In the garden, and RAIN!!!!
POSTED BY: SIGNYM
UPDATED: Thursday, December 25, 2025 04:27
VIEWED: 1005090
PAGE 91 of 116
Out for my walk soon and telephone call with new doctor got my meds straightened out.
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Quote:I think a writer trying to summarize their own work has got to be difficult. Basically - you know too much!
Originally posted by Brenda:
Trying to find something to help me write a synopsis for my book that makes sense to my brain.
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Quote:I think a writer trying to summarize their own work has got to be difficult. Basically - you know too much!
Originally posted by 1KIKI:Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Trying to find something to help me write a synopsis for my book that makes sense to my brain.
It is. How do I put over 60,000 words into 1 page about it.
Hitting my local library tomorrow.
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Back from my walk in the dry. Got a small picture frame to put a thank you note from the Mayor of Medicine Hat in. The note was for my dad, thanking him for his service in WW II to his city, province and country.
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That sounds sweet, and a wonderful way to keep a memento from your dad's life.
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I'm going to hang it where I have his medals and his dog tags. I'm sure lots of Canadian families have things like this but this is the first time I am able to do something to protect it.
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Out for my walk soon in the dry but I am taking my umbrella just incase. Had a nasty wind and rain storm roll through my area last night around 1:30am. Wind was really rattling the glass in my balcony.
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I hope it wasn't so bad you were wondering if the glass was going to pop out or break!
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Quote:
Originally posted by 1KIKI:
I hope it wasn't so bad you were wondering if the glass was going to pop out or break!
Actually I was a little worried that the glass might have broken. The whole thing woke me up and I laid listening to it for a bit before going back to sleep. But all is intact.
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Wind that came up on my way home is gone now but still have the rain.
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I was in downtown Chicago once in a tall multistory hotel next to another tall multistory hotel, and the wind was howling pretty much all night. Every so often I'd hear glass breaking on the street below. I thought that maybe the buildings were flexing a little under the wind and the windows were popping out. So I was worried mine might too. I made sure to close all the curtains, especially the very heavy ones, just in case there might have been broken glass flying around. But nothing happened. And when morning came the wind had died down and everything was just fine.
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Winds storms are pretty normal this time of the year for BC as are power outages. My area was lucky as I don't think that happened. But North Vancouver was a mess this morning. Power out for a lot of the day. One clock on street corner at stopped at 2:30am.
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Quote:I think a writer trying to summarize their own work has got to be difficult. Basically - you know too much!
Originally posted by 1KIKI:Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Trying to find something to help me write a synopsis for my book that makes sense to my brain.
I had refrained from commenting before, not conjuring that you would want it.
If you want me to shut up, just say so.
I do not know what your book is about.
What are the main characters, or subjects? The 2-4 key players? And their relation/interaction between them? What are their conflicts, similarities?
What is the situation in the early part or first half of the book, and then in the climax or conclusion? Perhaps leave out the actual final parts.
Can you compose a short paragraph or 2 about those?
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Out for my walk and since it is suppose to rain again I will take my umbrella.
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Quote:I had refrained from commenting before, not conjuring that you would want it.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:I think a writer trying to summarize their own work has got to be difficult. Basically - you know too much!
Originally posted by 1KIKI:Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Trying to find something to help me write a synopsis for my book that makes sense to my brain.
If you want me to shut up, just say so.
I do not know what your book is about.
What are the main characters, or subjects? The 2-4 key players? And their relation/interaction between them? What are their conflicts, similarities?
What is the situation in the early part or first half of the book, and then in the climax or conclusion? Perhaps leave out the actual final parts.
Can you compose a short paragraph or 2 about those?
I am willing to take a stab and try to conjure a paragraph. I will let you know if you step out of line.
The main characters all work at a rodeo. The 4 main ones being Jim Sayers, Rafe Williams, Chuck Griffith, Amy Williams. Main conflict is cheating Jim Sayers cheating Rafe and Chuck along with the other cowboys. Similarities are Jim and Rafe have grown up around rodeos. Arguing over money and a murder. Climax is the real murderer is found.
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double
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Quote:I am willing to take a stab and try to conjure a paragraph. I will let you know if you step out of line.
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:I had refrained from commenting before, not conjuring that you would want it.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:I think a writer trying to summarize their own work has got to be difficult. Basically - you know too much!
Originally posted by 1KIKI:Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Trying to find something to help me write a synopsis for my book that makes sense to my brain.
If you want me to shut up, just say so.
I do not know what your book is about.
What are the main characters, or subjects? The 2-4 key players? And their relation/interaction between them? What are their conflicts, similarities?
What is the situation in the early part or first half of the book, and then in the climax or conclusion? Perhaps leave out the actual final parts.
Can you compose a short paragraph or 2 about those?
The main characters all work at a rodeo. The 4 main ones being Jim Sayers, Rafe Williams, Chuck Griffith, Amy Williams. Main conflict is cheating Jim Sayers cheating Rafe and Chuck along with the other cowboys. Similarities are Jim and Rafe have grown up around rodeos. Arguing over money and a murder. Climax is the real murderer is found.
There you go.
Not sure when the murder happened - long ago, or during the story.
"Cowboy Jim Sayers works the rodeo with Rafe, Chuck, and Amy."
Next sentence, explain how/what/why about the cheating.
"They can't agree on some funds or other monies."
"And they disagree about the murder of _________."
"Will they solve the mystery?"
