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Post by mogal on May 8, 2023 15:35:17 GMT
If we're in a drought situation D1 on the scale in April and May, what is the rest of the season going to do? I really feel for the folks who are in the higher categories.
It's very frustrating to see all the storms go across northern MO or southern MO only to skip us entirely. Last Saturday, a huge cell passed across the north part of our county. Rain was heavy enough just 10 miles away that my neighbor's grandson's baseball game was cancelled. That night, storms with a tornado, baseball sized hail and high wind, passed from Trenton MO where a church was damaged to Macon where there was another radar indicated tornado and ping-pong sized hail. While I'm just as happy to have missed the tornadoes and hail, I wouldn't have objected to some of the rain that came with those. Yesterday, I dragged hoses out to start watering the fruit trees. All our water costs us is the electricity to pump it out of the ground. And once DH gets our solar stuff set up, we won't even have that cost.
Early this morning, we got about .25" inch. It did nothing to close the cracks in the ground.
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Post by countrymom22 on May 8, 2023 21:45:47 GMT
We finally got some much needed rain last week, but I'm always worried once I get plants in the garden. Praying that we all get the rain we need soon.
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Post by dustawaits on May 9, 2023 21:04:10 GMT
Everytime we have heavy dark rain clouds She jets come and leave chem trails.and the clouds disappear. Yes drought and high fire.danger.
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Post by mogal on May 12, 2023 20:37:35 GMT
Drought report came out yesterday. Now we're one step deeper, D2.
Everything is still green but once the heat sets in, you can forget that.
Dustawaits, have you listened to Doug of Doug and Stacy off Grid talking about climate manipulation? When the moon shots were just beginnings back in the 60's and 70's, I heard a lot of folks correlating those space explorations with increased hurricane activity. Who knows? We common people can only conjecture.
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Post by countrymom22 on May 12, 2023 23:18:07 GMT
I watched that video with Doug and Stacy, and those pictures of the chem trails were frightening! Way too many and crisscrossing to be just from a plane or two going by. Scary stuff.
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Post by mogal on Jun 19, 2023 20:02:08 GMT
At our house, we're still wicked dry. Friends in the next county have gotten around 3 1/2" in the last 10 days including almost 2" yesterday. We watched rain cells go over and around our place but only got a few drops of rain. I'll say it again--I'm grateful we have a private well because electricity is cheaper than the water my neighbors have to buy. The friends in the next county are paying through the nose for public water to keep their gardens going. Even so, the wife tells me they'll come out better in the long run than using that money to buy groceries. I hope that rain has helped refill their pond and water catchments off their house.
It's not unusual for me to run 3 hoses nearly all day, 2-3 days a week. I've just come in from moving hoses and though it's 86o, the heat reflected off the lawn where the grass is beginning to brown was uncomfortable. We're to hit the 90's later in the week with only a 20% chance of rain next Saturday.
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Post by countrymom22 on Jun 19, 2023 22:56:35 GMT
While we have a well, for which I am thankful, our well couldn't handle me watering that many hours a day. I try to limit it to 1 1/2 hours, max. But I hand water, so I make sure that every drop goes where I need it to. And I mulch super heavy too. Every little bit helps. We did finally get some rain last week, but we are still terribly short of what we need. It's supposed to get more humid later this week with the chance for rain every day from Thursday thru the following Wed.
We're praying hard for rain here.
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Post by mogal on Jun 24, 2023 12:49:30 GMT
The drought continues to deepen in areas that haven't gotten rain. It's odd that areas that HAVE gotten rain, continue to get it.
Only running 2 hoses this morning and won't need to do that for long.
We have a very strong well, sitting on a huge aquifer under most of central and northeast Missouri north of the Missouri River according to the guy who works on our well when we need him. Lots more people depend on it than just us.
I mulch as well but don't have a great supply and that's spoiled hay (weed seeds). I used to have a riding mower with a grass bagger that supplied most of my mulch but it's long since bitten the dust. DH bought a zero turn mower the last time and the bagger attachment for it is nearly as expensive as the mower was. So, no grass bagger.
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Post by countrymom22 on Jun 28, 2023 22:08:28 GMT
We have finally gotten some much needed rain in the last few days. Enough to leave small puddles in the driveway but the yard isn't muddy. But I won't have to water for 2 days. I just wish it had come down slow and steady instead of hard and fast so it would have had more time to soak in. But beggars can't be choosers. We're expecting a couple of dry days until the storms return over the weekend. I'm praying for rain for everyone who needs it!
