Bob

Julie

Terramadre

Albert

Kt

Bernie

Jan

Sue

Sandy

Sherry

There seems to be a number of "new" regular posters here.
I wonder if they'd like their weather stickers added. Hmmmm, just making small talk.

I was going to respond to the XIII weather thread, but Bernie, you beat me to it. So....just a comment here about the last post from Kt...and the twister that touched down in Weimar, TX...I thought it was very big of the rival HS students to step up and help with the clean-up. Kt, that seems to have been less than 10 miles from Ellinger. Close call!

It was a beautiful day here, perfect weather. Youngest G-daughter brought a small evergreen tree that she got from school, (which she couldn't plant in her yard for lack of space,) and we found a place in our back yard to plant it. I'll try to post a pic of her and her tree some time soon.

Julie

I would say that most people stick around for 3-5 years then either get bored or don't like what the forum has turned into or just don't have the time anymore.

There seems to be a number of "new" regular posters here.
I wonder if they'd like their weather stickers added. Hmmmm, just making small talk.

After I had posted the new weather thread, I thought that I should have included chuggerguy. He seems to know the computer pretty good and is willing to help others.

Bernie

Luckily we don't get, or rarely get, the large ones like in tornado alley.

Predicted rain tonight.

Kt

Bernie

Kt

I'm at 79F and 78% humidity. I'll take you temp at that humidity anyday over mine here and now.

Kt

This weekend I thought that it would be a very humid and hot weekend but the humidity was a lot lower than they predicted. I think we hit a high of 92* Monday but it was nice outside.

We have a large fire in the 'UP' of Michigan. It's about 30 miles west of the SOO. This picture was taken on the 25th of May. They said that it was started by lightening and has consumed 20,000 acres and is only 50% contained.

Take care, Bernie

Kt

Kt

Kt

A transformer went out a couple of night ago...actually I should say it sent out four "explosion" type noises before it burned itself to a crisp. It's hard to describe the sounds, but they reminded me of monster blow torches. We saw fire engines and Electric power trucks down the road in the wee hours, working on a temporary fix. Power came back on after a couple of hours.

June weather makes me nervous, with volitile storms and all. Microbursts happen all the time. Milwaukee was hit with some hail storms and strong winds this afternoon.

The heat wave will continue a couple more days before temps settle back into the 70's.

J

Kt

Kt

It hit 104* @ my house in the shade this aft :(

Julie

The weather has been warm in Michigan but the dew points have been low but that should change starting today and for the next 3-4 days. Not my kind of weather.

Saw a snake capture a toad last week which was interesting. I was getting back from my walk and was coming around the pole barn and I saw a kildeer and at first glance I saw something hopping. Oh, a baby kildeer.......wait..... that's a toad. Why is it jumping so much and fast???? About 3-4 feet behind the fleeing toad something else was in the lawn.....a snake and moving fast. The toad decided to take a right turn and the snake cut the corner and got a hold of the toad.

It didn't take long for the snake to swallow the toad and be on its' way (maybe 5 minutes). I think it was a blow snake about 3 feet long. He went back out into the hay field.

Take care, Bernie.

Hope everybody will be getting some much needed rain, doesn't look to good around here for the coming week.

Wow Terra, 107.8...the heat index must have been about 120F!

It was 103 in the shade here at lunchtime the other day and it felt like I was under water. I could hardly breathe since the air was so thick.

Put out fertilizer three weeks ago so now maybe the rain will kick it in.

Kt

Today it hit 110 F briefly but yesterday........

Stay cool!

Kt

Any 80 degree plus temps aren't too bad as long as the humidity is below 70%.

Stay cool!

It's going to be a HOT three days here. As I'm writing this, it is already 88* (9.45am ). We haven't been to 100* since 1988 but we have a very good chance of tieing or breaking the century mark the next three days.

Check on some of the elderly folks that you know just to make sure they are doing alright.

Watch those fireworks, it's kind of dry out there. We had a church that burned down the other day and they think it was started by fireworks, still investigating for the cause.

Drive safely.

Take care, Bernie.

One more day of this unbearable heat, and we should get back to our normal 80* temps.

This drought is no fun. And it's only a category "one".
Kt, it's amazing how you suthe'n folks made it through a category "four" drought!

