Not a drop--but it was cloudy here on the west side. Which made it good for working outtside...they say rain this weekend. It was a lot cooler today at 93 as opposed to 100. You notice that difference here.
Texas heat
Thank you all for responding to this. It makes me feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one that thinks HOT is HOT. I complain every yr. I've lived in W.Texas for many yrs., then Dallas for 30 yrs. and now Waco area for 2 yrs. It's all just about the same. I'm not a lover of HOT. I LOVE Texas all the other times. I think it's fabulous to be outside around our outdoor chimenea in late Oct.-March and have our dinners out there. Texas is a very diverse state and for the most part, extremely friendly and affordable. I've never gotten used to the heat, but I wouldn't trade it for shoveling snow all winter at all. My DD just moved from St.Louis and although I loved it there, it wasn't fun negotiating the snow in the winter. She hated it and is so glad to be back in Dallas. She hates the cold and loves the heat. So, go figure. I'll deal w/this summer and be grateful it's not the summer of 1980. Dallas had 73 consecutive days over 100, a 3 day break, then 30+ more. I thought I'd die, but didn't. That was the summer that was and it followed a record breaking winter w/the worst ice storm known to Dallas. We'll all muddle thru this heat, and come fall, we'll be grinning so big because our garden yr. will be beginning. Til then, I'll eat watermelon and be happy.
hilary
Aprilwillis, I think I found a place in Austin for whiskey barrels made into rain barrels. Good idea - thanks! And I like the idea of not having to mow.
indirt, glad I could help- makes me feel like a useful member of society!
This was an interesting thread, lots of opinions and lots of empathy!
indirt,
How much were they selling the wiskey rain barrels for? I'd like to get a few, but they're always pretty expensive online. Where are they selling them?
Yeah, indirt -- give up the info! I have a son up there who could help me get some, and I really want this rain barrel thing to happen.
Hag -- I agree, there's nothing like Texas when it's not burning you to death. Sitting around the chimenea on a cool or cold evening can be the absolute best. If only summer didn't last eight months!!!!! But I do like the cold. You can always put on another sweater, but you can only take so much off, as aprilw and scoolie have said.
As I have aged I have become more appreciative of cold and less heat tolerent.
There are places where the heat is not so intense and the sun not so strong. Places where maybe there are 3 or 4 days of high temps then comfortable temps and then high temps- at least they get a break! I can see all of us old bags watering in the nude! LOL
And throw in the occasional "private summer" for us females of a certain age...
Yeah! isn't that a dirty trick?
This message was edited Jun 15, 2006 5:17 PM
Hey you guys, there's a SLIGHT possibility of rain (haven't had any since early April) this weekend, and I swear if it does, my DH will see one "neked" lady out there celebrating. Manna from heaven. What I'd give for an old fashioned thunder storm like we used to have in earlier yrs. before all this global warming. I remember we had hot summers, but every so often, we'd get a relief w/a thunderstorm.. Let's all hope,
hilary
Texas native here...love it (7th gen...it's in my blood, I guess!) I've always loved the heat because I hate cold worse--no complaining--
BUT...
about a week ago I started working outside at 9 in the AM...worked about 1 and 1/2 hours...and felt a little queasy. Came in and got headache, felt weak for the rest of the day! It was already very hot. I'm really worried that when it's this hot in June...can it get to 110 in August? It was 107 in Houston in 1980, the year my son was born. Wow...some kinda heat.
The price of rain barrels depends on what it is made of and if it is decorated/painted/colored. You can get them in recycled food-grade plastic or you can get the wooden whiskey barrels.
The city of Austin apparently at one time had a deal for residents on rain barrels. Anyone wanna find out if they still do?
http://www.watercache.com/standard.php?p=rb
This site has ones for sale, but also just the barrels that you can build your own rain barrel from cheap. Only downside is that they come all the way from Kentucky:
http://www.kentuckybarrels.com/
I don't know if you have to have a rain system or if rainbarrels count in order to get discounts on water bills or not? Maybe it depends on the city/town?
