Nothing much has been happening here the past week. Life has settled into a routine, and it has been quiet lately.
The plants are all doing well and growing fine, except for a tomato and some seeds that were planted (dill, chives, parsley). I suspect it is to hot for them already. As I was filling my water bucket out front, a movement on the wall caught my eye. I looked, and it was some kind of small lizard (gecko??) crawling away from me. It was no bigger than my little finger. Because I was doing this before the sun was fully up, it was hard to determine color and finer details.
Today I contact DPS and see if I can finish getting my driving license. Other than that, I have no big plans. Sometime next week I may go exploring around Lewisville, but I have not decided just yet.
I am now official. I went down to DPS thinking half an hour of line standing (at least) but was shocked to see no line. I went in, paid my money, got my photo taken and walked out an official driver. It will take time for the actual license to arrive (6-8 weeks).
Fueled up as well, cost me 17 for a tank (roughly 7 gallons and 200 miles), which works out to 28.4 mpg. So not great, but that was all in town, lots of stop/go, wait at lights.
It feels very weird though. Driving, fueling, and all legal.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Driving the week away
This afternoon I will have a week of being a Texas driver. I am still not acclimated to the idea after so many years of not having a car.
Last night, Carol had a fit of cabin fever so we hopped in the car and zipped down to the Super Walmart (arggh) and picked up some $.62 begonias which I planted this morning. I stuck them in a pot out front for some additional color there. They are old plants, and I am not sure they will survive. I also stuck another plant in the back south corner of they yard. I am not sure what it is, I tossed the pot, and there was no sticker in it to say. It is some kind of shade lover though, and I hope it too will survive. Most of the other plants are doing well, though we replaced a cilantro plant already. It was not doing well when I brought it home too wet and dark where it was stored.
OMG!! A humming bird just investigated the lantana and geraniums!! I am going to have to dig out my bird book to identify it I think.
I am not sure what I am going to do today. At the moment, I am enjoying listening to the train pull through town (tracks a mile away), the birds sing, and the occasional car pass on a street over there (points that way). The sun is up, it is going to be a warm day, and the song birds are coming to eat. It is definitely a summer morning.
Last night, Carol had a fit of cabin fever so we hopped in the car and zipped down to the Super Walmart (arggh) and picked up some $.62 begonias which I planted this morning. I stuck them in a pot out front for some additional color there. They are old plants, and I am not sure they will survive. I also stuck another plant in the back south corner of they yard. I am not sure what it is, I tossed the pot, and there was no sticker in it to say. It is some kind of shade lover though, and I hope it too will survive. Most of the other plants are doing well, though we replaced a cilantro plant already. It was not doing well when I brought it home too wet and dark where it was stored.
OMG!! A humming bird just investigated the lantana and geraniums!! I am going to have to dig out my bird book to identify it I think.
I am not sure what I am going to do today. At the moment, I am enjoying listening to the train pull through town (tracks a mile away), the birds sing, and the occasional car pass on a street over there (points that way). The sun is up, it is going to be a warm day, and the song birds are coming to eat. It is definitely a summer morning.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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| June 30 2009 |
If you click on the photo above, it should take you to a series of pictures of the plants I stuck in pots and soil over the last few days. Unfortunately, due to high humidity this morning, my lens fogged up so some of the images are blurred on the left.
I now have a gps to go with my car. It is the cheapest model I could find, and so lacks many of the cool features of the fancier ones. However, most of the cool features I would not use, so they would be wasted money. I tested it out last night, and it seems to work fine, though I don't know if it will always be so accurate. I have enabled the compass, so that should help me know which way I am going.
Today I am staying home and doing some cleaning/resting. I have been out and about sine last Wednesday, and I am feeling tired of moving around.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Silent Sunday
All I hear are overhead fans chopping the air. Carol is locked in her office, Mags is intently observing the moving blinds, and Daph is snoring somewhere out of sight. In a few minutes I have to get up and start supper (roasted brussel sprouts, corn on the cob, and a Vegan Dad's Burger).
I went to the other plant store this morning. Blew the remaining plant budget, so no more plants until the fall. I am pleased with how the ones we bought yesterday have perked up, and how they have brightened the space as well. Today, I added more geraniums, some ornamental grasses (purple fountain grass and dwarf pampas), some herbs, and some more shade lovers. I will plant some tonight, some will need to wait until I can find some cheap pots (dollar store or maybe walmart). Already our place looks much better.
I was able to drive around today without any maps or directions from google, and I had no problems finding my way around either. I suppose this must mean I am becoming used to this small space of Denton. Take me out of my comfort zone and I will be totally lost though.
I went to the other plant store this morning. Blew the remaining plant budget, so no more plants until the fall. I am pleased with how the ones we bought yesterday have perked up, and how they have brightened the space as well. Today, I added more geraniums, some ornamental grasses (purple fountain grass and dwarf pampas), some herbs, and some more shade lovers. I will plant some tonight, some will need to wait until I can find some cheap pots (dollar store or maybe walmart). Already our place looks much better.
I was able to drive around today without any maps or directions from google, and I had no problems finding my way around either. I suppose this must mean I am becoming used to this small space of Denton. Take me out of my comfort zone and I will be totally lost though.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Saturday
I have had a busy day. I was down at the farmers' market early this morning, picked up some veggies and a small, cute rosemary plant. Then I went to check on Ken's produce, but it was still closed. I zipped home, picked up Carol up and we went to Lowe's. There we wandered around picking up a few little things we need to do some finishing touches on our home (picture hangers, shelve fixers, something else I have forgotten). From there we crossed to Wachovia, changed our address on the accounts and then went to Callowy's (a nursery). There we picked up some herbs, one tomato, three lantana (mass planted), some other flowers (three or four kinds), some potting soil, some flower garden soil (for the boxes by the mail box), and some mulch.
