🙁

To help

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/

Beautiful sunset tonight up here on the farm – it is also cold.  At 11 pm it is 4 degrees.  So, Tyler is staying over tonight – we made a cloud out of boiling water!!

Making a cloud out of boiling water – 4.5 degrees outside.  Flirting with zero tonight.

YAY

Weather instruments

BRRRRRR

Cold balcony this morning

The rooster is shivering

MISS DAISY!!!!!

Snowing!!!!!

Snowing out back 🙂

  We had a nice New Years Eve here at the farm.  Most of the family came over and played games – hung out.  Nothing major – just a peaceful evening.  🙂

  It has been extremely cold.  Low temperatures here at my place have been in the upper single digits to lower teens during the early morning hours.  We even had a snow flurry or two on Friday night.  🙂  Looks like some real snow is heading our way for Thursday.  Maybe an inch or more.  Will see how it plays out.

  Still a lot of little things going on at the house – painting, landscaping, fixing the rails on the stairs, painting the garage floor, and so on.  Maybe another week or two before everything is finished.

  Need to get things wrapped up soon so we can go on our trip in February – to warmer climates.

  A few photos from the last few days…

House from the back with Daisy’s fenced in area.  Daisy returns on Sunday night.

Patio is finished

Daisy’s backyard area

Friends and family for New Years Eve

Thinking about snow!!!!  Doing a snow dance, as well.

Front of house landscaping is coming along

Daisy’s backyard area

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I can’t believe it is 2010. 

🙂

  We spent Christmas at Deena’s this year.  I think everyone had a great time! 

Mariah and Dylan

Danielle

Mother made me some gingerbread men cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ashton

  Well, I have been busy unpacking.  So, no posts!  But, my sister said I should post.

  What a journey!  From the start to finish – it has been about two years.  We discovered our farm was for sale on Christmas Day of 2007.  And now – we were able to spend Christmas here!  It has certainly been an amazing journey. 

  I am sure Tony is glad the project is almost finished.  Him and everyone else – it has been a long two years.  Lot of phone calls – several hundred 🙂 – but it is almost finished.

  Finally got a few photos worked through.  Still getting settled into the house.  It is coming along, though.  Another few weeks and we will be done with all of the major stuff.  Daisy has not been up here yet.  She might come back in a week or two.  Unsure.  Still need to work out a few more things before she returns.

  I am enjoying waking up to the views.  The foggy mornings are nice – just seeing the Oak tree and a little bit beyond on the extremely foggy mornings.  🙂  Then the wind – it is always blowing.  We had several days of 30+ mph winds.  Fun to listen to it roaring.

  It has been very windy up here.  During the last three weeks we have had numerous gusts over 40 and 50 mph.  Cold, as well.  Most of December was cold.  Still no snow.

  Had a great time at Deena’s on Christmas Day.  All of us went there to eat and hang out. 

  Dylan and Tyler stayed up here earlier this week.  Dylan is home from Oklahoma for a couple of weeks.  Then my mother stayed here Christmas Eve and Christmas night.  I think she enjoyed being up here.  Could have used a little more snow, though.  🙂

  Looks like VERY cold weather ahead of us.  Bitter cold – is in the cards.  But – will it snow?  That is the question.

  Some photos from the last few weeks

IN THE MOVING VAN – Looking up the drive!  First load.

Putting paper down on the floors a week ago – getting ready for all of the movers.

Living room – kitchen – dining room area.  Papered the floors for all the traffic.

Jason and Jess Darnall – Jason working on cameras and OEM
antennas

Bears on the third floor

Jason Darnall – working on the cameras for the new web-site

Kitchen – without all the paper on the floors 🙂

Imagine

Neighbors dog looking in at me 🙂

Library – this was fun to unpack 🙂

Unpacking clothes

The weather room is fully operational 🙂

 
Third floor

Living room

Dining Room

Weather library

Living room

Foggy morning – sun room

Weather library

Third floor – family room

Fenced area out back – Daisy’s area

Third floor – bears

Daisy’s fence area

Foggy morning – off the weather room

Second floor sitting area

Third floor

Weather room

Weather room

Library

Moving 🙂

Third floor – family room

Third floor

The weather center here at my house is almost complete 🙂

Thanks Jason and Jess for alllllllll of your help!!!!!

Weather center to cover OEM events.  Top monitors are for ABC/CBS/NBC – bottom are GEMPAK – main computer
and radar/satellite/OEM and NWS Chat

OEM radios to cover events.

  I recorded 10/11 degrees this morning on the mercury.  That is extremely cold for this time of the year.  Pic below – the black area is the low (you have to go to the top of the black line).  Brrr

  Packing up the OEM radios!

  The movers arrive on Wednesday, December 16th.  I have a presentation in Graves County that morning – then we move!!!!!!!!! 

  Well – the final version of what happened Saturday night.  Tony – who watched the parade has sent me his version of those events.

