BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern

Subject: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 10:51 AM

It seems that whilst we in the UK are basking under balmy skies in our skimpies, under the pretence of mowing the lawn or planting out the borders, our friends in that other place are up to their cajones in storms, snow, slush and other things begining with S...

So here's a place where we can all join together, kick off our sandals/snowboots, grab a cooling/warming gin/chocolate based beverage and bitch about the weather.

I daresay it won't be long before someone says 'it's too hot', which, arguably, for April when we should be having showers, it is. We've not had a great deal of rain in the south-east this month... the hosepipe ban will soon be enforced again I reckon!

On the other hand, I know Kendall has been shovelling s tuff for all he's worth and Sins has had a tree related incident not entirely unconnected.

But, whilst it lasts, I'll be sitting in the sunshine trying to persuade my legs to go a slightly darker shade of white. Not even self tanning moisturiser is working on them... but my hands are a gorgeous shade of ginger!

Pull up a gin and pour me a chair, barkeep!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 11:57 AM

Sage drops into the tavern as a gust of wind from last night's tornado tumbles her through the open skylight in the roof. Standing, she takes off her backpack and brushes leaves and twigs out of her hair and clothes.

Good timing, Liz! I drove through the north side of Fort Worth last night about an hour before it was hit by a tornado that tore the roof off of a grocery store and killed at least one man before moving east and knocking down walls and trees and taking more roofs.

I was hoping to mow my lawn this weekend, because last weekend we had heavy rain also. But it won't happen, so I'll kick back on a bench out on the porch in a warm sunny spot. I brought along a couple of pounds of my latest batch of smoked king salmon (very good this time!) I'll leave it behind the bar. Wake me in a little while.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 12:08 PM

Smoked king salmon? Cool! I'm a non-drinker, so I tend to stay away from these Tavern threads, but I'll smoke a little salmon with ya. Is it best to use a pipe or rolling papers?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: gnu
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 12:57 PM

"...before someone says 'it's too hot',..." Too late. Bente said it this morning, in Demark : "... too hot out there in the sun."

Of course, I immediately offered her as much snow, sleet and slush as she wanted. I'll be having a Lamb's Palm Breeze Amber Rum. I have my own. I seldom drink liquor, but my guests who departed earlier today left a third of a bottle behind, so....

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 12:58 PM

Ah Beedub- that's the beauty of this tavern, you get whatever you want, alcoholic or not...

I'm happy with the pipe rather than the rollies, unless you have licquorice papers...

Stilly - hope the cajones are still attached to whatever person has them this week, sorry to hear about weather killing people, it's not something that should happen these days.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 01:00 PM

Well Gnu, don't be greedy... share it around, don't be wasting it on de-icing the path!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 03:46 PM

It's April and I've had to water the garden already!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 09:30 PM

I cut the f*cking grass for the first time today. And this evening I went out and skipped around the yard, cheerfully dumping zinc phosphide poison into vole holes.

If I may name my poison -- no, not zinc phosphide! -- I'd like a Redbreast, large and straight, with just one tiny cube of ice floating in it. Sheep Dip's okay too.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 07:14 AM

The whole neighbourhood seems to be out trimming stuff today... calm, windless (well, outside anyway) day, just right for watching other people garden.

Pass me something long, cool and tasty.... Hugh Jackman should do it.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: jacqui.c
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 07:32 AM

Mmmmm, Hugh Jackman on ice....... tasty!

Most of the white stuff has gone and we are getting ready for what the forecasters reckon will be a doozy of a storm tonight and tomorrow, so the Tavern is a nice place to be right now.

I'll have a nice cold glass of Chardonnay and some of that smoked salmon please, then I've got to get back and cook breakfast for Kendall and SINSULL, while the guy who's buiding the ensuite toilet does a bit more work in the bedroom.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Severn
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 09:44 AM

The rain officially started yesterday evening about three quarters back from my evening walk around Laurel Lakes and continues in force. Having dried out on Saturday night, I'm ready for someone to pull me a pint glass of whatever good English Ale is on tap on a Sunday Morning. The reverse order to the usual, I suppose, but conditions dictate. Maybe it'll help me dream up some new tax loopholes for when I fill out my forms later today....

Looks pretty dismal out there.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 11:49 AM

dismal, indeed! Pour me a Cragganmore scotch!.There is a forlorn squirrel sitting on some wood on my back porch as I type, looking at the rain. (Tail tucked up & around).

   After one short warmish bit of a few days at the end of March, we have had chilly days that keep the sweaters & heating pads handy. After one day of nearly 80°, we had snow again....

The azeleas are likely to be late this year.....

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 12:24 PM

I'll start with a nice Bardolino and some crusty bread to nimble on. My friend Don and I will be in the back booth. Best to leave us alone for a while. He is going through some real crap and needs to vent.

