There are big storms brewing in our area this afternoon and this evening. We got a robo-call this afternoon from the county governemnt…hail….tornadoes…damaging winds….power outages.
Since the master gardener is still at work, the girls and I had to handle all the outside pre-storm prep this afternoon.
Standing in the garden, cell phone in hand, I had to call him for his priority list–who would get covered, who would not? On a recent decluttering whim, I thrifted a bunch of mismatched, unused sheets. Crud. So we're short on garden cover and there's just so many vintage tablecloths that I'm willing to lend to the garden.
So with our makeshift weights to hold down corners, and a good supply of clothespins we covered up as much as we could with priority to the tomatoes and cucumbers. Beans can always be replanted. Corn will have to fend for itself. We're crossing our fingers for you, potatoes. (***edited to add: So there's some controversy on covering the plants…will the sheets act as sails and knock everything over in the wind? Or is it the best defense against the hail? Opinions? Thoughts? Experience?***)
Animals are fed. Water buckets are filled. Flakes of hay are distributed. The barns feel all kinds of cozy.
Inside, water is gathered. We're starting a steady stream of baths and showers in anticipation of no power, no water.
The big crock has been brought in, washed out and filled up with fresh water. I'm so thankful for this birthday gift from Dan many years ago. It's been put to lots of good use.
There's nothing like a little storm excitement. I can hear the thunder as I sit here at my desk in the kitchen.
Happy weekend, friends. Here's to blue skies on the other side….
Stay safe! My mother-in-law in Virginia was just writing me a minute ago saying how stormy it was there, too. I don’t know about protecting from hail — I’ve never tried (and have ended up with holey hostas to show for it).
i realize that big storms are not desirable, but i love this peek at your preparations and knowing about your general level of prepared-ness. and also the reminder of what it means to be living on a farm, to be connected to the earth and to nature in the way that we’re just not here in suburbia. thinking about you, friend. stay in touch by text and let me know you’re ok? (and love that the showers are happening!) xo.
I hope everything comes through the storm with ease!Just last weekend we had a crazy storm hit- the most thunder and lightening I have ever seen. Our old house shook so much we had pictures fall from the wall! Very unusual here . . . but were blessed to never loose power. The basement became a lake however- though, we are expertly trained on how to deal with that misfortune. Buckets and old towels can be a God send!
Here visiting in metro D.C. it has caused much excitement with my wee ones. Hope you stay connected and the veggies make it.
I hope everything is ok!
hoping you have weathered it well by now. xo.
PLANTS AND HAIL–YOU NEVER CAN TELL.MANY YEARS AGO IN AUSTIN,TX, WE HAD A COLOSSAL HAILSTORM–SO BAD THAT OUR CHOW DOG CRAWLED UP INTO MY LAP AND I HAD TO HOLD HIS PAW, WHILE I WONDERED IF THE WINDOWS WOULD ALL BR BLOWN IN (NO). EVERY LEAF WAS STRIPPED FROM OUR BIG OAK TREE BUT ALL THE ROSE BUSHES–OVER 90 OF THEM, LOST NEITHER LEAVES NOR BUDS AND FLOWERS. WHEN IT ENDED WE HAD 6 INCHES OF HAIL LYING LIKE SNOW. OUR VEGETABLE GARDEN SUFFERED NO DAMAGE AT ALL.
Hope you don’t get anything too bad. Keep us updated! My feeling is that the sheets might end up on the other side of the garden somewhere… hope your plants are ok.