Texas Winter 2016

Seems like every year about this time I post about (rant about actually) winter in Texas.  Don't get me wrong - I'm really thankful to not deal with constant freezing temps and several feet of snow, but many parts of this great state deal with heavy fog, dew that soaks through everything and mud -- lots and lots of slippery mud. Enjoy a few scenes from my very wet, muddy backyard this week (besides don't pictures of happy dogs always make things better?).

The black lab never minds the winter - she has energy to burn. She looks kind of fierce in this image - running at almost full speed - no paws on the ground.

The dog running paths are now mud paths -- those cute little feet always bringing the outdoors inside - mud, dirt, wet... life with pets.

A bright spot (literally) among all the winter browns and grays -- the first wildflower/weed -- spring will come (as it always does), just not soon enough. 

Sleet and 70s

Just to give a quick look into my past week, I'm sharing pictures that I took with my phone (not an iphone).   A few of these were also posted on Instagram (love that app).   Although I carried my real camera with me a few times this week, it didn't make it out of my bag - sometimes that happens.

Typical Texas weather - we had temperatures in the 70s one day and the next morning sleet fell.  The dogs weren't too sure about the sound of it hitting the back door and they really weren't thrilled with it hitting their backs.  Although the black dog loves cold nasty weather (must be a lab thing).

The tabby cat is always helpful around the house.  This week she was helping me collect papers as they came out of the printer - just wish she didn't use her claws.   She is always entertaining.

One of those wonderful warm winter days before the humidity and rain moved in.  I love Texas for many reasons but the wide open spaces and rural landscapes are on the top of my list.  More clouds can often lead to more interesting images.

It is February, winter, but along the coast in Texas nature is thinking about Spring.  I saw early signs of it in my backyard.  False garlic blooming already - so there will be an end to this winter.   Another top of my list things -- Texas wildflowers -- can't get enough of their beauty and love when many of them show up in my yard - on their own (my kind of gardening).

I go through spurts of using my phone and Instagram more than my big camera at times.  If you'd like to see more of my Instagram images - find me as sherrycb.  I hope you'll check it out.  I'm planning to post more wildflower pictures as they appear in my yard (rule around my house - no mowing sections of the yard until they've gone to seed - I have a big yard).  I've also got another photography project in mind that I'm working on (planning stages) and may put it out there for a group project - just something fun  -- for now (always a possibility for it go further).

Icapocolypse - Part 2

The weather was predicted to be worse Tuesday than it was the past Friday - very cold, sleet, ice, and maybe snow (we don't see snow very often).  Schools closed once again, it was cold - but the serious stuff didn't start until the afternoon (but not the measureable amounts of snow).  I've read online debates on whether the schools made the right call (I think every school district within a 50 mile radius closed) - this was the 2nd "snow/weather" day we had in 1 week.  Was there ice? Yes.  Sleet?  Yes.  Snow? Yes (flurries at my house).  But most importantly, those of us living along the Gulf Coast do not know how to drive in anything close to icy conditions - I don't want to drive in it - and I'm glad the schools didn't take the risk.   So once again - we hunkered down in the house, especially when we could hear the sleet hitting the back door (sounded like someone throwing small rocks at us) and cooked, ate, watched movies, and generally stayed warm.   Next week the weather forecasters are preciting spring-like thunderstorms.  Seriously?? Growing up in Texas I know to expect anything in regards to weather - sometimes extremes during the same day, but seems like things are a little more weird than our normal-weird. 

 

I baked two whole chickens so I'd be ready to make whatever sounded good to us the rest of the week.  Homemade chicken noodle soup was on deck for last night - it was so good the kids took it in thermoses today.  (King Ranch chicken is up for later this week.)

 

We did venture outside to let the dogs run and to check out the ice.  We thought these icicles looked like snot (yes one of my kids is a boy).  It was just so cold - not what I like... but playing the waiting game for warmer days (which are coming in a day or so - before the next front blows through). 

So today has been a day of washing clothes, washing the soaking pans from the cooking marathon, general pickup from everyone being home more than usual, but our refrigerator is full of really good food and I already have Friday's supper planned - no eating out for us this week or even this weekend. 

Hope everyone is thawing out.

What About Photo Challenges/Prompts

Photo Challenges for 2013

Have you given thought to or revisited the photo challenges you signed up for way back in 2012?  Some of the ones I participated in have concluded and won't be restarting in 2013, some I just couldn't find the time for, and some - well they appeared to be so clickish (I wasn't "in" the right inner circle) - so I didn't feel the need to contribute regularly.  I don't have delusions of successfully completing a 365 project, but like the challenge of contributing more - somewhere - so I joined a group on Flickr  (I'm even thinking of being a rebel and not following the suggested prompts either).  However I will continue to participate in a few challenges that I felt the blogger/originator truly wanted to connect with others and took the time to comment on each photo submitted.  With all that being said - here is the first posted photo for 365/2013 (I have taken more, but they are still living in my camera). 

Although it is not a masterpiece - it is a representation of what I often see driving my area's roads - endless pastures and rolls/bales of hay - all enclosed with barbed wire fences.  This particular day (Jan 2) was chilly, drizzling, and grey.  Winter along the Texas Gulf Coast isn't our prettiest time of year - the grass dies and we don't receive any snow to replace all the ugliness with a pretty winter scene - it is mostly mud (sometimes frozen mud).  I put this image into sepia tones to warm it up - for myself.. I don't care for the cold wetness and with this treatment I still project the same feeling - drab - but it doesn't feel as flat. 

I have found a 52 project that I'm hoping will be fun and will strive to contibute more to flickr & the craziness of Instagram.  Let me know how you are feel about continuing with photo challenges - or have you burned yourself out on them?