Stella & I Slosh Through The Field

Stella didn't like this morning's walk any more than I did. It was just to wet after a night of rain added on to the Monday rain. I knew we were in trouble as I stepped off "Winston's Patio" into the back yard as water rose over the side of my boots. One step on the path in the field and it was all mud. My boots were only protected by the cover of wet leaves. We decided to go anyway. You can see after one photo that Stella isn't really enthused about taking the walk.

The water kept rising over the sides of Stella's paws and she hates that. She was looking for an alternative route as was I but even in the thick grass, water was above the ground with each step I took. After all, this morning once she saw standing water on the carport floor she made an immediate left and walked around the Mini Cooper to go out into the yard.

Turning on the Canon G9 X this morning as we headed out, the battery light was flashing. I didn't try to nurse the camera's battery on this walk. I put the battery on the charger and took the Nikon D3200 this morning.

About the time we made it to the first turn I seriously thought about walking over to the return path and head home, calling the walk off. Stella was cruising along the edge of the field and brush so I took a photo of my boot and kept on going.

This was taken after the water was going back into the ground. You can see just how much water was coming over the top of my boot sometimes. I moved over into the high grass to see if that would help. It was wet and muddy everywhere.

It was extremely warm this morning. Gloves were not needed nor was my Carhartt sock hat. I knew the only way we would take a second walk today was if that afternoon freeze would harden the ground fast enough to take that wake. I thought the chances were pretty slim for that to happen.

Just because her paws were wet did not mean she would increase her pace to get home. Same slow pace, one paw at a time and not a care in the world. She knew what her plan was for the day and there was no need to hurry up. The world clocks will adjust to her clock, not the other way around.

I had not made it to the yard when I glanced at my lens and saw that somehow drops of rain were on the lens. It wasn't raining, so it possibly came from the tall grass brushing against the lens. That was hard to understand since I made an effort to always hold the camera high as we walked through the tall grass.

I remembered how much it rained last Spring, way above our normal levels. I wondered if we are headed for another wet Spring and Summer? What do you use to see what your weather will be in the coming months?

By the time we had returned from the morning walk, Heidi was just curious enough about the noise Stella and I were making that she raised her head from the dog bed in the corner of the bedroom floor. I don't think she was happy having her morning nap cut short.

It was only a few hours later that I could feel the forecast was right. It was becoming colder and would probably get below 32° by this afternoon. Stella could either feel rain, hear rain or smell rain and she wasn't going any further than the edge of the carport right after lunch.

Heidi didn't have any different thoughts than Stella either. She went to the edge of the yard and mulch to relieve herself and then sprinted back to the door.

As the afternoon passed, the weather answered the question about the second walk of the day. One time I would glance outside it would be raining. Another time I'd glance up from reading my book in the living room, I was seeing snow flurries outside. We were back to temperatures a little below the normal average temperatures for February so the next few weeks of the month are set.

When I did my taxes in January it did not take me long to understand why my tax refund would be less than last year. Evidently people across America forgot their tax cut starting in February of last year, where they had less money withdrawn from their paychecks. That has two results. For those that get refunds, would get smaller refunds this year. For those that always pay taxes, like I use to when I worked, they might have a higher amount to pay in taxes. A third result would depend on what income bracket you are in, with the new tax laws in affect.

What is so hard to understand about that?

I planned to repeat on Tuesday what I did on Monday. NO TV news and NO online news headlines. NO reading of political blogs or tweets. If I can do that 10 straight days I will be well on my way of being "newsless" again like I was last fall. I think that's a good goal.

After 50 some pages of reading, I had a small snack and continued my new routine of an afternoon siesta for a couple of hours. I have gradually moved back to my regular schedule of staying up late, sleeping past 7am, with a late afternoon siesta. Long gone are those days of getting up at 5am just a few weeks ago.

It looks like a night of college basketball on tv tonight. Besides that, it was another successful day here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Heavy Flooding To Ice

What little flooding I showed you this morning (Thursday) was not even a "drop in the bucket" to what happened only a few hours later on Thursday. It rained non-stop from the time I published the Thursday post but around 11:30 it turned into a torrential downpour. It was not the first time I've seen rain like this but it always makes me wonder what might be damaged during times like this. I guess I'll find out later.

It took only 30 minutes for that same field to look like this. But ... I've seen it completely submerged before.

You will not believe there is a huge drainage system under all that water, in that exact spot crossing the field. The system is just overwhelmed with the amount of water coming down plus the flooding from that small creek behind the field.

No, the gutter is not plugged with leaves or stems. It's clean and clear as well as that downspout ... there is just too much rain for that amount of space. "Busting at the seams" as some would say.

You will not believe how fast all that water gone later in the afternoon.

There was no way Stella was walking out in this.

The water is running down the driveway as it should ... no problem there.

This is a problem that I'll have to fix once it is warmer. Someway water from the field is running down the center of the north yard, making that sharp right hand turn right toward the house. I never noticed water in that part of the yard when it was full of overgrown brush, a few small saplings and tall grass like the field. It might have been a huge mistake clearing that part of the yard out 5 years ago to plant grass seed and make it part of the yard.

It's like a river rolling down that small incline.

A little further south, on an incline ... it's been a long time since I have seen this part of the backyard flooded.

