Steve and Judy's Travels!

 

 

And a frozen fountain.

 

The thermometer hit 25 degrees last night.  A hard freeze.  We woke to no running water inside.  As the weather warmed to freezing, the water flow returned.  Another low of 25 degrees is expected tonight.  The above-ground loop of water pipe outside now has a comfy warm blanket on it, and we will leave a faucet dripping inside the house tonight. 

 

We drove to McAllen and checked on the motorhome today.  It’s sitting there, furnace running, temperature inside right at 50 degrees, just as we set it.  It’s our backup plan if things happen to go south at the house.

 

When we came back home from the bus, our water was working at the house, but it has been off and on as people have been repairing pipes.  The entire state of Texas was below freezing last night.  I don’t think that has ever happened before.  This sub-freezing weather is expected on and off throughout the week before suddenly bouncing out of it with a high of 70 on Saturday.

 

Oops.  The water is still on but the electricity just went off.  Rolling blackout perhaps.  Never seen that before.  The computer is still working because it’s a laptop (battery power) and we have a battery powered jetpack for internet.  Better send this out while we still have battery life left.  Life’s an adventure isn’t it.

 

 

The last illustration of total covid cases I sent out was in January and the U.S. number was still headed up without relief.

 

Finally, now we can see the total number of cases clearly tapering off.

 

Are our mitigation efforts working?  A reflection of immunizations?  Don’t know, but a good indication we should keep doing what we’re doing; distancing, masking, and vaccinating.

 

 

I walk through the house with this rhythmic thumping sound at my heels.  That thumping sound.  It reminds me of something.  A ball dropped repeatedly right behind me as I walk.  A thumping sound following me.  Reminiscent of something.  Something.  A clock ticking.  A rhythmic clock ticking.  Being followed by an ominous clock ticking.  A clock inside a crocodile.  Who has a ticking clock sound alerting them that there is a crocodile following them?  Captain Hook!

 

https://video.disney.com/watch/captain-hook-tic-toc-croc-4d128244c24c47fae64e78e5

 

Yes.  That’s it!

 

 

 

 

It’s the same, but not quite the same.  My childhood returning to haunt me.

 

 

This year it falls probably on the coldest weekend of the year.  That’s unfortunate.  I suspect the weather will suppress the participation.  We’ll drive around in the car tomorrow and count some birds, just to make sure we get something in.

 

Current count.  236 species for Texas.  Best we’ve ever been at this point in the year.  Count remaining.  164.  The last three species recorded:  Hermit Warbler, Common Black Hawk, and Golden-crowned Warbler; all unusual birds for Texas.

 

Photos:

Golden-crowned Warbler.

 

 

Common Black Hawk.

 

 

Hermit Warbler.

 

 

We don’t always get the shot we want.  🙂

 

 

 

In breeding plumage.

 

It’s only the first half of February and he’s got his fancy hat on already!

 

 

 

And I’m over the Monday vaccination’s effects (Moderna).  Judy and I both feel fine!  Normal side-effects over a normal course of time.