Julie

All of you in the TX, OK, KS and surrounding areas, I don't know how you put up with that heat. Maybe you are just used to it. I know that I am not.

Take care everybody, Bernie.

I've noticed many extra bumps in the roads lately due to buckling in the pavement caused by the excessive heat.

I have to keep an eye on Taffy, and only let her run in the early morning or late evening hours. She's not a young pup anymore, and I notice her stamina isn't what it used to be. The heat & humidity are hard on her. She's prob'ly 50 in equivalent human years.

Julie

jim_6b

DH told me about a field fire just a few miles north of here. A farmer was cutting his field and a blade nicked a rock, causing a spark, causing a fast spreading fire. Fire trucks were called from several surrounding towns to put it out. I think his entire crop was lost. Not sure what was growing, but I would guess Winter wheat, because I've seen wheat fields being cut west of here. What heartbreaker for the farmer.

Julie

The shredder hit a rock, sparked a fire, and burned several acres but the fire department stopped the fire before it crossed the creek and burned up our hay, which was in very short supply.

Never ever shred duting a dry spell.

The big fire here three years ago was started by Houstonians coming out for the weekend and setting off fireworks. The case is still going on in court on that one.

I'm surprised that there are that many AC units that far north. Jule, I guess in your area it gets 'hot' often enough for AC. In Colorado, I rarely see an AC unit anywhere.

I haven't turned off my AC since the end of February except for two nights.

Stay cooool everyone!

Kt

I need to get my hay cut but can't till the rain stops and the ground dries out...but I'm NOT complaining by any means!

Kt

I'm surprised that there are that many AC units that far north.
Yes, it gets hot here, but we most likely don't run the AC like you Southerners do. We often have high humidity here in SE WI, but this year is different. With the drought situation, there is very little humidity lately.

The grass crunches underfoot as I cross my yard. I'm starting to count my losses, since I can't keep up with the watering. A large burning bush was burnt to a crisp during the triple digit temps. Lost three small evergreens and several perennials. Everything perks up for a few days after receiving a good watering, so many plants have a combination of green and brown foliage. My gardens are very unsightly.

5 inches in 6 1/2 hours sounds like flooding to me!
But I can sense your satisfaction, Kt, that your area of the country is getting relief from the past drought.
Great news!

Julie

I use a mower for mowing and a shredder for shredding. I'm fixing to buy a new tractor and will get a new shredder with it, probably only an 8-footer.

Sounds like you are getting what we had last Summer. Last year at this time I was spending from 10 to 18 hours a week watering, not to mention or count that my sprinklers were running 24/7. I was determined NOT to let anything die, and although I lost many plants, I am very happy for those that survived.

We are still behind in average rainfall for this time of the year, but we already have had over 3 times the amount of rain as we had ALL of last year. Crazy.

I finally had some time today to go out to the country and get some much needed work done...work that should have been done 2 years ago. Maybe with this rain, I will get caught up on some chores.

I'll be returning the favour of praying for rain in your area, and also a break in the heat. Hang in there.

Kt

Sounds like you are getting what we had last Summer.
Yup. Now I have a taste of what you were going through, even though our drought is only called "moderate". Some tree leaves are turning yellow & brown and dropping prematurely. I may be raking leaves in August. My lawn grass has gone dormant, but native Chickory is thriving and blooming in various lawn areas, especially along both sides of the driveway. I don't want to mow, or I'd surely stir up so much dust, I wouldn't be able to see or breathe!

Smoking and campfires are banned in four state parks.
Burn bans continue in all SE WI counties. Farmers are considering trucking their livestock to Northern WI where there is presently no drought. Hay is getting expensive. (Sound familiar?) I heard on the radio that some states are allowing farmers to have access to rivers and lakes to water their livestock, and just today I heard that cattle are allowed to forage for food along roadsides and in ditches...I think that was in IOWA...maybe also in other midwest states.

I'm happy for you getting all that much-needed rain.
You must be seeing a whole lot of green lately!

We are almot 4" under average for this time of year, but Madison is almost 7" under. Today a passing T-storm gave us 1/4", but that's not enough to satisfy deep roots, so I continue to run the sprinkler.

I read that this drought may persist into September:(

Thanks for your prayers:)

Julie

You must be seeing a whole lot of green lately!

