We subscribe to the weekly newspaper from New Roads - the Pointe Coupee Banner. It is a source of news that can only be gotten there, like obituaries. And sure enough, this weeks Banner had the obituary of an old neighbor, Louis B. Morgan. He was a veteran of WW-II, son of very well known family and a true family man.
I can remember his father-in-law, Leroy Major, shooting Comorants in his back yard. They seemed to cover the sky at times. And they were not controlled in those days, so there was no limit or season to worry about. It always impressed me but I am sure it must have upset my mother with all the noise and such. Just think shooting a BB gun in town today may be a crime much less a 12 gauge shot gun.
Louis also had a pier and boat house jutting out into the lake. I caught my first fish off that pier, a hefty cat fish that my father skinned and we ate. He had built a boat house for his Higgins boat and Evinrude 25 horse power motor. The walk way to the boat house was lower than the pier and made it easy to get into and out of the lake - False River.
As I recall we were swimming with the other kids, one of which turned out to be Leon Harris (I did not recall he was there but he reminded me he was). At any rate, I was bent on cleaning up the trash off the bottom of the lake. Being a fresh water lake and located in the deep almost tropical south, the water is not clear, it is full of life, much of it microscopic. So it is cloudy and only a couple of feet of it is enough to obscure the remaining depths.
So I was feeling around with my hands, it was quite shallow there next to the boat house walkway, for trash. Old bottles (mostly beer bottles from bass fishermen), limbs and other ditrimous of time. I picked up what I thought was a top to a tin can, at least it was round. I started to throw it toward the shore, then stopped as it was quite thick and heavy. And I knew tin can tops were quite thin and light. So I kept it and put it on the walkway.
Later I took it up the hill and gave it to my mother to evaluate. Little boys trusted that their mothers would not take their treasure not matter what it was. I went off to play and returned to later find that my mother's friend, Lucy Roberts, had cleaned it up (a no no but . . .). It was a Spanish "piece of eight," a silver doubloon dated 1803.
There had always been rumors that there was treasure buried around False River but none had ever been found. Well I found it but it was only one piece of eight. And it was silver to boot, I always thought there were gold (they are not).
Turns out one of the kids swimming with me was Leon Harris. I had seen his sister-in-law Lea Ray nee Mougeot Harris at Nickie's funeral. She told me Leon was in Grants Pass, OR. So I did a Internet search and located him. I sent him a letter and he responded with an Email. He said that he had just told an local friend about me finding a piece of eight in False River.
Time has caused our paths to come near again. Louis' back yard and pier, my piece of eight and contact with an old school buddy. Life is dynamic and the constant is us, the people of the world.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Making Contact . . .
While attending my exbrother-in-laws funeral, I was greeted by one of our old friends, Lea Raye nee Mougeot Harris. Her husband's brother was a childhood friend, Leon M. Harris. So I inquired as to where Leon was and she replied Grants Pass, Oregon.
So I took a stab at his address via the Internet White Pages and looked up Leon. And sure enough there was a Leon Harris listed. So I banged out a letter to Leon in hopes it was the person I was looking for. A shot in the dark so to speak.
This mornig I got an Email response from Leon and yes, it was Leon of my childhood responding. He sounds like he is in great shape, retired very successfully and doing what he wants now days. He ended up in Grants Pass as it is his wife's hometown. That makes sense to me.
So strange those old connections from the past. Other people at the funeral triggered memories too. Pap Baum was there, a member of Nickie's, my exbrother-in-laws name, prayer group. Him along with the likes of Glenn Morgan. Nickie's old brother-in-law, Major Hebert. Major's second wife was a close class mate and friend of Judie's, Sandra nee Roberts (Sadly, Sandra has past on). Glenn was childhood neighbor and his father, Boots, became a close golfing buddy of my father. Both Glenn Morgan and Major Hebert are retired architects.
How we weave through life together, it is amazing. Small town USA is a strong powerful relationship and society. Those of us that grew up there can return and mix in; others who have moved there and lived there for years can not make that transition. I pity those that did not have that small town life to fall back on, a place to go, a place to remember - a place called home.