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Post by mogal on Jul 2, 2023 11:13:27 GMT
We've had a mixed blessing. The guy renting our land this year for grazing and hay on a small portion at the extreme west end of our place mowed that end for hay on Wednesday. He used a "swather" that crushes the grass to facilitate drying and leaves it in rows that dry quickly. He could have baled it Thursday evening but didn't show up. Friday afternoon we had O.01" of rain. DH and I and this guy decided to risk baling it Friday evening. He could have come to run a tedder that fluffs the hay so air gets to it, then raked and baled. We might have had some mold but there's not a lot of hay to begin with. Our 20% would have gone to mulch. BUT he didn't show up although he said he was coming over. Yesterday--Saturday--we had sunny, windy weather and he could have gotten this bit baled easily before thunderstorms came in after dark last night. Again he didn't show up, didn't call. Last night we got close to 1/2" of rain. Hay definitely ruined for feed but it's still got to be removed from the pasture or it will kill the grass under it. He might risk feeding it to his cattle but ours will be mulch.
I don't think that almost 1/2" of rain will do much to ameliorate our deep drought situation but it's a start. Thank goodness last year's was a good hay crop and we have enough in the barn to see us through. I know it won't be as nutritious but it will fill bellies.
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Post by mogal on Jul 5, 2023 0:17:15 GMT
Our neighbor finally got the hay baled this afternoon. He didn't stop by to discuss the division among us as landowners, his boss who loaned him the equipment and him for his labor. We think he used his uncle's baler due to the size of the bales which should reduce the claim his boss has on it--who knows. I don't know if it will be any good but will make mulch if nothing else. We plan to feed it out first, leaving it on pallets in the barn lot just in case it might heat up.
We borrowed another neighbor's bale spike and have put our bush hog on the tractor to act as a counterbalance to the weight of the bales when we bring them to the house. YEAAA! So grateful to have this done even if the hay got some rain on it. We're still dry as a bone and I plan to start the watering rotation in the morning. Actually, I have 2 hoses out now, running very slowly on specific plants. Thank goodness for our private well!
Happy Independence Day, ya'll.
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Post by mogal on Jul 6, 2023 12:37:45 GMT
DH and I got our portion of the hay up to the house yesterday afternoon. Only 2 bales won't see us through the winter. I'm grateful for the hay still in the barn from last season. It will fill goat bellies.
The drought continues in this part of Missouri something fierce though rain is in the forecast for tomorrow evening. I've heard that story before and continue to water here. I had a meeting in a community about 7 miles from us last evening and it's all ag land twixt here and there--corn and soy beans. While some of the corn looks pretty normal in size and development, I didn't see any tassels on it. Other fields were about half as tall as they should be and was obviously curled against the drought. The soy beans that should have been about hip high on me? That was saddest of all as it probably was only 6-8" tall.
Another indication of the drought was the # of deer on just our little stretch of gravel road, maybe 2 miles, from the paved state highway. I counted at least 15 deer out in one bean field and when I passed, they never even raised their heads from their grazing. Our creek is dry and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they were jumping the fence into the pasture with the cows to drink from their trough.
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Post by countrymom22 on Jul 6, 2023 23:13:36 GMT
Well that rain that I spoke about back on the 19th was all we've gotten. There have been storms to the north and to the south, but everything just keeps passing over us. My MIL's place is only 10 minutes away and she's had a lot of rain. On Monday, hubby had to stop by the railroad to look at a job and he said it poured while he was there. The railroad is only 2 miles from our house, but we didn't get a drop. The sun was out here the whole day.
I'm just watering and praying.
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Post by mogal on Jul 11, 2023 13:01:59 GMT
The WX guys were excited about some rain we were supposed to have had over the weekend. Uh, NO! Ironically, some counties in extreme southeast MO had flash flood warnings.
I'm just in from setting hoses and mowing under some apple trees with an antique scythe. I haven't done that in several weeks and while I can still type, it's played havoc with fine muscle control in my right arm. My hand shook so hard while I was trying to eat a little breakfast that there was barely any food left on my fork by the time I got it to my mouth.
The WX guys are again talking rain for tomorrow through Friday--up to 30%. Low 70s right now but supposed to be in the 90's the next few days. I have 3 hoses out to water right now which shows how much I think the WX guys know. Who else can be wrong over 50% of the time and still hold their jobs?
