Day 48 of 100 degrees or over

C

Chum

Location
Grand Marais, MN
1880 was when the Weather Bureau (pre-NWS) started recording daily temps in San Antonio.

We've set all-time highs this year. Being I broke-out the passenger and driver's windows in my truck and procrastinate getting them replaced (haven't had any rain anyway), the house is also not air-conditioned. I'm happy to report that I seem to be getting used to this. The early mornings are tolerable and while the static water level in the well has dropped 20 feet, I keep the little kiddie-pool full of fresh cold water. At night, the deer drink most of it and poop in what's left.

Calves are a liability, not a commodity. Same with goats. Round bales are selling for 80-95 dollars again, up from $35 to $40. Fields are dead. Not "dormant"...just dead. Creeks and ponds are gone and the Pedernales River is not running...at all.

Selling the whole enchilada, studying historical and predicting future trends, the old northern edges of the cotton belt connected to the southern reaches of the corn belt is where there's going to moisture more reliable that assures a greener future. This place is going to look like Saudi Arabia pretty soon. Tattered street kids selling Chicklets, Donkey-sex shows, Mel Gibson racing along lonely stretches of abandoned freeways, trying to keep the peace between the wandering nomads in search of water and the Iraqi vets who've learned cannibalism.

La Nina, El Nino. Bullcrap. If they're there or not, it makes no difference. I forgot even what a cloud looks like.

On the other hand, everything's pretty good otherwise.
 
In Phoenix we just bleed the Colorado river dry.
Most people here probably dont even know that the once might river doesn't even make it to the ocean anymore.

Water is precious isn't it?

I am so sorry about your sitiuation there.
Mabey a collective raindance from all the buzzers?
 
That is a bad situation. I hope that situation changes soon.

In contrast, here in the Chattanooga area, while we haven't had our normal rainfall, I think we're only behind about 5 inches. Our summer has been mostly in the upper 80s to lower 90s. We've had a week or two in the lower to mid 80's for highs and a few nights into the upper 50s, but mostly in the 60s/low 70s. That's pretty mild for us. We typically have quite warm late Julys and Augusts, easily into the mid and upper 90s for weeks and high humidity.
 
Yeah, the Colorado delta isn't one.

Sit Rep here isn't all bad...lot's of virulent diseases are also in check, missing the moisture they need to succeed. I'm watching lot's of changes in wildlife though. There's a toad living somehow out around the backyard...find him in the dogwater bowl every morning. There appears to be a kind of truce negotiated between the hunters and the hunted. Family of skunk approach to drink pool water, don't chemically respond to threats because nobody's threatening them. Dog's don't seem to care. Raccoon are begging for seafood and garden scrap..anything damp, dogs don't even twitch an ear. Been buying cabbage heads and getting throw-away melons for the deer, emaciated looking but friendly as all-get-out. Sunrise here is a scene of Disney-like cooperation between species...front yard is ten cats out sniffing marsupials who are whiffing the butts of puppies who are playing with the fawns. Unreal.

I'm just re-discovering my long dormant tendencies of nomadic habits. We're slowly packing it in, throwing stuff away, downsizing for the long trek elsewhere. Old as humanity. It's clear this area isn't going to stay the way it's been.
 
It's true. It is bad! Its starting to look like fall when you look out over the Central TX Hill Country. Cedar Elms , Sycamores and Cottonwoods dying everywhere. The life blood of this part of the country is found in our spring fed rivers and creeks. Jacobs Well, the longest underwater cave that has been explored in this area flows around 10-20 CFS on a bad year. Well it quit flowing! The Comal River is barely a trickle. Blue Hole another deep water spring/cave isnt flowing either. Barton Springs here in Austin is still going but when it is gone the soul of of the music capitol of the world will go with it.
It Amazes me when when I drive around town and see automatic sprinklers running at 2 in the afternoon, with most of that water running into the gutter. It amazes me that people even bother watering there turf grass when conditions are this bad. Kill it all and mulch!!!! I have 400 gallon collection off my roof that keeps my plants fed and I haven't run out of water yet, but I havnt bothered with my food garden this summer. I will save that for the fall.

I agree with oakwilt. El Nino-El Smino. I will believe it when I see it. They Say the only thing that seperates Texas from the Northern weather is a barbed wire fence but that has been a tough fence to cross for the last few years.

Do a little dance, say a little prayer.
 
