looking for rain barrels for sale, and get quite a few of them. Better to be safe than sorry. It would give me peace of mind to be able to have water if needed. I’m still remembering also, how soft and silky my hair was after washing and rinsing in rain water that was harvested!

 

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Gardening and weather woes

Never have I been so uncertain about the weather as I am this year. I realize that it is odd all over and various states are getting pounded with elements they aren’t used to, but even my body and older age creeping in, doesn’t change the fact that I used to be able to tell what the weather was going to do, just by how my body felt. Now, it isn’t like that. I’m getting kind of tired of my joints and such, hurt on wonderful sunny days, and are better on dismal and cold rainy days. What is up with that?

My gardens and perennial plants don’t act they know how to react to the weather either. My sage and parsley of all things are growing at an incredible rate of speed, along with some other plants and even a small tree I have outside.

We had frost last night and it was cold and windy. I would welcome back the 80 degree, with a warm breeze weather we had in March, compared to this. So would my plants in the garden.

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Savings with home energy efficiency tips

When our heating and lighting meters were read by some man that went meter to to meter, we got our bill and knew it was way to high. I decided to find home energy efficiency tips to employ in order to save money. I knew that my family would not stick with these tips, but I wanted to at least try to make a good example by using the tips myself, so that perhaps the kids and my husband would learn by example, so to speak. I was wrong in thinking such a thing.

Months went by and there was only a slight change, and it was especially noticeable even during this winter, which was the most mild winter we have had in nearly 20 years. Global warming is getting pretty scary if you ask my opinion. Since I am concerned about how hot the summer may get and the fact that my family want air conditioning when it is hot, something because of the bills, I decided to talk to my husband about a home energy audit. I figure if someone who is a professional on this subject told him what was what, he’d indeed be more willing to use the tips I have been trying to use.

Also, since the weather has been so weird, and it’s hard telling what is going to happen in months or even a few years on down the line, I would like to check in to some home insulation contractors. We need more insulation in this house, and I’m sure it would help tremendously during both winter and summer.

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Peaceful Easter day

It was a really nice day with the family all getting together and celebrating Easter together. I really enjoyed it. Since had already gotten everything  made and cooked and ready for today. All I had to do is pop the ham in the oven this morning, before I went to Mass and then put out all the food when I got back in time for everyone to be ready to eat. I love buffets. Much easier than a sit down dinner and I know the family like it better too.

The family all just hung out. Some watched television and others got a card game going. Some of the kids (they are still kids to me no matter how old they are) went for a walk and all in all, it was peaceful for a change.

The only thing that put sort of a damper on the day, was that it was windy and despite it being a bit over 60 degrees outside, the wind was strong and it was cold! At least it didn’t rain though and the sun was shining! I would have liked to do some gardening with the plants I was given for Easter, but it was too cold outside for me.

 

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To Moms for Easter

We’re all going to my Mom’s house for Easter. We’re going to get there early, so I can help my Mom with anything she needs to have done before everyone else starts to arrive. I’m hoping it doesn’t rain and isn’t cold on Sunday, but that is like hoping to win the lottery. It’s hard telling what it will be like. I actually stopped watching the weather reports because any more they are simply not accurate here.

Mom was telling me about what all she was cooking. Once again she’ll be in her pure element. My family and I love anything she cooks. I’m glad I didn’t buy a ham this week, as she bought a big one and told me that any left overs are going home with me. Okey Dokey Mama…I’ll take em all! 🙂

If it’s nice out, I’m going to try and get some of my family to start a horse shoe game. I loved to play before I lost the strength in my arm. Still, it’s fun to watch my family and friends that show up, play. They are really competitive, in a good way.

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Siding problems

Today all my kids and my grandson were outside, shooting of fire rockets and such that my brother had given them last summer. My youngest daughter gave the guys all of hers and they had a LOT of various bangs, booms, fizzles and zips going. I was sitting outside watching and also looking over the garage and back of the house, to see if the snow, hail, wind and basically nasty weather over last year had hurt any of the siding, roof and window trims. Indeed it had taken it’s toll in a lot of places in the siding.

I had told my husband that I did not like the guys work, while they were putting up the siding and he ignored me, saying that he hired them because they were grandsons on a acquaintance, bla…bla…bla. In other words, he had never seen their work. I come from a very long line of construction men. Roofers, siding guys, masons, and concrete guys. Remodel men and even plumbers and electricians. I took one look at the job they were doing and I raised holy hell. Unfortunately, my husband hushed me up before I could flat out fire them.  To this day he is regretting that I didn’t…but of course, he won’t admit it.

While assessing the siding on the house, I came across loose panels, holes, gaps and even some of the corner ( I believe they are called, but don’t quote me ) facets missing. I have a feeling that isn’t the correct word, but I’ll ask a friend later. Anyway, long story short sort of, a lot of the siding is going to have to be replaced. To say the least, I am bummed out that I didn’t go on my first instinct and fire those guys. They didn’t charge as much as the men I had talked to, to do the whole job, but at least had I gone with them, they had a warranty and also were reputable. I say I and me, because my husband ought me this house when we got married. So…it is MY house to make the decisions with. Now, I need new siding and am for sure going with who I wanted in the first place. In the long run, it will help with money matters and I won’t have to worry.

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Wind, shingles and neighbors

Wishing the next door neighbors would fix the shingles on their roof is a slight understatement. I stopped wishing and now I’m wanting them to fix the darn things. Or at least put a nail or two down.

Every time we get winds here, the shingles start flying. I think there is a word used instead of shingles, if one wants to get on someones bad list…but that is a different story. I’m just getting really tired of raking tiny bits and pieces up and then having to pick up the big pieces. Sometimes they are whole shingles just blowing off. They always seem to pelt my daughters truck and I’ll be darned if she is going to move it from our own driveway.

I’ve spoken numerous times about the shingles and even about them hitting V’s truck, but it falls on basically deaf ears. I always get the answer, “Yeah, we’ll do that in the Spring.”  Ummm…Stan? Spring is here and we’ve had fantastic weather for a week until this evening, to fix the shingles.

If having money was a problem, I would feel differently and not rant on about this. But I’m sure they can afford a home improvement task like this, and it wouldn’t hurt their pockets. “Stan” tends to brag up what they have, and keeps up with the Jone’s is what he does. But, can’t he see we have a new roof? Okay, so that might not work if he has a new lawn tractor in mind. The one he has is a year old not.