Views of the Neighborhood – After the Storm

~ John W. Howell

It is in the 50s, and the snow is almost gone. Today’s tour of the neighborhood will be a mixture of some sad things and some to make you smile. We will take the bus even though it is a short ride.

Of course, we need to take food, but since most food stores have minimal supply, we will be forced to make do with what we could find. For an appetizer, we have some Cheetos that are only a day past expiration. The main course will be a choice of hot dogs and beans served on whole-wheat toast with canned green beans or scrambled powdered eggs and spam served with canned peas. For dessert, we have a choice of an orange popsicle or Hostess Ho ho’s. We still have plenty of top-shelf liquor, and our wine today is Carlo Rossi red or Franzia chablis.

Today’s entertainment is Buck Owens.

Jump on the bus, and off we go.

Views of the Neighborhood

The first stop is not too far from home. The mountain laurel in our backyard took a hit.

The ice was in the trees yesterday morning with a wake-up temperature of 21 degrees F. ( -6.1 C)

 Ice on the bushes. Then the temps went to 57 degrees F (13.8C)

Looks like someone had a hard time stopping before hitting the stop sign. The road was covered in ice.

A bunch of broken juniper limbs.

A snowman still left.

In honor of Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras.

Here’s the mountain laurel all trimmed. The Producer put a tag on its toe, but I got a stay of execution until after the sprig bloom to see what it does.

Palm trees took a big hit.

The deer love the sunshine.

An oak with broken limbs and glare in the photo.

A succulent broken into two pieces. It looks like the weather is going to get better from here and out further.

The tour is finished. Stay and have some more food and drink. Listen to Buck. Enjoy all you Buckaroos. Have a great week.

 

83 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – After the Storm”

  2. What a shock for Texas, eh? I know it’ll be a long to spruce and repair everywhere – but I know you’ll be Texas Strong! I’ll bet, once the initial shock is over, your laurel will bounce back too.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Melting snow is surely a sign that Spring is on its way. Texas so deserves its arrival. We’ve still got mounds of snow everywhere, but the forecast is of sunny days ahead. YAY! Loved your jaunt around the neighborhood and the Buck Owens finish. 😊

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  7. As you know, nature comes back with care. In a couple of months, I’m betting that damage will be a memory. Thanks for the tour, John. I’m guessing you have a water purifier. I know I do. All the best. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I’m glad we’re all on the thaw. Yesterday, I got out of the house for the first time in eight days. I’m not will about winter weather and even less fond of it after this disaster. Remind me I said that when we reach triple-digit temps this summer!

    Sad to see the palm trees, and I hope your mountain laurel makes it.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. That is some serious damage. But I did let out a loud laugh with the Mardi Gras snowman. Sense of humour amidst the carnage is good.
    Love the stay of execution, as well 🙂
    I had to crack up at the snack being served, as well. Hard times and all that 😉 But loved me the Buck Owens.
    Stay safe and glad to hear the temps are rising!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I’ve been thinking about you and some of my other Texan blogging friends. The news is full of terrible images and tragedies. Take care, John. I hope that the temps continue to rise and everyone gets their power and water turned on soon. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Someone should have told those snowmen NOT to open the Ark of the Covenant. Finally, a menu my kids will eat . . . well, the cheeto’s and hotdogs, anyways. I’ll settle for the liquor. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  17. This outbreak of winter produced such contrasts: wonderful pictures of ice and snow on the one hand, but immense destruction on the other hand. Thanks for your pictures.
    Enjoy a warmer Sunday,
    Pit

    Liked by 1 person

  18. It’s always the trees that take the big hit. Luckily they do recover. I used to go out and de-ice our Christmas camellia trees because they were so slow to recover and I hated to lose them.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. All those poor trees and bushes! The palm trees are especially so sad to see. I hope they recover. Can palm trees stand up to weather like that?
    I’m glad the worst is behind you, John.
    Loved the photo of the deer sunning themselves 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  20. The tour must go on! Thanks for sharing what you had! Cheetos pair well with chablis. Glad the snow is melting. Yes, if we can survive hurricanes, heat and droughts, we can survive an arctic vortex. Cute snow people. The many palms around here are sad too. Cheers!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. I’ll bet by today most of your snow, etc., will be gone. Tomorrow, at least. Here, we’re totally thawed. Water pressure’s back, and boil notices are being lifted. We still have one, but I’m sure it’s because of the backup at the state lab. Galveston just had theirs lifted.

    You might get a kick out of some of the images of Austin I snagged. Some, including the Bingo card and the Austin snow removal machine, came from someone using the online name “Evil MoPac.” How great is that?

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Golly, Nature can be really hard on plants and trees, can’t it, John? I’m sorry you had to go through all this, but I heard on TV that Texas typically gets a harsh winter every eight or so years. I guess I wasn’t there long enough to experience it, thank heaven.Can’t say as I’m enamored of your menu today, but I hope the store shelves are soon stocked full!

    Liked by 1 person

  30. I cringe thinking of palm trees in that cold. Nice to see the deer enjoying the sun. Glad your laurel is getting a chance. Fingers crossed.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. I will bring my own food, thanks. Sorry, but your menu doesn’t seem to agree with my digestive system, so I will bring a piece of wheat bread with honey peanut butter, and a few slices of cheese. I nearly cried when I saw the palm trees … I hope they recover. I’m glad your snow has mostly melted … we still have a good 8″ on the ground, the top 2″ of which are now ice, thanks to the melting/refreezing process, and I nearly broke some bones yesterday just trying to salt the walkway. That said, I enjoyed the view around the neighborhood and hope to see crocuses popping out in the next week or two. I’m so jealous of your 50+ temps!!! Keep safe and warm, dear friend.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. 70s??? Did you say yesterday was in the 70s? I was pleased as punch because it got all the way up to 23° here!!! Tomorrow, though, is supposed to get to … I think 34° — a regular heat wave!

        Liked by 2 people

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