Well, it was a mess on Friday and way too dangerous to go out on a photo tour of the neighborhood, which is when most of them are taken. Instead, I took a tour around the yard, and hopefully, these photos will take the place of a full-blown tour. Since we will stay at the house, we don’t need the bus today. We will need food, so I have called out for delivery from Nomatic Beer Works (Yes, they deliver beer too). Our entertainment is again Bob Seger. (A fellow Detroit native)
Menu
TURKEY PESTO – Turkey Breast | Provolone | Parmesan | Pesto | Roasted Red Pepper | Balsamic Reduction | Easy Tiger Sourdough
REUBEN (Turkey) – Turkey Breast | Swiss | Sauerkraut | Thousand Island | Easy Tiger Rye
ITALIAN – Salami | Rosemary Ham | Arugula | Roasted Red Pepper | Parmesan | Provolone | Italian Dressing | Easy Tiger Sourdough
SWEET PROSCIUTTO – Aged Prosciutto | Havarti Cheese | Arugula | Fredericksburg Peach Preserve | Honey | Easy Tiger Rosemary Focaccia
HEARTY ARTIE – Artichoke | Roasted red pepper | Arugula | provolone | Pesto | Balsamic Reduction | Easy Tiger Sourdough
VEGETARIAN – Artichoke | Garlic Hummus | Arugula | Roasted Red Pepper | Easy Tiger Sourdough
TOASTED CHEESER – Cheddar | Provolone | Havarti | Parmesan | Easy Tiger Sourdough
We’ll star in the back. Make sure you have your gloves and hats on.
First, a look in the backyard looking Northwest. The hanging basket is wrapped in a hibiscus towel.
The backyard looking Southeast. The turf is covered with frozen sleet.
The patio area is covered. You can see the frozen sleet in the blackstone bed to the left.
A closer look at the patio. The magnolia tree and mountain laurel are covered in ice.
A close-up of the magnolia. The ice acts as an insulator since the air is colder than 32 degrees F. ( 0 degrees C )
A close-up of the mountain laurel.
Our rain gauge took on one inch of rain and is frozen. You can see ice on the fence as well.
Our motion light and irrigation monitor show the effect of frozen rain. So let’s go back inside.
Lucy and Twiggy wonder who the new playmates are. These are the plants that need protection from temperatures below freezing.
Here is a shot of the hibiscus in bloom. The other plans are dracaena, salvia, and a pot with pansies and alyssum.
Looking out the front, you can see the ice on the driveway and frozen sleet in the rocks.
One shot of the deer who are not bothered by a little frozen rain.
I hope you enjoyed a look at the Texas version of winter. Now relax, have some food and enjoy Bob.
Fiction Favorites 
Looks too cold for me. I would stay in with Lucy and Twiggy. Hope the plants will all survive the cold. I think I may have mentioned it before, Bob Seger is a favourite of mine. So thanks for brightening up my Sunday!
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Bob is a favorite of mine too. I took a look at the plants yesterday and they looked good. One more night of freezing temps and it will be clear sailing for a while. Thank you, Darlene.
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Looks like you could use a pair of ice skates! Hope your magnolia tree survives.
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Seems like it is doing fine. Thanks, Karen.
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Skating Rink Driveway, John, take care if going out 😱
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It all left yesterday so we are good.
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A frozen Texas still sounds weird, despite seeing the evidence! Good job.
How do the girls like going outside to do their business in this weather?
While you’re telling me, slide one of those prosciutto things over here, eh?
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Here you go. They are very quick about the trips outside. Lucy has a habit of bucking like a bronco when it is cold. It is funny to watch.
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Sounds funny.
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😁
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Oh my… for a minute, it almost looked as though you had come back home to Detroit. And thanks for the Seger tune. Have a great Sunday, John!
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I know right? This is something we need to avoid. Thanks, Annette.
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Did you lose power, John? I hope all of the plants and trees survived. I always loved Bob Seger, but now I have Slip Sliding Away in my head. 😉 I hope you warm up soon!
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The power stayed on which was a good thing. I hope we warm up soon too. Thanks, Jill.
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What a mess. Good decision to stay safe – and I hope all your protection efforts are fruitful. Good Seger song! … and we have similar rain gauges. 🙂
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I like that rain guage since it is easy to empty. It is designed for ground or fence installation.
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I can manage driving in a little snow. Not frozen rain or ice. I’ve been home since Wednesday evening. I could have got out yesterday but decided I’d continue to hibernate!
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Hibernation is a good thing sometimes. Stay warm. Two more nights of below freezing temps is all. 😁
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🙂
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for sharing, Michael.
