Finally Fall

Today is the first day of Fall

But it's not why these trees have turned colors.

This is what happens when you haven't had rain in months.

That is burned foliage and grass from 70 days of 100+ degrees.

The greens were kept alive with constant watering.  But the poor trees have suffered.

And the ponds.

The day after I took this picture it rained and the weather cooled off giving us a taste of cooler weather.  We have had a couple of days in the 80's but mostly it's been in the low 90's.  It rained again yesterday.  Even though the rain only lasts about 30 minutes we're grateful.

I celebrated by pulling out my fall decorations.

I found this little owl on the mantle at Pier One.  We have a couple of owls living nearby. 

 I love to hear them talking to each other at night.

I've been wanting a pair of brown boots for a long time.  I haven't had a pair since I was in college 40 years ago.  I splurged and bought myself these.

We all know that "New Shoes Cure the Blues".

I guess you could say "New Boots Make you Hoot".

Have a great first day of fall.

Ms Corny Kat

Breaking Records

IT'S SO DARN HOT!

I googled for a picture of a "hot sun" and came across this one.  I thought it was a little easier on the eyes than a picture of the glaring, eye squinting sun we have had endlessly here. 

It implies water.

We don't have any.

We haven't had a good any rain in months and are in a horrible drought.  We get teased every once in a while with some thunder and sprinkles but that's about the extent of it.

This past weekend Tom and I went to visit my ex boss, Dr. M-R for his 75th birthday.  He has a home on Cedar Creek Lake in Mabank.  Here is a view from his back porch.

The lake is 5ft below what it should be.  Normally the water fills up the front dock. 

Here is a close up of his boat dock.  They can't put their boat in the water because it's too shallow.   

We are probably going to break the all time record of 100+ degree days we have ever had in one really long hot summer. So far we have had

60 days 100 or over!

We've been breaking all kinds of heat records down here.  "Highest Highs" and my favorite "Highest Lows".  That's when it's like 90 degrees at 6 am when I'm on my way to work with the air conditioner on MAX.  It is not natural!  Needless to say we're all kind of cranky.

FYI

Today is "National Dog Day".  I don't have one.  Hug your dog for me!

Today in History (1920)

The 19th amendment to the constitution was passed giving women the right to vote.

I vote "The Highest Temperature May Never Exceed 90 Degrees Ever!"

Blog Changes

We are getting some sprinkles here in Texas this morning. It's been months since we have had rain. I'm hoping for a downpour. My Vinca are happy.

I'm working on my blog.  It will look like I've put a new post on when in fact it's just piddly little changes I'm making here and there on my web page.  This will probably go on for a while given the fact that I am not very good at web design.  My biggest challenge is my header.  I want it really simple. This one is temporary.  If you have any suggestions please leave a comment.  If you have a blog send me the link.  I would love to see it.


Kat

Hot Time In The Old Town

We are officially in 2nd place now with the most consecutive days over 100 degrees.  I think it's 36 days in a row now but if I'm wrong the heat is getting to my head.  The record is 42 days back in 1980 and from the looks of the long range forecast we're going to break that record.  We've been threatened with rolling black outs by the electric company.  They are actually pulling electricity from Mexico to help with the overload here.  That boggles my mind.  How do they do that?

The worst part is we have had NO RAIN!  All of Texas is in a severe drought.  I don't travel outside of the metroplex but I hear that it's a very sad sight.  Burnt cornfields, grapes that have turned into raisins, dried up ponds and lakes.  They even found a part of the shuttle Columbia in a lake in Nacogdoches because the water level had dropped down so low.   I remember that morning well. I heard the explosion, actually two. It woke me up. A horrible horrible tragedy.

Doesn't that look like something out of "The Day The Earth Stood Still"?   The original one with Michael Rennie not the remake with Keanu Reeves (even though Keanu is by far the better looking alien).

When the lakes get low the tap water tastes vile!  We always say it's because the lakes turn over in the summer.  Can you picture that? Ha.  It's actually because of an overgrowth of algae.  I guess that's why we say the lakes turn over.  I find myself buying bottle water every time I make a trip to the store.  We even use it for coffee.  Thank you Ozarka!

It's starting to look like fall.  The poor trees are really suffering.

Our yard is patchy and the ground is pulling away from the foundation in areas. "Not good".

