The Blessing of Rain

Finally got a little rain last week.  Just short of one inch.  This was due to a storm that came in from the Gulf of Mexico.  We were hoping for much more.  We were on the outer bands of storms that came through North of where the storm hit.  It was ever so good and it cooled things down a bit too but not for long, nor was it near enough rain.  We have been back up in the 100+ temps since then with Sunday being a scorcher at 103 with dead air and high humidity.  Then a weak cool front moved through in the evening threatening rain.  It cooled down quickly from 103 to 78 a couple hoours later.  Very welcome relief but '0' rain.  All we got was the pleasant smell and the cooler temps.  The rain we did get last week came the day before it was my 'allowed' watering day.  I watered regardless of the rain.  It helped green up the little grass I have left.  With that the deer that have been very scarce were out in force, eating the newly green shoots.  The habitat is severely stressed after at least 2 years of drought and severe freezing temps in the winter.  Everything gets eaten by the deer, even the deer resistant plants if they have any green on them.  I have put out a tub in the yard with water in the yard fo the deer.  I rarely see them use it but it will be nearly dry come morning.  The wildlife are stresssed.  More high heat is expected this week also but some rain is possible.  Fingers are crossed.  

They are predicting a very cold winter for our area this year.  It includes a lot of moisture also.  Having gotten one major concern taken care of with the trees and their limbs resting on my roof when they get icy, we are looking to get a generator.  I have one picked out,  It won't run the whole house but at least we can run some small heaters and the refrigerator.  Having a place to store it and then run it when needed is what we are working on now.  It is a dual fuel and has a CO2 sensor that shuts it off.  With the grid here in Texas not being reliable and even less so in the winter, this will be a good investment.  At least that is what I tell myself.  

Happy Trails

Trees Again

I had been concerned about the trees at my house for awhile.  We have between 40-50 Live Oak trees.  They range in sizes and all were here when we moved in 30+ years ago.  About 5 years ago I hired a guy to trim them up.  Layed out some serious cash to get it done.  We were pretty happy for the most part, but he did short the job.  He needed to be somewhere else and rushed to finish.  So I have been shopping around for folks that would trim them again.  After the 3 hard freezes, especially last year, they were in some serious need.  I was mostly concerned about cutting back the large trees that were growing over my house.  These are really big trees with some very large limbs.  They were bent down and laying on the roof with heavy ice cover this past winter.  I wanted to get that stuff cleared away.  They came out this past week and oh my, what a great job they did.  They certainly didn't short me.  And last week was the hottest temps we have had so far, 105+.  It was a crew of 4.  Two cutters and two dragging and cleaning up and throwing everything in the chipper.  The two were apparently husband and wife.  Yes, wife.  She did most all of the climbing going up and down with a rope harness.  To say the least I was very impressed.  They cleared enough limbs that it should last much longer than the last time.  They found an old hollow limb that was huge and was eaten up with ants.  It humg driectly over the house and would have caused some seriouos damage.  It may have been 24" in diameter at the trunk.  Seeing the cut logs I am very surprised that it didn't fall during the ice storm last winter. 

The teenage Grands were here for two nights and it went very well thankfully.  'K' has gone to take my Mother to the doctor.  She will take notes for her since she never remembers his intructions etc and always argues with whoever goes with her about what was said.  Hopefully her notes will help.  Next option is to video the appointment if this doesn't work.  The doctor will allow that.  Hopefully it goes well and she can remember some of it.  But that seems unlikely as her memory seems to be fading even more.

Well, it's lunch time and I am going to eat some left over Carne Guisada I made.

Happy Trails

Mom Visit

I made a visit to my Mother last week.  First visit in a couple months.  It went well.  I made sure 'K' was there with me.  It helps the situation in that I am not the only one trying to have a conversation with her.  But neither of us had much to say any way.  Just like my posts here.  There just isn't much going on lately.  I was very surprised, almost shocked at how much weight she seems to have lost in that time.  She says she weighs the same but you never know if she is remembering correctly.  'K' didn't notice, but not having seen her in a couple months it was very noticeable to me.  She has a doctor appointment in couple weeks.  Maybe we can get a true weight then.

The teenage Grands will spend next weekend with us.  So the routines I am accustomed to will be disrupted.  Two nights is more than usual.  We will make the best of it. 

I have been thinking about the DOJ appointing a special counsel to investigate the Bidens corruption.  Normally I would think this is a great thing.  But these aren't normal times.  I don't trust or believe much of anything that comes from DC sadly.  I wonder if there is a motive other than justice.  Sort of a cover up, do the investigation and come up with nothing.  Nothing to prosecute.  Then the Republicans have nothng to go after them for.  As if they would.  I also believe that every one of the Republicans should be horrified at the persecution of Trump.  If they are successful in their pursuit of him and getting him thrown in jail or something else that keeps him from running for President, they will be emboldened and every republican running for the office in the future will meet similar persecution.  They have no intention of ever cedeing power again.  Proof, just look at our border situation and all the future socialist votes coming in.  Our government is broken.

Sorry to end in a down note but...

Happy trails

No Relief

As they say, There is nothing new under the sun.  And sun we have an abundance of.  August is traditionally the hottest month of the year in this part of Texas and it is showing that truth this last week and predicitions are for even higher temps this week.  El Nino or Nina is having a big effect on us.  Consequently not much gets done here and we don't really go anywhere except to church or to maybe get a bite to eat.  The youngest Granddaughter will come today for a couple nights.  Her Mom starts school today so she has her hands full and we are a distraction to the little one missing her.  She loves to be outside here.  We have to distract her with other things so we can stay cool.

Wouldn't you know it, the AC quit yesterday around 4 PM.  I got a message on my phone from my thermostat that there was a power disconnect.  I have no idea what I am doing with power but I did look in the AC closet and there was a red light on the moisture dector.  That thing will cut off the AC when the drain tube gets backed up so it doesn't fry something important.  The AC company showed me how to reset it so it would work again after the tube gets cleared out.  The tube was not stopped up so I reset and nothing happened.  I left it unplugged and within a few nimutes it started running again.  Yahoo!  I called the AC company and left a message so I could get them out to check it out.  This was all Sunday.  I just got off the phone with them and I explained what is going on.  Since it's working and cooling they don't coonsdier it an emergency and can get someone out Friday morning.  This is a very busy time for them.  The person that called say they have a lot of people calling, mostly elderly with AC's that have quit.  That is their first priority thankfully.  If it stops again they will then consider it an emergency.  Hopefully it stays on during this hottest week yet.  At least the humidity has eased and it is bearalble to be outside for short periods.  Praying for some relief from the heat and the drought.

Happy Trails