Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[txdon]

This summer low pressure is great! We had another 2/10" this afternoon bringing the weekly total to slow 3.5".

 

[Lou66]

Sweet Summer Rain

Mowing a pasture on a warm summer day
Watching a rain cloud as it heads my way
Cut off the tractor and stepped to the ground
I can hear the thunder and rain comes down

Summer showers falling on a tin shed
Makes you want to lay back and rest your head
Soft gentle breeze flows thru an old broken door
It hasn't been closed in a year or more

Watching the rain flow from a down spout
As my straw cap starts to dry out
Lay back and ponder of years gone by
Wonder how many more before I die?

Sweet smell of freshly cut hay
Stacked in the barn for the winter days
Watch a field mouse pick up broken corn
That a horse had drop in the early morn

Now there comes a time, like it or not
Sun's going to shine and the rain's going to stop
I'll reach and grab my old straw cap
Yawn and stretch, then take a nap,, Lou

 

[CowboyRon]

Sweet Summer Rain

Mowing a pasture on a warm summer day
Watching a rain cloud as it heads my way
Cut off the tractor and stepped to the ground
I can hear the thunder and rain comes down

Summer showers falling on a tin shed
Makes you want to lay back and rest your head
Soft gentle breeze flows thru an old broken door
It hasn't been closed in a year or more

Watching the rain flow from a down spout
As my straw cap starts to dry out
Lay back and ponder of years gone by
Wonder how many more before I die?

Sweet smell of freshly cut hay
Stacked in the barn for the winter days
Watch a field mouse pick up broken corn
That a horse had drop in the early morn

Now there comes a time, like it or not
Sun's going to shine and the rain's going to stop
I'll reach and grab my old straw cap
Yawn and stretch, then take a nap,, Lou

Good one Lou

 

[farmgirl19]

Very good, Lou!

 

[jinman]

Nice poem, Lou. Lot's of truth in every line.

I heard big rumblings and watched the sky turn dark just north and east of me most of the afternoon yesterday while I was making salsa. It was some of the blackest sky, and I could tell it was building with lots of outflow. Even so, I only got one light shower late in the day. However, I have a dew on the grass this morning that would strangle a frog. Happy grass without hours of hose draggin' is very unusual for July.

I tasted my salsa last night and I think it's the best yet. It really clings to a tortilla chip well and has a rich zesty taste without being too hot. I filled 7 quart-size Ziploc freezer bags with mild salsa and 8 bags with hotter salsa. I didn't think either of them was that hot, but if it thaws and sits for a couple of days, it will surely be hotter from the seeds I included. BTW: What did we do before food processors and blenders? They sure make my life easier.

 

[Bird]

I have a dew on the grass this morning that would strangle a frog.

Me, too. I thought I was going to mow today, but decided it's too wet this morning and will be too hot later.:laughing: Is that a good enough excuse for putting it off a day or two or three or something?

 

[jinman]

Bird, if I don't mow soon, I'll have windrows of cut grass when I do mow. Side discharge mowers are good for windrowing in deep grass. All those trimmings from the left and center blades flying by that last blade sure make its cut inefficient, leaving some uncut grass along with an ugly windrow.

 

[Bird]

I have the same thing, Jim. I can either mow soon, or I'll need to use the bagger. Naturally, it's faster and easier if I don't use the bagger.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

More North Texans Sick With Cyclospora Infection eating raw produce.

More North Texans Sick With Cyclospora Infection « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

 

[Western]

Kyle, also have seen that on the news, always a good idea to clean store bought "anything". I know this sounds like "paranoia", but I will wash my hands every time I go into one of those big stores. Absolutely whenever I use a shopping cart!!.

I was fortunate to have mowed my small yard yesterday before that big storm rolled through. It was wet in a few places, so I had to clear the munlcher out on occasion but it did a good job. Grass was thick and is growing nice, at least for a few days until the heat gets back to reality.

 

[houstonscott]

Ended with 5.2 measured in rain gauge in Oglesby, since Saturday morning. It's greener already. Got the GR2120 out and gave yard a shave and haircut.

HS

 

[jinman]

I went to the garden this morning and picked another bucket of tomato "bombs." The way my tomatoes are blowing up, I'd get arrested if I took some to the airport.:laughing: I also suddenly have beans to pick. Tomorrow morning, I'll go very early and pick beans. The 'coon let me slide last night and didn't return to carnage my ripe tomatoes. I picked an almost ripe ****** melon this morning to make sure I get to eat it instead of the 'coon. My wife and I have decided our next project will be Tomato-basil sauce with onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Tomorrow night, my grandson and I are going to the Ranger's game in Arlington, so we'll make sauce on Saturday.:licking:

I cut my yard after going to the garden this morning. My grandson ran the Toro battery powered string trimmer. It has a 24v lithium-ion battery that is excellent. My wife helped, and they trimmed around the house, outbuildings, all the trees, walkways and driveways on a single charge. It's an impressive little trimmer and great for my wife and grandson since they don't have to fool with gas or starting a 2-cycle engine. I had to cut the grass in the open areas 1st to allow the shaded areas to dry out, but I don't think my yard has ever looked better.

