Well, we came from here http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/937014/#new
Anyones guess where we will end up!
Pull up a rocker and toast those chilly toes! Let's visit.
Fireside chat... Part 3 ... toasting our toes!
Wow! Look at those size 12s... MIL always said I would be tall if so much of me wasn't turned under in feet! 8 )
Charlene ~ I wondered in your inner greenhouse, do you have a thermometer to meter how much warmer it will stay than the outer greenhouse?
In bloom here is the Narcissis, a trailing rosemary and the sweet olive which smells wonderfully warm today!
Yes, I do raise butterflies but these were very late, ans will probably have a problem surviving.
I still have one monarch chrysalis and four more gulf fritillaries.
I put that little one on a larger container with the sugar water and she seems to be drinking from it.
I hope so anyway.
Fingers crossed that she will survive. Is is indoors where you will turn her out?
We have been having lots of thunder. There is a saying from east TX that if it thunders in January, it will frost on that date in April ~ if I remember correctly? Anyone?
Yes, the city greenhouse is large and i volunteer there so that is a good place for them at this time.
How delightful it must be to spend chilly days there in the warmth and beauty! To see butterflies you have raised would be the icing on the cake.
It is really cold and bad here today. So far we have gotten 1 1/4 inches of rain in our gauge. The trees are covered in ice. Currently, I can see at least a dozen Northern Cardinals perched in the Lady Banks rose bush. Usually, we have cedar waxwing in mid-March. Today there is a huge flock in the yaupon holly and cherry laurel. The tufted titmouse and black dark eyed junco are jockeying for the feeders. Dove on the ground and even a jay in a feeder. Then there is the goldfinch. And here comes the wren. They are all busy with their own and don't seem to mind the other kinds. Have been watching birds at this window for at least 14 years. This is the most different kinds and number I have ever seen. We have 5 feeders plus fruit and peanuts on the ground as well as the bird bath for water. The yaupon holly and cherry laurel help them as well.
I am glued to the spot just watching them. The wrens are really smart. This morning during a heavy downpour they gathered under the glass topped picnic table on the deck. Can hear the crows but thank heavens they haven't come up close.
So glad to visit with everyone today.
Christi
Lots of ice on the trees and shrubs here too, I hope the pictures I just took turn out well.
Pod, I am going to get thermometers, but don't have them for now. I can tell you this though. When I am comfortable in the outer shell, and then go to the inner shell, it is very warm, sometimes too warm to stay in for long. I had to open both ends of the inner shell a couple of times just to get everything watered. I rarely have to add water, because it is like a rain forest inside. So far, no mildew or any other moisture related problems though.
This is a real learning experience for me. Never even had a greenhouse before, and certainly not one inside another one.
I piddled around and let it get too late to get my heater in today. DH forgot also, so it will just have to make do without one. It isn't supposed to freeze, so I am sure it will be okay. I am going to put it in early tomorrow and leave it so I just have to plug it in from the end near the back door of my house if I decide I need it. I am going to get a timer for it so I can have it warming at the most crucial time of hard freezing weather.
I am going to go to Palestine one day this week for supplies. Waiting on a check to arrive. I try not to make the trip too often, but there isn't much in Buffalo to choose from.
Charlene
Palestine? Isn't that where TXgrower lives? Wonder where she is... with her family down with the flu bug. I hope they are all right.
I picked up a cheapie indoor outdoor thermometer that I can read from in the house. You can put the outside sending unit where ever you want within a certain distance of the indoor unit. The downside is it is battery powered and when it turns really cold, I find the batteries need to be pretty strong. It is convenient tho. On the indoor greenhouse do you keep a fan on for air movement?
LouC ~ Dear, you are in a black mood today. Was today the graveside service or is that tomorrow? What awful weather for that... my thoughts have been with you and hope your spirits will get a boost.
It is a delight to watch all the birds and I am fascinated by the "pecking order". The different types seem to have certain time slots at these feeders.
The services were last Friday.