Both branches have been trimmed and mostly cut. A wind/rain/snow storm is starting today. Hope my new roof stays on. People here are taking out damaged trees and shrubs. No simple pruning and shaping here. Spring in Maine soon to be followed by mud season.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 12:29 PM

I've mowed twice already this year and would have mowed four times if it hadn't rained cats and dogs for the last two weekends. Code enforcement is going to be busy if they try to cite anyone with grass over 8" tall--we are all in that boat. Why doesn't it rain on a Tuesday, why on Friday and Saturday?

Get what you want from that plate of salmon, the rest is going to school with Moonglow when I take her back this evening. She's going to try to not eat it all herself so her boyfriend can try it. Meanwhile, I'll have a glass of Sinsull's Bardolino, it should stand up nicely to this powerful fish!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 12:39 PM

The squirrel is still there....

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: MMario
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 12:46 PM

mud season has arrived in upstate NY - frozen mud in the mornings, wet mud in the evenings - and today four inches of snow on top of mud. No wind though so far which is what they were saying would be the worst.

Could someone pass the pickled onions please? And some of that rye bread that just came out of the oven.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: jacqui.c
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 04:08 PM

Het Leo - I brought back some PROPER pickled onions from the UK - done in malt vinegar and nice and crunchy. Try one of these!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 04:25 PM

It's been a glorious day here in London - spent this evening sitting in the garden chatting, wasn't even chilly! We've had no proper rain for 4 weeks.

Mother in Law's garden is looking good, brother in law has been painting the pergola.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 04:27 PM

And the trellis, and the path, the rhoddodendhrons, the plastic crane and the nekkid lady who used to sit in the pond. I don't think he meant to do the last 3 but they're all now slightly spotty.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 05:31 PM

I can't get my mower to start; I think I flooded it. I'll have another glass of that wine while I wait it out.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: GUEST,Peter Woodruff
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 06:23 PM

It's still snowing here.

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: frogprince
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 06:38 PM

At least some sunshine today in Michigan, after about freezing our butts off, 20 degrees or so below normal for a couple of weeks,and driving home from a folk-music group on a sloppy snowy road the night before Easter. At least we finally got to hear a bunch of good voices join my wife on the chorus of This One that evening.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 06:49 PM

Everyone complains about the weather, nobody does anything... but you cant say I did not try. Witness this thread
Nice Weather, The Silent Killer
Don't say you were not warned!
Nick

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 04:39 AM

So did all our Californian Catters check in? I know they've been having a few breezy days.... !

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: jacqui.c
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 08:41 AM

We've got the wind now (must cut down on the pickled onions!).

It's been blowing a gale all night and the strem across the road is over its banks with two hours to go to high tide. The current in the cellar is flowing well and Kendall's turned the sump pump on to deal with it. Even Seamus doesn't want to go out for a pee - must be bad!

I'll just sit here in this corner with the new crochet pattern I'm doing - needs a lot of concentration to get it right. A nice hot apple cider would do the trick right now - it kinda goes with being here in the warm listening to the weather outside.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Willie-O
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 09:03 AM

It's April 16 and we are expecting about 10-15 cent. of snow todayin east Ontario--twice as much if you're closer to the St Lawrence. It's wet and sticky and messy. All this and the ski hills are closed anyway. This is just ridiculous!

Make mine an Irish coffee. Scratch that, just coffee coffee is fine.

Supposed to change to rain later on--will be plenty slushy!

Stay warm and dry my friends and avoid falling limbs.
W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 09:54 AM

The tornadoes that swooshed through here on Friday seem to be converting into the big blow that have hit some of my fellow eastern Mudcatters. Sorry would couldn't stop them here in their tracks. (They made kind of a mess of the place, and one tornado passed over the route I drove an hour earlier when I picked up Moonglow at university).

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:24 AM

I could do with a rusty nail or two. It's been blowing a gale all night up here on the Kennebec River, and it's gusting worse today. There's such a wind on the back porch that the cat door keeps blowing open. For some reason, neither of our two cats is much interested in going out. The snow's been all washed away, but the river is rising past flood stage. Reports from the coast indicate trees down on power lines. We've still got power but we wouldn't be surprised if we lost it any minute, hopefully not before I make this post, and get, thank-you, my rusty nail.

JudyB is watching the Eagle webcam in Hancock County. There's a nest there with two newly hatched eaglets and it looks like they're in a roller-coaster car. The camera's on a branch and everything is blowing every which way. You can see the head of mother or father eagle on the nest as they occasionally drift into view. I do hope they were able to stock up on fresh produce yesterday for feeding the little ones.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:39 AM

Wind blowing like crazy here in Maryland....it is trash & recycling day, and OUR yard is littered with neighbors paper and plasctic bottles. It rained all day yesterday....fortunately, we are not in flooding area.