  Here it is 🙂

  Okay – well now Joey has weighed in with his version of the events on Saturday night – 🙂

  Ok I see that these stories are very one sided here.   I thought that it was only fair to get a third  view to the way this  event  played out .   To  get the full feel of this story we need to  go back a few hours  before the  parade.  This is when I realized  that I had exhausted all of my options and  I was going to have to do this parade because Beau wasn’t going to budge.  We  left eating lunch with Judy around 3 pm and  we are about 1 hour early so Beau decides that we need gasoline.  So we will just run over to the Smoke Shop and  then head over to meet Dione at the “police station”  (wherever that is –  am not from Paducah).   So we got some gas and killed a bit of time.  We then decide to head over to the rally point  – the time is about 4 pm.  It is a good 30 minutes before we have to  meet – we should have plenty of time.  Little did I know every street was closed and we ran into a stampede of humiliated and angry horses wearing deer antlers.  I had to coach Beau around all the horses and then we finally made it to our destination.

  Afterwe got out of the car and walked 2 blocks in the wrong direction (because Beau doesn’t know what street we actually parked on) we realize that Dione is watching us.  She is two blocks away – standing in the middle of the street and waving.  As I am looking in her direction I am looking for the  big Dippin’ Dots  float.  To my surprise it is a flat bed truck with wooden rails, one strand of Christmas lights on it, and  a Dippin’ Dots pre-pack man with a  Christmas hat on.  I think to myself it’s a recession and times are hard but how much are a few extra lights anyway?  We finally make it to the float and I see Dione with 5 stockings with candy and coupons in them.  I do some very quick  math in my head and see that it is just Me, Beau, Dione, Nancy and Luke is the Pre-pack .  This is when I found out that I would have to Juggle both coupons and candy in the parade. 

  OKAY so its go time the moment of truth we are about to get started.  I have my candy and my coupons ready!  I  took off one of my gloves so I could have the best possible  grip  because it was a strict rule that we only hand out 2 pieces of candy per child.   The float basically takes off like we are in some kind of drag race.  I am handing candy and coupons out as fast as I can. You see I never had the time to look up to see where anyone else was – I was  totally focused on my task to give out candy and coupons.  I am rushing along as I hand out candy I am getting the usual response from kids (thank you and a lot of Merry Christmas’s) but when I had out the Dippin’Dot coupons I see the kids just light up and they are saying “sweet Dippin’ Dots”  I think to myself  I need to hurry before they find out its only 1 dollar off  and not free Dippin’ Dots. 

  It is about  5 min into the parade when I realize that the float is getting really far away from me.  So, I start to ditch the candy as quick as I can and try to catch up to the float.  At this moment I realize that  I am supposed to be helping out Dippin’ Dots so I better hand out  the coupons and let Beau hit the kids with candy.  So I give him my candy bag and try focus on the coupons. 

  I am  handing out  coupons as fast as humanly  possible.  My left  hand is cramped and now stuck to the stocking while my right hand is frozen solid.  But  I am still pushing forward  handing out coupons.   I finally gave up trying to keep up with the float and just let it get away.  I  look  up and I see Broadway Methodist church – I am way behind and have no chance of catching up.  This is when I run out of coupons right  in the middle of a group of kids.  After being  verbally abused for running out of coupons by an 8 year old kid I take off in a sprint to catch up with the float scared now that they are going to leave me.  After about 2  blocks I hear my name look back and see Tyler but I think to myself “no time for hugs or chit-chat I have to keep going”.  After another block I realize that I am at the end of the parade and I just give up and start walking.  I finally make it to the  float  to  find 2 coupons  for  a  free small  cup of Dippin’ Dots waiting for me.

  I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. 

  Dione says "see you next year" and leaves me standing on the corner – her limo pulls up and away she goes.  I walk back to Beau’s car – 13 blocks away.

– Joey

  Dione sent me this today – I suppose this is how things played out in "her" head.  I think the saddest part of the whole rebuttal is that we all find out Denise was never asked to help.  At least that is what I got out of it.  Perhaps tomorrow Tony will take some time and write me his version.  It is quite funny.

  So anyway – I did agree to post her rebuttal –

So I was reading my brothers blog about the 2009 Christmas Parade and there are a few holes in it that I would like to patch up!

First I never said that daddy, Jamie, Denise and Tony were going to help in the parade.  I told Beau and Joey that Deena and Danielle were going to walk with us in order to hand out candy and coupons.  This was on paper and squared away with me.  I tried to get my husband to help but he only made up excuses one after the other.  (My parents are coming down, It would be a violation of his job agreement with US Foodservice)…whatever…Then I learn that Deena has to babysit 10 5^th graders or something like that so now it is down to Beau, Joey, Danielle and me.  This is still doable in my eye’s, we might have to work a little harder but still doable. 

So we are in line at the parade parked on number 31 (that is our float number).  It is now about 4:15 or so and Beau, Joey and Danielle has not shown up.  I am getting a little nervous because if anyone knows me at all, everything needs to be ready and set to go an hour ahead of anything planned.  I don’t function well on last minute plans.  So I decide to phone Beau to see where they are at and when he answers the phone he proceeds to tell me that they thought it was the Metropolis Parade and now have to get over to Paducah in 15 minutes.  (Later I found out that was a lie that they were in Paducah but just running late)  ((Not Funny!)) 

