Since the Weather Eye didn’t see the severe clear coming the scurs ended up trading in their swim fins for suntan lotion. Will our recent good weather fortune continue or will we see the monsoons return? Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with highs in the low 80’s and lows in the low 60’s. Thursday sunny with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the mid-60’s. Sunny becoming partly cloudy on Friday with a slight chance of overnight showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 80’s with lows in the mid-60’s. Saturday, sunny with highs in the low 80’s with lows in the mid-60’s. Mostly sunny for Sunday becoming partly cloudy with a slight to modest chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 80’s with lows in the upper 50’s. Monday, mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 60’s with lows in the mid-50’s. Mostly cloudy Tuesday with possible showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid-60’s with lows in the mid-40’s. On the 16th we drop back under 12 hours and 30 minutes of daylight, about where we were at back on March 26th. The normal high for September 16th is 73 and the normal low is 50. The scurs have their hearts set on another weekend of lounging by the cement pond.
What a difference a week makes as the weather gods have smiled upon us. Or as Betsy’s Dad says, after a heavy September rain frequently we have stretches of nice weather. He’s absolutely correct. The water that had everyone’s dauber down dried up nicely with the low humidity. The warmer temps and breezes earlier in the week put everything back on track once again. Corn is rapidly approaching maturity with several fields checked this week showing a black layer. Soybeans were also not to be denied. The sunshine and warmer temperatures had most fields turning rapidly with many at R7 finally, with plants showing one pod on the main stem with mature color. Some of the earlier planted, early maturing varieties are approaching or will soon be at R8 where 95% of the pods have reached mature color. It typically takes five to ten days for soybeans to drop below 15% moisture. The last cutting of hay for the season is underway out in our neighborhood, delayed by the rain and wet soil conditions. It should still allow adequate regrowth for overwintering given reasonably normal fall temperatures and moisture. Fingers crossed.
The orioles were coming to the jelly feeder as of the 4th. The kindly neighbor had some yet over the weekend. I reluctantly purchased one last jar of the bargain brand grape jelly to last the orioles through to the end of their stay. They were still here on Labor Day this year and last as well. The last we saw of them at the ranch a year ago was on September 4th. Not to worry. The hummingbirds have suddenly decided that a trip to the jelly feeder isn’t all bad. Along with the cannas, four o’clocks, salvia, petunias, morning glories and nectar feeders, they seem to be playing hide and seek. That or they have a tough time deciding what they want to eat. No such problem with me.
Monarchs have been on the move. We’ve seen small groups hanging on the trees, something we haven’t seen since we first moved here in the mid-1980’s. Back then they’d partially cover the silver maples in the backyard. Some are convinced that the recent uptick in monarch numbers has something to do with increased planting of milkweed. That may or may not be the case. Since the early days of the CRP program and decreased harvesting of road ditches, the milkweed supply has been plentiful in my travels around these parts. Look in the ditches next to the patches of Canada thistle if you don’t believe me. When the milkweed plants are examined, monarch larvae are seldom found. In other words it appears that it’s not just a simple cause and effect relationship. Factors including predation, prophylactic pesticide use and the overwintering weather in Mexico also come into play.
The garden continues to ramp up production as we head into fall. There are plenty of tomatoes for BLT’s now and the string beans are still producing well. The fall garden is recovering from the excess water finally and some of the radishes are exhibiting bulbs. More of the gorgeous weather we’ve had recently is needed in order for the snap peas to be players. My cucumber experiment was a dismal failure so I’m hoping the snap peas come through. I felt so fortunate to be graciously offered fresh cukes by some friends and fellow gardeners. I feared this might be the first time in many moons that we’d gone a whole summer cucumber-less. My fears were allayed. I also had the good fortune to receive some heirloom tomatoes as part of the deal. I was able to ante up a gallon of fresh picked string beans. I hope they didn’t mind the grass clippings as an added bonus.
Made another trip in the Stude Saturday night as we celebrated our anniversary. Mrs. Cheviot hadn’t been for a ride in the piece of automotive history yet this season so after chores we hustled off to Waseca and Club 57. We had a gift certificate and I wore the Club 57 T-shirt I’d received at their car show a few years back. When the waitress spied it, we were given an additional discount. Sometimes it pays to be old, drive an old car and have lots of car show T-shirts. The meal was excellent and gave us some time to catch up. With Crop Tour and State Fair running concurrently we don’t see each other for long stretches. Time flew by and before we knew it, the sun was down; time to head back home.
Driving the Silver Hawk reminds one of how cars have changed. Some of the habits one develops with today’s cars become so ingrained it’s almost like you’re in a trance at times. I frequently have those “Oh yeah” moments when operating the Stude. Every time I get in it for example I reach for the shoulder belt. There isn’t one. Also have to remember to flip it out of reverse to start it. May be disastrous if you don’t. Dimming the headlights finds me fumbling with the turn signal then suddenly remembering the dimmer switch is on the floor. Not that it probably matters as the lights don’t seem to draw the ire of oncoming traffic when you don’t dim them. For a few hundred bucks one could convert the headlights to today’s LED’s I suppose. No thanks. The lights still work and I have new headlights in the original boxes people have given me. Driving around at night isn’t something I relish anyway. Too many Bambi’s running around and no one wins if you hit one.
See you next week…