Yes indeed. I will hopefully be making hay here at my house for the first time in probably 20 years. Since the drought of 1996, it has never fully recovered until recently and even now there are some bare spots, but it still looks great.

Along country roads here the last few years, sometimes the fences were cut so cattle could get to the roadside grasses and sometimes electric fences were run up to the road so cattle could have something to eat.

The lush green grass that was here early in the Spring died back after an intense short dry spell. When the cattle eat it, they die from the prussic acid that is produced in certain grasses such as Johnson Grass. It acts kind of like cyanide and kills the cattle. We've known that forever since we've always had cattle and we also try not to grow Johnson Grass, but the tennis shoe cowboys coming out of the city have lost over 200 cattle so far throughout the state. Live and learn I guess...unfortunately at the cattle's expense.

Beware of expensive hay, especially if you don't know who you are buying it from. Here, they were baling hay from roadsides which were full of trash including plastic bags that will plug up and kill a cow.

Also, the trash hay can bring in unwanted seeds/weeds/grasses that may take years and years to get rid of...if ever.

We got a shower here this evening late. I hope you too got some rain, and everyone else in that drought area.

Kt

I will hopefully be making hay here at my house for the first time in probably 20 years.
So do you plant each year for a crop of hay, or just harvest what grows naturally? I guess that must sound like an ignorant question, but I don't know about such things...just curious.

tennis shoe cowboys coming out of the city
I had to chuckle at that phrase...actually not so funny to you folks, huh?

Temps in triple digits and hot winds have caused havoc on the crops here. A few farmers are lucky to have irrigation for their soybeans and cabbage, but the corn looks terrible...they say it will only be good for feed.

On a side note...after a routine visit to the Vet yesterday, I took Taffy to the rehab facility where Mom is staying. The patients and residents were thrilled to be able to pet her, and she enjoyed the loving attention. It's amazing to see old people's eyes and face light up when they see visiting animals. Mom will be coming home tomorrow.

Julie

Yes, pets are great for folks of all ages but especially those that have little going on in their lives. We have two kittens that we are looking to find homes for and even though they aren't littermates, and never even saw one another...after putting them together for about 30 seconds, they were rolling and playing like they were siblings. So funny to watch.

They say that corn prices will be skyrocketing soon because of the drought in the cornbelt. Here, the corn is doing fine, but we don't have near enough as up north. Prices of cattle at the sellbarns have already dropped 15 cents a pound last week and expected to drop more over the next few weeks because of the corn prices.

I have Coastal Bermuda planted here at my house which we planted back in the 70's. Between the drought years and hogs and army worms...it's a wonder any has survived. It is quite drought hardy but needs fertilizer a couple of times each Summer if you want high protein hay and a lot of it. In a 'good' year, we can get 5 cuttings of hay, maybe even six. Without fertilizer, which is very very expensive, the grass would remain small.

Other grasses try to invade, but the fertilizer makes the Coastal grow faster than other grasses keeping them at bay.

Hay Grazer is the only grass down here that has to be planted every year since it freezes and is cut before it reseeds itself. It is like a bigger sized Johnson Grass which I mentined the other day. Johnson Grass grows to about 5 feet max and Hay Grazer reaches heights over 8 feet, but both are usually cut when it is younger and much shorter. Both produce a lot of yield, much more that coastal, but protein is low and it is very stemmy, so it is more of a filler and the cattle will have to have supplemental feed such as molasses.

No, it didn't sound like an ignorant question, but I did get carried away in answering it!

I'd like to see a pic of the chickory when you snap one.

Taffy...routine visit? Yearly checkup and vaccinations?

Kt

corn prices will be skyrocketing soon
The news tonight reported that farmers in WI will loose 50-60% of their crops because of the drought. And this is only an early prediction. It's getting very expensive for the dairy farmers to feed their cows, because of the prices of feed going up drastically.

Thanks for the detailed explanation of your grass/hay planting and cutting. Molasses...because of the iron?

I snapped a couple Chickory blooms but they're still on my camera. DH got sick of seeing the "weeds" sticking up in our back yard, so he pulled all that were in his view. One tiny plant escaped his "reaping", so I was able to capture it w/o having to trek down to the roadside.