Sorry I gave such a bad out look. Actually, these kind of days where we are all sort of socked in is necessary once in a while to make us let our bodies rest. Watching the birds is fascinating to me and these were within 2-3 feet most of the time. Either they can't see me because of the reflections on the window or they are unconcerned. Whichever, I loved it. Plans didn't work out to go to MIL on Sunday and we planned to go today but not with ice everywhere. Tomorrow is the plan. She gets really frustrated when the PC doesn't do what she wants it to. I just punch a button here and there, and all is well.
About the truly sit by the fireplace and read the seed catalogs. Can hardly wait to decide just what we will plant in the raised veggie garden this year.
Well, I did get some pictures in the back yard, the ice showed best on the Flame Acanthus shrubs.
Another view.
A single shrub bent over.
And a close up.
Quite a miserable day...no freezing or anything, but wavered between low 40's to 30's all day. Brrr! I was talking to my teenage granddaughter on the phone yesterday and she was telling me about what she and her brother did up in Canada (their step-dad's parents live there) over the holidays. Those kids (who live in Houston) got to experience what it's like playing outside in a climate where snow and ice and negative temps are really common things in winter! I mentioned I wouldn't have wanted to be outside in that cold at all and she said her mother must take after me, because she didn't like it either! Yep...that's where she got the desire to stay close to the fireplace!
This message was edited Jan 5, 2009 9:00 PM
LouC ~ not such a bad outlook but just sounded down in the dumps and I worried. You won't believe, I put up the seed catalogues and got out Ayn Rand ~ Atlas Shrugged. Hope I can wade thru it. I read and while and napped a while so probably won't be able to sleep tonight. LOL If I had stayed with the seed catalogues, I would have ordered far more than I could use.
Frostweed, I cannot believe how thick the ice appears to be on those limbs. It is a wonder it didn't break any. Brrrr! That made me chilled ~ think I better put another log on that fire. Beautiful photos though.
LindaTX ~ glad the grandkids got to experience that. It is fun when young but seems to lose its' charm with age in my experience.
LindaTX ~ you are computer literate and told me how to make a ° sign, do you know how to make a cent sign by any chance?
¢ Ha! I figgered it out... alt 0162 ¢ Cool.
This message was edited Jan 5, 2009 8:51 PM
☺ Yea, good for you! I hardly ever use it, but I have a list of a few shortcut symbols printed out. The ° is the only one I usually remember without looking it up. Nice ice pics, Josephine! We've had just a trace of precipitation...I'll take any kind of moisture I can get, even if it comes as ice later on.
I didn't want to get out any more than run some seeds out to the yard birds and peanuts to my bluejays. I had quite an ice show earlier today too. Those are pretty Josephine, but we know how cold it was too!! If we had the wind like yesterday morning it would have caused some breakage, but the wind was almost non-existant thankfully.
Christi...you had asked me on dmail about DH's surgery, as did Josephine. We just found out today that he will have it on the 21st. He will be glad to get it over with so quickly. We plan to take a quick trip before long; just a couple days before he gets it done and will be stuck in the house. I will dmail you the plans so someone here knows.
BTW, Josephine, nice picture. I had GFs and catapillars on my passionvine two days ago. I don't bring them inside since they are abundant around here. They seem to handle the cooler temps pretty good.
Well I love the fire, but my electric blanket is calling...nite all!
"Nice Ice" Boy, does that sound like a contradiction in terms! LOL
A quick peek at the weather site shows the next week above freezing for me. A few nights hovering just above but that will suit me.
Today is a work day so I'll need some of you to tend to the "fire" today. It's nice to come home to a warm house!
I just checked the outside thermometer here and it's hovering at about 34. I actually think it reads lower than it actually is because it's on the fireplace chimney and the brick is cold. It's gray and drizzling rain, but the birds have the feeders swarmed. There must be at least 20 goldfinches and house finches and more sparrows than I can count. I have my lazy boy rocker set where I have a good view of the feeders, my laptop, and my boxer, Islay lets me know when the squirrel is a problem. I normally leave the door open for her to chase him away, but it's too cold for the door open today. Maybe if it warms up a bit later..... All in all, a very nice day to be inside. I actually love this cold weather. I think I may have to put a pot of chili on to simmer!
