… as of 6:07 a.m. today.
I’m not sure whether to be ecstatic about Summer’s arrival because it seems that our two heat waves, first at Memorial Day, then this past Sunday and Monday, already placed us in quasi-Summer mode with that horrid heat and humidity.
Then, there was the wicked storm we had Monday night that the weatherman promised would break the heat. Lightning streaked across the night sky in bright slashes, the wind was wild and rain was coming down in buckets.
At least that is what I heard happened during Monday night’s Summer-like storm.
No, I wasn’t on vacation, but sound asleep. I missed that whole storm that knocked the heat back 25 degrees, zapped the humidity bigtime plus gave our lawns and gardens a good soaking. It must have been one heck of a dream I was having that I was so engrossed that I missed all the excitement. I slept through Mother’s Nature’s antics, and, what my mother used to say was “God moving his furniture around” whenever thunder was roaring and rumbling as it sometimes does.
I also lost my power that evening at 11:30 p.m. I didn’t know until Tuesday morning when the alarm went off. I had shut the A/C off in anticipation of the storm, and, yes it was warm, but I never run the A/C when a bad storm is on the way, even though I have a whole-house surge protector.
The battery-operated alarm clock went off with its incessant peeping and I keep it on the kitchen table since the nightstand is a little too handy to hit the snooze bar, or shut it off altogether and return to dreamland.
Usually the dim light from the kitchen stove’s digital clock guides me down the short hallway to shut off that annoying alarm sound. But not this time because it was pitch dark. So, how difficult could it be to find the kitchen table? It was not easy! Somehow, in the pitch darkness I got totally turned around and ended up at the front of the house, and, all the while the alarm clock was merrily peeping away. I gritted my teeth, so annoyed by the noise, and the power outage, plus I managed to run into two table lamps (‘scuse me) and the rocking chair (ouch) in my journey to find the alarm clock. Finally, I located the clock and found the flashlight which I also keep in the kitchen, since 99% of the time when the power goes off, it is when I am up and at the computer.
About 5:15 a.m. I called DTE, our energy provider, and reported the outage. There was no restoration time – that never happens. You ALWAYS get a restoration time. Great, just great!
Then, with my trusty flashlight I went to get the emergency lanterns and battery-operated radio, because who knew when the power would return? Luckily it was 77 degrees in the house, so not unbearable, but I have some battery-operated fans anyway.
I called my boss and left him a voicemail with my bad news – since I work from home, I was out of commission until the power was restored. I headed down to the Park. I walked five miles – my only walk this week because it rained yesterday and it will rain tomorrow morning. This morning I had to go grocery shopping to replenish the food I lost since the power did not come on until 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
A robo-call alerted me around noon that the power would be restored by late afternoon and the outage was not storm-related, but a result of high electrical demand which caused a transformer to blow. Well, on Monday morning DTE had suggested that we set our thermostats to 80 degrees to avoid this very issue.
So, now the power is back, there is food in the fridge again, and all should be good except my issue with the little ants has taken a twist. You might recall that the spate of rainy and humid days caused little ants to appear at my kitchen sink a week or so ago … well, those ants at the sink have dwindled – that’s good. But, while I don’t have ants in my pants, a good many of my tiny, multi-segmented friends have turned into mini flying ants. They especially like zooming around the light where I am working … I have squished countless ants today. That’s not so good. And, as I typed this paragraph, I felt a presence on my face … I reached up and swatted a flying ant. I Googled (of course) to find out what was going on with the flying ants. They are looking for a mate and once they find a mate, they lose their wings. I hope a lot of ants are in the mood tonight, so I don’t deal with too many of them tomorrow.
Ants at a picnic you just deal with. Ants joining you on the kitchen table while you are working … well, I have no words for that.
Maybe I am ready for Fall – Summer has way too many hassles.
Sometimes a picture paints a thousand words, and I’m not going to share pictures of my ant friends, but I will spotlight some sidewalk art I’ve discovered over the past few weeks. There will be artwork now that the kids are out of school, except they probably don’t want to waste their pastel chalks or spray chalk since we have rain so much these days. We will have a rainy weekend once again.
Here are some drawings that have graced the sidewalks in the ‘hood and at the Park, including the picture up top – I guess the artist figured it was hot enough to call it “Summertime” when they created the picture.
So, the longest day of the year is almost over and we now begin that slow journey toward Winter. I’ll leave you with this message I saw scrawled in chalk along the perimeter path a few days ago.
