Texas Spring/Summer Thread
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bindian
Super Member
Don't forget the King snakes. I've seen them swallow live copperheads.
hugs, Brandi
NativeSon
Veteran Member
Yesterday was beautiful, sunshine, light wind, and no rain. Well it couldn't last. I woke up early this morning with the dog blocking my way out of bed..........she heard the thunder coming long before I did. I saw a few flashes as I got out of bed and before I could start making coffee the bottom fell out, and now it's flashing and poppin' and pouring.
Yesterday I was able to get out and try to get the culverts mowed. They are always the last to dry, but with the wind and sun they seemed to be finally dry enough. Well, not quite. The Neighbors here in "Squash Hollow" all seem to be using the "Mohawk Motif" with a 3 foot wide strip of uncut grass down the center of every culvert. I think it is, that we would all be too embarrassed if we stuck a little Lawn Tractor in the mud for everyone to see. A 60+ horsepower tractor stuck up to the axles with slung mud all over the place.........not so bad.
I guess it's WallyWorld shopping and whittling for entertainment this weekend as I've already changed the air filters on the Kubota and left it sitting where it's parked. I do have to make a new walking stick for my MIL whose coming to town(I gave her last one away). It's got to slow down raining before she gets to town or it will not be a Happy Day in Mudville.
Charlie
Yesterday I was able to get out and try to get the culverts mowed. They are always the last to dry, but with the wind and sun they seemed to be finally dry enough. Well, not quite. The Neighbors here in "Squash Hollow" all seem to be using the "Mohawk Motif" with a 3 foot wide strip of uncut grass down the center of every culvert. I think it is, that we would all be too embarrassed if we stuck a little Lawn Tractor in the mud for everyone to see. A 60+ horsepower tractor stuck up to the axles with slung mud all over the place.........not so bad.
I guess it's WallyWorld shopping and whittling for entertainment this weekend as I've already changed the air filters on the Kubota and left it sitting where it's parked. I do have to make a new walking stick for my MIL whose coming to town(I gave her last one away). It's got to slow down raining before she gets to town or it will not be a Happy Day in Mudville.
Charlie
OP
Bird
Rest in Peace
Charlie, I got up at 5 a.m. to thunder and lightning, and as you said, the bottom fell out between 5:30 and 6:00. It's slacked up to a very light sprinkle now. Best I can tell, looking out at the gauge without going out there, it's almost another 2" of rain.
I was reading the news on the Internet and watching some on the TV and a very large number of cars and trucks were stranded on Loop 12 at I-30 in Dallas; high water in front of them, and traffic behind them so they couldn't go anywhere for 4 to 6 hours. I wonder how many of them had wet pants, and not from rain water.
I was reading the news on the Internet and watching some on the TV and a very large number of cars and trucks were stranded on Loop 12 at I-30 in Dallas; high water in front of them, and traffic behind them so they couldn't go anywhere for 4 to 6 hours. I wonder how many of them had wet pants, and not from rain water.
houstonscott
Elite Member
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Looking at rainfall records for Gatesville Texas, not far from me. Records start in 1900. The two high May rainfalls were 1944 and 1965, both at 11.19 and 11.23 inches. I have measured 11.00 as of this morning getting another .25 over night. It's easily the most in a May in 50 years for my property and likely the most ever measured here since 1900, more predicted before Monday. HS
OP
Bird
Rest in Peace
Yep, the local news has said this is the wettest month of May on record, and that was before this morning. So it's still raining a little bit, but I'm at about 15.5" for the month; 33+ for the year.
OP
Bird
Rest in Peace
I’m taking credit for breaking the drought that has gripped North Texas the last few years. And you wonder how I can take credit for it? I’ll explain.
As some of you know, we bought this place about nine and a half years ago. A few years later, we had a guy here adding an additional rain gutter across the back of the shop. He told me he used to work for the city here, and asked, “Does it still flood in this neighborhood? It used to.”
So I did a little checking and found FEMA does list the area as having a “moderate” flood risk; however, banks and mortgage companies do not require flood insurance. The drainage channel or ditch for the area goes right by the Corinth Police Department, less than a quarter mile from here, and there was a flood gauge along side that ditch.
So I bought flood insurance; fairly cheap; $334 a year.
Our property is fairly flat, but everything around here very gradually drains to the south to that drainage ditch, about a block (one cross street and 5 houses) south of us. We learned from a neighbor 2 houses south of us, who has lived there for 35 years, that it once flooded up to the next house south of him. In other words, it’s never gotten this far north. Of course the city has done a fair amount of drainage work since we've lived here, and the flood gauge by the police station was removed.
So last month I got a letter from the flood insurance folks that an additional $25 surcharge would be added to homes occupied by the owner and a $250 surcharge on other policies. It told what I would need to send to prove we live here. I did not respond. So now I’ve received the new premium bill for $574.
[So I decided to drop the flood insurance (that actually expires July 19) and VOILA! The drought’s broken! The news from yesterday said this has been the wettest month of May on record, and we got another 2” between 5:30 and 6:30 this morning, and it’s still raining. So I must have done it!!
