Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Officially Summer
For the first time this year I turned the air conditioning on. Only for 30 minutes, but it's a start.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
When Cows Fly
It’s not every day you see a cow fly by your window, but Elva Dittmer swears that’s what she saw near her barn Wednesday morning.
“I seen something white going into the air, and I’m sure it was a cow,” said the rural Valley City, N.D., woman. Dittmer was about 120 feet away when she saw the cow go about 10 feet in the air at 8:20 a.m.
“I don’t know if a cow would jump that high,” she said.
Dittmer said she could not tell whether the cow spun around or went straight into the air, but said its movement frightened her 30-some other cows.
“They ran away from it,” she said.
Dittmer said at first she didn’t believe she had seen a cow fly, and she knows it may be hard for others to fathom, but she’s standing by her story.
“I’m sure she went up in the air because I seen it,” she said.
Full article can be found here.
“I seen something white going into the air, and I’m sure it was a cow,” said the rural Valley City, N.D., woman. Dittmer was about 120 feet away when she saw the cow go about 10 feet in the air at 8:20 a.m.
“I don’t know if a cow would jump that high,” she said.
Dittmer said she could not tell whether the cow spun around or went straight into the air, but said its movement frightened her 30-some other cows.
“They ran away from it,” she said.
Dittmer said at first she didn’t believe she had seen a cow fly, and she knows it may be hard for others to fathom, but she’s standing by her story.
“I’m sure she went up in the air because I seen it,” she said.
Full article can be found here.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tornado Target
When is a tornado not a tornado?
When there are "straight-line winds". There was not tornado watch or warning today, not even a severe thunderstorm warning. Only an innocuous "high wind advisory".
It started to get scary around noon. At 1:45 pm I decided enough was enough, and headed for the local tornado shelter, where a few others had already gathered. We watched shingles blowing off, furniture becoming airborne, and a camper that threatened to overturn completely.
Even when danger threatens, the folks here are still thoughtful. One lady brought cookie dough and made cookies in the oven while another brewed a fresh pot of coffee. As the storm started to subside, I was invited to stay and play cards for awhile. I politely declined, and started out in the rain and wind to see what damage had been done. Lots of sheds were damaged or destroyed, trees uprooted, and one mobile home completely destroyed. We were lucky. No one was hurt.
Cleanup starts tomorrow, with more rain in the forecast.
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Wave
When I first started coming to Minnesota in the summertime, I noticed my family waving at everyone we passed in the campground or on the lake.
"Who was that", I'd ask.
With a shrug of their shoulders, they'd say they didn't know.
"So why do you wave at them?"
When I was growing up in North Dakota, it was very common to wave at a passing car in town, even if the wave was one index finger held up off the steering wheel. I don't remember that being so common in Fargo, but once you hit the city limits of Casselton, the waves would begin.
Here's my theory. This area is filled with very polite, nice people. Way back when, the tradition of waving started just to be nice. Way back when everyone knew everyone else. Now, I think people wave just in case they might know that person. Don't want ugly gossip to spread that you're a non-waver, i.e., not friendly.
Another theory? It's a guaranteed way to tell who the tourists are by who waves and who doesn't.
"Who was that", I'd ask.
With a shrug of their shoulders, they'd say they didn't know.
"So why do you wave at them?"
When I was growing up in North Dakota, it was very common to wave at a passing car in town, even if the wave was one index finger held up off the steering wheel. I don't remember that being so common in Fargo, but once you hit the city limits of Casselton, the waves would begin.
Here's my theory. This area is filled with very polite, nice people. Way back when, the tradition of waving started just to be nice. Way back when everyone knew everyone else. Now, I think people wave just in case they might know that person. Don't want ugly gossip to spread that you're a non-waver, i.e., not friendly.
Another theory? It's a guaranteed way to tell who the tourists are by who waves and who doesn't.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
My New Improved Working Conditions
My new Summer Palace arrived a week and a half ago, the day before I had to scoot back to Texas for a week. I'm finally unpacked and can start to enjoy the new digs. I moved all of the bird feeders to the backyard, and after family visited this weekend, and more family, and then family of family, I can sit down and watch the birds. Retirement doesn't sound too bad if this is what it's all about.
Already this morning I've had a Pileated Woodpecker and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak visit the feeders.
I can smell the big bunch of lilacs I picked yesterday, and a cool breeze is coming through the open windows. It don't get any better than this.
Already this morning I've had a Pileated Woodpecker and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak visit the feeders.
I can smell the big bunch of lilacs I picked yesterday, and a cool breeze is coming through the open windows. It don't get any better than this.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
My Texas Garden
Right around the 1st of April I planted my Texas garden after putting in a sprinkler system first. I spent too much money way too many years on plants that died when I couldn't keep them hand-watered in this heat, so I finally made the investment.
When I left for Minnesota three weeks ago, a couple of my cherry tomatoes were just turning red, and the roma tomato plant was only about 6 inches high. Today, the cherry tomato and the roma plants are about 3 feet tall, and my petsitter reports that several cherry tomatos have already been harvested. The basil will boltif I don't harvest it soon, and my red peppers are growing nicely. I think I'll harvest a bunch of the herbs and bring them into work tomorrow as gifts.
This morning I cut some blooming lilies for a fresh flower arrangement. Then I harvested some chives and a couple of cherry tomatoes for my breakfast. Two eggs scrambed with chives and quartered tomatoes made for a delicious (and healthy) breakfast. There was also a couple of ripe strawberries that didn't make it into the house because I ate them right from the plant. I can do that because my gardens are totally organic this year.
I also cut a bunch of catnip as a treat for my small furry feline friends. I rip ped up the fresh leaves and scattered them on the floor for hours of enjoyment. I suppose I ought to dry some up too for the winter.
When I left for Minnesota three weeks ago, a couple of my cherry tomatoes were just turning red, and the roma tomato plant was only about 6 inches high. Today, the cherry tomato and the roma plants are about 3 feet tall, and my petsitter reports that several cherry tomatos have already been harvested. The basil will boltif I don't harvest it soon, and my red peppers are growing nicely. I think I'll harvest a bunch of the herbs and bring them into work tomorrow as gifts.
This morning I cut some blooming lilies for a fresh flower arrangement. Then I harvested some chives and a couple of cherry tomatoes for my breakfast. Two eggs scrambed with chives and quartered tomatoes made for a delicious (and healthy) breakfast. There was also a couple of ripe strawberries that didn't make it into the house because I ate them right from the plant. I can do that because my gardens are totally organic this year.
I also cut a bunch of catnip as a treat for my small furry feline friends. I rip ped up the fresh leaves and scattered them on the floor for hours of enjoyment. I suppose I ought to dry some up too for the winter.
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