December Super moon

                              When I saw this in my view finder, I was jumping up and down
                               I have tried and tried to get night pictures.  It helps to really
                               read the manual!

That's the moon peeking through the trees

I was standing on the road between our place and neighbors on the other side,  Unfortunately, they both had lots of lights on and it was a struggle to get a shot without the glare.

It was a lovely, calm night. The sky was black at this point.

I was struggling with the tripod and nearly missed this.  The yard is riddled with mole paths and the feet of the tripod slipped and dipped and was difficult to be very still.

I don't think the moon was this yellow.May have over compensated the exposure.

The sky was glowing while I waited for the moon.

I take way too many pictures of sunsets, but they are so beautiful!

The aura was whiter, but still pretty.

This picture is blurry and I have no idea why that piece of cloud is this color.

I was taking any shot I could, just in case I didn't capture the one below.

AMAZING

                         I am writing this on Christmas eve, Merry Christmas
(No, it is not snowing here)

Rain

Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while. ~Kin Hubbard

On cable TV they have a weather channel — 24 hours of weather. We had something like that where I grew up. We called it a window. ~Dan Spencer

December 16, 2017

This is the first day in weeks we are having rain. All be it, light to drizzle, but I call it rain.
I tried to find date of last rain and the net is too full of itself to record  poor Burleson moisture.
We are far enough south of Fort Worth to not be included in their rain fall.

Anyway, it has been cold and rainy all day.  After one final run into the madness of Shopping traffic for a few items to bake quick breads. I settled in to baking and cleaning up the bowls, spoons and baking mess, enjoying all.

I have fond memories of when I was working and preparing date nut breads for folks in my department.  This time, the first batch was not what I remembered.  The second batch looks more promising.  The house smells so good.  We are warm and glad not to be out in the craziness of shopping traffic.

Our population has grown so much in the last 4 or so years that we have traffic jams, accidents and a few enraged drivers.  We are the closest access to I-35 for a lot of folks now.  Thus, traffic is bad most days, but holidays are insane.

Maybe a bit of Christmas decorating is in order.

Zinnia

“May I a small house and large garden have;
And a few friends,
And many books, both true.” ― Abraham Cowley

Another hawk visitor

This is a stock photo copied from the internet

 

We were surprised to open the blinds this morning and see what we decided is a red shouldered hawk. Really big.  It was drinking water.  Impressive to see it take off from the ground that fast and not get tangled in a tree.

Between hawks and snakes, this has been an odd year. 

I am thinking of the folks on the east coast and of course the Houston area.  They had so much rain (50")  that things are still flooded in some areas.  Not just the big city, the island of Galveston.  I imagine they weren't flooded as badly as cities around Houston.

I checked and the sea wall was not breached. So that may be the reason they have not been the news.

With all the flooding, critters are in the city that normally stay in bayous.  Scary.  Wouldn't want to be attempting to clean up the damage and run into a snake or alligator.

Now, if only it would cool down again.  Too hot to do much in the yard.

Bird bath visitor

My flea market find.  A metal bird bath that had odd holes in the bottom.  So, for the time being I came up with the idea of a clear plastic flower pot holder.  The birds did not like the clear plastic thing at first.  I waited about a week  with no takers of the water.  I added the gravel and about a week later, a dove checked it out and even stood in the water.  Other doves came back and shortly there after. the little birds checked it out.  Now we can watch birds splashing and dipping and drinking every day.

A little glitch in the little birds using the water bath.  Hubby called me into the kitchen to see this hawk.  The camera was on the table by the window and I quickly got a few shots of the visitor.
Our neighbors have racing pigeons. They are prey for this hawk and others.  Never had one this bold in our yard before.  Have had a Red Tailed and a Cooper's, but not so close to the house.

Be sure to click any picture for a larger view.

Cooper's Hawk

In searching, I thought this was a juvenile Cooper's Hawk.  Then, checked Broad Wing hawk.

Sharp-shinned is described as jay size. This bird is as large as a crow.
Ornithologists admit it is difficult to choose between the Cooper's and the Sharp-shinned from a distance.

He was aware of something in the window moving about, but bold enough to take a drink before hubby had stepped out on to the patio and clapped.

Female cardinal finally checking out new addition

Chickadee 

Watching for hawk

Migrating finches? Cannot identify.