(The squirrel waited another 30-40 minutes yesterday, then went to the other end of the porch and found a tree to head him towards home, I guess.)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:39 AM

A slush storm here in Ottawa, and I needed a prong-tipped hiking stick to stay upright on my walk in. What's more, I'm wet from the knees down -- I got a bilateral soaker from wearing boots without sewn-in tongues and walking on the sidewalk (unplowed, of course) instead of competing with the No. 1 bus for space on the street.

I'm feeling so sorry for myself that only a rum toddy with lemon and brown sugar will do. The sun's gotta be over the yardarm somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 12:44 PM

So sorry to hear you all have trouble with wind. Pull up a cosy chair and let your ears thaw out for a while here, the Yoos half of the room is being superheated by the squid in the jello pit of sauerkraut, so you may want to keep your collars well up...

Take care all.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Wesley S
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 12:50 PM

The Ft Worth tornado hit about one mile from my office. No damage here but my wife heard that one of her co-workers lost her home.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 07:20 PM

Let's see - Kendall and Jacqui are without power since about noon and have retrueved the motor home for its generator. My fence is down (again) and for the first time ever my basement flooded. Everytrhing is everywhere, wet and soggy. Groan. I don't dare try the washer and dryer while standing in water. the flood came in while the power was out and the sump pump didn't. A window leaked too. I am officially sick of this.
Switch me over to JD.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 08:41 PM

Well, we also lost power up here on the Kennebec River for a couple of hours. Fortunately, we have a back-up supply for the rusty nails. Now the power's back on but my keyboard is missing every other word.

There are a lot of trees down at my mother's farm on the coast. She has a propane back-up generator but her driveway is completely blocked by falling trees, so she reports on her cell-phone.

I think I'll pack it in for the night!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Tinker
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 09:04 PM

Okay I want something hot and strong -- make it flaming. Our 7-10 inches of rain left the power on, but suddenly swamped the basement with 10 inches of water. It has receded to three and the speakeasy is once again dry ( more importantly the washer and dryer are going and going and going .... ) But the heat will be off til the rest of the water pumps out and it's moving at about an inch an hour....

Make it a double

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 09:10 PM

mercy! What a mess for some of you!,,,I had my basement flood seriously only once...but it was only a layer of water that caused us to toss all the carpets.

I feel for you folks that got it so bad. Hold out yer glasses..I'll pour!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:41 PM

I don't have a basement, but I do own part of a creek, down at the bottom of the back yard. I pay flood insurance and cross my fingers that it stays at the bottom of the back yard. It came up pretty high a couple of weeks ago, left trash at high tide in the woods across the road.

I'll get a glass, Bill, toss some this way also. What is it?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: MMario
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 08:49 AM

I've been wondering about my parents house and my cousins on Cape Cod - it was a "moon tide" anyway - and with storm surge they could well have flooded - not that that would be unusual - not common - but at times we could boat from our steps to the other house over what was normally lawn - if they got as much storm surge as predicted that's about the stage they would have been at.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 10:06 AM

Southern Maine really got hit quite hard with the storm surge and the wind. Cottages which almost went in the storm a week ago are now off their foundations.

We're doing fine here on the Kennebec with just more rain and winds. But over a 100,000 households lost power, which in our small state is about a third of the households.

I'm going to check on mother's farm this afternoon. She's fine but she wants someone to mail in her taxes today! I guess I better mail mine in as well.

It's rather early but could you dilute a measure of Drambuie with two measures of Scotch, on the rocks, please!

I think the hard crash yesterday trashed my keyboard. My back-up keyboard seems to work fine, now that I've found it!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 03:13 PM

So Southern Maine has been hit hard by the wind.. has Spaw been visiting?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: MMario
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 03:22 PM

we are still at "below normal temperatures" - but they *are* above freezing, and with the rain, the snow has changed to a soggy, muddy mess.

I'll take on of those double-mocha-coffee ice cream sandwiches with a tankard of kahlua.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: jacqui.c
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 03:30 PM

I'm using SINSULL's pc right now as we still have no power, apart from what is supplied by the generator from the motorhome and my pc is not attached to that circuit The furnace blew out this morning and Kendall had to spend the best part of the day fixing it.

It's not until something like this happens that you appreciate how spoilt we all are. The flick of a switch can bring light and warmth, entertainment and the abilty to heat water and cook a meal. We have no water either as we have a well, which relies on a pump that is on a circuit that Kendall can't get at. So, I'm at Mary's with Seamus, just having been for a walk on the beach, and will be cooking dinner for all of us in a while.

In the meantime I'll have a large bottle of Chardonnay and a gallon of Butter Pecan ice cream please! Oh, and a comfy chair in front of the tele and with a light that I can turn on and off, on and off, on and off......