So at around 4:40 or so Beau and Joey decide to show up and notify me that Danielle has hurt her leg and will not be joining us. (No notification from Team Danielle).        I then proceed to go into battle mode which means a whole new plan on how to give out 4,000 pieces of candy and 2,000 coupons by three people.  In my mind this is still doable but Beau and Joey will have to step up their game.  I know my limits but have never been in battle before with Beau and Joey, don’t know if they will dig down into their foxholes or go cowering behind some sandbags in the mist of it all. So I have a huddle session and remind everyone that we are representing the company and now is the time to show our true colors (which are not the rainbow colors) and hunker down.  We have to divide and conquer…Joey will take the left side of the street with his coupons and candy and I will take the right side of the street with my coupons and candy.  Beau you will have to watch us and follow behind as to where we miss the kids and then back us up by giving the kids we miss candy.  Everyone got it…and oh by the way get rid of the hoodie because your gonna scare the kids.  Beau looks like the Uni-Bomber but without sunglasses just regular glasses.  I asked if he could lose those and he looked at me like I was talking Vietnamese.  So anyway you have to pick your battles and it was too cold for that anthill.  Joey is dressed in a nice down white coat with rabbit fur around his hood which is pulled over his head so you can barely see his face in the hood.  I told them the rules…(1) No throwing candy (some kid got his eye poked out) (2) When your bag is empty go to Nancy on the back of the vehicle she will have another one ready for you (3) Only 2 candies per kid…no more…no less (4) Beau make sure you watch Joey and I so you can get the ones we miss. That’s it 4 rules…you would think that these 4 things would be easy to follow…I mean for real he is building a house with 5,000 rules and regulations that has to be met everyday in order to be compliant with the laws of the land.

So the parade is getting ready to start and we watch as numbers 1 through 30 ride pass us with floats all lighted up..Baby Jesus, Red Hatters even Mickey Mouse. I give Joey and Beau a tilt of my head upwards that this is it…here we go…we are ready!!!!

As I take off jogging beside the vehicle because you know the vehicle has to get going a little bit in order to get behind the other float there we were…pulling it off.  Some may have doubted that only the three of us could pull such a thing of this off.  I had the right hand side of the street and was pulling out candies and coupons as fast as my hands could go.  The bags weren’t opening fast enough for me so  I decided to go into Light Travel Mode and drop the candies down by the feet of all the boys and girls standing there.  This was good by the end of the first block I hand it down…Give out a few coupons while jogging still..drop candies by their feet and go…I don’t know what time it is or what block were on…I jog (still) towards Nancy to get my second bag of goodies and I look around and Beau and Jeoy are no where to be found.  ((THE FIRST BLOCK)) I look at Nancy and she just gives me this look of disappointment…then points back about 2 or 3 blocks to where you can barely see a White Rabbit Fur Lines coat walking casually or maybe skipping alongside the children passing out 1 coupon per child or adult.  As I look again I don’t see Beau anywhere.  So I grab the second bag of candies and go back to my side thinking…they will catch up…they are strong men…they have to dig in dig in dig in!!!!  As the parade moves on I am ok…not great but ok…still jogging (sometimes running) (ok the vehicles are going a little fast) but the right side is ok….I work on my 3^rd bag of candy and am now out of coupons…I look back to see if I can see any sign of the soldiers ( I mean team mates) and I see a distance red coat about 3 floats back.  I wave him on that he needs to catch up…as he comes running up his bag is empty and I can only imagine how many disappointed kids are on the sidelines.  (Still don’t see Joey) So he grabs another bag and proceeds to whine about the situation and as I tell him to be quiet and just go to the left side I turn and hit back into battle on the right side.  The vehicle is now about 10 or 20 yards in front of us and the children are watching as Dippin’ Dots vehicle with Nancy on the back of the vehicle with all this candy is just sitting there and they are all screaming “Throw The Candy” “Throw The Candy”  she tries to yell back to them saying they are coming around they are coming…but after about 6 or 7 blocks of this she gets mad and throws candy at some kids while shouting at them “I’M NOT SUPPOSE TO THROW CANDY BUT THERE! “

