This time of year in southeast Texas can be cold and that interferes with the outside things we like to do. In fact, we just went through a cold spell with night time temperatures down in the low 20’s on a couple nights. I almost felt like we were back in Minnesota. So we look for things to do in the house. I’ve been making a few Buddhist Mala bracelets and Barb has been working on her family genealogy. There’s only so much time we can spend indoors before we go a little crazy. We’re just outside people and the cabin fever sets in after a while.

Today it is pretty nice. The outside thermometer reads 74, and that’s even after clouds moved in. Overnight, the temperature reached it’s dewpoint and there was fog early in the morning. It burned off quickly though and the sun dried everything up. In the early morning it was around 38 degrees F and we had to peel off layers of clothing as it warmed up. Barb started to dig up one of the flower beds, getting it ready for new planting and she was even sweating by time she finished. I unwrapped the three Bird of Paradice plants that we bundled up to protect them from the cold. They survived. The large one is over eight feet tall and I had to stand on the step ladder to get that one wrapped up nice.

After waking them up I turned on the hose to give them water and there was a leak. Water sprayed out from the plastic threads on the hose connecter. So I had to drag the hose from the back yard around to the front to give the plants a drink. It was so nice being able to work outside again and be warm. It looks like our cold weather may be over. Now we have to fix the hose.

Yesterday Barb made homemade Chicken Pot Pie and Corn bread muffins. That was so good my eyes got bigger than my whole body and I was stuffed afterward. Her sister brought homemade Lemon Meringue pie, which was also delicious. I sure am glad these ladies know how to cook well. I can cook a few things myself, I guess. I kept myself alive for years doing that but my cooking does not compare to Barb’s. We have a deal. She cooks; I clean up, and it’s worth it.

We are looking forward to more warm days so we can start our gardening and working in the shop. I don’t have any projects planned but usually I just walk in there and something pops into my head. I guess I’ll be looking for some of that popping soon.