I dropped Carol and the plants off and zipped back to Ken's, but his selection was not very good. Feeling disappointed, I headed off to check out Albertson's, but had little more luck there. No one in town appears to have heirloom tomatoes, and there are just not enough collards to go around.
After lunch, I lazed around a little, had a bath, and then, unable to contain my enthusiasm, I began planting, or rather potting the plants we brought home. It may not have been the wisest thing to do as the temp this afternoon was 101. It is still 99, but I am done for the evening. The plants do look great already.
Tomorrow, I will do the boxes out front, put some plants in the corners of the yard, and then sit back and enjoy.
Early in the morning I am going to see if I can find another park and take a walk there. Sunday traffic should be less, at least early in the morning. Depending on when I return, I may stop at another nursery and see if I can find some more geraniums and other pretty flowering plants. Maybe another tomato, some more soil, etc. :)
Tonight I am going to make some cinnamon buns for the neighbors as a thank you for all their help lately. They have helped us out a great deal since we arrived a month ago.
I will take some photos of the planted plants once I feel they are ready to be photographed (looking healthy just before they all die :)).
I dropped Carol and the plants off and zipped back to Ken's, but his selection was not very good. Feeling disappointed, I headed off to check out Albertson's, but had little more luck there. No one in town appears to have heirloom tomatoes, and there are just not enough collards to go around.
After lunch, I lazed around a little, had a bath, and then, unable to contain my enthusiasm, I began planting, or rather potting the plants we brought home. It may not have been the wisest thing to do as the temp this afternoon was 101. It is still 99, but I am done for the evening. The plants do look great already.
Tomorrow, I will do the boxes out front, put some plants in the corners of the yard, and then sit back and enjoy.
Early in the morning I am going to see if I can find another park and take a walk there. Sunday traffic should be less, at least early in the morning. Depending on when I return, I may stop at another nursery and see if I can find some more geraniums and other pretty flowering plants. Maybe another tomato, some more soil, etc. :)
Tonight I am going to make some cinnamon buns for the neighbors as a thank you for all their help lately. They have helped us out a great deal since we arrived a month ago.
I will take some photos of the planted plants once I feel they are ready to be photographed (looking healthy just before they all die :)).
Friday, June 26, 2009
One Month
This evening around seven we will have been in Texas for one month. It still feels strange to say/think this. Initial impressions:
-- It is a little warmer here, but not as humid so the temps feel roughly equivalent.
-- There are a lot of parking lots in the downtown area, I think they feed off the two universities here. I would guess, when school is active, that the free parking at the Wells Fargo is full.
-- The trains go through town quite frequently,but are far enough away to sound musical.
-- The neighbors I have met have been good people, and most of those I have interacted with seem nice (could be that southern charm hiding the knife).
-- DPS tries to be helpful, but the paperwork is irritating (but I have my license now!!)
-- Between Country Cupboards and Krogers we should not need to make a trip to Wholefoods very often it at all.
-- Our house is nice. I am very pleased with it so far. The only thing I might wish is that it were closer to the center of town and within walking distance to all conveniences like the Brent Road place. Still, last night as we went down to Krogers, we noticed an Office Max!! Only 3 miles (5 km to those suffering Imperial deficiencies in Canada).
-- If I take out the irritants (and there have not been that many), our transition from NC to TX has been ok.
In the past month I have accomplished a great deal. Most everything unboxed and stored. I still have clothes in a suitcase and box in the closet that I will get to in the next day or two. My office is set up and I like it. I have met my adviser, selected courses, and seen part of campus. The biggest thing, though it is not all that huge (but life altering none-the-less), is getting a car and driving license again. Put down in print, it does not seem all that much, but it has kept me busy for the past month.
I feel like I can relax a little and begin to explore the area. Maybe get out into the country and take some cow photos, or pump jack photos. They are what Texas is known for, right?
-- It is a little warmer here, but not as humid so the temps feel roughly equivalent.
-- There are a lot of parking lots in the downtown area, I think they feed off the two universities here. I would guess, when school is active, that the free parking at the Wells Fargo is full.
-- The trains go through town quite frequently,but are far enough away to sound musical.
-- The neighbors I have met have been good people, and most of those I have interacted with seem nice (could be that southern charm hiding the knife).
-- DPS tries to be helpful, but the paperwork is irritating (but I have my license now!!)
-- Between Country Cupboards and Krogers we should not need to make a trip to Wholefoods very often it at all.
-- Our house is nice. I am very pleased with it so far. The only thing I might wish is that it were closer to the center of town and within walking distance to all conveniences like the Brent Road place. Still, last night as we went down to Krogers, we noticed an Office Max!! Only 3 miles (5 km to those suffering Imperial deficiencies in Canada).
-- If I take out the irritants (and there have not been that many), our transition from NC to TX has been ok.
In the past month I have accomplished a great deal. Most everything unboxed and stored. I still have clothes in a suitcase and box in the closet that I will get to in the next day or two. My office is set up and I like it. I have met my adviser, selected courses, and seen part of campus. The biggest thing, though it is not all that huge (but life altering none-the-less), is getting a car and driving license again. Put down in print, it does not seem all that much, but it has kept me busy for the past month.
I feel like I can relax a little and begin to explore the area. Maybe get out into the country and take some cow photos, or pump jack photos. They are what Texas is known for, right?
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