Survive!

  

Well, yes – that sounds a bit dramatic, specially to anyone living north of Dallas (aka The Frozen Northlands).  However, this weather is just TERRIBLE, AWFUL, SCARY, AND *^&%$#()!!!! COLD.

And, I’m ready for it to go away now.

While I don’t dislike a normal winter (50’s day to low 40’s night with the occasional dip to 32°), this nonsense of highs in the 20’s and dropping into the teens is unacceptable.  Of course, if I lived someplace north of Dallas, everything (like the house, water lines, my clothes) would be better able to handle these ridiculous temperatures.  But . . . .

I have been lucky though.  Haven’t lost power and hopefully won’t lose power.  And, I did shut the water off at the meter Sunday afternoon.  Not to worry though.  I live in hurricane country and know how to prepare for no water/electricity.  Filled the bath tub and every container I have with water and can flush toilets, wash hands/face, and deal with dishes.  Found my flashlights and put them in handy places.  And, since cold could be an issue, made sure all my blankets/quilts were ready to be put into use. 

630am Monday

The Demon Duo do not know what to make of that white stuff.  They stare intently through the window at it.

Yesterday morning long about 7-ish in the morning, I decided to go outside and take pictures of the snow.  (We don’t get snow very often so everyone here tends to be a bit stupid about it).  The glass door was frozen shut.  Hmmm.  Gave it a couple of good thumps and it popped open.  Wearing sweatpants/shirt and SANDALS (I live in the south!!!!!), I stepped out onto the front porch.  It was 15°.

Turned back to the glass door and - - - couldn’t open the door.  The latch was frozen.  Many things went through my mind.  I had my phone.  Could call my sister (who would still be asleep) – no.  So, I slogged around to the back yard and the shed, found a small leather mallet, and gave the latch a good whack!  And, it opened without a problem. 

No more snow but lots of ice this morning.

I am ready for it to go away.

After this, I do not know much.  Oh – I did finish a book yesterday.

Hold Back the Dark (Bishop/Special Crimes Unit) by Kay Hooper

Madness has taken ahold in Prosperity, North Carolina. Residents are killing one another, as if in a nightmare, and waking up with no memory of the monstrous acts they've committed--or why. As the death toll climbs, the local Sheriff calls for help in the form of The Special Crimes Unit. It will take all their training, all their experience, and every extra sense they can call on to get to the bottom of things in Prosperity. And as a dark pattern begins to emerge, even the most experienced and hardened SCU agents have to wonder if this is beyond their understanding.

OK – I always think I’m going to like these books.  In truth, I seldom do.  I mean each member of the SCU is a psychic.  Some have extraordinary powers.  Just the kind of book I’d like!  However, the author gives the reader a tremendous amount of descriptive information on each power each agent has – over and over again.  Also on the relationships between agents over and over again.  The actual story – the mystery – gets lost in the agent’s interactions with their abilities and with each other.  Then, it seems, the author realizes she has used up her number of words/pages and hurriedly ends the story.  Disappointing.

And, that’s all for today.  Stay warm out there everyone!  And don’t look at the news.  It’s all frustrating, irritating, sad, and stress inducing.

16 February 2021

Winter

  

So remember the other day when I posted two weather related pictures?  One of THEN and the other, COMING-SOON?

Then

Coming-Soon

 

Well, Coming-Soon is here.

Fri 12   43°/37°	Sat 13   42°/33°
Sun 14   46°/23°	Mon 15   28°/14° AM Wintry Mix
Tue 16   43°/35°	Wed 17   60°/32°
Thu 18   47°/28°	Fri 19   59°/39°
Sat 20	Spring Returns!

Please make arrangement to have it hauled back to the frozen northlands
 as soon as possible.  Thank you.

Today I started making freeze and “Wintery Mixture” plans.  Went to the other house where I turned up the heat and turned off the water.  All the topicals planted there are likely to freeze to the ground and maybe come back in the spring but not holding my breath.  At the new house, I spent several hours moving a few plants either inside or into the (now) heated shed.  Then covered all the newly planted trees and shrubs.  And finally I covered those container plants that are outside.