Taffy...yes, routine visit w/vaccinations. She also got a "new" vaccine, of which I can't remember the name (I have the papers filed away, but I'll try to remember to dig them out to share with you later,) and she has to go for a booster in a couple of weeks. It has to do with "affected" wild animals urinating various places, and the bacteria (virus?) stays in the soil for several months. Then, if Taffy walks in the area then licks her paws, she can catch the virus. I'm not sure if I'm explaning this right, but you will know about it, I'm sure, if I share the name of the vaccine with you some time soon.

The latest weather assessment for our area is "Extreme" drought:(

However, this assessment was before we received 2" of rain yesterday:)

Julie

"New" vaccine for Taffy this year:
Leptospirosis

j

We have been vaccinationg down here for Lepto, for decades now. It is mixed in with the distemper shot but is generally only given to adult dogs, hence the name adult distemper...vs Puppy distemper, which is minus the Lepto.

Some pets get serious allergic reactions to the Leptospirosis vaccine, and cannot be given the vaccine.

Cattle here are also vaccinated for it, but it is a different strain, but it can be caught by humans, however it is very rare and can be treated with antibiotics.

Keeping my fingers crossed and praying for rain for all of you Yanks.

Kt

Hoping for some much needed rain in the wee hours sometime after 2 AM.

We have oodles of chipmunks this year...must be from the fairly mild winter. My garden areas are full of chippies' residences, and we have a family living under the stoop at the bottom of our back steps...driving Taffy crazy. Neighbor has been setting rat traps and has caught a few dozen so far.

J

Just skim this post. I googled it because it covers the whole thing--nobody really likes to harm them but by the time I posted I'd payed to dig up and replace the entire driveway because of damage as well as patching the damaged concrete block on the back of the house--and they were still tunneling under the garage!

Urge you to do something about the chippies since your neighbor has gotten so many before you run into the major expenses we did because of them.

The neighbor used the bucket technique with sunflower seeds last year and caught dozens of chipmunks. I don't know why he changed his technique this year. In fact, I think the bucket method is safer than using rat traps. His dog went after a peanut in one of the rat traps, and got a fat lip from the snapping trap. I'll have to ask him why he changed to traps this year. Hmmmmmm.

We had a couple of good soaking rains here, as you did, Sandy. The corn foliage has fattened up, so I'm assuming the kernals have done the same. Time will tell. Fruit trees here suffered the same as yours. Food prices will skyrocket, I'm sure.

Oddly enough, we are still considered an Extreme Drought area, despite the recent rains. Must be that we are still 4" short of normal precipitation for this time of year. I've heard that our drought may persist into September.
Strange year.

Julie

Have you ever eaten chipmunks? Guess it would take quite a few to make a meal.

My Dad used to hunt squirrels, and Mom would cook them somehow...there wasn't much meat on the bones...can't remember exactly, but I think they tasted very wild.

Oh, the good ol' days...

Maybe the Tropical Depression brewing out in the Atlantic will bring us some moisture.

Kt

"UFO landed in my hayfield the other night. Killed all the grass in a circle."

Pictures?

The 'dead grass area' is about 50 feet across.

Kt

J

In the first photo, I see your arm's reflection in the mirror:)

Strange...that does not look like my arm. Looks 'thin' in the picture.

Kt

So are you saying your arm is actually more muscular looking than in the photo?

j

Anyway, it is toned, not flabby, but maybe not as muscular as I would like to think it is:)

Kt...just getting old with tiny arms.

Kt

Crop circle...
You should post NO TRESPASSING signs pointing UP so the aliens can easily read them.

Hmmmmm..Maybe someone in your neck of the woods is playing a trick on you with wood planks and a rope.

j

It has healed as much as it can without surgery. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I don't have near the strength that I used to and it tires very easily...can't hold anything for very long. I need to lift weights to see if I can build up the muscles a bit.

Maybe someone in your neck of the woods is playing a trick on you with wood planks and a rope.

That crossed my mind, but I don't think Bernie knows where I live.

Grocery prices started to rise last week. My Mom's half gallon of skim milk jumped from $1.99 to $2.05. I can usually get my gallon of 1% (with a coupon) cheaper than her half gallon. It will be interesting/sad to watch food prices skyrocket.

Julie

We are overrun by frogs and toads. Even though it is very dry, they are everywhere. Trees are loaded with pecans and acorns, weeds cover fields everywhere. All is due to the drought last year. The frogs/toads are here since the fireants died back. Grasshoppers are eating what's left of any uncut hay.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE!!!!

