Weather Report from Central Texas by Nita Holstine

03-24-11

We had rain the other night. About 1/2 inch in the wee early morning hours. By daylight, it had evaporated. Right now, there are 2 storm cells to our north and northwest. It had been one system that divided, looked to be dying down but then each half built back to having its own mass of yellow and red. Lots of sweet music of thunder but we really don't want the damaging hail. The puppies don't like thunder or lightning, hail or rain.

It rained pretty hard for about an hour, gave a giant blast of lightning, the power went out and the storm was gone. No more anything but the electricity which came back on.

Rain? Maybe an inch.

03-14-11

No rain. No rain and then no rain. We're already breaking record high temps with some slight freezes mixed in. The worst part of the dry times is the fire hazard. The humidity level is down in the single digits and the air just sucks the moisture out of everything.

03-06-11

We've had lots of cold temps but did not freeze up again until this morning. It was a reported 28 and I did have the water running through the lines but we had no water until about 9 in the morning. No rain and no rain and still only slight chances in the forecast. The fire danger is bad and the winds are usually high and dangerous. Humidity levels in the single digits, so dry it hurts.

02-09-11

We hit a record low this morning of 9° and it was miserable. The north winds were brutal but it will be the same again tomorrow morning. The high tomorrow will be 36 and that probably won't thaw the water lines but it will get the puppies out of the house and back to their own house. And then a warming trend. 50s will certainly warm us up and thaw out the water. Already the wind is less or I would not be here at my computer.

02-03-11

Today is Thursday and this mess started on Monday night. First there was a lightning and thunder storm with about 4 inches of rain. It was followed by the same thunder storms and 4 inches of hail. By morning, we were also hit with 8 inches of snow. We've had light flurries every afternoon all week. The low pressure is just sitting on us and oh is it cold. Our forecast low for last night was 3 degrees. It only got down to 12 so we were lucky. Randy brought in the puppies and they are in a corral in the living room. Sparky had not seen them since Sunday and she had been very anxious. So Randy took the pups out and they all had a fun time this afternoon. Except that their little legs were too short to get their bellies out of the snow. They were happy but cold.

Someone is missing their flock of sparrows. They are here on our feeders and they are hungry. Three to 4 dozen of many different sparrows. Some Orioles and dark eye Juncos as well. Seems there are more Cardinals that usual but they are all getting hungry at the same time. What a beautiful sight. There are in addition to the usually here tufted tit mouse, the black capped chickadees.

I have not been outside since Monday and I am sick of this snow stuff. The weather people had been saying this is the worst winter we've ever seen. But when they checked the records, they found it was not. We've broken a lot of record temps. but the longest I remember the temp. staying below freezing was 10 days. I so look forward to Saturday and Sunday when we will thaw.

Some people are screaming that these are the end of days. No way. It's been worse. Just like those who are yelling "where is the global warming."

01-30-11

Same old cold at night and mild in the daytime. Yesterday we hit 76 degrees and it was wonderful. All the bees were hatching out and acting crazy. I have been putting my weather notes in my Nita's Week page.

12-19-10

We get a couple days and nights with extremely cold and then back to mild but no rain or moisture. We did have one cloudy morning but that made all our solar critters unhappy without their sunshine for warmth.

12-15-10

It is at 83 degrees right now and that breaks a record set back in 1908 of 82. It is indeed hot but won't last for long. It will be mild tonight and another front moves through tomorrow when the temps will keep on dropping. Friday may hold snow, some rain, some sleet and ice and about 30 degrees. Oh brr. But most of the mid and eastern parts of the country are under heavy snow and here we are still enjoying some nice weather.

11-25-10

The arctic front roared through sometime in the wee hours of the morning. By 3:30, I couldn't sleep for the wind noise pushing on the window that's not really a window. I heated water and got my hair washed but didn't get near washing dished. I dumped too many buckets of water yesterday and the day before. They are too heavy for me to do very often. That will wait until later today. Brr, my hair is wet and the air leaking in around the window makes me cold. The radar shows lines of rain with more lines of snow and ice. The online weather page showed the temp falling from 60 to 48 in a matter of minutes. I dread going out to tend the critters here in about half an hour. The sky is getting light but the clouds are heavy and it looks like rain or snow. Randy had kept hoping that the front would fizzle out but no such luck. To work on the house today, he'll need to take a heater and wear a coat. The TV weather line shows the temp at 38 now. Brr.