I hear people complain about mosquitoes here, but I laugh after living in MN for a while where the mosquito is the "state bird" - they sure did "flock" by the hundreds at my door! I prefer hot for 8 months to cold for 9 - layers never helped me and I never did get that hot tub! My fingers would itch to dig in dirt - so difficult to wait for the ground to thaw. Then another month afterwards for the nurseries to open. I'd plant seeds in the house in Jan. to help soothe my itch - the living room housed my floor to ceiling seed starting shelves/lights. Birds would fly into the window at night b/c they thought it was the sun - have no idea what the neighbors thought, LOL! The sun goes down about 4:30 and not come up 'til 7:30 winter solstice - bleah! TX is home. I'm finally home.
I LOVE thunderstorms. They are so comforting. Would be nice to have even a little one right about now.
Indirt....loved reading your story of the mosquitos...! I too love thunderstorms! We're supposed to get some rain today here in Austin, don't know about Hico...will have to Google Map that town! :)
Well MN is a bit colder than most- so I am sure that you did want to get to digging! and you are in 7b and I am in 9b- big difference there. How hot do you get and how cold do you get?
I'm a native Texan too. But I will have to say I will never get used to the humidity. I can take the heat pretty good if the air is dry but the humidity is almost unbearable. When it gets in the high 90's and up I can only work outside very early in the mornings and late late evenings. I usually get out in the gardens about 6 or 6:30 am to water and work. And I'm back inside usually by 8:30 or 9am. The early mornings are usually very pleasant. I take my coffee outside and dream of what my yard will look like in years to come. ;) Lin
Indirt, I agree -- I'd rather be here than MN, though I've visited there and it's got its own beauty. But... hmmm... long growing season vs. short growing season... let me think...
Texas really is home. People who don't live here don't understand it. The rest of the states are just states.
It's supposed to rain through the weekend here. HALLELUJAH!!!!
I am a native Texan..My mom's side of the family have been here since the way back in the late 1800's starting with great-great parents...lol..
I would not trade with anyone to go live somewhere else....I work inside a school bus barn in a metal building which can get up to the 100's and work outside washing the outside and inside of them school buses.I did a temp degree marker and it got up to 120 degrees inside those school buses with no white painted tops...Out of 40 some odd buses..we have only 5 buses that has AC-handicapped and 2 regular buses...so I am use to this kinda heat...
I just got rain yesterday and day before yesterday for about 20 min at the max...looking at some more today...and tomorrow...
Now I am off to finish my planting of Hostas...
Spoke too soon..it is now raining....still gonna plant my Hostas...
This message was edited Jun 16, 2006 11:14 AM
We've gotten one nice shower so far. Yea!!! Come on rain. ;)
Ah, the sound of thunder... it's raining... life is good...
Native Texan here too. Except for one 6 month period of living in Sante Fe when I was 5 years old, I have been in the DFW Metroplex all my life. I am very cold natured and could not imagine living anywhere north (70 is cold to me!). And I agree brigidlily - Texas is home. I love to visit other states, and would enjoy living elsewhere for a short time, but this home and where I will always end up.
No rain here yet, but we are expecting some tomorrow!
sweezel, I'll do what I can to send it your way. As long as it stays here, too, of course! ;)
I really think that some families migrated to Texas to avoid the cold. Often genetics played a role...some people can't tolerate cold very well at all. My family is like that. Doesn't mean we thrive on extreme heat either. I can't tolerate it that well...and it's getting harder the older I get. But here I can manage enjoy the outdoors year-round. Not an indoor person. If I was in a very cold climate, I'd dread going outside...not just in winter, but to some extent even in spring and fall.
Like Connie said, we are suppose to get some rain today thru Sunday. 40%. But it sure is sunny out there now. The morning was beautiful and overcast. I've had to put some white towels over my tomatoes b/c they are getting sunscald.
I do not like the heat either, but hey, have any of you spent time in Phoenix in the summer. THAT is hot. And I'm thankful to be in Austin where the humidity isn't like Houston. As a kid living in Houston, UGH...the heat and humidity was terrible.
