Saturday, April 14, 2018

HIGH WINDS AND FREEZING RAIN KNOCKED OUR POWER OUT FOR AWHILE TODAY

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AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

Howling winds and rain came in the night whipping our tall pine trees around like a stack of noodles in a blender.  Temperatures began dropping mid morning turning rain into sleet.  It was about 11:15 when our lights flickered and the power went out.  No lights, no water, and no electric furnace to keep us warm. 

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COWBIRDS

Luckily for us we have a gas fired free standing stove in our sunroom so we spent part of our time sitting by that nice warm heat source reading.  A few days ago I had prepped our rain barrel for summer so luckily we had a good supply of rain water in it.  And of course it being daytime we had lots of light and didn’t have to revert to candles.  We also knew if push came to shove we had our Motorhome for back-up.  All’s we had to do was fire up the rig’s generator and we would have power, lights, and heat.  No water though because I had winterized the coach awhile back.  And simply by adding water to the toilet bowl we could have bathroom facilities as well.  We have used our various RV’s over the years under similar storm related circumstances so it’s always a handy option to have especially if one has to revert to a handy option.

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STARTED OUR DAY OUT WITH RAIN THEN FREEZING RAIN

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GETTING WATER FROM OUR RAINBARREL AND FEEDING  BIRDS IN THE FREEZING RAIN

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Luckily my laptop computer was fully charged so I was able to begin tonight’s post but the real benefit and sanity saver was my music library.  I don’t handle silence very well so I soon had a bunch of good old tunes rolling out of my laptop.  Choosing my soft sounds of the early 60’s I blissfully strolled down memory lane totally losing myself in my yesteryear life.  ‘Willow Weep For Me’ by Chad and Jeremy, ‘Poor Side of Town’ by Johnny Rivers, ‘Spooky’ by the Classics IV, to just name a very few.  I don’t think back to those years a lot anymore, well not until I hear the music from those years that is and at times it is hard for me to know the person I once was all those decades ago.  Mostly all good memories up to about 1965 whereupon the roller coaster ride took off and memories darkened.  Isn’t it amazing how quickly music from the past can instantly re-ignite and trigger so many memories from so long ago. 

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LOOKS LIKE THAT SNOW IS A LITTLE COLD ON THE TOOTSIES

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‘HEY WHAT’S THAT BUNNY HOPPER DOING OVER THERE

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I DON’T KNOW THIS LITTLE FELLOWS NAME

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DARK EYED JUNCO GETTING A LEG UP ON THE WEATHER

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Nearly 5 hours later right on the stroke of 4 o’clock our power came back on.  Electricity is one of those many things ‘we all’ take for granted and it isn’t until we temporarily lose it that we realize how importantly vital it is and how much we miss it.  Sure felt nice when our furnace kicked in and warmed everything up again.

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IT WAS LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS ‘THE BIRD’ WHEN THIS FLOCK OF COWBIRDS CAME SWARMING IN

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GLAD I WAS HERE TO HELP THESE COLD AND WET LITTLE FELLERS OUT WITH SOME LUNCH

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Our early Spring storm backed off about mid afternoon so I slipped out and replenished our birdfeeders.  What soon followed was an absolute bird frenzy in our front yard.  The usual guys were still here of course but I was surprised at the influx of newcomers and especially the swarm of Cowbirds. 

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‘HEY RALPH WHERE DID ALL THESE BROWN HEADED BUZZARDS COME FROM’

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‘I DON’T KNOW ALICE BUT NOW THERE’S A BLUE HEADED ONE OVER THERE’

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‘COULD YOU ASK HIM TO LEAVE PLEASE

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I DID ALICE BUT NOW HE’S MOONING US’ (THE BLUE HEADED BIRD IS A GRACKLE)

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‘I THINK HE HEARD YOU’ CAUSE THERE HE GOES’

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‘YA I TOLD HIM REAL GOOD ALRIGHT!!’

In my Friday post I included a link for Steven Dempsey’s Antelope Canyon photos but I had the wrong link which takes you to Steven’s subscription page which of course is fine too but here is the correct link for his Antelope Canyon Photos.  By the way, in 2016, one of Steven’s images was chosen by IKEA for their art collection.  Check his website to see which photo that was.