Sweet Alyssum

I have loved alyssum for many, many years.  It has always been in my garden or path, year after year.
The fascination with this sweet smelling, delicate blossomed plant really began when I was blessed with "stray" plants.  

They haven't reseeded for me very many times.  They have died more times than I care to remember.
They do not like hot, hot sunny days.  Sometimes, they just give up. The poor things will dry up and die.

I know, though, that they will be in my garden again.  

Remember to click on a picture to view larger

I remember one hot summer that the poor plant just seemed to be fading away and one morning I went out to the garden after a couple of cooler nights and days, to find green leaves beginning. I try not to get too depressed when they really give up.  "There is always next year."

This has been a cooler summer and for some reason, the alyssum plants hung on.  Now, they are greening up and blooming!

 “May I a small house and large garden have;
And a few friends,
And many books, both true.”
― Abraham Cowley

Not blooming yet. What a show when it does.

This plant has struggled but now greening up and tiny buds are popping up.

Weeds Gone Wild

Remember to click on picture for larger.
 

Chickweed and nut sedge have taken over my gravel path.

There are so many I can never get them all pulled.  Thus, I am going to use 20% vinegar to wipe them out.
It has been a trial trying to find a store that sells this.
I finally asked my favorite nursery (Weston Gardens , Fort Worth) to order some for me. The product comes in gallons and is pretty pricey.
I have always tried to stay away from the poisons for weeds.
Even though I am not growing food crops, poison is poison.

As an aside, it may be necessary to use poison to get rid of fleas.  I am assuming I was bitten numerous times in my garden or yard.  It has been a very unpleasant experience.  Have several days yet before things calm down.  The itch is so intense, I cannot stand clothes touching the welts.

Back to weeds.  The plan is to use undiluted or 1/4 cup water to 1 cup vinegar. (should stretch the dollar a bit)
My first attempt to mark plants turned out not such a good idea.  Rather than leave the path area while taking pictures, I opted for cherry tomatoes to mark the treated plants.  The next day, the tomatoes were either gone or moved.  Evidence of a bit of savoring the juice from the tomatoes. Who knew critters liked tomatoes?

This is the same spot, just different time of day. This was sprayed

nut sedge with tomato marker 

Since this picture, both are completely brown.

Went after the juice I guess

This is a dead bit of Johnson grass.  Nasty stuff. Spreads worse than nut sedge as it gets so big.

Before. It is easy to control where vinegar goes in this setting

After

This has been a learning process for future blogs.  The big issue is to be able to identify the exact spot.
Even with the trials of critters, and not being able to locate before and afters, I am satisfied that the vinegar route is the one for me. One garden guru recommends vinegar, orange oil (which I do use outside and inside) and some liquid dish soap. This is probably fine (maybe cheaper as well) for spraying.

With the cooler weather and rain, the weeds are still a problem and hope to catch up on the vinegar treatment.

Update of weeds and vinegar trial.
All the weeds in earlier pictures are definitely dead.

This next group of four plants were treated when morning temperatures have been in the 50's and 60's. The day time temperatures have been in 80's and low 90's. Lots of direct sun.

This is another group of nut sedge 3 days after treating with straight 20% vinegar.  Not a lot, a few tablespoons is plenty.
What I have observed is that when I used spray, the whole plant had to be covered with spray. With disappointing results.
With this version, just 2 or 3 tablespoons directly in the center of the plant.  The theory being that the vinegar goes straight to the root.

4 oz measuring glass. Purchased at Walmart.  I use 1/2 oz for each plant. Maybe more for larger plant as roots will be larger

 The first three are 99+% brown.

This one has one greenish blade.

It may seem tedious to spot treat each individual plant.  I just do a few at a time and so far have had amazing dead coverage.  I am leaving most of the  dead plants in the ground to see if they will return with green when we get some rain.

The first trials from a month ago have not returned and are dry and brittle.

Nearly a month later. Another group of sedge

before. sprayed whole bunch with straight vinegar

after

before

one day after

blades are 5" or better

Over night and looks dead

another 5" blades

Over night and looks dead

I am satisfied with my trials.  Not too professional, but I can refer back if I do forget about vinegar.
(Joke) Will never forget this.

Plus, I have to thank my niece for her instructions on resizing and organizing pictures.  This used to be the most difficult part of each blog I did.
Thanks Barb