And everybody has to have a celebrity in the family. Nickie's was/is James Carville. James Carville is a close personal and political advisor to former President Bill Clinton. He showed up for the funeral, went through the line. He turns out to be a man small in statue, not one of those larger than life people like Nickie. Yet even in small statue, he stood out because of who he is and what he does.
Today is Easter Sunday - a day of renewal. Renewed contacts are appropriate.
So I took a stab at his address via the Internet White Pages and looked up Leon. And sure enough there was a Leon Harris listed. So I banged out a letter to Leon in hopes it was the person I was looking for. A shot in the dark so to speak.
This mornig I got an Email response from Leon and yes, it was Leon of my childhood responding. He sounds like he is in great shape, retired very successfully and doing what he wants now days. He ended up in Grants Pass as it is his wife's hometown. That makes sense to me.
So strange those old connections from the past. Other people at the funeral triggered memories too. Pap Baum was there, a member of Nickie's, my exbrother-in-laws name, prayer group. Him along with the likes of Glenn Morgan. Nickie's old brother-in-law, Major Hebert. Major's second wife was a close class mate and friend of Judie's, Sandra nee Roberts (Sadly, Sandra has past on). Glenn was childhood neighbor and his father, Boots, became a close golfing buddy of my father. Both Glenn Morgan and Major Hebert are retired architects.
How we weave through life together, it is amazing. Small town USA is a strong powerful relationship and society. Those of us that grew up there can return and mix in; others who have moved there and lived there for years can not make that transition. I pity those that did not have that small town life to fall back on, a place to go, a place to remember - a place called home.
And everybody has to have a celebrity in the family. Nickie's was/is James Carville. James Carville is a close personal and political advisor to former President Bill Clinton. He showed up for the funeral, went through the line. He turns out to be a man small in statue, not one of those larger than life people like Nickie. Yet even in small statue, he stood out because of who he is and what he does.
Today is Easter Sunday - a day of renewal. Renewed contacts are appropriate.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Wind . . .
She's ablowing and ablowing! The wind is ripping along, I watch my neighbors Willow Tree swish back and forth and back and forth. Even the Red Oak out side the front window is twisting to and fro even though it has no leaves.
I can even hear it, not a moan but a definite whisper as it gusts along. The Holly bushes short and stiff in the flower bed are charging around in resistance to the wind.
But no clouds, so I guess that is a good deal. Usually this time of year we get severe storms along the dry line. Fast moving thunderstorms that have hail and sometimes tornadoes imbedded in them. The dry line is sort of a Texas phenomena, it is quite definite for in front of the line is calm and the humidity is up and behind it the humidity is down and the weather is violent. There can be a difference of 40 to 60% drier, very noticeable. These storms sweep out of south central Texas fueled by moisture out of Mexico from the Pacific Ocean. This is not a jet stream effect, it is the natural flow of winds west to east across Mexico into Texas.
Another source of fuel for storms are the predominate winds out of the south flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico heading north. This feeds the tornadoes of Oklahoma and further on into the Ohio valley.
We are really located in the bottom of the Great Plaines where the wind always blows. So we get a lot of it. We are also on the edge of desert country, so it is dry in that we do not get a lot of rain. And when El Nino is predominant, we do not get much rain, lawns dry up, the place turns sort brown.
It also means our man made lakes start to dry up. Dallas/Fort Worth depends on man made lakes for water. Even now some metropolitan cities are negotiating with Oklahoma counties for water. These are counties that bound the state line. The target I am sure is access to Lake Texoma - a man made lake that is the Red River Valley north of D/FW area. Lake Texoma is a favorite spot of boaters and fishermen. They do not like anybody screwing around with their lake.
Our little lake, Lake Weatherford, is down 6 feet already. And the rainy season is fast closing. That means water will be pumped into Lake Weatherford from Lake Benbrook. Both are man made lakes, but Lake Weatherford, smaller, is up stream and therefore a more "senor" reservoir. I have already seen Lake Weatherford down 9 feet, seems odd to see a boat suspended in its boathouse of dry land. Water is a big deal around here. And pumping cost money, that means the City of Weatherford will raise the already expensive rates. And as usual, once raised, will never be reduced.