11-24-10

It is so damp at night that there is wet dew on the ground in the mornings. Gradually, the air dries. But even then, the laundry isn't dry by evening. No rain still but yet only fire danger warnings.

11-20-10

Twice last night, we could smell smoke but by the last check of the night, there was no smoke smell. The air is so very dry that any piles of dead leaves would catch fire with little encouragement.

There is a big time arctic front headed our way set to arrive just in time for Thanksgiving. Enough so that we could have the water lines freeze Wednesday night and not thaw out at all on Thursday. Bummer. We've ordered a turkey dinner and Randy will pick it up on Wednesday afternoon. I just hate times when we don't have the running water. When it's back, it takes a day or more before the water runs clear again. We still have well water in jugs but when used, the jugs must be refilled and put back in place.

11-15-10

There has not been any more rain and we could sure use it. We're getting into the dry time when we're in danger of wild fires. There are popping up all around the area and the only thing we can hope and pray for is some rain, a lot of rain. But cold, it's been getting right at freezing at night with some days up to near 70 but most are in the mid 50s. Fall and almost winter...

10-23-10

It is raining. Oh my. The thunder started creeping up about 4 with distant boomers and bright flashes of lightning. The biggest hit about 5:30 and made it impossible to sleep. And rain and rain and more rain. The weather website shows a long line of storms coming right for us. I finally turned on the TV to see what weather guy had to say. When it does let up, it will start over about 1 this afternoon. Okay.

10-18-10

Last week was the same as the week before and this week has been a copy of the same. Some rain would be nice but we would rather have a long soaking rain that would do the trees some good.

10-03-10

No rain since last noted but a line of storms came close to us last night. Sure looked like they might make it but they fizzled out as they got to Big Spring. It's too cool for the birds or pups to need the sand wet so the ground is becoming very dry.

09-25-10

It's been pouring rain for just over an hour now but is letting up. It was more rain that all that fell yesterday or all night. What welcome rainfall. The trees were all needing it for the winter. And our dry dusty driveway will be in better shape now. The electric company was out yesterday with the "new meter" and got stuck. When they got out, they left behind deep ruts. This will fix that problem without us having to keep the water sprinkler running for days.

The forecast is calling for a real cold front coming in on Sunday evening. Should bring us lows in the lower 50s or upper 40s. Chilly.

09-12-10

We had two inches of rain last week and another 2 inches this afternoon. The storms had moved all around us, building up and dying out then thunder and lightning. It poured a gully washer and was over in about an hour. Randy had just taken the trash down to the big trash can for tomorrow morning when it started. He was soaked by the time he got back inside.

09-06-10

Our new weather girl has invented a new word. Forecasted. Guess that would be the past tense of forecast? But it's one of those odd words in the English language that doesn't change. I will forecast, I am giving the forecast, I did forecast the weather yesterday and last week. What I forecast for last week is the same forecast for next week. Whatever.

08-23-10

We broke a long standing high for this day when we hit 104. Our morning low of 77 broke the high low temp. The "cold front" should hit us about noon tomorrow bringing with it a good chance of rain. Oh yippee. I think I'll stand out on the north side of the house and wait for the north wind to arrive and chill me down.

Arlene wrote about how their temps have also dropped and are greatly relieved. I didn't make it through ironing all the clothes today. Just too hot and that was with the fan and the a/c going.

08-22-10

We are at 101 F degrees with a 25% humidity. That's not so bad if you can stay in front of a fan. Any fan, something to move the air around. Miserable if you try to wash dishes or much of anything else. We've moved the little fan around all afternoon as we moved our activities. It's not cool but it does dry the sweat. The weather 'perts have been putting in a 10% chance of rain just to keep the page from looking so empty. And then no rain. When we get a few drops, they evaporate before they can pattern the sand.

08-12-10

It was an official 101 degrees this afternoon. The humidity was not terribly high so it could have been worse but I was sincerely tempted to fill the tub with cold water and go soak. Or run through the water sprinkler. No rain chances, "spotty but not likely."