So about half way through the parade I realize it is all up to me…I can either let these kids down or give them what they came for “Candy and Coupons” …as I was now running to both sides of the street because (Beau is still 3 or 4 floats back and is now pretty much giving out candy for the Red Hatters or Congregational Holiness Church whichever float is he running alongside of now) it is up to me and me alone to work both sides of the street while trying not to be run over by the float behind me which is in no way slowing down for me.  I run to the right and (Throw…I mean Toss) candy at the feet of as many kids as I can hit.  Then I run to the left side and try to (Throw…I mean Toss) as much candy down as I could because now I’m working in groups…forget the individual kids…it is fend for yourself…if you can get to the handfuls of candy I can (Throw …I mean Toss) down at someone’s feet then go for it…May the Strong Survive!  I’m looking for clusters now…clusters of kids who I can get to while running back and forth from the right to the left and then back to Nancy for refills…I’m going and going…and then a hear a faint “Hey Babe!”…I think its my imagination…I’m hot, tired, back is sore and I’m dreaming…Then I hear it again…”Hey Babe!”…I look up and there is my husband standing near the end of the parade in a warm scarf, gloves hat and coat…I grab a handful of candy and THROW it directly at him trying to hurt the only body I can hurt without being arrested as I run by still looking for clusters of kids.  So we get to the end of the parade in which Beau now comes up and goes wow didn’t know it was going to be that fast.  I look at him with as much disappointment as Nancy had riding on the back of that cold vehicle just watching as our chances of being the best Dippin’ Dots team in history goes down the drain.  I am now walking behind the vehicle trying to catch my breath in 24 degree weather wondering what went wrong.  Where did I go wrong?  As we turn the corner to stop the vehicle Joey walks (skips, whatever) and says “I handed out Every Last One of the coupons!”  I just look at him.  I want to cry but its to cold so I just look at them and think to myself I am related to them…no matter what I’m related to them and there is no way out of this.   

  Well, It was another successful Christmas parade in Paducah.  Several thousand spectators turned out to catch a glimpse of the famous Dippin’Dots helium balloon.  Dione was somehow placed in charge of candy distribution.  She had about 10 people lined up to hand out candy and coupons.  The list of family members participating was quite impressive.  When I first got the text a few days ago she told us that Deena, Danielle, Tyler, Tony, Tommy, Denise, Jamie, daddy, mother and a number of other people would be helping and had already signed up.  So, of course, Joey and I were more than happy to help out – since the rest of the family was going to be there.

  The biggest task was going to be making sure we had plenty of candy to go around and not to crowd each other out in trying to make sure there were not too many of us handing out candy to the same kids.

  Dione told us to be there at 4:30 this evening – and not to be late.  The parade started at 5 pm.  So, we arrived at 4:20 pm.  It was cold.  When we arrived it was Nancy and her – then Luke was dressed up in the Dippin’Dot costume.  That was it.  Apparently nobody else other than the drivers were helping.  The rest of the family said that we were tricked into believing that everyone was going to help.  Actually the word sucker was used more than once.  So – it was just Joey and myself.

  Then apparently Dione didn’t care for my hoody attire and made me put on a black ski-hat.  Said she didn’t want me scaring the kids with the hoody.  Not that anybody could see anything since it was going to be dark outside.  But, whatever – being Christmas and all I figured I would go along with whatever.  I was looking for the Santa hats that we were promised and the blinky holiday lights to go around our neck.  Those were crossed off the marketing budget, though.  At least that is what Dione said.

  Dione gave us strict instructions to not throw any candy.  Something about putting an eye out.  I remember when I was a kid we used to have candy thrown at us all of the time – and it never impacted any of us in a negative manner.  But, whatever.  Also reminded us that we were representing the company.  Even though we don’t work there.  Around 5:20 or so the parade got started.  At least that is when float number 31 joined in (that was ours).  We had stockings full of candy and coupons to hand out.  Nobody told us that the float would be moving at 30 mph the entire route and we would be expected to run a marathon to keep up with them.

  After about 45 seconds I looked up and nobody was to be seen.  There was some float with a manger scene passing me by – minus the baby Jesus doll who had fallen out into the street.  I was just about out of candy.  I looked and thought – well the float must be behind us.  So, I looked down the street.  None of this looked familiar.   Apparently our float was 2 or 3 blocks ahead of us.  I ran and ran and ran to catch back up.  I was hot by then – I had long john underwear on – three shirts – hat – gloves – and a coat.  Grabbed another bag of candy and started the process all over again.  I was determined this time to stay with the float. 

  After a couple of minutes I looked up and the float was already three or four blocks down the street – again.  I was out of candy.  These kids were looking at me with their hands stretched out and wondering where their handful of candy was.  I told them I was out.  Next thing I know I was being pummeled with rocks and chased down the street.  I finally caught back up with the float and was handed another stocking of candy.  I heard Dione mumble something about being too slow and that I would probably not be meeting my candy quote – also would probably not be asked again to help out if I couldn’t keep up with the float and candy demand.

  This process was repeated about six or seven times.  I ran half the parade route to keep up.  I still don’t know where Joey is.  I assume he is somewhere down on 34th street.  It will be a miracle if he ever catches up with us.

  After it was all over Dione handed us a coupon for a free small container of Dippin’Dots.  I guess the reward is in the smiling kids faces who received all of the free candy (especially the ones at the very end who got handfuls of whatever was left over). 

 
Our float

  Joey’s cousin, Edward, died suddenly Sunday morning of a heart attack.  He was only 48 years old.  Joey’s dad and Edward were very close and did a lot of arrowhead hunting together.  The death came as a shock to the family.  He had not been sick.