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;-))
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Yikes! That is some glaze you got there, John. My parents had a lot of tree damage, but fortunately never lost power. Hope winter is done with you guys now…
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Two more nights of below freezing and we are in the clear for at least five days. Thank you, Lori.
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Yikes! We had a brief, two-day below freezing stint here in Florida and that was enough for me. I’m embarrassed to say I have become a total ‘weather wimp.’
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Me too. I can’t stand this stuff, but have no choice.
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Aww, i never thought you would have snow this year. But honestly, the real issue is the temperature. 😉 I would not say anything against snow, if the guiding temperature would be around 22 degrees (C). Lol Have a beautiful Sunday, John! xx Michael
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I think at 22 degrees C the snow would be welcome if not brief. Thanks, Michael.
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Indeed, John! xx Michael
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😊
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BRRRR! Hopefully all your plants came through the sleet and freezing temps unscathed. We’re 4 above zero today.
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Yikes. I would die. 😁
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I have no problem with it because my husband gets stuck with walking the dog and going to the grocery store. 😉
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There you go.
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😀
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Pass me the Turkey Reuben. A couple of those and I’ll start to look like that hibiscus wrapped plant. Be extra cautious on any ice…unless you’re hibiscus wrapped. How do the dogs manage when they ‘must go out’? Our Daisy manages to ‘hold it’ a long time, if necessary. Makes me jealous.
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They run out and quickly finish up. Yeah I’m jealous too.
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I thought of you when word of the Austin boil water order started circulating. I’m thinking you might not be on the Austin system. Having to boil water after escaping a power outage is insult after no-injury. We missed out on most icing, and by the end of today, it seems most of it north of us will be gone, too. I’ll be hauling my plants out later. They could have gone out yesterday, but I decided to clean the patio before taking on that little chore.
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Yes we are on a different system. Our daughter in on the Austin system so she needs to be careful. We are going to visit today but will carry in the potables. We are going to move ours out as well.
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Nice views, John. It’s good you can pull some of the more sensitive plants indoors. I think it’s logical to stay put with that coating of ice on everything. Driving on ice is worse than snow, especially if it’s freezing rain. Stay safe and warm.
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I remember a time when I was driving in Ohio. There was a hill and when I went over the top I say about twenty cars all piled up at the bottom. Too late to stop so I put the right wheels on the shoulder and managed to crab to a stop. What a mess.
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Good thinking, John, using the shoulder for a little more grip.
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The front bumper dug into the snow there causing me to stop.
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Hope the ice melts soon. Are the temps going up or staying cold?
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Today we are going to 57. They pretty much stayed cold all day Friday and then Saturday went to 43
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We’re at 26 with a high of 32. This is why I don’t like winter.
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Yeah, I sure get that.
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Thanks for the lovely tour. Way to cold for me.
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Way too cold for me too, Lauren. 😁
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It was 72 here yesterday. My kind of winter.
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Mine too but we just don’t get that everyday.
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You folks look frozen. We are all covered in white here. It’s a good idea to stay inside and enjoy the warmth and the food.
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I agree. Thanks. Molly Shae.
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Brrr! Staying indoors is a good plan! Stay warm!!
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Thank you, Deborah.
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Here, it was just some sleet. A few more nights will still be freezing, but during the days it’s warmer. So, I’m in doubt if I should take the covers off the plants during daytime and put them back late in the afternoon. Getting some sun might do them good.
Have a great Sunday,
Pit
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Good idea. Can dry out the covers too.
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I just looked at the forecast and it is two weeks of olympics. However there seems to be enough Tullamore Dew to get me through a strong dose of curling. Then there will be only one week of February left and what ever March will throw at us. Keep warm John.
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I like your almanac, John
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You really got hit with a lot of ice, John. The storm completely missed us. Lots of rain, but no sleet or ice.
I’m so glad you were able to get the plants inside that needed to be protected from the weather and that the hanging basket is protected by the towel. I hope all of the other (outside plants) come back without problem. Stay safe and warm down there. Hopefully, this was the last storm of the season!
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I will knowck wood on that hope, Mae. I share it. Thanks for the nice words. 😁
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It’s looking mighty cold for Texas. Your backyard is beautiful even in the freezing temps. We have similar weather in Northern Arizona, but it warms up by midday. Doesn’t it seem extra quiet on these cold mornings? I love that silence — but I also love Bob Seger’s Roll Me Away. Have a great one, John. 😊
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That song always reminds me of time spent in California. Good times for sure.
