We have running water!

Hooray!

Water we Hope!

 

We are supposed to be getting a lot of work done around here today: Digging a 8' deep trench between the old and new wells, hooking up a new water line from the new well to the old line, digging a shallow trench from the new well to the house, installing a new electric line from the house to the new well, installing a new pump. After all of that, we should have water! Meanwhile, I'm home to "supervise." What do I know about all of this? Nothing. But yesterday I was here and discovered that there may have been some miscommunication between the various contractors involved in this work, which I dealt with by making some phone calls. So, we hope everybody knows what needs to happen today. I thought about moving my car, since I won't be able to get it out during the digging, but I'm sick, so I'm not going anywhere anyway. We're assuming that the water won't be crystal clear at first, but maybe within a few days, I can take a hot bath!

 

Signs of Spring

Cheerful robin songs, optimistic reminders of spring renewal.

Lovely Trilliums, all over northern Wisconsin, by the tens of thousands.

Wild Plum Blossoms

I wish you could smell these wonderful wild plum blossoms that are on small trees around about a third of my yard.

Drought, fire

From a news report:   Elsewhere, a wildfire near the Canadian border in northeastern Minnesota had covered more than 34 square miles Wednesday, adding more than 8 square miles in one day, authorities said. Since it was spotted over the weekend, it has destroyed 45 buildings, including multimillion-dollar homes, and firefighters said it was just 5 percent contained.

Hibiscus

I've had several hibiscus plants in large pots, indoors, for quite a few years. One plant, with deep fushia colored flowers, blooms fairly well, for a hibiscus. The problem with the hibiscus as an indoor plant is that they need lots of water and light. They tend to get very leggy, which means drastic pruning, which tends to inhibit the development of buds. And when they do bloom, the flower lasts only about 1 1/2 days.

This particular plant apparently hadn't bloomed in a few years, or, at least I didn't even remember that I had one of this color. We can enjoy it longer on the blog than we'll be able to enjoy it in real life.

Franklin Ground Squirrel

Well, spring is here, sort of. Since we are in a year long drought, and nearly every storm of the winter and the spring has bypassed us, we aren't greening up very fast. But there are signs, signs of hope. I'm wondering if many of my perennials made it through the winter. Due to the low depth of the snow cover, the frost went deep into the ground.

So out I went with my camera today, looking for life. There are lots of camouflage colors out there: dry grass and leaves, dirt, rocks. Here and there, green is poking through.

Last year, we frequently saw a ground squirrel who we called "Frankie" because he is a Franklin Ground Squirrel. After a few months, we realized that there was Frankie, Mrs. Frankie, and Little Frankie. This year we've seen three at once already. Look how well he can be camouflaged. Cute? Maybe, depending on what they might burrow into. We won't think it is cute if the garage slab gets undermined. These animals are also called Whistle Pigs, because of their call. But last year, I heard that sound only a few times.

I also took a picture of the little creek that flows by our house. It is so small that I can walk across it with one big step. The water is low because of the lack of rain, but right now, it is the only "running water" I can see when I'm in the house because our well is broken.

The next few weeks will bring exciting changes. I love the sproutings of spring.

Blogging Against Disablism Day, May 1st, 2007

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