Wednesday, June 27, 2012

HAY THERE

A garden update. 

Just a few progress photos. 

We added some straw between the rows today. 











Friday, June 22, 2012

From the Weather Book

June 11
- sunny, hot, hot!



June 12
- rain, humid
- cooler, but still sticky

June 13
- cool, sunny


June 14
- sunny, breezy
- first radishes


June 18
- sticky, warm
- thunderstorms

June 19
- sticky, warm
- thunderstorms
- power out 3 - 9 pm

June 20
-Summer is here!
- hot, humid
- breezy


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Bah Humbug

Today is the first day of summer and it is hot, hazy, and humid.


Not a breath of wind

Thunderstorms that provide no relief.

We are all sticky and sweaty.

I can't wait for fall. 



Summer weather really isn't my thing.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

BUG RAGE

As I have mentioned, I've been avoiding longer walks and hikes due to the fact that deer flies and mosquitoes are thick right now, and are amongst my least favourite things.  Well, last evening, I'd had enough of staying indoors and decided to head out across the fields, to the river to find that elusive stream that I had spied in the spring. 



I set out in the field at a rather fast clip because I didn't have much time and the bugs were bad...or so I thought.  There was a steady flow of deer flies around my head - maybe 5 - 8 at the most.  Not a huge deal.  Totally manageable.  When I felt like leaving them behind, I broke into a faster run, brought up the breeze, and they were gone.  As soon as I stopped, they seemed to multiply, brought on by my activity and heavy breathing.  I like running, and I do it almost everyday. Just not, you know, in jeans and heavy hiking boots. 

Still, they weren't too bad.

On I went to the river.

Crossing was a bit of an issue, and I had to venture father upstream to find a narrow spot.  I crossed at the top of the falls with my shoes tied around my neck and my socks stuffed in my pocket.

Once across the deer flies found me again, and this time they had brought all their friends.  I was starting to get just a bit nervous about my situation.

I followed the dry creek bed up through the forest where the mosquitoes found me.  OH FANTASTIC.

I broke into a run again, pausing every so often and snapping all the photos I could, knowing that this would be the last I saw of this place until the fall.

I stumbled up the the upper field, snapped a few shots, down to the creek bed, raccoon print, oh yay, more forest, bugs, deeper pool, bugs, rocks, this must have been pretty in spring, bugs, bugs, no more thinking, just running.

Mosquitoes and deer flies are swarming now.  I'm back at the river ripping off my socks and shoes.  Forcing myself to slow down and calmly cross so that I don't slip and smash up on the rocks.  I felt like I was crossing blind.  I was in a BUG RAGE.

At this point, there was no more time for pictures, the camera was to be used a weapon only.

I ran through the thick blackberry canes, the spines ripping at my sweat heavy jeans.  I startled a white tailed deer.  No time to admire.  I kept running.

I came out of that field running as if Satan himself had risen from the depths and was chasing me across the sweeping grasses.  I hit the road and briefly considered laying down.

I was absolutely dripping with sweat.  Slick.  Disgusting.  Spent.

The jury is still out on whether this little adventure was worth the bug rage and copious amounts of cortisone I used when safely ensconced in my blissfully bug-free washroom.  I don't suppose I'll be returning to the scene of the crime anytime soon, but I do look forward to a more leisurely stroll come late August.
















Bug rage!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Garden Update


Finally some carrot sprouts!

Radishes before thinning

Onions

A lonely bean plant


Corn!


Tomatoes



Melon

Look what I found when I thinned the radishes! 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

By the Riverbank

We have been avoiding our afternoon and evening adventures lately for a few reasons.


1.  Bugs
2.  Too hot
3.  Bugs
4.  Too wet
5.  Everything has grown up so it makes navigation off the path difficult
6.  Bugs



This afternoon was cooler and the wind was up, so we set off across the field to see what we could see.  I wanted to get to the falls, but the growth in the field off the path was just too thick and full of raspberry and blackberry canes.  I was wearing shorts and didn't feel like tearing my legs up!


We managed to get through the forest a bit and down to the river by walking north along the upper bank.  I wanted to double back along the lower bank to the falls, but it was wet and muddy, and again the growth was too thick.











The bugs were still bad, and I managed to still tear my legs up, but it was nice to get out in the sunshine with my sweet little raccoon.


























Sunday, June 10, 2012

From the Weather Book

May17
- blue heron on the shore



May18
- blackflies- awful

May 19 - 21
- GORGEOUS long weekend
- sunny, hot




May 22
- cool, rainy, clouds
-terrible mosquitoes

May 26
- warm, sunny, lovely


May 27
- cooler, clouds, sprinkles



May 28
- HOT 30 degrees
- radishes up

May 30
- Sparkling bright day



May 31
- cooler 13 degrees
- cloudy off and on
- breezy

June 9
- rain, green
- wet, humid day

June 10
- warm, humid morning
- sunny, hot!