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I went out this morning and it was 25 degrees. A cardinal was in the shrubs singing his heart out. That was a welcome sound for sure. We are going to have a high of 57 degrees today. That will seem like a heatwave. Have a super Sunday, Gwen
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Ice is always a worry – for both plants and drivers. We used to cover a lot of our outside plants – too many to bring in. You got the ice, we got some snow. I take it Lucy and Twiggy did not venture outside except when necessary! I’m going to throw caution to the wind and take that Reuben!
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Yes they spent as little time outdoors as possible. Good choice on the Reuben. Thanks, Noelle.
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If we ever meet in person, we can have a Reuben together!
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You bet. (The best part for me is the grilled rye bread)
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Ice. Ug! Feel for you guys. Plants look lovely and glad the ice won’t hurt the magnolias. I used to play Bob Segar on the jukebox every morning when I worked at a burger joint (Griff’s, heard of them? They’re Texan based). It annoyed my boss which is why I played it hehe. But I am a fan. thanks for the memory
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There is a Griffs in San Antonio. I never ate at Griffs when I lived there. Thanks for the comment, Stephanie. 😁
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Glad you played it safe and gave us a tour of your own back yard. Looked pretty even with the ice. We had frost on the roof and overnight freeze but no ice as we didn’t get even a drizzle. Turkey pesto was great – thanks!
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I’m glad you didn’t get any ice. Thanks, Jo.
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A bit of frozen sleet there, John. I’m glad you didn’t venture into the neighborhood. And I was glad to see some of your plants inside. I hope you thaw out soon. 🙂
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We had a 61 degree day here today.
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Much better!
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It amazes me that you get that kind of weather. It’s normal for some parts of the country, but seems odd there.
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It is odd. We are not used to it.
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Brrr… I’ll take a foot of snow to an inch of ice any day. We’re still scraping away up here in New England. So, the magnolia and mountain laurel will be protected by the ice and recover?
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The magnolia and mountain laurel both look fine. Thanks Jennie.
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Whew!
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Whew from me too.
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I’ve been watching the weather, and I knew y’all were in for it, John. Thank you for braving the elements to get us some photos! Ice storms are no fun for anybody. Did Lucy and Twiggy do the slip-sliding thing like Monkey did?? Here’s to an early Spring, regardless of what the groundhog says!
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They stuck to the parts that had no ice. One time Lucy cut across the ice part but she broke through so there was no sliding.
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That’s good. Monkey always looks surprised when his feet slip out from underneath him.
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Mon Dieu, dear John! The ice rain in Moscow is one thing but in Texas is a disaster. I wish you to recover faster as it is dangerous indeed for humans as well. 🍺🍹🥠🥠🥠🍗
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Very dangerous Dear Marie. It is all gone today. We had temps as high as 16 C.
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Hi John, I hope you didn’t have to go out in your car during this storm. Lucy and Twiggy look a little uncomfortable sharing their space with those plants, but I’m sure they will adjust to the change.
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Yes. Of course the plants are outside today.
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Wow Boss, you guys got hit super hard.
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We did. Thanks Marc.
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Great photos. The ice is the worst. Looks like we got a bit more snow on top of the ice up here, but today it’s all gone, just the way I like it! Thanks for sharing, John!
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Yes gone here as well. Thanks, Jan
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When I see the ice on the driveway, I immediately think of some older person who wanders out to their mailbox and hurts themself when they slip and fall.
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Yeah like me. Thanks, Pete.
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Looks chilly! Stay warm 🙂
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We are back into warmer weather now. Thank you, Denise.
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🙂
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😊
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Eeek! It looks cold out.
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It sure was. Freeze part is over now. 😁
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Nice views all around, though greyish. Someone mentioned hibernation. I think there is probably a good reason it was invented by nature. We should consider…
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Or at least give the government a chance to try it.
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I’ll take snow over that ice any day. Hope those beautiful trees won’t be badly damaged. I know you said it acts as insulation, but still. Glad you chose not to skate out there. That is hip-breaking stuff!
Excellent song!
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Hip break…They shoot horses don’t they?😳
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Right. So don’t even put yourself close to that, ok?
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I agree with you on that. 😊
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Good!
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🤗
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You got a lot more than we did. Our “ice storm” didn’t amount too much, and everything was melted by noon. Hope your plants survive!
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They are doing well. Thank you, Teri.
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Looks like we’ve sent you some of our weather from the attic here. 🙂
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I would say more from the cellar.
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Ok. I’m having the cheesy extravaganza. With beer. Dark preferably. After that tour I need to warm my insides. 🥶🥶🥶I don’t miss Texas winters, especially the ones we had in the hill country. It is pretty to see the (ravenous) deer though. You just can’t go wrong with Seger. ❤️
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Thank you, Cheryl.
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