So make corrections, fill in a couple details, and see how that sounds.
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I'll think about what you've written JSF.
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Quote:Yeah, I remember now you mentioning them before. And if I recall correctly they're fall though spring. IIRC last time you wrote about them being severe it seemed the ferry couldn't run because of the wind.
Originally posted by Brenda:
Winds storms are pretty normal this time of the year for BC as are power outages. My area was lucky as I don't think that happened. But North Vancouver was a mess this morning. Power out for a lot of the day. One clock on street corner at stopped at 2:30am.
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Quote:Yeah, I remember now you mentioning them before. And if I recall correctly they're fall though spring. IIRC last time you wrote about them being severe it seemed the ferry couldn't run because of the wind.
Originally posted by 1KIKI:Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Winds storms are pretty normal this time of the year for BC as are power outages. My area was lucky as I don't think that happened. But North Vancouver was a mess this morning. Power out for a lot of the day. One clock on a street corner had stopped at 2:30am.
Yes, I have and yes they start in the fall and they can and do run through spring. They have stopped the ferries at times because it's not just the wind it is also the sea. The wind can whip up the waves so much that they could swamp a ferry.
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Out for my walk in a bit. Plastic bag recycling then when I get back vacuuming.
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Back from my walk and no rain, so far. Got some groceries done. Vacuuming done too.
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Rain's back.
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Sounds like a productive day all together, BRENDA! 
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Got notice from our credit card company that they stopped a $2300 charge .... for SHOES, of all things! .... from some place in England!
Obviously they canceled the card, and had replacements for us next day ... nice! ... but now I need to redo all the autopays. Not so nice!
So that's what I'm doing today. And tomorrow.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Oh BTW I made the best ever spaghetti and meatballs yesterday, with my own homemade tomato sauce.
But what really came out well were the meatballs. Just ground turkey, but I finally decided to do what every recipe I've ever seen for ground meat calls for: I added milk to the meat, panko, salt, pepper and fine diced basil.
Wow, did they come out tender and juicy! Not overly seasoned but just right. Browned lightly and simmered gently in tomato sauce flavored with just a little sugar and Parmesan. Best ever.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Sounds like a productive day all together, BRENDA!
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
It was and hopefully it will be tomorrow. Though I will be at work, so we shall see.
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The rain is back. It arrived at around 4pm and is still raining now at 8:34pm. Which means I will have a soggy walk to work tomorrow.
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Quote:Can you add the recipe to the recipe thread?
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Oh BTW I made the best ever spaghetti and meatballs yesterday, with my own homemade tomato sauce.
But what really came out well were the meatballs. Just ground turkey, but I finally decided to do what every recipe I've ever seen for ground meat calls for: I added milk to the meat, panko, salt, pepper and fine diced basil.
Wow, did they come out tender and juicy! Not overly seasoned but just right. Browned lightly and simmered gently in tomato sauce flavored with just a little sugar and Parmesan. Best ever.
I've been thinking about meatballs lately.
Seems most of the time I hear "best meatballs" the reference is to the humungous size, largely due to fillers like rice. So I have generally avoided meatballs - and I like meatsauce better. Other meatballs are dense, small, hard - and they don't absorb the flavor of the added sauce, whether Swedish, tomato, Alfredo, or other.
When you say "brown" you are only talking about the surface, right? Leaving the center uncooked? Simmered for how long? All meatballs dumped into the entire sauce, submerged?
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Brenda, I'd always thought of Vancouver as a grey, drizzly, rainy place - a picture of quiet and clouds and damp - with occasional sunshine in summer. I never realized it had such violent windstorms in winter and the interior had a fire season in summer! I'll definitely have to revamp my notion of your city and BC!
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Signy, I followed your recipe over to the recipe thread. So ... milk is a thing, too? Not just starch? Hmmm ... and now I wonder of that also holds true for meatloaf and burgers as well. Maybe that's the secret to making them tender and juicy, instead of hard and dense.
Thanks so much for the recipe AND the benefit of your experience!
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Quote:
Originally posted by 1KIKI:
Brenda, I'd always thought of Vancouver as a grey, drizzly, rainy place - a picture of quiet and clouds and damp - with occasional sunshine in summer. I never realized it had such violent windstorms in winter and the interior had a fire season in summer! I'll definitely have to revamp my notion of your city and BC!
Kiki, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland is a grey, drizzly, rainy place with the occasional sunny summer and cold, snowy winter.
I actually live outside of Vancouver. My city would almost be called a suburb being part of the GVRD - which is the "Greater Vancouver Regional District".
The wind storms can get very violent and fire season up the Interior which can be a problem in the Valley and out into the Okanogan too.
My province is beautiful though with lots of scenery that attracts tourists from all over Canada, the US and the world.
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Back from work and tired and sore.
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So maybe milk IS thing.
I always thought it was just to, yanno, dissolve the bread, make it easier to mix. But I've made other ground-meat recipes with other liquids- for example, I put green enchilada sauce into hubby's burgers- and they didn't come out as tender and juicy.
And this was lean ground turkey that I used, so it's not like there was any fat added.
Anyway, try it and let me know how it works out, or not! Maybe it was just a fluke.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS MOVED TO THE RECIPE THREAD
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Quote:???
Originally posted by Brenda:
I'll think about what you've written JSF.
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Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:???
Originally posted by Brenda:
I'll think about what you've written JSF.
About a synopsis because it doesn't jive with what I've read in books about writing. So, what you posted and what I've read isn't making any sense to me. Need another source.