I have lived in TX most of my life, but have lived many places as a child and spent about 10 years as a young adult in San Jose, CA. That is the best weather EVER. Love San Jose. Too expensive and crowded however.
I cannot stand cold, so I will take the hot summers over long ol' freezing winters any day.
Y'all hang in there and stay in the AC. ;)
Michelle
Our HEB and HD's were selling 1/2 and full whiskey barrels earlier this spring but both are now gone....they were about 30 bucks for a full one and I imagine they get them in all year.
I might start complaining of the heat this summer as my pregnancy progresses. It looked like rain threatened yesterday but not a drop...seeing a lot of deer in open fields over here....coming in more for food and water, poor things....
Tir_Na_Nog congrats! Hope you have a cooler than usual summer!
I have to tell you the heat is begining to get to me and yesterday when I walked through the yard all I could think of was how bad everything looked! I wanted to rip everything out and start over- but what would I plant that could better tolerate the heat than what I have? Last night and this morning a little bit of rain, but not enough to make a huge difference. I know that once the summer is over and fall is here I will feel better and in the winter I will be glad that ours is so short, but right about now Alaska sounds like the place to spend my summer!
We got some rain last night here in Arlington, what a surprise to wake up and see things wet, it will save me one hour of hand watering pots and little plants.
It is still cloudy and they forcast more rain, I hope they are right.
Josephine.
I understand we are due for more rain this weekend, but not sure how much.
Yesterday was very nice here, for mid June. Got one semi-decent rainfall early in the morning and stayed mostly cloudy and high only about 88-90. I even got a trellis half constructed and some planting done. Even if we don't get much rain in the next few days, at least outside work will get done with cooler temps.
I'm in Dallas for the engagement party, and hoping I get rain at Lakeway, because my sprinkler guy is adding on other areas on Monday! Does anyone know if LW got rain? I'm here until tomorrow...and we all know plants need it every day!
It rained some last night, not sure how much except everything looked good and soaked this morning. I was talkin an hr ago to friend in Columbus and she said it was raining buckets there. It just now started raining here, hooowee! A really good solid rain!
We were going to grill dinner in the backyard tonight , but I'd much rather have the rain!
Been raining since early morning today!!!! AWESOME!!! Still saw some deer out enjoying it. =)
la la la la, raining buckets here!!!!!!
This morning it rained! 1.3 inches on the gauge! Majorly happy! Heard it start just after 6:30 a.m. and I got up, ran outside and got all wet. Felt good! Would welcome much more...rain dance will commence later in my yard!
It's been raining off an on since this morning w/o signs of stopping, who knows I may not have to water my lawn all next week!
We got some early this morning. Woke up at 3:30 and it was wet. Since then nothin. Linda can you please come to McKinney and dance for us?
Yep, now the sun is out and no sign of rain. I just checked the forecast again. Now we have a 40% chance of rain tonight, a couple hours ago it was 80%. Bye-bye rain. I gave up on waiting for the rain and just watered (with fish emulsion) my potted garden.
Since yesterday we've gotten 1 1/2" of rain. It fell sooooo nice. Sun is out now and it's really humid outside with above 80 deg. in the sun. We have a chance for more tomorrow and on into next week. Sure hope we get it. I know the plants and shrubs are breathing a sigh of relief. ;)
Lin
We are in the edge of the watch area for tonight with the "threat" of heavy rain. Let it pour! We received 1" here in town last night and 1/2" at the ranch ten miles west. The gauge could be off as there was very high wind. The roads and pasture seemed quite wet.
We had some nice rain but only for about an hour. I found a new love...gardening in the rain. I put on my swimsuit and fed my garden and did some weeding in the rain. Much more comfortable than 98 degrees between 11am and 2pm!! I came in when it stopped. I wish it had lasted longer, for both me AND the plants, lol!
It rained day before yesterday and yesterday and today...I think I had enough of it now..fixing to have web feet..lol..