Rainy Sunday Afternoon

       It's a very cool, dull, rainy Sunday afternoon. At times rain has been heavy. This is just the opposite of what we would like at this time of year. For farmers trying to harvest and gardeners, we are looking for some sunny,warm, dry weather.

        My nephews are farming in Saskatchewan and they went on the fields last week and got stuck in the mud many times. This rain only makes it much worse.

      So this afternoon I began to think of music and songs which have rain in them. The one I'd like to come true is "Don't Let the Rain Come Down." This was done by Trini Lopez in the 60's. I still have it but it's on a reel to reel tape. My old reel to reel tape recorder doesn't work anymore so I can't listen to it. Now many people will not know what I'm talking about...   reel to reel tape recorder.

      Other tunes are more upbeat as in Eddie Rabbit's "I Love a Rainy Night." This is another lively tune about rain and also from the 60's. We need Eddie Rabbit's rain  in the summer when moisture is needed to bring on crops and gardens.

     "September Rain" describes today very accurately. It was a much slower piece of music which probably comes from a long way back.

      I'm sure that I could go on with many examples of music which has a rain theme. The blues genre alone could produce may titles.

      So this Sunday afternoon I'd really like to do what I did many years ago on the farm. I'd go upstairs  and cover up, listen to the rain on the roof and soon go to sleep for the afternoon.

The Killing Frost Hit Last Night

       When September arrives , I know that it's only a matter of time before we get a killing frost. Last night was the night for a killing frost when we had a low of minus 6 C and below 0 for about 8 hours. So this morning no matter whether the plants were covered or not the were severely frost damaged .

      When frost is forecast here, I begin to worry and become tense as I do not like to see the end of a growing season. Once the evil deed is done, I can relax because frost is one thing I don't have to worry about anymore.

      So now I don't have to water plants everyday. No pleasure of walking by the plants each day to see their progress. The expectation of plant yield has come to an end. I will note the things I've learned this year so that next year changes can be made . Certain varieties will not be grown next year.

     Now I'm at peace and fall can take it's course. Many trees were shedding leaves by the bag full today. Fall cleanup can seriously begin.

Sequel to my Predicament

          A few posts ago I did a piece called "Predicament" where I described how our lock wore out and we were unable to unlock it and get in the house.

        Well that lock had to be replaced very soon and that was another adventure. We went to our favorite building supply center that has some people knowledgeable about locks. Home Farm Girl insists that she has to have exactly the same lock to replace the old one because the same lock is on the front door. She will move heaven and earth to find the exact replacement lock. Our lock was a 1963 model as that is when our house was built.

       The first guy we ran into was about as helpful as a coat of paint. He knew that the lock we had was not produced any more and then he tried to sell us the lock which is most popular today. This disappointed Home Farm Girl and she was ready to start on a marathon search for the exact lock. She was sure it could be found somewhere in some one's supply of locks. About this time a little dumpling of a guy came along and asked coat of paint what the problem was. Dumpling said yes, these locks are no longer produced, but we have some in the back corner. Dumpling went to the corner and came back with the exact lock. Home Farm Girl was absolutely pleased and amazed. Now Dumpling says, " It's a Weiser lock and they have life time guarantees so you get the lock free. I thought Home Farm Girl would really lose it as for her there is nothing better if it's free  especially if she was expecting to pay for it.

       So in less than two minutes Home Farm Girl was on her way with a free lock and a reluctant handyman to install it. After filing the striker plate for  while I got the new lock to fit perfectly. Now the door closes  with a soft "clasp" and so works better than it ever has.

Some Topics Keep Giving and Giving

        When I started my blog two years ago,  little did I realize that I would do five posts on the white tailed jack rabbit.   I did not intend to write about rabbits. Experiences have occurred which have lead to good stories.

        This urban area has a number of jack rabbits as a permanent population. Most days when I'm out I see a rabbit and sometimes three at a time. Just seeing a rabbit munching on grass or snoozing in some brush does not make a story. Since rabbits are somewhat numerous and very active they sometimes present stories. That is what has happened to me. Interesting happenings take place and I write about them. Now my neighbors are passing on stories and pictures. I've also had to do a little research so I learn some interesting things. It also helps that these animals are cute and move in huge leaps and bounds.     I see so many rabbits that I have jokingly appointed myself as the official rabbit watcher.

     So scroll back and look at some of the posts I've made on the white tailed jack rabbit.

Baby Jack Rabbit with an Attitude

         I received an email this morning which included a couple of pictures of a new born jack rabbit.

        

     My neighbors Mavis and Duane, happened to find this little critter toddling about on their lawn beside the shrubbery. Their first reaction was to get a picture and their second plan was to shoo the little guy back into the shrubbery for his own protection. When they attempted to guide the baby back to the protection of the shrubbery it hissed at them. More than that, it put a paw out as if to shoo them away. So they gave up trying to help and left him to his own design. They did the right thing to leave him alone. Many people pick these little fellows up thinking that they have been abandoned . Not so.

       The doe leaves the new born rabbits about an hour after their birth. The babies leave their birth place almost immediately and go in different directions. Even though they are tiny and young they are very mobile and can move easily. The doe comes back from time to time and finds them and nurses them. They do live a precarious life and a high percentage of them are preyed on by predators. The jack rabbit has come to know that there are fewer predators in an urban setting and the food is plentiful. Therefore we have an ever increasing population of jack rabbits in the city.

      So thanks Mavis and Duane for being alert and getting a picture and telling a story. This little creature displayed a very independent attitude for his age. It's rather amazing that this birth happened on Sept. 5 which is rather late in the season.

What's the Best Part of Barbecue?

       Now there are many opinions as to what the best part of barbecuing may be. For some it's the social occasion. Others it's the meat. And for still others it's what can be done with spices to obtain a specific flavor. For me the best part of barbecuing is the veggies!

      When I barbecue I insist on barbecuing some vegetables with what ever meat I happen to chose. I cut potatoes and onions into quarter inch slices. I also slice up some carrots. I lightly oil tinfoil with margarine and layer the veggies on the tin foil. A little bit of salt and pepper and then I fold up the tin foil to make a fairly tight seal. Cook over a direct low heat. In about 20 minutes they are done. I turn them slightly every 5 minutes or so so that they don't burn.  You end up with slightly caramelized veggies and do they have taste!

      I guess the combination of vegetable flavors gives the whole serving real zing. For me it's the best part of a barbecue. Try it sometime and let me know what you think.

Labor Day

HAVE A GREAT LABOR DAY 

WEEKEND!