Said good-bye to the Pachira aquatica (or Money Tree).  It’s over 7 feet tall and too hard for me to move alone.  Pachira aquatica, is a tree that grows in the swamps of Central and South America.  I had planned to plant it in the ground eventually which would give it a better chance of surviving our usually spotty winter.  I will try to cover the container and its roots but I hold little hope for its survival. 

Today we’re supposed to have a toasty high temp of 41° though, so far (and it’s a now after 2pm) we’ve not gotten out of the 30’s.  And, I’m sure someone, somewhere is saying/thinking – “Really??? Not getting out of the 30’s – boo hoo.  Try not getting out of single digits!!” 

Yes, BUT I live in South Central Texas a mere 40 miles from the warm Gulf of Mexico. 

Whine, whine, whine.

Well, I am off to sit in my recliner with a blanket, two cats and a cut of hot tea. 

Stay warm!

11 February 2021

Safe-ish

 

Well, this Sunday past I got my 2^nd COVID shot.  Guess I’m safer - along with wearing a mask, social distancing, and staying out of crowds.

The first shot didn’t phase me even a little bit.  The second one there were some unpleasant side effects though they lasted only one day.  Monday – I slept most of the day (what my body does when it doesn’t feel 100%) and then went to bed at 830pm and slept all night.  And, today I’m back to 100%.

My knee is still a bit tender from the fall but I did go to yoga last night.  Last time I tried doing yoga, I spent much of the class sitting and meditating!  This time it was better.

I have, every year since their birth, always given/sent Valentine Day cards to my children and grandchildren.  And I got those mailed off – yep – mailed with a stamp and everything.  Doesn’t everyone enjoy getting something tangible in the mail??

Did a bit of cooking.  Several potatoes were at the point of use or toss.  So I made mashed potatoes and froze them.  Yes – they look like muffins but that’s because I freeze them in muffin tins.  Just pop into the oven and, voilà, yummy mashed potatoes!

Also made pasties with sausage and vegetables and beef stew – all of which went into the freezer for future dinners.  I don’t care too much for commercial frozen meals and it is hard to cook for just one person still.  So, I will cook a bunch of things and put them in the freezer, therefore having home-cooked meals.  Works for me.

The temperatures here have stayed in the 60-70’s; a bit cooler at night but not much. 

Today

 However, it appears we are due for a few days of winter after all.  By this weekend we are going to see low’s in the 30-20’s (Hey! I live in south central Texas – that’s cold here!).  Ugh.  Generally, I don’t mind the cold BUT this year I am not prepared, plant- or house-wise.  I’ll have to turn up the heat at the other house and make sure all exposed pipes are covered.  Additionally, I’ll have to cover newly planted things here and get the heaters hooked back up for the ones in the shed and Ellen’s shop. 

I even saw we have a chance of the dreaded ‘S’ stuff.  (Snow or gods forbid, Sleet.) 

Later This Week

Nothing very exciting here.  Just day-to-day living.  Stay warm everybody!

 9 February 2021

Thoughts and Words

  

I am highly annoyed with that groundhog.  Rather that frolic in the sun, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and dove back to his burrow. 

Here in Texas, we have our own weather prognosticator.  Armadillo Bob. 

However, this year, Bob (and his handlers) decided to take COVID seriously and chose to stay safely home.  Probably a smart thing to do.

After what has been a very mild winter for us, it seems we are going to see some cold weather this month after all.  The huge storm hitting the frozen northlands

 (and for me, the “frozen northlands” start somewhere just north of Dallas) seems to be trickling down this way.  And, while I don’t think we’ll get any snow, it is supposed to be right chilly.  Ugh. 

Yesterday was a very fun day.  Bobby and I went adventuring – this time lost cemetery hunting. 

Now, here’s my opinion on cemeteries.  They’re for the living.  Personally, I don’t think the dead care.  Their spirit either moves onto the next adventure or hangs around.  If they chose to hang around, I believe they go to people or places that were held special. 

Anyway, Wharton is a small rural town and has been since its conception in 1838.  It is surrounded by small rural communities.  Small rural places set up small cemeteries all over the place.  There are 49 documented places in Wharton County. 

