The scurs got the new part installed then erred when hooking the control cables on the Weather Eye back up. Who knew the instructions for a ’74 Gremlin would be written in Chinese? Will they find a translator in time for the kindly neighbors’ 50th wedding anniversary? Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60’s and lows near 50. Thursday, mostly sunny with a slight chance of an evening shower or thunderstorm. Highs again in the upper 60’s with lows in the mid-50’s. Becoming more interesting on Friday as humidity returns under cloudy skies and with it a good chance of a shower or thunderstorm as the say wears on. Highs near 70 and lows in the upper 50’s. Cloudy becoming partly sunny on Saturday with a good chance of a lingering shower or thunderstorm in the forenoon. Highs in the low 70’s and highs in the mid-50’s. Sunday, absolutely gorgeous under mostly sunny skies with highs around 70 and lows in the low 50’s. Partly cloudy on Monday with highs in the low 70’s and lows near 50. Continued sunshine for Tuesday with highs again in the low 70’s and lows around 50. The sun will rise after 7 a.m. on the 22nd. For September 23rd, the first day of autumn this year, the normal high is 70 and the normal low is 46. The scurs could get the leaf blower tuned up, although it’s much easier to let the wind and lawnmower solve the problem.

The frost on the 13th was likely not technically a killing frost, but it certainly caused a lot of panic once the widespread nature was discovered. While frost was noticeable as far south as Kansas and Nebraska the markets shrugged it off Monday morning as a minor event. How bad was the damage? Good question and one that won’t be answered, unfortunately, until combines roll. The frost injury varied so much across the landscape with elevation as well as with variety or hybrid that trying to figure it out could just about drive one batty. Much of the corn was already ½ milk line or approaching maturity on the early planting so the damage should be minimal on that. Probably the most disappointing thing about it was many of the upper pods we had great hope for on the soybeans were suddenly nipped, taking much of the top end out of the soybean crop locally. Along with that no rhyme nor reason to it. Areas of replants in the low spots were hardly touched while some soybeans in upland areas froze hard. It’s a mystery sometimes and frequently not one worth spending time on as knowing that really doesn’t matter. 

The frost pattern at the ranch followed suit with what was seen in the fields. Areas and plants that should’ve been killed were spared. Impatiens in a pot in the road ditch where the frost stayed on several hours were untouched. The garden itself where it was on the west side of the trees and the frost stays on typically escaped relatively unscathed. This is also where the tomatoes reside and we covered nothing. About the only thing getting dinged by the frost was the coleus in some of the pots up by the house. The odd thing there was the lack of any frost in the grass by the house.

The orioles must’ve seen the frost coming as the last one was spotted on the 8th. There is still some jelly left in the feeder but the nuthatches and red-bellied woodpeckers seem to be cleaning it up. Won’t be long and we’ll put the suet feeder back out for them. The hummingbirds continue to be guests although their numbers may be starting to tail off after the frost. Last year we had them until the last few days in September so will keep the nectar feeders cleaned and filled for a while yet. Goldfinches are numerous both in the yard and in the CRP around the pond. There are lots of composites down there with plenty of seeds for their dining pleasure. Took a quick peek at the pond area only to find it void of ducks that a few weeks ago had been raising a ruckus. Canada geese however have zoned in on the wheat field harvested across the road at the Dubya’s so morning and evening we are treated to goose music.

The fall garden produce has started to take shape. The first of the radishes hit the table Monday night so Mrs. Cheviot insisted on a radish sandwich. The radishes have some power although they are sweeter than usual. Alas it appears the fall veggie experiment will not yield the fruit it did last season. The snap peas have yet to flower although the warmer temps may help that along. Even the winter radishes are taking their sweet time about getting rolling. Oh well, there are plenty of things to eat still to come. The carrots haven’t been touched yet and the greens are getting closer to eating size.

The show sheep came back off the circuit on Sunday as the folks who’d been showing them brought them home to us. In the meantime we had to take a few more head over to the kindly neighbors’ pasture. This has been a great summer for pasture as the ewes are generally fat and look like we’ve been feeding them shell corn. They do get some vegetable leftovers at home and at the other pasture dine on bur oak acorns. It was later afternoon when the show sheep arrived and after being champions in three different states, they were in good rig. Not much different at feeding time than the lambs that had been on full feed actually as they dove into the grain trough just like they’d never left the ranch. 

See you next week…real good then.