August 14 – August 16, 2010

Saturday: I was able to leave work at 2:00 am and get in a nap before the trip to O’Wich. I left at 4:45 to pick up Karen. I pulled into her drive at 5:36 to find her sitting on a blue cooler in the driveway! A quick stop at DD and before I knew it 59 was behind us and we were on 88. The ride was fun and felt as though it flew by. Once in Wisconsin we stopped at the rest area and that helped us make it the rest of the way; pulling up to the farm stand at 9:00 ~ just as he was opening! We got gas and stopped for a few groceries and then it was time for Karen to travel “the road.” It was bad but not as bad as I thought it was going to be since the farm stand guy said it rained 4” in 2 hours on Friday. However, Karen did not care much for the road and now knows why I don't go out much when I'm there!!! Sadly, the mosquitoes were still bad as we made our way with all our stuff into the cabin as quickly as we could. We unpacked all the food, sat on the back deck and decided to grill brats and hot dogs. They were scrumptious. By 1:00 we thought we’d try to nap since it was already a long for each of us. I napped until 5:00, a bit longer than Karen and once we were both up we started grilling dinner. On the dinner menu were BBQ chicken thighs, corn and Karen's homemade potato salad. Delicious does not even come close! We spent the rest of the evening visiting and killing the mosquitoes that snuck in. By 9:30 we were stuffed and exhausted and decided to end the day…g’night!

Sunday: The easement is still flooded and it’s another semi-mosquito filled day - but still very relaxing. Coffee, lots of coffee, an awesome breakfast, enjoying the sun and a visit to Paul and Betty’s filled our day. When we got back, we grilled burgers for dinner and let me take this moment to totally brag…I am a great burger maker. Heck, I am just a great cook! Okay, I’m done – thank you for your undivided attention to the bragging moment! We were both exhausted after dinner, watched some turkeys travel through the easement, watched TV and ended the day; yeap, right around 8:30…whoo hoo! Party girls!!!

Monday: Today we were up early and enjoyed 53 degree temperatures as we sat outside drinking coffee – Karen in her crime-fighting flannel cape and me laughing at her while wearing my turquoise Polar-tek jacket. She won for the silliest ever costume! We grilled pork sausage and fried eggs – no...not the eggs on the grill. It was yet another tasty meal. Forget shark week – we were having an awesome food frenzy get-a-way and I impressed myself with everything I cooked – oops, sorry, already bragged about this! We sat outside for the entire morning while the temperature rose to around 70. There were light breezes and a minimal amount of humidity. There is no other way to describe these three days other than great company and relaxing! Karen threw gravy and meatballs in the crock pot for our early dinner – well not threw and yes, homemade – and YES, delicious! We needed to leave by 5:00 to hit the farm stand and head home, with my personal goal to be tucked safely inside by midnight!

Everything but the garbage and laundry - and of course Karen, is staying behind since I’ll be back with Carlo in 3 days…c’mon Friday!

July 30 - August 1, 2010

July 30 - I was able to leave work at 4:30 which was awesome in getting a jump on the morning traffic. I was tired the first hour but luckily snapped out of it - thanks to a couple of horns! Even with stopping at the oasis - needed C-O-F-F-E-E, I was at O'Wich by 8:15. On the way down the road, I watched a deer wander about. He didn't seem to care that I was even there. I took a few photos of him with my phone, although I mostly got the hood of the car. Of all times for my camera to be in the trunk!

As I turned the corner it was apparent that the river might still be high, since the neighbors driveway was still covered in water...similar to what was there when I "skedaddled" the last visit! My yard in the back was also pretty much like the last time too - there is a lot of water. As I opened the car door the mosquitoes swarmed me - and followed me as I made a one load dash into the cabin! I settled in, tried to go outside (but quickly scratched that idea and my new bites).

By 9:00 am I am hoping the water goes "away" and the planned events are not hindered by this water.

At 11:00 I called Jim to double check on our appointment. It ended up I had to go on an excursion to pick up some paperwork and then get back for our newly re-scheduled 1:00 appointment. Jim said things will need to be put on hold due to the height of the river. He field tested the land and found water at 18" - so chalk up yet another weather related delay. Everything is signed and will be filed on the 2nd of August.

I was able to catch the end of my soaps and at 3:00 I attempted to visit Betty and Paul. The road was impassable in front of Rick's so I had to turn back. Tom and Betty were returning from town and pulled in to say hi. Tom complained about the river and all of the water and I was again swarmed by mosquitoes and marked the visit done. So far...a long day has been had by moi!

July 31 - Happy Birthday to my Dad. He would have been 81 today!

At 6:15 when I opened the blinds, I was happy to see the water had receded, substantially. The air is 65 degrees, the humidity still feels high. Thinking cooler air would keep the mosquitoes away, I headed out to weed and check out the garden that has my first flower for the hummingbirds. This came to a quick end when I was swatting the hungry bugs from all around my head. Looks like they are winning! Obviously the hedge hog wasn't bothered by the bugs as he picked up some snacks that surfaced as the water left.

Toward the end of the afternoon, I was able to get in my visit with Betty and Paul. Betty had Steve pick me up since his truck is high and has no problem making it through the flooded road. I was shocked at how much water covered the road. I have never seen so much - ever - in the past. Work was going on at Rick's house...looks like it's time to call it Carla's Place.

August 1 - The mosquitoes remained annoying and have become the deciding factor of me heading home...yep, they've done run me out of town! The fog was thick and visibility was low. Traffic at 5:45 was great and I even got a chance to see the sunrise through the fog. Hopefully within the next two weeks things will dry out and the mosquitoes will be gone!