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: MMario
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 03:39 PM

jacqui - If you don't stop flicking that light on and off someone is liable to have an epilectic siezure!

another tankard of kuhlua please - with a double shot of expresso.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 04:09 PM

Wind and rain, wind and rain! There's still quite a lot of both around here in Midcoast Maine. I just got back from a visit to mother's farm on Georgetown Island. Good thing that I waited a couple of hours beyond high tide because the road over the salt marsh was still flooded but passable when I motored through.

The road through her village had some impressive sights, a telephone pole broken in half still supported by its wires and the branches of a massive pine tree. The two major pine trees that had come down on the driveway, Stone Bridge Lane, had been cleared away by friendly neighbors but the electrical and phone wires were shambles. The brook under the stone bridge was raging merrily. At the foot of the final hill up to the farmhouse, neighbors had strung up orange flagging on the electrical and phone lines blocking the road. I had been warned and left the van at the head of the driveway. Mother's propane generator was chugging away and everything seemed fine. She was happy to get her incoming mail and even happier to be able to mail out her tax returns.

It's going to be at least 2-3 days before her power lines are restored.

I dropped off another cellphone and a charger and made sure she knew where to plug it in.

Nice to be back home, but I'm really thirsty. No, not another rusty nail but thanks anyway. Sure, why don't you drink it yourself! I'd like a nice tall mug of amber ale.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Tinker
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 04:34 PM

Time for a break.

The floor is finally dry and five LARGE bags of soggy crap is out by the side of the house. This was supposed to be a vacation week, but we seem to be a tad delayed. There are probably four more loads of laundry -- one of Christmas table cloths and such that tipped while floating across the basement, but the baskets of soggy socks have all been rewashed and the dry stuff is all straightened.

Make it an Irish coffee with a double shot.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 04:35 PM

We had creek water so high a couple of weeks ago that it washed away a duck's nest in the woods across the road from us. Mama duck moved to higher ground for her new nest--it's tucked under a huge clump of monkey grass behind the hose caddy beside the house in my next door neighbor's yard. He won't mow that side until she moves the kiddos out.

Meanwhile, I was at the dentist this morning getting a couple of fillings. My mouth and tongue and lip are still numb. So give me something that is suitable to feeling strange. Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: MMario
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 04:46 PM

On that nest there is an egg
a rare egg, a rattlin' egg
egg in the nest
nest In the grass
grass by the hose
hose by the house
in my next door neighbor's yard!

And on that egg there is a duck
a rare duck, a texas duck
duck on the egg
egg in the nest
nest in the grass
grass by the hose
hose by the house
in my next door neighbor's yard!

and on that duck there is a feather
a rare feather, a texas feather
feather on the duck
duck on the egg
egg in the nest
nest in the grass
grass by the hose
hose by the house
in my next door neighbor's yard!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 06:57 PM

SRS...sorry to miss you yesterday....but I was ummm..'distracted'..when I pour for special occasions, it is usually single-malt Scotch....in this case Highland Park.

(I do have some nice strong beer and some Gosling's Black Seal rum that can be nice 'straight'..)what's yer pleasure?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 10:44 AM

Sweet, MMario! (Actually, this duck is ambitious! There are EIGHT eggs extant!)

I took a neighbor on a short "bird tour" yesterday morning, visiting the woodpecker nest across the street and the ducks next door, and these two contrasting nests also became a perfect mini-bird lecture subject for my 15-year-old son on the way to school. (Mom-the-Park-Naturalist takes these opportunities when she finds them.) Maybe he'll remember it in this context: there are two distinct types of bird nests and we find an example of each near our house. Woodpeckers and others hatch quickly but are helpless and are fed for several weeks by the parents until they're fledged, and even then the parents continue to teach them to find food. Ducks, geese, other birds are in the egg much longer but are hatched ready to move. And move they do, immediately, to the water (in the instance of the ducks) to begin to feed themselves.

I'll have some of that brew, Bill D, sounds nice. (But make it a small one, I have to work today).

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Extreme Weather Tavern
From: MMario
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 11:06 AM

Stilly - we've had mallards at the cottage beach hatch as many as 21!

and on that Feather there is a mite
a rare mite, a bloodsucking mite
Mite on the feather
feather on the wing
wing on the duck
Duck on eight eggs
eggs in the nest
nest in the grass
grass by the hose
hose by the house
in my next door neighbor's yard!

and in that mite was a nematode
a rare nematode, parasitic nematode
nematode in the mite
and the Mite on the feather
feather on the wing
wing on the duck
Duck on eight eggs
eggs in the nest
nest in the grass
grass by the hose
hose by the house
in my next door neighbor's yard!

Hi ho - my neighbors yard
a rare yard, a texas yard
Hi ho my neighbors yard
not just anybody's yard!