Nothing that unusual, I'm sure. I'm fond of twist ties that come on a roll and have a little cutter. I was recently using them for somewhat attaching a bird feeder and a suet holder. Raccoon problems...they have broken pieces off my fairly new feeder in two places and took my old suet holder off entirely...never even found it on the property somewhere. I'm sure I could come up with some events. All I ever attend is the local Native Plant Society meetings, the local plant swaps and Festival of Flowers these days. But the newspapers have many other things listed, if only I had the time and lived closer to the city. I am looking forward to the annual Native San Antonio event in March. Last year was the first one, outdoors in February at a local park facility. Much planning went into it, with vendors, booths for other organizations and distinguished speakers lined up, along with our plant sale. Wouldn't you know it! It was not a nice day! Along came a real bad norther with lots of wind and bitterly cold temps all that day. I dressed up warmly like I was going skiing up in Colorado or somewhere (which I've never done, of course) and had a very good time anyway! We're hoping for good weather this year.
I know what you mean! Staying home too long is NOT good for your mental disposition! Sometimes I have to go somewhere, if only up by Lakehills to shop in their little stores....limited selection and a bit high on price, but closer than San Antonio. I dread rising gas prices most of all. When you have to drive about 10 miles (one-way) to get to a convenience or dollar store, that's bad. Well, maybe someday DD will buy me a hybrid or one of those new kind of electric cars.

Oh, just checked that out. It would be good to start a thread for non-Austin area events, too.

I like those twist tie rolls too. Have you tried the green velcro rolls to hold stems to poles? Love that they're reusable and don't cut into the trunks.

I found another "tool" to take to the mtg....a moisture meter. I must have 5 or 6 of them in the garage.....somewhere. I use one and set it down somewhere, so I go buy another. Unfortunately, the one that I did locate isn't working anymore. Not sure I can find a new one in the dead of winter. ( I'd also like to buy a thermometer for my compost pile, but I think I'll have a better chance of finding one in spring).

I'm hoping to go to a few plant swaps in the spring. I have to dig up some salvias that have gotten too big and some that have multiplied. I don't need anymore stuff, tho. I have to swear off on the co-ops too. I want to order everything, and then realize I have no place to put 'em.... And after being a slave to the yard and the hose...I don't want another summer like last year. I want to enjoy the garden again.

It's lightly misting here. We're invited out tonight, so I don't have to cook or clean today! But I do have a garden committee mtg this afternoon. Guess I better get my act together.

We're heading back to the lake this week for another memorial service. Ten days after the memorial service on the lawn for our neighbor, his wife died from pneumonia Friday. They had no children and were devoted to one another, so we're fairly sure she just didn't want to be without him.

The rain will stop tomorrow, but looks like we'll get more Thursday. I'm ready for a little blue sky and warmer temps. I still have wildflower seeds I need to plant. I just didn't want to share them with the snails. Hope they all froze last week. We didn't leave the house today except to get the paper. Kind of nice to not have to be anywhere or do anything but watch football ....except I probably should have pressed a few things, finished putting the Xmas decorations in the attic instead of our bedroom, the kitchen floor needed mopping.... and I'm making myself tired now.

Oh my, that is sad. I have often wondered if someone can will themselves to die...I guess it was a broken heart

She wasn't well, but it was sudden.
The wind has picked up and the front is blowing thru. After being so warm yesterday, it's chilly again, but not raining.

It was SO warm and sunny today! Nirvana! For the first time in a while, I got something done outside. The colder temps still aren't here.

I still have roses blooming on the south side of the house. Granted...they're small...but they are blooming. Soon tho, I have to go out and.....off with their heads! I left the trailing lantana in our hell strip out front without cutting it down after the freezes. It's now growing over the curb and into the street, so I guess it's time to let it go too.
It's chilly (42) and cloudy this morning. Ha! Just as I wrote that...the sun peeked out. Should be a pretty day, up to 62 by afternoon.

See posting below:

http://cubits.org/texasgardeni...

Just read the article. It made me think about a guy who worked for one of the suburban cities around here in Parks. He was in charge of fertilization etc. He was very serious about calculating the proper amount to be spread. He complained alot about home owners. Ofcourse wouldn't it be great if it could be done more naturally and there wasn't such intolerance for some "weeds"
It must feel bad to have to give up some of your babies.

I'm not giving up any of my plants until the city sets a good example and cleans out their "non-native invasives" from all the city golf course ponds... I can't see any way that a pond plant could make it's way from my fenced yard to a waterway! We're fairly land locked up here. 'And we have a really small pond....
The article in today's paper was originally from the Fort Worth paper. There hasn't been anything in about it in our paper until today.

