Monday, May 26, 2014

Memorial weekend and stuff


Memorial weekend marks the beginning of summer and the weather kicked it off right. Beautiful blue skies and temperatures in the upper 70's to lower eighties with nice breezes made a perfect weekend for cookouts and Spring camp cleaning. Most of the camps seemed to have people up this weekend and it was good to catch up with so many. 
The bears are definitely out with many a sighting. I haven't talked to anyone who has seen snaggle nose our infamous bear who had about half his face ripped off about five years ago. So if any of you have seen him let me know for now he is MIA. 
Mick's camp is up for sale by owner so if you are in the area and interested you can get the contact information off the sign. Next weekend is the road rally, so for those of you who don't like this event and wish to come to the quiet of the woods avoid coming up at all cost. 
The road coming up from Cedar Run the first two miles is in awful shape. I am requesting everyone who uses this road to call 1-800 FIX ROAD or 1-800-349-7623. You can let them know from the intersection of SR414 and SR4009 the first mile is in Brown twp, Lycoming Co. the second mile is in Morris Twp, Tioga Co. the road name changes from Leetonia Rd. to Cedar Run Rd during those two miles and the state should have it as SR 4009. It is like going through a mine field of potholes. None of the ditches or pipes have been cleaned out for years so the water flows across the road and ruins it. I call every Spring otherwise it doesn't get fixed, so if everyone calls maybe they will get out here faster. Thanks to all who will do this and my car thanks you. The rest of Leetonia Rd to Leetonia is being worked on by Elk Township.
Hope you all had a great weekend. I know all who came to Leetonia this weekend had a wonderful time. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Rain and rising water

Apple tree in bloom
If you get this post by email you won't see the video go directly to Lost in Leetonia if you want to see it. We have gone quickly from snow white to brown to Spring green over the last couple weeks. The temperatures have swung as much as 40 degrees in a day. Our apple tree usually blooms on Mother's day and was a bit slow this year, but is making up for lost time.
It rained so hard last night it was deafening. I awoke to see the creeks along our house swollen and the new bridge getting a work out. Pine Creek made it to 9 feet but is now backing down if we don't get anymore rain. Wind came with the storm yesterday and took out our power for a few hours and of course there are a lot of people up at camps.
Summer is the time we lose the most power the most due to tree hitting the lines. The rain soaked ground makes the root bases easier to topple in a wind storm. I am getting my generator into top shape and ready for the weather.
I always forget how much work there is to do outside once the weather gets warmer. We have cut the grass once and it needs it again. It is also the time that I seem to find everything that is broken that needs repaired and the porcupines haven't helped. We saw a record 15 of them a couple weeks ago in about a 8 mile stretch. They chewed my gate and did a number on the wiring on my trailer to the point I had to rewire the entire trailer. Why can't they eat the trees and leave my stuff alone?
The bears are out more this last week. I have seen two close to the house and Lee saw three cubs coming up from Cedar Run yesterday. It is such a big change from Winter when it is quiet and cold. Now the birds are up chirping early in the morning and everything seems livelier. The trees seem to add an inch of new leaves a night and it is gradually becoming a dark summer forest again. This is the time of year to truly enjoy the woods and nature. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.