We have a well down about 200, so far the aquifer has held up. It is known as the Pulacsi or Pulacksy Acquifier. There are two strator of lime stone to be penetrated to get to it. The next aquifer is down 600 are more feet. It costs about $20 per foot to drill the well, to put in the pump, pressure tank, and electrical service. After is was all done ours cost about $5,000.00 but due to the cost of city water we have amortized that cost in three years. Some of our neighbors pay $300 to $00 a month just water their yards.
There is talk of regulating the wells. That takes special legislation to do so. For in Texas each landowner owns his water rights on his land. If he wants to put in a well he can, there is some limitations in cities but that does not hamper us much. So we have the well and soon we think others may be to late to drill as the cities and state want to cut them off.
And the wind blows drying out the lawn. Got to water to keep it green. But at least we can water the lawn with our private well.
I can even hear it, not a moan but a definite whisper as it gusts along. The Holly bushes short and stiff in the flower bed are charging around in resistance to the wind.
But no clouds, so I guess that is a good deal. Usually this time of year we get severe storms along the dry line. Fast moving thunderstorms that have hail and sometimes tornadoes imbedded in them. The dry line is sort of a Texas phenomena, it is quite definite for in front of the line is calm and the humidity is up and behind it the humidity is down and the weather is violent. There can be a difference of 40 to 60% drier, very noticeable. These storms sweep out of south central Texas fueled by moisture out of Mexico from the Pacific Ocean. This is not a jet stream effect, it is the natural flow of winds west to east across Mexico into Texas.
Another source of fuel for storms are the predominate winds out of the south flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico heading north. This feeds the tornadoes of Oklahoma and further on into the Ohio valley.
We are really located in the bottom of the Great Plaines where the wind always blows. So we get a lot of it. We are also on the edge of desert country, so it is dry in that we do not get a lot of rain. And when El Nino is predominant, we do not get much rain, lawns dry up, the place turns sort brown.
It also means our man made lakes start to dry up. Dallas/Fort Worth depends on man made lakes for water. Even now some metropolitan cities are negotiating with Oklahoma counties for water. These are counties that bound the state line. The target I am sure is access to Lake Texoma - a man made lake that is the Red River Valley north of D/FW area. Lake Texoma is a favorite spot of boaters and fishermen. They do not like anybody screwing around with their lake.
Our little lake, Lake Weatherford, is down 6 feet already. And the rainy season is fast closing. That means water will be pumped into Lake Weatherford from Lake Benbrook. Both are man made lakes, but Lake Weatherford, smaller, is up stream and therefore a more "senor" reservoir. I have already seen Lake Weatherford down 9 feet, seems odd to see a boat suspended in its boathouse of dry land. Water is a big deal around here. And pumping cost money, that means the City of Weatherford will raise the already expensive rates. And as usual, once raised, will never be reduced.
We have a well down about 200, so far the aquifer has held up. It is known as the Pulacsi or Pulacksy Acquifier. There are two strator of lime stone to be penetrated to get to it. The next aquifer is down 600 are more feet. It costs about $20 per foot to drill the well, to put in the pump, pressure tank, and electrical service. After is was all done ours cost about $5,000.00 but due to the cost of city water we have amortized that cost in three years. Some of our neighbors pay $300 to $00 a month just water their yards.
There is talk of regulating the wells. That takes special legislation to do so. For in Texas each landowner owns his water rights on his land. If he wants to put in a well he can, there is some limitations in cities but that does not hamper us much. So we have the well and soon we think others may be to late to drill as the cities and state want to cut them off.
And the wind blows drying out the lawn. Got to water to keep it green. But at least we can water the lawn with our private well.
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Annual Trip
We're back! Got back early Sunday but we were worn out, too much travel for me. The drive to and from New Roads was uneventful, fast and on good roads. We zipped into New Roads, to Bergeron's to get pecans and then back to the camp. Found workers jacking up the structure and had to let them in to check the doors.