Have all of you checked out the new bird forum? It's wonderful. So many great pics of beautiful and unusual birds.
Hope all of you have a wonderful day and stay warm.
This is an ideal day to do nothing constructive. Watch the birds, mess w/the puter, watch the birds, eat, watch the birds and so on. I'm always cold and getting darned sick and tired of being in the house, nice as it is (the house, I mean). Jim doesn't like shopping and I don't really do that sort of thing either 'cause I can't walk very well but going to the nurseries and places that I might find plants on sale because they aren't blooming any more is my idea of an adventure. I would be out there except my AC in the car decided to stop working and makes horrible noises so we can't turn on the heat or the AC. I have never like Jim's new car and won't learn to drive it (it's a little different from the way Amer. cars work - it's a Honda) so I end up staying at home in my jammies and robe and don't do a whole lot.
Ann
Hey everybody. Pics of the freeze give me shivers. That freeze line stayed well to the north of us. We have not dipped below 40°. It rained all night last night and well into the morning. The sun did come out and warmed things up into the 50's.
I had Maddie today for the first time since before Christmas. She still has a cough and tires easily but is getting better. She is walking all over the place. A couple of weeks ago she was holding on to furniture and then she just let go and walked. Don't you think she was proud of herself?
I took mom home yesterday hoping that being in her own surroundings would ease her confusion. It seems to have helped. My brother and I have an appt with the Dr tomorrow to discuss the change in her mental faculties. It seems that having been so sick has accelerated or worsened what used to be just forgetfullness.
There is a test forum where you can learn all types of symbols and how to bold print and quote and hyperlink and so on. I have had fun on it learning all kinds of new things.
I love my birds too. The cardinals are getting bolder with the goldfinches. They are getting tired of waiting on them to finish eating. The goldfinches seem to want more sunflower than niger seed right now. Which is fine by me. That niger has gotten expensive. The one bird that has shown me that birds will eat anything when it's cold is the King Flycatcher. They eat insects on the fly. We have one that eats my peanut butter/cornmeal/raisin suet. He flies up under it, and stabs it, then flies away to swallow it. There must not be too many insects for them to eat right now. He doesn't perch to eat and doesn't eat seed.
I was really happy...we had about 1/3 inch of rain last night! May not seem like much, but it's more than we've had in a long time.
We had 1.02 inches of rain. A good slow soaker. Now the winds are here again. But at least they will keep frost from forming. We are supposed to dip to 36°. Maybe we will, maybe we won't. Who knows. I'm tired of worrying about it.
Linda, are you in west Texas?
Dark when we got home so I didn't look at the rain gauge tonight. It rained most of yesterday and last night. Feels airish tho even if it is still 48°. I noticed the daylily foliage is really growing and Allium canadense was popping this morning.
Txgrower, good luck with your Mom. What lies ahead won't be easy but at least your brother will be helping too. Glad everyone is on the mend from the flu.
I am off to sit in front of the fire with the new Plant Delights wishbook. It is always entertaining reading.
Thanks podster for your kind thoughts. I've had a fire going since 10 this am. The sunroom is nice and toasty. May not need it tomorrow though as we will have sun and upper 60's. So they say.
Have fun with the wishbook.
TexasGrower, I'm just NW of San Antonio. We're having a bad drought here...most counties around here even banned fireworks around New Year's.
You all have had it bad. That is beautiful country by the way.
Been at MIL all day setting up her monthly bills to pay on her Discover Card. She's smart.
Decided she didn't want them paid directly from the bank. If she puts them on her Dcard, she makes extra percent and gets a bonus. Still took a long time getting everybody set up.
As for the pc being broken (her idea), just turn the power off for 20 seconds and windows repairs itself. She was 91 on Sunday and can't remember that is the magic I know.