Kt

The frogs/toads are here since the fireants died back.
I don't understand. Are fireants enemies of the frogs/toads?

I haven't seen any grasshoppers yet...may still come.
NO MOSQUITOES THIS YEAR....YAAAAAAAY!!!

Thanks for the BD wish, Kt:)
And I wish you a very happy birthday too!
Do something fun.
Will you watch shooting starts tonight?

Julie

Julie and KT

j

I wonder where the birthday boy is.
I think he takes a vacation from work every year around his BD.
Oh! I bet I know...he prob'ly entered a contest and won the grand prize and Bernie sent him to Antarctica for some refreshing cool weather.

Julie, enjoying a break from the hot weather today...

We're enjoying the break too. Weather has been wonderful since the heat broke and humidity went away last Monday. Just doesn't get much nicer, and love the open windows and no AC.

Kt hasn't approached me for a trip to Coldashell, Antartica. It's wonderful this time of year. Spring is just around the corner and the ice bunnies are hopping around.

Bernie

No, I didn't travel anywhere although I have been off from work for a few days. My computer went out not long after my last post here, while trying to send an email. I finally got a tech out here to work on it and I am up and running, for the time being anyway.

I don't understand. Are fireants enemies of the frogs/toads?

Actually, fireants are enemies to everything except maybe dillos which will sometimes dig up the mounds and eat their eggs. Fireants are responsible for the extinction of horned toads here...we never see them anymore. They eat anything and when it is dry and they need moisture, they are even responsible for the death of baby calves. Between the ants and the mexican buzzards, any animal that is helpless can be killed. Another story for another time.

Will you watch shooting starts tonight?

I did! It was an exceptionally good year since the moon was not out. The meteors streaked across the whole sky leaving streaks that you could see for a few seconds...pretty cool.

Do something fun.

I did, I built a deck out at my little shed at the country. It has been extremely hot so I had to do it over several days late in the evenings and even then it was over 100F in those woods. It took about 10 hours to build.

Coldashell, Antartica sounds great! That would be a welcome change from this heat. What is an ice bunny?...or should I even ask.

Kt

Considering who wrote it in the first place, do you really want to now what an ice bunny is.

It was cold this morning according to my temp gauge, 44*. Now that is jacket weather for a morning walk and some jersey gloves also.

Bernie

...and what the hell are jersey gloves?

Did you win that big lottery?

Brown cotton work gloves. You can buy them almost anywhere for $1-1.50 . Next time you are in the hardware store, go to their glove selection area and I'll bet you that they have them.

Did you win that big lottery?

If I did, I'm not telling anybody for 18-24 months. No, I didn't win the Lottery. A store in Lapeer MI, which is on the East side of the state 30 or so miles north of Detroit, sold the winning ticket.

It would be nice to win but I bet there are a lot of headaches that go along with it. The biggest problem would be adjusting to being "wealthy". I would also say that 75% of the winners can't handle it. They should set down with a financial planner and follow their advice and also get another second opinion on financial planning.

Bernie

Yep. I wouldn't want that much, but a couple million after taxes and after getting everything paid off would be nice, that way if something came up, I'd have money to cover it...something like a family sickness or accident, etc.

I wouldn't tell anyone if I won. I think that is where most people's problems come from.

So if I win and have more than I need, I'll have to send you all a cut but it will have to be in cash...anonymously sent of course.

Kt

One of my thoughts was that you had decided to run for President, and that you were perhaps traveling around the country, campaigning as an independent party.

I'm not very familiar with fire ants. I've only heard of them. They must be more prevalent in the South. Had to do a little research and I see they inflict their victims with a nasty venomous sting. Ouch!!!

Shooting stars on your BD night...what a nice gift from the heavens:)

...I built a deck out at my little shed at the country.
Pictures, please...when you have a few spare minutes.
Hopefully you will enjoy sitting on that deck in the evenings some time in the future as Autumn draws near. Do you have enough open sky overhead to gaze at stars?

We've been enjoying wonderfully chilly nights lately, in the 50's & 60's, leaving the windows open and cuddling under warm coverings.

Julie

Ha! No, but I will be voting for the American...better than nothing.

