Fire ants parachuting

Elevated Threat Level! A palm frond firmly grabbed neighboring branches and is refusing to fall. Deceptively innocent. These fronds have savage spikes along each side. If you’re ever weaponless and need to defend yourself, grab one of these fronds like a sword and slash with it. I promise even a White Walker would back off.(Image©)

Now happening: drop offs. Not exactly wanted. They look pretty mad and beyond caring how you feel about them.

Of course if you had spent the last 4-5 days desperately hanging on during a hurricane, maybe you’d be less than interested in other species’ discomfort.

They said after Hurricane Harvey passed through Rockport that birds dropping from exhaustion all over the roads…Well, it’s like that only with a little more bite.

Fire ants are parachuting from the backyard trees now.

Woe to anyone or anything that happens to be underneath them. They are darn cranky.

Man and beasts storm driven wild, indeed.

During the storm when we forcibly dragged let Molly Malamute dash out to use the backyard facilities, she seemed far too interested in the small narrow space between the big rectangular grill and the brick wall.

Suspected some poor creature was weathering the storm huddled back there.

Possum, raccoon, armadillo, a squirrel? Those were the optimistic choices. I didn’t really want to know.

The L-shaped spot has a wide roof overhang. The grill with a wide 6 foot tall potted plant jammed together against the brick created a snug protected den.

Well, the sun was out and time to cautiously check out to see if we had a new tenant.

No fur, but whew. Did it smell wild.

Shelter for some wild temporary resident, but one civilized enough to have a designated toilet area.

Molly was totally gleeful and quite ready to stop, drop and roll.

A good part of the day has been scrubbing, sudsing, and bleaching the temporary animal refuge zone.

No one to be turned away in a storm. But fire ants? Visitor code enforced: after 3 days, fishy stink! Move on…and that doesn’t me move on to me.

Grateful for little things (We shall not bring up biting insects right now)

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

Hurricane Harvey Recovery Notes: People are still being brought out of flooded neighborhoods. Some who are dry on second floors have realized the water will be draining for weeks and with the heat, the smell of flood waters is only going to get worse. Those who may have electricity now may lose it as linemen work to get power re-established. Several houses have burned today as flood waters came in contact with electrical wiring. Then there’s the lack of plumbing. Homeowners are being escorted in one by one by law enforcement officers to check on their houses, pick up clothing, and to rescue pets. They have to have escort for safety reasons and to try and guard against looters. Authorities are going door to door, neighborhood by neighborhood to make sure everyone is out or OK. Schools trying to open next week – some after Sept 11th or so.

More evacuation orders issued this morning as the rivers downstream are swelling. Clear Lake has their flood/hurricane gates wide open and the lake levels this morning have dropped to normal level..

 Where the water has left the houses, homeowners are already ripping out carpet, cutting off sheet rock, and piling up storm damaged household goods along the curbs. Extra volunteer hands to help with the tear out and bleaching/cleaning of floors and walls are desperately needed when areas are safe. Has to be done, seniors can’t manage the heavy chores, and some homeowners are just too overwhelmed by the magnitude of the damage and all the paper works that must be done for insurance and FEMA. 

We’re lucky in this little corner of the world. Streets are clear. I stopped by the grocery store for the first time in about 10 days – it had been one of the few that was opening, but the hysterical mobs stood in line for 3+ hours to check out with whatever items they managed to grab. Yesterday IO think there were more cars in the parking lot from staff restocking than customers.Three checkers no waiting. So we’ve got eggs, apples, and tomatoes for breakfast. 

Gas is available, but you may need Twitter to find it or luck. Flood means tankers can’t get through to some locations and there’s the real worry and problem of gas station tanks contamination from waters.

Roads are beginning to be cleared of water, debris and stalled cars although many are still barricaded off for various reasons. (Like to keep cars from driving into water of uncertain depth in broad daylight – and drowning after the storm. They ran out of barricades. People, it’s daylight, it’s flooded – use some commonsense. Sigh. No, your relatives can’t sue anyone over this.)  You can drive from Galveston(which is dry and fine for visiting this weekend) to Dallas now, but going out of town SW toward Corpus Christi or east is difficult. Check with TXDOT who will tell what routes are best and safe. Rising waters from dam releases are threatening the major road, Hwy 10/Katy Fwy, to San Antonio, but fingers crossed the water won’t rise more.

Big thanks to the police officers from around the country who arrived to provide relief to our local law enforcement officers and rescue teams – many of who have worked day after day after day without going home to check on their own families or flooded homes. (Volunteers could help those officer’s families with their homes, too.)

Character building. That’s what ole timers used to say. So, given the wildness of weather and land in Texas, that’s why we have so many characters? Hey, keeps life from being dull!

Come on down first cool front! And, please, possible Tropical Jose, stay away!

Surly branch. I see you taunting and waving – driving me crazy. I shake branches, poke with rakes, and throw stones all to no avail. I know you are calculating for the perfect moment…probably conspiring with Fire Ants.(Image ©)

 

 

 

 

 

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