Later Mark did not seem to happy with the work and the mess they left. They did jack up the low side of the house but left all the protective sheeting out. Said it was to hard to put back in without breaking it. Mark labored hard to put it back, it was simple but time consuming.
We went early to the plantation and helped a little bit in setting things up. As usual Walter and his beloved wife did a magnificent job of feeding us. We had chicken and sausage gumbo and salad with garlic bread. Chris had the house all cleaned up.
Both Walter and Chris were pleased with the tractor they had bought. Chris seemed to know the entire history of the machine. Between them, they had chopped up the surrounding area, and will drag it level later. Then they will have to acquire a bushhog mower for the tractor. That will come a little later. There is about 10 or 12acres around the out buildings that need to be kept up. In the past, the farm had being paying an absorbent fee to cut the grass. Now with the tractor and mower, we can do the work and save the cost. The up shot being that we will also now have a operable tractor to do that and other work around the place. A farm needs a tractor, doesn't it?
The meeting was more sedate this year. Not much going on. We had Dianne and Richie, David and Chris, and Joe; Herrise with Aletha and Byron in tow; we had James and Joan, Jamie and Amanda Grace. Walter's son Jeff was there with two little fellows - Mathew and Jude. Walter's had yet another son, Bubba, drove in from Jackson. Margaret and John were also in attendance. We missed Camille but we had Ann and Don and with them was Mitch and Cammie and Jack Gonzales. Of course, I missed a few but it was a quite meeting.
We met, Walter passed out checks, we conducted old and new business. The house had been washed and the tractor purchased and repaired (power take off problem had to be fixed to run the later to come mower).
Later that night we had Amanda Louise and Georgie, Paul, Richard, Mark, James, Joan and Jammie at the camp. We ordered up eats from the Tiger Inn, and dined deluxe on styrofoam. I had cat fish, the others mostly had fried shrimp.
We stayed at Morel's rather than at the camp since James - Joan etal were going to be there. Just not enough room for all o fus at one time. Morel's was okay, quaint, small but adequate. And it was clean.
All in all we had a good time together.
We did not mention Aunt Bobbe's untimely passing but it was in the back of all our minds all the time. We miss her dearly.
Until next year. . .
Later Mark did not seem to happy with the work and the mess they left. They did jack up the low side of the house but left all the protective sheeting out. Said it was to hard to put back in without breaking it. Mark labored hard to put it back, it was simple but time consuming.
We went early to the plantation and helped a little bit in setting things up. As usual Walter and his beloved wife did a magnificent job of feeding us. We had chicken and sausage gumbo and salad with garlic bread. Chris had the house all cleaned up.
Both Walter and Chris were pleased with the tractor they had bought. Chris seemed to know the entire history of the machine. Between them, they had chopped up the surrounding area, and will drag it level later. Then they will have to acquire a bushhog mower for the tractor. That will come a little later. There is about 10 or 12acres around the out buildings that need to be kept up. In the past, the farm had being paying an absorbent fee to cut the grass. Now with the tractor and mower, we can do the work and save the cost. The up shot being that we will also now have a operable tractor to do that and other work around the place. A farm needs a tractor, doesn't it?
The meeting was more sedate this year. Not much going on. We had Dianne and Richie, David and Chris, and Joe; Herrise with Aletha and Byron in tow; we had James and Joan, Jamie and Amanda Grace. Walter's son Jeff was there with two little fellows - Mathew and Jude. Walter's had yet another son, Bubba, drove in from Jackson. Margaret and John were also in attendance. We missed Camille but we had Ann and Don and with them was Mitch and Cammie and Jack Gonzales. Of course, I missed a few but it was a quite meeting.
We met, Walter passed out checks, we conducted old and new business. The house had been washed and the tractor purchased and repaired (power take off problem had to be fixed to run the later to come mower).
Later that night we had Amanda Louise and Georgie, Paul, Richard, Mark, James, Joan and Jammie at the camp. We ordered up eats from the Tiger Inn, and dined deluxe on styrofoam. I had cat fish, the others mostly had fried shrimp.
