Sunday, August 26, 2012

NINE INCHES OF RAIN!

YEP, you read that right... 9.03 inches of rain in less than 24 hours! This is my back yard- the water was up over the bottom step of one of the barns, the water was half way up the tires on this little trailer. The rest of the yard was just a pretty little lake! I had planned on cutting the grass yesterday, LOL! Guess that didn't happen! The road out front was flooded - remember this is a turtle-back road, so it takes a lot of rain to cover the center of the road! My driveway goes up a slight incline from the road, so it is also amazing to have several inches of water in the driveway. Here you can see the "wake" from the passing car! Waves in the driveway going up from the road! It was afternoon, but the sky was so dark, the street lights came on. The camera used flash automatically. The carport went under water, as did the back yard. The wind blew a few things around, cat's dishes and water bottles for watering the hanging plants floated in the water.
So what happened? It was not in the forecast... We went from 30% chance of rain to 60%, to this! Durn, several frogs drowned in this stuff!
Did you ever wonder what happens when a Tropical Cyclone is trying to form? It is not a tropical storm yet, not a depression, but it is one in the making. As something like that tries to get organized, this is what often happens. Usually, however, it happens out over open water and we just see the results when it travels inland. Well, this one formed right off shore here and is still, as I type this, dumping rain in northern Maryland and Delaware, southeastern PA and NJ. Here, the sun is out and the world is turning into a sauna. It is not that hot - if you look at the thermometer - but it is steamy.
We had a small tornado a few miles south of here... totaled someone's old trailer, pulled it off the foundation, ripped the roof off. Made a serious mess for the person living in it. Numerous vehicles, most of them 4 wheel drive with owners who think that means they can go thru anything, ended up in ditches. We have deep drainage ditches here, some deeper than 6 feet, and with the ditches filled with water (in part thanks to those who dump litter on the roads) and the road under several inches of water as the rain is coming down several inches per hour, it was impossible to see where the edge of the road was and where the ditches start. We don't have guard rails here. I guess they assumed people would use their brains, but, well, you and I know better, right? So, there were too many vehicles to count nose down in the ditches. Duh.
I hope you did not have a problem in the storm.

Monday, August 20, 2012

"MARY" CATS

WHAT? You never heard them called Mary cats? See that M on their foreheads? No, the cat's, not mine! The story is that about 2000 years ago, there was a special baby born in Bethlehem, and he spent his first few days in a manger in a stable. The weather over there can be chilly, especially at night, and this little cat crawled up in the manger, curled up next to the baby to share its warmth. The baby's mother, whose name was Mary, woke up from her nap and found the kittie curled up next to her baby. She reached over to pet it, stroking its forehead, and forever its decendents will wear a M on their heads in honor of that loving cat. We have one of those cats... and , yeah, he can be loving, but we have found it is just to lull us into a false sense of security while he is planning some mischief to get into. Oh well, we love our Rascal anyway!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A REMINDER

IN THIS WORLD of so much self-righteous hatred, I feel the need to share Mother Teresa's words...
“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.”

Mother Teresa

If you believe in God, then you believe we are all His creation...
Love one another. Leave the judging for a power greater than yourselves.
When you show hate for another human being, you show hate to God.
Understand that we are all different, that is part of The Plan. Deal with it.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

WHATCHA BEEN UP TO?

OK, OK, where have I been? I get so busy sometimes I truly don't know whether I am coming or going. The Train Station accounts for a bit of my time... Please visit http://onley-spots.blogspot.com/ to see what we have been up to the past week. I am too lazy to copy it all over here like I did the last time. True, that only accounts for a few hours of my life, but it seems like more than that.
The garden is struggling. Many of the plants are winding down, the new beans have just started producing. Late tomatoes have started producing. My "people" have been keeping me busy the last couple of weeks. Not complaining, just sayin'. In truth, it is humbling to be able to help folks.
And my Lymes has been acting up a little lately. How I wish I had a Dr available who would write me a prescription for a massive dosing of antibiotics to help kick this stuff into remission again for a while. However, there is no one around here to do that. My regular doctor will give me what she considers 2 weeks worth, but a Lymes dosage will deplete 2 weeks worth in 2 days. Oh well........
It is raining as I type this. We have had almost an inch of rain in the last hour and a half. I won't have to water the garden tomorrow. That will be nice. I will have to buy a new paintbrush because I wash them out outside, so, it did not get done. Small price to pay for the much needed rain. The rain has also dropped the temps down into the 70s. What a relief. It has been beastly hot and humid. I hate to mention that since others have had it so much hotter than we. The humidity has been 200%, I swear! Somedays ya just can't breathe.
Maybe I will find something fun to blog about this week - and maybe the time to sit and read YOUR blog. That would be nice! Yes, the dragonflies are still buzzing around. NO board meetings next week, that will be a break, so maybe I can get caught up. Don't put any money on it.
If you are among the folks feeling ignored, sorry. I promise to try to do better. Note the wording. Try is the key word here.
Enjoy the Train Station blog! Drop in and visit us if you are in the neighborhood and see a bunch of vehicles down there! Bring your paintbrush and hammer... maybe a fan. And water.
Gotta go put my kitchen back enough to cook dinner. Having electrical work done. If its not one mess, its another, right?