Fireants get their name for the fire or burning like feeling when they bite, and they all seem to bite at once, which by the time the first one bites, you have dozens on you and don't even know it. Sadly, if someone passes out from the heat or other problem, the ants immediately will go for the moist areas like the eyes and mouth and they can do some serious damage.

Pictures, please... OK, here they are.

Do you have enough open sky overhead to gaze at stars?

The deck is under a larger shed but I can see the stars looking out fron under the shed. I will be buiding another deck out from under the shed so I can see open skies. I built this one for several reasons, it is very dusty(the ground is like talcom(sp?) powder when it is dry and also there are scorpions traveling around at night, etc).

Oh, and I know you're very observant, so I will try to answer your questions ahead of time:).

In the second pic, that is a bucket of nails on the right.

Third pic, you see a couple of water troughs and seven 25-gallon buckets to catch rain off the roof, which we got last night but it wasn't enough to fill the containers.

On the porch/deck is a lawn chair with a styrfoam cooler next to it(full of water, Cokes, and 'other' cold drinks.

Farther to the right is some left over wood scraps, a BBQ pit(that came with the place), and a deer hunting chair on a short stand...also came with the place.

The round circular frisbee looking things are covers for the 25-gal containers.

That is dawn dish washing liquid on top of the BBQ pit...for washing up at the end of the day.

2 rocks and a brick on the lower left side of the deck. I used them to hold down the tarp that covered the wood until I used it.

On the far end of the deck, I will be putting up a 'mesh' or trellis-type screen and a gate in the upper right corner of the deck.

The deck is 14' X 26' which is actually larger than the building next to it, but I spend all of my time outdoors anyway. Inside is for sleeping and extremely cold weather. Not much to look at, but it's cheap, it serves my purpose, and it's comfortable.

Anyone have any pics to share??

Kt

Kt, thanks for the picture show!
And it's amazing that you can read my mind...well, sort of, when it comes to gazing at photos. I would have had a whole list of Q's if you hadn't've explained the pics in such great detail.

It's fun to watch the progress from start to almost-finish.
I can surely understand you not wanting to track in all that talcum-powder-dust. I'm amazed all that work only took you 10 hours to complete.

Styrofoam container full of...'other' cold drinks...gee, I wonder what those could be. (Side note: we went to a pig roast Sat. night and I had a 'hard' lemonade which contained 5% alcohol. It really gave me a buzz, since I'm not used to drinking. Mmmmmmmm, good.)

What you call a BBQ pit, looks like a Weber grill to me.

I thought your Dawn dishwashing liquid was blue Gatorade.

Mesh/trellis-type screen...to keep out the hot sun, perhaps?

Your deck looks much bigger than 14' x 26'.
One question...how high is it off the ground? Looks to be about 18" maybe.

It's a fine looking deck, very inviting under the shade of the shed roof. I think you have quite a talent for making your construction with perfect horizontal and vertical preciseness. You should be proud.

Thanks so much for sharing and taking the time to explain in detail:)

Julie

I'm amazed all that work only took you 10 hours to complete.

It took the longest to dig the holes and square off the area by myself. A lot of walking back and forth. Putting on the floor goes really fast. I still have yet to cut the back(or shed side) of the boards flush and put a board there for easy access to under the shed if I need to level it in the future, etc.

...pig roast...

Is that where people go and take turns getting up in front of a crowd and making jokes about a fat person?:)

Yes, that is a Weber grill left on the place from the deer hunters who used to rent the place before I bought it. After cleaning it up, it's like brand new.

Mesh/trellis-type screen...

Actually, it will go below the rail or 'hitching post' looking thing on the far side. It will keep varmints from coming out from the woods/creek which is a few feet behind the rail. I will be clearing the woods farther back away from the area, if I ever get enough time.

Ihe deck height ranges from anout 16' to about 2 feet depending on the slope of the ground.

Your deck looks much bigger than 14' x 26'.

Well, that was the size of the post spread, so the actual top size is a bit larger...probably 14.6' X 26.8', but I'd have to measure to be exact.

Thanks again.

Kt

KT, I have a few Q.s if you don't mind. That is a very high roof. Completely independent of the shed roof and very well built judging by the rafters. I guess what I'm trying to say is I've never seen a structure built directly over another complete structure...instead of extended from it. I'm thinking it would allow more air circulation under there? Any other reasons or is that common around there? Or maybe even what people do when they have plenty of space/land. Around here we have picnic pavilions that look very much like that, but with just bare ground underneath.

