Into July ~

 I've mentioned before that July is not my favorite month.  This year though, with the rain we've received, my usual watering chores have been non-existent.  The Walnut limbs are drooping under the weight of their nuts & a few are already dropping.  The trees by the swing have grown so big, it's hard to remember the size they were when we first arrived.

July first~

Butch wasn't home for the fourth.  He did come in for what was originally to be a quick overnighter on the fifth.  He pulled into Nationwide to drop his trailer with two minutes to spare on his ELD.  He'd left the Farmland Rest Area in IL early in the morning & even with construction driven 494-miles.  He was to make a delivery in Lincoln, NE the following day.

9:00 p.m. On the 5th, Butch & Maverick are Home!

We had a late dinner & he left at 6 a.m. Sunday morning.  Finn & I slept in - but were soon awake when Butch reappeared asking if I wanted a latte?  The warehouse he'd been scheduled to deliver to, was closed.  Yippee!  He would have Sunday home!  It was another in a string of hot & humid days.  We went to see F1 & really enjoyed it. 

7-8 Flowers~

With the rains & humidity, the flowers are amazing this year.  I've spent a lot of time weeding & spraying the weeds I can't pull, but it's been worth it.  Everything I've planted, has had plenty of room to grow.  I still have a lot of the hillside to tame, but the Hosta's are more numerous than the weeds!  

My Appleblossem Rosebud Germanium~

A relative of my dark red germanium, it too has the small, tight full blooms.  I read that it was a favorite of Queen Victoria & I can see why.  I've kept it on the deck rail this year & it loves the spot.

Presto Dark Red Germanium 

The red is still impossible to find.  Even the page I had bookmarked for this variety is gone.  I have the five plants I wintered over sitting out in pots with full south exposure.  They're compact & covered in blooms.  The new starts I have on the deck, with morning sun & afternoon shade.  I'm thankful that daughter Courtney still had the variety I'd shared with her years ago & paid back the favor when mine accidentally froze!

7-13 Finn in his favorite spot~

Finn is one tough boy!  He'll spend time outside, no matter how hot it is!  One afternoon he was laying on the sidewalk in the full sun!  I told him he'd be a baked Finn if he didn't come in!  He spends a lot of time watching for Woody the Woodchuck who seems to have taken up residence on the abandoned property to the east of us.  The other morning, he even managed to corner him again under the lawn tractor!  You'd think Woody would wise up!

East end of the deck~

The polycarbonate panels make such a huge difference on the deck.  The filtered light is perfect for us to sit out & for the fern, orchid & Hosta.  I've given up putting any plants on the west end.  The afternoon sun bakes them to a crisp, even with watering twice a day.

Here we are, almost midway through the month & yesterday I was back on two wheels!  That post to come~

Open Trail!

 Another beautiful day, but the chill wind had returned!  Regardless, when I heard the news the trail was open, I asked Butch if he'd mind making the drive to Silver City.

Barren fields~

Probably not one of my better ideas - the wind was stronger by the time we left the parking at Happy Trails & seemed a little colder too.  It didn't us long to realize the trail surface was still very soft in places.  Soft enough to make peddling a chore.

Butch & the bikes~

We were a couple miles out when I asked Butch if he wanted to turn around.  I wouldn't have minded in the least!  :-)  But no - he kept on & soon we saw Mari Jo coming back from the south.  She was bundled up & did say the trail continued to have soft areas most of the way.

Beaver dam~

I was happy to see the Beavers had rebuilt their dam, better than ever & holding the little spring moisture we've received.  It felt so nice to be out in the country again!  The air was so fresh & clean.

On the Trestle!

We made our goal & arrived at the trestle - more than ready for a rest break!  The smooth trails of Lake Manawa are a piece of cake when compaired to the limestone - when it's less than hard.  It was obvious many riders had ignored the condition of the surface - making deep groves that had hardened as things dried out.  Those ruts make it difficult riding for everyone else.  They take weeks & sometimes months to smooth out.

Silver Creek~

Silver Creek was still running low...  The lowest I can remember seeing it for the time of year.  It seems we're back in a pattern now of rain forecast - but then not materializing.  I hope that changes before the heat of summer arrives!