08-08-10

This is the time of year when we look forward to the county fair in the first part of September. It always rains during the fair and the temps cool down a bit. Bring it on. This super heat is miserable. What little rain we do get evaporates and does not soak in.

08-01-10

We've started singing and humming Christmas/Winter songs just to feel cooler. We hit 100 yesterday which was the first time for this season. Can't stay outside for very long. Just too miserable. The Cardinals were coming up to the window, panting, which means that they need the cool water going so they can cool down. I am putting a wading pool on the Walmart list hoping Randy can find one for Marley. Sparky wouldn't go for it but Marley would. She was enjoying the water sprinkler earlier this afternoon. Wet puppy.

No rain in the forecast and triple digit temps every day all week long. Come on winter time. Cold wind, get out the extra blanket and make some hot chicken soup.

My dislike for Facebook became greater when I realized that they are a dating service. They won't quit with the emails offering to find me a date.

07-27-10

We had two rain showers yesterday but nothing yet today. Lots of thunder and the clouds are dark and mean. Not much on the radar but these are the type that just pop up with the afternoon heating.

07-20-10

No Rain... HOT... No Rain... HOT but at least there are chances of rain this week which we've not seen for a good while. The weather girl keeps griping about how humid it is. Well it is 89% humidity when she reports it at 7 a.m. and she states that it will stay that way all day long. But I watched today and by 2 p.m. it was down to 50%, by 5 p.m. it was down to 40% and by 6 it was down to 37%. Guess she was sleeping. If it stayed 89%, I'd never be able to get any laundry to dry on the clothes lines.

07-11-10

We only had a few sprinkles yesterday but it ended 2 weeks of rain and more rain. Most of the storms only brought us from a drizzle to about 1/2 inch. Then, we were deluged, 3 times and have a nice soaking. We're creeping back up to hot and humid. Time to stay inside in front of the a/c.

07-01-10

We went all day with the storms staying to our south, dancing around us and giving us a bit of mistings. Then about 9, it started raining steadily. Then it was a bit heavier but it kept raining. I won't need to water tomatoes tomorrow and that is a very good thing. The sound of the rain has made me so very sleepy.

06-29-10

Storms all around us with a 70% chance of rain but all we got was a brief mist. And then it was all gone. But this is the season for a chance of rain every day.

06-27-10

It did actually rain today. Probably 120 droplets and that was all. As the front moved through, the temperature dropped from 92 to 73. Wow, what a treat.

06-20-10

The rain was oh so nice but knocked out the power for about 3 hours. Amounted to about 3 1/2 inches but we are back to watering with temps up to 97 today. I water the sand for the pups to stay cool and they sure love it.

06-14-10

It's raining ! Oh my. Seems that it's been so long now. The forecast says sunny and steamy. Okay. The tomatoes won't need watering or the airplane plants and the aloe vera I've been meaning to carry out a bucket for. All done. I had run out to take puppies their evening crunchies since it had just started to sprinkle. Before I could get back inside, it was pouring a gully washer. It poured hard for over half an hour but already it has been another half hour of moderate rain. Good for the trees. I'd worried over the young desert willow. No worry now.

The worst of the cells have moved over already but there is more still building on the backside. And there is more thunder.

06-06-10

We did hit 95 and 97 this past week but not the 100 they had been forecasting. That's just fine. No rain in a good while now. There was a cloud floating by today that gave us some shade. We were excited and then it was gone. Sigh.

05-31-10

We're not below normal but everything is dry and we are again wishing for some sweet rain. The week's forecast calls for 5 days at 100 and working on 105. That's Hot.

05-16-10

We've had a week of rain and it has sure been nice. Some of this area got well over 6 inches of rainfall. Our temps stayed cool to cold. The heaters and blankets are still out but there are 90s in the forecast for this coming week. We welcome some says of warmth and sunshine.

05-10-10

The forecast says that we are in for some 90+ days this week but a front about Thursday will have us staying under 70. That sounds good. I saw some flowers on the tomato plants and that is great. We could sure use a drenching rain but there is so little garden that it doesn't take long to water this year.

05-02-10

Twice this past week we were forecast rains but only got a few sprinkles. Having to water the tomato plants but the days are again cool to cold and the heat is not a factor to stress them yet. They don't really need this cool a temp but what is one to do. The days are in the low 70s and the nights have returned to the mid to upper 40s. That means that the little electric heaters are still in use and won't be put away for a while yet.

