It was a good year for my tomatoes, even though I don’t have many photos to prove it. My raised beds (above) have been cleared of their remnants for a couple weeks now. But for several months before that, I was able to pick enough to eat daily, whether on salads, BLTs or just cut up in chunks and sprinkled with salt. I had a few issues with birds eating the tomatoes, but I avoided most of those problems by picking the fruit as soon as it started turning yellow. The leaf-footed bugs stayed away from the tomatoes, too, and while I had problems with slugs on the lettuce, they also ignored the tomatoes. Continue reading
Category Archives: Seasons
Early garden greens up backyard, spirits
The warm winter and spring here in central Texas has kept me busy the past 6 weeks. Yes, those are peas in my raised garden beds! I direct-seeded peas and lettuce on Jan. 31, during a warm spell in which the two-week forecast called for maybe one or two days of freezing temperatures. Because neither veggie seed was likely to sprout for 10 days, and the forecast after that called for above-normal temps, I decided it was worth the risk. Continue reading
2015_Day 361: It was nice while it lasted
I had to take a photo (above) of my blooming flower bed on Saturday in all its winter glory. I’m glad I did. The mercury dipped some 20 degrees in 15 minutes this morning, and with at- or below-freezing low temperatures predicted for at least the next week, the flowers’ beauty is probably short-lived. Continue reading
2015_Day 356: December gold
Last night’s sunset was unbelieveable and one that I thought might just be the most beautiful one yet since we moved to central Texas 15 months ago. Then this morning I just happened to look at the “On This Day” feature on my Facebook page and saw the beaut that graces the top of this post. Continue reading
2015_Day 340: December weather heaven
I am really loving this warm stretch of weather we’ve been having in central Texas. Sunny and in the mid-60s, this weekend was perfect. I did a little Christmas shopping, cleaned up one of my flower beds and added more holiday decorations to the front of the house–all in short sleeves. Even darn dog Chloe enjoyed the warmth, basking in the sun and rolling in the grass. It was a fantastic weekend all around. Continue reading
2015_Day 330: Thankful Thursday
I am very thankful for everyone and everything in my life. Husband, daughter and I shared a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with my father-in-law and darn dog Chloe (because she’s family, too). Continue reading
2015_Day 326: Frost takes toll
Geraniums don’t like the cold. At least my geranium didn’t like the 30-degree low temperature our area of central Texas was subjected to early this morning. Probably going to look even worse tomorrow morning, as similar lows are expected. Continue reading
2015_Day 320: Fall leaf color surprise
There isn’t a lot of fall leaf color when it comes to our area of central Texas. At least I haven’t seen a lot of it. So I was surprised to see the reds on one of the trees in our front yard. Continue reading
2015_Day 317: When is it OK to put up outside Christmas decorations?
I rarely get in the Christmas spirit before December, but this year I already feel like shopping for outside decorations. I think it’s because it’s so much easier to put up outside decorations in central Texas compared to Wisconsin. Continue reading
2015_Day 303: Rain is unbelievable
The rain, it’s just not letting up across central Texas. We are fortunate to say we only got about 4.5 inches today, a far cry from the 8-14 inches that fell less than an hour from here, closed the interstate, forced many evacuations just down the road in Austin and is responsible for at least one death and possibly several others. Continue reading