It felt so cold but I was determined to secure the coverings over the plants.“Good” wasn’t good enough; I had to do better. I felt like an icicle… but had/have the satisfaction that coverings are (temporarily?) secure.
Because the heat lamp bulb does not appear to warm the tarp shelter, I covered some of the plants.
“Never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better best.” Do you know that old saying?
Above is a piece of Thanksgiving Cactus that survived–and thrived. I hope, and pray, I can keep it alive for another year (or two) so I’m rewarded with a plant like the “mother” or “grandmother” plant (right).
Because the weather is so cold, I didn’t want to leave it in the tarp shelter. I brought it into my trailer home.
Below, Hazel’s Christmas Cactus now receiving admiration in the CARE Center dining room,
Yesterday, I specifically went shopping for another thermometer. The greenhouse now has the sensor formerly in the tarp shelter. With a “cold front” moving in, I want to monitor the temperature in the tarp shelter. More than thirty plants under cover; I can’t control the weather but I can protect the plants.
Note the time: Four in the morning. I was wide awake for about two hours before deciding to get up and “do something.” Sometimes my mind is spinning with thoughts–and plans–and I can’t sleep!!
Technology is so awesome!! The new thermometer automatically set itself to the correct date and time–from a satellite in the sky. So many features in that little instrument!! Walmart had it marked down from $17.88 to $10.00. I’d planned to buy another small single function (for $9.88) but couldn’t resist a bargain.
I believe the greenhouse is “warmer” because a much smaller space and completely closed up. By contrast, the tarp shelter is very large with lots of ventilation around the sides, and large opening for a door.
I was in my yard, and the neighbor’s yard, from mid-morning until mid-afternoon. Details tomorrow?!
If we have an extended period of cold weather, I may need to put a heater in the tarp shelter?! The heat lamp bulb does not appear to elevate temperature inside the tarp shelter.
No rain but cloudy and cold all day.
“Timely” because we are tired of the dark clouds and rain!! But the Houston TV meteorologist’ repeatedly say “Rain moving out; now get ready for cold weather.” Freeze warnings for Friday. So, Thursday (weather permitting), I’ll cover the plants in the large planters. (Who am I kidding? Even if the weather is miserable, I’ll be outdoors covering the plants!!)
FYI: My yard rain gauge, here in southeast Texas, did not record as much rain as I indicated in an earlier blog message. LOTS of rain in the Houston and Galveston area. The eighty-four hour total (in my yard) was slightly more than four-and-one-half inches (6:15 PM Friday ’til 6:15 AM Tuesday). ~~ Postscript, eleven o’clock : No rain, no sunshine.
Lorraine has several tomato cages but didn’t think to use them in the Winter. So-o-o, using a discarded display rack for a Christmas “bottle tree” may not be so peculiar?
Tonight was the season finale of the hit new TV program “This is us.” The ratings indicate that I’m not alone in my love for the show.
A little comedy: I wore a silly umbrella hat yesterday. Compassionate and considerate: Think of all the plants given to me (because the owner was tired of them) and I gave the plants tender, loving care. I’ve fed the starving birds and squirrels (well, maybe they weren’t “starving”). Me: Serious about faith, family and my country!
This is our third day of gloom: Dark clouds, misting rain, cold and disagreeable!! Hoping to put a smile on CARE resident’s faces, I wore my silly umbrella hat to lunch. “Yes,” lots of smiles but one individual said “Don’t you know it’s bad luck to have an umbrella up in the house?”. My reply: “It’s a hat.”
