Musings

All overcast, all day

There’s no mincing words, today was all overcast and mostly rainy. I thought there was a break in the precip and headed out on foot just before mid-day, enjoying the yellows and oranges in the maple leaves along the road.

By my return, however, the rain closed in, soft and relatively warm, and without lightning, so fine for a return to shelter, and the opportunity for dry clothing.

Can you tell it’s raining? View from back door. Playhouse and I swear the clothes line poles are actually more upright than that.

A railing and its reflection

It was sunny late morning to late afternoon, then the rain came in, just as we were assembling our potluck at the neighbors’. Lucky us, we got to see and hug and congratulate the newlyweds, up from below the bridge. By the time we left, clearing sky, I suspect portending temps dropping into the 40s. Weather rather sets the tone for our lives in this fall chore season.

Sunny sun sun

Rainy evening cleared overnight, so we have a full barrel, yet no dry plants, and darned little growth this time of the year. The downspout was still dripping, hence the active distortion.

Our big event was that we drove to the nearest county library, which has a true, lovely reading room. Note the air cleaner tower, right, by the newspaper desk. I picked up a Louise Penny and an Anne Hillerman (daughter of…) for relaxation, while the Guru was getting us some moving picture entertainment using their sorta fast connection.

Taking advantage of the gorgeous day, I walked late, including along the edge of this christmas tree forest (lots of quiet shade away from the road). The orange flags are new, and I assume they indicate that these generously sized spruces are going on a trip this year.

A busy, busy afternoon

I tried to make a transportation theme for the day, and it could have worked except for this photo. And I had to include it because: proof of sun…when I walked this morning. Still: breezy and cold-ish, but some sun. Oh, yay.

Sometime after noon, or I guess 1pm, we decided that the afternoon probably would have windy, cold-ish, and no sun, so we’d head to A Small City for errands, groceries, and…a bite to eat. We discussed the options, west, southwest, and east, and their pros and cons, and decided on east: that is, Sault Ste. Marie.

For our final stop, a burger, we headed to Clyde’s, duh. Closed for the season. Oh, no. But we did get to see a school bus on the Sugar Island Ferry adjacent to Clyde’s parking lot…through heavy fog.

However, this summer, Newberry friends extolled the virtues of West Pier, which they prefer to Clyde’s. And it was open! For two more whole days! Lucky us—our first visit could happen. Excellent burgers, but no bison version, which is what we order at Clyde’s. This is how you broaden your horizons, folks.

And from West Pier, we had a great view of The Bridge to a Foreign Land, although traffic counts are miniscule with the border closed to all non-essential traffic. Also, we listened to the CBC as we left SSM, and heard all about their nationwide average of 80% of adults fully vaxxed, yet also too-full hospitals in rural areas in Alberta and Saskatchewan (if I remember correctly). However, a large stadium is expected to be packed for a hockey match this weekend. So, Canadians also…well, I’ll just stop there.

Plugging along

This is not far from yesterday’s Tree of Refuge, and the parking zone (official? I do not think so) is at the bottom of a moderate hill…and the rain/deluge made the rides into a big blue metal pile. Abandoned property?

I think the slight haziness is my fault…a smear on the lens.

I was surprised to see that a cloud obscured some of the buildings…I thought it was clear, clear, clear.

This was after I cleaned the lens.

Probability bites

My app indicated 50% chance of rain, but I thought it was clear out the window. I walked anyway. Blithly. When the rain really kicked up I took refuge under a big, spreading oak. I was protected for a while, but the rain eventually worked its way through the leaves and branches. I did not realize that this oak was in a local low-spot. Yes, the curb had substantial drains, but so much water came down that even the middle of the street was covered with a couple of inches of water. I saw no cats. I saw no dogs. I don’t know how that saying came about.

Soon, of course, the rain slacked off so I returned to my route. Since I was walking on a sidewalk below houses, they had drains shooting brown water onto the…sidewalk. And driveways, the same. And the water was still coming, although the precip was not. Squish squish.

And, not long later, if I looked the right direction, the sky appeared positively innocent.

Autumn hints

This morning I walked under the last of the cloud cover courtesy of Ida, and by afternoon we had clear, sunny skies. And unseasonably cool temps. Relatively speaking.

Outer bands arrive

Cloud cover already accumulating this morning. Ida-weather.

Scientist-Me asks: what happens to ants during a hurricane? Do they create an air-bubble if flooded? Lots of relocation among survivors, I’m guessing.

Cleome beauty for today’s flower power. Wet from Ida-rain.

Murky morn

Thick fog this morning. Good for me—I was walking (not driving—or bicycling)—kept the sun’s rays at bay. Yay!

Water and light

Heavy dew this morning. Augmented by unnecessary watering in some yards.

Sun at 8am. In an alley between apartment buildings.

That low sun angle reminds me: wear your hat and sunglasses even in the early morning. That low sun angle means the rays come straight in your eyeballs and cause more damage than being overhead at mid-day. End of instruction.