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Out for my walk in a bit. Couple of things to do this Saturday.
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More rain
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Sigh. And still no rain here.
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Quote:
Originally posted by 1KIKI:
Sigh. And still no rain here.
I'm sorry. I wish this atmospheric river which is coming from Hawaii would go farther south.
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Quote:OK. I must have misunderstood the purpose.
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:About a synopsis because it doesn't jive with what I've read in books about writing. So, what you posted and what I've read isn't making any sense to me. Need another source.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:???
Originally posted by Brenda:
I'll think about what you've written JSF.
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Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:OK. I must have misunderstood the purpose.
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:About a synopsis because it doesn't jive with what I've read in books about writing. So, what you posted and what I've read isn't making any sense to me. Need another source.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:???
Originally posted by Brenda:
I'll think about what you've written JSF.
I don't think you did really. I just don't think my brain has the information sorted out enough to where I can write one for myself. The synopsis has to include some of what you said but trying to make it a page long and make it make sense to me. Arrgghh!
Not totally your fault JSF.
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Rain and fog today.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
More rain
Quote:
Originally posted by 1KIKI:
Sigh. And still no rain here.
Quote:That WOULD be nice!
Originally posted by Brenda:
I'm sorry. I wish this atmospheric river which is coming from Hawaii would go farther south.
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Seems the month-lomg pattern here has been every week we get a blast of Santa Anas. Usually lasts only a day or two, but this time it's been Thursday thru Sunday (so far) of 90+ weather. And dry, dry, dry.
Been waiting for the soil to cool down so I can give my natives their every-other week water. They're due, since last (and only) rainfall to date was the 25th of Oct.
Supposedly we are in a la Nina condition, which often means dry for the southwest, wet for the northwest. Not sure if that includes Canada, BRENDA, but if your weather has been wetter than usual that might explain it.
*****
They're still predicting a 10F cooldown tomorrow and another 10F cooldown day after, so we will be back in the low 70s, where we belong!
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Quote:Alright. I was thinking you were having a writer's block.
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:I don't think you did really. I just don't think my brain has the information sorted out enough to where I can write one for myself. The synopsis has to include some of what you said but trying to make it a page long and make it make sense to me. Arrgghh!
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:OK. I must have misunderstood the purpose.
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:About a synopsis because it doesn't jive with what I've read in books about writing. So, what you posted and what I've read isn't making any sense to me. Need another source.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:???
Originally posted by Brenda:
I'll think about what you've written JSF.
Not totally your fault JSF.
But I did not explain all the steps I had in mind, or how they might develope.
Step 1. Craft a brief paragraph summery. Either copy, correct, edit what I already came up with, or whatever else you can do. Polish and smooth it out until it flows well.
Step 2. Now double the size of the synopsis, adding whatever details or salient points not included in Step 1. Either fatten the one paragraph or make a second paragraph. Refine and polish this until it is a stand alone product.
For Steps 1 and 2, you can pretend that Jim or Rafe had read a book within your story. The reader of your book doesn't need to know the whole story or details, but just a brief summary of what their book was about or why they read it. Craft the cadence and story vibe to be similar to your book's story.
Step 3. Expand the information until you have a half page of synopsis. This can be useful, because book flaps often contain synopsis, and are often a half page width, so a total of a half page size.
Step 4. Add details and other info you think is important or thrilling. Making a full page synopsis, like you said you wanted. By this method, it may seem awkward or disjointed. Consider it a starting point for crafting a better, or more fluid, version.
Retain at least one version of each of the 4 Steps. You will have them handy when somebody asks for one. Go ahead and refine, polish them if you feel like it.
I know that some writers use the method of learning the story themselves as it develops and the characters interact, and don't know the ending nor path until the characters tell the writer what happens.
That is not how the synopsis can be crafted. The beginning, middle and end are already known by you. But maybe you can imagine if you were not the writer, what of this book would be most interesting, most enticing to you, as a potential reader.
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Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Seems the month-lomg pattern here has been every week we get a blast of Santa Anas. Usually lasts only a day or two, but this time it's been Thursday thru Sunday (so far) of 90+ weather. And dry, dry, dry.
Been waiting for the soil to cool down so I can give my natives their every-other week water. They're due, since last (and only) rainfall to date was the 25th of Oct.
Supposedly we are in a la Nina condition, which often means dry for the southwest, wet for the northwest. Not sure if that includes Canada, BRENDA, but if your weather has been wetter than usual that might explain it.
*****
They're still predicting a 10F cooldown tomorrow and another 10F cooldown day after, so we will be back in the low 70s, where we belong!
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
SIG, my little corner of BC can be considered at times part of the Pacific Northwest.
Weather over the weekend has been very soggy and a bit into tomorrow and then a break on Tuesday followed by more rain for the rest of the week.
Gotten so much rain out into the Fraser Valley that a city called Abbotsford has had to open an emergency centre for some of their citizens. Mudslides.
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Quote:You had mentioned ferry on the sea. Which sea were you referring to?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:SIG, my little corner of BC can be considered at times part of the Pacific Northwest.
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Seems the month-lomg pattern here has been every week we get a blast of Santa Anas. Usually lasts only a day or two, but this time it's been Thursday thru Sunday (so far) of 90+ weather. And dry, dry, dry.
Been waiting for the soil to cool down so I can give my natives their every-other week water. They're due, since last (and only) rainfall to date was the 25th of Oct.