Bobby mentioned the other day that he’d seen a small cemetery out in the county between Wharton (the town) and Boling.  Yes, sez I, I know about that one.  It’s odd because it’s in a small neighborhood type place.  Nope – it’s by its self was the reply.  Off we went.  And found a small very neglected cemetery. 

This makes me very sad that this place seems to hold no importance to anyone.  I wonder, did the living “do” the “right thing”, dust off their hands and walk away to never think of it again??  Did they move far away and never think of it again??  Better to have planted a tree than a fancy granite stone.

Ok, sez I, this is not the place I’ve seen.  So, off we went again.  And, lo and behold, just up the road and around the corner, found another one.  This one is located in the middle of a small neighborhood with houses on either side and one across the street.  It’s in slightly better shape although many of the headstones have broken do to ground shift, I think.

The things people put on grave markers are sometimes amusing.  “Tom the Taxi Driver”.  Not too long ago, I saw a grave marker with a fox on it.  Now, I understand the symbols for Christianity, Judaism, Freemasonry, Woodsmen of the World, Eastern Star and others.  However, I do not know the meaning of the fox.  Some research turned up this fact:

The fox is often a symbol of cunning and intelligence. In Finnish mythology, it symbolizes the victory of intelligence over both malevolence and brute strength.

Interesting, perhaps a little odd to find it on a headstone but interesting.

And, sometimes the things the living leave make me wonder.  At the base of the marker is a ball cap - maybe a Houston Astros fan?  I once left a sea shell on the grave of a young man.  When I first met him as a child, I gave him a shell and I left another there.

Then, we did some searching for a truly forgotten and buried cemetery.  This one is also out in the county between Boling and Iago. 

We stopped in front of a narrow strip of land bordered on each side by plowed fields.

Weedy doesn’t even begin to describe this.  The growth is at least knee deep, however, adventuring and all, we plunged into the weeds and brambles.  And found this

A circle of blooming Narcissus.  Hmmmmm.  Bobby felt around and uncovered this

When I got home, I did a little research and found little Albert, his parents, and siblings (all gone now), though  Albert is remembered by the flowering plants.  I also discovered this place is called the Iago Senf Cemetery and there are a bunch of people buried there.  But they seem truly forgotten about.

Walking through a cemetery is sometimes very calming, sometimes very sad, sometimes very informative, always interesting.  But, all-in-all, I still think it’s better to plant a tree rather than a stone.

 

5 Feb 2021

February

 

It’s February and I am chock full of all sorts of quasi-useless information to share.

February is named after the ancient spring festival of washing and purification, Februa.  

Historical names for February include the Old English Solmonath (mud month) and Kalemonath (cabbage month) as well as Charlemagne's designation Hornung (which seems to mean blowing a horn – I don’t know). 

It is the only month that has fewer than 30 days and . . .

is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon (last happened in 2018; next in 2037).

is the only month of the calendar that, once every six years and twice every 11 years consecutively, has four full 7-day weeks where February 1st is a Monday and the 28th is a Sunday (this occurred in 1965, 1971, 1982, 1993, 1999, 2010 and 2021). 

The zodiac signs of February are Aquarius and Pisces. 

Aquarius thinks for themself and likes to keep an open mind about things.
Aquarius has an angry side that can surprise people.
Aquarius have a bad habit of overthinking things waaaay more than they should.
Aquarius can be quite emotional but they don’t always show it to others.

Yep, I have some of those in my family.

Pisces has a BIG heart and a LOT of love to give to the world
Pisces is incredibly intuitive and they follow their instincts.
Pisces is super adaptable and able to get along with all sorts of people.
Sometimes Pisces just needs to be on their own for a while.

and, this too.

Birth flower for February is the Violet.

In Roman myth, the first violet sprung from the spilled blood of the god Attis, who killed himself for Cybele, the mother goddess.  Violets are associated with tranquility and peace. It offers protection from evil.  Carry the flowers with you to bring about luck and enhance nighttime magic.  Plus, violets are one of the many edible plants you may find in the wild or in your garden.  Violets can be candied or brewed into a water, a vinegar, or even a tea.

