Rainy Night

First night of the season that everyone stayed in. It was raining, and then it was cascading down in sheets.

I had turned all the lights out, we were brushing out teeth, 'fixing' to go to bed. I walked in the bedroom and heard the rain really coming down. I thought I'd check the basement before I took off my boots and jeans.

There was water in the basement. I let him know that and he went out to check the rear gutter. I went out to check the exterior stair well and boy did I get an eye full!

I ran back in to change out of my Ariat boots for my Muck Boots, those being waterproof up to about my knee. I was going to need that.

The sump pump was not activated AND the black tube that goes from the downspout was not attached. The water was gushing out and going down the stairwell, about two feet deep at this point. It was coming under the basement door into the basement.

He got the sump pump going and I got the wet-vac going and stayed up till nearly midnight vacuuming the basement floor. From end to end, sideways and lengthwise. Crap.

And this wasn't even the hurricane! It stopped raining about 11 o'clock, but the water was still on the basement floor. I was soaked clear through my jean jacket and jeans. My clothes were heavy and dripping. Apparently rain water makes my hair curly.

We received over six inches of rain from about 4:30 p.m. to 11:00.

Total Eclipse of the Moon!

Overcast, mostly, all day. The sun popped out now and then, but generally low ceiling all day.

The eclipse started around 9:15 p.m., and the clouds parted so I could get a glimpse. Apparently this particular kind of eclipse of the SuperMoon won't happen again until I'm 76 years old.

Sunday, Let's Ride Again!

Sunday trip to Woodstock Inn. Through trails we hadn't been on in a while. Overcast, so I was hitting the high meadows without feeling I was melting or burning.

We stopped to inspect the '58 Bel Air with the witch mannequin inside.

We ran into friends at the Woodstock Inn, but we ate alone, in the window.

We saw Deer and a hawk.

Last September Saturday Ride!

We rode to EW Beck's, using the new trail on the way out, and revisiting an old trail we haven't used in a while on the way back.

We went out the 'side' at the LOMH and crossed the road at the archery range. There were two guys in camo next to a truck with PA tags. When we got up to them I said, "almost didn't see you there!" I believe lots of hunters think that we don't or won't approve of the bow hunters in the woods. I don't care. We are overrun with deer in this area.

We got into the woods and chose to go the direction of the Big Poplar. Instead of going up the hill, we went right along the base of the hill, along the creek. We didn't travel very far into the creek area when KC threw his head down, not to snatch grass, but to rug his legs. Uh Oh! Then I heard Skip stomping and he said, 'BEES!!" and I said, "GOOOOOOO! and we all took off and ran until we were out of the woods. The bees did not follow us and none of us got stung. Maybe our horses did. We let them eat grass in the hay field, then we proceeded out through the fields to Gorsuch Switch.

At the bottom of the hill we didn't cross the rail road tracks, we turned right onto the newly tag trail. This is a great trail and a wonderful addition to travel to E.W. Beck's.

The new trail goes through woods, meadows, the ball park, hay fields, and past an old homestead.

Sykesville was fairly busy on this Saturday morning, with the Southern States Cooperative being double parked in their lot. KC was hesitant in going between the cars, but he finally relented with my insistent nagging.

The sidewalk gets fairly narrow along Main Street because of the way the buildings are positioned. We rode down the road, made the right and then into the parking lot.

Tied up next to the Police Department in the stand of trees.

The food at E.W. Beck's is pretty darn good. Nearly everything on the menu is exactly as described and rarely does this place disappoint. We sat on the patio.

We managed to stop traffic while crossing the river bridge on the way out and got into the little park on the left. We let the horses eat some grass in the is park for a few minutes. While minding our own business, Sonny decided it would be a good idea to kick KC. KC was not going to let that shot go unanswered. He spun around and landed one, I could barely stay in the saddle. I was so out of shape that I decided to step off instead of trying to get back into the saddle. It's like riding a Cuisinart, honestly. As Martin said, "it happened in a flash." True enough

We traveled back the old way, but when we crossed the tracks at the bottom of the archery range hill we decided to go left, through the woods. It is a great way and apparently new to them.

Sunny Sunday

Farrier was out early in the morning to do the boys.

And a late ride in the neighborhood.

Sun sets at 7:30, got back a deep twilight.

Rainy Saturday

Or a rainy day.

We actually desperately needed the rain, and we didn't get as much as we wanted. But it did rain, heavy at times. When it was misting we took the dog for a walk to inspect what the tree trimmers had done to the right-of-way. When we got back it started to pick up a little.

We worked on his and that around the house, and noticed it was really coming down and the boys really, seriously wanted in! The Littles have no problem staying out in rain, but the boys are spoiled. It didn't last, but at that moment is was magnificent.

Went over to the BigOrangeBox for a bathroom fan and switch for his mother's bathroom, but that proved not to be a viable solution, so we returned the new fan and the switch, he ordered the part on-line, then picked up copious amounts of birdseed for her feeder.

House Painting Project - Front Side

We came back from camping and started painting the front of the house, early. But it took longer than anticipated, as usual, and the sun creeped over the roof and we were getting fried.

We plan on replacing the black metal shutters with 'wineberry' vinyl shutters, to match the storm door.

One of these days I'll have a front porch with pillars.