  Condolences go out to everyone in the family and I hope they can find some peace in the coming days and weeks.

Wow – I don’t know how to feel when I see this photo.

Sort of a mixed feeling.  Sad to see him with a gun like that.  Happy to know that he is defending every freedom we have.  Worried to know where he might end up in all of this.  Proud to him taking steps to make his life better.  Concerned for his mom – knowing she will worry.  Patriotic for seeing him in uniform.  Mixed feelings for sure.

In the end I think I feel more proud of him than I have ever felt before.

You go Dylan!!!!  We love you!!!

  Have not had time to really update the blog,  Been up at the farm most days and sometimes evenings.  Trying to get everything finished – Bobby and his crew have been working hard at getting all of the little things finished.  Judy painting – landscapers planting bushes – concrete being poured – Jason/Jess and I have been getting the cameras and weather instruments running – floors are being touched up here and there – Dale and his crew have been installing cabinets and shelves – it is all coming together.

  The schedule is calling for everything to be finished this week.  Then the cleaners will come in and clean the inside and outside of the house – top to bottom. 

  I will be so happy when the project is finished.  It has definitely been a very long few weeks and months – for everyone.  I am sure Tony will be thrilled to have everything finished, as well.  Almost there – very close.

  Looks like rain will move in on Sunday and then a chance for rain or snow mid-week and again later this weekend.  Active pattern shaping up with multiple storm systems to watch.

  Thanksgiving was wonderful – spent it at my sisters.  Most of the family was there during the afternoon and well into the evening.  We missed Dylan who is away at boot camp in Oklahoma.  He did get to call, though.  I think he is homesick.

   I put all of the Thanksgiving photos here

Tony’s niece

Peaceful

Ashton

Tommy and Ashton

Tyler

Daddy telling Tyler how to play Mafia Wars

  It has been a VERY busy week.  Seems like every single day has been filled from morning to late at night.  I guess that is good.  Keeping busy keeps my mind off rushing everything.  🙂

  Dylan left the other day for Oklahoma.  He flew out of St Louis.  We all went up there to see him off.  I don’t know if he was nervous or not.  He didn’t seem like he was.  I think he will be relieved once he arrives and gets settled in.  I am sure he is in for a long journey!  Hopefully it will be good for him.  I know having your school paid for will definitely be a plus.

  The house is moving along quickly.  Looks like everything will be finished next week – the week after Thanksgiving.  Then we clean everything up and move in.  Just in time for winter?  Looks that way.  Hints that winter will quickly arrive on the charts.  We will have to see if we can squeeze some snowflakes out of the sky!

  Jason and Jess are coming up tomorrow – we are going to do some major work on getting the weather instruments, cameras, scanners, and weather radios up and running.  Should be a great day as far as moving forward with all of the weather stuff.  I am excited about that – of course!!!!

  Click image for larger photos…

Getting ready to leave for St Louis.  Chilly Wednesday.

Tyler and Dylan

Tyler – Dylan – Deena at my house before we left

Getting ready to leave

Moving out

Off to St Louis – cloudy and cool day.

Dylan in St Louis

Street performer that met us on the sidewalk outside of where we ate dinner.
At least he said he was a street performer.  Tyler liked his song and dance.

Mother Judy and Dylan

Lynne, Dylan, Quinton, and Payton

Dylan and me before he left for Oklahoma

Tyler with the artsy fish

Dylan

Dylan and Deena

Dylan in St Louis

Payton and Tyler

Deena – Tyler – Dylan – Tony

Dylan

  Wow – this week has been crazy.  End of the project – everything is coming together.  Just a TON of little and big things to finish up.  Looks like we are moving along nicely, though.  Still looks like the middle of December for the move in date.  Perhaps we will know a bit more after this week.  We shall see.

  Dale Watson has been working on getting all of the kitchen cabinets together – also the living room pieces have arrived – along with the library units.  Looks like another 8 days to complete all of that.  Could be a bit longer – unsure.

  Bobby and his crew have been working on a little bit of everything.  Trim – painting – benches on the third floor – sun room – steps – endless list. 

  Tony was up several times this week checking on everything.  He is good at finding problems areas. 

  Jess saw six deer today – I think she can see better than me.  I saw a couple.  There were a bunch out today – guess they were eating whatever was left from the combines. 

  Jason and Jess came up today to help with some of the shelving units for the weather room/media closet.  Trying to start to pull all of that together.  Hopefully we can get the web cams running next week – we shall see.  Would also like to get the weather instruments up and running.  One step at a time.  Still going to be a bit longer before all of that is ready.  Might be able to get the weather web site finished by December.

  Jason is coming back next week to see about getting the cameras going.  I will be anxious to see all of those in action.  We will be able to follow the deer around with the Sony cameras.  🙂

  Precision Audio has been pulling together some of the tv sets and electronic equipment.  They are moving right along.  ADS has also been working hard to get everything finished.

  Some photos from the last few days

Solar panels are ready to be placed.  Concrete should be dry by now.

