It's THAT time of year again...

Storm Season.

It rolls around every year, like Halloween and the Fourth of July. We dread it, we fear it. We hate it.

I have managed to get some things done, in anticipation of the storms lined up and waiting to bash our shores. I have a list of things we will need to survive, and a list of things to do, in the event that we need to leave.

I live on the Gulf Coast, the Texas Gulf Coast. South of Galveston by about 80 miles as the storm blows, and about 90 miles north of Corpus Christi. Our last 'big' hurricane was Hurricane Carla, which wiped us out in September, 1961. Our house had 3 exterior walls left standing, and not a thing within those walls. A large rug that Mama had acquired somewhere overseas was spread out on the front lawn, and the remnants of my piano lay on top of it, broken into a cazillion pieces. I will never forget the terrible smell. Our big chest type freezer had been overturned, and all the contents were mixed with the mud on what had been the floor of our house. After several days in the hot September sun, it was a terrible smell.

The first thing on my list is always the same: Empty the refrigerator. I don't turn it off, but in case the power goes off, I don't have a ruined refrigerator -if the house don't blow away, that is.

I have a list of things I will need, other than clothes. Clothes are the least of my wants and wishes, except for Bobby's coveralls for work. They are fire-resistant, and he must have them for work. We don't want to have to replace them.

Three sets of sheets, a dozen towels, a service for 4 dishes and silverware, Mama's cast iron dutch oven, 2 sizes cast iron skillets, my wonderful old spatula that Daddy used for turning pancakes on Saturday mornings, a few utensils, and a couple of nice old bowls. A coffee pot that percolates coffee on the stove, or on the campfire, and a few coffee mugs.

A few items for basic grooming. Pictures are gathered and packed, and I have all my important papers sorted and in one box, ready to load, if we have to go.

The boxes of dolls are still packed from Katrina, as are the cookie jars. I would take my iron bed that I inherited from my mother, that she inherited from her mother. I am not so afraid that it would get ruined in a storm, more that it could get lost in a storm.

I would pull a low boy trailer, and Bobby will pull the travel trailer. I am sure we are lucky, but sometimes it would be nice to just leave all this stuff. I bet Bobby will insist on packing his WHOLE shop, which is considerable. I haven't asked him, I am avoiding the subject.

I would pack my desktop computer, and a laptop. Cameras, one printer. Selected books. Bobby may or may not want to take his computer. More likely, he would want his TV.

Most important would be the 3 dogs, and the old kitty, AND their crates and huge sacks of food.

Everyday I say a prayer for those in the path of these storms, and I say a prayer to keep us safe too. I just shudder to think of it.

Prayers for all of y'all on the coast, and on the east coast. Some of you, I feel like I know you. I would hate for the storms to get you too. So, be safe! Take care! Make a list!

It helps a lot, making lists. LOL

Oh, yes, don't let me forget to take a few clothes.

...and Rosenberg is up by Houston....

We went on a field trip Saturday. I was worried that it would be so hot that we would not be able to enjoy the day, but it turned off cool, a little rainy, with a North breeze blowing, just perfect weather!

We went to the Demonstration gardens of the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners. They were very interesting, and really informative. They had a LOT of different plants. Have you ever seen a red plumbago? Well, they have one, and now, so do I. Cuttings, I have, but they will soon be rooted. I am so excited!No, I did not take unauthorized cuttings, but got them instead from Caydee of Caldwell Nursery. She said they root so easy, and she was very generous to give me the cuttings. This is plumbago indica red.

We went to the Enchanted Forest too. Between Caldwell Nursery and Enchated Forest, I have a full week of planting work to do now. I needed all of these.

Lysmachia, althernanthera 'Party Time', jatropha (pink), almond verbena, cleradendron 'Musical Notes', ginger 'Siam Tulip', double shell pea vine, 'Diamond Frost', cat's whiskers (purple), red orchid tree, and several sedums and succulents and little ferny thingies for the fairy garden. Also, purple cestrum, blackberry lilies, burgandy cotton, and 'Silver Dollar' eucalyptus. I think I am forgetting something, but I don't know what it is. I will post it, if I find out. This is 'Musical Notes'.

Enchanted Garden has this fairy garden. This is the cutest thing you ever saw. the house is about 15"-18" tall and about 20" long. I usually like fairy houses that are more natural than this, but this was really cute. Plus, it used a Norfolk Pine, and a Ming aurelia for trees, and I happen to have some of them. The River was pebbles and blue rocks, like used in an aquarium. It was so cute.We saw other interesting things. One was this fence, at the FBC gardens. I call it the "Zen" Fence, because it is a boundary of their Japanese garden.It is done the same on both sides, a dog ear fence board, then bamboo to match the width of the dog ear board. They had several sections of this, some longer than this one, and it was very effective.Also, Bobby took this picture for future reference. These rose trellis' were in the area where they have roses, a vinyard, and berries growing. I don't know if they purchased them or produced them, but they had several of them, and I liked them. They were kind of elegant-looking.Bobby wants to make some of them. I think he should hurry about it.

We had a great time on this field trip. We stopped to eat at "On The Border", and celebrated the birthday of two of our Master Gardeners. They share August 16th for their birthday. We had Kahlua Ice Cream Cake. Great Birthday Cake!

I have been ....

Well, I have not been here! I have no excuse good enough.

Our Master Gardener Group has a website. Guess who is webmaster!

You win (?) if you said it was me. That would be correct. Check it out here.

http://www.jcmga.com/

AND...because I am a real dummy when it comes to websites, and I have to learn EVERYTHING there is to learn, I haven't had much time. That, and a few other things has kept me tied up.

Our Native Plant Garden is growing just fine. I am real proud of it. If we could just get a handle on the nut grass and the bermuda grass, we would be fine. I need to go weed again tomorrow, but I may not get there until next week.

AND....I went to TMGA meeting in College Station last weekend. This MG stuff is taking over my life. Did I mention that I am president this year? Thankfully, the year is going to be over one of these days, and I cannot serve a second year, according to our by-laws, so I will be out of there! It is time to let the newer ones take over.

I looked at the pictures over at Seed Scatterer's site, and I am envious. I know that I shouldn't be like that, but she has MOWED GRASS and lots of PURTY FLOWERS! I do not have mine mowed, and the beds are weedy and needy! I want about a week to do nothing but weed and mulch, weed and mulch.

I just need to get my life organized again. I had it organized once, but that was years ago.

We are going on a field trip on August 16th. Going to look at the Fort Bend County MG demonstration gardens.
AND...we are going to the Enchanted Forest nursery. Check it out here.http://myenchanted.com/

This place is fantastic. I have no idea what I will find there, but it will be different, I know.

We also go to Caldwell nursery when we go there, and they have a really huge variety. I mean a huge variety of EVERYTHING! Check them out here.http://www.caldwellhort.com/

I am going to turn my AC on this weekend, I think.
It is pretty hot now. I think it was 102 degrees today. It is weird that it is not hot in the house, but on the porches, it is HOT!

When I turn the AC on, I will be here everyday. LOL