MOWING DONE JUST IN TIME

 I FINALLY mowed.  Well mostly, ha. 

I was going well, I edged everything first, which is a great way to start.  It was hot, "feels like" of 103 but I had to do it.  More on that momentarily. Anyway, I was finished with the back and sides and most of the front when I went to do the driveway.  The grass was pretty heavy, and it bogged down the mower blades.  Normally that's not a big deal, just turn it back on.  But I did that and the mower blades wouldn't engage.  I knew exactly what it was.

A clod of grass was wedged in between the end of one of the mower blades and the edge of the mower deck housing and it wouldn't turn so it automatically shuts off. That's happened before over the years and usually I just have to get under there and dig/pull it out and it works fine.

I drove it to the driveway and laid down and spend a good 40 minutes trying to get that. Scissors, pliers, a spray bottle of water, nothing could dislodge it.

I had this patch of grass left and I looked at the time, my heartrate, the heat and said to myself "I'm about 90% done, I think that's good enough, it's not worth risking it".  Drove the mower to the shed and put it up.  I am hoping as it dries, in a week or two (whenever I have to mow again) it will be easier to remove the dried grass/dirt.

Didn't cover as much as usual, but like I said, close enough, ha.  And best of all, it's DONE for now which is what I wanted because...

...we are on Tropical Storm watch!  It's not yet a named storm (as this posts) but if it does, it will be "Edouard".  They are expecting landfall tomorrow.

It will most likely be only a rain event, no heavy winds predicted, though that can change as a storm spins up into something bigger if it slows down.  At this point though, just rain. 

 Most of the heaviest rain misses the farm but if it wobbles a bit, we could get that.

Fingers crossed.

GOOD FOOD AND KITTY CAT SUNDAY

Another hot weekend.  Today will be some yard work in case we have some rain later this week (that's in the forecast).  But it will be done in stages, ha.

A good hearty meal is always good.  A salad to start and then some pan seared pork chops and fresh green beans, shallots and mushrooms.  Yummy!

Babygirl says hello.  She's a sweetie, still a little aloof but coming along.

Everyone stay cool this weekend!

LUNAR ECLIPSE AND HEAVY RAIN

The other night was a lunar eclipse.  Living in the country now, we were hoping for a great view of these kinds of events.  It was a little overcast but we were NOT disappointed!

Check this out!  I took about two dozen photos hoping I'd at least get a good one.  I think this is a pretty good one, ha.  I told 2nd Man I might just need a telescope one of these days...you know, Christmas, birthday...

Just sayin'

Then yesterday afternoon, we had a HUGE pop up thunderstorm come right over us (the star is our house).  It dropped almost an inch of rain.  The ground was so dry it absorbed most of it but of course, still some standing water.  Not sure I will be able to mow today and that WAS the plan.  I may edge later this evening and then hope it's dry tomorrow.  

Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

IN MEMORIAM DOLLY PARTON

Wow.  What a loss. 

When our phones started blowing up today with the breaking news, even in my office, we had to stop and take a breath.  Dolly seemed like one of those people who would just always be with us.

She lived a life of many colors, that's for sure.  Singer, songwriter, actress, business owner, philanthropist and just an all around beautiful and kind person.

As a kid, I was obsessed with Dolly.  Loved her.  Had posters, bought every album, watched every movie.  She's been performing for the better part of 70 years.  

The one place we've never been to is Dollywood. 2nd Man said we should add that to the travel list.

Her nephew said it best in the official statement on her sudden passing:

"My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family, whether you liked it or not. Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever."

INDEED...RIP Dolly.

TOO HOT TO DO ANYTHING OUTSIDE

Dog (and cat and racoon and everything else) days of Summer are here with a vengeance.

And the toll on the last minute bucket veggie garden has been extreme.

Both tomatoes look like this, despite regular watering.  I'm guessing they were just planted too late in the heat as young plants and struggled to survive.

The jalapenos on the other hand, they did at least produce some peppers.  This was the other day, 5 growing well.

And a week or so ago, we snagged three more!  Not too bad.  It shows the bucket method works, just need the right weather.  And this ain't it!