We stayed at Morel's rather than at the camp since James - Joan etal were going to be there. Just not enough room for all o fus at one time. Morel's was okay, quaint, small but adequate. And it was clean.
All in all we had a good time together.
We did not mention Aunt Bobbe's untimely passing but it was in the back of all our minds all the time. We miss her dearly.
Until next year. . .
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Judie . . .
Judie has disappeared int the "Frozen Nawth" to visit with Jake, Anne and Will (well mostly Will).
Since she has left - no mail on Saturday. I know the USPS has announced the change in service but I did not know it would start so soon. Today, Sunday, no newspapers, no Star Telegram and no Democrat - how did they know she was out of town? Called up the circulation department and they said no more deliveries and that we would get credit for the missing paper. Hard to read credit!
Got the new battery for the old laptop and it is cooking along okay. The new PCMCIA card arrived and I fought the thing all day Saturday. Seems the card is programmed to operate with Windows 9X, XP and Vista - skipped ME/2000. Guess what, the laptop uses Windows ME. Crap, I will have to send the card back, they will not like that but they advertised the card would work with Windows ME. I guess they did not bother to check it out. Any rate, I am waiting for replies from the merchant and from the maker of the card. Maybe there is some secret hand shake that will allow it to work.
To cold and windy to fly. Good news is that the wing I ordered, and sent back to Tower Hobbies, has finally been replaced. So I can put that together and be ready to fly when the weather allows. Not a difficult task, just glue together and swap the servos out of the damaged wing. Then I will be ready to fly.
House is quiet with Judie off visiting. I hunker down in the den and shut everything down. Automatic thermostats keep me warm and I have the task of figuring out where I want to eat. Lots of place but most are not appealing to me. Some I will only go to with Judie, so it looks like Wal-Mart for a pizza or something frozen to eat.
LSU beat Kentucky to become the SEC Basketball Champions out right. They are 13 - 1 in conference play having only lost to Bama early in the season. Since then they have not lost a conference game. Means they will enter the SEC tournament with a bye. It also means that they will go the NCAA tournament.
Life goes on . . . .
Since she has left - no mail on Saturday. I know the USPS has announced the change in service but I did not know it would start so soon. Today, Sunday, no newspapers, no Star Telegram and no Democrat - how did they know she was out of town? Called up the circulation department and they said no more deliveries and that we would get credit for the missing paper. Hard to read credit!
Got the new battery for the old laptop and it is cooking along okay. The new PCMCIA card arrived and I fought the thing all day Saturday. Seems the card is programmed to operate with Windows 9X, XP and Vista - skipped ME/2000. Guess what, the laptop uses Windows ME. Crap, I will have to send the card back, they will not like that but they advertised the card would work with Windows ME. I guess they did not bother to check it out. Any rate, I am waiting for replies from the merchant and from the maker of the card. Maybe there is some secret hand shake that will allow it to work.
To cold and windy to fly. Good news is that the wing I ordered, and sent back to Tower Hobbies, has finally been replaced. So I can put that together and be ready to fly when the weather allows. Not a difficult task, just glue together and swap the servos out of the damaged wing. Then I will be ready to fly.
House is quiet with Judie off visiting. I hunker down in the den and shut everything down. Automatic thermostats keep me warm and I have the task of figuring out where I want to eat. Lots of place but most are not appealing to me. Some I will only go to with Judie, so it looks like Wal-Mart for a pizza or something frozen to eat.
LSU beat Kentucky to become the SEC Basketball Champions out right. They are 13 - 1 in conference play having only lost to Bama early in the season. Since then they have not lost a conference game. Means they will enter the SEC tournament with a bye. It also means that they will go the NCAA tournament.
Life goes on . . . .
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Flurry of Activity . . .
Yes, a flurry of activity, sounds redundant but it is true. As February matures past the mid point all kinds of things are going to happen.
