The calm before the storm. Literally. After I went back inside after taking some pictures, we had a doozy of a thunderstorm with rain and wind and a deluge that bent some of my plants, and created two furrows in my driveway from the force of the rain going downhill. It was a spectacular storm. The rain blew sideways, it came straight down, the gutters overflowed. The culvert was overflowing. So much rain all at once. And it lasted quite a while.
Thankfully, earlier in the day, I ordered a dehumidifier online and picked it up at a Home Depot about 30 minutes away from us. It was unbelievably hot and humid with yet another air quality warning. We carried the old dehumidifier upstairs from the basement and replaced it with the new one – this was about 1:30. Then the storm hit about two hours later. After the storm, dinner, and doing the dishes, we went down there to check it out and it was full of water. Hurrah! Don just went down there again – full of water. The timing couldn’t have been better.
I came home to Don mowing our front lawn, which is very long because of all the rain we’ve had. Without a working front wheel drive on the lawnmower, mowing is very difficult. I told him to take a break and I mowed a bit. But we can’t do it in one session as we normally do, so we’ll have to get back at it tomorrow. It’s way too wet out there today.
Today, we’re taking it easy because we are tuckered out.
I saw a couple of eastern swallowtails dining on the coneflowers. I was very happy, because I hadn’t seen any butterflies lately.
Flowers are blooming everywhere here and it’s lovely and I love summer normally, but I have to say it: I can’t wait for Fall. This has been an awful summer. Just plain awful. I can’t tell you the last time I sat on the porch. Between endless rain, high humidity, and smoke from the wildfires in Canada, there have been very few days where I could be outside for any length of time. I’m over it.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
whew … glad you got the new dehumidifier and just in time. not the most fun thing to spend money and time on, but peace of mind is worth it!
saw something on the news a couple days ago (when we were in the middle of a weekend full of “unhealthy” air quality due to haze from wildfires) that seasonal affective disorder can happen in summer, too … not just winter. the report said dealing with high heat and humidity, worry about storms, bright sunlight giving permission to go-go-go all the time, etc. leave some people stressed and depressed. i can see that, especially as a person who functions much better and enjoys/prefers cooler, cloudier days and wet weather.
glad you and don are taking it easy today. hope everyone can do the same. stay safe.
kathy
hey … i finished that book! and in four days! the next one is ready. :)
Well, that was great timing for your new dehumidifier! At least the flowers are benefitting from all the rain. Beautiful picture!
Thank you, Barrie.
Stay safe!
Sorry about the weather! Sounds challenging. I know of someone in Wyoming who is greatly affected by the smoke, too.
But I’m looking forward to autumn as well. Love the fall. Ours hits late in Southern California but when you’ve been here as long as I have, you sense the subtle changes even in September although we often have to wait for turning leaves til December.
Thanks, Vicki.
Stay safe.
I’d be over it too, if I had to endure all those lousy conditions. I haven’t spent a lot of time at all so far sitting on our deck…too much smoke, too hot, or no time. But, I’m hopeful. It sustains me before the long winter settles in. I’m hoping that August will be a good month for you.
Lovely flowers…at least they give you reason to smile. Enjoy your day! ;)
More rain tomorrow. It’s endless.
Yes, I’m hoping August is better!
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Whatever did people do before dehumidifiers in the basement were a thing? We’ve always had one and I shudder to think how dank and smelly it would be down there without.
Yes, summer has for sure been a bummer. And we haven’t even had near the rainfall that you have. Here we spend our long Wisconsin winters dreaming of enjoying being outside only to be hit with poor air quality and/or miserable humidity. I miss the porch/ patio sitting as well. I can see bundling up, firing up our smokeless firepit, and doing it in October if that’s what it takes this year.
Take care,
Kay
Yes, I can only imagine what it was like in this house a hundred years ago!
Yes, it’s been a rotten deal, this summer. Very disappointing!
Stay safe, Kay.
Agree !!!
Quite the dramatic storm, Claudia. Glad you and Don are safe and you’ve got a new dehumidfier earning its stripes in your basement. Don’t overdo cutting the grass in this heat although I know you like things to be neat. Hugs, Elaine
It actually has nothing to do with it being neat right now. Our lawnmower’s front wheel drive is not working so pushing the mower through long grass is exhausting. We have to mow before it gets worse out there and our grass is really growing fast because of all the rain.
Stay safe, Elaine.
Hi Claudia,
Sorry to break it you, but our summer is wonderful. Little bits of rain, warm days followed by cooler days. We haven’t had the air conditioner on much (electricity is really high right now), but we’re gearing up for a really warm weekend. My husband has a battery powered lawn mower and really likes it. My little mountain ash tree is lovely, and growing. I’ll put water on it today. My garden needs weeding. I’m bringing in lots of veggies
I can’t believe all the reading you get in. I’m also thinking of putting away the phone more often. I want to read too. And play my accordion again. The things I enjoy I put aside for the trauma our daughter has put on me. I must start to enjoy life again. Anyways, no more.
Take care, summer goes by quickly like all the seasons.
-Irene
Well, I’m glad your summer is wonderful, but I think you are the only person I have heard say that. For the vast majority of us, it’s either floods, excess heat, horrific storms, or drought.
A battery powered lawnmower wouldn’t work on our property. We have a couple of acres of grass to mow!
Play your accordion, Irene! If it brings you even a small bit of joy, it’s more than worth it. I hope that life gets better for you.
Stay safe.