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Post by countrymom22 on Jul 12, 2023 22:58:24 GMT
On Sunday we finally got a few inches of rain! Unfortunately, it was a deluge and I was driving on the interstate at the time. Not the best weather to be driving in, but I haven't had to water yet this week and they are forecasting more rain from Friday - Sunday. Which will probably happen since hubby is going away to an engine show Thursday night and won't be home until Sunday night!
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Post by mogal on Jul 13, 2023 13:28:13 GMT
Hallelujah! We got 5/8" of rain overnight. While it won't end the drought, it was very welcome and the grass is already starting to green up some. May get more tomorrow night into Saturday.
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Post by mogal on Jul 14, 2023 12:34:17 GMT
This morning when I went to the garden, I noticed the ground was very wet, almost muddy, where we'd had to take out some landscape plants 2 years ago and haven't had anything "take" in their place. My first thought was that the water lines to the barn and shop had sprung a leak but no, that wasn't it. It's just been so long since I've seen muddy ground due to the drought! Nothing slow about me. There may be one "picking" of blueberries after the batch I picked this morning. Not many make it to the house because they are SO good. Also got the purple hull peas and corn hoed. The ladino clover I overseeded into the corn as a living mulch is coming on slowly but I was chopping down the morning glory and other noxious weeds in that space. It's 75o but the humidity had me sweating like a race horse. No breeze either.
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Post by mogal on Jul 15, 2023 12:20:31 GMT
WOW! We got more rain last night! Just a smidgen over 1/2". If this keeps up, I'll have to bring in all the hoses so DH can mow. I didn't know we had so much hose because we've been replacing the old stiff vinyl stuff with Flexilla when they go on clearance. With the drought being so extensive and long lasting, it was easier to leave a run of old hose to the various growing spaces then use the Flexilla hoses to the beds. Delightful to see green again and I know the neighbor's cows grazing our pastures this summer will love the new growth.
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Post by Tallpines on Jul 15, 2023 13:15:13 GMT
We are happy to find 0.6 inches in our gauge this morning ! 🤗 No severe drought here …. But … it is on the dry side. The corn in the farm fields looks fantastic!
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Post by mogal on Jul 18, 2023 2:54:16 GMT
We had to go to Columbia today. None of the corn looked to be much taller than I am if as tall, nothing like tassels to release pollen on the silks in the ears when the time comes. I mentioned to DH that since MO hadn't sold off brood cows like other states had, farmers might get some value from the stover by rolling and baling it. Very disheartening.
What's worse is that we went all the way over and all the way back under heavy cloud cover. We even had some thunderstorm watches but we got not one drop. The county just south of us though, had flash flooding. Go figure.
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Post by mogal on Jul 18, 2023 14:16:25 GMT
I guess all that watering is paying off. I got the "first pickin'" of blackberries this morning--over a gallon from a 50' row. DH saw it and asked "Do I smell cobbler?" Probably.
We're under a thunderstorm watch right now but while we may get a little rain, the bulk of the front will pass south of us to the area that had flash floods yesterday. Oh, well. I'd already begun watering anyway because when I first got out to the garden, there was nothing on radar to indicate rain coming so soon.
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Post by countrymom22 on Jul 19, 2023 21:44:18 GMT
Maybe I should be careful what I wish for! We got the rain that I prayed for, but way too much, too fast. 8" at my son's house where roads and bridges washed away. Lots of damage to homes and cars from the flooding and landslides, and this was in areas where people wouldn't think to buy flood insurance. Son only got some water in the basement and in his barn, but the road to his house is impassable and will be for some time since the bridge is gone! Thankfully, we only got about 4.5" at our place with no flooding.
We had so much rain that the engine show that hubby was at cancelled the last day and required everyone to leave on Saturday night by 9 pm. They were afraid of flash floods and people getting their trucks and trailers stuck in the fields. There is no fighting mother nature!
Since Sunday, we have gotten more rain everyday, although not the torrential downpours of the weekend. But it looks like if we can make it to Saturday, we should have a clear 3 days until the next round of showers arrives next Tuesday.
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Post by mogal on Jul 27, 2023 12:39:53 GMT
The drought monitor reports showed that the drought is reducing marginally but parts of the state are still in the most extreme rating. I'm still watering my stuff like a mad woman. Just spent my garden time watering my container plants and the home grown nursery stock I'm trying to keep alive until I can set it out this fall.
It's 7:36 a.m. and the temp is currently 82o. It was 76o when I went out at 6 a.m. Supposed to get up to 102o today ambient. Yesterday, the heat index in our county seat was 107o and it wasn't quite so hot yesterday as today. I have a vet appointment down there at 3 this afternoon for 2 cats' vaccinations. I don't look forward to it.
