The latest report is that, barring a rising wind, the fires in East Texas are contained. Not out. Just contained.
30,000 acres burned to a cinder in Marion County alone. Many homes, barns, fields and pastures now dry, black, and smoking. A 20 yr. old woman and her 18 month old baby dead in Smith County.
Other parts of our country are flooded. Texas needs rain desperately.
Thank you for prayers for the safety of our loved ones. Please continue to pray for rain, so that the still-blistering ground can cool down, and some of the ashes be washed away.
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Moonlight and Ice
In one of her "little house" books, Laura Ingalls Wilder describes a night of frigid temperatures, when she and her sister Mary went for a walk on the frozen lake.
She describes the path of light created by the moon shining on the ice, and how she and Mary walked and "skated", sliding over the ice, following the moon path.
Each time I have read this passage, I have wondered what it is like to live in a place where water freezes deep enough and hard enough to walk on. I wonder what it is like to live in a place where snow stays on the ground all winter, where even the tightest, best insulated house has cold spots, where the temperatures fall into the teens or lower.
Aside from the snow, that's the kind of weather we have had here this week. One night it got down to thirteen degrees. We have been drinking a lot of hot spiced cider, tea, and cocoa. We have every blanket in the place on our bed, even the "fur" throw I usually keep on my rocker.
The pond at the RV park is frozen over. It has been frozen for five days.
Last night I let Frankie out, and was struck by the light shining on the frozen water, and like Laura, I felt as if it were inviting me to walk that shimmering path.
Unlike Laura, I am not a child, with a child's boundless energy. I am also fighting a sinus infection and bronchitis, so have not actually been outside for several days.
But last night, oh, last night, how I wanted to follow that icy path, to run and slide and run until my lungs hurt, to run and slide along that shining silver path, into the moon.
She describes the path of light created by the moon shining on the ice, and how she and Mary walked and "skated", sliding over the ice, following the moon path.
Each time I have read this passage, I have wondered what it is like to live in a place where water freezes deep enough and hard enough to walk on. I wonder what it is like to live in a place where snow stays on the ground all winter, where even the tightest, best insulated house has cold spots, where the temperatures fall into the teens or lower.
Aside from the snow, that's the kind of weather we have had here this week. One night it got down to thirteen degrees. We have been drinking a lot of hot spiced cider, tea, and cocoa. We have every blanket in the place on our bed, even the "fur" throw I usually keep on my rocker.
The pond at the RV park is frozen over. It has been frozen for five days.
Last night I let Frankie out, and was struck by the light shining on the frozen water, and like Laura, I felt as if it were inviting me to walk that shimmering path.
Unlike Laura, I am not a child, with a child's boundless energy. I am also fighting a sinus infection and bronchitis, so have not actually been outside for several days.
But last night, oh, last night, how I wanted to follow that icy path, to run and slide and run until my lungs hurt, to run and slide along that shining silver path, into the moon.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Respite From the Heat
I thought I would write more this summer, since I have more access to the on-line world now, but I haven't. Much of my time has been spent sitting on the back deck, watching the wildlife and the lake and how it changes as the light changes.
But then it started getting hot. I mean, HOT, as in summer in Texas hot. Upper nineties, near 100 or a little above 100 degrees every day. Even in the evenings, the temps lingered in the upper 80s, and with such humidity that sitting outside was not comfortable for long.
So I retreated to the air-conditioned in-doors, and continued my watching under the cooling breeze of the window unit, and an almost unobstructed view, thanks to the twenty five feet of windows across the back of the cabin.
Then...suddenly...a cool front came through, bringing with it wind and rain. It's hard to believe, I know, for anyone who has lived in Texas in the summer, but I actually needed a lap quilt this morning.
It rained almost all morning. Huge lightening strikes and rumbling, growling thunder, as well as sudden thunderclaps that made me jump and made Frankie the Pom bark like a mad thing.
The lake was covered with whitecaps, and the branches of the trees bent and swayed as if they were dancing.
It's mid-afternoon now, and still in the 70s. Unbelievable. Precious time to enjoy being outside again, before the dog days of August arrive. Precious time to be at peace with nature and myself.
Time to ponder a question inspired by Antique Mommy's question: what would your autobiography be titled, if you were going to write one? I came up with one I consider appropriate, given all that has happened in the past seven months: "I Should Have Left a Trail of Bread Crumbs: Where Did My Life Go, and How Do I Get It Back?"
But then it started getting hot. I mean, HOT, as in summer in Texas hot. Upper nineties, near 100 or a little above 100 degrees every day. Even in the evenings, the temps lingered in the upper 80s, and with such humidity that sitting outside was not comfortable for long.