04-25-10

After a few days of cloudy with little to no rain, the skies cleared and we've had lots of wonderful sunshine. The nights have been a bit cold for the tomato plants but the warming is gradual. Tomorrow night will be down to 44 and then back up again. Slowly.

04-17-10

Today is Saturday and it is still raining. It started on Thursday morning and has been off and on since. The tub sitting in the yard has a foot of rain in it but I am sure the official count wouldn't be that much. The weather girl did say she thought this would be ending tomorrow afternoon. We will see. I had not watered the new tomato plants but they are growing since we can now see them with all the hay piled around them. Pretty. I can also quit worrying about the Cedar and Pine trees. They will continue growing big and fine. They do need some acidifier.

04-11-10

And still dry. We are actually wishing for a good soaking rain. Randy bought some tomato plants and they went into the ground today. He's pooped but there is actually a bit of garden now. I'd found a seed company here in Texas and want to buy a few things. It's too late in the season to get much but we must have cukes.

04-04-10

Although we are still about 4 inches over our normal rainfall for this time of year, we are bone dry and in need of some soaking rain. Don't want to rain on any of Randy's projects but some rain would be nice.

03-28-10

We had another Thursday this last week but there were inches between the drops and just enough to make a pattern on the sand. And I didn't notice until it was all dry. The forecast says it might rain this coming Friday and Saturday. We will see.

03-21-10

We had rain on Thursday night all night long. Small storms that just sat and built up, kept rearranging and building. Made a tornado close by but no damage. Lots of lightning and thunder but the rain came with 50 mph winds that were relentless. I wasn't a lot of rain but there wasn't much of the snow and sleet either. Tonight's freeze might be the last one for the season but I said that last week. Sigh. There are not any forecast so we will see.

03-14-10

I am again reminded that the rain gauge is broken and I need a new one. Soon. There just hasn't been any rainfall in a while now. We had 73 degrees today but still getting near freezing every night. 39 for tonight. And a better chance for heavy rain tomorrow night. A low pressure front.

It was so nice this morning when I was out tending the critters that I sat on the porch and stroked Blanco while he ate. Haven't been able to do that in months now. He liked it and so did I. Usually Randy feeds him but that's during the week. On weekends, I let Randy sleep late and do the critter chores.

02-28-10

It's raining. Been falling for about 2 hours now. Kept popping up in the forecasts but not anything coming from the clouds. No freezes in over a week now and that is nice. The heater in the bathroom tried to burn up the house today. I kept smelling something and by 8 this morning I went to check and found smoke coming from the plug. Not good. It's still cold enough to be needing a heater but I don't think we can trust that one anymore.

The rain is falling lightly and probably won't amount to much but it is sweet music on a dark night with thunder in the distance.

02-21-10

We've had springtime all week long. No freezes. Just days at least 55 and nights at least 40. The moths and bugs are hatching out but many will die with the coming freezes. There may be a few days we won't get over freezing but spring is just a little bit closer and that can make us happy. There are 3 tiny spinach plants making a showing out in the garden where the seeds were planted this past year. Only nut grass had sprouted but it's dead with the cold winter. I want to repair the fence and keep the puppies out. Some fertilizing and watering and we might actually have some spinach to pick before it gets too hot.

02-14-10

The forecasts have called for wet and it has been. Lots of ice but nothing serious lately. There was the 5 inches of snow Thursday, the 11th. We were up to 63 on Saturday and most melted away.

02-07-10

Since the 5 inches of rain week before last, we've had about 2 more inches of rain. Right now, it's dripping on the window but there is nothing on the radar. It's more of a heavy drizzle. The forecast says that it will probably be a sleet or snow mess by tomorrow. There won't be many days during the week that will be above freezing. We'd gladly be moving on toward spring.

01-30-10

Thursday of last week, we had between 4 and 5 inches of rain. It was a steady, light to moderate rain that didn't start freezing until the next day. Randy didn't have to go to work so he played it safe and worked from home. Today was our 3rd day of not getting above freezing and down in the lower 20s at night. Today was forecast to be in the upper 40s but the freezing fog didn't lift until well after noon so the clouds didn't clear and the sun didn't shine. Tomorrow is promised to be in the upper 50s so we will see if we get there. I still have jeans on the clothes lines trying to dry.