“Take a quantity of Blew Violets, clip off the whites and pound them well in a stone morter; then take as much fair running water as will sufficiently ainty them and mix with the Violets; strain them all; and to every halfe pint of the liquor put one pound of the best loafe sugar; set it on the fire, putting the sugar in as it melts, still stirring it; let it boyle but once or twice att the most; then take it from the fire, and keep it to your use. This is a ainty sirrup of Violets.”

Interesting to have a cookbook of ancient recipes – never know what you’ll find.

The birthstone for this month is Amethyst.  Roman matrons believed that wearing it would help to guarantee fidelity.  This calming stone allows you to quiet your mind, which can aid in sleep/meditation, so carry a small stone with you.

This is - - - -

National Bird Feeding Month  Time to dust off you bird feeder and put it out.  There are all sorts of bird food recipes but since I am seeing cardinals all over the yard, here’s one for them.

Cardinal Casserole

Raw beef suet or lard or shortening
2 cups bread crumbs
1/4 cup birdseed mix
1 cup green grapes
1/2 tsp. sand

Mix bread crumbs, bird seed mixture and green grapes. Set aside. Put beef suet through meat grinder and melt in a double boiler. Remove from heat, allow to cool and start to harden. Reheat and while in liquid form, pour 1-1/2 cups over dry ingredients. Add sand. Mix well. Put in a 5” x 3” x 1” small, foil loaf pan. Refrigerate until firm. Place on feeder tray.

National Goat Yoga Month  I kid you not, this is a thing - - -

What is Goat Yoga? Goat Yoga is just as it sounds… Yoga with goats. Goat Yoga is the newest fitness craze to hit the country! First off, it is so much fun! All you hear is laughter the whole time! Second, it brings every diverse community together! Goat Yoga is for EVERYONE!! Goats dont judge, Goats just Love! Third, Goat Yoga is good for yogi’s and the goats! Yoga Goats love yoga! Goats love the attention and human interaction, and likewise yogi’s love the feel of doing different and new types of yoga in a field surrounded by nature. It is healing for the mind, body, and spirit.

Hmmmmm – I have yoga tonight – wonder if Abby is going to surprise us???

Cordova Ice Worm Days.  This is another “I kid you not” thing.  There’s a festival for it in Alaska.

Believe it or not, Iceworms are real ice-dwelling creatures! They existed long before our beloved festival. In fact, they were first discovered in the 1800's by Dr. G. F. Wright on Muir Glacier in Glacier Bay. They live as far south as Washington, and can be found in Southeast and South Central Alaska. A member of the segmented worms, the annelids, iceworms are related to common earthworms and leeches. Scientists believe that iceworms feed on snow algae, pollen grains, ice and snow. In turn, iceworms are preyed upon by snow buntings and other birds. Though commonly found in the more porous snow and "solid ice", the iceworms seem to move with ease. It has been theorized that they crawl around the ice crystals that make up the glacier.

And, finally, today is

International Brownie Camera Day.

In February of 1900, the Brownie came along and made photography affordable for just about everyone!  A reliable camera could be purchased for $1 and the film, with processing included, added $0.15 to the total.  I still have mine.  I’d post up a few pictures I took (back in the mid-1950s) but the book must be in my cedar box which has a heavy chest sitting on it – maybe another day.

 

1 Feb 2021

A Day in the Life

  

I mentioned that I planned to plant at least two more trees yesterday – a Loquat and a Lemon.  I also planned to mix up the weed killer and work on a few more weedy areas.  Temps were almost too cool and it was a bit windy but . . . .

Out I went.  Got the shovel, the two trees, decided where they were going to be planted and remembered – no gloves.  Went to the shed to get them and . . .

Now, something about the shed.  The door is very heavy -
V E R Y  H E A V Y. 
Has some heavy duty hinges.  Opens/closes easily but it’s
V E R Y  H E A V Y.

opened the door, got my gloves and stepped out.  Then several things happened.

1 A huge gust of wind hit me

2 Knocked me off balance and I

3 Partially stepped on a brick and stumbled

4 The wind hit the HEAVY DOOR

5 The door hit me

6 I went flying across the yard and

Then, I just lay there for a while thinking

OHMIGOD DID ANYBODY SEE ME???
(don’t we all think that first?)