Check these out:

Saturday at 4:40pm.

Sunday at 4:10pm.

It's those feels like temps that are horrible.  You go outside and start sweating in about 2 minutes.

Mowing and edging just isn't happening right now.  Sure it needs it but nope, no one except us will see it so there is no point in risking the heat for that.

As for veggies, we aren't giving up on the bucket garden, it was just too hot too quick for too small plants.  But a FALL bucket garden, now THAT is doable!  We have about another month of these temps before we get our first cool weather so that will work!

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY

Why did the cow cross the road?

Maybe it was the heat!

Was coming home from work yet again and this time, there was a person standing at a blind curve warning people about this ahead of them.  A cow, exploring life outside the fence.  I asked the man who was warning people (kudos to him for doing that by the way) and he said he had already called the owner and they were coming to guide the wayward cow back home.

It's hot.  We are, for the first time this Summer, under an extreme heat warning this weekend.  Debating whether or not to mow/edge this weekend.  It's been three weekends now. It's tall but not crazy since we haven't had rain.  We'd be ok if it turned beige, ha.

Stay cool wherever you are!

PUTTING UP BBQ PORK RIBS

Last month, we posted about our usual tradition of BBQ ribs for our 4th of July.  We used the extra rack to chop up the meat and used it in a meal the next day.  It was so good, we thought, "let's do this again and put it up for later!"

They were on sale ($1.24/lb) again so I bought two more and seasoned them and cooked them as we always do.  Then I let it cool.

The fun part was sliding out the bones.  Since it's "fall off the bone tender", sure enough, you just grab one and pull it out.  After doing that multiple times, I put the now boneless rib meat onto the cutting board...

I sliced it one direction...

...and then the other direction.  I put on some gloves and tore it up into smaller pieces.  Lastly, I divided it all  into equal portions and...

...vacuum sealed it all up!  We ended up with three bags of a little over 2 cups each.  Enough in the freezer for a stir fry or a casserole or some pulled pork sandwiches!

WOW IT IS HOT

It is hot.  How hot?

Our "feels like" yesterday was 109 degrees.  We have all sorts of heat warnings and alerts telling people to stay indoors.

I haven't mowed or edged in three weekends now. We have had very little rain, just a couple of quick afternoon showers.  Luckily, the grass hasn't grown that much, although...

...it is a little out of control in places, ha.  I thought about mowing this weekend but I went outside to water and it's just insanely hot and humid.  I was SOAKED with sweat from being outside for an hour, and had to come in and take a shower.  I was going to work in the garage clearing some more boxes, but again, just 30 minutes out there is too much.

In a neighborhood, we might have to worry about the HOA sending us a nasty letter about mowing our grass but hey, out here, no one cares, we're the only ones who will see it, ha.

We asked "J" (from 2nd Family) if she had mowed yet (we've been commiserating about the weather) and she said she did a couple of things on the porch the other day and the heat made her feel horrible for hours.

Then she said "my yard is not worth dying for".

Wise words... 🤣

FILLING IN A SINKHOLE

 After all of our rains, we had some settling around the septic tank.

It looks like quite the hole.

I shined a flashlight in there and it wasn't as deep as it looks.  It was also animal free.  And we sure didn't want an animal making a home in there if we left it open.  

The septic tank company offered to come out and fill it in using the pile of dirt we still have, but we said we could handle it...this time anyway.

It took me about three wheelbarrow carts full of dirt and a bit of shoveling but I got it filled in.  We expect it will still settle a bit here and there as we get some more rains, but hopefully that is minor and still easily fillable.

It's always something!

WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY RABBIT PALOOZA

This Spring/Summer has been rabbit crazy out here.  

Gotta admit, they are cute!

SO cute!

This was the other morning when I left for work...there were FIVE bunnies running around.  When I drive up and down the driveway morning and afternoon, I have to do so very slowly as they dart back and forth.

We don't mind.  Once we have the garden up and running (hopefully next Spring) we'll have to make sure the fence is rabbit proof.  Of course, when we had our last garden, we never once had a problem with them.  "J" from 2nd Family has one nesting in her planter and she's hoping for baby bunnies.