My hat's off to the folks in the southern tier of states who have survived triple digit temps for so long.
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Post by mogal on Jul 29, 2023 0:06:30 GMT
Looks like I finally pushed "the envelope" a bit too far. I got a little too warm on Tuesday but recovered fairly quickly. As usual today, I was up and out early to set hoses and pick blackberries. DH helped with morning chores in the barn and filled the renter's cows' trough while I brought the dogs back to the house and fed them. At intervals, I went out to move the hoses and hung out 2 loads of laundry. After lunch, I went out to move the hoses, put ice in the hens' water and dump the bathwater warm water in the goats' trough. While I was out there, I started feeling a little woozy and barely made it to the house. I had my cell phone to summon DH if I didn't actually pass out. So, DH turned off the hoses when the timer went off, did evening feed and will spoil me a bit more by preparing supper. He's a good man.
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Post by mogal on Jul 31, 2023 2:46:14 GMT
Well, it wasn't enough to actually overcome the drought but yesterday we got 1 1/4" of rain. We also got 70 mph winds that broke several corn stalks in the garden, stripped a lot of leaves from the trees, tore up a few shingles on the house and knocked out our power for about 6 hrs. The saving grace is that before the storm, it was 96o here and after, 75o. Of course, the humidity skyrocketed but we managed. I'm particularly grateful that the REA crew got us back up and running so quickly because we're the second to last house on our line. We couldn't run the AC but we had enough power from our solar panels to keep the refrigerator and freezer running as well as a breeze box fan to circulate air in the house.
DH has a website on the computer where he can monitor power outages and with it, he could tell exactly where the storm had passed. At one time there were over 500 customers without power in our county alone.
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Post by Woodpecker on Jul 31, 2023 14:11:52 GMT
Evening before last around 7:00pm it rained for about 10 minutes a downpour! It had gotten very dark quickly, rained and then I could see through the skylights that the sky turned an orange color. I went to the front door to look for a rainbow, the winds came and it was such an weird feeling, very odd. Thats the first rain in a couple of weeks. Very dry here too. This summer, July is supposed to be the highest recorded temps ever!
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Post by countrymom22 on Aug 3, 2023 0:16:27 GMT
Hubby and I were at a memorial service all day on Saturday, and didn't arrive home until after 8 pm. As we got closer to home, we noticed that it had rained. About 3 miles from our place the road was closed due to downed power lines, so we had to back track to town and come in on the highway. But that was slow going as there was a huge tree down on the powerlines and across the highway, so 4 lanes of traffic was reduced to using one lane and alternating directions. I was thankful when we got home and son said it was a bed storm but our power didn't go out. He is terribly afraid of storms after living through Sandy, but he really held it together, and we were so proud of him!
We haven't had any additional rain since then, but we are expecting storms this Friday. I've only had to water the garden once and then I water the potted plants around the house every other day.
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Post by mogal on Aug 3, 2023 16:53:37 GMT
Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning, thunderstorms "trained" over our area and we got 3 1/4" of rain. Holy macaroni! From late afternoon until this morning, we had more storms and an additional 1/2" of rain. DH said it looks like we're going to get a whole summer's worth of rain in just a week. I missed picking blackberries Tuesday and yesterday, and am just in from picking what hasn't begun to spoil on the canes. Before I came in though, I pulled 3 sets of hose runs to the house to get them out of the way to prepare for mowing. There's more rain in the forecast. I don't know what good it will be to the corn and soybeans because we were hot/dry so long but the rain can't hurt. The pastures are looking pretty good too. YEA!
The ground squished under my feet. Last week the dry grass crunched.
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Post by countrymom22 on Aug 3, 2023 21:06:26 GMT
I'm so glad you got your rain, mogal. Living a lifestyle that keeps you close to the earth makes you appreciate the simple things!
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Post by mogal on Aug 4, 2023 11:32:50 GMT
I guess it's too much of a good thing. Most of my part of MO is under flash flood warnings and watches. Not to worry about us though. Being the daughter of a civil engineer who worked in flood control along the lower Mississippi River, I have a lot of respect for flood water. My former neighbor commented during a particularly wet spell that it would take a flood of biblical proportions to reach our 2 houses. She's right but I prefer not to test her theory.
I haven't been out to check the gauge this morning but it rained a good bit again last night. At least it's bringing the pastures back.
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