Lot of people working the last few days – most I think we have ever had up there

Master bedroom – ready to hang tv set

Third floor – getting things unpacked for the family room

Weather room

Dale Watson – working on kitchen cabinets

Tony Crouch – pretending to install a light 😛

Reed Electric installing lights

Bobby and Tony

Tony C – these big lights will illuminate the house when there is something
interesting like – SNOW – falling from the sky!

Reed Electric – installing lights

Dale Watson and crew installing kitchen cabinets

Bobby Reed – installing one of the big lights out front

Reed Electric

Kitchen cabinets are moving along

Rusty from Precision Audio – installing a tv in the weather room

Kitchen

We are putting lights on top of the observation deck – third floor.  Then when
it is snowing or raining I can turn them on and watch it 🙂  Or when we do
something in the back yard.

Time to start on the media closet.  We got the internet running – well
Tony got the T line working 🙂

Reed Electric

Tony working on the media closet

Reed Electric working on the lights for the top of the house

Beautiful Friday the 13th 🙂

Kitchen

Installing the farm sink in the kitchen

The farmers sink we got in Tennessee

One of the tv sets has been hung in the weather center room

Halo

Click for large image

Trenching for some more wires – front yard lights

Kitchen

Weather center room – three monitors are up for WPSD – ABC – CBS
These will come in handy during severe weather outbreaks.

Time to bring up the back up power supply units

These are the big lights on top of the house – back.  Will be awesome
during snowstorms.  🙂

Media closet will soon fill up – all of the
OEM and weather instruments will run
out of here.

Jason and Jess Darnall helping to put together the shelving units for
the computers and back up power supply units.

Jason Darnall helping to pull
together the weather center

Jason Darnall

And it is coming together.  These units
will power the computers when the power goes
off – before the generator kicks in or in case
the generator doesn’t kick in.

Click for larger image – evening at the farm.

Click for large image

  Busy few days up at the farm.  Got up this morning at 5 something – got everything ready and headed to the farm.  The floors are dry – today was the first day back in the house.  It has been a couple of weeks.  🙂  The floors look awesome!  We love them.  They did a great job. 

  Dale Watson from Watson Woodworking brought the kitchen cabinets up today – also the fireplace and the library shelves.  All of that should be installed in the next couple of weeks.  Probably going to take 8-10 days to finish.  Depending.

  Concrete work will start tomorrow – and that will be finished next Wednesday.

  Also the weather center is slowly being put together.  When Jason gets back home next week we might start working on some of the cameras and weather instruments – get the internet running.

  Lot going on!  Moving along quickly. 

  Some photos from today – click on any image to make it larger.

 
Jason Hark with MAAPS – solar panels

Jason Hark with MAAPS – solar installers

Jason Hark – digging the hole for the solar panels

Installing the pole for the solar panels

Jason Hark installing the solar panel pole

Concrete arrives

Today was the first day back in the house – exciting 🙂

The floors are finished 🙂  Click for larger images – master bedroom

Dining room and kitchen

Third floor family room

Weather room – ready to get going on the monitors

Living room

Downstairs

Weather center 🙂

Dale Watson and Leann arrive – Watson Woodworking – delivering the cabinets and library

Kitchen cabinets

Kitchen is filling up 🙂

Library shelves

Living room

  Today is mother and Deena’s birthday 🙂  SO – HAPPPPPPPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! 

Click image for larger sizes

Mother and Joey

Click for larger images

Dylan walking downtown Paducah

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS92098+02-Nov-2009+BW20091102

and Yahoo News!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Can-Virtual-Worlds-Provide-bw-1253154612.html?x=0&.v=1

October 2009 – One for the record books.
– Beau Dodson

Absolutely stunning numbers for the month of October.  I don’t believe that I can ever recall an October that produced such widespread heavy rainfall.  And it wasn’t just one or two systems – repeatedly the storm track brought persistent moderate to heavy rains to a large portion of the central and southern United States.

October is normally one of the drier months in western Kentucky.  Far from it this year.  Many area farmers will be happy to close this chapter of weather history.

KFVS Channel 12, WSIL TV 3, and WPSD TV 6 all reported widespread heavy rain totals from their viewers and weather watchers during the month of October.  Frequently the rain was either a top news story or a headline during the news broadcasts.   Forecasters ran out of descriptive superlatives for the weather.  More often than not, news anchors used the words "broken record" to describe the ongoing precipitation events.

In Massac County I recorded 5 events that produced between 1-2"+ amounts.  A total monthly rainfall of 11.35".  Quite amazing.  The Paducah, Kentucky NWS Office recorded a total of 10.55" of rainfall.  This was 7.10" above normal.  Preliminary monthly data report from the NWS Office in Paducah, KY.

Some other rainfall totals from around our region included:  Carbondale, Illinois reported a total of  9.80" of rain.  Evansville, Indiana reported a total of 8.21" of rain.  Cape Girardeau, Missouri reported a total of 10.38" of rain.  Poplar Bluff, Missouri reported a total of 13.23" of rain.  Owensboro, Kentucky reported 5.47" of rain.

