Inspector General

I had a visitor last night. I didn't know he was coming, so I didn't get a chance to meet him. *phew!*

I wonder if he checked out the door I installed just a couple weeks ago.

The steps are temporary, made from scrap wood, hence the very rough look.

Notice the door handle. 

When my neighbor stopped by and saw it

her the first words, 

"Bear friendly!"

Then there are these creatures:

Whaat? We like raspberries, too, you know.

Mamma and her twins. They sure enjoyed my sister's garden, and my raspberries.

Good night.

OK, OK, I'll Post

I know I've been a bit slow to post this summer, but did you really need to send Mother Nature after me?

I checked RADAR to see what kind of weather I would be sleeping to. Well, there was this little green dot due west of here. Just a green dot, that's all.

A few minutes later, as I was about to shut down, that green dot had become a big green dab with hints of orange and it started moving, well kind of slumping along in a north-easterly direction. No problem, I am east of it.

I check the local TV's web site--they had just put up a severe thunderstorm watch. The dot was now a blob with lots of orange and red. A bluish tint was forming in the middle. Still headed NNE.

I'm not worried, the sky is clear blue with just a wisp of cloud from what I can see out my east-facing door. But, what's that rumble? TV site now says tornado warning! Take cover immediately!

No worry, it's ten to fifteen miles west of me and only includes the NW corner of my county and it's headed NNE. RADAR! Blob is now a big blob with lots of red and a humungus purple center.

No problem, it's headed NNE, and I'm still mostly east of it. Tornado warning extended many times by chronometer and by map. but what's the new warning? It stalled and is dumping buckets of rain ("Pitchforks and hammer handles", my mom would say). Flood warnings are out because the blob is dumping rain on these poor folks at about three inches per hour. We don't get flood warnings here.

I'm not worried. Sure I'll get some rain because, after all, I am on the fringes of this thing. It had moved NNE somewhat, before it stalled and I am East of it. Besides, my elevation is considerable higher than the storm center and the water will run west to the Red River of the North. I'm not worried.

Then it moved! New direction! South! Pivoting over me.

It's been about four hours. In such a short time a little dot grew into a major storm leaving who-knows-what behind. It is finally leaving. I see on RADAR that it has joined up with a bigger system that had seemed to be out of the picture before Dot began. Apparently, it had other ideas. I think it will be passing south to the east of me.

The time is a little past midnight. It's gone. I can sleep now.

Next morning:

2.5 inches of rain.

Lightening didn't stop until the sun came up.

Houses and barns knocked down about ten to fifteen miles west of me.

I'm OK.

Spring Time!

Spring is here. So, I thought that this would be a good time to go back and check out some pictures from last fall and see where I left off.

The first highlights the domes among the colorful autumn foliage, the second uses the white of the buildings to emphasis the bright beauty of Mother Nature's work.

Winter on the Farm

It's winter time on the farm. Last summer, my sister and I installed some security cameras to help keep an eye on things, you know, despicable characters who want to take or damage my stuff, as well as animals who have every right to wander by--and are welcome to do so. Well, Mother Nature likes to take the opportunity to show some of Her splendor, and as a fan, I believe I should share it with you.

The light from a full moon reflecting on the snow is always impressive:

Full Moon Over the Dome

I'm not sure if the shine on the house is a light or just moon reflection.

Then, the sun comes up:

Sunrise Over the Dome

It's always nice to see a picture of a new snow-covered area before

any people have a chance to wander or drive through.

Just in case anyone is interested, on the other side of the house are a couple great sledding hills. And, if you go back to earlier pictures from the balcony, you can see another, even bigger, hill to the north.

And then there are the cross-country skiing opportunities...