“Send joy in the journey” … I kind of like that thought and I’ll hold onto it in my mind … make it my mantra for the rest of 2018. It will keep me from getting any crabbier.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Yesterday, Thursday, we had a big storm and few hours ago it begun to rain, of course, we have midsummer here. A holiday we celebrate in Sweden every year since Since the Iron age, we later went over to the viking age, when we were heathens (vikings). Since the 400 century we celebrate the Christian Midsummer. We celebrated the summer solstice, but since mid 1950 the government change it to be a Friday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just read on your stork post where you mentioned it was Midsummer. When I was on the Scandinavian/Russia tour, the last night was 06/21 and we were in Denmark at Tivoli Gardens. Lots of fireworks and celebrations. So it is a holiday there and people have the day off work – interesting they change it to a Friday to make a three-day weekend. Our 4th of July this year is on a Wednesday so that is not so great … workplaces may be closed on Friday if the 4th falls on a Thursday, or close on Monday if the 4th falls on a Tuesday, but you are out of luck with it in the middle of the week. Now you are getting the rain after all those days of beautiful weather. Today was beautiful and cool – now rain for three weeks. This year’s weather has not been normal at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Linda,
We’ve been pretty busy at the house and I haven’t been able to visit your blog as much. This consistent rain has been interesting. I had to cancel a play date at the park today because of it. But that did free up some time to go on a walk.
I like the sidewalk chalk art. It brightens up your walk, I’m sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Michelle – I even went on Twitter – I noticed you had liked something but wanted to ensure I hadn’t missed anything from your blog.
The rain is just terrible and has put a damper on the walking for sure. Three more days of rain then one or two nice days then rain again. It is disheartening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are beautiful drawings. “Send joy in the journey”… you are absolutely right, Linda, and if I may, I want to hold on to it and make it my mantra for the rest of 2018 and probably 2019 and on. Sending joy in the journey, an inspiring way of living.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those drawings are beautiful Martha and I like to include sidewalk drawings whenever I can in my posts. The sidewalk art has been scarce due to all the rainy days we’ve had. Now the kids use a spray chalk and it can withstand the rain unlike the chalk that just washes away. I like that mantra – it will lift your spirits as you travel this journey called “life”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had a power outage but not for very long. As i cleaned aquariums in the birds’ room today, we watched a documentary about plant neurology. I asked Tweetie Pie if she thought plants could think. Her answer: “Maybe!” 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am laughing at Tweetie Pie … she knows something we don’t then. Our power outage involved our side of the street, not the opposite side but it’s all new neighbors live on that side, so no accommodations could be made like in the olden days. The grocery store was out of dry ice, so I had to bite the bullet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was hilarious! 🙂 A true laughing out loud.
Chalk another one up to Mother Nature. Good show!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Well, it has not been my week … the ants are driving me crazy. I’m hoping to be done here shortly and shut off the light quickly so they don’t follow me down the hall!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome to summer! Where we live hot summer doesn’t usually start until August and into September… sometimes October too. Fortunately right now it’s very mild. No ants yet! I hope things start settling down for you soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And thankfully you don’t have the drought in California like you had before … your Summer will be quite hot I should think. Our big heat and humidity time is late July/early August. I hope things settle down soon too Janis – I’m glad to leave the kitchen and shut off the light before the ants track me down! They have not been so bad the last hour … maybe they went to bed. I only had the small ants once a few years ago – never had them before and not again til this year. I did not have the “bonus” flying ants before. I could do without them. When I Googled it appears it is over soon – hope they are right. Here in Michigan we get fishflies and they should be here soon. I don’t live that close to water so don’t see them, but they are these clingy insects that appear in June and die a few days later. Thousands of bodies land on the streets and make the street greasy and oily. If I find one and can take a picture, I’ll do a post about it. Ugh – bugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awesome sidewalk art!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know – all kids too! This chalk “spray” they use is pretty incredible. It comes in a can and it last forever. All of these were chalk except the one at the very top and the “sunshine” one … they were at the same house. There’s something you could do with the kids sometime – if you have enough asphalt or concrete around and give them some pastel chalk to draw. Here in the States, for Easter people buy sidewalk chalk and put it in the Easter basket. When I was a kid, it was just a tall chocolate Easter bunny and some jellybeans and other treats, but here, these days, the basket involves lots of non-candy items.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL we were discussing chalk today as our kindergarten class is having a chalk and bubbles party next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a friend, who is a fellow walker. We used to walk together in the Park, until she moved to an apartment about three years ago. She walks in her apartment complex and the streets near her apartment. She always carries her chalk and if someone has left a drawing, she will write back a message to them. Sometimes she writes her own message … so it is not just kids who enjoy all that fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm I’ve never thought of writing a message to the kids in chalk. That could be a fun reading assignment for them on every dry day
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it would be fun and my friend Ann Marie is a retired teacher – I believe she taught third grade in a Catholic school. She is a former nun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Miss Linda…………………………I like that chalk writing: “Send joy in the journey”……………………..yes it did cross my mind today too…………………………….that now we’ll began the descent toward winter………….!…………………….horrors
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew you would like it Ann Marie – you always told me you enjoyed seeing sidewalk chalk art. Have you taken your piece of chalk and “written back” yet this year? There has not been too much chalk art due to all the rain. Yes, horrors … I feel we were cheated out of Spring and late Spring easing into Summer with this horrible rainy ugly weather.