Supposedly we are in a la Nina condition, which often means dry for the southwest, wet for the northwest. Not sure if that includes Canada, BRENDA, but if your weather has been wetter than usual that might explain it.
*****
They're still predicting a 10F cooldown tomorrow and another 10F cooldown day after, so we will be back in the low 70s, where we belong!
Weather over the weekend has been very soggy and a bit into tomorrow and then a break on Tuesday followed by more rain for the rest of the week.
Gotten so much rain out into the Fraser Valley that a city called Abbotsford has had to open an emergency centre for some of their citizens. Mudslides.
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Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:You had mentioned ferry on the sea. Which sea were you referring to?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:SIG, my little corner of BC can be considered at times part of the Pacific Northwest.
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Seems the month-lomg pattern here has been every week we get a blast of Santa Anas. Usually lasts only a day or two, but this time it's been Thursday thru Sunday (so far) of 90+ weather. And dry, dry, dry.
Been waiting for the soil to cool down so I can give my natives their every-other week water. They're due, since last (and only) rainfall to date was the 25th of Oct.
Supposedly we are in a la Nina condition, which often means dry for the southwest, wet for the northwest. Not sure if that includes Canada, BRENDA, but if your weather has been wetter than usual that might explain it.
*****
They're still predicting a 10F cooldown tomorrow and another 10F cooldown day after, so we will be back in the low 70s, where we belong!
Weather over the weekend has been very soggy and a bit into tomorrow and then a break on Tuesday followed by more rain for the rest of the week.
Gotten so much rain out into the Fraser Valley that a city called Abbotsford has had to open an emergency centre for some of their citizens. Mudslides.
British Columbia sits on the Pacific ocean and there is a ferry system that runs up the coast and over to Vancouver Island which is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is also the Salish sea.
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Out in the rain. Vampires today.
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It has finally stopped raining of course now that I am in. Wind is still blowing.
Appointment made for next Monday for the vampires. Forgot I have to do that now.
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Quote:So the ferries need to traverse the sea, the strait, and the ocean?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:British Columbia sits on the Pacific ocean and there is a ferry system that runs up the coast and over to Vancouver Island which is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is also the Salish sea.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:You had mentioned ferry on the sea. Which sea were you referring to?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:SIG, my little corner of BC can be considered at times part of the Pacific Northwest.
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Seems the month-lomg pattern here has been every week we get a blast of Santa Anas. Usually lasts only a day or two, but this time it's been Thursday thru Sunday (so far) of 90+ weather. And dry, dry, dry.
Been waiting for the soil to cool down so I can give my natives their every-other week water. They're due, since last (and only) rainfall to date was the 25th of Oct.
Supposedly we are in a la Nina condition, which often means dry for the southwest, wet for the northwest. Not sure if that includes Canada, BRENDA, but if your weather has been wetter than usual that might explain it.
*****
They're still predicting a 10F cooldown tomorrow and another 10F cooldown day after, so we will be back in the low 70s, where we belong!
Weather over the weekend has been very soggy and a bit into tomorrow and then a break on Tuesday followed by more rain for the rest of the week.
Gotten so much rain out into the Fraser Valley that a city called Abbotsford has had to open an emergency centre for some of their citizens. Mudslides.
Are the waves in wind worse on the sea/strait, or on the ocean? I'm thinking the waves could get more focused in the smaller sea/strait.
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https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-mudslide-coquihalla-nov-14-2021
https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/flooding-mudslide-hampering-trave
l-through-sooke-salt-spring-island/
https://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/maple-ridge-residents-still-withou
t-power/
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-heavy-evacuations-motorists-canada.html
https://www.thespec.com/ts/news/canada/2021/11/14/rocks-and-mudslides-
close-bc-highways-during-heavy-rain.html
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/mudslide-rain-british-columbia-photos-highwa
y-floods-212043708.html
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/large-mudslide-leads-to-closure-on-highway-1-nea
r-lytton-b-c-1.5550211
Wow. The overhead video on that last one looks interesting.
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Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:So the ferries need to traverse the sea, the strait, and the ocean?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:British Columbia sits on the Pacific ocean and there is a ferry system that runs up the coast and over to Vancouver Island which is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is also the Salish sea.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:You had mentioned ferry on the sea. Which sea were you referring to?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:SIG, my little corner of BC can be considered at times part of the Pacific Northwest.
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Seems the month-lomg pattern here has been every week we get a blast of Santa Anas. Usually lasts only a day or two, but this time it's been Thursday thru Sunday (so far) of 90+ weather. And dry, dry, dry.
Been waiting for the soil to cool down so I can give my natives their every-other week water. They're due, since last (and only) rainfall to date was the 25th of Oct.
Supposedly we are in a la Nina condition, which often means dry for the southwest, wet for the northwest. Not sure if that includes Canada, BRENDA, but if your weather has been wetter than usual that might explain it.
*****
They're still predicting a 10F cooldown tomorrow and another 10F cooldown day after, so we will be back in the low 70s, where we belong!
Weather over the weekend has been very soggy and a bit into tomorrow and then a break on Tuesday followed by more rain for the rest of the week.
Gotten so much rain out into the Fraser Valley that a city called Abbotsford has had to open an emergency centre for some of their citizens. Mudslides.
Are the waves in wind worse on the sea/strait, or on the ocean? I'm thinking the waves could get more focused in the smaller sea/strait.