Just turned in a big seed order to Wilhite Seed for the veggie garden. Spring on my mind.
Can you believe that ice??? My yard looked the same as Josephine's yesterday. Ice gone today but it is still brisk. The final reading on the rain gauge is 1 3/4 inches. Fantastic.
Time to hit the hay. Sweet dreams everyone.
Christi
I hope all the Texans are doing ok. The warmth is leaving and the cold and wind are back. It's supposed to be really cold next week. My plants have enjoyed the break from the cold. They got watered and spread out a bit. The columbine in the GH is blooming like crazy.
I hope to till a bed today and add more gypsum to break down the clay. I also need to put my brug seedlings into bigger pots. One of the runuculus I sowed is germinating. Two Morning glory plants are blooming. Just a little spring in the winter. I love it.
Get your firewood ready kids. It's getting cold outside.
While y'all are sittin in side staying warm today I'll be thinking of ya while I sit on my bus waiting for the game to get over so we can head back to Tyler..........sure wish I had a battery for the laptop as I would set it up and chat with y'all then cause my cell doesn't' do the website very well only chat programs like yahoo.
The last game is over at Nolan HS ....LOUC ya see that ....hahahahahah...I know your busy as we already talked on the phone
oh well gotta go get the bus open so if they want to start loading stuff they can
stay warm and be good ...LOL
Well, the UPS guy said, "Christmas is over!" to our neighbors.........blam......
I hear that arctic front next week could be the lowest temps we've seen so far this winter. I liked the last one that gave us some rain...don't want the next one.
Texagrower, are those morning glories in the greenhouse? If not, then how the heck did you get that to happen? I just live thirty minutes from you and it's not happening here for darned sure.
I am thinking, it is time to wrap the shrubs for the next freeze. I hope it doesn't ruin the collard greens. I guess, I should cover them too.
Man, I have so many multiplying onions that I wish a round-up was now. I need to clear out a few places for some other stuff. I could supply the army with green onions.
I am getting anxious to start sowing seeds. I am going to plant potatoes now, although I have never planted them before sooner than Valentine's day. I have been reading that other people already have them planted even further north than here. I am going to give it a try.
Texas grower if you need onions, let me know. I will be coming back to Palestine on Tuesday or Wednesday and I could bring you a nice bunch of them. They will multiply fast for you.
Charlene
Charlene, the morning glories are in my guest bedroom aka the "nursery", where they are in a sunny window and under florescent lights. The columbine is blooming in the GH along with geraniums, petunias, surfinias and million bells.
What type of onions do you have. The vegetable garden is my hubby's domain. He said he might like some to plant. He was going to till the garden today but it is still too muddy.
I heard this will be the coldest weather yet too. I have all my plants in their cold weather homes and watered, ready for the cold. I potted my little brug seedlings. today as well. I also got the blue bonnets sown. The packest said no later than Jan. 15th. Cutting it close aren't I?
Bubbles, did the UPS guy turn the santa and reindeer upside down like that?
Well, he's not admitting he hit it...but he did.... The limb hangs out over the street a bit....trucks whack it all the time. I kinda liked Santa upside down...especially at night, lit up.....
Guess we'll finally get to light the fireplace Wed.....won't get the worst of the arctic air here, but should be in the 20s overnight. I'm looking over the yard and deciding what has to make it on it's own....very sad....running out of room to take things in.
Forecasting a low of 18 here thursday night. I don't think my greenhouse heater can manage, so I am trying to figure out what to do. Not a lot of room in the house right now...
On another totally off topic note....does anyone know of a good brand of lounge pants that DOESN'T shrink??? I thought I found a great pair, nice and comfy, then washed them once in cold water and boom....shrunk up to my ankles! This has happened to so many and I am really getting tired of it. Any suggestions? (Can you tell I'm frustrated? lol)
:) Kim
Texasgrower,
My onions are the kind with practically no bulbs. They are grown for the greens. They are called multiplying onions. I have lots to share. JLMK if you want to meet up in Palestine.