March 29

Today is quite a contrast from Tuesday last week. It is warm and windy. I spent Monday and Tuesday morning whittling on the tree in the back yard felled by last week’s snow and wind. So far, all I’ve done is trim off the part that extends across the fence to the east. Luckily, the tree was propped up by the tree across the fence and a couple of stout limbs on the fallen tree so that it didn’t take out portion of the fence, which it very easily could have. In trimming the part on the other side of the fence, I’m trying to reduce the weight, the better to control the trunk so that neither the fence nor I get mashed in the process of getting the trunk on the ground. Next, I’ll trim what I can off the trunk on the backyard side of the fence before I try to trim the limbs that are holding the trunk up. I’m not sure how all that is going to play out. I may just have to keep cutting small pieces of the trunk, small enough that they aren’t likely to damage the fence if they fall on it, until I’m confident the trunk is short enough to miss the fence when I lay it on the ground.

February 26

Kari thinks this is the longest stretch of cold weather we have had to endure, at least this winter and I think she is right. When it comes to overnight lows, I can’t think of any other stretch where the temperature dropped into the teens or single digits for going on five days. The temperatures are supposed to be in the 70’s some days next week so maybe relief is on the way.

January 30

Darn! I didn’t get to go work at the Bluff Wednesday. I was forced to stay inside and watch it snow from the sky room while I drank coffee. Many times, during my working years I was forced to work on days like this and I always thought how nice it would be if I could take a day off, or part of day, whenever I wanted. We got maybe as much as three inches which melted down to .16 inches in the rain gauge. If this pattern of weekly snow keeps up, we may actually get some decent moisture. By Saturday the weather was pleasant, and I helped K&C run their cardboard accumulation through the shredder so Kari can use it in her compost.

It was a pleasant week in Sachse. I was treated to an excellent dinner shortly after arriving on Christmas Day, and everyone was in good spirits. We exchanged presents after dinner and I made a nice haul. Next day we celebrated Sophia’s birthday with dinner at a Chinese restaurant followed by more presents. I had a nice visit with Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, Jill and I went on walks (the weather was nice), watched movies and football and generally enjoyed some downtime. New Year’s Day MM&T and the Hunts, Devon and Dennis, joined us for our traditional New Year’s Day dinner. The next day a pointed the Pathfinder into a brisk north wind and made my way home.

November 28

Wylies have decamped. Dust has settled. Abigail went to church with us and then had breakfast with Rebecca and me. It was a pleasant Thanksgiving week. Wylies arrived Sunday evening. Dave had to work every day except Thanksgiving and Friday. Weather was decent and the four younger girls and I went for a hike around the Bluff. Vivian helped me haul a load of trimmings to the brush site. Sophia and I played our horns together briefly. Jill spent time shopping for groceries and cooking. Kari did also, I guess The two of them were out the door in the wee hours of Friday morning looking for an Apple watch for Rebecca, though not as a gift. Rebecca saved the money for one but finding one was a problem. After standing in line at 5 o’clock in the morning, Walmart was sold out by the time they got inside. Disappointment all around but they were able to find one later at another Walmart in town so all is good.

Looks like I won’t record any moisture for November after recording less than an inch for September and October combined. None is forecast for the coming week, either. This is turning into a serious dry spell. Don’t like it.