Cabin Finished, Summer Woods~

 When we received news of Courtney & Mason's upcoming, early July visit, we had just enough time to get the ceiling in the Cabin finished.  It was a lot more work than I anticipated, when I came up with the idea...  Many thanks to my husband, for all the ladder time it took to complete my vision.

Blue jar collection above the door~

We added a small window AC unit we use on the warmer days.  With all the insulation, once it's cool inside, it stays that way for a long while.  The red bow saw has been with us forever, the green one was my Dad's.  

Wood Shed & Saw, 9-28-2007

The CO license plates were also from Dad's, he had one for his birth year & another for Mom's.  Our last WA State Parks plate  found a spot too.

Swan collection out of boxes!

Most of my swan planter collection is finally out of the boxes!  It was almost like Christmas, unwrapping each one.  It was Mason & his sister Cassidy who helped me wrap & box them prior to our move.  Mason was also happy to find the jar of butter mints on the dresser :-)  After Mason's bout with cancer, it had been three-years since any of the Peters family had visited us.

Timber Trail~

We're now well into our hottest time of year...  Mid to upper 90's with crazy high humidity.  On last evening's local weather - it was reported that one acre of corn sweats 4,000 gallons of water a day!  That sure explains our humidity!

Looking West~

I had some catching up to do in the woods after Courtney & Mason left for home. Good thing, since keeping busy kept me from being so lonely for them... I've spent the last couple days weed -whacking along the creek. Then, there's the mowing. It's been great that our neighbor has taken an interest in keeping her portion cut down too!

Day lily's blooming at the Lowlands~

The red Day Lily's I panted last season are in full bloom now.  They add such a bright spot of color to the green landscape.

View from the bench~

Butch bought me the little bench for Mother's Day & I love it.  Nika & I will have a place to sit on our winter walks too!  (Stall matts do come in handy for a variety of purposes!)

North on the Cabin Cut-off trail~

I've been watering again too.  Not a lot, but enough to hopefully keep just a little moisture in the ground.  The far left end of the photo is the last section of the hillside I planted, along the Cabin's north property line.  It's a year behind the rest, but catching up quickly.

HoT!

Squirrely isn't happy about the heat, but the ferns love it!  I'm watering my outside flowers once in the morning & again at night before bedtime.  We've been promised some moisture by the end of this week & cooler weather for the first of Aug. 

Breezy had been at the Bike Rack in Omaha, since Sat. for new tire liners.  We finally picked her up yesterday, only to find out they were short one liner, so only one tire was done.  Now, it's another wait for the additional liner to arrive next week...  In the meantime, I hope to get in a ride at least by the weekend!

Exceedingly Warm~

 We're moving into the warmest/hottest part of our summer season...  Not my favorite time, since working or riding outside can be somewhat miserable.  I like doing both!  Today, slated as the coolest for the next two-weeks, was a ride day.

I unloaded Breezy in Silver City & stopped to catch up on the news with Mari Jo.  I didn't stay long, since just standing in the sun was enough to bring on the sweat.  The trail, with it's shade is always appealing.

Breezy enjoys the shade~

The Walnuts provide the most beautiful canopy.  Our big Walnut in the front yard, sustained it's first injuries ever, in the big wind storm that rolled through overnight on the 8/9th.  (Wind gusts of 60-80 mph were recorded.  last Sat., Butch used a 24ft. ladder to cut away broken limbs.  One is still so high up he couldn't reach it.  

Bright Blues~

It's always a somewhat magical feeling to be out in nature.  My addiction of choice.  I'm thankful I found a replacement for all the time I used to spend in an actual saddle.  At least Breezy' s saddle has helped me to stay in shape, more fun than the gym!

On the Trestle~

The humidity was very high, but a slight wind from the south helped a little.  

Break spot~

The coolness inside the Hwy 34 underpass is always welcome in this kind of weather.

The train~

I'd left a little early today & heard the train coming from a way off!  I put on some speed & managed to make it in time for a picture!

At Agriland, the big fans were blowing & Butch has several projects underway.  He was under one of them when I rode in.  Soaked half-way to my waist, I headed for the front of the closest fan!  A coke over ice revived me.  By the time I decided to leave, the high haze of smoke had begun to move back in & the clouds blocked some of the sun's heat.