At least a trace of rainfall was recorded on 15 days during the month of October at the weather observatory in northern Massac County!  Many other days were cloudy.  Residents of the region regularly complained about the  lack of sunshine.  Farmers were forced out of their fields while they waited for drier ground conditions.  Moist conditions left corn and soybeans, as well as other crops, molding in the fields.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the combination of a late planting season and an unusually cool, wet fall caused one of the latest harvests in recent memory. On October 26th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said just 20% of the corn crop had been harvested in the major corn-producing states, compared with 58% on average by this point in 2004 through 2008. Farmers also had brought in just 44% of the soybean crop, versus 88% on average over the past five seasons. – sourced at link above

Not only was the month of October wet, it was also unusually cool.  Although we did not record a freeze, here in Massac Couinty, we did have frost on two occasions.  The cloudy sky conditions during the month kept temperatures below to well below normal.

October 2009 will go down as one of the wettest Octobers at the National Weather Service Office in Paducah, Kentucky.  It was the 6th coolest October on record.  The National Weather Service Office in Paducah, Kentucky recorded 10.55" of rain.  This precipitation total shattered the old record of 7.37" which fell during October of 1998.

Other National Weather Service Offices summarized the month as quite extreme.   There are simply too many stories to post.

I recorded rainfall during a 24 hour period starting at 9 am and ending at 9 am on the following dates:

October 2,   0.42"
October 5,   0.05"
October 7,   2.32"
October 9,   2.38"
October 10, 0.61"
October 14, 0.41"
October 15, 1.31"
October 16, 0.02"
October 17, 0.03"
October 18, 0.01"
October 23, 0.98"
October 27, 0.11"
October 28, 0.96"
October 30, 0.42"
October 31, 1.35"

The recording station in northern Massac County

Very little in the way of severe weather was reported in the KPAH forecast region.  One date – October 8th – had 1 wind report logged on the SPC storm report page.  That report came from Trigg County, Kentucky.  Damage to outbuildings and trees on a farm were logged by the NWS Office in Paducah.

—–

Storm Prediction Center – Storm Reports for October 8th

A tornado watch (#761 for the year) was issued prior to the report.  Thankfully no tornadoes were reported in our local counties.

TORNADO WATCH #761

It is unlikely that we will experience an October quite like the October of 2009 for some time to come.

Some of the impressive climate data maps from the High Plains Regional Climate Center.  Although these maps may not be exact – they do give you a general idea of just how extreme this month was.

The above map shows total Precipitation for the month of October.  You can see the large area of green and yellow.  Most of that area recorded record or near record rainfall totals for the month.

The above map shows precipitation totals over the central United States for the month of October.
Our region experienced widespread 6-11"+ amounts.  Portions of southern Illinois have recorded more
than 50 inches of rainfall so far this year (reported by Jim Rasor of WSIL TV 3).  According to record keepers this is the second year in a row for totals that high.  Reportedly, this is the first time that has occurred in record keeping history (for some locations in southern Illinois).

The above map shows precipitation totals over the southern United States for the month of October.
Some areas of Arkansas experienced more than 20 inches of rainfall during the month of October.
Numerous flash flood warnings were issued for large chunks of Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana.  This wet weather came on the heels of a September record flood event in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Several of the precipitation events, during the month of October, were influenced by the remnants of tropical activity that spread into the United States from the Pacific Ocean (Olaf and Rick).  Very little in the way of Atlantic tropical weather influenced the rainfall totals over the central and southern United States.

The above map shows the departure of precipitation from normal values.  The green, blue, and purple areas are anywhere from 1-16+ inches above normal.

This map is zoomed in on our region.  You can see the extreme departure numbers.  Rainfall totals were anywhere from 3-7+ inches above normal.  Quite amazing to see such widespread above normal precipitation totals.  This has caused many rivers and streams to flood.  Again, quite unusual for October of any year.

This map is zoomed in on our region.  Once again you can see the extreme departure numbers.  Rainfall totals were anywhere from 3-15+ inches above normal.

An even more amazing map is the percentage departure from normal maps.  This map indicates what percentage areas are above normal in the rainfall department.  For an area to be 40-50% above normal in rainfall would be considered significant.  Areas on this map are anywhere from 100-600%+ above normal.  Not only is that incredible it would likely be nearly impossible to find anything quite like it from recent record keeping.

Equally significant, on this map, is the widespread nature of the above normal percentage areal coverage.  Extreme.

The same map zoomed in on our local region. Rainfall totals of 150-300% above normal.

Areas just south of us are even more wet.  Extreme percentage totals such as this are causing a lot of concern about upcoming flood potential during the winter and spring months.  If weather patterns continue to produce above normal precipitation then it is possible that the flood season of 2010 will be one to remember.  Let’s hope not.

Long term drought indicator blends – from the National Drought Mitigation Center

Not to forget temperatures.  Another important story of October 2009.  A large section of the United States recorded below to much below normal temperatures.  This was partially because of the number of precipitation events that kept cloud cover at a maximum.  The lack of sun produced below normal temperatures.

