80.4F and sunny @ 13:30, feels like 85.1F, DP 73.8 ... headed up to a high of ... 80F.
Rain which was forecast for the overnight did not materialize ...
Still under a risk of severe thunderstorms until 08:00 Friday morning.
Next opportunity for rain appears to be on Sunday with around a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms.
Would have liked to have had the rain for the lawn and the plants, but on the other hand the pad on the south side of the pole barn is not a muddy mess and the rest of it should be dry enough that getting the Kubota back in there won't be a problem.
Got quite a bit done on the pad yesterday, hauling more soil down and compacting it as best I could. Some parts are still too moist and it's like driving over foam or rubber. Good news is if no rain it will continue to dry/drain and firm up further.
Woman came over and trimmed back all the wild raspberry vines back and we raked up most of the debris and organic matter which I hauled up to the burn and compost piles. Also removed two 10' and 15' tall saplings (oak and ash), although the larger one broke off at the base and the stump will have to be dug out.
Next items on agenda for over there will be to clean up all the debris on the backside, check slope on the surface drain pipes, adjust if necessary, and then get those backfilled. Also a little more spraying to kill off any weeds that haven't fully died off yet. Wind seem fairly light at this point so may be able to get to that today.
Gutters also need cleaned out and gutter covers installed. And move a bunch of rocks ...
Woman and I got garden all weeded yesterday, she said she saw a groundhog out there this morning eating the tomato plants ... so get the t-posts installed might happen later.
Checked Nest Box No. 5 last night just before we came in, found three dead cicadas in it ...
Pulled the old valve off the water buffalo last night and got the hose nipple installed on the new valve, couldn't get the pipe nipple and 2" fitting off the other side ... do that today up in the shop with the vise.
Doesn't compare with Ron's outstanding photography, but I got one of this little guy at the feeder yesterday:
Hope everyone has an enjoyable, productive, and safe day ...