It looks like Stella's morning walks will be canceled for weeks looking at that picture but with temperatures dropping to 15° by 7am Friday, it will be all ice by the time we wake up.

Water in the front yard is coming from the flooded north side yard, running toward the culvert next to the highway.

The drainage system running the length of the house on the edge of the yard and river rock is simply overwhelmed. I don't have a basement but a 4' crawl space. I'll be checking the foundation from under the house once the water clears and the temperatures warm up.

Yet ... by Thursday night almost all of that water around the house was gone. I'll take more photos of this area Friday morning.

When I selected all of the flood photos, many more not posted, and made a new album in my Apple Photos program ... I labeled it "Storm 2019" ... once it sorted itself on the sidebar it showed these kind of floods have happened about every 5-6 years. Below are some photos I took in June 2013.

That June storm in 2013 had a lot more rain than today ... even the highway was underwater just a few hundred feet south of my driveway. As you see the area around my mailbox is under water.

The water cut through hard gravel and headed over the bank.

So as I sit here 'Thursday night' or 12:45am Friday ... it's down to 26°, the wind is howling outside and blowing freezing cold air. I have no doubt it will get to the predicted 15° with no problem. Stella and I might be skating on Friday morning's walk.

Some heavy-duty weather extremes happening lately here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.

Super Bowl LIII Sunday

It was nice feeling the weather warming up Saturday at noon. Still we didn't do much, at least nothing to blog about Saturday night. Right after the hounds took their break outside right after their lunch I headed to the local library to hopefully pick up some brand new books that had arrived. I receive a weekly email from them every Saturday morning on new arrivals for books, DVDs, audio books and CD's. These books are also new releases in bookstores.

Speaking of bookstores, a major brand, Barnes & Nobles Book Store in Bloomington is closing or did close February 1st. When I thought about it, somewhat of a surprise then I asked myself when was the last time I browsed the store with a hot cup of Starbucks in my hand? When was the last time I bought a book? When I thought of other people with similar visits or purchases as mine, then it wasn't a surprise that it was closing. Sad but not a surprise.

While I went to the mailbox and Heidi roamed the front yard, Stella didn't move from this spot the whole time we were outside. Only to get up and go back inside.

I was lucky to pull two of the books off the "New Books" shelf, one that I wanted and one was something that looked interesting. I then scanned their displays of interesting books sitting out on display and pulled another new book from that collection. The book that looked interesting is "Notes On a Nervous Planet" by Matt Haig. I read 26 pages late last night. The book I could not put down all afternoon was "Team of Vipers" by Cliff Sims. I read half of that book, with small print and a lot of detail. I'll finish it today before the Super Bowl game at 6:30pm. The third book I picked up was "The Deep State" by Jason Chaffetz. That looks to be another fast read once I start it tomorrow or late tonight, depending on if I finish the Team of Vipers book. I believe The Deep State does exist.

I finally pulled myself off the couch last night, put the book down and took Stella for a early evening walk after 6pm. The air smelled of smoke but I am not sure which of my neighbors have a fireplace. I took a few photos but all I really wanted was to do the walk as fast as possible so I could get back to reading. There was enough time when we got back to fix some dinner, baked salmon and steamed broccoli. With all of my fruit gone, I really crave sweets at night.

This morning was a different story. It was already close to 50° by the time we stepped outside, over an hour later than normal. The skies were blue and the air was clear of any smoke smell. It was an enjoyable walk yet I could still feel just how hard the ground was as we walked. It felt as if it was still frozen. Later I did see puddles of frozen ice. I also found the mole tracks in my yard were hard as a rock.

The Canadian geese filled the skies today. As I watched them, they seemed lost and were heading east instead of south or southeast. Stella had no interest in looking at them nor did she stand still trying to figure out what that sound was ... she kept her nose to the ground and kept tracking scent.

A couple of different groups still heading east ... but it gets more interesting in the next few photos.

Once they were in the skies above the field behind the field we were walking, they broke the group up and flew in circles, only to head back west out of formation.

I had no idea what they were doing ... it didn't look like they did either.

Normally at this point of the walk is when I can catch Stella running. I trotted to get as far ahead of her as possible but as you see ... she walked and didn't even trot ... just enjoying a Sunday morning stroll.

Obviously a lot of animal traffic in the yard last night.

Making that same right hand 90° turn so she can walk along the side of the house to finish her walk. How long will that habit last?

Of course none of the blue skies or warmer temps changed Heidi's daily schedule.

I don't think she was happy I woke up her taking photos a little past 9:30am.

I have not read or seen anything about the Super Bowl today. On purpose. I have no idea if there is a crisis going to happen, nor who the halftime entertainment is. In fact seven hours before the official start time (not the kickoff) I am still not sure that I am even going to watch it. I might tune in to see what is going on or I can check the score on my phone while I am reading books. IF it becomes a 'political statement' I will turn off the tv as fast as I turned it on.

What I will probably do is take advantage of this great weather today, go outside and pick up all the small tree limbs or twigs from the yard and add them to my burn pile. That is what the blue trashcan is for, collection. Plus it's flipped over in back of the house under the overhang too keep it from becoming a rain collector that would be solid ice even today. Or ... I'll spend all afternoon reading since the books are that good.

A beautiful Sunday here in 'the tropics' of Southern Indiana.