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As I publish this tonight I can see and hear winds snapping trees around and there is still some freezing rain in the air.  This storm is in two parts and we are on the tail end of the first storm with the second freezing rain storm due to roll in Sunday morning and have another go at us. 

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GOLDFINCH

GROANER’S CORNER:((The best Norm quotes from "Cheers"!

'What's shaking Norm?'
'All four cheeks & a couple of chins.'

'What's new Normie?'
'Terrorists, Sam. They've taken over my stomach & they're demanding beer.'

'What'd you like Normie?'
'A reason to live. Give me another beer.'

'What'll you have Normie?'
'Well, I'm in a gambling mood Sammy. I'll take a glass of whatever comes out of that tap.'
'Looks like beer, Norm.'
'Call me Mister Lucky.'

'Hey Norm, how's the world been treating you?'
'Like a baby treats a diaper.'

'What's the story Mr. Peterson?'
'The Bobbsey twins go to the brewery. Let's cut to the happy ending.'

'Hey Mr. Peterson, there's a cold one waiting for you.'
'I know; if she calls, I'm not here.'

'Beer, Norm?'
'Have I gotten that predictable? Good.'

'What's going on Mr. Peterson?'
'A flashing sign in my gut that says, 'Insert beer here.''

'Whatcha up to Norm?'
'My ideal weight if I were eleven feet tall.'

'How's it going Mr. Peterson?'
'Poor.'
'I'm sorry to hear that.'
'No, I mean POUR!'

'How's life treating you Norm?'
'Like it caught me sleeping with its wife.'

'Women. Can't live with 'em....pass the beer-nuts.'

'What's going down, Normie?'
'My butt cheeks on that bar stool.'

'Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?'
'Alright, but stop me at one....make that one-thirty.'

'How's it going Mr. Peterson?'
'It's a dog eat dog world, Woody & I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear.'

'What's the story Norm?'
'Boy meets beer. Boy drinks beer. Boy meets another beer.'

'What's going on Mr. Peterson?'
'The question is what's going IN, Mr. Peterson?
'A beer please, Woody.'

'Can I pour you a beer Mr. Peterson?'
'A little early isn't it, Woody?'
'For a beer?'
'No. For a stupid question'

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12 comments:

  1. Thanks very much for the shoutout today and yesterday, Al. I really appreciate it. Love your bird shots from today. It felt like I was reading a graphic novel. :)

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  2. So now I have 60's music in my head. I won't sleep tonight!
    Great bird shots and narrative to go along with them. I got a good chuckle. Thanks!
    Stay safe and warm.

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  3. My first comment got lost in space!

    Just wanted to stay that things have certainly changed in our lives weather wise. Thanks for feeding those poor birds.

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  4. Al, once again spectacular photos of the birds and little critters who stopped by for a meal break. Love your comments to go along with the bird photos. Reading your blog is a nice way to end my day.

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  5. Love your bird commentaries. Our music on sirius is the 60,s on 6 , so Many memories there with every song.
    Not fun weather to be out and about for a few days, Living in our motorhome we don't need to worry about power outages, as you well know.

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  6. Music does work it's magic at times. Glad you have your power back up and running but a back up is nice to have to as well. Hopefully all those graceful pines stay tall and true, instead of toppling and busting something.

    Glad you folks are safe and warm over there in Bayfield. I'll bet the storm is brutal coming off the lake, but at least you're not right on the shores, that would make it much worse.

    Nice of you to feed all those little birds!!!

    Stay warm and dry!

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  7. Ugh, we are in it from tonight on. Same thing and we will have to see how it goes with the power. I have filled extra gallon jugs with drinking water and a bucket for the toilet. Still enough wood to fire up the stove. The bird, by the way is a, "Song Sparrow".

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  8. Loved the fowl photo fun this post Al...they all are enjoying the yummies you keep out for them...good on you...

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  9. Al, we have the electricity issue here in the summer when it can be 120+ degrees. Then, air conditioning is a NECESSITY. Fortunately we are on the sae circuit as city hall, so we don't often lose our power! When we do, we drive to Indio, to our daughter's house. They are on a completely different company.

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  10. Guess I got lucky here in Ottawa, the storm must of went by us. No precipitation yet, but the temperature sure dropped. Arrived home Friday and drained all water from the RV. Hope it will be fine.

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  11. I can remember those days. Haven't had a drink for over 25 years.

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  12. I think the unknown bird is a Fox Sparrow. We had some too.

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