Then, I sat up and

My left knee took the majority of the crash, checked – no blood.  OK that’s good.  Slowly got myself up and did what –

Go inside??

Rest for a few??

Walk around and test the knee??

No, none of that.

Found the gloves (which had flown across the yard also) and limped around to the front to plant the trees.

Which I did.  Of course it was quickly apparent that there was no putting any pressure or even bending the injured knee but I preserved. 

And planted the two trees.

Then, I came inside to check out the damage.

(Actually the knee was hurting pretty good by then)

And it was swollen up the size of a

Well, thought I, that’s not good.

Then,

my daughter saw me limping and questioned why

and

told me to sit and put ice on it.

Which I did for the rest of the day.

 

The End.

29 Jan 2021

End of January!

  

Already!

I’m not sure how this has happened – the end of January already.

I looked back over my List of things I HOPE to Accomplish in 2021.

1 Exercise more regularly
2 Eat proper meals
3 Get a bunch of the plants currently in containers, into the ground
4 Get the rest of my ‘stuff’ stored in Ellen’s shop over here and where I can find it all
5 Work more on my genealogy (I like doing that but it gets pushed to the back often)
6 Think of interesting places to go and things to post here
7 Stay healthy and safe and mostly out of trouble!

So, a recap – I’m doing well on numbers 1, 2, 5, and 7.  I’m working on #3 – and I’ve managed to plant two more trees (that have been living in pots) and a Texas Mountain Laurel which I am going to try to make look like a tree (it’s one of tree-like shrubs). 

 I want mine to look like this

rather than

 

this

Today I’m going to get out and plant a Loquat tree and a Lemon tree, both grown from seed.  Forest – I’m planting my own forest. 

Oh, and I’ve also planted a prickly pear cactus (supposed to be spineless – hahahahaha no such thing).  I’ve decided where some of the shrubby things are going to go and will be working on those by the middle of February. 

It’s been very mild this winter with only one or two frosts and, this year, that’s fine.  Next year we can have winter as I’ll be better prepared plant-wise.  Of course, February tends to be our SURPRISE! month.  It will be mild and sunny one day and freezing and overcast the next. 

As I said - I’m working on #3.

I’ve also done some work with my genealogy.  More research on the Abbotts and Pulliams.  (#5 – check)

Great grandmother Mary Marcella Fowlkes Pulliam
abt 1883

Great grandfather Homer Virgil Pulliam
late 1920’s

 2^nd great grandfather Frances Marian Abbott

1870

 

2^nd Great grandmother Margaret Waldrop Abbott
1870 (the woman looks like she could bite tacks!)

 

8^th great grandmother Elizabeth Peyton Beverly
late 1600s (she’s on the Pulliam side)

With the arrival of the wonderful-marvelous-beautiful shed, I’ve also been working on #4, getting my stuff in a place where I can find it.  I am still a bit hampered by the fact that the wmb shed is full of plants but soon they will all be back in the sun and the shed will hold – shed stuff.

And, while I didn’t include this on THE LIST, I’ve worked on various projects started, then set aside to “finish later” (haha).  Here, I’ve been pretty successful also.  I have a number of bird houses and all of them have needed some refreshing.  I got several repainted, repaired, and put up for new birdies. 

 

While working on the cat bird house, I noticed something wedged inside and popped it out.  Along with the one, came several more somethings.

four itty-bitty eggs!

I think these are Titmouse eggs. 

I did feel guilty as I wasn’t aware the house was inhabited when I took it down for packing but . . .

I’ve also done a great deal of handwork which is destined for a project to be finished before next November.  Hard to tell but they’re about 50% beadwork.  They’ll look better after the finish work is done.

I’ve not been successful at # 6 on The List, keeping in touch via blog, thus my surprise that it is the end of January already.  I’ll try to do better but you know – Covid and I live in Wharton (both things that limit anything even slightly maybe possibly interesting). 

Guess that’s it for today.  Y’all stay warm, safe and for everyone’s sake, wear a mask/social distance!

 

28 Jan 2021