Author: andrew puntch

married, dog owner, current events, politics, history, baseball, weather/climate

Rain coming

Rain coming

I am a weather geek, follow the US National Weather Service, The Weather Network, Environment Canada. One of my work responsibilities, which puts to work something that I like to do, is to report daily on the forecast so we can be prepared.

I like doing the same at home. I don’t Freak Out over what may come, simply like to stay informed. We have a rather wet 36 hour forecast, perhaps up to 1 1/2 inches (37mm) of rain by Friday morning. Trick or treaters will very likely have a wet night if they venture out.

Living in a small town which is attuned to farming helps us be more aware of the weather as well. On my way home, combines were out in the fields cutting corn. Sugar beets were being taken off. Farmers will likely work very late tonight, getting off everything they can. Rain like what is forecast is not an inconvenience as it is to city dwellers and even to us, it’s a part of their lives and they must often work long, long hours to stay ahead of the weather.

Autumn

Autumn

I do love autumn, it’s a time of relief from the warm humid summer, reflection, a kind of gathering inward, preparing for winter, getting sweaters and jackets out (I cannot find my gloves or toques yet), putting away shorts and swim suits. It’s not at all a sad time of year, it’s one to enjoy and appreciate.

Contrails

The contrails yesterday evening were particularly persistent. All three photos were taken with the PlayBook.

Faye captured this one.

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And there was this one, trailing behind a FedEx headed to Memphis.

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The atmosphere was so stable that it lingered for a very long time.

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Achilles

Chili dog turned my way when I clicked my tongue as when you would call a horse. He is no horse of course.

Even now, seven years after adopting him I am still astounded that he languished at the shelter for a year. I am so fortunate, so blessed, that a friend thought to let me know about him. He has been a gift, a blessing. He was the dog I needed.

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My library

My library

My library turned 100 this year and the staff were celebrating today. It’s a Carnegie library, one of the many that were built in much of the US and Canada in the early 1900s.

Libraries are a priceless resource. In my small town it is a place where people visit, schoolkids come to volunteer and to pass time, where people who cannot afford to or choose not to have internet access at home can come to get online at no cost. Faye and I get our books, I check out the latest edition of National Geographic, we check out movies. Our librarians are very helpful, renewing books without being asked, finding and reserving books for Faye. One librarian and her husband have become our best friends.

Some people say that libraries are dying, they they cannot compete with the internet, chat, instant messaging, and other modern forms of interaction, education, edification, and information exchange.

I beg to differ. Come to our small library to see the patrons; experience the at times vibrant atmosphere; be helped by our wonderful staff; and you see will why I believe libraries will be around for a long, long time.

Morning frost

Sometimes things that often go unnoticed are surprisingly beautiful. This morning the early morning sun coming through the car window caught my eye.

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