Happy Valentine’s Day.
I started out this week setting up a tour of the first signs of spring. The temps were in the high 60s, and I thought we would have another outdoor gathering. Well, Mother Nature fooled me. So this week, we will have to stay on the bus since the temperature is 25 degrees F (-3.8 C)
This calls for some real stick to the ribs kind of serving. For an appetizer, well have bacon-wrapped pepper poppers, potstickers with hot dipping sauce, and Miso soup. The main course is a choice of two. The first is old fashioned pot roast, oven browned potatoes, and candied carrots in brown gravy. The second is board carved seasoned turkey breast, mashed Yukon gold garlic potatoes, garden peas, savory gravy, and cranberry relish. We have hot apple pie with whipped cream or hot chocolate souffle with brandy sauce for dessert. Our wine selection is a 2018 Aubert Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast UV Vineyard for the red and a 2019 Invivo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough X, Sarah Jessica Parker. Of course, all our top-shelf liquors are available.
Today’s entertainment is Meat Loaf.
So get on the bus, and off we go.
This will explain how come the original plan had to be altered. I think we were in the Spring of Deception and now in Third Winter.
We started out taking a look at some baby Bluebonnets.
Then to blooming Jasmine.
Cute little vincas
Then came the rain and freezing temperatures.
Mr. Fox is not pleased.
The olive tree and mountain laurel in the backyard
Close-up of the mountain laurel.
Ice-covered tree.
Back to the ice-covered jasmine.
Some junipers in trouble
Broken juniper.
The junipers seem to have had the most challenging time with ice. Here’s another.
Since today is Valentine’s Day, how about heart covered boxer shorts.
The first sign of spring is what we call myrtle murder, where the crape myrtles are severely trimmed. Here are three victims.
Well, that does the tour of ice land. Our temperatures are to stay in the high 20’s. Monday morning is forecasted to be 7 F (-13.8 C) degrees. We are not in Canada or Michigan, folks. We can’t handle this stuff. Enough of my complaints. Stay and have more food and listen to Meat Loaf.
Fiction Favorites 
Thank you for the tour, John. We seem to follow Texas’s lead, as we’re forecasted to have highs of 7 degrees through the week. Even the sun has taken cover. It’s time to cuddle with the pups and your Valentine. Stay warm during this polar blast! 🐧
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Gwen. Staying warm is a challenge for sure. Hopefully, you can do the same. Happy Valentine’s Day. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great tour and delicious food as always, John. Sorry you guys are getting such nasty weather. Hope you can snuggle in with the pups.
LikeLiked by 2 people
They are good snugglers, Lori. Happy Valentine’s Day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
As always, I enjoyed the tour. But – just as I got sad about the junipers – out popped the heart underwear!! That guy HAS to be invited on the next tour!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahaha. I’m not sure, but I think Tiny lives there. 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ouch! One way or another, he gets the better of me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does seem that way, GP. Someday it will be your turn. 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the tour, John. It looks like the perfect weather to stay inside with loved ones. Those boxers! What in the world! LOL! Happy Valentine’s Day!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I didn’t get the boxer thingy either. Happy Valentine’s Day, Jill. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the lesson in Texas seasons. It looks as though the neighborhood doesn’t have overhead power lines for the ice-covered trees to bring down?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nope. All ours are underground. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re fortunate. Ours are all on poles where the ice laden trees can fall on them. A few years ago, during an ice storm on our street, a tree fell on a power line; the line snapped, and set a neighbor’s garage on fire. The building and two vehicles were a total loss. After that, the county did some serious tree butchery.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My goodness. Yes we are lucky
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ice storms are a conundrum … danger & damaging vs their beauty. Well done – but are those your boxers? Before you answer … more Pinot, please.
LikeLiked by 2 people
They are not mine. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice pictures. Does the myrtle cutting help them grow?
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is a big debate about whether or not it helps. Some think it does. Others think it is not necessary. I don’t think there is a consensus on it.
LikeLike
I know there are methods where you trim back a plant and it grows back stronger. It’s like giving them a haircut, but it depends on the plant and how much you chop.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are pretty severe. I’ll keep watch and see how they do in the summer.
