Barricaded

Saturday night another round of strong thunderstorm moved into the area.  I lost the TV signal at 12:20 a.m. and decided to go to bed.  I woke up in the middle of the night and turned around to see what time it was only to see the alarm clock was blank...yep, the power had gone out sometime during the evening.  Got up to check on mother and saw that it was 6:00 a.m.

The electricity did not come back on until 11:32 a.m.  I later learned that it was a very heavy storm and that 5.49 inches of rain had fallen in the area. I had been busy in the yard all day...No, I did not pull weeds...I raked leaves and filled four 52 pound dog food bags with them, trash and rocks. I was so tired I did not hear anything or rather I heard it but it was like in the distance.

Why rake leaves and not pull weeds?  In heavy rain the leaves float down to the main gate and get stuck there.  Maybe I will tackle the weeds after it all dries out?

There was an early Spurs game on Sunday (Utah vs Spurs) so decided to pick us up something to eat. I did not get far as the entrance to the sub-division was barricaded due to the high water.

It used to be worst until they fixed it two years ago but I guess 5.49 inches of rain was a bit much for this mini dam. I parked the car and walked the bridge to take a few pictures.  This is known as the "Duck Pond" and serves as the unofficial zoo for the area.

You will always find people with children coming to feed the ducks. This one guy was very boisterous but I had nothing to offer him.

I guess this person is lucky their truck did not get carried away by the current.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Barricaded

The rains have really put a damper on everything.  I need to make a trip to the laundromat but it has been a struggle.  The pond that separates or perhaps should I say...isolates us from the mainland...was barricaded.  One does not cross a barricaded crossway in Texas without suffering a stiff penalty for doing so.

Photo courtesy of El Zocalo Ciudad Acuna
http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/se-desbordan-arroyos-de-la-ciudad-por-la-tormenta-1471760458

Late this afternoon I finally made it to the mainland and thus was able to go to the post office, and the supermarket (HEB).  On my way there, I saw an absolutely obscene number of people at the laundromat...they were parked everywhere!

On my last trip to Houston, I was not able to go to Joe V's or Food Town. The first (Joe V's) is a discount food store owned by HEB and the latter is just a great place to shop at discount prices.  I hope to be able to make another short trip in the not too distant future and stock up our pantry.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Road Closure

Many of my long time readers know that I live in the southern tip of Val Verde County closer to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico than to the Del Rio, Texas city limits.

This was private ranch land for years until the owners died and their heirs who did not live in Del Rio decided to sell. There was only one way in and one way out until the flood of 1998 brought to light the plight of the residents who were pretty much land locked and unable to get out including my mother.

Fortunately for her she had me, whom I have always been a bargain hunter and why not...a hoarder. She had water, canned goods, powdered milk, paper goods and staples to get her by until the Texas Guard was able to cross the swollen creek that separates us from the rest of the county and bring in provisions.

At the time there had been talks with the owners of adjoining ranches to donate land to make an alternate exit to the north part of the city.  It took years and when it was finally built it was named Milagro Road (miracle in Spanish) because it was a miracle it was ever built.

However, no one ever wanted to address the fact that the Duck Pond crossing was dangerous and was not built for all the traffic that crossed it daily.  Finally the current commissioner found the funds to re-build it and it was closed this past Monday,

I was a little upset that I would have to go to the north part of the city and then head south to go to the Post Office, HEB and Mexico but you know what?  I absolutely love it!

This is the reason we moved to the county 40 plus years ago...for peace and tranquility. Since we are closer to the Duck Pond there is hardly any traffic unless you happen to live on this street.  No cars means the neighbor's dogs don't go crazy all night with every passing vehicle.

I could even ride a bike, if only Santa Claus had brought me one.  I even plan to go walking with our two strays...of course that wont take place until our cold front that is due tomorrow goes bye bye.

I am in hog heaven and now I wish they would not re-open the road.  I so plan to enjoy this month long reprieve.  It is as though I was in Terlingua :)

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Claire / Spurs Mania

Got up early so I could water the trees and plants and make an early morning run to town before the heat of the day set in.  I was going to drive dad's car but being the wimp that I am...I chose to go in the air conditioned car instead.

If memory serves me right (which due to my CRS, sometimes it does not) the last time I went by the Duck Pond was Friday.  Claire (the mare) was back at the same spot!  I will write about her in Walter's blog.  To go to his blog just click on the header picture or here http://mylittlewalter.blogspot.com/

HEB was full of customers wearing their Spurs jerseys and buying lots of beer for the viewing parties tonight.  I am happy to report that the Spurs redeemed themselves by blowing the Miami Heat in a worst fashion than they did us in Game 2 of the NBA finals.

Gasoline prices remain stable.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.