Also, the roof is light colored. Metal? Anyway, very nice structure. Enjoy.

The roof is tin(sheet metal) which is the most common roof type down here by far, for barns and houses, except maybe in the larger cities. Mine is silver metallic coloured which gives the most reflection of sunlight.

Yes, the roof is very high. I will start from the beginning. I bought the shed, which is 12' X 24' which was discounted since it was a repo, but had no damage to it structurally and I needed a building quickly for storage and the price quickly made up my mind.

After I had the building for a while, I thought it would make a nice 'cabin' to stay in so I added 5 more windows which really made it nice.

However, after a couple of heavy rains, I noticed that the building leaks, which I then later found out that most of them do, that's when I decided to build a 30' X 50' shed over the building which would also give me cover to park a tractor or trailer or truck, if I needed to.

It is built so high because, if I ever want to remove the building, it can be lowered a bit off of the blocks, and drug out between the posts. Also, I can then close in the structure and have a closed in barn or leave it as a pavilion, which I may do, if I build a house nearby later.

Yes, the high roof also allows for great air circulation and cooling which is much better than a low ceiling.

I looked into the Carolina Carports but it was more expensive than the one in the picture. I dug all of the posts holes by hand for that shed, but needed help with the roof since there are no center poles...only poles around the perimeter of the shed.

I also have another smaller shed under that same roof but it is just out of the picture. It houses tools and my solar equipment. On top of the shed(the big shed) are my two solar panels. In the pics above, you can see light bulbs on the joists.

No, I wouldn't say that this is real common down here but there a several similar structures that I know of.

I'm just kind of building things as I go, and I have changed my mind several times, and since things in my life keep changing, so do my plans.

Another year or so and I'll have everything I need to live as completely off the land as possible out there. It may not be a luxurious place now, but as I add things it will be suitable for reasonably comfortable living.

Thanks for asking, and I hope I explained it well enough.

Kt

Kt,
Is that where people go and take turns getting up in front of a crowd and making jokes about a fat person?
Ha! very funny! And there are a lot of piggy people here in WI. But no, I'm sure you know that a pig roast is an event where people pig-out on roasted pig, grilled chicken, roasted corn-on-the-cob, taco dip, salsa dip, all sorts of chips, potato salad, relishes, veggies, and all sorts of other fixin's that go with...oh, and an open bar. Oddly enough, I didn't sample any of the pig, since I'm not a pork fan.

I will be clearing the woods farther back away from the area, if I ever get enough time.
There is never an end to landscaping your property, especially when your dreams are big, huh?

I remember (as you explained to Sandy above,) a while back you mentioned that you wanted this area to be self-sufficient-living. It will be nice not having to be dependent on utility companies and all their constant rate raises.

Thanks for explaining about the mesh/trellis.

Keep us posted with your progress and more pics when you have the time!

Julie

Kt

Bacon & beans were eaten on the Old Chisholm Trail according to these lyrics.

However, the version on YouTube is missing the bacon & beans. I still like the song. Randy Travis has a pleasing voice. The Old Chisholm Trail

Julie

Randy Travis has a great voice and I like his music...but I won't let him drive me anywhere...NO!

Kt

KT, thanks for "the rest of the story". Really interesting to hear the whole process in progress and reasoning behind it all. Forgot to mention I did notice the light bulbs on the joists and wondered if they were solar. Is it strictly solar out there?

Solar with batteries and I also have a generator but I never used it yet, other than for a few power tools.

I have outlets inside the building and 2 are black which will be the generator outlets.

Kt

Kt,
...but I won't let him drive me anywhere...NO!
I had to do some research to figure out why you said that.
It amazes me how excessive alcohol consumption makes a fool out of a person. I bet Randy Travis would feel right at home in a nudist colony!

Julie

Probably...but only after a few drinks.

I saw that rain hit up north!

93F at 9PM in TX?!! OOOOOH Nooooooo.....

And Julie and Sue still 85F, WOW! Moving this way though, I think, by Mon.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Buying B'day cards for friend and her DH today--rabid liberals in AZ, hehe. Found this for him:

(front) THE DEMOCRATS TOOK YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE

(inside) THEY CUT IT UP AND SERVED IT TO PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY TODAY.

