Ironic, I have a folder in my lap to call the roofers that are suppose to replace the roof after Ike. I heard from them two weeks ago, they were trying to squeeze more money out of the insurance company (*sniff, tears*). You would have thought at least they (roofers) would have called to update me. geeeez..
This is my bi-weekly Houston Chronicle blog in the Garden section "Houstongrows"
-explores plants responding to music, available scientific data, and the ocultish spiritual side linking excerpts of "The Secret Life of Plants", "Findhorn Garden" and "The Magic of Findhorn". Woven in are my New Age top 10 , and faster paced World Beat artist played in the garden.
"MUSIC TO MY....LEAVES'
http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?newspaperUserId=rjudd&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3arjuddPost%3ac3bb7795-7ad4-4139-85b8-259022726520&plckCommentSortOrder=TimeStampAscending
U.S. Drought Monitor bears this out for Texas
I know the insurance stuff I had to hire an independent adjuster and they and the insurance company again are out here. Grrrrrrr Texas wind and hail "blows hot air" like Allstate always has. Wow they told me yesterday Debbie in May mine is going up. I will be happy if it goes down.
The insurance guy is grabbing to save tiny pennies oh my goodness. I can't do this again either. I am just not built mentally for it. I was going to move but it is hard when you only owe so much and right now I am alone. I lost more in plants this time than Rita. I was teasing my fiance yesterday as he lives in Baltimore that he better hurry. I told him I was out in the driveway with my little electric chainsaw and well the single men are all asking me out.I have a pick up and I can use a chainsaw. He thought that was just too funny. They didn't really ask me out but I am sure if some thought i would work like a dog and let them sit around they would. BUT the days of that went when Dennis passed. I have to now but when Brian moves here my days of Blood, Sweat and Tears poured into this place are over. I can't do it anymore, I have neuropathy in my legs from my failed back surgery and I cry myself to sleep sometimes since Ike I can only take so much more as addition to pain killers I refuse. Would rather cry. Well I guess I need some cheese to go with my whine. :o) I really dread this adjuster telling the ones I hired what he will and won't do. Can I tell him what I will and won't do? Sorry getting a migraine. Boy it is humid and hot today.
mine went down $300 and will every year for the next 7 years--make sure you get a certificate from your roofer (if they are a corning or GAF certified representative) and it will decrease your homeowner's insurance if you buy a 30 year roof. It took 3 different insurance adjuster's (most people don't know they can have additional one's if they aren't happy with the first or second's evaluation). You are much better off if you do not have the roofer's talk to the insurance company at all--simply turn in your required # of bids (make sure they are the highest bids) and the roofer's will cut a deal to do it for less $. I don't have a mortgage so mine didn't have to go thru them either. All the contractor's will do you a much better deal if they don't have to deal with the insurance at all. I got the cash from the insurance co. then did the work with whomever I choose; there is nothing they can do about that.
I already cut a deal with the roofer to do it for what the insurance pays, however I did authorize them to deal with the insurance company...they wanted to talk with the insurance as they had a list of things that they thought the insurance needed to include. I suspect that's the hold up. I just left a message with them. The guy knows what to do after 400 plus Katrina roofs he's done.
he should be doing it for less than you get from insurance
really? and I was happy as it is. I should call the insurance company and see what's going on at their end. *sigh*
He doesn't know it, but he is.
All the AllState people on our block managed to get enough for all our damages + our 2% deductable--but it took 3 adjuster's and was a full time job there for about 2 months. I got my roof around Halloween, the only thing I need to do is that arch in the back; but I'm just going to do that myself. Not sure exactly how I'm going to handle that yet--but I'm thinking on it. I might just turn it into a bizarre modern art metal sculpture. And let some cucumbers or beans grow up it and leave it blank in the winter. I'm into strange yard art and it is in the back where no one is forced to view it but me. I need to find a welder and make a friend of him--lol.
Allstate cxld me after Rita. all wood framed houses in the area were cxld.