I've managed to keep some flowers alive.  I've grouped them all together on the patio waiting for this heat wave to be over.  The geranium given to me by a dear friend on my birthday, is not so good. (I'm not giving up on it yet Heidi)!

Tom has been doing some evening hand watering on the dry spots.  Notice he is watering the neighbors yard in this picture.  I love this man.

All of North Texas is on watering restrictions.  Our area is only allowed to water 2 days a week before 10 AM and after 6 PM.  Tom and I (it took team effort) reset the sprinkler system to conform to the times and I think it will work better because we can do some deep watering at night.  It will be much better for the yard and foundation.

Yesterday early morning the sprinklers were running on the golf course.  Do you see the rainbows?

I'm taking that as a sign

A promise of rain

That August will fly by

That September October will be here soon

I'm so.... ready for fall, ya'll!

Summertime Blues and Videos

I hate the hot Texas summers especially when we haven't had any rain for what seems like 150 days.  Yesterday the high was 103 but it was cloudy with a mild breeze and it actually was tolerable.  The trees me and grass are starting to look stressed.  My poor flowers and me are just hanging on.  They are wind beaten and burnt from the constant sun. 

I tell myself everyday that I'm not going to complain.  After all I live in the age of air conditioning.  I'm fortunate to work and live in comfort unlike the poor souls that are building the house next door from 7 to 7 in searing, unrelenting heat.  They deserve every penny they make and a whole lot more. 

I don't want to see the weather forecast on TV because it's depressing.

Our past, present and future.

Do you see that little teaser for Monday the 18th.  That was yesterdays forecast.  Today it's gone.  I'm even ready to see Pete Delkus (our weatherman) come on the news without his jacket on.  You have to live here to understand but when Pete takes his jacket off every show you want to see for the rest of the night is going to be pre-empted because of severe weather.   The man is serious about rain even if it's only in Alabama.

So in my quest to keep my sanity for the next 3 months.  (Our summers last a long time).  I'm making a list of indoor projects to do.  One is transferring family VHS tapes to DVD.  After four hours I finally figured out that part.  I even watched the DVD on the computer and that worked too.  It's what happens after I save the DVD to my hard drive.  Let's just say it becomes a complicated mess of "What the heck are all these files and why are they chopped up in thumbnails?" 

If anyone out there has any information they can pass on like a website or book that I can look at that explains "transferring videos simply to your computer for dummies," I would really appreciate it. 

Meanwhile, stay cool and pray for Pete rain!

Family 4th

I'm at the tail end for posting about our family visit this past weekend.  I thought I had taken quite a few pictures but when I uploaded my photos I had about 7.  I cannot compete with this paparazzi family of mine.

I was so excited to see them all especially these two little munchkins.

Hollis

When Harper Met Suzie

There was a lot of visiting going on.

Kelly, Hollis and Molly

And of course a lot of picture taking

I love this of mom and Hollis

I have to show you something funny.  This family is so photogenic it's unreal.  They do not take bad pictures ever unless they don't know you are taking their picture, like this.  And even then it's not bad.

Before

But all you have to do is get their attention, point the camera and say cheese and voila!

After

I need to take lessons.

We are so glad you came.  Love you all!

A Birthday and Fathers Day

20 years ago on fathers day (after 5 months of complete bed rest) I awoke to the realization that my water was breaking dripping.  Jackson wasn't due for another 6 weeks so I was concerned.  As it turned out he didn't make his entrance for a few more days.  They put me in the hospital and pumped me full of steroids to stimulate his lungs to develop.  It worked and on June 19th, 1991 my little 4lb 13oz  bundle came into this world screaming. It was the most wonderful sound in the world!   Being premature he was whisked away to ICU. 

Today that tiny little boy is now 20 years years old.  A blessing beyond words.

A loving son.

And brother

You have brought us so much joy and love.

We are so proud of you.

Happy Birthday Jackson!

Tom has been the best father to our children that  I could ever hope for.

With Molly in 1985

Jackson in 1991

He always has a hug.

Or a shoulder for them to lean on.

Your love, guidance, patience and yes, a lot little bit of hovering have helped and inspired them to be the best they can be.

I know how proud you are of them. 

Today I want you to know how proud I am of you!

I love you dearly.

Happy Fathers Day