Warm Rain

Intermittent rain had us packed up on the porch much of the afternoon. Athena had a fine time playing "fill-em-up, plastic cup" games, with the gutter downspout trickle.

Note to self: Clean the gutters.

Snow Bright

The few inches of snow melted off the driveway finally today. I enjoyed, in last days, though, how bright the blanket of snow outside made the house inside. Also, being able to see where critters had scurried from and to.

Yesterday evening, there was a skunk in the area.  Maybe even under the house.

Curiously Smokey

Sunny, warm day today. But the air was smokey throughout the valley and smelled of wood smoke all day. Couldn't find any news of any forest fires though.

Parka and Snow Boots

Ordered the parka and the snow boots I've been putting off the last ten years.

Dressed Up As Winter

It's just nineteen miles from our little old cabin to the county seat, but a striking season's change in elevation. From our autumnal valley, you have to climb 1600 feet high over a ridge, today still dressed every inch in snow.  Autumn, dressed as winter wonderland, for Halloween.

Gift

First overnight in the new cabin and with the new kitten. Temp outside down to 32 degrees Farenheit, wind and light snow. Power out several hours. Which means, here, in addition to no hot water, no well water at all, and no electronics - also no heat. Had prepped, piling all the blankets I own onto the bed, and was warm enough.

By mid-morning, the electricity and heat had been restored, and we were toasty. I petted the kitten a while, then sat up and slid out of bed. Turned around to arrange the blankets, and found a little gray mouse smushed in my pillow, where my head and neck had lain.

Storm Warning

Another impressive storm this afternoon. Locals say these are not the normal summer thunderstorms. But how do I know! Parts of town lost power again. Though it was nothing the scale of the derecho. In large part, I imagine, because the derecho had already blown everything weak down! Immediately before and immediately after this afternoon's storm?  Bonny, blue skies, with white, fluffy clouds.

Restored

Power resumed in my apartment at 8:47 P. M. Our blackout lasted just about exactly a full four days.

Moonlight

Day Four of regional blackout. Rumored from its start to last maybe a week.

Thankfully, the moon has been full. I've been showering by its light, after dusk each night.

Clean-out

Blackout continues. Cleaned everything out of the fridge today. At least it wasn't much.

Blackout

Regional power outtage, following last night's derecho storm. Including much of Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, other states.

Found myself in a bit of a possibly sticky situation. Having just returned from my several-day mini-odyssey getting Mac (my car) fixed. Because of which, I missed the weekly farmers market pickup.  Found myself with very limited foodstuffs, especially any that don't require refrigeration or cooking. Only $3 cash in my wallet. And my gas tank just about empty.

Toward the end of the day, one of the gas stations in town opened up. I got in line with Mac, among ten to twenty other vehicles, and fueled up. Credit cards were accepted. And learned the supermarket was operating and accepting plastic too.

In town, we have running water. But most folks surrounding have wells with pumps and therefore no water. Especially amid this high summer heat, never have I appreciated running water more.

Derecho

We were in the middle of a heatwave. Air conditioners a-running. Power went out around eight P. M. For the whole street, it appeared, looking out the window, maybe the whole town. Went downstairs, to the relative light and cool of our sidewalk porch, to sit and read.

Saw little bulldog of a storm moving in, from the northwest, over top of the courthouse. Gladly anticipated the cooling of a summer storm. Figured I had plenty of time to take three steps to my door, once the storm just about arrived.

But heard something truly mighty, suddenly, roaring in behind me. Without wasting even a moment to turn and look at the beast I heard, I snatched my keys from the table and leaped to the door. Narrowly escaping a front of flying garbage bins and plastic chairs.

What turned out to be the June 2012 North American derecho descended suddenly, with a huge gust that left grit in my underwear.

We experienced another thrilling bit of weather exactly one month earlier in New Jersey.

Long Light

I'm thoroughly enjoying these long days. You can work and putter by daylight straight through to nine o' clock. That is, straight through 'til it's just about time to wash up and bed down for the night anyway.

I've also had beautiful, moderately warm days since I came here (with occasional rain the first few). Which has been a wonderful blessing while I'm dealing with a lot of logistics, getting settled.

Thrilling

Impressive downpour. Strong and brief, like a summer thunderstorm, except it was yet spring. Thrilling to watch, for the sheer volume of water rushing over the lower roof of our building.

But this deluge was not all. Note, this was a warm and otherwise bright day, nearing summer. When suddenly, hail filled the air. The half-inch-diameter size of which I've never personally seen before.

Early Twitterpating

Unseasonably warm day today, high sixties.  Opened all the windows, and the apartment came alive with curtains in the wind and dust bunnies a-swirl.

We saw two red-tailed hawks mate atop a craggy tree near Landsdown Trail.

Snap

Think there was a cold snap last night. Believe I saw the first autumn leaves falling today.