Like Seattle

It's been raining for a few days, more than we're used to. Cloudy, almost reminding me of Seattle with dark clouds, cold wind, and humidity.

And it messed up my work outside the last two days. When I got home from baseball it was calm, and cloudy, threatening rain, but not bad. Everyone was gone, so I decided to cut some grass. I did about 20 minutes on the bush hog, but I kept looking at the calm air and when I had to hit the bathroom, I decided to spent a few minutes on the weather station. I'd purchased a pole, and wanted to get it up on the chimney, but being 24ft+ off the ground with wind hasn't been in my plans.

However it was calm, so I set the ladder up, and climbed up. I'd mounted the board with the main weather stuff up there a month ago about 18ft or so off the ground, but wanted to move it. I also had only set it with one screw, and so it got tilter in the wind. This time I went up and moved it closer to about 22-23ft off the ground.

Next I planned on putting  the pole above it, so I set up 3 U brackets, screwing in one side of each. I wanted to get those set up and then check the pole. Once they were in, I lifted up the pole, which is a 10' steel post for fencing. At about 15lbs, it's not light, and I was nervous lifting it to the chimney. But it reaches about 3-4' above the chimney, so it should read pretty good. That will be the highest thing on the property except for a tree that's about 60-70' away.

However as I was lifting the pole, and trying to decide if I could get it in the U-brackets to check it, the wind picked up. The storm was coming, and with no one home, I decided this was a bad time to try and secure it. Plus I'd need to bring it back down later and put a cap on top (and the anemometer).

So I took the pole down and went to cut grass. I really wanted the front pasture to the North cut before I leave Thur. I got a decent portion done, leaving about an acre or so left when it started to rain and hail. I started to get a little soaked in the tractor (no doors) and finally bailed. I parked it and with the garage doors open, a decent temperature, I decided to work on a few pens. I've had one set in the lathe for awhile, just needing finishing, and a few other pieces that were in the same state. Since I try to turn and sand a few pieces before finishing them, I have a bunch around. So I grabbed the finish and set about adding a polish to a few pieces. Most of them (4 or 5) were mismatched when I'd chipped or broken the match, so I just added the finish and dropped them in my box.

Still no one was home, but it had stopped raining, so I decided to cut more. Wasn't sure how the bush hog would handle wet grass, but I went out and it cut fine. I was almost done, about 1/4 acre left when it started to rain and the wind picked up again. I spent another 10 minutes out there, lightening flashing and finally decided it was getting too dark and cold, so I bailed again. Kendall called and said she was on her way.

Still no one home, so I drilled out a few more blanks and get inserts cut and ready. I brought everything inside, ready to glue up when Delaney called and said he needed a ride. However since I needed to wait for Kendall, and it was getting late, I grabbed a quick shower.

Today it's been raining on and off with lots of dark clouds in the sky. Hopefully tomorrow will look nicer.