This year, CJ opted to stay overnight, every night, at strings camp. We dropped him off Monday morning and didn't see him until Friday evening when his group stepped onto the stage. In that week, his voice got even deeper, his mustache got darker and he may have gotten even taller. The week was a fabulous success with lots of fun and lots of cello playing. They even got to 'hide out' in the dorms on Thursday, while a nasty thunderstorm rolled through.
I had forgotten that when Mr. Cordle is directing the cellos are in the middle so when you watch the video you won't be able to see CJ play. If you look carefully you can see his ear and back of his head behind the viola player in the pink shirt.
It was a good rain, even if there were some strong winds. This time we lost a couple of branches on a maple tree. The didn't come all the way off so we are hoping the pole saw is long enough to finish the job. The electricity stayed on and we were all thankful.
It seems crazy to plant in this hot weather, but plant I did. These azaleas were only $3. at Wal-Mart and I couldn't pass them up. The weather has been cooperating a little as we have had some more rain and highs only in the low-mid 90's.
The tomato plants are loving the weather. Soon I will have lots of canning to do and I am looking forward to it. Sadly there have been only two peppers, one on each plant.
Today is July 30th and I believe that I will cut the grass this week. It has been 7 weeks since it was last mowed.
Like many other areas of the country this summer has been hot. We have had more days above 90 than below. Occasionally the weather forecast includes a cool front that may move in next week, only it either doesn't make it here or it just means that the highs will be under 90. It has also been very dry. Yes we had that nasty storm at the end of June. We also had a downpour this past weekend but other than that it has been dry.
This is a picture of our front lawn. Doesn't look too bad does it? The last time it was cut was June 9th, that really says how dry it is.
This is the latest weather radar. Looks can be deceiving. The storm is moving south and barely east. And, just like yesterday I can hear the thunder but I think it is going to miss us. Just in case though, all electronics are charging and the laundry is just about done!
Our celebrations started early this year. Each year the OOHS band marches in the Orange Twp parade, as a rising freshman CJ marched in his first 4th of July parade. When we dropped he and a friend/fellow band member off at 9am it was already 89 degrees out. A hot start to CJ's marching band career!
Steve and I stopped to pick up breakfast and much needed coffee and then headed to the high school. After setting up our chairs and beach umbrella we settled in and waited for the band. It was quite a wait, but worth it.
They sounded great and there are so many of them!
After cold showers for all of us and a nap for me we had dinner and then headed out for fireworks. We loaded up the wagon with chairs, a cooler filled with really cold drinks and the beach umbrella (who knew the beach umbrella would come in so handy here in Columbus). While waiting for the sun we watched the progress of a storm off in the distance. Fortunately the folks in charge of setting off the fireworks were watching the storm too. At dusk, rather than dark, the fireworks started. They were sent off a little faster than normal, to beat the storm, which made the whole thing feel like a grand finale. With us this year, along with the Baxters, were our neighbors Ryan and Stephanie and their daughter Grace. This was Grace's first time seeing fireworks in person. Her giggles and excitement made the experience just that much better. Thanks neighbors for another night of great fun.
Tuesday night we celebrated the return of the electricity and the power of our awesome neighbors by gathering at Cathy's house for a BBQ. We hung out well past dark, shunning the electricity so recently restored. We knew it was there and we appreciated that but we were having fun outside with our friends.
After a week of warm, really warm, weather we were surprised by a massive storm. We hadn't had rain in so long that things that normally get put away have been left out with no worries. The back deck hadn't even been damp in the morning it was that dry. The first sign of a storm that Friday, was the darkening sky. Steve went out front to close the windows in the cars and I cleaned up the backyard. After the winds started blowing the rain sideways the power went out and Steve moved the cars into the garage, fortunately the doors were open when the power went out. Then the cottonwood tree out back lost a limb that landed on the shed and the grill, it was about 15ft long and flew about 15ft before it landed. About that same time the wind blew limbs off the pear trees across the street. We had rain, hail and 85mph wind gusts. We were lucky, we only lost electricity and we have a generator. The electricity came back on Monday afternoon, 68 hours after it went out. After the storm on Friday 45% of AEP's Ohio customers were without electricity.
We survived the heat by opening all the windows at night and closing them and the blinds when the inside temperature came close to the outside temp. The indoor/outdoor thermometer I received for Christmas was very helpful during those 3 days as were the cool nights on Friday and Sunday.
The power outage once again reinforce my love of the neighborhood. Friday night was spent on the front porch with the Baxters and the Guagentis. Saturday night Karen, Cathy and I escaped the heat by having dinner out and then going shopping. We took the car that has 3 power outlets and charged phones and my Kindle. Orange Township was amazing with cleaning up the trees. They came through Friday night and moved all the trees out of the streets and then later in the weekend picked up those trees and hauled them away. The Orange Twp. maintenance department takes very good care of our neighborhood in all seasons - Thanks!
Sunday afternoon CJ had a cello lesson and fortunately Otterbein had power. Steve and I relaxed in the lobby while CJ and Gillian did their thing. It was so cool and quiet that Steve took a short nap. On the way home we stopped at BJ's for an early dinner and some cool air. The waiter was so sweet telling us we could stay as long as we needed and since we were there in between the lunch and dinner crowds we did just that.
Monday morning Steve started the generator(again) and then headed out to work. After it ran for several hours I turned it off so that it could rest and so could my ears. Generators are loud. That afternoon I gassed it back up and attempted to start it. Having no luck I went in to find CJ in the hopes that he could start it. While looking for CJ I noticed that the answering machine was blinking and looking around it dawned on me that the electricity had come back on. I was amazed at how long it took my mind to process that information, it may have been a whole minute. After alerting CJ we did a happy dance and then called Steve and a neighbors that had been staying with a friend or were working. Later that night we were able to open the refrigerator without fear of precious cool air escaping and we slept with the air on and no hum of generators!
This leaf is from the cottonwood tree. It was stuck to the sliding glass door.