A spot of GREEN!

On our way back, we were riding into the wind, so we ended up getting a good workout!  Returning to Silver City, Butch loaded the bikes for the trip home.  After dropping off the bikes, we left for Menards & came home with a new portable shed for my potting supplies!  

Butch hadn't anticipated a lengthened time at home, but dispatching seems to have slowed.  It gave us time to complete a couple short projects, including getting my shed built!  It's much nicer to have him home when waiting, rather than sitting out at a truck stop somewhere.  His last day is always the hardest for me though - knowing he'll be leaving soon...

With warmer temperatures around the corner, my tulips have finally broken ground!  I'll be happy to again be spending the majority of my day's outside!

A Perfect Spring Ride ~

 Butch arrived in town mid-day yesterday.  He picked me up on his way by & we spent the afternoon getting the trailer washed out at Blue Beacon in Council Bluffs.  The line was long as usual.  The groves in the floor were full of small potatoes from CO.  Cleaning those out cost an extra $20.  We thought the price was pretty reasonable considering! Traveler had a bath too!  

Slighty bruised potatoes anyone?  

Butch didn't know he'd be coming home until yesterday morning - when he was ready to leave Topeka.  After seven-weeks on-the-road, he had laundry & supplies to restock.  This morning he visited Brianna at the Hair Station in Tabor for a overdue haircut & beard trim!  After lunch, he installed the rear rack on his bike, loaded both bikes onto the Explorer & we were on our way to the park!  It was truly the most perfect day we've had this year-to-date!  Such a gift to be able to enjoy it together!

Butch & the bikes~

The park was busier than I'd seen it in quite a while.  Everyone wanted to take advantage of the sunshine, before the forecast drop in temperatures & rain/snow due for tomorrow.  One cyclist who passed us commented on how wonderful the warm sunshine felt!  Here, a lack of sun seems to be noticed so much more than it was in WA.  We're spoiled in so many ways!

Lake Manawa looking north toward Council Bluffs~

There was some haze in the air.  The only wind was intermittent & not as cold as it has been.  We took the trail out to the picnic area & sat on the bench for quite a while.  I'd stashed a couple fresh oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies in my bag.

Bandit & Smokey at the picnic area~

Every time we ride these bikes, we're so happy we found them.  The level of comfort & ease of riding is great.  I was beginning to think comfortable bikes were a thing of the past.  The Cannondale's proved me wrong.  If Butch can get out of the truck, get on his bike & easily ride ten-miles, it says a lot.

Connie & Smokey, Indian Creek Bridge~

There was a motorized vehicle using the shoulder of the Indian Creek trail.  Motorized are not allowed, but he didn't seem to care.  Otherwise, just a few people walking & a few bikes.

Mid-America Power Plant

We took a road that turns due south off the southern section of trail.  It ends at the public boat launch on the shore of the Missouri.  There's a great view of the power plant.  We stopped again to walk the shore, before riding back to the Explorer.

The Missouri~

The ride was over almost before we wanted it to be, but I had a alterior motive!  Tastee Treet was - of course - on our way home!  We picked up two smoked beef brisket meals for our dinner & ice cream for the drive home!  Yum!

Sunshine to Overcast ~

 Butch managed an overnight visit Friday night.  He'd delivered to the HyVee in Chariton, IA that morning.  He was returning west to pick up a load at ConAgra.  (He's not used to traveling across a state at 55!) By the time he'd had the trailer washed out & picked up the loaded one - he arrived home at 9:15 p.m.  By 7 a.m. yesterday morning he was pulling out, on his way to Clearfield, UT.  One of those short but sweet visits where he had a good shower, meal & slept in his own bed. 

2-25-23 Butch ready to leave~

With March around the corner, the winds have moved in.  Sunday dawned with bright, beautiful, sunshine, if breezy.  Mari Jo wanted to meet at Lake Manawa for a ride.  Rain was due for Monday - so today was our choice.  

The Explorer & Smokey~

I'd unloaded Smokey & was riding the parking lot to warm up when Mari Jo arrived.  Today we parked inside the Park to save ourselves fighting the wind out from the Wabash Trail head.

