July 07th, 2021

My Apologies. I don't usually post on Wednesday because generally I'm out hiking with Joy but that was cancelled, dang it.  And  I put all of the blame solely on our visit from Elsa:

No, not that Elsa,  silly.  This Elsa:
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Yeah, we had a bit of a "weather event".  That's what the weather people call it.  First it was a Tropical Storm, then a Hurricane, then a Tropical Storm again and then  a Hurricane again and back and forth over and over. Yeah, I know that traditionally it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind, but geez, Elsa.  Make Up Your Mind, Girl!

It's always hard to predict exactly what is going to happen with any storm and this one was no different. So we just did what we always do, minus the sand bags, really didn't see the need for those (and we were correct).  I covered the grill and moved the potted garden out of harms way and since we already had plenty of water, food, flashlights and fresh batteries and the cars were gassed up, well all that's left to do is wait.  So Tim went to work as per usual and I tried to get as much done in the house as possible, just in case we lost power.

I did sneak in a walk over to the beach just before the storm started.  Other than how few people were there, it didn't really look any different than usual.  That pigeon by the way, was the ONLY bird anywhere in site.  None in the water, the air or on the sand.  Which is highly unusual.  And a pigeon?  Seriously?  Don't' we have enough other birds? Now we have pigeons too?

Made it back home with only a slight lift in breeze and a tiny sprinkle of rain.  Ok, maybe this "storm" idea is nothing at all.  Around 11: 30, Tim and I set off for our usual noonwalk since nothing was happenng outside.  And of course, that's when the skies opened up and it began to pour.  Of course.  So we came back home, showered again, changed into dry clothes and got back to our usual stuff.  Me just before leaving all the wet clothes in the utility room.  I know you cannot really tell from this photo but we were soaked straight through to skin.

So no big deal.  The rest of the day was largely watching it pour outside, I mean real gullywashers too, staying in contact via text with other Floridians (what's happening in your area? Everybody good? Do you still have power? - things like that)  Mostly a very wet but normal day.  Right up until I was making dinner.  Sure, in the middle of creating fettucini al fredo, the power went out.  Dang!  It was only out for a short time really, but just long enough to ruin a perfectly good al fredo sauce.  Ok no big deal.  Shift and move forward.

The wind and rain in the dark always sounds scarier than it does in the day so sleep was, elusive shall we say.  I think there was more dozing going on than actually sleeping.  But eventually morning came, as morning often does, and we got up to gloomy skies still, a forecast calling for yet more rain and thunder/lightening storms, but dry for a short while.

I took advantage of the respite to clean the yard.  We do a good job of keeping trees, shrubs and shorter palms trimmed, but the really really tall ones?  Well, we cannot reach those to trim them. We planned on contacting a professional to come take care of that particular job, just hadn't quite gotten to it yet. Which means...fronds down!  They were on the lawn, in the driveway, tangled in the jasmine...just everywhere.   And here's the thing, the fronds on the really tall trees aren't just delicate little fan yourself with it fronds. Nope.  These things are as long as a car.  Think I'm joking?

No matter, it's all sorted out now.  I collected them all and hauled them around to the side of the house where the lawn guys will dispose of them when they arrive.  Done and done.  

And then, our of curiousity, I dashed over to the beach to see what was happening there. A little more action than the day before. A few more people, still no birds at all but more waves:

Now all that remains is putting the potted garden back out and waiting for the rest of the storm to pass by us.  Not too bad for the first storm of the season. At least around here.  But those of you on the east coast, be forewarned.  It is my understanding that Elsa's path takes her across the panhandle, through Georgia to the coast and then she will roll right up the right side of the US.  Elsa a quirky one so get ready for that.



Ok back to my regularly scheduled, but hike-less,  day.....