July 17, 2010

Good morning????? No way!!!!

By 6:15 the water from the river was almost to the swing...time to bail. And when I say bail, I am not talking buckets. There was also water behind the trellis and next to the shed.

By 7:00 I was driving out when I noticed the neighbor's driveway was flooded...I made a good choice to leave!

Those of you that were waiting for the "farm stand fairy" will need to wait until the next time.

I was home by 10:00 and talked to Steve around 2:00. They were in the process of moving their vehicles to higher ground. Betty left a message and told me my backyard was under water.

Ahhhh, riverfront property!!!!

July 16, 2010

Up (obviously before me), the hummingbirds were again, acting crazy. If it's not "their season", then Carlo spiked the juice in the feeder! I got my coffee going - 80 k-cups - and watched the birds drink, flutter, slam into the window and well, whatever else they were doing! I sat on the deck and they were freaking me out the way they were buzzing about (my head). I thought I should move about and hope they didn't run into me...that would not have been good - thought I might be safer as a moving target! I decided to stomp ants and after tiring from that, sprayed ant killer instead. I sprayed outside and inside. They were everywhere. Damn near high on the fumes, I then needed to sit outside - this time on the front porch, until the smell went away! Of course there was then sweeping of all the fallen ants!

I spent from 8 until 10 picking up branches, twigs and lots more glass. Either the rain saturated the ground or the river rose higher than its current level, but there are several spots with standing water. I cleared up the trellis area and my hummingbird vines are sprouting and not nearly in the dire state I thought they were in. I watered my shrubs and am so excited they are beginning to bloom - and the lilacs aka phlox are returning!

I walked down to the river and snapped some photos of all the storm damage along the way.

Earlier this year we had lots of dandelions and now this year, for the first time, we have lots of mushrooms!

The river was very high and we actually have a little beach! However, this is far from good news!

The early afternoon was spent cleaning up the front of the storm debris and weeding out the flower beds. After I was finished, the squirrels came out and one lone turkey. Probably hoping I was leaving food rather than cleaning!

All this work I'm doing is good and bad and good again...

Good - getting it all done

Bad - feel like crap

Good - Will feel better (soon)

Time for some cool A/C, lunch and rest. If I don't fall asleep, I'll watch my soaps which will be good since the antenna is working and it is cliffhanger Friday!

Not sure what's going on with the weather and the river, but at 2:30 the easement was starting to amass a good amount of water - eek!

Tom stopped by to tell me the road, on the way to Betty and Paul's, was starting to take water and if I get stuck to give him a call. I think I should drive the other way - h.o.m.e.!

3:30 river update: The water made it to the next tree.

7:00 river update: The river is high and there are several additional huge puddles. Now it's time to contemplate my safety and the safety of my car ~ hmmmm.

A family of turkeys were all over the back - they were feeding and hanging near the water edge...yes, the new water edge of my riverfront property; where the backyard has now become the river.

10:00 river update: Too dark to see outside. Going to bed. Possibly NOT a good choice!

July 15, 2010

Looking forward to spending my three days away from food, the neighborhood I live in, the noise in that neighborhood, the heat and work, I made it to O'Wich by 11:00 - after getting gas, groceries and stopping at the farm stand. As I traveled down the road, I was amazed to see all the down tree limbs, branches and water! The sandy road was at it's scariest ~ mostly because I was driving my car! There were more downed limbs on our road and lots of fallen trees. It must have been quite the storm last night! Looks like I have found something to do tomorrow...clean up all the storm debris! A walking survey of the property yielded lots and lots of branches, chunks of trees, twigs, fallen trees and an unearthing of buried glass. The storybook tree took another massive hit, as well as some higher limbs, creating more "widow makers."

A quick salad for lunch, some prepping of fruits and veggies and I was ready for my soaps. It's been a long day so far and I am hoping to even get in a nap!

Scratch the soaps...the afternoon windstorms scared the living bejeezuz out of me. Some of the trees were bending and swaying further than seemed possible. There were noises of more falling trees or limbs and I am glad I didn't start cleaning all this up today, since it would have been for naught! Now there is just that much more to do tomorrow. The wind messed with the antenna so the TV watching was not to be!

After dinner, I spotted a group of what looked like baby raccoons in the front. Although they were cute, I am not happy to have them in this "hood"! In the back, the hummingbirds were wild - it's either war time or mating season!

Since the winds died down, the TV was working and after a little of the news, my day gets a fork stuck in it - done!

July 10, 11 & 12, 2010

Carlo went up for the weekend to get some stuff done. Since he is not one to be a "traveling journalist", this will be short...very short!

He cut the grass, visited the neighbors and welded a raccoon proof bird hanger, which was in the end - not raccoon proof! I did manage to beg him to send me a photo of his creation.

As promised - short!

The end!

July 1, 2010

My vacation is just about at its end. I am heading home today in an effort to beat the holiday traffic. Hopefully I’ll be home in time to see my soaps!
Everything is locked, garbage is bagged, last of the seed is in the feeder, and I am hugging O’Wich good-bye.
On my way out the road, I was able to watch a deer as it was deciding which way to go. I was able to snap a few photos of it, although the excitement of seeing the deer so closely hindered my focusing ability!

I hope to be back in two weeks!


While I was driving home, I got a call from Debbie (at work), asking me to come in to pick up my flowers – Thank you Alex! I love you too!!!