LikeLike
I just read this article that gave me the terms the pros use for these procedures. “Bollarding” is what’s done to the crape myrtles. Apparently it works very well IF it’s done properly. You have to know where to make the cuts — too high or too low, and the tree doesn’t thrive. But if it’s done right, it doesn’t hurt.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Linda. Your comments are always informative. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have power over there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No we lost it last night and then this morning at 9:30. They are doing rolling outages.
LikeLike
Since it is the Spring of Deception it would only be right to dedicate a special place on the menu for roast Punxsutawney Pete. And yes two of three ain’t bad. Keep warm down there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Roast groundhog tastes like chicken I’m told. (Punxsutawney Pete 😂)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Complaining right along with you, John. Texas is not made for this. Friday I noticed one of my azaleas was about to bloom. Spring just teased us.
Stay safe and warm!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah the Texas seasons chart says it all
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh. my. goodness! It’s heartbreaking to see what ice storms do to trees and shrubs. Arctic winter is alive and well in the Mile High. This morning’s atmosphere is in the negative range with windchill plummeting to minus 18. 🥶 Sales of sweaters have no doubt been hot, hot, hot this week Stay inside, stay warm and have a Happy 💝 Day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Monika. Happy Valentine’s Day to you. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely photos John.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Andrew. Break a leg tonight. I hope you put up a re-run for those of us who can’t make it tonight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha
Thank you so much. Hopefully, you will come on and plug your books one day.
Appreciate it
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to do that. Just tell me when and I’ll be there. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great I will reach out to you.
Thank you
LikeLike
here’s my e-mail johnhowell(dot)wave(at)gmail(dot)com Excuse the () but I don’t want a bunch of bots sending me e-mails.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
You won’t get any of that.
Don’t worry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing, John. Alaska came to visit Texas and now they’ve decided to stick around. Stay warm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You always have the perfect feast for the occasion. My goodness, you guys have been hit hard by Mother Nature!
We are having some cold but nothing like western Canada. I mean it’s cold but not glacial (to me, anyway – I’m about to go out for my second walk… it’s 14F and is lightly snowing and the sun is shining. I mean come on! How can I resist 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
You cannot resist. Sounds like a super day.We have sleet and threat of snow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sorry. I’ll take my sunshine and snow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I woud hope so. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was fantastic. I swear…they said it is 19 out… Honestly, it felt more like 32. I was sweating!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. Great for the lungs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crazy weather, that’s for sure. Our buildings here don’t seem to be built for these kinds of temps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another wonderful tour! I appreciated the heated blankets. I hope your real spring arrives soon for you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hope so too, Denise.
LikeLike
Brr, this looks almost as bad as what we’ve got, John. It was -1 this morning and supposed to climb to a balmy 7 degrees this afternoon. If misery loves company, misery is a happy camper for the next several days — stay inside and stay warm!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Debbie. Will do for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish you wouldn’t have had to change you plans for today’s post, John. Here it’s -6 now, and, with the wind from the North increasing, constantly getting colder till a low of -6 [windchill -12] tomorrow morning.
Stay warm,
Pit
LikeLiked by 2 people
Brrrr. Cold in anyone’s place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bluebonnets – it really was spring for a time! It won’t be that cold here but it will be freezing weather. I have brought in some plants and will cover the rest on the patio tonight. The bus was perfectly warm with good food and drink. Poppers were excellent. Not sure about those Valentine boxes. I can’t ever remember a Valentine’s Day that was really cold. But it is Texas and the cold won’t last. Thanks for getting me out! Stay warm.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for joing me today, Jo 😁 You are right it won’t last but is is a pain while it is here.
LikeLike
This is nuts. Here it’s been warmer on some days than in Texas.