Have a look at a map of the west coast of Canada, JSF. The coast line has a lot of islands and there are small communities on them. So, yes some ferries are out on the open water and some are just crossing the straight to Victoria which is on Vancouver Island. Some ferries stay close to the coast line and those are travelling up the Sunshine coast to places like Sechelt and Powell river. There are ferries that travel from Sandspit which is on Haida Gwaii and go over to the mainland from there.
The Pacific isn't a tranquil place and fishing boats have gone down in storms. Winds on the strait are bad because they stop ferry service and as I told Kiki the combination of wind and waves could swamp a ferry.
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Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-mudslide-coquihalla-nov-14-2021
https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/flooding-mudslide-hampering-trave
l-through-sooke-salt-spring-island/
https://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/maple-ridge-residents-still-withou
t-power/
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-heavy-evacuations-motorists-canada.html
https://www.thespec.com/ts/news/canada/2021/11/14/rocks-and-mudslides-
close-bc-highways-during-heavy-rain.html
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/mudslide-rain-british-columbia-photos-highwa
y-floods-212043708.html
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/large-mudslide-leads-to-closure-on-highway-1-nea
r-lytton-b-c-1.5550211
Wow. The overhead video on that last one looks interesting.
This is going to be a bad storm season up here. The town of Merritt has been partially evacuated because of flooding.
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The rain has stopped for now and the wind. Suppose to get a couple of days break on the mainland then more rain.
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Out for a walk in the dry and sun for a change.
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This is a correction for an earlier post. The town of Merritt has been completely evacuated due to flood waters.
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Nice day for my walk. Trying to finish Christmas shopping over the next couple of days.
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You sound like you're getting things done Brenda!
I've been more busy of late doing some unanticipated things. So a lot of my projects are paused for the while.
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Quote:
Originally posted by 1KIKI:
You sound like you're getting things done Brenda!
I've been more busy of late doing some unanticipated things. So a lot of my projects are paused for the while.
Yeah, I am. A friend wants to meet up early for Christmas which is why I am trying to finish her stuff.
Also almost got that kitchen cupboard sorted out. Only thing I can do is buy some plastic shelving units and put them in. I've got three in there now and need one more then I think I will get a plastic bin to add to it, so I can put some plastic containers into.
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Out for my walk on a dry day but cold. Need a scarf today.
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Quote:I hope it's not windy! Cold weather is one thing, but cold WINDY weather just sucks heat right offa you!
Originally posted by Brenda:
Out for my walk on a dry day but cold. Need a scarf today.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Quote:
Originally posted by 1KIKI:
You sound like you're getting things done Brenda!
I've been more busy of late doing some unanticipated things. So a lot of my projects are paused for the while.
Quote:WHOO HOO!!!! Way to go Brenda! on getting that cupboard sorted out!
Originally posted by Brenda:
Yeah, I am. A friend wants to meet up early for Christmas which is why I am trying to finish her stuff.
Also almost got that kitchen cupboard sorted out. Only thing I can do is buy some plastic shelving units and put them in. I've got three in there now and need one more then I think I will get a plastic bin to add to it, so I can put some plastic containers into.
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Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:Quote:I hope it's not windy! Cold weather is one thing, but cold WINDY weather just sucks heat right offa you!
Originally posted by Brenda:
Out for my walk on a dry day but cold. Need a scarf today.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
Wind is gone for now. It was warmer on my way back than when I went out.
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Quote:
Originally posted by 1KIKI:Quote:
Originally posted by 1KIKI:
You sound like you're getting things done Brenda!
I've been more busy of late doing some unanticipated things. So a lot of my projects are paused for the while.
Quote:WHOO HOO!!!! Way to go Brenda! on getting that cupboard sorted out!
Originally posted by Brenda:
Yeah, I am. A friend wants to meet up early for Christmas which is why I am trying to finish her stuff.
Also almost got that kitchen cupboard sorted out. Only thing I can do is buy some plastic shelving units and put them in. I've got three in there now and need one more then I think I will get a plastic bin to add to it, so I can put some plastic containers into.
Thanks Kiki. I feel much better of the look of it and it is way easier to get stuff out of it now.
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Back from my walk and it is warmer now than when I went out this morning. So that was good. Just need to get a couple of Christmas bags tomorrow for a friend's stuff. Then over the next couple of weeks finish stuff off for Alberta and get Christmas cards into the mail for Alberta, US and England.
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Quote:https://ca.news.yahoo.com/know-b-c-floods-nov-140000605.html
Originally posted by Brenda:
This is a correction for an earlier post. The town of Merritt has been completely evacuated due to flood waters.
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Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:https://ca.news.yahoo.com/know-b-c-floods-nov-140000605.html
Originally posted by Brenda:
This is a correction for an earlier post. The town of Merritt has been completely evacuated due to flood waters.
I'm aware that my correction is also wrong. About 1,000 residents stayed behind inspite of the evacuation notice. There are always stupid people.
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Mah jong in the morning.
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Speaking of rain ...
Quote:
Both the CN and Canadian Pacific main lines along the Fraser River are out of service and will require heavy reconstruction of bridges and railbeds. Vancouver, the country’s biggest port, is closed. Coal mined from the Rocky Mountains is piling up at loading terminals along the Continental Divide. Potash unit trains are backed up at mines in Saskatchewan. The Prairie grain harvest, which should be flowing West at peak seasonal volumes, is constrained to CN’s northerly route from Edmonton to Canada’s secondary Pacific port, Prince Rupert.