01-17-10

We've warmed so nicely. Barely down to freezing most nights with no more temps below freezing for awhile. Nice. The coming week looks nice and getting to or near 70 every day. Enough dry days that I can stay caught up on the laundry, without clothes hanging in the bathroom all of the time.

We got rain on this past Friday. While it was not a lot but enough to nudge us to over our average rainfall for the month.

01-10-10

As our temps hit 40 degrees yesterday, the water lines thawed. Except that the water was not making it all the way to the house. One of the lines in the garden was cracked. Randy cut it yesterday and put a cap on the end. Turned the water back on but there was another crack in the piece of pipe. So, it took most of today to have water back on and Randy is pooped. He took the pups with him to walk down to the pump house. They loved it. But then got bored with it and would wander away on adventures.

01-08-10

We hit a high of 27 today but by evening, the wind was gone and it was quite a relief. Last night dropped down to 15 and tonight will be 10. We just rarely get this cold and will be oh so glad for the temps getting back to normal. I went out to the chicken yard this afternoon and while they had water, when I broke up the ice on their outside water pan, they ate it like it was a special treat. Good grief.

The forecast is showing milder temps and it looks like we might even thaw out tomorrow, if not then on Sunday for sure. Bring it on.

01-07-10

The arctic front hit at 7:30 last night. Weather guy said we'd know by the wind and it was howling a storm. Creeping in every crack and crevice. It was down to 25 by early this morning but didn't get above freezing all day. It was a challenge to get water to the critters and will only be worse tomorrow. I have lots of water drawn up in the gallon plastic jugs but dread the thought of having to use them and then start over with the refills. The radar is showing snow all over the area but weather guy says it is false returns. Snow is pretty but this is still Texas.

01-04-10

This coming week threatens to be another one of crazy freezes. We have been staying near freezing with days not much warmer but the forecast says that we'll have nights in the low to mid teens and highs not getting above freezing. I've been filling every empty jug I can find in hopes of making it through the times with no running water. Okay, now I am ready for summer.

12-25-09

Yesterday was a series of bands of blizzard snow. Incredible that the Interstate was closed for most of the day, something that had not happened in over 50 years. We'd seen deep snow but not so widespread and bringing everything to a halt. All of the incoming and outgoing flights. Celebrations that were cancelled at the last minute were numerous. But then there were lots and lots of snowpeople built to stand in yards across the city and little towns. Today brought 45 degrees with lots of sunshine. Only the 3 to 4 foot drifts didn't disappear. We'd worried that the rain that froze and the snow on top of it would bring down lots of tree branches and perhaps some power lines.

But the warmth allowed our water "lines" to thaw and we again had flowing water. Which is wonderful when it comes to flushing and bathing. We already had the water for making ice and drinking. So, we've been filling every jug we have handy for the next adventure into using saved water. The first down the line comes with sediment but it will go for the flushing.

12-21-09

We are down to freezing almost every night. Now, we'll have 2 nights staying around 45 for a low. Then another blast of cold where we won't get over 45 for a high. Okay. Just keep filling the propane tanks. But we're keeping the electric heater going in the living room in hopes of making the propane last longer. With Randy's leg injured, he has a most difficult time with the heavy stuff. It's not something I can do. I can't even move one of the full tanks.

We laughingly have snow in the forecast for Christmas. Very doubtful but we'll see how that goes.

12-07-09

This wasn't forecast but today didn't get over 27 degrees. A drizzle that started as water but was freezing as fast as it fell. It won't drop much overnight but tomorrow, well it is forecast at 68 degrees and that sounds like another fall day. The puppies did not argue for a minute, they ran inside their house and stayed there, where it was warm. They don't like cold and they don't like dark. So far, they are still here. They've refused to leave with their mama dog and they guard us and the Pharm bravely and loudly.

The highway department has trucks ready to sand the bridges and overpasses come morning but it will be noon before the temps warm up. Bring it on.