Mardi Gras will be going on full bore in New Roads and New Orleans. New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration are the oldest in Louisiana by far but is followed by a little Town of New Roads which has celebrated with its own parades since the 1920s or so. Today there are two parades in New Roads, one before lunch and one after. Traditionally, the morning parade is sponsored by black organizations, and the afternoon one is sponsored by white organizations. Sometimes the marching bands, and integral part of the parades march in both. Last year, it was the Southern University Marching Band, and it put on a outstanding show in both parades.
New Roads Lions Club organizes the afternoon parade. And it is the major money maker for that civic organization. Schools traditionally sponsor floats, clubs sponsor floats and there are a few comic floats sponsored by locals. At one time the Baton Rouge TV stations and local celebs did the emceeing, today the guest maybe anyone. Both parades have a King, Queen and court. And like New Orleans, they to have a ball that night.
But we are passing all the celebrations. We move on to the family birthdays starting with James' birthday and prime rib dinner. Amanda Louise will drive in from LSU, Katie will come with boy friend in tow, Chris will drive over from Dallas and James etal from Flower-Mound. Not sure if Georgie will come but I suppose she will be prevailed upon - Georgie does not like to eat beef, she'll take Turkey any day. We will have a grand salad and lots of wine.
Jamie will stay the night Saturday. We always enjoy his stays. He is a good fellow and causes no problems and his grandmother just loves it.
The following week, Grandma packs up and heads to the Frozen Nawth for long weekend stay with young Will in Madison, Wisconsin. And no, the lakes have not thawed out yet which means at best the local Madison temperatures will be 32 degrees or less! But Grandma confesses to liking winter (and visiting Will, Jake and Anne even more).
Will, I am sure has grown and Grandma will revel dealing with him for a couple of days.
Grandma, charges back to wash her laundry and pack up for the family business meeting in New Roads. We will meet at the plantation for the annual meeting (and Morrison family gathering). The drive over will be boring, we stop in Natchotoches for gas and plow on into New Roads via I-49 to US 190 across the Atchafalya River and Morganza Spillway bridges.
Additionally, there will be some planning for the 4h of July Gremillion gathering. Fire works on False River is a sight to see. And we expect to see Anne, Jake and Will plus Hildy and Tom Neujahr on the fourth. I am sure we will see Mark, Richard and Paul over the March 7th weekend too.
It will be good to see the family once again at the Plantation. There will be one less as Aunt Bobbie has passed on. It is all our generation now.
Mardi Gras will be going on full bore in New Roads and New Orleans. New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration are the oldest in Louisiana by far but is followed by a little Town of New Roads which has celebrated with its own parades since the 1920s or so. Today there are two parades in New Roads, one before lunch and one after. Traditionally, the morning parade is sponsored by black organizations, and the afternoon one is sponsored by white organizations. Sometimes the marching bands, and integral part of the parades march in both. Last year, it was the Southern University Marching Band, and it put on a outstanding show in both parades.
New Roads Lions Club organizes the afternoon parade. And it is the major money maker for that civic organization. Schools traditionally sponsor floats, clubs sponsor floats and there are a few comic floats sponsored by locals. At one time the Baton Rouge TV stations and local celebs did the emceeing, today the guest maybe anyone. Both parades have a King, Queen and court. And like New Orleans, they to have a ball that night.
But we are passing all the celebrations. We move on to the family birthdays starting with James' birthday and prime rib dinner. Amanda Louise will drive in from LSU, Katie will come with boy friend in tow, Chris will drive over from Dallas and James etal from Flower-Mound. Not sure if Georgie will come but I suppose she will be prevailed upon - Georgie does not like to eat beef, she'll take Turkey any day. We will have a grand salad and lots of wine.
Jamie will stay the night Saturday. We always enjoy his stays. He is a good fellow and causes no problems and his grandmother just loves it.
The following week, Grandma packs up and heads to the Frozen Nawth for long weekend stay with young Will in Madison, Wisconsin. And no, the lakes have not thawed out yet which means at best the local Madison temperatures will be 32 degrees or less! But Grandma confesses to liking winter (and visiting Will, Jake and Anne even more).
Will, I am sure has grown and Grandma will revel dealing with him for a couple of days.