A trickle of train movements over CP’s Crowsnest Subdivision indicates some traffic may be moving from an interchange with Union Pacific at Eastport, Idaho, but flooding on the U.S. side of the 49th parallel has choked off access to alternative ports at Portland and Seattle.
Is this as bad as it looks?
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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I was wondering exactly where that was.
Your image Signy comes with this: "Both CN and CP are surveying the damage to their shared parallel main lines along the Thompson and Fraser Rivers. On Nov. 16, a CN train derailed on CP track near Yale, B.C. and remains immobile."
Mine (below) comes with this: "... road and rail connections with Vancouver and southwestern British Columbia could be disrupted for months
Both are from this story: https://www.railwayage.com/freight/class-i/disastrous-flooding-cuts-va
ncouver-off-from-rail-road-service/
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Yes, all this rain in BC has done more damage to the supply chain in country. People in the east will have to be patient with BC, until more roads are cleared and CP and CN can see what can be done to fix rail lines.
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There is more rain today but not enough to really do any more damage. Have to see what the weekend brings.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Yes, all this rain in BC has done more damage to the supply chain in country. People in the east will have to be patient with BC, until more roads are cleared and CP and CN can see what can be done to fix rail lines.
So does this mean that metro Vancouver is isolated from supplies? Empty shelves and shortages? Or does this isolate BC citites further inland?
Just wondering what this means for you, and for the large population around Vancouver.
Because smaller cities might by supplied by truck along alternate routes, or even by helicopter in emergencies. But there's got to be a million people living in and around Vancouver, so mass transportation is needed.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Yes, all this rain in BC has done more damage to the supply chain in country. People in the east will have to be patient with BC, until more roads are cleared and CP and CN can see what can be done to fix rail lines.
So does this mean that metro Vancouver is isolated from supplies? Empty shelves and shortages? Or does this isolate BC citites further inland?
Just wondering what this means for you, and for the large population around Vancouver.
Because smaller cities might by supplied by truck along alternate routes, or even by helicopter in emergencies. But there's got to be a million people living in and around Vancouver, so mass transportation is needed.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
There could be some meat shortages in Vancouver and where I am as the Fraser Valley is a main agricultural area in BC and it supplies meat and veg to Vancouver and over onto the Island.
Supply shortages will be worse in places like Hope and the farther out you go into the Interior of the province because of the roads and rail.
Trucking supplies in can work for cities like Hope but the farther you go from the Greater Vancouver area the rougher it gets. Backroads in this type of weather are not good. Mud slides, rock slides and that will cause more delays.
Course Vancouver Island has its own problems with these storms. A main highway called the Malahat is in rough shape over there with all of this.
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Quote:Sorry. I was just not familiar with ferries following along a coast.
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:Have a look at a map of the west coast of Canada, JSF. The coast line has a lot of islands and there are small communities on them. So, yes some ferries are out on the open water and some are just crossing the straight to Victoria which is on Vancouver Island. Some ferries stay close to the coast line and those are travelling up the Sunshine coast to places like Sechelt and Powell river. There are ferries that travel from Sandspit which is on Haida Gwaii and go over to the mainland from there.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:So the ferries need to traverse the sea, the strait, and the ocean?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:British Columbia sits on the Pacific ocean and there is a ferry system that runs up the coast and over to Vancouver Island which is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is also the Salish sea.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:You had mentioned ferry on the sea. Which sea were you referring to?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:SIG, my little corner of BC can be considered at times part of the Pacific Northwest.
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Seems the month-lomg pattern here has been every week we get a blast of Santa Anas. Usually lasts only a day or two, but this time it's been Thursday thru Sunday (so far) of 90+ weather. And dry, dry, dry.
Been waiting for the soil to cool down so I can give my natives their every-other week water. They're due, since last (and only) rainfall to date was the 25th of Oct.
Supposedly we are in a la Nina condition, which often means dry for the southwest, wet for the northwest. Not sure if that includes Canada, BRENDA, but if your weather has been wetter than usual that might explain it.
*****
They're still predicting a 10F cooldown tomorrow and another 10F cooldown day after, so we will be back in the low 70s, where we belong!
Weather over the weekend has been very soggy and a bit into tomorrow and then a break on Tuesday followed by more rain for the rest of the week.
Gotten so much rain out into the Fraser Valley that a city called Abbotsford has had to open an emergency centre for some of their citizens. Mudslides.
Are the waves in wind worse on the sea/strait, or on the ocean? I'm thinking the waves could get more focused in the smaller sea/strait.
The Pacific isn't a tranquil place and fishing boats have gone down in storms. Winds on the strait are bad because they stop ferry service and as I told Kiki the combination of wind and waves could swamp a ferry.
Interesting.
Speaking of ferries, and regarding flooding, I am wondering if some ferries might be redeployed to help with critical transport of material.
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Quote:Sorry. I quoted to reference the topic of flooding.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:https://ca.news.yahoo.com/know-b-c-floods-nov-140000605.html
Originally posted by Brenda:
This is a correction for an earlier post. The town of Merritt has been completely evacuated due to flood waters.
That link should have been about the declaration of emergency.
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Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:Sorry. I was just not familiar with ferries following along a coast.
