I OFTEN WONDERED

Before coming to Texas, I often wondered why Grapefruits were called Grape fruit, as they certainly don't resemble grapes in any way. 

 

That is, until you see how they grow.  Once you own a Grapefruit tree and see how they grow hanging together in clusters, then you can understand why they would name them Grapefruits. 

 

Ours are ripening up nicely and will soon be ready to eat.  As in previous years they will be juicy, pink and very sweet. 

 

 

And we will enjoy them each and every morning. 

 

 

 

"THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS"

 

 

 

OUTDOOR LIVING IS ON HOLD

We are in a bit of a cold spell here in Texas.  The temperatures for the next few days will only be in the mid 50s F that is about 13C.  So we will not be enjoying our patio much.  That means it's woolly socks and watching TV kinda weather. 

 

Things are supposed to improve up into the 80s again on the weekend.  So, we will put our jackets on when we go for our walks and keep ourselves busy and wait for things to improve. 

 

 

 

 

IT STILL BEATS SNOW  !!

 

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 11th - IT'S NOT JUST A DAY OFF

HONOUR THIS DAY AND THOSE MEN

 

THE PATIO IS FILLING OUT

I've managed to pick up some more plants for my patio.  I love to have lots of plants around, so it's worth it for me to spend some time and money each time we arrive. 

 

 

 

This time I will get more benefit from them as we are here for 5 months rather than 3.  If I could find a few artificial ones that look real I would invest in them so I would have them from year to year, but they would have to be really nice ones. 

 

 

I am tempted to try to plant a couple of these when we leave to see how they would survive the summer. The trick would be Location, Location, Location, away from the wind and too much sun and yet out in the open enough to be watered in the rain. I don't know that I could find such a spot within our lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I even manged to pick up a couple of Poinsettia's for $3.00 each.  I don't know whether I have the talent to keep them alive the whole time we're here, but it's worth a try, at that price. 

 

 

BEAUTIFYING OUR SURROUNDINGS  

 

 

 

 

THIS WEATHER IS MORE LIKE MARCH

It is so HOT here.  I know we came down here for the warm weather but I did not expect it to be this hot and humid.  November has turned out to be quite hot. 

Everyday since we arrived, it has been 87 and above and very humid.  When we wake in the morning it's quite comfortable and if you sit in the shade and don't do much, it's OK during the day.  But at night it has been very uncomfortable for sleeping.  

This is the kind of temperatures that we experience in late March that drive us back to the cool of Manitoba.  It rained last night so that is supposed to cool things down for a couple of days, but then it's going back up to the mid 80s, hopefully not so humid. 





  . 

PLANTINGS

I got some basic Petunias for my planters today and got them planted.  It's a start.  

 

 

But now I'm on the hunt for some Palms like I had last year. 

 

 

 

One thing I was very pleased to see, is that one of the plants I dumped out at the edge of our driveway, survived just fine. 

 

 

 

I should be able to start a couple more plants from this one. 

 

 

I LOVE LIVE PLANTS AROUND MY PATIO

 

 

 

WE ARE GETTING SETTLED IN

The first few days in Texas are always busy, busy busy.  There is the Hook Ups.  Connect the Power, Water, and Sewer, then the phone and the TV.  Get that fridges and freezers going.  Unpack the truck, that's a 3 day job.  Then un-store all the stuff you stored before you left in the spring. 

 

 

 

Then there is the cleaning.  Just like the boat, everything in the trailer is dusty and dirty and needs a thorough cleaning.  

 

Then the lists have to be made for shopping.  Look through the cupboards and figure out what you need. Costco: Chicken, Beef and Pork.  HEB: Bread, milk, butter, eggs and all the fresh veggies etc.  Then Wally-mart for all the other stuff???   It really takes about a week to fully stock the trailer again. 

 

 

Then finally I start to hit the garden centres to get some plants for my planters.  My patio looks to much like a concrete jungle until I get my planters all filled with plants.  Coming early this year is going to be a problem, as even in Texas it's not exactly planting season, Spring doesn't start till late January.  Well, I'll see what I can find.  I may have to start some slips from some of the perenials around here. 

 

 

 

Our grapefruit trees have plenty of huge grapefruits on them.  They are still very green, so we will leave them on the trees and let them ripen for a while.  Our trees have great grapefruits.  They are not pretty on the outside, but are sweet, juicey and pink.  It's so nice to pick them fresh each morning I can hardly wait.  

 

 

 

SO, I THINK WE ARE STARTING TO FEEL AT HOME AGAIN