------------------------------------------------------------
I think it's funny. Unfortunately they are beyond laughing at anything so I bought it for Steve instead (birthday a few days later). He and his friends will like it.I'm just blabbing and moving this back up to the top.

Kt

It's back to being very dry here, but I keep moving the sprinkler around, hoping to keep garden plants alive. They can still put on a lot of root growth going into the Fall season. I'm particularly concerned about my Hostas. They may suffer next year if I don't keep them watered.

How many of you are getting remnant rain/wind from H. Issac? We won't know until tomorrow if the storm will reach this far North or not.

Hope everyone stays safe.

Julie

I went to La Grange this afternoon and it was very hot, 101F and very high humidity...yes, it's back.

I got home and a small storm hit with a lot of wind. Neighbour DPS Trooper had a large tree limb fall on his truck. It blew pots filled with soil off of my front porch, oh, I mean stoop.

Blue Moon tonight! Supposedly the last one for a few years.

Kt

Yes, the blue moon was mentioned by our local radio station...2nd full moon this month.

Blue Moon as I remember it.

Julie

Need rain badly. I'll spend the afternoon watering out at the country.

I found this in my back pasture yesterday...I guess my memory is failing me, I don't remember having a horse.

Rising moon illuminating clouds.

Kt

Well, Tex, will you adopt that horse just as you adopted little Black Sambo? And what is that metal thing on the right? Is it to protect a tree/shrub from stampeding cattle?

Gorgeous photos!
I don't think I've ever seen such rich texture in cloud formations. The first photo looks as if it was taken in B & W, but I see some blue in the second photo.

Just for kicks I set the second pic as a desktop background, but it didn't work well as a full (stretched) bkgrnd...not enough pixels or something. I reset my desktop to show Hostas.

I need to get some photos off my camera & loaded to computer. Too many others things going on lately.

Thanks for sharing!

Julie

Yes, if it comes to that, but I think it belongs to the football player's across the creek. They won't know the horse is missing for a few days or even weeks. Looks like a racehorse...very tall and leggy.

That metal thing is a hay ring - used to put around roundbales of hay when I feed them. You can see the hay at the bottom of the ring left over from last year.

The white things are egrets or cowbirds. They came over from Cuba years ago during a hurricane and have flourished here.

Thanks for the comments on the photos. Moonshots are difficult with a digital camera. If you capture the clouds and trees, the moon is bleached out or super-bright, and if you capture the moon just right, the rest is too dark to see.

If you want a full size or full pixel pic, let me know and I can send it to you. I still owe Sandy one from a couple of years ago, if she wants it.

I only watered out at the country for about 2 1/2 hours today. I will continue tomorrow. Came through town a few minutes ago and the temp was 81F at 11:50.

Kt

That metal thing is a hay ring
O.K. ...makes sense.

Re: the moon photo...
Wow! That would be great if you could send a moon shot my way. I like the second one best. My desktop computer background always holds some shot from my gardens, but I like to use other photos for my laptop "wallpaper"
I'd much appreciate it when/if you have the time.

Took more photos today. I'll try to get them edited and post them here...or maybe in a new "picture thread".

Have fun watering. I'm doing the same here.

Julie

Good question. That's what too much money and no sense does to a person.

Kt

I would like to know how you got the thread back. Does it have something to do with cache? I am looking at "Wayback Machine" and I tried to resurrect a thread but nothing happened. What is your secret????? I promise not to tell anybody.

Bernie

To find the sunken thread I used "site:gardenweb.com", "weather" and "always-beezee" as terms in a Google search:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=always-beezee+weather+site:ga rdenweb.com

Being able to bump an ancient thread back to the top is just a new gardenweb feature. I read an announcement about it somewhere but I don't remember where.

Strangely hot and we need rain.

Kt

Hoping it will turn loose soon.

Kt

j

The weather here today is around 66* with a 15-20mph wind out of the North. We are getting lake effect clouds and there is some very light rain in them. Most of the rain will be along the Lake Michigan shore.

The hummingbirds left Sunday and confirmed that they weren't around Monday. Took the feeder down and put it away for the winter.

Take care and look for "Weather XV".

Bernie