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:Have a look at a map of the west coast of Canada, JSF. The coast line has a lot of islands and there are small communities on them. So, yes some ferries are out on the open water and some are just crossing the straight to Victoria which is on Vancouver Island. Some ferries stay close to the coast line and those are travelling up the Sunshine coast to places like Sechelt and Powell river. There are ferries that travel from Sandspit which is on Haida Gwaii and go over to the mainland from there.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:So the ferries need to traverse the sea, the strait, and the ocean?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:British Columbia sits on the Pacific ocean and there is a ferry system that runs up the coast and over to Vancouver Island which is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is also the Salish sea.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:You had mentioned ferry on the sea. Which sea were you referring to?
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:SIG, my little corner of BC can be considered at times part of the Pacific Northwest.
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Seems the month-lomg pattern here has been every week we get a blast of Santa Anas. Usually lasts only a day or two, but this time it's been Thursday thru Sunday (so far) of 90+ weather. And dry, dry, dry.
Been waiting for the soil to cool down so I can give my natives their every-other week water. They're due, since last (and only) rainfall to date was the 25th of Oct.
Supposedly we are in a la Nina condition, which often means dry for the southwest, wet for the northwest. Not sure if that includes Canada, BRENDA, but if your weather has been wetter than usual that might explain it.
*****
They're still predicting a 10F cooldown tomorrow and another 10F cooldown day after, so we will be back in the low 70s, where we belong!
Weather over the weekend has been very soggy and a bit into tomorrow and then a break on Tuesday followed by more rain for the rest of the week.
Gotten so much rain out into the Fraser Valley that a city called Abbotsford has had to open an emergency centre for some of their citizens. Mudslides.
Are the waves in wind worse on the sea/strait, or on the ocean? I'm thinking the waves could get more focused in the smaller sea/strait.
The Pacific isn't a tranquil place and fishing boats have gone down in storms. Winds on the strait are bad because they stop ferry service and as I told Kiki the combination of wind and waves could swamp a ferry.
Interesting.
Speaking of ferries, and regarding flooding, I am wondering if some ferries might be redeployed to help with critical transport of material.
I've been up to the Sunshine coast on a ferry though that was many years ago. Sechelt is a great little place.
Had family on my dad's side that lived up that way. Ferries do no good when the flooding is all inland.
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Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:Sorry. I quoted to reference the topic of flooding.
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:Quote:https://ca.news.yahoo.com/know-b-c-floods-nov-140000605.html
Originally posted by Brenda:
This is a correction for an earlier post. The town of Merritt has been completely evacuated due to flood waters.
That link should have been about the declaration of emergency.
Yes, Premier Horgan declared his 3rd state of emergency for British Columbia this year.
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Army engineers are coming in to assess the damage done to 4 main routes that go between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. They will be looking at road structure and the logistics of repairs.
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Out for my walk. Just some groceries to do today, I think. Might have to get a new umbrella.
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Back from walk and a nice break today from rain. Bought a new umbrella.
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We're seeing spot shortages here too. Some flavors of bottled coffee. Alfredo sauce packets. Sesame oil. Tamari. Enchilada sauce. Organic white rice. Some types of tortillas.
Meat has DEFINITELY gone up. I used to be able to get good meat sales: tri tip and chuck roast for $3.99. Ground turkey for $2.67. I rarely paid over $2/lb for fresh organic vegetables, or more than $4 for a loaf of bakery bread. Now I'm lucky to find tri tip and chuck roast for less than $5.99/lb, and ground turkey for less than $2.99, organic fresh vegies for less than $3 and bakery bread for less than $5.
I shop at two local stores, usually what I can't find at (cheaper) store #1 I can find at (more expensive store) #2. Not anymore. Some things stay on my "need to get" board for a few weeks at a time. Last time, there was not a single organic chicken (the only organic meat we can afford).
So despite the fact that we're all eating less than we used to, grocery bill remains stubbornly high. I COULD drop the quality, but I prefer to cut out the junk food and snacks and focus on higher-quality, simpler food.
Last week we had chicken and dumpling soup (soup is filling), stir-fry pork (on sale tenderloin) and stir-fry cabbage (cheap org veggie) and peppers/ginger for us. But because dear daughter can't eat crucifers (IBS) she had "fried rice", which was cooked diced organic veggies (carrots, sliced celery and sliced quartered zucchini with a handful of leftover spinach) mixed with leftover organic white rice and tamari/sugar.
Tomorrow is beef stew with the usual beef (on sale, but still expensive) and stew vegetables, but I intend to add a box oc chicken broth thickened with a little flour to bulk it up. Day after, pork steak (on sale) cooked with a lot of (organic) celery and apples and a little apple cider vinegar and sugar, but serve tummy-filling (organic) zucchini and sweet potato on the side. (All on sale)
So I do scour the sales.
Have not been feeling well for quite some time (NOT covid) so on days when I can't cook, family has to rely on leftovers, frozen dinners, or takeout. Hubby paid me the greatest compliment that he likes my food better than restaurant because I do my best to make tasty, filling, healthful meals that take his blood sugar into account, and he has been able to control it quite well if he sticks with my meals and lower-carb fare for b'fast, like a handful of nuts, or eggs/toast, or a smaller serving of oatbran.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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I don't doubt it SIG.
I've noticed a bit of rearranging of meat shelves in my local grocery store. Nothing too drastic but yeah.
Also gas supplies are being rationed for a week or so incase of another emergency and people are being asked not to travel into the Interior unless it is work related.
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Last SUN/MON we had 90+ weather.
THIS Sun/Mon we are predicted for 85+ weather.