Mari Jo & the bikes~

The sun dissapeared within just the time it took Mari Jo to unload her bike  The clouds moved in & with them, the temperature dropped.  Not that it wasn't already somewhat brisk!  Once out on the trails, we kept moving right along.  Mari Jo mentioned turning back the way we'd come by the time we were ready to do the long stretch along Indian Creek.  I mentioned we were already well past the half-way point & would still have the wind coming at us if we went back along the east side.

The lake through the trees~

It was a challenging little ride, but we both agreed it felt so good to be out & moving!   It had been almost two-weeks since I'd been out.  

Smokey~

The south end is the prettiest part of the trails anyway & I didn't want to miss it in favor of riding back along the streets.  In spite of the wind, we made really good time & ended up riding eight-miles.  We both miss the Wabash riding.  The limestone trail is in the middle of an ongoing freeze/thaw cycle that could last well into March.

Looking east across the Lake~

Driving out of the park, I stopped to get  this photo.  The surface of the lake looking like pale green slush, frozen in place!  With the rain in the forecast - it may melt the rest of the spots of ice.  Our advance weather forecast for the first part of March - is - unseasonably cold!  As much as 20-30 degrees below normal.  Not what I was hoping for!

Fall Woods~

 Each year about this time, I like to get a few photos of the woods.  We returned home from our anniversary trip late afternoon, last Wednesday.  Nika had a wonderful time staying with Doris - as usual!   She'd gained some needed weight & was rested after her time as Butch's OTR companion.  

It's been beautiful since we've been home. I love seeing the sun set over the trees, but the lawn is the driest it's ever been.  We keep the front watered, along with some of the newer hosta's & shrubs.  The backyard has to fend for itself.

10-13,  5:41 p.m. Backyard with dry lawn~

Thursday, started out cloudy & we had just a spritz of rain for about a second, even with heavy dark clouds overhead.  By late afternoon though, the sun reappeared & the woods looked so pretty!  The wind has been pretty much non-stop, but temperatures have stayed mild.

10-14, Sunsetting through the trees~

While Butch worked on Blue, I cleaned the inside & outside of the Cabin windows.  We took down the AC unit & put it away for the winter.  My gernamiums were moved to the new shelving unit by the Cabin's south facing sliding door.  They'd grown way more than I expected, since transplanting them to 8" pots.

Looking west~

With the big Cottonwood down from the windstorm earlier this year & it's canopy gone - the woods get alot more light.  Pretty now, but hotter in mid-summer.  The additional light seemed to make the grass/weeds grow faster.  Butch bought me a new weed whacker when my old one wore out.

Timber Trail - south

There's already a good layer of walnut leaves on the ground with plenty more to follow.  I haven't seen  any of the blue lobelia this year.  The moles are the worst ever.  Every square inch of ground had been tunneled.   When you walk, it feels like you're stepping on a sponge as the soil sinks beneath your feet.  Most of the hosta's have been totally undermined, but are still alive.  The trail I heavily mulched with walnut chips last year, hasn't been spared from the mole mess.  

Little Bird~

 I still have several broken limbs that need to be cut away from the trees.  I managed to pull one big one down & it took me down with it!  The man who helps with the lawn, walked it with me last week as I pointed out what needs to get cut.  There's still quite a lot to be hauled away from the Cottonwood too, since one of our trees had to be cut to get it to the ground.  I'm hoping for an extended fall to finish the cleanup.

Tinkle Branch Trail - east~

By Saturday, Butch had his next dispatch, picking up product at Con Agra in Council Bluffs.  I rode along as he dropped the empty he'd brought home & picked up a trailer full going to UT.  We stopped for ice cream at Tastee Treat on the way home.

10-16, Butch heading out~

The following morning, he was heading out.  Rested, re-organized & with Blue sporting the new mud flaps we'd found at the I-80 Truck Stop!  (Nika is staying home with me.  She didn't ask to be lifted into the truck when it was time to see Butch off.)  

Temperatures are due to drop this coming week & with the cold, a hard freeze.  As soon as we get the next forecast warmup, I plan to dust Smokey off & get back on the trail!