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| "Thunder? Again?" |
We had far too much rain already when garbage day arrived. Due to early morning pickups, we favor Thursday hauling of the barrels, this time both garbage and recycle.
The only problem was the newest torrential rain - and Mrs. Ichabod's growing resistance to the barrels taking a shortcut through the kitchen and living room. I explained how that decreased the risk of losing my shoes in the soft clay mud of the backyard. But truth can harden hearts.
Sassy and I plotted our moves. First, she needed a long walk for her exercise and explorations. Nothing calms her more than a walk where she gets to meet a few friends. That went went when one neighbor called her by name and stopped to pet her. Sassy sat down for her petting time and beamed with pleasure.
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| Sassy loves her neighborhood friends. |
Sassy went inside to her perch on the bed, and I opened the garage door for rescue and recovery.The rain had stopped but the backyard was almost completely underwater. Years of mulch kept the Hosta area relatively dry, high ground in the swamp. However, I found a snag in the ooze and almost did a belly-flop in the mud.
I took only one barrel out of our yard. Recycling could wait. I pulled the barrel over into the moving position, where floats or skids would have been better than little wheels. Both feet sank into the Hosta garden, pushing down layers of leaves, wood mulch, and debris from the storms. "They will find me in May and be so sorry no one did anything about backyard lakes and the pull of soft, soaking mud," I imagined.
I kept the barrel moving and reached solid mud, which is much better than slippery, almost bottomless mud. The barrel reached the curb, and so did both shoes.
In the garage I lowered the door and changed to dry clothes. One reader, who knew of my garbage day plans, said, "I hope the garage is attached to your house."
Soon another cloudburst came down like the end of a long, parched drought - only there was no drought, no dancing in the rain for me.
I fixed chicken breast and buttered Brussels sprouts for supper. We now have almonds and walnuts for low-carb dessert.
Pour-over coffee is a necessity in this weather. Ranger Bob comes over and asks if I have had my coffee for the day. "No, I need some right now." All four of us have been out on the front porch together, Sassy guarding our perimeter. Coffee in the shade on a pleasant afternoon is a great luxury.