11-29-09

After a week of beautiful weather, the cold front hit us hard. Strong winds and cold rain. Wasn't much rainfall but it did water the little garden. It was bitter cold all day with the temp falling from 50 to 44 when I just went and looked. But it won't get any warmer than that for all of tomorrow. We're in for a week of cold, cloudy and miserable. Poor Solar powered Sly the kitty will be saddened.

11-15-09

The rain went neatly around us but did make the humidity bounce back up. The chances are greater for late tonight and tomorrow along with some pretty cold temps that might bring freezes. The national radar map had put some ice and snow in the panhandle of Texas. We've had a hard freeze at Thanksgiving but that's been a lot of years. We will see. But for today, it's a beautiful day, the clouds have cleared and Sly got a good helping of warm rays on his sunshine shelf this morning. The wind is showering leaves over everything with all the sounds of light rainfall. Ah, Indian Summer. It's what we've always known and the name always comes to mind when we see these days.

11-09-09

No rain. But the weather has been most pleasant. Nice and mild with not even freezing. We've had a couple days this weekend that were so warm, we'd have turned on the a/c except that the cord is put away and the days do cool down nicely. And no heater needed.

11-01-09

We had rain on this past Wednesday. While it wasn't much, it was enough that I didn't need to water the spinach bed for 2 days. Nice. The nut grass is sprouting but not the spinach. For the next bed, I will spend more time taking out the nut grass roots. No rain in the forecast for now.

10-25-09

Another beautiful day. No rain though it was forecast. The storms so far have stayed to our east but are still threatening the area. I have one bed of spinach so far that I am watering every day to get the seeds to sprout.

10-18-09

No rain all week long. But a few things are needing water, like the zinnias. The forecast says that hurricane Rick is bringing in chances of rain, lots of it perhaps. For now, it is nice to have all the laundry clean and dry, put away and ready to wear again. Aaah.

10-11-09

We've had rain, rain and more rain. Probably about 4 inches in all over the past week including the downpour of an hour ago. And COLD. Staying about 40 at night and not getting above 50 in the daytime. Brrr. No sunshine and no drying clothes out on the lines. It takes about 2 to 3 days to dry things in the bathroom even with the fan or heater running. Tonight, I will iron Randy a pair of pants just so he will have something to wear to work tomorrow.

10-04-09

It started raining about 11 last night and rained all night long. Usually a slow steady rain but some very heavy downpours. There were big puddles everywhere and about 3 inches in all. Heavy clouds and north winds made for a mild fall day. It has started raining lightly again just after dark, Blanco doesn't like that one little bit. I am hoping tomorrow will be a nice dry day for washing laundry, hanging it out and it actually drying.

Spike the weather guy announced the other night that he is leaving his weather job and moving along. He will forever be remembered for proclaiming that with the first day of fall, we will see the days begin to grow shorter. WRONG fellow, they started that back on the equinox, now the days are ever so much shorter but we can figure that he's not out at sunrise or sunset. And we wondered if he actually graduated from high school.

09-20-09

It rained for 4 days last week and then faded to a drizzle. When I finally made it to the gauge, it was showing 3 1/2 inches. Nice. The sticker plants are growing like the weeds that they are. Huge with many stickers. There is nothing left growing in the garden. But the Zinnias are going great. We've been down to the mid 50s a few times but usually about 60. The days are anywhere from 70 to 85. None of the brutal heat we were having. Fall actually does begin soon and we really do call this season Indian Summer.

08-30-09

We had but a few drops of the promised rain but at least the weather is much cooler. The nights have been in the lower 60s and the days in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Wonderful relief. We still call this Indian Summer.

08-17-09

The irritating new weather girl on our local CBS station was relating the effects of a tornado in Beaumont. The usual mph winds and then said while there was no one hurt, there were 3 injured. Say what? They've started letting her do the weather segment during the week instead of just on weekends. But fortunately, we have 2 other stations that have less irritating people.

08-01-09

We had 3 days of about an inch of rain every day. Then back to nothing. Temps are going back to near 100 and oh so humid. At least the high pressure dome is no longer sitting over us and we will occasionally get some cool fronts and rain.

Several weeks ago I was listening to the TV weather forecast. It was a new weekend person who in her high pitch, squeaky voice told listeners that we would not need to worry about that old storm front since by the time it arrived in this area, we'd all be asleep and no one would know. The next night there was another new person on a different channel mentioning how in the event of a storm, the power might go out and you might need to get out the old "box fan" to keep you cool. Wonder how she thought that fan was powered. Sigh.