So I retreated to the air-conditioned in-doors, and continued my watching under the cooling breeze of the window unit, and an almost unobstructed view, thanks to the twenty five feet of windows across the back of the cabin.
Then...suddenly...a cool front came through, bringing with it wind and rain. It's hard to believe, I know, for anyone who has lived in Texas in the summer, but I actually needed a lap quilt this morning.
It rained almost all morning. Huge lightening strikes and rumbling, growling thunder, as well as sudden thunderclaps that made me jump and made Frankie the Pom bark like a mad thing.
The lake was covered with whitecaps, and the branches of the trees bent and swayed as if they were dancing.
It's mid-afternoon now, and still in the 70s. Unbelievable. Precious time to enjoy being outside again, before the dog days of August arrive. Precious time to be at peace with nature and myself.
Time to ponder a question inspired by Antique Mommy's question: what would your autobiography be titled, if you were going to write one? I came up with one I consider appropriate, given all that has happened in the past seven months: "I Should Have Left a Trail of Bread Crumbs: Where Did My Life Go, and How Do I Get It Back?"
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Summer Is Here
Three weeks ago, we bid adieu to the r.v. park, hitched up the fifth wheel, and came home to the lake for the summer. The days have been warm and sunny for the most part, with a good breeze blowing most of the day.
Since my heart med was increased again, I have been feeling a little under the weather, and have been spending a large part of each day sitting on the shady deck, enjoying the breeze, watching the ducks, geese, herons, egrets, bluebirds, and squirrels.
Sunday was the first day of summer, but since one day has been much like another, it barely made a ripple in my mind.
Most mornings, Wick and I sit out on the back deck, drinking coffee, and talking about what he has accomplished working on the cabin, and what is planned for the next day.
This morning, the breeze died. At 9:00 it is already nearly ninety degrees. Summer is here with a vengeance.
I scan the sky hopefully, looking for rain clouds, but there isn't a cloud in the sky. The only thing that makes the deck bearable is the fact that it is so shady most of the day, and that Wick plugged in a fan to create an artificial breeze.
Even the duck and geese have abandoned our little piece of shoreline, clinging to the shade and staying in the brush most of the day.
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Even if it is already summer.
Since my heart med was increased again, I have been feeling a little under the weather, and have been spending a large part of each day sitting on the shady deck, enjoying the breeze, watching the ducks, geese, herons, egrets, bluebirds, and squirrels.
Sunday was the first day of summer, but since one day has been much like another, it barely made a ripple in my mind.
Most mornings, Wick and I sit out on the back deck, drinking coffee, and talking about what he has accomplished working on the cabin, and what is planned for the next day.
This morning, the breeze died. At 9:00 it is already nearly ninety degrees. Summer is here with a vengeance.
I scan the sky hopefully, looking for rain clouds, but there isn't a cloud in the sky. The only thing that makes the deck bearable is the fact that it is so shady most of the day, and that Wick plugged in a fan to create an artificial breeze.
Even the duck and geese have abandoned our little piece of shoreline, clinging to the shade and staying in the brush most of the day.
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Even if it is already summer.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Spring Break 2008
No, we are not at Padre Island, or on a cruise, or skiing. We are at home. Home is our cabin on the lake, where we are building a cabin.
So far this week, we have:
Sat on the dock.
Watched the ducks, geese, and swans.
Leisurely drank coffee and read the paper.
Been to town twice, to pick up groceries, go to CVS to catch the specials, and get a pickup load of insulation and a door for the bathroom.
Stayed up late watching movies on tv.
Slept late.
Sat in the cabin looking at our view of the boathouse, lake, trees and sky.
Swept the cabin twice, trying to get rid of the sawdust, dead ants, and dirt.
Put up some insulation.
Installed a door on the bathroom.
Washed all the sheets and towels.
Stood on the dock and watched the clouds dissipate and the sun peek through.
Enjoyed the extremes of Texas springtime, from freezing at night to shorts weather in the daytime, from fog and rain to bright sunshine.
Bemoaned the accumulation of dirt and grime on our boat over the winter.
Discovered that a wind storm carried off some shingles from our roof and a panel from the deck roof.
Chased the neighbor's chickens, shooing them back to their home.
Thanked God for this place and this time to be here.
Enjoyed.
So far this week, we have:
Sat on the dock.
Watched the ducks, geese, and swans.
Leisurely drank coffee and read the paper.
Been to town twice, to pick up groceries, go to CVS to catch the specials, and get a pickup load of insulation and a door for the bathroom.
Stayed up late watching movies on tv.
Slept late.
Sat in the cabin looking at our view of the boathouse, lake, trees and sky.