Grandma, charges back to wash her laundry and pack up for the family business meeting in New Roads. We will meet at the plantation for the annual meeting (and Morrison family gathering). The drive over will be boring, we stop in Natchotoches for gas and plow on into New Roads via I-49 to US 190 across the Atchafalya River and Morganza Spillway bridges.
Additionally, there will be some planning for the 4h of July Gremillion gathering. Fire works on False River is a sight to see. And we expect to see Anne, Jake and Will plus Hildy and Tom Neujahr on the fourth. I am sure we will see Mark, Richard and Paul over the March 7th weekend too.
It will be good to see the family once again at the Plantation. There will be one less as Aunt Bobbie has passed on. It is all our generation now.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Harbinger of Spring . . .
Yep, saw a pair of cock Robins yesterday. They were kinda just standing there. They usually chase around looking for bugs and worms, but this pair were just standing there as if to say, "Look at me." Its gotta to be a good omen.
We had yet another violent storm charge through last night. Started up about 9:00 PM (that's 2100 hours for you military types) and it looked pretty violent to me. I watched a lawn chair go flying off the patio across the yard. Albeit, the chair is pretty light and has low wind resistance, it just up and took off. Learned this AM that over towards Keller several roofs were torn off. The Weather people are debating whether there was a tornado, well duh, they predicted tornadoes, so?????
Another sure sign of spring are the first Daffodils are blooming. I have them planted all over the yard. And the damn deer tend to eat them, they are kind of hard up this time of year for anything green. But these Daffodils seemed to escape to much damage and are now putting out flowers. The rain is causing them to spring up.
The deer have attacked the Day Lilies too. They are trying to sprout up and the deer enjoy the tender new shoots. They mow down everything worth keeping. They ate all the pansy's in the neighborhood. That is winter feed to them. Our new neighbors across the street are not to wise as to the animals and planted a large bed of pansy's only to find them well trimmed down the next day.
We used to feed deer, then they decided that they could eat anything in the yard. There goes the Wandering Jew - purple salad. We have a red tip in the back, and it is struggling to grow. Every year in spring it puts out new leaves and along comes the deer and chows down.
There are about 20 deer in the area. Our subdivision backs up to 200 acre wilderness. The owners purposely keep it that way and so it is a refuge for the deer. They rampage throughout the area. Fences do not matter, I watched a doe clear a six foot fence with plenty to spare.
Any rate it appears that spring is upon us. A few more cold snaps and old man winter is gone. Soon we will be complaining about the summer heat. Ugh.
We had yet another violent storm charge through last night. Started up about 9:00 PM (that's 2100 hours for you military types) and it looked pretty violent to me. I watched a lawn chair go flying off the patio across the yard. Albeit, the chair is pretty light and has low wind resistance, it just up and took off. Learned this AM that over towards Keller several roofs were torn off. The Weather people are debating whether there was a tornado, well duh, they predicted tornadoes, so?????
Another sure sign of spring are the first Daffodils are blooming. I have them planted all over the yard. And the damn deer tend to eat them, they are kind of hard up this time of year for anything green. But these Daffodils seemed to escape to much damage and are now putting out flowers. The rain is causing them to spring up.
The deer have attacked the Day Lilies too. They are trying to sprout up and the deer enjoy the tender new shoots. They mow down everything worth keeping. They ate all the pansy's in the neighborhood. That is winter feed to them. Our new neighbors across the street are not to wise as to the animals and planted a large bed of pansy's only to find them well trimmed down the next day.
We used to feed deer, then they decided that they could eat anything in the yard. There goes the Wandering Jew - purple salad. We have a red tip in the back, and it is struggling to grow. Every year in spring it puts out new leaves and along comes the deer and chows down.
There are about 20 deer in the area. Our subdivision backs up to 200 acre wilderness. The owners purposely keep it that way and so it is a refuge for the deer. They rampage throughout the area. Fences do not matter, I watched a doe clear a six foot fence with plenty to spare.
Any rate it appears that spring is upon us. A few more cold snaps and old man winter is gone. Soon we will be complaining about the summer heat. Ugh.
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