Incidentally, I drove down by the police station awhile ago and another 2 feet of water would get them, but not us. That big wide drainage ditch is almost full and running fast.
As some of you know, we bought this place about nine and a half years ago. A few years later, we had a guy here adding an additional rain gutter across the back of the shop. He told me he used to work for the city here, and asked, “Does it still flood in this neighborhood? It used to.”
So I did a little checking and found FEMA does list the area as having a “moderate” flood risk; however, banks and mortgage companies do not require flood insurance. The drainage channel or ditch for the area goes right by the Corinth Police Department, less than a quarter mile from here, and there was a flood gauge along side that ditch.
So I bought flood insurance; fairly cheap; $334 a year.
Our property is fairly flat, but everything around here very gradually drains to the south to that drainage ditch, about a block (one cross street and 5 houses) south of us. We learned from a neighbor 2 houses south of us, who has lived there for 35 years, that it once flooded up to the next house south of him. In other words, it’s never gotten this far north. Of course the city has done a fair amount of drainage work since we've lived here, and the flood gauge by the police station was removed.
So last month I got a letter from the flood insurance folks that an additional $25 surcharge would be added to homes occupied by the owner and a $250 surcharge on other policies. It told what I would need to send to prove we live here. I did not respond. So now I’ve received the new premium bill for $574.
[So I decided to drop the flood insurance (that actually expires July 19) and VOILA! The drought’s broken! The news from yesterday said this has been the wettest month of May on record, and we got another 2” between 5:30 and 6:30 this morning, and it’s still raining. So I must have done it!!
Incidentally, I drove down by the police station awhile ago and another 2 feet of water would get them, but not us. That big wide drainage ditch is almost full and running fast.
Lou66
Veteran Member
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Am not sure you can take credit for all this rain Bird,, maybe some 
I got it from my granddaughter,, She said, “GOD is crying because there is no Blue Bell ice cream to eat”.:licking:.
I got it from my granddaughter,, She said, “GOD is crying because there is no Blue Bell ice cream to eat”.:licking:.
OP
Bird
Rest in Peace
Am not sure you can take credit for all this rain Bird,, maybe some
A lot of people would agree with her.LOL
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
Holy Schnikes! The temperature dropped sbout 20 degrees and the the sky opened up like you would not believe. We have a river in our side yard, the wind is howling and there is lightening everywhere. This is one intense storm. Radar shows cell as deep red/almost black. Supposed to last two hours. At least the power is still on.
bindian
Super Member
Am not sure you can take credit for all this rain Bird,, maybe some
Amen to that. I came through Brenham Friday and today. They have big hand written signs in the store that sold hand dipped cones..............We Miss You Blue Bell.
hugs, Brandi
bindian
Super Member
At least the rain stayed away from Manor this weekend. I finished the fence panels.
Now the gate, end gaps, and post caps left.
hugs, Brandi
Now the gate, end gaps, and post caps left.hugs, Brandi
NativeSon
Veteran Member
Bird--
We got another 1 3/4 inches. The sun was breaking through as we got home from church. It was great for a little sitting on the deck.
Saw the Videos of that traffic mess at Loop 12. Glad I don't have to deal with that kind of stuff anymore. Saturday afternoon a neighbor called and said water was coming up on our road. No problem, Denise just took another route to church and it was gone the next morning, but we've still got puddles everywhere.
Charlie
DABSGT
Veteran Member
Hope all is well and everyone is safe in Texas haven't seen a post in a few days
Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet
Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
Summertime, and the living is easy.
OP
Bird
Rest in Peace
Warm, clear, sunny weather this week. I knew my Toro ZTR would get stuck in the mud and standing water, but the yards were in terrible shape. So day before yesterday, I spent 2 hours and almost 2 tanks of gas "mowing" with my Stihl string trimmer. Then yesterday I did just over 30 minutes on the ZTR before getting it stuck. So another hour and a half to finish our yard and the one next door with the string trimmer. The guy next door is 10 years older than I am and in bad health. But I had him get on the ZTR and try to operate it in reverse while I pulled it back by hand with a chain and got it out.
The lakes are still over full, some roads closed due to flooding, but otherwise, we're OK.
houstonscott
Elite Member
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I just turned on sprinklers if you can believe that! HS
bindian
Super Member
I'm still drying out. Got a lot of dirt work to do that washed down where it shouldn't be. Gotta wait til the ponds go down for summer to get the silt piles (looks like sand bars) out of both ponds.
We're keeping the zero turn out of the low spots. Those area are about knee high now.
hugs, Brandi
NativeSon
Veteran Member
At this point in time all over Texas, it's mow at your own risk. In the yard around the house there are a couple of spots that look a little iffy, and I'm not about to take the Kubota out to the pasture as there is a lot of water standing out there. I also don't want to cross my road across the creek as it is still very muddy and has an old dead tree stump down on it. I'm not going to try to move that until it dries out a lot. But the Sunny & Warm is sure nice. Going to try to get caught up in the garden today.
Charlie
Charlie
Jisgren
Bronze Member
Finally drying out enough to get started!