LikeLike
Hi Linda,
Sorry to hear you sounding so down. I don’t really like to see the first day of summer because from here on out the days start getting shorter. I know there should be a lot of good days ahead but it’s just a psychological thing. Strange how we can live so close but have such different weather experiences. I think we have had maybe an inch or inch and a half of rain in June so far. We watch the rains go around us while we stay dry. We are really hoping to get some this weekend.
We had an ant problem early about a month ago and used a product called terro and in a few days they were gone. We really don’t like to use poisons but I can’t put up with thing like bugs in the house.
It sounds like the power company needs to upgrade their system. I have written a couple of posts about power outages – one about being ready for it and the other about our experience during an extended power outage. If you would like to read them I would be happy to link them to you.
I love your new mantra “Send joy in the journey”. Maybe you should add it as a tag line on your blog.
Wishing you blue skies and sunshine my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really was exasperated yesterday Ruth … it seemed like it was a long week and when the issues with the flying ants came up, I was not only horrified but worried that it would be more than just a transient thing … I researched and it appeared like they are here for 24 hours to 2 weeks and they are buzzing around looking for a mate, then their wings fall off and they return to their colonies. Today, I did not put the goose-neck lamp on at the table and it was better, though I saw no flying ants this morning. I was afraid to turn on the light, I really was. I’ve seen maybe 3-4 today and that is it. Thankfully. Years ago my mom and I had carpenter ants so this was preying on my mind. We suddenly got them and had our two oak trees in the backyard analyzed and found out they were full of carpenter ants and they eaten inside the tree. We had them taken down, plus a honey locust out front. I had just done landscaping around the perimeter of the backyard, and put in fresh redwood bark. We were advised by the pest control company that we should get rid of the bark, but luckily the wood was wolmanized, so we were okay there. Had to scoop up all the bark I had laid and replace it with cyprus mulch. I do hope this just a transient thing. I had them several years ago – lasted a week or so and were gone and had never had them before. In June 2017, I had whole house insulation done and one of the bonuses of having it done (and I didn’t know it at the time) was that they used a mixture of foam and cellulose depending on the part of the house they did. The used a good deal of cellulose with a bug repellent – the salesman told me I’d never had bugs in the house again, not a spider, or a centipede. I was ecstatic because even though the basement is finished, I still have centipedes and spiders and even have them upstairs occasionally too. After they were done, and the Fall arrived – I had more creepy crawlies than ever before!
We are having an all rainy/stormy weekend beginning tonight and maybe salvaging part of Sunday afternoon. I am like you and look forward to Summer, first due to my walking regimen, and also because I don’t like driving in the Winter. I work from home, so it is not necessary to have to go out on an every day basis. So, after our overly long Winter, I was ready for a nice Spring … which we did not get.
Also factoring into my week, besides the ants, and the power outage and loss of food, was my neighbor. Before you began following me, you would not have known that for the past three years, I have shoveled my neighbor’s house and mine all Winter – his property is 2-3 times the size of mine. I did it for the exercise since I don’t get to walk much in the Winter. He, in turn, mows the lawn all growing season. He did used to mow/whip/edge and made a nice job. He has done it three times since April and it looks like a farmyard out there. I refused to do it since I had shoveled all Winter while he/son sat inside looking out the window. He is younger than me by the way. So, I asked him when he was going to cut the grass and his answer was “I’m too busy, I’ve got stuff to do – sorry” … my lawn was way too long to do it with my push mower or an electric mower, so I had to hire a service to do it. I would have said more but I had had an e-mail/text conversation with him (me texting him from my computer) so I could not say as much as I would like to.
I would like to see the posts you did if you have a chance to send them Ruth. I may not be on much this weekend as I try to stay off the computer when it is storming. I have been busy at work the last few weeks and have stayed late every night, including tonight, trying to get things done – we were supposed to have a stormy afternoon (but they were wrong) (again).
I like the mantra “Send joy in the journey.” as well – I will see if I can put it up at the top instead of Strollin’ Downriver.
I wish you a rainy weekend to save you the watering hassles … I was looking at Paul Gross’ forecast from Click on Detroit. I like to follow him and he says we will soon have a hot spell beginning next weekend. I don’t know that this news will make your day either.