07-27-09

Low 90s is considered mild but yet miserable with high humidity. The rain has been just smatters and drizzle. I am watching the radar march a mass of storms coming our way. Would be nice to have some rainfall and it just might. The nights have been in the low 70s and that is good for a change. Not having to run the a/c will be even better.

07-17-09

We are into the Dog Days of Summer. Brutally hot, over 100 every day and not cool at night, over 80° and setting records all the time. We're under a high pressure dome and the worst areas usually hit 110 to 115. That's miserable. The heat is making a lousy garden. The cukes taste terrible and the tomatoes are nearly all gone.

And the good part is that we have a front headed this way, with the promise of cooler temps, that's highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low to mid 60s. Ah, what sweet thoughts of cooler times. Should start this weekend and last 4 or 5 days.

07-06-09

It started raining Saturday night and rained nearly all day today. I was hearing more thunder to our west/northwest but there was nothing on the radar so perhaps it was the storms further to the north and west.

In all, we had about 2 inches of rain and it didn't get over 85 today. Quite a break from the 100 and just over for the last 2 weeks. And it was nice not to need to water the garden. We've started watering the cedar and pine trees as Randy noticed the pines were looking brown. Not good.

06-21-09

Since that Heat Spike, we've not had weather so crazy. No rain and fewer tornadoes in the area. It's been so dry that we are watering the driveway so Randy won't get stuck.

The regular watering has brought lots of cucumber and tomatoes and squash. Our meals are planned around what we pick in the garden and it is just wonderful.

06-08-09

We had what was called a Heat Burst or Spike. I've asked for an account to further explain the occurrence but have not received it yet from the TV weather folks. It was Saturday night, the 6th, and weather guy told about it on the 10 p.m. news. He said that about 9:30 to 10, we'd gone from 81 to 98°F in a matter of minutes. Then as quickly, our temperature went back down. He warned of winds that would hit up to 70 mph. When the wind hit, I thought it would push in our windows and doors; scary to say the least but there was one major gust and two lesser ones. Seems that this happens maybe every summer in the south, with one year seeing Coppell, Texas hit 114° and killing the cotton crop.

As the wind began to die down, the power went out. It took over half an hour to reach a number for the power company and report the outage. Turned out that it was widespread over at least 4 towns in this area. Electricity was out for 2 hours and then in a wink, back on. It was extremely hot to say the least and I was limited to what I could see and do by flashlight. Sitting outside was as hot and only brought up all the insects.

05-31-09

There had been some intense storms moving this way earlier but they fizzled out. The thunder was nice while it lasted. The garden could do with some lightening in the area but it didn't come close enough. We've had to water the garden and even the driveway. If we don't get another deep soaking soon, I will have to water the cedar and pine trees.

05-25-09

It started raining yesterday, lightly at first but by evening late, it was pouring and for hour on end. It rained most all of Sunday which is now yesterday by the clock. I didn't make it out to the rain gauge but all pans were running over with water and that was nice. Nothing needed watering. But there also was no sunshine so the plants are now needing some warm rays.

05-17-09

Yesterday early 2 a.m. saw lines of storms all around us. Except to the east but all were just circling and building and dying out. By 6 a.m. it was pouring rain. It was a hard rain for over 3 hours and then went to a steady but less heavy rain. The rain gauge showed just over 2 inches this morning and it's been a while since we'd seen anything near that amount. It was joy to fall asleep to the sound of rain falling. The lull of a sweet song and knowing that I wouldn't be needing to water the trees, at least not yet.

The cats did not like it, not one little bit. They were wet and cold as we also had a front come through. It will be Wednesday before we get back to the hot range. A few night with lows near 50 at night.

04-20-09

My last weather notes are still back in my What's New this Week. That's okay. We've not had any more rain and those sprinkles didn't count. The garden is all planted but we're still looking at 45 last night and 40 tonight. That's too cool for most things. Some of the tomato plants are ragged but it could be because of the cold or the hail storm. They are in an area not protected by a tree. Don't really know. Most of the garden can be watered by a sprinkler but there are areas that are overlapping and get too much water. We'll see how that goes.