We got a visit from our neighbor this morning and she brought along her house guests. Technically, they are cabin guests because they are staying in their bunkhouse. However, the bunkhouse has sleeping for 12 people, full bath, full laundry, small kitchen and a living area with wide screen TV, satellite, and wifi internet. I call it their Best Western.. My neighbor used to work for a charity in Ft Worth. Now that she is retired, she is still friends with many people she met through that charity. The lady who is staying with her is raising 5 grandkids in ages from 9-18 years ( 3-girls, 2-boys). The oldest is a boy. They have no transportation, so Sandy went and brought them to house for a week so they could enjoy the outdoors and our lake for a vacation. I let them use my paddle boat and supplied veggies from our garden. Those kids have had a great time and their grandmother has enjoyed a week of rest away from worries of home and taking care of kids on a subsistence budget. Despite the rain, the kids have enjoyed the week and the cool weather. They have boated all around our lake and fished to their heart's content. I have to say that my neighbor has done a great thing by bringing them here and letting them explore the country. They'll go home on Saturday and I hope to send them home with all the veggies they can carry.

EDIT: Dennis, I guess almost all stores now have anti-bacterial wipes for cleaning the baskets. I think that's a terrific thing and can probably really help reduce transmission of cold germs and other viruses. Washing fruits and veggies in a light clorine bleach solution is probably a good idea no matter what the source.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Jinman, I think you helping out those kids is a great thing.

 

[Bird]

Dennis, I guess almost all stores now have anti-bacterial wipes for cleaning the baskets. I think that's a terrific thing and can probably really help reduce transmission of cold germs and other viruses.

Yep, I think it's a good idea, even though I've never used one of those wipes myself. But in spite of the 88 degrees when I started, I did finally go ahead and mow today when the drew dried off the grass.

 

[jinman]

Yep, I think it's a good idea, even though I've never used one of those wipes myself.

Yep, you have to know where they keep the wipes and then think about it as you go into the store, get your basket, say hello to the greeter, etc, etc. The Denton Sam's has them on the right beside the door as you enter the store, but my Walmart has them inside the door near the basket corral. Both of them have a nearby trash can to dispose of the wipe.

 

[jinman]

Jinman, I think you helping out those kids is a great thing.

Thanks, Kyle, but I'm doing only minimum stuff. My neighbor is the real angel and she has gone out of her way to see that their time here is a joy. She's one of those people who lives to make others happy and is always ready to help somebody in need.:thumbsup:

 

[farmgirl19]

I think it is neat what you and your neighbor are doing, jinman!

I made 2 more loaves of zucchini bread, this evening. I'm sure I'll be making 2 loaves a day, for a few more days. I'll freeze another couple of loaves, but will give away most of what I make, from here on out. My yellow squash, that had been looking sickly from the heat, is back perky and blooming! I'll freeze part of whatever else I get of it, and give away the rest.

I gave away a couple of "T-shirt" bags of tomatoes today. Some of my tomato plants are over 4 feet tall! I think they'll do well for another week or two now, and maybe longer, if we get some more rain next week. And with the heat, okra is looking VERY happy!

I bought a couple of bottles of a good German Reisling today. Life is good!

 

[foreman Etexas]

Ended with 5.2 measured in rain gauge in Ogelsby, since Saturday morning. It's greener already. Got the GR2120 out and gave yard a shave and haircut.

HS

5.2 dang,rain hog

 

[Lou66]

Jim I think you have some good hearted neighbors we could use a lot of them in this world..
You are lucky to know someone with sure kindness,, anytime someone helps a child they will remember..

When are children not children anymore?
When they don’t believe in Christmas anymore?
When someone shows them life is more?
When are children not children anymore?
No smile when giving a new toy
Or they leave in angry and slam the door?
When are children not children anymore?
When life become a living chore?
I don’t know if I ever knew
I know when a chicken is not a chicken anymore
When my wife hollows from the back door
I got fried chicken and few things more
That when chicken ant’s chicken no more..
its supper…
When was supper not supper no more?
Back before I had to lock all the doors….

I got one tenth of a inch of rain.. lose some and have a rain out..
when is rain not rain anymore
when it comes from a water hose.. duh.. Lou

 

[farmgirl19]

Very true, Lou. Very true. Another good one.