The wind blew so hard this morning at 3 AM, our bench on the front sidewalk turned over. I came downstairs to check on the hoop houses and wound up standing in the window watching the trees limbs bending. Hoops held, tree limbs..not so much. I need to get bundled up and go pick up sticks before the garbage guys get here. My DD thought we were so funny yesterday for going to the grocery to get "supplies" before the freeze. She went to college in IL and knows COLD. Illinois is flat,....we live at the top of a hill. Last time we had an ice storm, one dad had to take the rest of the guys down the hill and to the grocery in his 4 wheel truck.
We hit the library and are going to be cocooning till it warms up! Hope everyone got their plants covered and remembered to cover the outside faucets.
BTW....It was 80 yesterday.

I heard it come in last night...BOOM...like something hitting the house. I did stock up on food a bit. Anyone who lived throught that ice storm we had here a few years ago would prepare.Batten up the hatches, guys...most likely going to be the BIG FREEZE for this year. Hoping the weather forecast is not as bad as they're saying. BRRR!

The weather guy said the "S" word!!!! 'Said possibly Friday we might get a few flurries. Can't imagine how disappointing the weather will be for the Packer and Bear fans who thought they'd get to see some warm weather.

We drained about a third of our rain tank yesterday in case the water freezes, there would be room for it to expand upward...not sideways. Today DH took the pump off and drained the pipes from the tank. He put some new couplings and caps on so I can still use the water in the winter. 'Just have to unscrew the cap.
I was just outside and it's much colder than I anticipated. I usually love cool weather. I had to go into my ski stuff to find ear muffs!
I'm getting ready to make hot chocolate for the garbage collectors. We have Cokes and cookies for 'em in the summer.... Figure they'd rather have something warm at this time of the day. Have to figure how to make it, re-warm it in the microwave when I hear the truck, and run out in time not to hold them up getting away..... I'm already tired thinkin' about it!

Hey.....I know what y'all mean....about being prepared ...in case a bad situation develops. Food & water are easily taken for granted.

currently 18 degrees here.....news dude is reporting that rolling black outs are currently underway across Texas.....if that happens here (going on in Houston right now)....I'll be losing some of my babies in the greenhouse......I need the electric fan to circulate the "heated" air. Sandi - the "S" word is being used liberally today....predicting 1-1/2" to 4" of SNOW starting tomorrow night thru Friday. Ugh!

Austin is having the rolling blackouts now. I was feeling pretty safe since we have gas heat. I'm such a genius...DH reminded me the fans on the heaters are electric. Duh... I'm trying to think of things to cook...or prepare before the street ices over and we get stuck up here. DD called after quick trip out and said her car was showing 17 outside.
I have yards and yards of frost cloth. I think I'm going to cover the plants in the gh off our back door. I got up at 5 and it was 34 out there. Hibiscus looked puny, but the rest was fine. I don't think that'll last if the cold is sustained for 4 more days.
Keep warm...I had a whole list of things to catch up on while we were stuck in the house. Didn't do one of them yet....

edited to add: We received this e-mail to all residents of our subdivision about an hour ago....

The main water supply line to Lost Creek from the City of Austin has been interrupted and there is virtually NO WATER LEFT IN OUR TWO LARGE WATER STORAGE TANKS next to the MUD office. Some residents have already reported that they have no water.

"When it rains...it pours..."

Nice...so Austin gives you the blackouts AND screws up your water? S.A. is doing rolling blackouts, but we haven't been hit with that YET. They'll probably wait until night for us...just because they CAN! We lost our hot water, so obviously, something is frozen somewhere...just what we needed, right? I wish David had put in that old-fashioned propane heater we bought years ago. He was going to let the guys take it for scap recently and then I reminded him what we GOT IT FOR! Not his fault...his memory is pretty bad because of the time he almost died back in 2003. He also doesn't remember that the winter before this one was very cold and wet. Not having much memory is pretty scary. Anyway, doesn't look like it will get above freezing today...a little bit above 27° right now.

Sounds awful. Most everything has been canceled here b/c of icy roads that just won't melt since tuesday a.m.
Be safe! Is there any bottled water left in the stores?

Water's fine now...we never lost ours. The blackouts will continue tomorrow.
Supposed to snow tomorrow night and Friday morning.
How long till spring?

The M.U.D. sent this explanation below for sending us all into a tizzy yesterday! I'm wondering if I can deduct the gallons of water they had me fill my tubs with... from my bill this month? Becuz....when my rain tank seems empty, I peek in and see if there's water in it. I can also touch the side of the tank and "feel" where the water level is. The water tanks for our subdivision are on the ground. There are ladders there too..... I remember, they said there "was virtually no water in those tanks."

"As stated below the cold weather and freezing conditions caused the instrumentation at our water pump station to freeze which lead to incorrect readings of the water levels in our water storage tanks.
Everything is now in good working order.

The cold weather and freezing conditions caused instrumentation at the
Lost Creek water pump station to freeze and lower the pressure for
several residents within the District for approximately 2 hours the
morning of Wednesday, 2/2/2011."

And the newspaper reports today that the rolling blackouts in Austin are only occurring in certain areas that don't have critical need, like hospitals, asst. living, etc. Some areas were hit repeatedly all day long. What a day! REI had to give customers headlamps to shop.