Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[Bird]

I think it to eat, but I really don't know what kind it is. I'll get a picture tomorrow. We just cut off the new growth, and she is going to skin it and cut into strips. This is a step farther than I have been into Mex food.

Prickly pear. Now I understand. I've never eaten any, but a friend of Mexican heritage told me years ago that he'd compare them to green beans.

 

[Traxx]

Here are some pictures. First is what we cut off, after are pics of the whole cactus and then finally my helper.

 

[Western]

I've had it before and as 2-bit said, it can be good (Mine was fried), but I prefer the fruit over the leaf:laughing:

 

[two_bit_score]

I've had it before and as 2-bit said, it can be good (Mine was fried), but I prefer the fruit over the leaf:laughing:

Of course.... The pear. Now, that's kinda hard to find. Everyone sells nopales but they keep the pear.

I've had nopal many ways. Great on fajita tacos. I like it mixed with other food not just as a side dish or on it's own.



.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm starting to see some wildflowers!!!!

Eddie

 

[Western]

Working in Houston this week, figured it would be a tad warmer than the DFW metro-mess,NOT. 48* this am when I got to the motel. Actually got a bit chilly!!

Wont be long and we can all go over to Jim's and watch the "Great water hose migration"

 

[Bird]

When I had new siding put on the south side of my house, there were lots of scorpions (both dead and alive) under the old cedar siding. Since they follow their food supply, there must have been some crickets around there too. I don't know why, but we seem to find the most scorpions on interior stairways in the center of the house.

I think I was 7 or 8 years old when I was awakened one night by something stinging me. My first thought was that a bee had gotten in the house, so I pulled the sheet up over my head for protection. Then I got stung on the hand that was still exposed, so I pulled that hand in under the sheet. And when I got stung the third time, I realized something was under that sheet with me and I got up yelling. Mother and Dad came running, turned on a light, and there was a scorpion on my pillow. So I've had a bit of an aversion to scorpions almost my whole life.

We moved into a new house in September, 1972, when we had 3 and 6 year old daughters. We'd only been there a couple of days when I saw a scorpion in the house, so I killed it and called professional exterminators the next day and I don't guess I've seen one inside a house since.:laughing:

 

[jinman]

Wont be long and we can all go over to Jim's and watch the "Great water hose migration"

BITE YOUR TONGUE! I need to water my lawn right NOW. The last two sprinkles did little for ground moisture. If you come by my house today, you'll see me out there setting sprinklers and cussin'.

BTW: I've been testing my new water diversion terrace/ditch the last couple of days with a water hose. Ron Hall and I laid it out and I got the backhoe busy building the terrace. Yesterday, I started water running and fine tuned the flow all the way to my pond. I'd say this terrace is about 200' long and will direct enough water during a heavy rain that a 12' culvert under one section won't take the flow. I'm going to an 18" culvert instead. I've also been pumping water into my little pond to keep the level up where I can see any leaks. My poor well must think that its already summer on the surface.:confused2:

 

[Western]

BITE YOUR TONGUE! I need to water my lawn right NOW. The last two sprinkles did little for ground moisture. If you come by my house today, you'll see me out there setting sprinklers and cussin'.

BTW: I've been testing my new water diversion terrace/ditch the last couple of days with a water hose. Ron Hall and I laid it out and I got the backhoe busy building the terrace. Yesterday, I started water running and fine tuned the flow all the way to my pond. I'd say this terrace is about 200' long and will direct enough water during a heavy rain that a 12' culvert under one section won't take the flow. I'm goin g to an 18" culvert instead. I've also been pumping water into my little pond to keep the level up where I can see any leaks. My poor well must think that its already summer on the surface.:confused2:

:laughing: That explains why my water table is going down then, you are "up-hill" from me. I actually water Monday before I left for Houston, ground is dry, but not parched yet.

 

[jinman]

Dennis, while I was watering, I changed oil on our Kawasaki Mule and blew the dust out of the two air filters. I checked the transmission and front differential fluid (fine) and greased the 4wd driveline carrier bearing. At least I got something done that will last awhile.:thumbsup: If it stays hot and windy, the moisture will disappear.

 

[ronjhall]

We enjoyed all the Texas wildflowers that we saw this spring. Got home expecting to see some of our wildflowers blooming. Not to happen this year.
This is all I found.

But the flowering trees are doing good this year.

 

[Western]

Ron, I had lots of "those" flowers:laughing: before I used the 2,4-d I mean


Jim, If a Yellow push mower shows up in your drive, give it some PM also, I know the owner and he would appreciate.e it!!:thumbsup:

BTW, I may need to hit y'alls "brain-trust" My mom is giving me my step dads Ariens riding mower, but it is broke. partially dis-assembled prior to My SD's death. I think it is salvageable from what my brother was saying.

 

[jinman]

We enjoyed all the Texas wildflowers that we saw this spring. Got home expecting to see some of our wildflowers blooming. Not to happen this year.

Ron, did Betty's foxglove survive the trip? It looked pretty good when you left. I think we have more foxglove this year than at any other time. It's everywhere.

That white tree sure looks pretty. Is it a pear or plum?

 

[ronjhall]

The plants made it home in good shape. Not sure where and when to plant them. We had a good frost last night. 28 degrees this morning.
Tree is a Flowering Crabapple.

 

[ronjhall]

Thought I would post this video here because it was spring when it was taken. txdon's dog likes to bark at snakes.

 

[jinman]

The plants made it home in good shape.

I hope they do okay. I figure that in your climate, they would just be sprouting up about now. They'll probably bloom there toward the end of May or early June.

BTW, remember how my truck's AC quit on us that day? Well, some days it works and some days it won't. Actually, I started out this morning with it working and it quit when I stopped the truck and restarted it. After about 1/2 hour of being off, I turned it on again and it worked fine. Something related to the blower is causing the problem. The compressor runs fine for a few minutes with the fan off and then shuts down. When the fan operates, the compressor works like a champ going on/off normally. The trouble is that every time I go to troubleshoot, the darn thing starts working and I can't figure what's wrong. I may have to Easter egg this one a bit to find the problem.

 

[txdon]

Thought I would post this video here because it was spring when it was taken. txdon's dog likes to bark at snakes.

Last night she started her snake barking at 2:00am. I had to get up to make sure she wasn't playing with a poisonous one, and she was, a copperhead. Had to break out the hoe to spare the dog.

Later this morning she was rolling a baby armadillo, she loves country life.

 

[Traxx]

Enough of flowers and snakes....just sayin.

 

[jinman]

Enough of flowers and snakes....just sayin.

So, now you wanna talk about mad cow disease?

 

[Traxx]

You gotta admit, that thar is a fine piece of mad kow.