New House Blog: Episode CCXVIIII - Snow Day!!

 And the New House Blog is officially back from our long winter hiatus.  By now, I'm sure all y'alls have heard of the sever winter weather we had to endure here in central Texas.  Based on reports from others, it seems that the major news outlets reported our rare snows. sub-freezing temperatures, and ice as though we were going through the storm of the century; and there was no power, heat or running water anywhere in the state.  The truth of the matter is that it was actually pretty mild at our Texas House.  We had a couple of days of rolling blackouts, and only a week of snow and the lowest temperatures.  Not being someone who grew up with snow, I enjoyed the experience a lot.  Becky, who grew up with snow, was a bit more blasé about the whole thing.  Enough with the talking.  On to the pictures.

'Hood Update

Before we get to the snow we present some pictures from the local surroundings.

Just another sunny day in lion country.

This is one of the few remaining mile marking stones (or milestones) in the area.  It was once used to measure actual distances from one town to another.

One of the local neighbors really gets into the Christmas spirit.

One of our local parks.

Some local trees.

If you ever visit the area you can stay in one of these oddly-shaped lodges.

This may be a tributary to, or offshoot of, either the Comal or Guadalupe River.

Just a random Gradall excavator.

Looking roughly eastward during an evening neighborhood walk.

Snow Day!!
And now what you've all come here for - the Texas Storm of the Century!  Every year we have lived here we have seen at least one night of snow.  In 2019 it snowed one night, and it did not stick around the next day or cause any disruption to anyone's lives (as far as we know).  In 2020 it snowed a few nights, and it stuck around due to sub-freezing temperatures, and it disrupted many lives all across the state.  Based on what we have heard from neighbors and news organizations, this 2020 snow event was a once-in-twenty-years event, so it may be a while before we see as much snow in our area again.

This is our driveway and front yard covered in snow.

This is that same front yard and driveway, from a different angle.

Oh no!  Why is our chimney covered with a tarp during the week of sub-freezing temperatures?

Who has been traipsing through our fresh snow?

Our frozen food garden.

Our little snow alien.

Beware of icicles in winter.  

This is how the back yard appeared during the second snowing of the week.

The Wadi al Bish is frozen over.

This is one of the main roads in town, a couple days after the main snows came through.

The lake at Landa Park did not freeze over.

Temperatures did eventually warm up.  Here we have the first lizard of spring.

We conclude our Episode with this photo from Landa Park.  Apparently, our local snow is very inflammable.

Remember, only YOU can prevent

    bIsh