Swept the cabin twice, trying to get rid of the sawdust, dead ants, and dirt.
Put up some insulation.
Installed a door on the bathroom.
Washed all the sheets and towels.
Stood on the dock and watched the clouds dissipate and the sun peek through.
Enjoyed the extremes of Texas springtime, from freezing at night to shorts weather in the daytime, from fog and rain to bright sunshine.
Bemoaned the accumulation of dirt and grime on our boat over the winter.
Discovered that a wind storm carried off some shingles from our roof and a panel from the deck roof.
Chased the neighbor's chickens, shooing them back to their home.
Thanked God for this place and this time to be here.
Enjoyed.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Hi Y'all
First, thanks to everyone who has commented on my posts. I am overwhelmed! Jeana is going to teach me how to put links on my blog to your sites, and I am going to try to answer each of you in the next few days. However, this weekend we are camping at Lake Texoma with Wick's brother, and I won't be sitting at the computer for a couple of days. I just had to check comments though, since Jeana called and told me y'all were responding. This is soooo cool!
It is freezing cold this weekend. What a winter. We had icy roads right at the beginning of winter, and lost a school day because the buses couldn't run (we teach in a rural area). Then it was warm and mild almost all winter. Now, the first week in spring, we are having freezing temperatures, frost on our windshields in the mornings, and digging out the warm clothes I just packed up for storage two weeks ago. Jeana warned me I was jumping the gun a little, but since we live in our RV, we don't have a huge amount of clothes storage space, and my summer stuff takes up a lot less room that my winter stuff. I know some of y'all think that Texas doesn't really have different seasons, but we do--sometimes all four seasons in one week. Some years we are wearing shorts Thanksgiving weekend. Other years, it snows on Easter. You never know what to expect. And yes, like Jeana, I do keep a jacket and jeans around during the summer, and shorts and t-shirts in the drawer in winter. A couple of years ago, we had all our kids and grandkids at the lake over 4th of July, and Jeana's dear husband was wearing a sweatshirt! on 4th of July! in Texas!
In this part of Texas, temps often go above 100 degrees in summer; and down below 20 is not that unusual in winter. And sometimes in the 40's in summer. or the 90's in winter. How do you know how to dress, with weather like that?
When we planned this trip, we though we could expect warm weather, after the warm winter we've had. You know, jeans, t-shirts, maybe a light jacket. Last night, we had a bonfire, I had on a fleece jacket with a knit shawl over that, and stood practically in the fire, and was still shivering. Poured down the hot coffee till I thought I was going to be sick, and still couldn't feel my toes. Still frigid this morning, but the forecast is sunshine and 66 degrees. I'll believe that when I see it.
Well that is enough rambling for this morning; Ive got to take Frankie outside (he's the amazing shrinking Pomeranian mentioned in one of Jeana's posts) before he had a conniption fit.
It is freezing cold this weekend. What a winter. We had icy roads right at the beginning of winter, and lost a school day because the buses couldn't run (we teach in a rural area). Then it was warm and mild almost all winter. Now, the first week in spring, we are having freezing temperatures, frost on our windshields in the mornings, and digging out the warm clothes I just packed up for storage two weeks ago. Jeana warned me I was jumping the gun a little, but since we live in our RV, we don't have a huge amount of clothes storage space, and my summer stuff takes up a lot less room that my winter stuff. I know some of y'all think that Texas doesn't really have different seasons, but we do--sometimes all four seasons in one week. Some years we are wearing shorts Thanksgiving weekend. Other years, it snows on Easter. You never know what to expect. And yes, like Jeana, I do keep a jacket and jeans around during the summer, and shorts and t-shirts in the drawer in winter. A couple of years ago, we had all our kids and grandkids at the lake over 4th of July, and Jeana's dear husband was wearing a sweatshirt! on 4th of July! in Texas!
In this part of Texas, temps often go above 100 degrees in summer; and down below 20 is not that unusual in winter. And sometimes in the 40's in summer. or the 90's in winter. How do you know how to dress, with weather like that?
When we planned this trip, we though we could expect warm weather, after the warm winter we've had. You know, jeans, t-shirts, maybe a light jacket. Last night, we had a bonfire, I had on a fleece jacket with a knit shawl over that, and stood practically in the fire, and was still shivering. Poured down the hot coffee till I thought I was going to be sick, and still couldn't feel my toes. Still frigid this morning, but the forecast is sunshine and 66 degrees. I'll believe that when I see it.
Well that is enough rambling for this morning; Ive got to take Frankie outside (he's the amazing shrinking Pomeranian mentioned in one of Jeana's posts) before he had a conniption fit.
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