I know how you feel--out of the blue about 7-8 years ago when state farm cancelled all their Texas policies, or some of them for apparently no reason, I was dropped. That's actually the only way I ended up at Allstate--they were the only one's that would write me a homeowner's policy. I think its a bit strange the way all of them are working. one neighbor bought his house last May (after rita before ike) and texas windstorm was the only policy he could get. funny thing is, he was the only person on my street (out of 17) that had absolutely no damage other than fences.
I wonder if it will rain down here--still windy and warm.
There were about 5 drops here (Kendalia) yesterday, but nothing yet today. Keeping my fingers crossed for lots and lots of rain tomorrow and the next couple of days!
BTW: weather reports predict 39 at night for Thursday. Anyone know if brugsmansias can handle that? I just planted some I grew in pots over the winter. Don't want them to retreat to their roots.
Kendalia
Hope is really good for the next three days...or maybe more! Anything between 50% to 80% chance of rain through Friday in my area...as the front progresses. Yea!
Rain in NW San Antonio right now! Hopefully it will spread to New Braunfels, too!
Rained here last night! Hoping for more. . .and more. . .
Kendalia
sunny, warm, and muggy here again this morning.
Raining in north Texas today, and hopefully it will last for a couple more. There was almost 2" in the rain gauge this AM!!! Yahoooooooo!
Whoever did the nekkid turtle dance -- I thank you! :-)
Carla
I heard the pitter-patter on the roof this morning. It's been light drizzle at best, but maybe some real rain will be here soon. We need inches of rain so it will actually get past that upper 1/2 inch of soil (if you can call it soil in my area) to the roots of plants. Nothing we've had in a long time has done that.
Had some rain, but not even enough to water my grass. I am thankful for any precipitation here and am happy that other areas are receiving some really good rains.
LindaTX8, I was hoping that you and I would be blessed with a few gully washers ... enough to bring up Medina Lake at least some, but not enough to cause havoc as happened June 30, 2002 and the following 7 days.
Kendalia, my brugs in the ground received no damage until it was at freezing and below for several hours; however, they have been in the ground all winter. None froze all the back to the ground as some had in previous years. One received damaged top branches. They are somewhat acclimated to the cold now I guess. If yours have just been set out, they may shiver a little. I wouldn't worry about them unless the temperatures are in the lower 30s. They may receive some wind damage though. I pulled 4 from the greenhouse last week and they all have bloom buds that are almost open. I am hoping that the blooms aren't blown off.
Thanks, Htop! Now that I know what they'll bear, I can know better whether to take steps to protect them. Wind damage I'm not worried about; they'd quickly recover (and the wind has already been pretty rough, with little damage. Right now the weather predictions for my area are no lower than high 30's; if that is accurate, I should be OK.
It is significantly colder here than in SA; my established brugs retreated to the roots near the beginning of winter. They always have.
Kendalia, you're welcome.
It is just sprinkling outside but we are supposed to get a little rain on Saturday...........in south Texas but not enough for the farmers to be able to plant crops.
liking the rain reports!
We had measurable rain this afternoon, nice and cool 45F, although oddly it doesn't feel that cold.
We got a wonderful and much appreciated three inches of rain during the night. Yaay!
We got 3.5" of rain yesterday and are gearing up for more tomorrow.
Lots of nice, penetrating rain here ... about 1.35 inches. Hoping for more on Friday. :o) I had told my husband that I was going to dance naked in the rain when it finally arrived to celebrate; however, it was just toooo cold. brrrr!!
We've had 1/4" so far today. I'm ready for more! Still cold, though.
Yeah, I'd have to dance dressed in very warm layers of clothes and with a raincoat myself. I have southern blood and freeze easily. 43.5° now. Total rain fall so far since it started probably about 2 inches. I'd like a bit more, but I'm happy! But as usual when we get a real rain it raises all kind of hope that the drought is ending. Better not to even go there.
All we got out of this 45 degree weather for 3 days is 1/2" rain. This isn't enough for the farmers to even be able to plant anything.
as if in grande finale it's dumping here today with thunderstorms. looks like clearing ahead for tomorrow