Nearing Keys Road~

The photo doesn't do justice to the smoke in the air.  Omaha is right on the edge of where the smoke from all the wildfires is moving across the US.  A friend in Ohio - said the sky is white with it.  Here, the weatherman says it's keeping our temperatures down a degree or two.  It won't help going into the end of the month, when we're to get  feel's like temperatures in the triple digits.

Four-miles to go~

I appreciated the break from the direct sun on the way back.  I saw five riders out today, the most I've seen so far this season with the exception of the organized ride in June.  Finishing off the 17-miles, I cooled off in Mari Jo's shop before heading home.  It may be a while, before I tackle riding again.  It's the time of year the corn sweats!  You can smell it in the air, some evenings.  Into the 90's & humidity isn't fun & I'll take the comfort of AC!

Sunday Cruise ~

 Really a nice day, cooler, mid-80's & slightly lower humidity.  After our Sunday brunch out & running a few errands, we returned home & loaded the bikes.  The trail head parking in Malvern was full.  We planned to leave from Agriland - plenty of parking for us there.

Leaving Agriland, in Malvern~

Butch hadn't ridden since the end of May, when we'd enjoyed Green Valley State Park.  We decided on the shade of the trail.

Butch & the bikes~

This was also the first time he'd ridden with the new Tannus Amour Tire Inserts.  He didn't notice any change in the way the bike handled.  At Bike Rack, where he had them installed, we were told they'd never had a bike come in with a flat that had them.

Our turn-around at the Trestle~

Such a gorgeous afternoon.  We took our time & enjoyed the scenery.

Bee Balm~

It's one of the most pleasant portions of the trail - not much elevation & quiet.  It didn't seem to take any time at all, until we were returning to Agriland.

The Verve's with the Floater~

I couldn't resist getting a photo of our bikes with the Floater!  They don't even come to the top of the tires!

On the Rack~

Here's how Butch loads both bikes on the new Yakima rack.  They fit perfectly, are super easy to load & stay stable.  This set up should work well, when we travel longer distances to ride.  The only thing we do different with my low-step, is to attach the center mounting bracket to the post going up to the seat.  It doesn't fit well on the enlarged front post.

So fun riding with my husband!

Where the Tall Corn Grows!

 It had been over two-weeks since I'd been on the trail!  Time goes fast when you're having fun!  We were thrilled to have family visit.  Of course when they leave, I'm sad to see them go...  This day, I drove the Explorer with the new bike rack.  Watching the rear view mirror, Breezy didn't move At all on the rack.  Usually, driving the Bronco & using the older rack, the bike is in constant motion.  I may end up using the Explorer more.  I chatted with Mari Jo before leaving.

At the trail head~

If it looks hot & humid, it's because it was!  As excited as I was to be back on the trail, the heat/humidity was almost stifling.  I was only a couple miles south when I stopped to take a photo of the latest blown over tree.  As I was framing the shot, it settled another few inches.  I decided the best thing to do was to get under it as fast as I could.

Another downed tree :-(

There was, as always, lots of beauty.

I think these are Stinging Nettles in full flower~

Amid all the shades of green, any color at all stands out.  I didn't get walk over to make a close inspection.  My goal is to have as few bug bites as possible this season.

Breezy on the Silver Creek Trestle~

At times, the wind would come up & what a relief it was.  I surprised myself, by making it to Agriland in just under an hour.  I stayed in front of the big fan to cool down, while Butch got our coke & ice.  A busy place as usual, I stayed long enough to see some of the on-going projects.

Going back, it seemed in places like the humidity was even heavier than in others.  Of course the water in the pond added moisture I'm sure!

Cattails growing!

Our Verve Facebook page, still has somewhat of an on-going discussion about tires.  The ones on my Verve 3 were an upgrade & so far I'm happy with the way the bike responds to different surfaces.

A typical road crossing~

I don't' go flying across these or make any sudden turns, but it does take a little finesse to cross.

Tall, sweating Corn!

I was amazed at how much the corn has grown since my ride the end of June!  The two or three rain storms really helped.  I slowed down on the way back & took an extra electrolyte.  

New bridge at Silver City~

Wanted to get in just over seventeen-miles, I went past Happy Trails & over to the bridge before turning off my Garmin.  Once I downloaded my stats, I'd matched my last time over this route.  Not too bad after two-weeks.  My leg continues to improve & much of the pain in my ankle has resolved, making it easier to pedal in a more balanced fashion.

Settling into the Explorers comfortable seat for the ride home was really nice :-)