So that pattern of once-a-week pulse of Santa Anas seems to be holding. I had to water the entire yard when the temp dropped on Tues/Wed. and it looks like I'll have to keep doing my twice-a-month watering for the foreseeable future. So when my water use usaly drops in the winter, it looks like it will go historically up this season. Our water rates are very high. We use 12 CCF/2 months when not irrigating and about 35 CCF/2 mos when irrigating. Even then, our bill seems high. I can't imagine what our neighbors with lawns are using, and paying!
On the plus side, we installed solar panels a few years ago. We DO get charged by SCE for "pass thru" charges like grid maintenance, taxes, fees, and a "help your neighbor" fund for low-income families which is typically totals around $12-15/mo, but not for electricity generation, unless our usage goes over production. They bill us for that at the end of every year. Last year, when everyone was getting nailed with high bills, our TOTAL bill for the year was -$59. Yep, we got a credit. I think we can afford to drop our AC temperature from 78F to 77F during the day, and be a LITTLE more comfortable!
Now, all I need to do is find a smaller battery backup system that will automatically take us offline when there's a power outage and be able to sustain just the necessities during the nightime (fans, freezer, frig, modem and phones, phone and flashlight chargers) and a reliable source of drinking water and we should be set for most emergencies, including earthquake, bc we will need to sustain ourselves by ourselves for at least a month. With a metro area the size of LA, help will be a long time coming.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Laundry then out for a walk. Later peeps.
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Laundry done and walk in along with buying new running shoes. I didn't realize how ratty my old ones were getting till I sat and looked at them while I was doing my laundry. Holes all over.
No rain yet where I am but flood warnings now for Haida Gwaii and the North coast.
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Yeah, my shoes in bad shape. I have to get men's New Balance bc they're the only one that come in EEEE width. Lucky me, I have duck feet!
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Yeah, my shoes in bad shape. I have to get men's New Balance bc they're the only one that come in EEEE width. Lucky me, I have duck feet!
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
I basically have flat feet which can mean finding even running shoes hard at times but I got lucky today and found a couple of pairs that fit and looked nice. I bought one put the other back on the shelf.
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Nice dry where I am. That is good news for the soldiers repairing a dyke out in Abbotsford.
Also just a lazy Sunday for me.
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When I woke up this AM I smelled a very strong smell of smoke. It's not the pleasant 'someone has a fire going in their fireplace' smell, but an acrid 'this is a large amount of aged wildland smoke' smell.
So I looked up the fire map for current fires, and there are 4 fires within 7 miles of me. 3 were detected by satellite hotspot one within the last 2 days and 2 within the last 24 hours, and one is an under 1,000 acre fire (so far) up in the foothills.
I read a few years ago that 'fire season' in SoCal is now considered to be year round, since winter rains aren't reliable, and they're the only thing that truly puts fires out, (apparently the stumps and roots of large trees can smoulder for months.), and keeps them from igniting in the first place. Winter used to be a break in fire season. Not any more.
SoCal - rains + Santa Ana winds = fires. I hate that equation.
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I've heard that too Kiki. Not a good thing. Stay safe.
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Vampires dealt with so all medical caught up till next year.
Grocery shopping done too. Nice to have a sit down.
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How are the fires doing, KIKI?
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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Some copters were traversing back and forth overhead during the day. I didn't bother to check them b/c the only time that happens is when the firefighting ones get water out of the man-made lake a mile or so from me. There also happens to be a small airfield right next to the lake, so I imagine they refuel there too.
So far though, so good. No major active fires are currently listed with CalFire so whatever might have been going on (like the satellite-detected hotspots) seems to not be going on any more.
YAY!!
Thanks Brenda for your good wishes, and Signy for asking.
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Glad to hear that things have settled down KIKI and you are okay.
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Out for my walk in the dry soon. Gotta hit the post office and do a couple of other things.
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Well, this looks like another seriously dry winter. But there's nothing I can do about it except pray for Lady Rain to remember the poor wild creatures out there, follow my winter watering schedule, and pat myself on the back for having removed so much lawn.
Managed to do some corrective-pruning of my climbing roses. The had grown over the wall and onto the neighbor's side, and since they're VERY thorny they made an inaccessible mess over there. So got the long-handled loppers and cleaned up as much as I could reach. Over time, the roses are getting into shape. This would also be a good time to corrective-prune the oak tree in front, because I would like to limb it up a bit, plus it has a co-dominant leader.
I've decided to plant an elderberry tree at the end of one of the veggie garden where it's just a little too inaccessible for convenient working, and rip out the Lady Banks (?)-type roses that the former neighbors had planted and replace it with Texas privet, since I hate looking at their ugly storage sheds.
In the meantime, bc I've not been feeling well for the past few months (not Covid), all of the plans I had for doing yardwork in the cooler weather have been throttled back quite a bit. But I guess this gives me time to really plan out what the front should look like. I already know that I want to replaced the dead ceanothus with a "Leatherleaf" coffeeberry, and remove the hollyleaf redberry, which I had ONLY planted for the berries. But at the time, it seems nobody knew that the bushes came in male nd female form, and since you need one of each I've never gotten any berries since I only have one. I'm surprised it grew ... it's kind of a rare thing in the wild and not very garden-tolerant ... but it's otherwise an ugly bush.
I read, a while back, that one can assess one's landscape design by asking the question: "Better with, or without?" In THIS case, definitely better without.
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Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
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