Thanks for your well wishes Ruth – I needed a few kind words sent my way and your words were just perfect. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the rain wishes. This evening seems like a good start but we will need a lot more this weekend. If we do get some good rain then a hot spell will be fine.
Here are the links to the posts I mentioned. Just thought you might like them after hearing about your power outage. Have a great weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for these articles Ruth … they were very interesting. Hopefully tomorrow will be gentle to both of us – nice rain, no storms. You two were real troopers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Linda,
The power outage- for a reason of overload. Its like their fuse got blown out. And the amount of food waste and work cleaning the fridge and storage.
Summer to me seems to have not much of advantage- except the vitamin D.
The ants- we have them too- my daughter says its because we leave food outside- yes, they attack the poor cat’s wetfood- that’s how this started. Also the house is old and the woodwork has gaps from which ants come out. I googled and found vinegar is good on ants, so I am using it to mop floors and wipe surfaces.
You are having a lot of “bad” days- let’s hope the spell is over.
Susie
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know about the vinegar to help thwart the ants – that is good to know. I can’t say the ants ate the cornmeal and exploded. Good new, I found 3-4 flying ants yesterday and none today … that is good. I was, however, not at the kitchen table all day either. Next it will centipedes and spiders … we had rain five different times today! I hope it this bad spell is over soon as well. My power flickered today and it scared me – all the digital clocks started flashing, the radio went off and had to be reset … I said a little prayer not to have it go out again … the food … yes Summer is good for Vitamin D and here we don’t have to worry about driving in the snow and ice in the Summer months. That’s about it.
The walking has taken a hit with all the rain. Rain tomorrow as well. Then rain on Tuesday afternoon/Wednesday through the day – very unusual weather we are having here. Thanks again for your well wishes Susie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe the sticky fly traps that hang would help? Hope your next is better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gee Diane, I never thought of that. Yesterday I found 3 or 4 and today none, but I was not sitting at the table all day like I would for a workday, but I hope they have met their mate and I won’t see them again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! I hate any bugs in my house…lol Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw no ants, flying or crawling today – I’m ecstatic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know – I don’t know where they went (nor do I want to know as they can’t be far) but at least they are not bothering me anymore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is awesome! Yeahhh! Summer is here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes… power outages are SO annoying!!! We’ve had a few here too… I’ve got flashlights in every room just in case.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, I am so prepared but that morning, I did not have it close by – it was quite disturbing getting lost in my own house – and I follow a blogger who is blind and I wrote her and told her that I was actually afraid as I was lost and could not find my way and the alarm kept going and going and I always admire this woman to begin with, notwithstanding the fact that she has a job, she is writing and near finished a book, and often writes about her guide dog. I told her I gave her kudos before, but even more after my little ordeal … certainly not a permanent ordeal. I contacted my energy provider yesterday as I have had two more minor power outages, just a minute or so and it happened again this morning. They are having an electrician look at the circuit … just what I need!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda—I so got caught up in my own issues lately that I forgot you have limited sight. Curious if your comfortable—- with glasses can you see well enough?, can you still drive?how do you work?, is there anything g that can be done to restore your sight?
I love your positive energy!!
I so wish I lived close to you — I would really enjoy walking and talking with you friend!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your kind words Jennifer – I try to have positive energy. I wish you lived closer as well – it would be great to walk and talk with you too. I believe you may be confusing with Zena – I have noticed your comments on her posts sometimes. I am lucky to be healthy and do not take that good health for granted, having watched my mom go through many pain-filled years after being hit by a car when she was only 11.
LikeLike
So sorry for that Linda!! I do love that you have good health though!!! Your a good person Linda and I really would love to walk and talk with you regardless of your health. Perhaps one day!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s quite alright – I only thought it was Zena since I saw your posts there. I’d enjoy it as well. Where do you live Jennifer?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kansas City
LikeLike
I have a fellow blogger that comes from Missouri but lives in Lincoln, Nebraska now. That’s such a terrible thing which happened with the duck boat … your Governor says the whole state is in mourning and the poor woman who lost three children along with six other members of her family … so very sad.
LikeLike
I agree — and so unexpected!! How do you recover from the loss of your babies along with family members that you have shared life with?? I think about her and that family often!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too Jennifer … my mom worked with a woman years and years ago and she had 7 members of her family die in a fire. Six were her children and one was her husband. They worked different shifts to be home with the kids … a fire erupted and firefighters could not contain it and the house was engulfed in flames, and everyone perished. My mom said she ended up in a mental facility after that. Very sad.
LikeLike
Oh my — that’s even more heartbreaking. All the money in the world, every wish you ever wanted, NOTHING could replace the love and happiness of your own children and family!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is true – this poor woman … my heart goes out to her Jennifer.
LikeLiked by 1 person