My thoughts are with you guys.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Mark 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crazy weather! My brothers and I talked by Zoom yesterday. We are scattered across the country in four different time zones (one for each brother). Each one of us (California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New Jersey) are in the midst of rainy, snowy, and cold weather. Our son coaches college football in Montana at the NAIA level. They delayed their season twice and were supposed to start practicing last week, but they couldn’t because they had five consecutive days of temperatures below zero.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We really have never had weather like this before. Thanks, Pete. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
So I’m doing my best not to demand a refund, John. I signed up for the tour expecting warm Texas weather–an escape from the freezing crap in the northeast–and instead I get ice on the junipers. Seriously??? Methinks it’s time to have a chat with the tourist bureau in Texas. In the meantime, I’ll kick back, mollified by the seasoned turkey breast, hot chocolate souffle with brandy sauce, and entertainment by Meatloaf. Good thing you know how to roll out the red carpet for your guests. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I figure I can’t rely on the weather so I have to lay out a good spread. The bus has a wood burning fireplace so it is toasty for sure. here let me help you to another hot toddy. Thanks for coming along, Mae. Happy Valentine’s day 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are the host with the most! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Next trip to the country roads?
LikeLiked by 2 people
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I had a wood burning fireplace. It looks like we’ll avoid power loss now, but on the north side of Houston they’re not going to be so lucky. Too many trees, and too many above-ground power lines. Your mountain laurel will make it through just fine. They can take days of ice cover without harm. Those Ashe juniper are going to require a little attention, though — sorry about that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those junipers are someone else’s. (Thank heavens) Good to know about the mountain laurel though. That poor thing spent years under the cover of a live oak and it is beginning to flourish. The electric company is now doing rolling power outages. We had one at 2:30 this morning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure you had a Happy Valentine’s Day, John, but I’m reading this a day later and it seems your weather in Texas got worse. On TV there was a winter storm warning. I hope you and yours are okay. It’s starting to get a little warmer here. Sometime in March, it will really get warm. We then get the monsoon. We don’t have what I used to consider the four seasons either. Take care. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 2 people
Woke up to four inches of snow on top of ice. Right now it is 9 degrees F. Winter storm indeed. Thank you, Suzanne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi John, your sign about the Texas seasons gave me a jolly good laugh, especially Hell’s front porch. Our summers are usually like that to, but this year its been cooler and very wet. The leaves on the trees are already turning and I’ve never seen that before this early.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hell’s front porch gave me a belly laugh, Robbie. The sad thing is this is a fairly accurate description of our seasons. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve had worse weather than we have in KY. We’re supposed to get several inches of snow today – schools and businesses are closed, but a flurry yet. I’ll take extra helpings of that hot chocolate souffle!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Here you go. I put it in a bowl so you don’t have to worry about drips. We got 4 inches last night and now have no power.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hope you have a gas fireplace. Stay warm!
LikeLiked by 2 people
No we are all electric.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brrrr! Stay warm over there!
LikeLiked by 2 people
We have 9 degrees and no electricity now. Brrr is right
LikeLike
Oh no! I hope the power is restored real soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it came back after three hours. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy St. Valentine, dear John! Ice covered trees look impressive & tragic at the same time. Poor junipers! 💖💟💌
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know right. Well hopefully they will recover this summer. I hope you had a good Valentine’s Day 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
😍❤❤❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crazy weather, but if you wait long enough it always changes. We have a similar situation in Idaho right now, but we expect some of this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We don’t do well in this stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tour, John, but crazy weather! That shot of the mountain laurel is awesome and those boxers, hilarious! I can always count on the mouth-watering food and good drinks! Stay warm!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, crazy weather is right. Thank you, Lauren.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bacon wrapped pepper poppers…fun to say and I’m sure very tasty. I’m guessing Hell’s front porch, is when the sun melts your shoes to the porch floor? A bit of damage from the ice storm, I see. Thanks for the tour, John. Stay warm. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hell’s front porch is not as hot as Hell but you can feel it from there. Makes your face melt
LikeLiked by 2 people
No doubt. I’ll stick with snow. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Now we have both.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Texas is all over the news up here on the ice storm. Your frozen junipers speak volumes. I’m so sorry that a New England winter has landed on your doorstep. The fabulous meal on the bus makes it easier to handle the ice storm.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Jennie
LikeLiked by 1 person