A Very Windy Garden Update

I’m happy to report that my tomato, pumpkin, and cucumber plants are looking good. The Jungle Parrot sweet peppers look a bit feeble but not terrible.

They all need daily time outside to harden off for outdoor transplantation. I set them out three days ago for half an hour. But that’s all I’ve managed.

All my comings and goings left poor
Polly exhausted...

Today’s even more extreme wind gusts (up to 31 mph!) would be detrimental, to say the least. I have my fingers crossed that this pattern changes but the forecast isn’t looking too good. Oh, well. All I can do is try and all the while hope for the best.

She had zero strength to offer sympathy
to my tired, mildly frustrated self.

Do you know we Midwesterners have a saying “April showers bring May flowers”? Why, instead, did March “come in like a lion” and never leave? What happened to the “going out like a lamb” part?

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What a Difference a Day Makes

On Sunday I decided to go down to the Great Miami River. There is a parking lot a few minutes’ drive away. As expected, the place was packed and I anticipated people watching except the heat drove me away. It neared 90°F (about 32°C).

Upon waking this morning I discovered that temperatures had dropped around 40°F (!), which isn’t terribly unusual for spring in the state of Ohio. I donned my winter coat with two thinner layers underneath, grabbed a folding camp chair, and headed out.

I saw two dog walkers and a brave bicyclist. The former carpet of yellow wild flowers now looked like polka dots on a green canvas. If I’d known such a cold front was on the horizon I would have photographed them in full bloom.

Smart blossoms, no?

There were also a few locals out and about – two fast flying mallard pairs and these Canada geese. It’s a shame their feces makes such an abundant mess. I definitely watched where I stepped.

I do look forward to seeing goslings...

Isn’t it amazing that I sweltered yesterday and my ears almost froze today? Can you believe I sort of like the unpredictability as long as conditions aren’t dangers?

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Repurposing with a very Specific Purpose

Sitting in my comfortably warm brick home electricity on and backup heating solutions in place this afternoon, I heard the most pitiable cat cries outside. I’m not aware of many strays around and our winters tend to be mild. But tonight’s forecast predicts icy wind chills as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

I tracked the sound and stepped onto our back patio but the yowling had stopped. Regardless I called out, willing to let the poor creature into our basement and deal with any future consequences after this weather emergency. Shivering, I stepped back through the basement sliding door and wandered in search of sheltering possibilities.

My eyes landed upon a tall litter box that our girls left untouched. I covered the unused litter with two outdoor seat cushions, overlapping them at the bottom while tucking the rest up each wider side. Scrounging two soft foam packing pieces from amidst old computer boxes, I wedged them into each narrow end.

Once complete, top latched into place, this makeshift shelter got placed near the freshest prints. I’m crossing my fingers that this might do some good. I need to plan ahead for potential future emergencies.

Those poor, cold toes...

I’d appreciate any feedback from all those heroic folks helping animals year round that might read this humble post. Please be honest if my efforts today are misguided.

Can you imagine how wild critters survive such extreme weather anomalies? Are you surprised that I wouldn’t last long trapped in an unforgiving wilderness?

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Chilling at Home

I complained the other day about temperatures dropping from the fifties to mid thirty degrees Fahrenheit. As I type this on Tuesday the thermometer reads 26 at 12:55 and it’s expected to drop into the teens overnight.

Brrr…

Hence, my plan to go lift weights has been sidelined. I’m extremely fortunate that we don’t have to go anywhere right now.

I hope it will not need mowed again this year...

How long do you think it will take my lawn to realize it’s time to go dormant? Isn’t the vibrant green misleading?

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