04-08-09

Last night was said to have tied a record low at 28 but Randy said there was only a thin layer of ice over the chicken's water. Today we were at 92 for a good while and it feels like it is well over 100 inside the house. The wind is from the west/southwest with humidity near 0% and conditions just right for brush fires. There was one small one yesterday but near enough to Abilene to be contained quickly.

04-06-09

The weather forecast for tonight says 25 to 30 and that's a definite freeze. So, when I went to take the wheelbarrow down to Randy's new parking spot, I came back up the hill to check on the few remaining Mesquite trees. Sure enough, they are leafed out. We have few signs of winter being over and the Mesquites just rarely if ever leaf out before the end of freezing. Randy has lots of the garden planted and we could lose most of those but we don't usually get snow or below 40 degree lows at this time of spring. As I turned the corner of the house, I spotted the Trumpet Vine has baby leaves at the top. They usually don't show up until well into the heat.

03-30-09

The 29th was finally warm and sunny but the two days before, it was miserably cold with freezing at night. I put hay around the tomato plants already out in the garden and everything else went back inside the light room for warmth and a little bit of light. There are a few mid 40s for lows coming up but mostly mild and highs in the 70s and 80s.

03-16-09

Over the past week, an arctic cold front has brought us some rain and very cold temps. All of the tomato plants had to go back inside the light room for warmth and some light. We didn't have any sun for the entire week but Sunday was beautiful and Randy had all the plants out in the sunshine. The rain was only about 2 inches but at least there were no new brush fires. Some areas got over 4 inches which was very good.

02-26-09

The dry heat has grown worse. The humidity level is between 3 and 7% and it hurts to touch anything because you get sparked. Sly thinks we're doing something mean to him and gives us angry looks.

A huge wildfire has raged to our southwest for days now. It is not yet contained and has destroyed several homes already. Randy said that when he was leaving work in Abilene, he could smell smoke and then as he got outside, ash was falling. He was glad that he was leaving the area of the fire to get home.

The forecast calls for 2 cold fronts to push through. It will be nice not to be breaking the long held record high temps with today hitting 91 but with the returning cold, we will have even drier air. Don't know how that will happen. It's already so dry that is is difficult to breath.

02-09-09

IT'S RAINING ! ! ! It's been over 4 months since we've had any and this is so exciting. Hope we get a good bit but I won't turn off the soaker hose until the cedar and pine trees have a good rain down to their roots. We didn't get any of the 80% chance for yesterday and it's barely into the 9th. We forecast for a few days of slight chances of rain but then we'll be back to winter.

Now we can see if the horrible winds have pulled the seal on the roof off and the leak is back. Ah well.

01-18-09

I've neglected to write about our beautiful weather. Of course, we have had some days that never got over freezing but they were sprinkled in between nice spells of 60 and 70 degree days. We've spent all weekend working outside. Getting the greenhouse ready for the baby tomato plants. The plants are about 3 inches tall and there are 4 nice trays of babies. Randy bought a new heater to keep them warm on our cold nights. They will have a fine start on the season come spring.

We do finally have rain in the forecast for this coming Friday and Saturday. It's a nice change even if it is a slight chance. It does come with another freeze so it might not be rain, only some sleet.

12-14-08

We've had some beautiful days with highs in the 70s but about 6:30 this evening a strong "Blue Norther" hit. As in temps dropping 40 degrees in a couple of hours. The wind is still howling from the north and seeping in through the windows. The prediction is that it won't get above freezing tomorrow and perhaps some icy sleet and snow Tuesday and Wednesday. A slight warming trend and then nasty again for the coming weekend. We have been without any rain for so very long that it would be welcome but not the little bit of freezing stuff to make it hazardous to drive.

12-01-08

A few days lately with highs only in the 50s with nights in the mid 30s. No hard freezes. It was Thursday, Thanksgiving night into Friday Morning that we saw a bit of rain. Nothing to measure and it dried quickly but it was nice to wake up and hear the pitter patter.

11-16-08

No rain in so long now, 6 weeks they say. But the days are still mild and the nights are almost freezing. Last night was the first night we'd seen any ice on the hen's water pans. It wasn't much and the water hoses were still flowing. Since we also have the gale force winds, it is definitely earache season.