There were several notable early season snow events across the Rocky Mountains, the Northern Plains, and even the Northeast United States.

The above map shows departure from normal temperatures.  Widespread -1 to -10 degree departures were recorded.  A monthly temperature departure of negative or positive of 2 or 3 degrees is considered quite significant.  To see such a large area of below normal temperatures is impressive.

In looking for a comparison year, Meteorologist – Larry Cosgrove, posted this map on his winter outlook.  October of 2002 appears similar in terms of temperature departures for much of the United States.  Although, there were some other upper air differences that year.

—-

October of 2002 had similar cold conditions over the United States.

Temperature departure maps zoomed in on our local region.  Much cooler than normal conditions prevailed for much of the month of October.  Nineteen days of below normal temperatures were recorded at the Paducah, Kentucky National Weather Service Office.

Temperature departure maps for the southern United States.

Temperature departure maps for the central United States.

And finally one last map from the Agriculture Department.  Widespread above normal streamflow
conditions are being reported over a wide area of the United States.  Again, this is a concern for
upcoming flood potential during the winter and spring months.

– Summary by Beau Dodson

Other reports –

Top 5 coldest Octobers on record for Kansas City
Springfield, Missouri – WET
Omaha, Nebraska – coldest/wettest/snowiest
Des Moines, Iowa – cold and wet
Chicago, Illinois More
Near record wet in Illinois
Twin Cities, Minnesota – one for the record books
Goodland, Kansas – coldest

  We had a blast last night at Deena and Tony’s house.  They had a going away party for Dylan.  Also a Halloween party.  There was a bonfire, hot dogs, cookies, candy, popcorn balls, cup cakes, and a bunch of other food!  Not sure how many people were there – a lot!  Everyone had a great time.  Deena and Tony’s new house looks awesome.  They moved in pretty fast!!!!  Hope I can move in that fast. 

  Tony took the kids on a hay ride – well actually a blanket ride as there wasn’t much hay on the back of the trailer.  Dylan dressed up in a gorilla costume to scare the kids. 

  We didn’t get home until after 2 am!  I think I finally got to bed around 3:30 in the morning. 

  Dylan is going into the military this month.  He will leave around the middle of the month.  It will be awhile until he will be able to come back home.

Mother making cookies for the party

Danielle with one of her ghostly cookie friends

Tyler and Bubba – Halloween 2009

Deena getting cookies out of the oven

Lynne – Deena – Payton

Lori – Lori’s niece – daddy at Dylans going away party

Tony getting ready to take the kids on a hay ride

Tony pulling the kids behind his 4-wheeler

We had a gorilla jump on board about half-way through the ride.
I think the monkeys name was Dylan 🙂

Hay ride – errr monkey ride

Danielle with some of her friends – including Payton on the lower left.

Our friend Denise and her family.

Tommy and Dione made a guest appearance 🙂

I won’t name names

Everyone had  a great time at the party!

Someone had to cook dinner

Daddy and Lori getting ready to make some dinner 🙂

Lori and daddy roasting hot dogs.

Daddy – Lori – Lynne – Payton

Dylan with one of his friends at the party

Denise and her family – Tony and Deena on the back right.

Tony with his parents

Bon fire – camp fire 🙂

Quinton and Dylon Hillebrand

Denise helping Joey with his errr well done hot dogs. 

Tony with Rob and Shanna

  Well, the wet weather continues.  We have picked up over 10" of rain since October 1st.  Just insane.  More rain will fall today.  Most likely 1.5-3 inches of rain will fall today.  This will add to our totals.  Flash flood watches and warnings are in effect for most of our local counties.

  Enough on the weather – who cares about the rain?  🙂

  The house is moving along.  We went up there yesterday and the floors had one or two layers of stain (I call it stand but they call it something else) on them.  We could not go in the house – can’t go in for another seven days.  They need time to dry.  What we could see – on the stairs – looked nice, though.  Hopefully they will dry quickly and we can move on to the next stage.

  Still looks like late November into December before we move.  Hoping for a smooth move.  It is stressful – a bit.  But, we are getting there.  I will be glad to get settled in.  Will take some time to unpack and get everything up and running.

  Going to spend Halloween at Deena and Tony’s house.  They are having a going away party for Dylan.  He has joined the National Guard.  He leaves in November and will be gone for several months.  I believe he is able to come home for Christmas.

  We had a lot of rain over the last week or so.  Rained a bit on Friday morning  – just enough to create a rainbow in the sky.  It was pretty cool.  I was sitting in the back of my SUV waiting on someone when a squally line of showers passed through.  Then the sun came out to my south and created a rainbow to the north of the farm.

Stormy early morning sky

Click for larger image

Rain

Rainbow

October days

Evening at the farm

  Danielle had a big cheer leading event on Sunday afternoon.  They will be going into competition starting later this month and next month.  I believe they go to Nashville and several other places.

  She did a great job yesterday!!

Diploma from Mississippi State University