And the rains came down in a straight line wind event.

It was a hellova storm here at the lake. I have never seen such hard winds coming from the south, up over the dam road and onward. The water mist was actually picked up and moved to the other end of the lake. My zinnias were knocked down, the petals ripped off of the poppies and the sunflowers bent far to touch the ground! Scary stuff.

The worst of it all is that there was a death of a young man at our neighbor lake when a tree fell on him! Here are some images I took the next day. We were out of power for over 24 hours. As I rode around there were a lot of branches, leaves and other debris in the road. I was accompanied by the sound of generators at almost every home.

Up the road this large branch came down on a neighbor's garage roof.

The rabbits came out of hiding.

Further on my ride I saw another tree down but it didn't cause damage, just a major cleanup for the neighbor. His sunflowers were spared as his home is not on the lake.

There were several scenes like this one at neighboring properties.

As I continued my normal route it was good to see flowers that weren't damaged and a Honeyboat winter squash growing untouched.

On my way back home I drove by the tree stump that harbors a seedling and people have been putting piles of stones on it. The little tree is holey due to bugs but is hanging in!

As I returned, I saw the egret who was playing peek-a-boo. I watched him and sure enough he went fishing and left with a large one as he flew away.

Earlier in the morning three deer came down for a drink but I wasn't prepared well enough and my photos were too blurry to post. This doe and fawn come often. They have shown another where good water can be found and she came along as well. 

This sudden and strong wind sure did lots of damage. I have never seen such an event when the water lifted and moved along the top of the lake pushed by its power.

 

Winner!

Two nights ago a branch fell on the metal roof over my bedroom and woke me up with startling loud rattles. Thank goodness it wasn't larger! My neighbor will remove it for me today. It sure made a racket when sliding down from the metal roof to the ground. And I used to think that a pine cone dropping was noisy! I do love the sound of a hard rain, though. He took the backyard pictures as I can't go out there but I took the first ones from the morning after as I looked out the bedroom window. (Yes, there is a permanent screen on that window.)

Three of my porch wind chimes lost their "dingers" that bang to make the sweet sounds. I've saved them for warmer weather to repair. 

This morning my neighbor took this from her porch that looks over the lake. 

I wonder if she also saw the silly dipper duck - a Bufflehead I believe. Many pairs of ducks and Canada Geese have appeared recently as well.

Out, In, Over

207 million eggs have been recalled in nine states including Pennsylvania over salmonella fears. I bought some at Walmart last Sunday, April 8, and these eggs are on the recall list. The UPC code matches, The Mister had one yesterday morning, the first out of the box. I have now thrown away the entire box with eleven others. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't throw food away - ever, but this is an exception for sure.

It is a good thing I have a backup of eggs that came from my brother's chickens. Today I baked a new cake recipe that calls for 4 eggs. I'll need another dozen very soon. The recipe will be displayed after we have a sample just in case it isn't up to par or what I expected. Sounds good on paper, but you never know. "Try before you buy." I get a kick seeing how many pictures of good looking foods are posted on friend's Facebook pages and I'll just bet they have never even made them.

Cake is called "Pineapple Sunshine"

The wind is beating the bushes and trees and the rain has started. I had to bring in my spider web creation because I was afraid it would catch into the pine cone mobil and be ripped apart. I then moved the pine cone mobil further down the beam as it was getting entangled in the wind chimes! I saw the power company truck pass by both ways and then the road department did the same. There must be a problem somewhere but not here...yet.

Our youngest granddaughter (14) is doing very well with her equestrian efforts. Nice horse, new saddle, new horse boots, Reserve Champion at recent show and moving on to the next level jumping timed courses of very high fences. At 14 I had a donated 26 year old retired hunter-jumper and rode through cut hayfields over sticks and stone hand-built jumps, no horse or any other boots, hand-me down saddle, never competing. WOW how times have changed. She may not have any idea of how lucky she is. Then again, she may. I hope so.

We know we can jump higher now

Next level?
  please click on an image to view larger   
                                                                    

Weather Report

It is a sunny windy day here with a few light flurries BUT I am not venturing out. Yesterday I took a ride around on the golf car and froze my fingertips even though I was wearing gloves!

As I looked out my window at 8AM it was 25° and after the sun had moved, at 8:50AM it was still 25°. Brave souls with red noses were out there walking dogs, not seeming to care and possibly even enjoying the brisk air. 

We had a fellow come last week to clean the leaves out from the gutters and rake up and dispose of the pine cones on the grassy beachfront. He had three heaping wheelbarrows full. This year there are an abnormal number of them. Well, this week the Mister has been doing a little more raking himself with four piles to be picked up yet. 

Earlier I spent about an hour watching, through the dining room window, five red squirrels going up and down the pine trees and racing from tree to tree across the grass. Those little devils are quick! They were in a frenzy with all of the seeds to pick up and get stored before winter. In the carport by the back door, mouse #5 was trapped and the trap is reset. 

Me, I stayed indoors and baked cookies. The "easy" kind. They are tasty but lack the buttery flavor that scratch cookies have. 

I don't know what I did when I took this shot but I LIKE IT! It is untouched and wraps up my weather report - in its own way.

(It is now 22° at 10:45 AM and very windy.)

 please click on image to view larger

Non-typical January 10

The snow is gone and the ice is going - fast. This is this morning. 

Exploration Riding

The winds were high yesterday and the sand really burns your face and legs and any other part that is exposed so.........I didn't venture on to it at all. First, I don't want to get sand in my camera OR in my eyes. Secondly, I'm very afraid of sunburn and wasn't wearing my beach cap and didn't cover myself with ooey-gooey sunscreen. I have yet to find a sunscreen that repels sand OR sun. They just don't - for me. I just took pictures in the less "dangerous" settings. More flowers will come to you later. They all are very beautiful and full this season.

I found some leftover hay bales that were abandoned when the beach ride was finished in November. This is the only campground that lets horses and all other equines camp here during that time. It is an annual event and fundraiser for the heart association. It is wonderful!
http://horsebackbeachride.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1051504

Then I went up on the sand-covered ramp to become a "beach-head" while bucking wind and trying to get good shots.

Irene at the Lake 2011.m4v

Just to document our personal loss.