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It Amazes me when when I drive around town and see automatic sprinklers running at 2 in the afternoon, with most of that water running into the gutter.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm surprised they are even allowed to do that. I would have guessed they would be fined daily for that, they should be anyway. After so many fines, somebody should be sent to disconnect it with the bill being sent to the offender.
 
We are above normal rain fall this summer... we never hit 90 degrees the entire month of July. Abnormal for us here. Sending rain (mentally) your way guys.
 
Picture-perfect lawns are a hard culture to crack.

Maybe my complaining this morning triggered some MoJo. It rained this afternoon, Austin too?

30/100th's of an inch!!!
 
I think I can count on one hand the number of 90 degree days we've had this summer. It's been a cooler than average season.

I don't know how you deal with that heat oak.
 
When I first came to Texas, I couldn't ruin a taco by using hot sauce. Now I'm addicted to peppers, the hottest ones grown. That's probably what seasons me for this.

First MN Winter I felt in over 27 years - off the plane for my dad's passing...I knew instantly I lost forever, the ability to adapt and survive where you do.

Made an offer a while back on this site and it still stands: I'll trade work and living here from May thru to November with anyone for the same from MN or Montana (sorry North Dakota, no offense intended).
 
Yeah Tom, they measure rain by the hundreths, even the thousanths here. While the roads got wet and the smell of something other than dust blew in, there wasn't enough to make it down a fraction of an inch into the soil. Maybe chance for tomorrow.

The NWS has a designation for this drought on our area - it's one word beyond extreme on the scale, can't remember what it is and don't want to. Plus side is the inside of my truck didn't get wet, justifies my not fixing the windows for a few months now. The old Mexicans have a saying here..."Don't do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow". If they thrived for centuries in this heat, I've a right notion to listen to them. So far so good. They were right about peppers.

Donkey sex is a Sailor thing, when the salt peter didn't work and Coronado is but twenty minutes from one. Seedy? Yes. But different....for sure.
 
Sorry to hear that. It's cooling off here. Down to 106 today.
grin.gif
 
Oakwilt. Again. You are one of the most interesting and premier poster here on the buzz.

Hope the situation gets better out there. If your looking for a change of scenery, new jersey sure could use an interesting man like yourself roaming the streets. l will bother the hell out of you though....
 
Highs in the 90s this week, alomost unbearable ;)

On the minus side - Jan and Feb were the coldest I can remember - we're talking BUTT COLD, truly arctic weather. It seems extremes are getting more extreme everywhere.

Sorry to hear about you water shortage, that's the killer.
 
The 1oo degree days dont really bother me much except doing big removals(after we removed the shade)and when I have poison Ivy.I happen to be experiencing both for the last 3 days.Good times
 
Sorry to hear that Jimmy...sweating through itchy blisters isn't my definition of fun and happy times. Are you taking any anti-histamines?

Familyguy, most places I go, chaotic and lawless anarchy begins. Don't think a surviving and managed crowded area would like me visiting for too long. Thanks, however.

We're looking at the Cherokee Nation. The lakes and hills of Northeast Oklahoma. Like any organized tribe or it's government...they're in a state of constant infighting. Just my cup 'o' tea. It'll feel like home, which it is for my wife. Here we're Yanqui's, further North we're Johnny Reb's. Don't 'specially love extreme heat or sub-zero cold...man without a biome. Thought maybe the Inden's and I would cross paths on similar roads. They are investing in the future, which is good and not really consistant with most Red nations last few years. So long a life of being one of the majority, I want to be a resident minority for a change. They have oaks and maples too.

Already shipped some livestock up that way. Hope they haven't been b-b-q'd yet.
 
No sign, just word of mouth.

My mom had the same trouble - city managers are freaking out. They need more money coming in, property values tanking...something's gotta give somewhere. You're obligated to protest the evaluation...they expect it. They also have a formula they follow whereby they deny your logic and figures first couple times you appear. Just like Social Securtity Disability. Hit 'em again, be vocal and have paperwork proving the latest sale prices, what was paid, where it is in relation to yours, and get loud...with a member of the suburban daily newspaper there watching it all for the next morning's edition. Worked great for her, should work well for you too. She's only a couple miles from ya.

Land prices here haven't dropped at all. They were too expensive to begin with, but so many city folk think this is paradise compared to where they're from...no ploblemo. Rocks are the future I tell them. No chance of earthquakes or riots either. PLenty of seasoned standing firewood for the taking. I call here the "cheapest oceanfront property in Texas", just have to think long-term investment...by 2050 it'll be a ten minute walk to the beach.
 
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